King Asterian scrutinized the young girl before him. She had the dark olive skin and pointed ears of a cloud elf – even if they were a little small and more rounded, but her wings truly betrayed her seraph heritage. Her deep violet eyes were trained on the tapestry behind him, like a good soldier.

“This is the only changeling we have?” King Asterian harumphed to the captain of his royal guard, leaning his chin on his fist.

The girl, despite her perfect posture, was overall unimpressive. She had none of the muscle mass of a seraph, and was slim, even for one of the elf races. She didn’t radiate any magical aura, whatsoever. Added to that, she was younger than he’d like. Three years into guard training, marking her around eighteen.

“Yes, sir.” Captain Liana Ryktor passed a folder to him with a bow. “Her records, as requested.”

He shot another glance to the young Vynriel Valdaerys before opening her folder. Perfect grades across the board. He arched an eyebrow at Captain Ryktor. She wasn’t easily impressed, having given the royal, and even her own children, harsh grades on occasion.

“Certainly impressive.” He turned to Vynriel. “You will serve us well, then? Retrieve the spider at any means necessary?”

Her eyes ignited as she slapped a hand to her heart and bowed deeply.

“On my life, Your Majesty!”

Asterian nodded to Captain Ryktor, who smiled as she stepped forward.

“You have your orders, Valdaerys.”

“Yes, Captain.” As Vynriel straightened, her skin rippled. Her eyes shifted to a pale, silvery blue. Her ears straightened and lengthened even more. The pink hair in her military-tight bun darkened into midnight black. A blue ribbon dropped to the floor as her hair retreated into her scalp. Most bizarre, her wings disappeared altogether – crumbling away like dust in the wind.

“You may depart,” King Asterian waved her away.

After one last bow, Vynriel turned on her heel and strode out of the throne room, shoulders set.

Asterian turned to Captain Ryktor. “You are sure Zefire Sparkes is out of the way?”

“He knows the assignment. He has already departed to Xigg Village to trade places with Valdaerys once she knows who the spider has been assigned to. I doubt Lord Willows is foolish enough to have the creature close at hand. He’ll want her out of the village as quickly as possible.”

Asterian clenched his fists. The audacity of a mere village noble to employ his family in Lyridon to steal directly from their king! The audacity of the Lyridonian branch of the Willows family to actually go through with it!

“You are dismissed, Captain. Prepare the Guard to for battle, should the worst happen.”

With a bow, Captain Ryktor left the room.

Asterian stood and walked to the window, looking out to the castle wall and the forest beyond. Not for the first time, he questioned the wisdom of past kings when they agreed to trade with the Ground Lands. The Willows clan already had more power than he liked, considering they weren’t royalty. Even King Obsidia in Drazkgar likely had Willows influence in her mountain cities.

The king’s eyes narrowed as he looked toward the sun setting over the side of the floating island. How far is Evras willing to go? Am I prepared to match him?

I paid two coppers for a bag of apples from the fruit stand on my way out of the village. My uncle’s stand was empty, out for an early lunch, probably. He probably wouldn’t have reacted well if he’d known what’d happened with the world’s worst noble.

Viola looked up from her book and sat straighter in her chair in the little guard booth. “Hey, why are you out so early? Can’t have finished exams that quickly.”

I shrugged. “I’m special.”

Viktor gave me a flat look. “You’re a troublemaker.”

“Ah. But a special troublemaker.” I shot a wink Viola’s way as her brother scowled. “Anyway. Tompas couldn’t stand the look of my adorable little chipmunk cheeks, so he kicked me out.”

Viktor shook his head. “Tell me you’re not going back into the forest.”

“Nah.” I held the bag of apples up.

“Just to see a friend.”

“Wildflower?” Viola smiled. “Naya says you’re still the only one he’ll approach. Between you and me, she hates the fact that there are unicorns who don’t like her.”

I laughed and ran a hand through my hair. “He’s got good taste.”

“Debatable. Go on through. We’ll get yelled at if we let you jump over the gate again,” Viktor grumbled.

I waved to them as I jogged across the meadow and cast my senses out toward the forest. I didn’t need to look hard, as Wildflower came charging out of the trees. His mane glittered indigo, magenta, lavender, and forget-me-not blue as it streamed in the bright sunlight. His joyful neigh echoed across the gently sloping hills as he raced toward me.

I broke into a run. We met halfway and

I throw my arms around his sleek black neck. “Finally wake up, big guy?”

I stroke his nose as he nuzzled my cheek. He quickly turned his big, greedy lilac eyes to the bag of apples in my hand.

“Okay, okay. Back up, you big baby.” I waited until he was a few feet away, then tossed an apple up in a high arc. With a beautiful leap, he caught the treat in his mouth, munching happily as he landed, tail swishing.

“Good boy.” He leaned against me as I pat his neck. “Pretty boy,” I added, giving him another apple. I had to hold him up as he flopped against me with his full bulk. “The prettiest boy,” I crooned, rubbing my cheek against his flank and breathing in the acrid tang of the forest that clung to his coat.

Wildflower jumped with a snort and cantered several feet away as someone cleared his throat behind us. I looked over my shoulder to see Uncle Caspkar and his fiancé, Judeiras, approaching from the village.

The two of them made quite the pair. Judeiras, wiry and over a head taller than me, strolled across the meadow with one hand in his pocket and one shielding his bandaged eyes from the sun. His silver hair hung loose down his back, and his shirt is a deep, V-neck. The shiny black fabric halfway hid the dark purple scars under his pecks. As a deep elf, his skin was a pale, lavender-tinted gray. When he went out at night, or when he was walking around in dim lighting, I could sometimes see the faint turquoise glow of his eyes beneath his bandages.

Uncle Cas had a much more severe gait, stalking across the grass with his meaty fists swinging at his sides. His thick, sandy blond eyebrows furrowed like a couple of angry caterpillars and he regarded me with a deep frown. As a full-blooded dwarf, he was even shorter than me, barely coming up to my chin. Still, he carried himself with the imposing posture of a natural leader. Spine straight as a board, shoulders back, chin high. Despite the height difference, I always felt smaller. Not in a degrading way, though. Even when he was angry and stern with me, there was always the underlying tone of worry that almost made me want to let my walls down around him. Almost.

“You’re not as unpredictable as you like to think, Young Lady,” Uncle Cas answered my unasked question.

“You also have a leaf in your hair,” Judeiras noted.

Muttering a curse, I combed my fingers through pale, leaf green locks – still course from the earlier quest fiasco. When I found nothing, I stuck my tongue out at him.

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

Wildflower stomped a foot and snatched my bag of apples right out of my hand. He galloped away before I could react.

“Traitor!” I called after him, shaking my fist. Honestly, were any boys loyal these days? Hadn’t even noticed him sneaking up on me. “See if you get any sugar cubes for our friendship day!”

“Dulsibella,” Uncle Cas said, tone low and heavy.

I winced. “Ew, Uncle Cas, don’t use that name.”

“Care to explain why you’re out here, rather than taking your finals? Or do you just not want your license, anymore?”

I sighed, turning back to them with my hands on my hips. I dropped them when I saw that I’d accidentally mirrored Uncle Cas’s stance. I wondered if I mimicked his expressions, too. I crossed my harms over my chest and frowned. How much was safe to reveal?

“I’m exempt from exams.”

Judeiras perked up a little. “Exempt? I thought Tompas didn’t like your little excursions into the woods.”

“He didn’t exempt me. Lord Willows did,” I clarified.

Uncle Cas’s arms fell to his sides, anger turning to suspicion. “Did he say why he cleared you?”

“Says it’s unnecessary and that he’s got a bigger task for me.” I smirked.

“Guess I’m not as underestimated as I thought.”

Uncle Cas and Judeiras exchanged looks. “Someone’s up to something,” Judeiras sing-songed. “And I don’t think it’s your headstrong little bundle of tricks over there.”

Uncle Cas rubbed his beard, chewing on his cheek. “I don’t like this.”

I blinked. “You believe me?”

“Oh, hon. You’d say something much more believable if you were lying.” Judeiras tapped his temple with a wink. “I’ve taught you well.”

“Right. Anyway, Lord Willows thinks I’m ready for my quest. Won’t let me go into detail about it, though.”

Uncle Cas’s russet brown eyes sparked. “Oh, he won’t, will he?” He turns on his heel, marching toward the gates. Knowing him, he’d confront Lord Willows face-to-face. Very loudly. The thought brought a smile to my lips.

Judeiras’s lips purse. “It’s a little funny. You’re very calm about this.” He tilted his head toward me, ears bobbing up and down, as if invisible squirrels bounded across them like tree branches.

“What student doesn’t want a chance to skip out on exams?”

Judeiras chuckled. “Sky, perhaps. And your uncle when he was in school, I bet.” He brushed strands of silver from his face. “But what student doesn’t want to brag about being singled out like a special little star? With a special little mission all her own? Because the leader has put his faith in her – seemingly above his own son?”

Don’t get me wrong. I loved Judeiras. But I didn’t like the little spark of pride his words ignited. As angry as I was that Lord Willows had threatened my mother, and as scared as I was of the Forgotten Forest, there was a small part – deep, deep inside – that did kind of relish the risk. Which was frustrating, because I didn’t want to enjoy any mysterious little scheme Lord Willows had cooked up for me.

It was also unsettling that Judeiras had plucked that little seed right up to the surface. I wasn’t supposed to be easy to read. My little weird, chaotic, and halfway feral persona was the perfect cover. No one asked uncomfortable questions. Except for crafty deep elves who liked puzzles and sparkly things.

I held a finger to my lips. “Goad me all you want, Jude. You’re not getting my secrets.”

He crossed his arms and pouted. “But I want the juicy little details. Why keep Lord Willows’s confidence. You actually like me!”

“And I called Wildflower a big baby.” I jerk my thumb at the unicorn mangling the poor bag of apples just past the line of lightning trees. “You make him look stoic and refined.”

“Just one teensy little bitty detail?”

I rolled my eyes, but thought for a moment. “Something to do with a spider. Can’t say any more than that.”

Judeiras tapped his chin. “But we don’t get a lot of spiders around here. What kind of spider?”

“Nope.” I walked past him, hands in my pockets. “I’m hungry, buy me food.”

He passed me and started jogging backwards. “You can’t make demands and keep your secrets, Dulsie. That’s no fair.”

“It’s entirely fair. I’m journeying into adulthood and you’ll miss my next two birthdays.”

He stopped, frowning. Then he shrugged. “Can’t argue with that. One of the big storm berry sweet buns, then?”

I inhaled with a small squeal. “Yes, please! This is why you’re my favorite!”

Judeiras pumped a fist into the air. “Yes! I love being the favorite!”

Sunlight streamed through four huge windows of the Sunny Meadows Bakery, completely justifying its name. The first floor of the bakery was mostly occupied by wood and cloud elves on their lunch breaks. Wooden mugs steamed. The warm dining room had scents of earthy bread, sweet pastries, bitter coffee, and floral tea blending into a welcoming medley.

Phaelan, the eldest Sparkes child and heir of the little business, waved from behind the counter. Their neatly braided black hair was thrown over one shoulder, crystalline eyes shining as Judeiras and I approached.

“Your cake testing isn’t for another week, Judeiras. I hope you’re not trying to sneak some goodies behind Cas’s back.”

Judeiras gasped, hand on his chest.

“Me? Dulsie, can you believe this?”

I cleared my throat, fixing Phaelan with my best impression of Uncle Cas’s famous looks. If you know, you know.

“Now, my dear baker. Never has our ever charming and noble, upstanding citizen here, been so insulted.”

“Not in my life.” Judeiras crossed his arms and turned his nose up. “For shame.”

“Shame.” I seconded.

Phaelan shook their head with a laugh. “You two should audition in the local theater.”

“Since you recognized our star power, I suppose I shall forgive your insolence. This time.”

I pointed at my eyes, then pointed at Shiloh. “We’ll be watching. Closely.”

Phaelan twirled their braid and bowed. “Enjoy the view, then.”

“Ooh, look at you. Maybe you should audition with us.” One side of

Judeiras’s bandages dipped as he winked. He leaned forward. “Food first, though. Tracking our favorite green fluff over here built up an appetite. I’ll try the roast pheasant on sourdough. Hold the mushrooms. And an almond croissant with a rose tea. Extra honey.”

Dulsie waited for Shiloh to finish writing. “Same sandwich, but extra mushrooms. Lots. And a large storm berry bun with the normal person rose tea.”

Judeiras gave a disdainful sniff. “No one who asks for extra mushrooms can claim normalcy.”

Phaelan laughed. “Where’s Mr. Caspkar? He usually reigns the two of you in.” They glanced over our shoulders.

I grinned. “Lecturing one of the village children.”

Judeiras nodded. “One of the really naughty village children.”

“A real brat,” I added, right as Mr. Elijah Sparkes came out with a full tray of food.

“Oh dear, did one of mine get into his merchandise again?” He asked, frowning. Unlike his wife and children’s hair, his was a deep, grayish blue. His eyes were closer to silver. He had a lighter complexion than his wife – a pretty, golden olive, and while both sets of twins took after him, Phaelan’s skin was as dark as their mother’s – a rich coffee color.

“Not this time,” Judeiras assured him.

“But hey, I heard you were retiring, soon.”

Mr. Sparkes beamed and wrapped an arm around Phaelan’s shoulders. “I’m leaving things in very good hands. I think it’s time I finally start focusing on all the sewing projects I’ve been dreaming up. I hear you have a wedding soon, Judeiras. Do you have your attire picked, or would you like to see some designs?”

Judeiras’s ears perked up. “I’d love to see some! How about after the wedding cake testing?”

“Wonderful! I’ll clear my schedule! You know, I bet coordinating—”

“Dad, Valued Comedy Duo, there are other customers.” Phaelan nodded to the line forming behind us.

“Come along, Valued Comedy Number Two,” Judeiras said haughtily as he gave Shiloh a handful of coppers for our order. “We have another engagement, anyhow.”

I cleared my throat and copied his tone. “We shall ascend to greater heights, Valued Comedy Number One.”

Judeiras and I managed to withhold our snickers until we were mostly up the stairs to the much dimmer loft.

Judeiras let out a satisfied sigh as he flopped on the booth in the far corner, away from the one window. “We should ditch Cas more often. He would not have tolerated that little verbal goldmine down there.”

I climbed into one of the chairs. To accommodate for the dwarven customers, Mr. Sparkes and Shiloh had paired tall chairs with regular-sized tables. I wasn’t as short as Uncle Cas or most other dwarves, but every elf in the village still towered over me, and I struggled to eat comfortably at every other restaurant. And even my own house.

I kicked my legs as I leaned forward. “Speaking of Ditching Uncle Cas, maybe you’ll finally tell me how the two of you met.”

Judeiras arched an eyebrow. “Really? He hasn’t told you?” He tapped his lips with one finger and hummed. “I suppose he wouldn’t. He’s always been a little embarrassed by it.”

I snorted. “Uncle Cas? Embarrassed?”

Judeiras scrunched up his nose. “It’s quite cute, actually. A rogue happened to steal away some of the jewelry he was making, right? And that rogue ran all the way to an underground lake that was a good ways from where Cas had made camp. The rogue hopped into a boat and started rowing away.”

I covered my face with a hand and laughed. “Uncle Cas jumped in after you.”

“Ye—hey, I didn’t say I was the rogue.”

“Of course you were the rogue, Judeiras. Who else would you be in the story?”

“An innocent bystander.”

“You are neither of those things.”

Judeiras shrugged. “Anyway. Yes. He jumped in after me. Like an idiot, because show me a dwarf who can swim and I’ll give you my entire life’s savings.”

I shook my head. “And he tells me I need to simmer down.”

“I know, right? He’s a silly man.” He sighed dreamily. “Back to it. I had to rescue him and give back the jewelry, because letting a man that cute drown is a crime all on its own.”

I pictured Uncle Cas. Judeiras definitely wasn’t the only one who noticed how attractive he was, considering how many women would flirt with him. Some men, too. But the moment he realized Judeiras owned a shop here and was therefore a permanent fixture, Uncle Cas’s sights were set. I couldn’t deny that I was jealous. They made love look so easy and natural. The banter, the adoring looks when one or the other wasn’t paying attention. The way they spoke when the other wasn’t around. I wanted that, too.

Judeiras cut into my thoughts. “You’ve got your Cera Eyes on.” He grinned.

“You don’t get to tease me about Cera,” I huffed, slumping with my elbows on the table. “You’re getting your happily ever-after.”

Judeiras’s ears drooped. “Have you even told her your feelings, yet?” He nodded a thank you as the waiter set their food down.

I looked away. “I don’t have to. She guessed it a while back. It didn’t change anything.” I stared into the slightly pinkish brown tea of my mug. “Maybe that’s why she’s so wrapped up in Eiran, now. Because it’s easier than dealing with…with me, I guess.”

“Oh, don’t talk like that.” Judeiras leaned forward. “That’s puppy love, Dulsie. Things will be back to normal once she and Eiran have some time to either stabilize or break up in teenage drama warfare. Just wait until your first romance. You’ll see. Maybe there’s another girl in the village you can have a puppy romance with when you come back from your Qualifying Quest. Or you could have a fling while you’re on your Quest.”

I flitted through the other village girls’ faces in my mind. The younger Sparkes twins were very pretty. But Naya didn’t seem interested in anything other than her archery training, and Sky wasn’t really into anything that wasn’t a book, which maybe there was some logic in that, given my own love life. I had never actually talked to any of the girls in other classes at the academy. They all kept their distance from the adventure course students, except when it came to Eiran, and Cera by proximity.

The only other possible contender for a crush could be Viola, a couple of years older, extremely pretty, and really cool. But she didn’t have the spark that Cera had. She wasn’t as sweet, and she probably wouldn’t talk about animals with me for hours and hours while doing each other’s hair and eating cookies.

“Maybe,” I said, biting into my sandwich. Still piping hot, it steamed in my hands.

Judeiras chuckled as he sipped his tea. “That’s what they all say.