Chapter Twelve
> At this point, James wouldn’t have complained if just one person actually qualified to go on a quest joined their motley crew.
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> “Is this really the best you have?” James asked, wrinkling his nose in displeasure.
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> “Hamlet is a small farming village. But Bessie is the most reliable cow we have, I promise,” John said, shifting his considerable weight back and forth. James hadn’t seen Mrs. Hamlet since the night before, and that was okay with him.
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> “Bessie…” Night trailed off, studying the cow cautiously as though the fat, lazy beast would attack him when he turned his back.
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> “Bessie is a terrible name,” Day said flatly. “Why can’t a wizard of your caliber just turn this sad creature into a horse, James?” Unlike Night and Gabriel, who insisted on the moniker “Just James,” Day was content to call James “James.” That worked for him, even if it traumatized the boys.
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> “I….” He hadn’t even considered attempting to transform the old cow chewing grass in front of him into a different kind of animal, like a horse. Was that even possible?
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> Probably as possible as turning a tiny witch into a person over twenty feet tall.
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> “Thank you for your assistance, Mr. Hamlet,” James said. The large man nodded, waited for the briefest of moments to see if James was going to ask anything else of him, and then bustled back into the inn, already calling out various names, likely preparing for the lunch crowd in a few hours.
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> “Does anyone know anything about cows?” James asked the group.
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> “I know they eat grass,” Night said helpfully.
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> “I know they move slower than you do,” Day said nonchalantly.
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> “I know a fair bit about cows,” Gabriel volunteered. “My parents have their own little herd back home. But why don’t you take Miss Day’s advice and use your magic to transform Bessie into something more suitable?”
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> Because I might harm the poor creature? Because I have no idea what I’m doing?
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> “Good idea,” James finally said, even though their suggestion terrified him. It was one thing to cast spells on people with dubious motives, like bandits and witches, but an old cow?
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> “Let’s make our way through town before I work my magic,” James said. That way if he was a total failure, at least only three people would know instead of the entire town of Hamlet.
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> Gabriel, always quick to help, encouraged Bessie to follow them, and the group slowly shuffled out of Hamlet, Night in the lead. He’d insisted on being the group’s guide and being the one to read the map, and James had happily relinquished the scroll to the young man. Maybe it would keep him distracted enough that he’d stop asking James constant questions about wizard matters, or spells. Or anything to do with magic that James didn’t have the answers to, even though he probably should have.
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> Gabriel kept stealing glances at Day as they made their way down the cobble path, passing small homes and fenced-in fields with a few chickens and cows. If Day noticed the handsome young man’s attention, she kept it to herself. It was obvious she wanted to move much faster than Bessie was capable of—or James for that matter. He felt sorry for the old cow, but not enough to want to walk all the way to the castle. Besides, if he was able to turn the cow into a horse, maybe it would enjoy the trip.
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> The group stopped when the last farm of Hamlet had faded from view and nothing but brown grass and a dirt road were in sight.
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> “Just James, we’ve left Hamlet. Are you going to transform Bessie now?” Gabriel asked.
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> “And rename her I hope,” Day said under her breath.
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> “Oh, yes. Of course.” James’ feet were getting tired, so without further ado, he reached for the book at his waist and leaned against the cow for support as he started flipping through the pages, looking for anything that mentioned a mount or horse.
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> After fifteen minutes had passed, Day started to get antsy and suspicious.
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> “Are you sure you’re a wizard, James? Isn’t that your spell book? Shouldn’t you know where to find a simple spell to transform a creature into something else?”
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> “Don’t question my methods, child,” he said in his most imperious voice, doing his utmost to hide his mounting panic. Night and Gabriel didn’t seem perturbed, but they both seemed too blinded by James’ title to realize Day was right.
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> A real wizard would have uttered the spell from memory in a booming, majestic voice and then mounted a white stallion or something.
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> James was about to give up and make up a lame excuse about not having enough magic or needing certain components before casting the spell when he stumbled on a page that looked promising.
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> Gabriel, Night, and Day were all looking at him expectantly now, so James didn’t bother reading over the spell on his own before he began speaking the words out loud.
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> “When you seek a ride
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> but hope to mount a different hide,
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> do not waste your time on a wagon,
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> when you could ride a fire-breathing dragon.”
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> James gasped as he spoke the final words of the spell. The spell definitely should have advertised the dragon part at the beginning instead of the very end!
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> It was too late. Poor Bessie was already starting to look green. As they all watched, Gabriel and Night with awe, Day with confusion, and James with horror and embarrassment, Bessie grew the smallest pair of wings imaginable, her short tail became thicker and longer, and tiny spikes sprouted from the crown of her head down to the tip of her tail.
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> In the end, she still mostly looked like a cow—stubby, chubby, and lazy—if cows were green, had wings, and spikes.
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> “Was that… intentional?” Day asked, staring at the green cow-dragon quizzically.
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> “Of course,” James huffed. “Everyone knows dragons are some of the fiercest creatures.”
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> “Bessie doesn’t look too fierce to me,” Gabriel said with a grin. James had to agree. The creature was still short and round, but James was tired of walking and had no desire to look for yet another spell to “fix” the cow. Besides, she looked more muscular now. Maybe she’d even walk faster than she had before.
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> “Appearances can be deceiving,” Night said, circling Bessie and studying her. “This mighty dragon may be essential for our quest.”
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> I hope not, James thought to himself.
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> “Of course,” he said, approaching the creature with apprehension. As far as he knew, people didn’t usually ride cows or dragons.
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> “You won’t still be calling her Bessie I hope?” Day said, crossing her arms across her chest.
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> “Feel free to name her,” James said, still looking for the best way to climb up on the cow-dragon’s back. Gabriel noticed his hesitation and offered a hand to boost James up. He was clambering onto the creature’s back and doing his best not to fall off—thankfully, Bessie’s new spikes were soft and spongy—when Day said, “How about Greenie?”
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> James was surprised. Given Day’s tough persona and ninja-like attire, he figured she’d go for something more serious, like Flamespitter or Horneater, but the cow-dragon’s name didn’t matter to him, so he nodded and said, “Greenie it is.”
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> ***
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> “This is the Dreaded Swamp,” Night announced. Following James’ simple advice that the young man plot out the quickest route from Hamlet to the Crimson King’s castle, he had led their group up and down gently rolling hills for several hours, stopping once to eat an impromptu lunch using both Gabriel’s and Night’s supplies. Greenie wasn’t much faster than James, but she seemed tireless, even if she was slow.
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> Besides Greenie sneezing out a jet of blue flames, the trip had been uneventful, just how James liked it.
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> But the swamp stretching out in front of them looked anything but uneventful. A thick blanket of fog stretched over the green ponds and drooping trees, mixing with the eternal dust in the air and making it hard to see.
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> Multiple pairs of glowing, yellow eyes peered through the dark tangle of roots and trunks. The water spilling out of multiple ponds seemed to have a syrup-like consistency and glowed a dull green. Maybe it was radioactive.
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> “Are you sure this is the fastest way?” James asked Night as discreetly as possible.
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> “This will save us exactly one day of travel. And since you requested I lead us on the fastest possible route…”
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> “I did say that, didn’t I….” James patted Greenie absentmindedly as he stopped to think. Bel’s party might have happened three or four days ago. He might be rushing headlong into a killer swamp for nothing.
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> He glanced over at Gabriel. The young man was looking at the swamp with false bravado—probably in an attempt to impress Day—but James could tell Gabriel was just as concerned about entering the Dreaded Swamp as James was.
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> “What do you think, Gabriel?” he asked the young man. After all, part of being a member of a team was delegation. James didn’t have to make all the decisions. Thankfully.
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> The young man looked over at him with confusion.
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> “You want me to decide, Just James?”
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> “The mark of a good leader is learning to listen to the advice of others,” James said, parroting something he’d heard his dad say multiple times over the years as Henrie had dissected the latest book he’d read and puzzled through whythe main character had run into unnecessary trouble. It almost always involved said character being headstrong and stubborn, unwilling to listen to anyone else about anything at all. Those characters tended to have shorter lives than their counterparts, and James wasn’t ready to throw in the towel yet.
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> “I… I think we should camp for the night,” Gabriel said after some internal deliberation. “It’s starting to get dark, and whatever we decide, it would be best to travel in the morning. The last thing I’d want to encounter is a terrible taxi.” The young man shuddered as Night and Day looked at him blankly.
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> “I don’t blame you, lad,” James said, patting the young man on the shoulder. He could reach Gabriel’s shoulder now due to Greenie’s added height. When the siblings looked at the pair with confusion, James added, “Don’t tell me two seasoned rogues like you haven’t heard about taxis.”
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> The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
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> “Nope,” Day said succinctly.
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> “Will you tell us about them?” Night asked eagerly. He was twirling three knives through his fingers currently, which seemed to indicate the young man was nervous about something. Or excited. James wasn’t sure yet.
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> “After we set up camp,” he said, stroking his long white beard. “And speaking of camp, does anyone know where we should stop for the night? Maybe not right in front of the Dreaded Swamp?”
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> Day rolled her eyes and turned on her heel, her white cape billowing out behind her as she stalked toward a copse of trees in the far distance, away from the swamp and its noxious fog.
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> “Lead the way,” James said, nudging Greenie in that direction. The creature complied, plodding after the dark-haired woman. Night was quick to follow his sister, moving silently and gracefully as the pair took off like wraiths. James figured they were probably having a private conversation, away from prying ears, but without his handy silence spell he had no idea.
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> “Just James?” Gabriel said quietly once the two of them were alone, following the siblings to the small grouping of trees in the distance. The dust was still dancing through the air, but James hardly noticed anymore. It was surprisingly easy to get used to something after a few days.
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> “Yes, Gabriel?”
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> “Why did you ask me what I thought we should do? I’m hardly the most qualified member of our questing party.”
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> “And why not? You’re an integral part of the quest, you said so yourself.”
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> Gabriel looked down at the regal gold-and-red tunic he was wearing and the sword strapped to his side and sighed.
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> “You and I both know I don’t know the first thing about swords. Or questing.”
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> James shrugged. “Sure. But Night and Day don’t know.”
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> “Which makes it worse,” Gabriel said miserably.
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> “Why?”
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> “Because they think I’m a hero! Someone with some kind of experience, someone capable of going on a quest, of saving a queen!”
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> “Gabriel, I’ve never met anyone as enthusiastic as you,” James said quietly, and he meant it. “If anyone is supposed to be on this quest, it’s you. Why do you think I asked you what we should do next instead of our rogue siblings over there?”
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> “Probably precisely because I know nothing,” he said glumly.
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> “Or maybe because you know something none of the rest of us do,” James said with a smile. “Don’t worry about it! Life is far too short to worry about if you’re ‘worthy’ or ‘good enough’ or whatever. Although I don’t know why I’m having this conversation with Mr. Perfect…”
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> When Gabriel frowned and brushed his golden locks out of his face, James sighed and moved on.
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> “My point is, you belong here. More than me.”
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> “More than you, Just James? A wizard?”
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> “Yes,” James said bluntly. “This world could probably do with less wizards and more good guys like you.”
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> “You’re the only wizard I know of,” Gabriel pointed out. “You might be the only wizard on this world.”
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> Hmm. It would be harder to prove his point now, but James was determined to encourage the young man. It was too cliché for Gabriel to begin doubting himself now that their adventure had truly begun. Sure, he didn’t know how to fight with a sword—or even how to farm properly—but Gabriel was an incredibly hard worker. He’d figure it out in the end.
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> “Well, if I’m so special and I picked you of all people to join me on this quest to find the Green Queen, you must be special too,” James said triumphantly. As though in agreement, Greenie belched, bright-blue flames threatening to scorch James’ bushy eyebrows.
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> “See? The dragon thing agrees with me. So, young hero, what should we do next?”
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> Gabriel seemed temporarily lost in thought, and James took advantage of the momentary silence to scan their surroundings. The sun was sinking lower in the sky, taking with it the nice warmth. James burrowed a little deeper into his plush robes and fought off a shiver. Nights were cold outside, and he found himself missing his little twin bed and thick blanket in Chelsea. The siblings had reached the copse of trees, and he caught blurry glimpses of a white streak moving through the dark shadows of the trunks. That had to be Day.
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> Who knew where Night was. Gabriel could probably pick him out at this distance, but James was hopeless. Good thing the young man wasn’t actually a dangerous assassin or someone who wanted to cull the wizard population. Neither James or Greenie would put up much of a fight.
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> “I don’t think we should go through the Dreaded Swamp. Even if it is a little faster,” Gabriel admitted finally. His chiseled jaw was set, and James realized the young man had made up his mind.
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> “I completely agree,” James said.
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> “But… but I thought you wanted to reach the Queen of Life as soon as possible?”
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> “Yes, but I also want to arrive there alive and in one piece. When we catch up with Night and Day, you should talk with the young man and look over the map with him. I’m sure he can help you plot out an alternate route.”
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> “Thank you for sharing so much of your wisdom with me, Just James,” Gabriel said with a small smile.
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> “Oh, and if it makes any difference, I think Day is nicer than she acts,” James added with a wink, adjusting his crooked hat. They were almost at the makeshift camp now. He could make out Night struggling to start a fire. Day was nowhere to be seen. Maybe she was hunting down some creature to roast for dinner. Maybe she was searching for better company.
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> Gabriel sputtered like a leaking faucet and was about to explode with some kind of defensive remark when James waved a hand in the young man’s direction.
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> “No need to get upset. I was just imparting more of that wizardly wisdom you value so highly.”
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> Gabriel snorted, folding his muscular arms over his chest.
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> “Oh look, we’re here!”
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> “High Wizard, Gabriel,” Night muttered a distracted greeting as he continued rubbing two sticks together like his life depended on it.
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> “Having trouble?” James asked, looking down at the rogue as he started smacking stones together like a caveman.
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> “Just… starting the fire,” Night grunted, his wavy, dark hair getting in his eyes.
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> James eyed the small pile of wood, the lack of fire, and the two rocks being desperately smacked together.
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> “I’m no expert, but it looks like you’re not quite sure how to start a fire,” James remarked.
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> “Please don’t tell my sister,” Night pleaded. “She told Mom and Dad I wouldn’t last one night on my own away from the farm, but I finally wore her down… and now, if she sees me like this, she… she’ll probably send me back to Hamlet!”
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> “That would be a terrible fate,” James said dryly. “Gabriel? Do you know how to start a fire?”
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> “I can try,” Gabriel said with a smile, setting down his heavy pack and eyeing Night’s assortment of sticks and stones.
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> Soon, the two men were hard at work, one beating stones together to try and create a spark while the other rubbed two sticks together vehemently. James applauded their efforts, but it was obvious even to him that only something like a strike of lightning would be starting their fire tonight.
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> James was happy to pass the torch of map reading to someone else, and Day did seem like the kind of person who would march her brother right back to their village if she discovered he wasn’t as capable as he claimed.
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> At this point, James wouldn’t have complained if just one person actually qualified to go on a quest joined their motley crew.
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> Maybe his spell book had something about starting a fire. But he really didn’t want to be held responsible for burning down a baby forest, and Day would likely be returning any moment…
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> Greenie snorted and James had an epiphany.
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> “Anyone have a feather?”
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> ***
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> James had tried not to look too smug when the dark-haired woman had returned to their makeshift camp to find a cozy fire burning and Gabriel and Night examining the map, looking for another route to reach the Crimson King’s castle.
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> Greenie was apparently dragon enough to start a respectable fire, and she was now enjoying a well-deserved nap by the fire, her small wings fluttering slightly as she snored. James was jealous of the creature and ready to rest himself, but he figured he should at least pretend to be involved in their travel plans.
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> “We could go around the swamp to the east,” Night was saying, one pale finger tracing out the potential path on the map.
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> “In case you missed the intricate drawing of the spider queen that haunts that area, I recommend another path,” Day said, rolling her eyes. She had returned with several creatures that looked vaguely like squirrels. James had looked away when she’d “prepared” them, but he didn’t turn down the chance to eat once the meat was cooked.
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> Food was food, at least as long as it didn’t have any eyes that could look at you.
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> “I agree with Day,” Gabriel said apologetically. His perfect brows furrowed as he examined the map. Night had been teaching the muscular farmer how to read the map, and in true Gabriel fashion, he had picked it up quickly.
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> “There seems to be a path to the west,” he said timidly, pointing at a detailed sketch of what looked like teeth or mountains.
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> “I don’t think I… Greenie can manage crossing whatever those are,” James said, peering over Gabriel’s shoulder.
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> The young man nodded and, after asking Night for the map, held the unrolled parchment in front of him, his face a mask of concentration as he studied its contents.
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> “We could go under,” he said suddenly.
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> “Under?” Day said incredulously. She was juggling seven or eight pinecones absentmindedly, and of course she didn’t so much as drop one, even after Gabriel’s strange announcement.
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> “Doesn’t it look like there’s an entrance, right around here? I’m no expert, but…”
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> “He’s right,” Night said slowly, his dark eyes narrowing as he examined the spot Gabriel was pointing at.
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> “Well, unless we want to deal with spider queens and toothy mountains, I think under is the best choice,” James said.
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> “Even though under the swamp could be magnitudes worse than going through the swamp?” Day pointed out, irritation obvious in her voice.
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> “It won’t be worse,” James murmured confidently, already trying in vain to get comfortable on the hard ground, his crooked hat pulled over his face. “I trust young Gabriel.”
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> Day was about to protest, but James’ snores deterred her.
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> “This wizard could likely sleep through the end of the world,” she growled, adding another pinecone to her juggling.
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> ***
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> He dreamed of Bel.
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> She was in the garden, light streaming down in the early morning as she brushed her silver hair out of her eyes and tended to yet another new addition to her impressive collection. Her eyes were green this morning, as vibrant and lively as her green blouse, the sleeves lacey and light, fanning out on her shoulders. Meant for summer.
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> She was muttering under her breath as she picked grape tomatoes, putting them gingerly in a small tin at her side.
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> “I thought for sure… well, I figured. I guess I hoped….” She sighed and got up off her knees with a small groan, rubbing her back.
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> “Time to water the roses,” she said to herself, dusting off her tan shorts and making her way over to the watering can hanging on a hook by the trellis filled with beautiful, small, delicate flowers of pink and purple.
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> “Bel?” a deep voice asked, startling her. She did her best to hide her surprise, beginning her journey through the garden with watering can in hand, visiting each plant one at a time.
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> “Who is it?” she asked.
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> “Lander,” the deep voice chuckled, and now she could see the man, dressed in a crisp suit and tie as he always was. “I didn’t mean to startle you. I just wanted to congratulate you on such a successful garden party the other night.”
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> “I’m glad you enjoyed it,” Bel said quietly, her bright-green eyes meeting the man’s dark-gray ones. “Thank you for giving me the chance to grow such a large garden up here.”
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> “Of course, of course,” the man said with a grin. He was one of those men born with a business smile and casual good looks. His hair was a dark black—it had to be dyed at this point, given that he was even older than she was—and he obviously went to great lengths to stay in shape.
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> But she could see the stress lines around his eyes. This was a man who smiled often but who seemed to be rarely happy.
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> “Your garden truly livens up my humble apartments,” Lander said. “In fact,” he made a show of looking around at the various flowers and vegetables, “maybe you’d like to expand your little empire.”
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> “What do you mean?” she asked, wiping her brow. Even in the morning, the sun was beating down on her, determined to get past her sun hat.
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> “I think we both know what I mean, Bel,” he said with a winning smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “You’ll consider my offer, won’t you?”
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> “Of course,” she said, her attention elsewhere. On the plant she was watering, rather than the man eager to marry her.
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> He’d proposed multiple times, but Bel had always found a way to gracefully decline.
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> “You’ve said that before,” he said, now at her side. Somehow, he’d crossed through the entire garden already and was a mere two or three feet away now. “No need to stay in your tiny apartment, alone, with no parents or family or friends to keep you company.”
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> “I’m not lonely,” she said. It was mostly true.
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> “Let me know if you change your mind,” he said simply.
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> When she glanced behind her, he was gone.