Full Moons, Dunes & Macaroons_A Cozy Witch Mystery

by Erin Johnson

  "Is he still a danger?" a man called up from the back.

  The king squared his shoulders. The flickering light of wall torches glinted off his gold robes. "No. Thanks to the brave actions of many of our soldiers and citizens, as well as to our guests Prince Harry of the Water Kingdom and his friend, Imogen Banks." He swept an arm toward us and my cheeks burned hot as hundreds of eyes gazed at me and Hank. "But most of my gratitude goes to my daughter, Shaday, and her friend Elke, who so bravely fought the creature back." The king's voice broke at the end and murmurs ran through the crowd.

  "Where is she?"

  Her father shook his head. "Shaday is being treated for burns and we are awaiting word of her condition."

  Cries and concerned voices clamored together and Hank and I exchanged worried glances. At that moment, the big iron-studded wood doors at the back of the hall opened, letting in a waft of cool night breeze scented with orange blossoms. The king stiffened, and people jostled and shoved and cried out at the back of the hall. I leaned forward and squinted. What was happening? The crowd gradually parted to form an aisle down the center of the long room. They bowed and curtsied deeply as Shaday strode past, supported at each arm by her mother and Elke.

  I sucked in a breath and lurched out of my seat, Hank right beside me. I smiled as tears filled my eyes. She was all right—all right enough to walk, even. White bandages wrapped her hands and arms to her elbows and her normally golden skin looked green, but she was alive. As Shaday approached, all the others on the stage beside me, including her father, dropped into bows. I folded at the waist as well, certain that my legs would buckle if I attempted a curtsy.

  We rose and Shaday's father reached a hand down and gently helped his daughter up the few steps to the raised platform, where he embraced her. The crowd erupted into applause, clapping and whooping and whistling.

  After embracing her brothers and waving at the crowd, Shaday turned to us. "I'm so glad you two are all right." Though black bags hung under her eyes, she grinned. "We did it."

  I reached out to squeeze her hand but froze when I remembered the bandages. I gulped. "Your hands, are they…?"

  Shaday pressed her lips together. "They're painful, but the healers say I should regain full use of them. Eventually."

  My stomach sunk.

  Elke shook her head, her golden waves bouncing over her shoulders. How did her hair look so good after the day we'd had? "I told her she needs to stop minimizing her injuries. Her hands are burned, and badly. It will take many treatments over many months, years maybe, to heal them. And even then they will be scarred." She shook her head sadly.

  Shaday nudged her shoulder against Elke's. "Yes, they'll be scarred, but nothing some new tattoos won't cover up." She lifted her chin and stood tall.

  I shook my head. "Shaday, I have to tell you, I am in awe."

  "That makes two of us." Hank pressed his lips together. "If there's anything I can do to help—perhaps send you our kingdom's best healers to see if they have any complementary treatment ideas? And we will definitely send aid to help you rebuild Calloon."

  Shaday bowed her head. "I appreciate it, thank you. As for the city, the hospital survived, thank the flames, and the first phase of recovery has already begun. We've organized more treatment centers around the city, and have recruited volunteers to deal with the fires." She blew out a breath. "Also, the head curator from the Royal Artifacts Museum is apparently a huge Legend of Damavash fan and has promised to look through all of his materials to discover the spell from the story that might seal the monster in the volcano for good." She lifted a shoulder. "In any case, the monster will be contained."

  I frowned. "As in, you've arranged this in the last hour from your hospital bed?"

  Elke rolled her eyes. "She's so stubborn. Her mother and I both urged her to rest, but she doesn't listen."

  Shaday's eyes flicked to the ceiling and back down. "Since when did you and my mother gang up against me?" She looked at Hank. "We'll talk soon and settle everything."

  Queen Ranita swept up to us in her flowing gown. "Shaday, the people need to hear from you. And your father has some words to say. Come."

  Shaday followed and nodded to Elke to join her. Elke paled, but squared her shoulders and they both turned around to face the impatient, murmuring crowd.

  Shaday's father raised his arms. "I would like to officially honor my daughter, Shaday, and her friend Elke Beckham for the bravery and skill they showed in successfully defending our city from the hideous monster that attacked us." The crowd broke into applause and I clapped enthusiastically along with them. Hank joined in, and Iggy whistled from the lantern.

  A scowling man shoved his way forward. "How'd she know how to do that?" He shouted his question at Shaday's father.

  Her mother lifted a dark brow and muttered, "That is something I would like to know as well."

  Shaday gulped.

  The man narrowed his eyes. "Have you been training your females in combat?" He sneered. "It is not their place."

  Some cheers and some boos rang out from the crowd. I bristled and clenched my hands into fists. "She saved us all, how can he say that?"

  Hank set his jaw and shook his head. "I don't know."

  Shaday lifted her chin. "Elke here, daughter of the late Bernhardt Beckham, has been my tutor in their unique method of hand-to-hand combat. But combined with my dance training, we have created our own style of fighting." The crowd muttered, surprised. "And Elke's inventions, gloves and veils made from new type of fabric she has created, were instrumental in our ability to fight off the creature." She narrowed her eyes and her lip curled as she looked down on the angry man. "But if you'd have preferred us to stay in the sewing room and let the monster eat your children and burn you alive, then my apologies for acting out of place."

  That got some laughs, but the man growled and was joined by angry shouts from other male voices.

  "All these years?" Shaday's mother muttered.

  The princess turned to her, her face sober. "Mama. This is me. I know you've always wanted an elegant, quiet girl, and I've tried to be that." She shook her head, her eyes welling with tears. "But this is who I've always been. I think deep down you know that."

  The queen's chin quivered, and her eyes grew glassy, but she kept her lips pressed firmly together and said nothing.

  As the crowd grew more raucous, Elke stomped her heeled foot and planted her hands on her curvy hips. "This your princess. She risked exposing the secret of her combat training, risked more than that, her very life, to save you, her people and her city. Her hands are forever scarred from this! She literally beat back a fire monster for you!" The crowd listened, wide-eyed. "What more could you ask for in a warrior and a ruler?" She spun to Shaday's father. "She has earned the right to the crown."

  Gasps sounded among the crowd and Queen Ranita's mouth hung open. But Shaday's father stepped forward and embraced his daughter.

  "The king, under witness, promised the crown to whoever defeated the fire monster!" Elke shouted to be heard over the jumbled shouts and cheers and boos from the crowd. She threw her arm toward Shaday. "Even if she weren't the eldest, she has earned the right to rule today with her heroics!"

  Though deep voices of disagreement and discontent threaded through the crowd, the majority of the people erupted into applause. I smiled, surprised and pleased that her people would accept Shaday as their queen—most of them, at least. Hank and I grinned at each other. The applause bounced off the marble-tiled floors and walls and grew deafening as Shaday dipped her chin and her father lifted the gold-pointed crown from his head and set it upon Shaday's dark one. The red center ruby glinted in the firelight from the torches, and appeared to burn. Apt for the princess who'd destroyed a monster made of fire.

  She lifted her face and the applause grew louder, though I hadn't thought it possible. Her father embraced her again, and when Shaday turned to face her mother, the queen burst into tears and threw her arms around her daughter. Shaday awkwa
rdly wrapped her bandaged arms around her mother's back and tears flowed from my eyes.

  As the crowd quieted and Shaday gazed lovingly at Elke, who'd stood up for her and now stood beside her, the big wooden doors at the back of the hall opened again, shoving the people who stood near them to the side. Ario Tuk strode in and I gritted my teeth.

  "He has some nerve," Hank ground out.

  Even from a distance, I could make out the sneer on Ario's face. "If you think I or any of my people will bow to her," he bellowed, "you're delusional! You have just lost the following of the tribes." Tens of burly men surrounded him and shouted their agreement.

  21

  A Proposal

  As Queen Ranita stepped forward, her skirts swirled around her ankles. She edged between Shaday and Ario and his men who shouted protests. "You'd better learn to bow. She's your queen now!"

  Shaday murmured, "Thanks, Mama." She spoke loud enough for her voice to carry across the long hall. "I don't blame you for refusing to bow. The armor you so dubiously obtained might cause you to tip forward and fall flat again." She lifted her bandaged arms in the air. "Imagine if someone willing to fight had had the benefit of fireproof magic."

  Laughter and cheers boomed through the hall, but Ario and his supporters shoved their way forward, knocking people to the ground. Royal soldiers clamored forward to meet the men, but Shaday stayed them with a shake of her head. They paused, tensed and waiting for orders around the perimeter of the huge room.

  Ario sneered. "Very noble of you, to mock a man who met a monster head-on and was injured in the effort." His dark eyes glinted.

  Elke narrowed her eyes and watched him closely, her head tilted to one side.

  Hank stepped forward. "You haven't a scratch on you. And once you were helped back up to your feet again, then what? You could have joined us in the fight. You gave up because you lost your chance to look like a hero." He looked out at the crowd. "Fire Kingdom, you have a choice—you can have a woman who risked everything to save you, or a man who walked away from the fight because of a bruised ego."

  The crowd cheered again, and Ario and his supporters grumbled and glared, but shuffled closer together, outnumbered.

  "We will follow her." I searched the crowd until I spotted the speaker, Lilya, the servant I'd followed to the underground meeting. She raised her fist in the air, her half-moon tattoo visible on her wrist. "It's about time women had some rights around here." A huge group around her threw their arms in the air and shouted their support. More and more people joined them until the hall rung with cheers, and Ario and his men had nothing to do but scowl and slink back toward the entrance to the hall.

  Elke muttered to the councilor nearest her. "Bar the doors. Make sure Ario doesn't leave just yet."

  Hank's father surveyed the cheering crowd with his cold, calculating eyes and spoke loudly in his deep, commanding voice. "The Water Kingdom also acknowledges Shaday as queen." He bowed to her and Shaday tilted her head in acknowledgment. I wasn't a fan of King Roch in general, but still, a vote of support. He slid past Hank and stood beside the new queen. "Of course, it has been a difficult day and you will need time for recovery. But today was supposed to be a celebration of marriage, and I hope that we can speak soon to discuss new wedding plans."

  My stomach turned. I'd nearly forgotten. In all the relief of surviving the monster attack, I'd forgotten that I shouldn't be completely relieved yet—a huge weight still hung over me.

  "There it is."

  I frowned and crouched down beside Iggy. "What was that?"

  He rolled his eyes. "I'm sure our king is pleased as punch that his least favorite son, who I'm sure he was just marrying off to Shaday to get better camel trade deals with the Fire Kingdom, or something minor, is now going to be married not to a princess who will never rule, but the actual queen. Of course he wants to get them married as soon as possible."

  My stomach turned. "You're right."

  I stood and Hank frowned at me. "Are you okay? You look like you're going to be sick."

  I felt like it, too.

  Shaday glanced back at me over her shoulder, her eyes twinkling, and winked. My brows shot up. What was she up to? She turned to Hank's father. "You know, I say, why wait?"

  King Roch beamed and Hank's shoulders stiffened.

  Shaday lifted her bandaged arms and the heads of her people turned to her again. "I have one last thing to say. Today was supposed to be my wedding day." She took a deep breath and the hall quieted. "Obviously, that didn't happen."

  Laughs twittered among the crowd.

  "But I should like, more than anything, to set a new date for my marriage."

  Hank's father clapped a hand on his son's shoulder and shook it. "Never thought you'd be sitting on the throne, eh son?" he muttered. “Not a king, but still, prince consort’s not bad, especially for you.” I stood close enough to hear. "Never thought you'd be much of anything. A day of surprises." Hank recoiled slightly, his shoulders hunched up, and I had to stop myself from reaching forward and taking his hand.

  Shaday turned to Elke and her chest heaved as Elke's eyes widened. "Elke Beckham, will you marry me?"

  Elke gasped. I gasped. Shaday's mother covered her mouth.

  Shaday's eyes welled with tears. "I'd get down on one knee, but I don't think I could get back up."

  Elke laughed, then pressed a hand to her mouth and shook her head, tears trickling down her face. "Now?" Her eyes slid to the dumbstruck crowd. "They might not accept this—us—you."

  Shaday grinned. "Who cares? We almost died today. Kinda puts things in perspective."

  "Is that a yes, then?" Shaday's mother burst out.

  Shaday and Elke turned to her, shock all over their faces. Then they both giggled as Elke nodded, "Yes." The two embraced.

  I clasped my hands together. "They're so cute."

  Shaday's mother embraced her daughter for a long time, and they both wept. It took the crowd a few moments to catch up, but applause slowly spread among the them, quieter and less raucous then before. But as I looked out over their faces, it didn't appear to be from a lack of enthusiasm, so much as from the realization that the Fire Kingdom was about to change in many big and permanent ways, and that they were witnessing that change right in front of them. Their faces were wide-eyed, and many mouths hung open—but openness was a good thing.

  Then I noticed someone who was apparently feeling a little less amenable to the situation. A storm was brewing in Hank's father’s head. Hank's mother cringed back, watching her husband with her brows drawn together in concern. He strode up to Shaday and her family, his face dark and his teeth bared.

  "You've broken our contract." His nostrils flared. "Harry was to be your husband. Under the stipulations, if one party ends the engagement, the other is entitled to considerable reparations, and believe me I intend to collect and then some. When I get done—"

  Hank brushed past him, his blue eyes flashing. He lifted his chin. "I renounce any claims to reparations from Shaday or her family and accept equal part in ending our engagement."

  My jaw dropped. Go Hank!

  Hank swiveled toward me and his mouth spread into a grin, despite the fact that his father was turning a dark shade of crimson and a twisted vein bulged at his neck. Hank walked up to me and lowered his voice. "Do you still love me?"

  I frowned. "Of course I do, but what—"

  He grabbed my hand tight in his own and spun around to face his father, mother, and everyone else. "I also end the engagement, because I'm in love with Imogen Banks, and have been for some time now. She's the one I want to be with, and the one I hope to someday marry."

  Was this happening? Was this really happening? My eyes found Maple in the crowd. Her mouth formed a round O.

  I turned back to Hank. "Are you sure about this?" I held a hand to the side of my mouth. "Your dad doesn't seem too pleased."

  "He's never pleased with me." Hank frowned. "Or anything, actually. And yes, I've never been surer about anything i
n my life."

  He took my face in his hands and kissed me. I forgot about everyone on the stage around us and the rest of the hall packed with hundreds of people. They all faded away and there was just Hank and me, cocooned in a bubble of tingly happiness. Warmth spread through me and I melted into him.

  "I hadn't realized how much I'd missed this," I murmured, my lips against his cheek.

  "I had, every day." Hank kissed me again and I pulled him into me, my arms wrapped around his muscled waist.

  "You're choosing a commoner, a swallow."

  The venom in the words made me freeze. Slowly, Hank and I pulled apart, though as we turned we kept our arms around each other.

  The king's eyes bulged and he'd turned so red he looked purple. His chest heaved.

  "That's me," I said in a small voice.

  Shaday and her family watched, tense, their eyes darting between the king and Hank and me. Shaday stepped forward, edging between us. She addressed Hank. "As queen, I would like to take a moment to honor the bravery Hank and Imogen showed in coming to our kingdom's aid. I very much look forward to dealing with you, Hank, since we've established such a warm friendship, and I am certain that warmth will extend to the relationship between our two kingdoms." She turned to Hank's father. "In fact, I insist on Hank being the emissary from the Water Kingdom to our own." She smiled and tried for a light tone. "I shall look forward to working with him, and will work only with him."

  The king's eyes flashed as he looked from Shaday to Hank. His nostrils flared. "Very well then. I suppose, in the interest of my kingdom, I will appoint Harry to deal with you and your people." He nodded at Shaday, but his hard eyes slid to me and I fought hard not to take a step back… or to run and go hide for forever. Hank squeezed me closer to his side.

  So it was official. Hank and I were publicly together, and his father wanted to kill me… or him… or both of us. I smiled gratefully at Shaday and she winked again. Two winks, I felt honored. And thankful that she'd intervened for us. By only agreeing to deal with Hank, she'd basically ensured that Hank's father couldn't literally kill him or banish him and strip him of his powers, as Hank had feared.