by Becky Biggs
Copyright © Rebecca A Beloin 2018.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.
For permission requests, write to the publisher.
ISBN: 978-1-949372-00-7 (Paperback)
ISBN: 978-1-949372-01-4 (eBook)
Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Names, characters, and places are products of the author’s imagination.
Front cover by Zoe Draws Things
www.beckybiggs.com
DEDICATION
For Matt, my husband, best friend and partner. Thank you for fighting the battles of creativity, toddler parenting and pregnancy with me as I worked on this book.
For my mom. Thanks for giving me the gifts I needed to make magic with my words.
For my little princess, Sophia and my little prince, Porter. May you always follow your dreams as you’ve inspired me to do.
Contents
Dedication
CHAPTER ONE - A Hero is Born
CHAPTER TWO - Meet Maple
CHAPTER THREE - Emerald to the Rescue
CHAPTER FOUR - A Mother’s Despair
CHAPTER FIVE - Daydreams and Nightmares
CHAPTER SIX - A Royal Inspection
CHAPTER SEVEN - A Division in Medina
CHAPTER EIGHT - Emerald’s Fifteenth Birthday
CHAPTER NINE - A Proposal
CHAPTER TEN - The Journey Begins
CHAPTER ELEVEN - Trapped
CHAPTER TWELVE - Working in a Troll Gang
CHAPTER THIRTEEN - Tallyweed Tea
CHAPTER FOURTEEN - A Happy Reunion
CHAPTER FIFTEEN - The Gifts
CHAPTER SIXTEEN - Ortland
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN - The Marsh Spirits
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN - The Evil King
CHAPTER NINETEEN - Wedding Gowns and Gifts
CHAPTER TWENTY - A Royal Double Wedding
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE - As the Dust Settles
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO - Get Better Maple
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE - Happily Ever After . . . Until the Next Adventure
Acknowledgements
About the Author
Chapter One
A HERO IS BORN
It was supposed to be a perfect day, but instead, the throne room was filled with panic. A wave of hushed, anxious chatter swept throughout the packed hall, echoing off the stone walls. Rumors are probably spreading like wild fire, King Argos thought ruefully, eyeing the crowds that filled the hall and spilled out into the courtyard. He sighed. The king preferred a peaceful life.
“Your Majesty?”
A voice heavily punctuated by rapid breathing brought King Argos out of his brooding. He stared down at the captain of his guard. The man he’d known since his youth was kneeling at the king’s feet. The captain’s chest rose and fell heavily beneath his shiny silver breastplate.
“Eseland is in chaos, you say?” King Argos shot a quick look at his wife. He could tell the wheels in her head were already turning. “Have there been any threats made to our kingdom?”
“Not as of yet, sire,” the captain responded, trying to catch his breath. He’d ridden as hard and fast as he could from the border between the human kingdom of Medina and Ortland, the haunted marshland that separated the humans from the magical kingdom of Eseland to the north.
“However, we are starting to get large numbers of refugees from Eseland,” the captain continued. “Sire, what should we do with them? We’ve never seen so many magical creatures before.”
King Argos turned to his wife, not sure how to answer. Typically, the magical and non-magical worlds kept to themselves. Sure, the occasional centaur or pixie was reportedly spotted in the woods near Medina or close to some of the other southern kingdoms, but these reports were so infrequent that they merely felt like fairytales.
“We should ask my godmother what to do when she arrives,” Queen Willow suggested gently. She was quick-witted and decisive where King Argos tended to second-guess himself. They made a good team, but there were no doubts who was truly in charge. “She probably knows what’s going on in Eseland. In the meantime, we can’t turn away those who need our help.”
“Yes, you’re right, my dear.” King Argos nodded and turned to the captain. “Er, Ridalgo, please ensure that anyone who crosses the border from Eseland has food and shelter—but keep them together for now. We need to know what is happening up north before it trickles into our kingdom.” He swallowed and thought, better if they keep their mess to themselves.
“You may go, Ridalgo,” said King Argos. “Thank you, as always, my friend.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” Ridalgo stood and bowed.
King Argos looked down at the gilded crib near his feet. His infant daughter, unaware of the tension in the room, was waving around her little fists and giggling. Oh, to be a baby again, he thought. Happiness is milk and your parent’s arms. The queen cleared her throat and nudged him. Time to face the crowd. Sighing once more, he stood at his full height and addressed the audience.
“People of Medina,” King Argos began loudly, “you are likely wondering what Captain Ridalgo was doing here. He brings news from Eseland. It seems King Spruce has turned on his people. We do not know the extent of the trouble, but many of the inhabitants have fled to us for refuge.”
Gasps undulated throughout the room and anxious voices piped up. “Magical creatures? Here?” “Where are they going to stay?” “How long will they be here?” “My mother says imps are thieves and elves have no boundaries.”
The queen raised her hand to quiet the chatter. “We are still getting the details. In the meantime, we must be good hosts to our guests.”
“Is he coming for us next?” a female voice timidly asked.
“No,” King Argos said, a little uncertainly. After a nod from Queen Willow, he continued in a more confident voice. “No, we have no reason to think he is a threat to us.”
Though his words were positive, King Argos could still feel the tension in the room. Queen Willow clapped her hands.
“Now, who’s ready for a party?” she asked brightly, flashing a brilliant smile. “It’s time to name our little princess. Long have we waited for her.”
The cheers that went up in the room seemed a bit half-hearted until the king scooped up his daughter and held her high for all to see. The baby looked around curiously but didn’t cry. The cheer that arose from the crowd this time was truly heartfelt.
“Please meet your new princess,” King Argos said, his proud voice audible above the applause as he showed off his pride and joy.
The baby was dressed in an ornate white gown that the queen had worn on her own naming day. She had a patch of bright red hair, like her father’s, that was visible to the back of the room. Those closest to the throne could see she also had striking green eyes, just like her mother.
King Argos scanned the crowd, looking for any hint of fear or anxiety. All he could see was admiration for his tiny daughter. He felt himself letting out a sigh of relief as he heard the gentle cries of “oooh” and “ahhh” rippling through the large audience. Just peace and happiness. Nothing more was going to dampen their spirits today.
The princess’s naming ceremony was the biggest celebration the kingdom had ever seen. The castle was packed from courtyard to throne room with guests excited to bestow gifts on the baby. A line of people stretched far across the drawbridge and into the street
s of the village, waiting to meet the newest member of the royal family.
Queen Willow stepped up next to her husband and took her daughter from him. The tiny diamonds encrusted on her deep blue gown shimmered and cast speckles of light all around her with every move. She seemed like a fairy queen herself, the effect amplified by the bejeweled crown sitting atop her pile of perfectly coiffed golden-blonde hair. She was simply stunning—the epitome of a perfect queen. The king was also dressed in his finest suit of royal blue and was wearing his own ornate crown, but he knew he could never hold a candle to his wife—not that he really cared.
“We have named her Emerald Aurora Rose,” said the queen, deep love radiating from every inch of her body as she looked at her daughter. “Not only because of her beautiful eyes, but because she is so precious to us.”
The crowd responded with a unanimous murmur of approval. Just like her mother, Princess Emerald was perfect in every way.
The queen then laid her daughter back in the golden crib and the guests began processing up to lay gifts at the feet of the princess. Though it took quite some time, the princess stayed awake and watched the passing of each person with alert, curious eyes. As the last guests approached the crib, the queen turned to the king anxiously.
“She said she was going to be here,” Queen Willow whispered as she looked around the nearly empty throne room. “Do you think she’s caught up in whatev—”
She was cut off by the sound of a woman’s voice from the rear of the room. The last of Emerald’s admirers turned and parted to watch in awe as a sprightly old woman with pearl-colored curls, a glittering lavender gown, and light-blue cloak glided elegantly to the foot of the thrones. Though her appearance alone might not have been enough for a second glance, she emanated an otherworldly aura that caused anyone who encountered her to stare in wonderment.
“I’m not too late, am I?” the enchanting old woman asked, bowing deeply to the king and queen.
Queen Willow immediately descended the four stairs from the top of the throne dais to the bottom and hugged the woman.
“My dear godmother,” she cried. “I was starting to worry you wouldn’t come. You aren’t too late at all! Please, meet our darling daughter, Emerald.” The queen escorted her godmother to the crib where they both stared adoringly at the cooing baby.
“Would you do us the honor of being godmother to Emerald?” the queen implored of the old woman as they admired the child. Her godmother’s violet eyes glistened as she smiled and nodded, happily accepting her role as godmother to the next generation.
“Thank you for the great honor, Your Majesties,” she said. Then she looked at the queen. “I’ll watch over her just as I’ve watched over you and over your mother before you.” Turning to Emerald, she leaned over the crib and gently touched the baby’s forehead.
“I see great things ahead for you, my little one,” Elyria whispered to her new goddaughter, her eyes blooming with tenderness. “The going won’t be easy, but you will have the bravery, strength, and cleverness to see you through.” Emerald’s new godmother gently kissed the baby and Emerald waved her tiny fists. The king, queen, and old woman smiled dotingly back at the baby.
Yes, Emerald was absolutely perfect.
Chapter Two
MEET MAPLE
After Emerald’s godmother bestowed her blessing on the little baby, the remaining guests in the throne room were encouraged to head to the royal dining room or one of the great tents outside to continue their celebrations. The king and queen, however, held back and asked the old woman to stay with them.
“We received word today that Eseland is in chaos and that the inhabitants are flooding our border,” King Argos began.
“Elyria, do you know anything about this?”
The old woman sighed deeply. She untied and removed her blue cloak, placing it gently on a stool near the thrones.
“It’s not the news I wanted to bring on such a special day.” She turned back to the king and queen. “You’ll remember King Spruce and Queen Ivy, of course?” The king and queen nodded. “They had a daughter—Raina—about five years ago.”
“Oh yes,” Queen Willow agreed. “We sent them a gift for the baby. We were so happy for them, though it was such a difficult time for us.”
King Argos covered his wife’s hand and Elyria nodded understandingly and said, “I know how much you both suffered with wanting a child.”
“Yes,” Queen Willow responded with a smile, her green eyes glistening. “And now we have been blessed with our beautiful Emerald.”
“Indeed you have,” Elyria said warmly. “King Spruce and Queen Ivy were just as happy about their little girl. Unfortunately, she was born without magic. They were devastated.”
“That seems like a small price to pay for having a healthy child,” Queen Willow muttered, looking at her own daughter.
“Perhaps”—Elyria cocked her eyebrow thoughtfully at the queen—“but it is different in Eseland. A child, especially a royal one, without magic is considered extremely unlucky. Many are even sent away to live in the human kingdoms, including Medina.”
The king and queen looked at each other in surprise. Were there magical children living in their kingdom? How had they not known this?
“Ridalgo, captain of your guard, is one,” Elyria said, as if reading their minds. The king shook his head in disbelief. He’d known Ridalgo since they were children.
“Not that you would really know,” Elyria continued. “It’s typically only elves or nymphs that are affected. They can easily pass as human, and the children are adopted at such a young age, they don’t remember otherwise.”
“I can’t believe they don’t appreciate all of their children, regardless of whether they are different or not.” Queen Willow creased her lovely brow and huffed.
“Yes, it’s unfortunate, but that’s how things are done in Eseland. There are many who don’t agree with the practice, but it’s especially hard to hide when the child is royal. Which brings me to what’s happening in Eseland.” Elyria smoothed her hair back and gestured at the thrones. “We might want to sit, if it suits Your Majesties. My story is a long one and I have traveled far.”
“How thoughtless of us,” King Argos said immediately. Red-faced, he offered his throne to Elyria. “Please forgive us for keeping you standing for so long.”
Elyria waved her hand in dismissal of his apology but gratefully sat on the king’s throne as he took a seat for himself on a footstool next to her. Emerald was now peacefully sleeping in her crib.
“Raina had no magic, but King Spruce and Queen Ivy were determined that no one should find out,” Elyria said after they were all comfortably settled in. She looked pointedly at Queen Willow. “They didn’t like the idea of sending their child away.”
“They’re the king and queen! Why didn’t they just order everyone to accept non-magical children?” Queen Willow looked indignant.
“Sometimes tradition is hard to change, even for a king and queen.” Elyria gave another meaningful look to the queen. Queen Willow and King Argos looked at each other in confusion.
“They came to me and asked for my help, but I declined,” Elyria continued, without harping on the subject of tradition any further. “I warned them that they should not try to force magic upon her. Those who do not have it can never learn to control it.” Elyria rubbed her temples tiredly, suddenly looking much older. “Unfortunately, King Spruce and Queen Ivy didn’t heed my advice. They decided to take matters into their own hands.”
“What did they do?” King Argos asked eagerly, enthralled with the tale. As much as he hated real-life drama, the king loved a good story.
“There is a troll who lived in Ortland,” responded Elyria.
“He’s a good sort, though rather…misguided. Harry is his name. He caused some mischief about thirty years ago with some magic fires and was forced out of Eseland. Misguided as he is, Harry is also very powerful—and a bit of a pushover. It didn’t take much for King Spru
ce to convince him to help Raina.”
“Trolls have magical powers too?” King Argos marveled. He’d always been curious about his neighbors to the north. His wife wouldn’t hear of them opening the borders, though.
“Yes.” Elyria smiled knowingly. “Harry created a stone that would give Raina magic powers, but it came at a terrible cost. The stone needed to steal powers from others to give it magic. It also sucked a little bit of the soul of its master each time she used it.”
“What a terrible thing to present to a child,” Queen Willow exclaimed, shocked. A poorly timed cheer arose from the tents outside. The king chuckled awkwardly at the coincidence.
“Yes,” Elyria agreed, ignoring the cheers and chuckling king. “But King Spruce and Queen Ivy were desperate. Harry was worried about the damage his stone could cause. He convinced the king and queen to let him stay and tutor the princess in how to use it.” Elyria sighed deeply before going on. “Magic can do wonderful things, but in the hands of the wrong person, it can also be very destructive.”
“The princess was corrupted?” gasped Queen Willow. King Argos looked just as alarmed.
“No,” Elyria responded, shaking her head. “It was her father.”
“Her father?” Confused, King Argos shifted in his chair. In her crib, Emerald gurgled and stirred.
“Yes, the draw of the stone’s power was too much for him,” Elyria said sadly. “Before anyone in Eseland knew what was happening, creatures began losing their power. They were frightened and, of course, went to their king and queen for help. That help was refused—for obvious reasons. It didn’t take long for anyone to figure out that something was wrong at the castle. At first, they blamed Harry. He would be a likely suspect, of course. They finally came to me for help but”—Elyria swallowed hard and her voice dropped nearly to a whisper—“I was almost too late.”
“Do you need a bit of refreshment, godmother?” Queen Willow asked gently, looking worriedly at the old woman who was now ashen. The queen raised her hand to order something to eat and drink, but Elyria shook her head.
