by Sarah Noffke
Ever returned the smile, his eyes lingering on her dress for a moment. “I want nothing more than to tie him up by his ankles from the highest tree and leave him there until the rogue dryads launch a formal complaint.”
“Oh, do you think we’ve graduated to such formalities?” Azure asked, easily breaking into the laughter reminiscent of the night before.
“Who knows what the new normal will be.” Ever pushed his finger into his temple, laughing also, but not looking comfortable with it.
“What? I can’t hear you!” Monet boomed, striding forward. He wore his normal mint-green robes, but they had been pressed and he looked refreshed from the long night of sleep.
“Shhhh.” Azure clapped her hands to her ears, tilting her head away from the noise.
“What did you say? Why be quiet?” Monet yelled again.
“Oh, you’re a disgrace,” Azure said, shaking her head at him.
“I think this is a first. The group gets drunk and leaves me longing for a bit of salad. What a fucking farce last night proved to be,” Monet said, aware his voice was several octaves too high.
“See, that’s what you get for not eating your vegetables. You missed out,” Azure said, striding through the corridor and out into the courtyard. It had ample seating for those invited to the ceremony. The event would be broadcast across Terran and repeated for all those who missed it. This was considered a huge day in the humans’ history—an Independence Day, of sorts.
Gillian didn’t at all appear remorseful when he joined them on the side of the stage away from the eyes of the crowd. He wore his usual brown suit and bowler hat, but also held a flask.
“Don’t you think it’s a bit early to be drinking?” Azure asked him, trying to keep her voice down from the crowd taking their seats.
“It’s not for me, Your Majesty. The best way to cure a night of indulgence is with a taste of that which ruined you.” Gillian held out the flask to her. “Just a sip should do.”
“Seriously, she accidentally gets drunk and then gets offered sunrise alcohol? I’ve been trying to make day-drinking a thing forever,” Monet stammered, throwing himself down ungracefully into one of the seats at the back of the stage.
Azure took a small sip of the gnome’s mead, which was warm and buttery. She passed it to Ever, who took it gratefully. “Thank you,” she said, handing it back to Gillian. “And I’ll be thinking twice before ever again consuming anything you pull from your pocket.”
“Well, then prepare yourself to miss out,” Gillian said with a wink, taking the seat next to Monet.
“And need I remind you, Queen Azure, that ‘ever’ is a long time,” Ever said, bowing to her slightly.
“I didn’t get that joke the first time you told it, and now is no different,” Azure said.
“It’s more of a play on words.” Ever left her with a smile as he took his seat.
Azure turned her attention to Emperor Frederick, who stood beside the curtain next to the stairs. He motioned her down the stairs to where he stood. He wore a slimming suit with a single red rose tucked into the lapel.
“Is everything all right?” Azure asked.
“Yes, we’re just about to begin,” Frederick said, his eyes darting to the crowd, where humans wearing their finest took their seats. Their dress was a confusing mess to Azure. Large hats with fake birds perched on them. Tweed suits, overalls, miniskirts, and tidy shirts. It was a mismatch of fashion. No one was wearing anything that reflected their personalities, but rather reflected what they thought was popular or had been popular on Earth.
“I’ll go ahead and take my seat.” Azure pointed in the direction of where her cabinet members were seated on the stage.
Frederick shook his head, starting to reach for Azure, but pausing. “Actually, they’re going to announce me in just a moment. I was hoping… Well, I don’t know if this is a good idea, but I’d like to make a show of solidarity. I want my people to know the truth from the beginning.”
Azure studied the young man before her. He reminded her of her father, but strangely he also reminded her of herself. They shared similar mannerisms. And they shared a courage she’d felt in her heart all her life. “You’d like us to walk onto the stage together when you’re introduced?”
He nodded, his eyes heavy. “Terran has lost so much. I want them to know they are gaining a partnership. A new life.” His eyes brimmed with light as he stepped back, staring at her. “You, Queen Azure, embody that. They will simply marvel when they see you.”
Azure nodded, not sure what else to say.
“Thank you all for joining us at the Royal Palace today,” a voice boomed over the speaker.
Azure suddenly tensed, remembering that she had learned who her father was at a similar event—a press conference. Then she’d been a trespasser. A criminal. How things had shifted.
“It is my honor to introduce the emperor of Terran, Emperor Frederick,” the announcer thundered.
Frederick led Azure through the curtains onto the open stage. Everyone in the crowd stood, clapping. However, they paused almost in unison when the Queen of Virgo came into full view. Women clasped their hands to their mouths. Men stared, their hands remaining inches apart in mid-clap. A beat later, everyone continued their applause.
Frederick stepped up to the podium, Azure at his side, and patiently waited for the applause to die away. “Some of you know that changes took place in Terran yesterday. Some of you don’t know that change has been brewing here for a long time. My father, Emperor Richard, was cast from the throne and imprisoned because of the simple fact that he had a child who is half witch.” Frederick’s eyes flicked to Azure, who continued to stand at his side although it was growing more awkward.
“The laws in our books are outdated. The Consumer Party has for a long time told you, the people of Terran, what to think. However, I’m not here to do that today. I’m not here to rule over you. To tell you, as the Duke has done, how you should live your life. Instead, today I’m here to offer you what any government should: the support to live your life to the fullest.”
Applause rang out from every corner of the audience. Those gathered around the perimeter blanched with excitement; guards, staff, small children trying to gain a look.
“I’m sorry to inform you that the Duke has been leading you into unhealthy practices. I’m not sorry to tell you that he’s been punished by the rogue dryads for this offense. You see, we’ve overconsumed for too long. We’ve taken. We’ve impersonated Earthlings. We’ve done everything but to give back to Oriceran, the planet we are from. The rogue dryads have sworn to forgive all injustices in the past. That means that you can travel outside our borders without fear of being harmed. However, you can never again deplete the forest the way we’ve done until now. Our practices must be sustainable. And what we produce should be wholesome, feeding our hearts, bodies, and minds. This is our second chance, and I know without a shadow of a doubt that we, the people of Terran, will make the most of it.”
Applause drowned out the emperor’s next words. He smiled, enjoying the relieved smiles that had sprung to the faces in the crowd. These people had known they were stuck modeling a planet they’d never been to. And the toll of taking from Oriceran had silently weighed on their hearts, even if the Consumer Party told them otherwise, because humans and creatures of all types innately know what’s best at their core.
“Thank you, thank you,” Emperor Frederick said, trying to quiet the applause. Many of the faces were streaked with tears, a sight never before seen at a ceremony in Terran. “This second chance, this new evolution, it isn’t because of anything I’ve done. It’s because of the one thing we thought was a mistake. We’ve closed ourselves off for so long. Our borders have been warded, and our hearts were full of prejudice. But do you know who saved us, even when we did unspeakable things to them?” Frederick turned and laid his blue eyes on his sister, a tender smile on his face. He laced his fingers into Azure’s hand and held it up into the air.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Azure had changed back into her hiking gear for the trek across the Dark Forest. It had been strange to hurry away after the ceremony, when so many positive emotions had been created and stirred. Still, she knew that they had many more to save.
Pulling a gold coin from her pocket, Azure dropped it to the forest floor as she stepped into the Dark Forest, paying her toll for passing.
“How is this not littering?” Monet asked, dropping his own coin.
“It’s science; you wouldn’t understand,” Ever said, closing his eyes and sending out a beam of light from his fingertips.
“Is that your form of payment?” Monet asked, his voice disapproving.
“The forest asks travelers to offer something of themselves as a toll. It doesn’t have to be monetary,” Ever explained.
“Oh, don’t I know. The first time, this blasted forest took a bag of Cheetos.” Monet threw a kick into a patch of vines, which wrapped around his foot and laced their way up his leg. “Ack!” he screamed, falling on his backside.
Azure laughed as she pointed her wand at Monet, who was flailing back and forth, fighting with the vines. “Be still, would you?” A beam of magic sprang from her wand and shot through the air, zapping the vines and making them retreat.
“Queen Azure, have you considered how you’ll heal the people of Virgo of the virus?” Gillian asked as they hiked.
The question had been constantly running through Azure’s mind. She knew that, as Queen, the responsibility for a solution fell on her, but it didn’t mean that it didn’t feel like an unjust weight. How was one witch supposed to find the cure for so many? But that was why she was Queen, wasn’t it?
“The staff is supposed to have sufficient power, under the right circumstances,” Azure said, holding it in her hand.
“And those circumstances are?” Gillian asked, his voice oozing with doubt.
“They aren’t even close to right. The staff is completely depleted. I don’t know, it could take another hundred years for it to have enough magic to cure Virgo,” Azure declared, full of defeat.
“Well, that doesn’t mean you can’t still try,” Gillian stated.
“If any of you have a solution, I’m completely open to ideas,” Azure said. A shadow danced through the trees as they hiked, cascading through the sunrays that penetrated the branches. Azure paused and studied the darkened trees.
“What is it?” Ever asked, at her shoulder.
“I just have this feeling that we’re being followed,” Azure said, staring at the wavering lights and dark shadows.
“Of course we are,” Ever stated, as if that had been a silly observation. He tugged on Azure’s arm, anxious to keep making progress through the forest.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Azure asked, glaring over her shoulder at the figures who lurked but couldn’t be seen.
“The rogue dryads, along with many other tribes of dryads, preside over the Dark Forest. It is their territory, and all that walk within it answer to them. That was why the humans were in such trouble—they didn’t comply with their laws. However, you’ve served the rogue dryads, and are therefore under their protection.” Ever spoke quietly and Monet leaned in closer to hear him.
“Oh, so those’re the dryads?” Azure asked, pointing over her shoulder at another shadow that fled as soon as she turned to look at it.
“Yes, but they’ve always been there. You’ve just never been able to see them in this form. Now you know them as they are, and can therefore see them when they try to hide,” Ever explained.
“Did you learn that from the Book of Branches—which you stole?” Monet accused.
Ever’s eyes twitched to the side. “Yeah, maybe.”
“So, because I’ve seen the rogue dryads and know them on a personal level, for all of time I’ll see them ducking through the forest?” Azure asked.
“As they’ve always been,” Ever said with a poetic smile.
“I kind of like that,” Azure said, raising her shoulders and nuzzling into her blue robes.
“And yes, I think they are guarding us from any traps or creatures that would normally cause us problems in the Dark Forest. I mean, it’s rare for anyone to make it this far without being attacked by something,” Ever stated.
“Speak for yourself, Light Elf,” Gillian huffed.
Ever grinned broadly. “I meant, ‘anyone besides the noble gnomes.’”
The shuffling sounds in the shadows grew louder. Ahead, sunlight shone through the dark of the forest. Ever sped up, his eyes widening. Azure broke into a run beside him, her heart suddenly full of adrenalin. The shadows transformed until they had eyes and brown skin, and their vine-like hair flowed as they swept across the forest floor.
“The statue garden?” Azure asked Ever.
“Yes, that’s it up ahead.” There was a strange excitement that she’d never heard in his voice.
“Payne Springs said that awakening the statues could take some time,” Azure reminded him, nearly out of breath from running. The others hadn’t exerted themselves to run, and were now a good stretch behind them.
Ever halted suddenly, clamping his hand around Azure’s wrist and pulling her to a stop next to him. There was an urgent excitement in his eyes as he ran them over her face. “Whether my father is unfrozen in the next few minutes or the next few hours, it’s all because of you.”
“No, Ever, that’s not true. I—”
Ever held up his hand, silencing her. “You could have refused my help when I popped out of the trees the time you found Charmsgood’s body. Or you could have refused me entry into Virgo. And you didn’t have to invite me to be a cabinet member, but you did. You’ve trusted me and given me more responsibility than I deserve. But more than that, after I betrayed you and stole the Book of Branches, you helped me by negotiating this deal with the rogue dryads. You could have just asked them to invade Terran with you, but you went the extra mile.” Ever’s gaze fell to the ground, awe written in his eyes as if he finally understood something of great importance. “You could have given up on me. Turned your back on me. Everyone would have understood; you had good reason to. And yet you continue to save your people, as well as those not even connected to you. You continued to try and save me after I wronged you.”
Azure realized that Ever’s hand was still clenched around her wrist. She slipped her hand around and grabbed both of his. “Ever, we are all connected. I can only save my people by saving others on Oriceran. Saving your father and the rest in the statue garden was just as important as freeing the folks in Terran or curing the sick in Virgo. When we only look out for ourselves, we lose sight of why we are all here. It is not to live peacefully alone, but rather to live lovingly together.”
A tender smile transformed Ever’s face, making him more handsome than ever before. There was something about vulnerability that created attraction. “Queen Azure, you stole my heart long ago, but now I do believe you own it.” He bowed low to her.
Blushing, Azure reached out and encouraged him to get up. “Would you stop that before you give yourself a backache? Go and find your father, already.”
He rose and nodded minutely at her. “I just wanted… Well, this was my strange way of saying thank you.”
Azure didn’t say a word, only watched as Ever disappeared through a cluster of trees. The statue garden’s clearing stood on the other side, where much rustling could be heard.
“That didn’t look awkward at all,” Monet said, draping his arm on Azure’s shoulder, making her sag from his we
ight.
She shrugged him off. “He was just having a moment of gratitude. I realize that you have no idea what that would be like.”
“Grat-i-what?” Monet said with a mock look of confusion. “And I’m sure in true Azure fashion you brushed it off, because you’re horrid at taking compliments or the like.”
“That’s why I keep you around. You keep me—” Azure stopped short, her mouth falling open as several figures broke through the tree cover ahead. A wizard in long silver robes, wearing a pointy hat on top of vibrant red hair, led the group of wanderers. Species of all types staggered toward them, all of them wearing confused expressions.
“Reynolds, you were a statue?” Azure asked the wizard.
He scratched his red goatee, a bemused expression on his face. “Yes, I think so.”
Reynolds had been one of Azure’s tutors growing up, until he went missing. The House searched for him, but after their efforts turned up no leads they had closed the case. Witches and wizards were known for growing restless and traveling far away on expeditions, only to turn up several years later with a slew of strange stories and an apology for disappearing.
“What crime did you commit?” Monet asked, his voice conspiratorial.
Gillian had caught up with them and was staring at the various figures who stumbled through the forest, all looking like they’d just awoken from a long nap.
“That’s not important,” Azure said, waving Monet off. “Remember, the rogue dryads are wiping the slate clean, and so are we. Besides, we know that some innocent people were punished unfairly.”
“Yeah, whatever.” Monet held out his hand. “You owe me money. Remember that bet we had about whether Azure or I would dislodge our soul stones first? I beat her by a long shot.”
Reynolds shook his head. “I believe I said you’d never dislodge yours because you were an immature twat.”
“Well, it just goes to show how much you knew, criminal.” Monet held up his wrist, where his teardrop amethyst was set into a leather band.
