He gave her a squeeze and a back pat before setting her on her feet. “As much as I would rather remain here, duty calls.”
“Yes, yes, go soothe the addled farmers.” Nan scooped up a spoonful of stew and sniffed it. Not quite satisfied, she dropped it back in the pot and reached for a different bowl of seasonings.
“Indeed.” Da walked out, grumbling and taking another bite of his bread.
Mama tugged her closer. “I will not call this a punishment, but because of what happened…”
Her chest tightened with worry.
“I want you to stay in arms’ reach of me for the rest of the day.”
Emma grinned and climbed into her lap. “Yes, Mama.”
mma spent the rest of the day and the next hovering at her mother’s side. That night, the workers joined them for dinner, their house filled with smiles and laughter. She noticed all the little things her family did: the way Da always stacked a bit of cheese on an apple slice before eating them both, how Tam tried his hardest to never be without his wooden sword, and how Kimber constantly fidgeted with her hair whenever her hands didn’t have anything else to do.
That her sister seemed to no longer tense up at every loud noise made Emma feel warm inside. Mama always smiled whenever she looked at the children, no matter how frustrated or angry she may have been at something else―and she had a different sort of smile for whenever Da caught her eye.
The homesickness Emma had carried for the two-some-odd weeks she’d been away had morphed into a deep desire to never experience that feeling again. Da had asked Nan to help with the people of Brynshire, who remained convinced a little black-haired girl had jumped down their well, and didn’t believe that they’d been stuck in the Faerie Realm under a curse for a long, long time. Nan thought it somewhat hysterical, as if an orc shaman had indeed been responsible, the Faerie Realm would’ve been the last place they wanted to send a human village. More likely, they tried to do something worse and made a mistake. Tam suggested Princess Isabelle maybe shot him with an arrow so his spell went wrong.
Neither Nan nor Emma bothered mentioning Isabelle wouldn’t have been around three hundred years ago. Emma stared a question into Nan’s eyes. The old one offered a blasé one-shouldered shrug.
Emma busied herself with her usual chores, but kept an eye on the tiny window to the left of the back door, waiting to see an acorn hanging there. Finally, on her second day back, the acorn appeared soon after the evening meal, when the sun weakened in the sky and the workmen had left for the day. The new section of house had finished walls and a roof, and the men had been building up the inside walls most of the day.
“Kimber?” Emma scurried over to where her little sister sat with Mama in the big cushioned chair, learning to knit.
“Hmm?” She looked up, grinning.
Emma winked at Mama. “Would you like to have a faerie tea party?”
Nan hurried to the stove and set a teapot on it.
Kimber held up her needles and yarn. “I’as knittin’ an’ it almos’ dark.”
“You’ve a little while yet.” Mama smiled. “It’s all right if you’d like to.”
Emerald eyes gleaming, Kimber set her knitting down to the side on the little table, and jumped up.
Kimber took her hand and walked out onto the back porch, glancing over her shoulder at Nan with a confused expression. The stones they had set up for their pretend tea party remained as they had left them. Emma felt a twinge of surprise that no one had cleared away the rocks, but it had only been two days for everyone else.
“Why’as Nan makin’ tea?” asked Kimber.
Emma giggled. “How do you expect us to have a tea party without tea?”
Kimber flopped on the porch by the tiny seats and table, and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “Tea’as p’tend, like ’a faeries.”
“Hmm.” Emma rubbed her chin. “Something’s missing from this faerie tea party.”
Kimber looked up at her with a slight tilt of her head.
Pimlin, Fila, Imril, and Raa floated up past the edge of the porch (behind Kimber), carrying a crown of flowers. Neema poked her head up over the boards, and grinned.
“Wha’s missin’?” Kimber pointed at the stone ‘chairs.’ “I see the faeries.”
Emma sat and crossed her legs. “Me too.”
Tam’s gasp came from the door.
Kimber seemed to notice the colorful glow on the wall from the faerie’s wings, but before she could turn to look behind her, the faeries set the flower crown upon her head.
“Merry greetings,” chirped Pimlin, her bright pink wings spraying glowing sparkles in all directions.
“Merry meet!” cheered Imril. He bowed before flying in a spiral around her, dusting her with energy the color of snow.
“Hello!” Raa beamed and landed on Kimber’s shoulder, her pastel blue wings pulsing bright.
Kimber squealed so loud Emma thought the girl about to faint.
Neema zipped over and landed on Emma’s shoulder.
“Mama!” yelled Tam. “Mama, come look!”
Three more faeries, green, gold, and silver wings aglow, shot over from the meadow and raced around Kimber before all eight of them landed on her. Kimber held her arms up as if afraid to move, lest she hurt them. The pure joy radiating from her face made Emma shed a tear.
Mama appeared in the doorway and put her hands on Tam’s shoulders. “Mind yourself, Tam. Be polite.”
Kimber got over her squealing and giggling fit in a few minutes. When Nan appeared with teapot and tray, the faeries took up their seats around the little stone table. Emma helped Nan serve small cups to the faeries. Her grandmother had made mint tea and even some Faeberry cakes―though the children were not to touch those.
Over the moon with excitement, Kimber chattered away with them about the Faerie Court. Pimlin told her about the various social ranks within their society: the nobles, the guards, the mages, the scouts, the lorekeepers, common fey, and the exiles.
Neema stole away long enough to whisper in Emma’s ear. “Regrets sends Queen Nymira. Visit to wanted, but bound to Faerie Realm. Cannot leave her magic. Invites to Elder Grove tea for.”
“That is a lovely offer.” Emma smiled. “I have to ask if we’re allowed to visit her before I can accept.”
Kimber stared in silence for a few seconds before clasping her hands together at her chin, pleading.
“I can’t say it’s okay.” Emma held her arms up. “I’m only ten.”
The pleading stare Kimber focused on Emma shifted to Mama.
“We’ll discuss it,” said Mama.
The girls sat until dark, and a little after, having tea with Silverbell Faeries. Far too soon for Kimber’s liking, Mama poked her head out the door and gave Emma a meaningful look.
Emma nodded to her mother, and stepped in to the ongoing conversation at the first opportunity. “Thank you all so very much for visiting us. You’ve made Kimber very happy.”
Kimber grinned and nodded with such fervor, her floral crown fell into her lap.
“It’s late and we must go to bed.” Emma curtseyed.
Neema downed the last of her tea and set the little wooden cup back on the flat stone table. “Having party is generous you of. Had we fun all.”
One by one, the Faeries glided over to give Emma delicate hugs… before they all dove on Kimber at the same time.
Kimber fell over backward, peals of laughter echoing into the forest.
After a moment of tickling her breathless, the faeries raced across the meadow like tiny shooting stars, heading back to the faerie circle, and home.
Emma grasped Kimber’s hand and pulled her up to sit. “Time for bed.”
“You’as really did help ’a faeries.” Kimber couldn’t seem to stop grinning.
“Yes.”
She scrambled to her feet. “You’as ’fink Mama’ll let us visit ’a queen?”
Emma thought back to what Nan said about druids and faerie circles. “Ma
ybe… but I think she’s going to come with us.”
After a second of grinning at each other, they burst into giggles at the same time.
“Em,” said Da from inside. “Your mother’s said it’s time for bed.”
Emma gasped, grabbed Kimber by the hand, and ran inside.
The next afternoon, Emma swept the front porch, still grinning from ear to ear at Kimber’s reaction to the faeries. Her sister hadn’t stopped singing all day, except when she spoke to imaginary faeries. She about reached the halfway point of sweeping when a finger-sized root grew up and over the edge of the porch, and tapped her on the foot.
Emma squatted and offered a hand. The root curled around her arm. “Thank you. I’ll tell Mama when she returns from her rounds in the village.”
The root uncoiled and rewound the other way, holding her hand. A mild sense of impatience radiated from it.
“I’m sorry. We’ll be as fast as we are able.”
After releasing her hand, the root brushed her cheek and sank into the dirt.
“Oh… Mama, please be quick.” Emma resumed sweeping, hurrying the task without her usual care for not missing any spots.
Before too long, her mother appeared at the bend in the road, walking back from Widowswood proper. She stopped to speak to Mrs. Harrow, who leaned out from her window. Emma ground the bristles into the porch. Hurry up! In a few minutes, Mama waved to the older woman and trotted up the road home.
Emma practically threw the broom at the wall by the door and scurried to stand at the top of the steps.
“What is it, Em?” Mama ran a hand over her head and pulled her close.
“He’s here. I asked if he could visit Tam, and he really came!” Emma bounced on her toes. “Can we go see him?”
Mama blinked. “You managed to talk a wood―”
“Shh… I want to surprise him.” Emma grinned. “Yes.”
“You know, Em… even I haven’t met one of them.”
Emma pulled on her arm. “Come with us.”
Mama gave her ‘the look.’ “You thought you were going to meet him without me along?”
“No…” She grinned. “I want you to.”
“All right.” Mama smiled.
Inside, Tam sprawled on the floor by the fireplace, playing with Stick Knight and Shrub Dragon. Emma ran to his side.
“I want to show you something.”
He looked up. “What?”
“You have to promise not to be scared.”
Tam dropped the toys and stood. “I’m not scared.” He hesitated. “’Snot Rydh?”
“No. It’s not Rydh. It’s much better than Rydh.”
“’Kay.” He ran to grab his wooden sword from where it hung on the wall and stuck it through his rope belt.
Mama stepped up behind Emma. “Let us hope he doesn’t wind up refusing to come out from under the bed.”
“He won’t.” Emma smiled and walked a few steps toward the back hall. “Nan?”
“Yes, Emma?” asked Nan from her room.
“We’re going for a walk in the forest. Will you come with us?”
Nan grunted along with the scuff of chair legs on wood. “One moment.”
Kimber set her doll down on the floor where she sat. “Kin I go?”
Emma waved her over. “Promise me you won’t be scared.”
“Scared ’a what?” Kimber stood and crept closer.
“It’s a surprise for Tam, but it’s not anything to be frightened of no matter what it looks like.” Emma took her hand.
“’Kay.” Kimber stared at her, biting her lip.
Nan emerged from the back and donned her shawl. Mama draped shawls around the girls before dressing Tam in his green wool cloak. Barely able to contain her glee, Emma led the way out the back door, over the porch, across the meadow, and into the forest to the west of their home.
“Linganthas, please guide my step so that I may find your child,” whispered Emma.
Within seconds, a subtle feeling came over her, pulling her a little to the right. Mama raised an impressed eyebrow. Nan flashed a proud smile at the trees, as if to say ‘see what my granddaughter can do?’
A few minutes into the woods, Emma spotted the ‘hill’ of roots, much as she had seen in the Faerie Realm.
She stopped walking, took a knee, and put an arm around Tam’s back. “Look there.”
He leaned forward, squinting.
Nan spotted him right away, and bowed her head in reverence.
Mama glanced at Nan, who gestured at the ‘hill’ and nudged her with an elbow.
“I don’t see nothin’,” said Tam.
Emma squeezed him close. “Don’t be scared.”
“I’m not scared of woods.” He blinked. “Goblins?”
“No, Tam. No goblins.” Emma looked toward the Child of Linganthas, and raised her voice. “Thank you for the favor of your visit.”
Tam opened his mouth, but before a sound could come out of him, the ‘hill’ moved, unfurling itself into the shape of a dragon made of thick roots and vines, the glow of dark green energy deep within its heart. A brighter shade of light gleamed from its eyes, which narrowed in a friendly smile. Ivy and vine whiskers swayed from his chin as he stretched up to stand.
“Great Linganthas,” whispered Mama.
“It’s not Linganthas,” said Nan. “But a wood dragon. The plant spirit’s presence in our world.”
“Aaaah!” said Tam, waving his fists and shaking with excitement. “It’s a mama Shrub Dragon!”
Emma laughed. “Maybe Shrub Dragon’s Da.”
He gasped. “Sorry!”
Kimber jumped on Emma, hiding behind her.
Emma led Tam by the hand up to the wood dragon. Kimber seemed more afraid of letting go of Emma than approaching the creature, so she followed. Mama and Nan walked a few steps after them, Nan calm and smiling, Mama wide-eyed with awe… like Tam.
Tam scrunched up his nose and looked at Emma.
“What?” asked Emma.
“Why’s he made out of wood and not made out of dragon?”
Emma giggled and tickled him. “He’s a wood dragon. Linganthas is the spirit of the forest, plants, and flowers. These are his children, guardians of the most sacred places deep within the woodlands.”
Mama tilted her head. “Where did you learn that?”
“He told me.” Emma nodded toward the dragon.
Tam walked closer, reaching up to touch the dragon’s chin. “Wow…”
The dragon emitted a low rumble of contentment.
“Em?” whispered Kimber. “Stick Knight… is ’e a’ baddie ’cause ’e keep tryin’ ta kill Shrub Dragon, an’ a’ shrub dragon’s nice?”
Tam gasped. “My dragon isn’t like this. He’s made out of dragon. Bad dragon, an’ Stick Knight’s gotta save the village.” He traced his hand over the creature’s jawline. “This dragon’s a nice dragon.”
Mama walked close, bowed to the dragon, and caressed the side of his head. She muttered at him in another language that sounded a bit to Emma like Faerie spoken much, much slower. The Child of Linganthas responded in the same language, tolerating Tam climbing up onto his back and cheering. When their conversation ended, Mama bowed again as if she’d agreed to do something.
The dragon stood up to his full height and flared his wings to either side. “I must return to my home.”
“Tam, come down.” Mama reached up for him.
Roots grew from the dragon’s back, lifting the cheering boy and passing him from strand to strand until they deposited him in his mother’s arms. He perched on her hip, fists in the air, whooping and hollering as the house-sized creature leapt into the air.
A great rush of wind pulled after him from behind, flinging Emma’s hair forward. Nearby trees bowed inward at the gust as well. In under a minute, the dragon had gone too high up to see as much more than a bird-sized speck against the sky.
Emma took Kimber’s hand and held out her left arm for Mama to hold as they starte
d back toward home. A few paces out of the forest, the spritely notes of a quiet flute melody emanated from the trees behind them.
Emma gasped with delight, and looked back over her shoulder.
In the shadows among the trees, a pair of bright amber eyes appeared. Kes, flute to his lips, peeked out long enough to wink at her―and vanished. She stared after the spot in the woods for a few steps, before turning her broad smile to Tam, and singing:
“The daylight is fading, the wind turning cold.
A house, warm and waiting, the hearth burning gold.
Through forests and fields, how far you did roam.
Dear little brother, run far away home.”
With a gleeful cheer, Tam held his wooden sword high, and charged across the meadow toward the house. Laughing at the little warrior racing off into the tall grass, Emma took Mama and Kimber’s hands, and walked with them, following Nan home.
Thank you for reading Emma and the Silverbell Faeries!
I’d also like to thank the team at Curiosity Quills for all their help and support in making this book a reality.
Additional thanks to Kate Bystrova for editing this book, and Eugene Teplitsky for the cover art.
Originally from South Amboy NJ, Matthew S. Cox has been creating science fiction and fantasy worlds for most of his reasoning life. Since 1996, he has developed the “Divergent Fates” world, in which Division Zero, Virtual Immortality, The Awakened Series, and the Daughter of Mars series take place.
More recently, he has forayed into young-adult and middle grade novels.
Matthew is an avid gamer, a recovered WoW addict, Gamemaster for two custom systems (Chronicles of Eldrinaath [Fantasy] and Divergent Fates [Sci Fi], and a fan of anime, British humour, and intellectual science fiction that questions the nature of reality, life, and what happens after it.
He is also fond of cats.
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