by Sarah Noffke
“Yes, I can relate,” Azure said, feeling the shame build in her.
“In the morning of my life, I longed for the afternoon and evening, feeling that as an adult I could do more, know more,” Mage Lenore explained. “And every night, I looked forward to the morning when my old body was replaced with a new one, one that could run and jump and live. You see, the old and the new are constantly battling to be what they are not, because the simple act of being is against our very nature.”
“I’m afraid to take your place, and you don’t want to leave,” Azure related, strangely enjoying the poetry of the situation.
“But life demands evolution.” Mage Lenore raised her hand, which was shaking slightly. “Would you indulge me a final request?”
“Of course,” Azure said at once, taking her hand.
“Would you please help me out of this bed?” Mage Lenore asked. “A bed is where we sleep. For those who are lucky, it is where love is made. And for those who are wise, it is where good books are consumed. However, a bed isn’t where I choose to die. I’d prefer to do that in the place where I lived the most.”
Azure pushed the mound of blankets off the old woman to reveal her frail body. With her arm around Mage Lenore’s shoulders, Azure helped her to a standing position. Mage Lenore wore a loose dressing gown, and moved like a rusty locomotive. Azure supported the majority of the woman’s weight as they hobbled out of the tiny house and into the yard.
The warmth of the day had evaporated, and Azure shivered from the chilly wind that swept across the mountaintop. In the distance, the carriage was covered in snow, and all around them, the trees had lost their leaves, including the Howling Willow. It stood alone in the frozen dirt, its branches gray and hanging stiffly.
Azure hadn’t asked Mage Lenore where she wanted to go, only led her straight to the tree. When they arrived, the old witch broke from Azure’s grasp, seemingly desperate to close the distance between herself and the Howling Willow.
With a burst of energy, she slipped down to the ground, pulling her knees to her chest as she cuddled against the trunk, nestled at its bottom. Suddenly, the oldest witch on Oriceran seemed like a small child, seeking the warmth and compassion of her caregiver. Although Mage Lenore had been the Howling Willow’s protector, Azure wondered if maybe all this time it had been the tree that protected the witch.
“Is there something else I can do for you?” Azure asked, kneeling down.
Mage Lenore peeled open one eye, a strange smile on her face, like she knew a secret. “Yes, you can give that to Monet. It’s what he’s been wanting to know, and I don’t have the time to tell him myself.”
“Give what?” Azure asked, since Mage Lenore hadn’t given her anything, and she had her arms folded tightly to her body.
“That,” she said, indicating with her head to Azure’s hand.
The queen peered down to find rolled-up parchment, clasped in her palm and fingers. Dammit, this witch is going to be sneaky up until the end.
“Okay.” Azure pushed the note into the pocket of her robes, staring at Mage Lenore with uncertainty. “What do I do, now? Do you want me to leave you alone? Do I stay?”
“Knowing the next step is difficult. When people are dying, we search for the right words to say to them. But, Queen Azure, pardon me if we don’t part with tears and achy words. For you and me, things are different. We are connected through the Howling Willow, so you saying goodbye to me would be the same as if you were to say goodbye to yourself. And you’d never do such a silly thing.”
“No, I suppose you’re right.” Azure smiled at the thought. It truly made sense to her, and the feeling of loss that had been building within dissipated.
“I would ask that you do me one small favor.”
“What is it?” she asked.
“I’d like for you to make my bed,” Mage Lenore said, nestling her head into the tree, and cozily closing her eyes.
“You…what…?” Azure began, but found herself nodding. “Okay, no problem. I’ll be right back.”
She hurried for the house, giving Mage Lenore and the Howling Willow a look over her shoulder. The two were as still as a winter night and melded into each other like they were two parts of the same whole. Azure smiled at the tree, which currently looked as unintimidating as the old woman cuddled at its base.
An overwhelming sense of joy suddenly filled Azure, making her almost skip down the stone path to the three-story house. Mage Lenore asking for her bed to be made was a strange request, but Azure respected that the old woman wanted to leave things tidy.
It was also strange to Azure that the house made from the Howling Willow would soon be hers. She didn’t like the idea of living alone on the Mountain of Truth, but maybe one day she would, just as Mage Lenore had. She looked longingly at the carriage, but couldn’t allow herself to feel the loss of the life she was going to give up to be the protector of the Howling Willow. There would be time to grieve that life, but it was not now. Right now she had to be there for Mage Lenore. She had to show her respect. This wasn’t about herself…yet.
Snow had begun to fall by the time Azure made it to the front door. She shook the snowflakes from her hair before turning the doorknob. Her breath caught in her chest at the sight that greeted her inside the house.
The small room holding the bed had disappeared, and all the walls had vanished. Instead, a field of brightly-colored wildflowers stretched as far as Azure could see. Birds tweeted in the trees beside her, and little woodland creatures scurried through the long grass, peeking their heads up here and there. It was the perfect picture of spring.
“Oh no!” Azure blurted.
She spun around, charging back through the front door, blinded by bright sunlight. She raised her arm to shield her eyes. Suddenly she felt like a baby bird, trying to open her eyes for the very first time. When she’d managed, she kept her gaze low, on the grassy green ground punctuated with new flowers. Blinking away the tears watering in her eyes, Azure brought her chin up, and her heart stopped.
The Howling Willow and Mage Lenore were gone.
“No, no, no!” she yelled, running for the spot where she’d left the witch, the place where the last Howling Willow had stood for all of time.
The spot was now only an open area with sprigs of new grass and fertile soil.
Azure spun in a circle, trying to make sense of it all. How am I supposed to protect a tree that has disappeared?
Then she was rocked by another startling realization. The house was gone. She’d just walked through its front door, but now it was gone, replaced by the rolling hills flecked with wildflowers.
Azure didn’t understand. Where was her tree and her house? Her future was supposed to be atop this mountain, protecting the last remaining Howling Willow. Confusion tunneled in her mind as she stared around at the ground under her feet. Her eyes roamed over new plants, rocks, grasshoppers, roly-polies and…
Azure bent over and picked up a silver seed the size of her hand. It was heavy for its size. She’d never seen anything like it.
“It’s you, isn’t it?” Azure whispered to the seed.
As if in reply, the Howling Willow seed glowed brightly, warming her hand and her heart.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Lanterns lit with fireflies hung in the trees, casting a soft glow over the celebration. The grounds around the House of Enchanted had been transformed, making every square inch dazzle with color. A witch in blue sequin robes danced on a stage that had been set up in front of the castle-like house, entertaining the crowd with her sultry voice and grace.
Buzz Buzz, the pesky pixie hovering next to Azure, was crying, her wings fluttering. She buzzed adamantly, having been going on about something for over a minute.
Azure couldn’t understand the pixie, but she had a good idea what it was about.
“I’m sorry Blisters hasn’t been playing with you. He has sort of grown up.”
Azure eyed the unicorn, who was standing majestically in
a circle of his brethren. It was rare for unicorns to grace others with their presence, but such was the importance of that night’s festivities. Not only were the other unicorns showing Blisters great respect, but they were in awe of the sacrifice he’d made in order to save so many. It was because of him that everyone in Virgo who had been bitten now had their magic restored, and once more wore their soul stone.
The pixie wiped her tears from her face, looking longingly at her friend.
“But grownups can still play,” Azure said to the pixie. “Just give him time to adjust. I have a feeling that the Blisters we know and love is still very much in that regular-sized unicorn.”
Buzz Buzz chirped, hummed and twirled, seemingly satisfied by this answer. She flew toward the crowd, in the direction of Finnegan, who was lounging on a blanket with his favorite fairies, Navi and Luna. They were braiding flowers into his beard, and, for once, the grumpy wizard didn’t seem to mind. His eyes were closed, and he looked more at peace than he had in a long time, his soul stone once again fastened neatly to his robes.
“Do you think Blisters will still want a room in the House of Enchanted?” Monet asked, appearing out of nowhere at Azure’s side.
She clapped her hand to her chest, startled. When she recovered, she told him, “Gran didn’t like him in the house even when he was miniature, so I don’t think it would go over well if he did.”
“Well, he can have my room.” Monet dropped his green eyes to the ground, a strange nervousness on his face.
“What do you mean?” Azure asked.
He pulled the note Mage Lenore had left for him from his robe. “I finally read this.”
“You’d put it off?”
“Maybe I feared the truth would disappoint me.”
“And? Did it?”
An untamed smile spread across Monet’s face, making his eyes twinkle. “My mother and father were the queen and king of Leo.”
“What?” Azure grabbed Monet’s arm.
“It’s true. A battle swept through Leo when I was first born, and Mage Lenore sent me away for my safety. My parents were killed by traitors. Since then, peace has been restored, and all this time, they’ve been looking for the rightful heir to the throne. Azure, I have a kingdom.”
“For Merlin’s sake.” Azure stared without seeing, feeling accosted by the news.
The reality of the revelation unfolded for her at once, but she shoved away the implications, along with the shame of her own disappointment.
“Yeah, can you believe it?” Monet asked.
“This is wonderful,” she said, trying to inject some enthusiasm into her words. “You’ll be a king, with people to care for. You’ll make such a wonderful leader.”
“And you’ll have to come and visit,” Monet said with a laugh.
“Of course I will.”
Azure hoped that the smile on her face looked genuine. She wanted it to be. After everything, she had thought that things were going to work out. She’d rule Virgo. She’d protect the Howling Willow. She’d have her friends…
But this was not about her. This was about Monet’s happiness, and that’s what she’d wanted for him.
Azure blinked away the guilt and smiled wider. “This is truly the best news. We should get drinks and celebrate,” she said, her voice strangely high-pitched.
“Now you’re talking,” Monet said, pulling her toward a row of kegs.
Witches and wizards were filling their glasses before clinking them with a neighbor.
“To your good health,” Reynolds said, holding up his glass.
Gillian held up his own. “To your good health, and to all those of Virgo. May we live long and enjoy this prosperous kingdom.”
“You two won’t live another week, if you keep drinking like that,” Gran scolded, pushing through the crowd to stand between the two men.
“It’s a celebration, Gran,” Azure argued, taking the mug of ale Monet handed her.
“This lot doesn’t need a reason to drink themselves silly. Consuming mass amounts of alcohol is what wasteful losers do,” the old witch griped.
Ever arrived at Azure’s side, holding a bottle up beside his head. “Too bad. I was able to score a vintage bottle of Light Elf wine. I guess you don’t want any of this, Sari.”
“Don’t be mad. Give me that.” Gran pointed her wand at the bottle, and it flew through the air and landed in her hands. She smacked her lips, hungrily eyeing the wine. “Light Elves know how to make wine the right way.”
“As opposed to…?” Gillian asked, draining his glass.
“As opposed to gnomes who still stomp on the grapes to juice them,” Gran spat.
“That’s the best way to inject character into the wines,” Gillian joked, his cheeks red.
“That’s the grossest way to inject toenail fungus.” Gran handed the bottle to Reynolds.
“I’ll have the bottle opened and a glass for you in a moment, my sweet,” he promised, disappearing into the crowd.
“You’ve got him trained, don’t you, Gran?” Monet asked.
She eyed him disdainfully. “When are you leaving?”
His mouth popped open, and he turned to Azure, but she shook her head. “You just told me. When would I have had time to blab?”
“How did you know?” Monet asked Gran.
“Oh, come on, dear. I know everything that’s ever gone on in Virgo, and I knew damn well you weren’t Helga’s child,” Gran said, taking the glass of red wine from Reynolds when he returned. “Well, and I read the note from Mage Lenore when you were sleeping in the carriage.”
“You read the note before I did?” he asked, appalled.
“And if you ask me—”
“I didn’t ask you,” Monet nearly yelled, cutting her off.
“Monet, you watch your tone,” Gran said, her voice punishing.
“I think you mean ‘King Monet’.” He narrowed his eyes at her before swiftly turning around and stomping away.
“I think I missed something,” Ever whispered at Azure’s shoulder.
“No, nothing much,” Gran stated. “Monet has inherited a vast and wealthy empire, and will soon leave Virgo to rule over it.”
“Oh, wow,” Ever said, looking intently at Azure. “How are you feeling about all this?”
She shrugged, trying to arrange her face into a nonchalant expression. “I’m fine. My own brother is the emperor of the Land of Terran. We make it work. Speaking of, he’s over there.” She pointed to where her half-brother, long-lost father, and mother stood, a short distance away.
Frederick must have just arrived, by the looks of it.
It was strange to think that just a year ago, she’d been the princess of Virgo, with no idea what lay outside its borders. After such a short time, her life and awareness had grown so much.
“Pardon me,” she said, excusing herself and striding over to her family.
Frederick’s blue eyes lit up when he caught sight of her, and he folded her in an affectionate hug. “Hello, sister. I’m glad I could make the celebration. This is simply wonderful.”
“It’s good to see you,” Azure replied. “How is Terran?”
“The people miss father.” Frederick gave their father a thoughtful look.
Richard smiled and wrapped his arm around Azure’s mother’s shoulder, squeezing her in tight. “And although I miss my people, I’m exactly where I’m meant to be. You’re the emperor now.”
Frederick ran his eyes over the land around them, which even in the twilight hours, exuded its trademark charm. “I can see why you like it here. The Land of Terran has a way to go, but one day, we hope our kingdom will be brimming with goodwill like Virgo.”
His eyes suddenly widened at the sight of something at Azure’s back. She turned to see a pack of wereanimals strolling arm in arm and singing. Among them was Laurel. She winked at Azure, a newfound freedom in the werecat’s eyes.
“You have wereanimals here?” Frederick asked in disbelief. “I heard about Lancothy
, but never imagined that the wereanimals would want to live among people so soon.”
“The wereanimals want to live where they are accepted. That was their fear all along,” Azure stated.
“And isn’t that something we can all relate to? We hide who we truly are, afraid of being rejected,” Azure’s mother, Emeri, said, her usual wise tone resonating in her voice.
“Because we think we are separate, when, in actuality, we are all connected,” Richard said, finishing her thoughts.
Azure smiled at her parents. They made sense to her. And it made sense that she was their daughter. She stepped forward, taking her brother’s arm. “Come on. Let me give you a tour. I’ll even introduce you to a wereanimal or two.”
He cinched her in tight as they strolled. “I’d love that. Then I can tell them that there is room for them in Terran, if they would like.”
“Oh, and I have a pooka friend you must meet,” Azure said as they continued through the crowd.
“No,” Frederick exclaimed. “That’s impossible. Next you’ll tell me that you have unicorns grazing your lawns, too.”
“You’re in for a lot of surprises,” the queen said with a wink. “Virgo has a little bit of everything.”
“How is that possible?” the emperor asked.
“This is a safe place, and magic thrives in places full of love.”
Azure thought fondly of the Howling Willow seed, nestled safely in the damp silk that Finnegan had prepared for her. In a week, it would be ready to plant.
Chapter Thirty-Three
“So you see, there’s no way we can keep being bullied by the centaurs,” the wizard in orange robes stated.
He has no idea that tangerine isn’t his color, Monet thought, tapping his fingers on the surface of the table.
“And you’re proposing that we do what?” Monet asked through a yawn.
“We need an army. A force that’s ready to go when we’re threatened,” the man said.
Maybe he’d look better in a canary yellow robe, Monet thought, completely bored from listening to the endless reports from his council. This fellow, Ferdinand or Fuzzybutt or Fuckhead, or whatever his name was, had been gabbing for an hour about defense programs that deserved funding.
