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  “She’s still so young. Why does Azure need to become queen now?” The ambassador for the Crystals leaned forward from his place on the far side of the room so he could see the head of the table. His frosted breath hung in the air, especially noticeable in the firelight illuminating the large room. His hair was a shimmering silver, worked into multiple braids and pulled back into a thick ponytail.

  “Why my daughter shall ascend and take my crown isn’t your concern. I have ruled the Virgoans for several hundred years, and now it’s time I step down,” Queen Emeri told them, her voice growing hoarse.

  The queen spotted the reflective eyes of a creature sitting on the cupboard just behind the ambassador. She stood, pushing her chair out. The others in the room stood as well, in a show of respect.

  “Excuse me.” Queen Emeri swept from the room, her long green dress brushing the floor. She paused at the tall door and turned to gaze at the animal still perched on the cupboard against the far wall. The cat jumped down and strolled across the space, looking up at her with a casual expression. She opened the door and let the feline exit first, following close behind and pulling the door shut from the corridor.

  She turned to find exactly the person she’d expected. “Mother, you sent your spy.” The queen pointed at the unassuming orange tabby.

  The ancient witch wore a bright blue evening robe, although it was daytime. A clip with a lavender amethyst that matched her hair was tucked into her short bob. “I did,” she admitted at once with a sparkle in her eyes and a smile. “How else will I know what happened? You won’t tell me.”

  The queen sighed. “Mother, you were once queen. You know I can’t tell you everything. The privacy of council meetings applies to everyone.”

  “What I know is that if I hear about what’s going on, then I sleep better at night. You wouldn’t want an old woman fretting over these things, would you?” The smile grew on her face.

  “Don’t pull that bullshit,” Emeri said, pushing the cat away. He was still pawing at the door to the council room. The damn felines didn’t work for anyone, or belong to anyone either, but once they agreed to take on a task then they stayed on it. Stubborn creatures.

  “Sometimes I think you’re trying to kill me with all the secrets you attempt to keep,” the Queen Mother said.

  “We know you’re going to outlive us all. And you already know more than you should,” the queen said.

  “I don’t know what you plan to do about Azure’s soul stone.”

  “There’s nothing to do until the damn thing is dislodged. And I know what you’re thinking, but we have no idea what it will look like. It could be fine, but if it isn’t then she’ll just keep hers hidden, like I do mine.” The queen was defiant, determined not to show any worry or what was worse with her mother, weakness.

  “It’s cute as a troll how you pretend yours is hidden. I might be a batty old fart who you keep in the dark, but I’ve got my ways of knowing the truths you hide from me,” Sari said. “I’m exactly twice your age, as you are twice Azure’s. Stepping down is becoming a tradition, even if my reasons were different. Being the queen isn’t everything. Yes, even I believe that, and greener pastures were calling to me. Besides, once the king was dead…” Her voice trailed off. It was her most tender place.

  But just as quickly her demeanor changed and she stiffened her spine. Emeri was used to the transformation. Her mother had taught her how to reign effectively, but any parenting skills Emeri possessed she had picked up on her own.

  “You were my heir, and turning over the crown to you made sense at the time. If you are able to toil late into the night crafting new spells, feel fortunate. My duties were more complex, and didn’t leave me time for such luxuries,” the queen mother continued.

  Emeri winced at the dig. “You have all the time in the world for luxuries now, Mother. Find a hobby and leave council business to me.”

  “If I knew a little more you might find me to be a helpful ally, particularly in the days ahead,” the queen mother stated. She was smiling, but her eyes told a different story.

  “I want to be clear: keep what you think you know to yourself, and don’t send Eclipse into council meetings. I’m negotiating to get the humans to cooperate, and it’s already hard enough when they treat us like we’re freaks. I can’t have your familiar interrupting meetings. Understood?” Queen Emeri said.

  The older woman eyed the queen, her lavender eyes searching her daughter’s face. “We don’t need anything from them,” she said finally.

  “Of course we don’t. But they’re our neighbors on the far side of the Dark Forest, and the treaty states—”

  “That we should all get along.” Sari cut the queen off, her voice bored. “They treat us with such disrespect. I’ve tried with those people. You’ve tried with those people. Just take the offensive—that’s the best approach.”

  At that moment the door to the council room swung open and the ambassadors for the Gnomes and Crystals marched out.

  “Oh, I was just returning,” the queen exclaimed, her face flushing pink.

  “That’s not necessary. We’ve finished discussing business for now, and I must return to my kingdom,” the Crystals’ ambassador said, brushing past them.

  Queen Emeri turned to the human standing in the doorway. Richard, the emperor of the Land of Terran, stood tall in his charcoal gray suit, which was in marked contrast to the billowy robes worn by the wizards in Virgo. He moved to stand in front of the queen.

  “I’m sure Azure will make a fine queen,” he said, his voice soft and even sounding sincere. That was rare for humans from Terran. His tribe had emigrated thousands of years ago when the gates between Oriceran and Earth had last been fully open. Now they were closed, but as the Virgoans had noticed, humans liked to create borders.

  “I do agree, and I’m grateful that you think so,” the queen said.

  Emperor Richard cleared his throat, his expression firmer and now tense. “However, your reasons for having her take the crown so early really do elude the council. It might benefit everyone if you were more forthcoming.”

  “My reasons are none of the council’s concern,” she said, tilting her chin higher as her face took on a pinched look.

  “Emeri, I’m simply trying to encourage you—”

  “And, Emperor, may I suggest that next time,” she said, cutting him off and directing an outstretched hand at the man walking up behind him, “we only needed one representative from the Land of Terran. Your brother the Duke really didn’t need to accompany you.”

  Behind Emperor Richard stood a man in similar clothes, their own idea of a regal costume. Phillip was darker than his brother, and carried his trench coat neatly folded over his forearm. He had attempted a smile, but it was more of a scowl.

  “Queen Emeri, I heard the news about Charmsgood missing. Such a mystery,” Phillip said, shaking his head, a mock look of worry on his face. He unfolded the coat and pulled it over his shoulders, smiling.

  The queen sized up the Emperor’s brother. “It’s strange how things from Earth—new fashions, new gadgets—keep appearing in the hands of the people from Terran,” she mused, reaching out and removing a short hair from Phillip’s coat. She held it up with a victorious smile. “This appears to be from a breed of dog we don’t have on Oriceran.”

  “How could you know that from a single strand?” Phillip asked, scoffing.

  “Because I have real magic in me,” the queen said. “I wouldn’t want to have to alert those in power that illegal portals to Earth are being opened and goods smuggled back, things like clothes and pure breeds and who knows what else. Things that are subsequently sold in the Dark Market.” The queen eyed the jacket hanging from Phillip’s shoulders, a fashion not previously seen on Oriceran. That was growing more typical of the people from Terran. More and more they chose not to travel outside their borders—except, apparently, to Earth.

  “Well, if you’d prefer not to tattle, then don’t, Queen.” Phillip leaned
forward and spoke with pronounced menace in his voice.

  Chapter Three

  Having been cooped up in the House of Enchanted all day, Azure relished the fresh air as she trotted through the grounds of the large estate. The entire day had been filled with lesson after lesson. And although the day hadn’t come to an end quite yet, she appreciated that her husbandry lessons were outside under the sunlit sky.

  Once past the stables she lowered the hood of her robes, enjoying the wind tangling her blue hair. A black and white cat strode beside her, but she pretended not to notice him. She finally turned to the feline at the archway leading to the farm.

  “You know you can’t come with me,” she said to Finswick.

  The cat wrinkled his eyes at her and spun back toward the House, his tail arching angrily in the air before he swept it back and forth. Such a drama queen.

  “You know it’s not me. It’s the fairies—they’re afraid you’ll eat them,” Azure shouted to the retreating cat.

  He’d get over being left out. Or he wouldn’t. She didn’t have the time to worry about the cat’s feelings.

  Hurrying past a field of half-grown root vegetables, Azure headed for the green house on the south end of the farm. She had spent many an afternoon hanging from the apple trees in the orchards on the far side of the farm. Monet used to chase her across the hay bales that bordered the area between the stables and the gardens. This was truly one of Azure’s favorite places in Virgo, probably because her people took such pride in growing their food.

  “You’re late,” Finnegan said when she entered the greenhouse.

  “You always say that, and it’s never true,” she said, hoisting her clementine-colored robes as she hurried in his direction.

  The old wizard sat hunched over a large pot, his fingers deep in the moist soil. “The little fuckers have been hiding from me all afternoon,” he said, digging until he was elbow-deep in the dirt.

  “Maybe you’ve offended the mars bee traps by calling them names.”

  Finnegan shook his head of long turquoise hair. He dug deeper, his face pinching as he did. “These assholes don’t have feelings.” His hand had to be nearly to the bottom of the giant pot, but he kept digging, his beard now resting on the top of the soil.

  Mars bee traps were deadly for bees, luring them in with their hypnotic scent. The plant was incredibly useful in many potions, but only grew to maturity once lured above the surface of the soil.

  “This batch is just a bit more stubborn than most. They might have caught the bug,” Finnegan said, pulling his hand from the soil with defeat written on his face.

  “Bug? You mean bee? I thought you weren’t feeding them,” Azure said, handing the wizard a towel.

  He shook his head. “I mean whatever has taken out half the mint jelly and hook-skirt herbs. Their leaves have brown spots, and they’re withering away.”

  “Uh, maybe they have a fungus,” Azure said, glancing at the herbs under discussion, which were sitting in long rows in pots of various colors. Those two plants were used in many potions, but were mostly known for their healing properties.

  “Yes, it looks like one that I’ve seen taking out plants in the mountains. However, I’ve never found it in this part of Virgo before.” Over Finnegan’s shoulder a buzzing light sped, zipping around his face. He swatted at the fairy, his face screwed up in annoyance.

  “Hey, listen!” the fairy yelled, her high-pitched voice ringing through the air.

  “I already heard you the first time. Don’t beat a dead unicorn,” Finnegan said, straightening his robe. His plum-colored soul stone was fashioned into a brooch that was pinned to the right side of his chest.

  “What’s Navi going on about?” Azure asked, sitting on the crate next to the large pot and taking her turn digging into the soil to find the mars bee traps.

  Finnegan waved a dismissive hand at the fairy, who settled on his shoulder and whispered into his ear. Her face was bright red with anger, which made her pink hair blend with it.

  “I know what you think you saw, but you have no evidence. Get off,” Finnegan said to the fairy, who flew to where Azure was working. She looked at Azure, her eyes earnest.

  “This morning I saw one of the humans in here, and that batty old wizard won’t believe me,” Navi said, stomping her slippered foot.

  “It wouldn’t make any difference if I did. The point is that we have two crops with a strange fungus, and only Charmsgood will know the cure,” Finnegan said. He turned, scanning the rows of plants at his back, where several buzzing lights could be seen hovering over the leaves. The fairies always flew around so fast while working that only the light of their wings could be seen when in motion. “Why don’t you help with the harvest instead of spreading rumors?”

  Azure sunk her fingers deep into the soil, enjoying the softness. Once the dirt came to her wrist, she stayed still. “There was a council meeting this morning. The Emperor and the Duke were apparently in attendance.”

  The fairy nodded adamantly. “See, she gets it. They did something to our crops. Who knows what else?”

  Finnegan shook his head, disregarding the fairy. “Azure, what are you doing? You’ve got to dig to catch those little jerks.”

  “That approach didn’t appear to work for you,” she said, nodding her head at his dirt-covered robes.

  “That’s probably because the mars bee traps are all dead in the bottom of that pot,” he said.

  “They might be dead because that human in the trench coat was in here! I’m telling you what I saw!” Navi screamed, her fists by her side.

  “Please grab me a stabilizer,” Azure said to the fairy, who flew off and a moment returned with a small stick.

  Twice she’d felt something tickle her finger. The third time she pinched it and pulled the long stem to the surface of the soil. “Voila!” Azure sat back and gave Navi space to tie the mars bee trap to the stabilizer. The stick would keep it from sliding back under the soil, and ensure it grew straight and tall.

  “How’d you do that? I’ve been digging for those fuckers all afternoon,” Finnegan asked, his turquoise eyes narrowing.

  “Magic,” Azure told him, plunging her fingers back into the soil to find another plant.

  Chapter Four

  “Damn it!” Queen Emeri held her wand tightly in her fingers. It was a typical Virgoan wand, made from the howling willow that only grew on the peak of the Mountain of Truth, a place as dangerous as the Dark Forest. It was also the home of the oldest known witch, Mage Lenore.

  Azure paused in the doorway of her mother’s study, not making a sound. She liked to watch her mother when she didn’t know anyone was there. That’s when she saw her mum, the actual person. In those moments the queen and all the responsibility tied to her was gone, if only for a short time. She appeared approachable, soft, and something else… Was that vulnerability she saw in her mother’s eyes? That was something new. The queen was concentrating, staring intently at a piece of paper as she muttered an incantation. Sometimes witches spoke when casting spells, but only if it was incredibly difficult.

  “Damn, damn, damn!” Queen Emeri exclaimed, slamming her wand on the desk in front of her.

  “Are you all right?” Azure asked, stepping out of the shadows of the entryway.

  Queen Emeri looked up, her face at first showing how startled she was and then arranging itself into something more acceptable.

  “Yes, I’m fine,” she said, tucking the thick piece of parchment she’d been working with under a stack of papers. “I mean, no. That’s why I asked you to stop by. I thought it wouldn’t be for quite some time though. Your fitting, did it go all right?”

  “As it always does,” Azure assured her mother. She’d been the same size for decades now, since she stopped growing at age eighteen. “I’m not wearing the shoes, though. Those heels are a form of torture, and I fail to see what I’ve done to deserve that.”

  Queen Emeri smiled, but it didn’t reach all the way to her eyes. Something
was wrong.

  That’s what this whole meeting is about. I wish I were anywhere but here, thought Azure.

  Azure wanted to be off experiencing her last bit of freedom with Monet, berating him for being a worthless toad-brain or whatever other insult came to mind. However, royal duties had been sucking up all her attention lately. Monet had taken it upon himself to inquire around Virgo about Charmsgood’s whereabouts. The Potions Master’s absence was creating more and more problems, as witches and wizards ran out of ingredients or potions or just his clever expertise.

  “You don’t have to wear the shoes at the coronation,” her mother finally allowed, standing and striding around her large desk, which overflowed with books, papers, and quills. “Azure, I’ve been explaining how you will lead the Virgoans for quite some time. However, now we need to discuss how you will protect them.”

  The younger witch turned to face her mother directly, putting her back to the large fire to warm herself. “I’m listening.”

  There was a ton of chatter begging for her attention in her head. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to ascend the throne, it was just that she didn’t want to do it now. She was such a young witch, and this was all being pushed on her so early.

  “The emotional climate might shift when there’s a change in the monarchy. I suspect that the humans from the Land of Terran might try something.”

  “But the treaty and Emperor Richard won’t allow that,” Azure stated. The Emperor, from everything she’d seen, had worked hard to keep the peace between his people and those of Virgo, although not always successfully. “I know that humans hold themselves as superior to most, especially witches and wizards. And the people of Virgo are never keen to put up with prejudice, sometimes even revolting against the abuse…” Azure’s voice trailed off. She wasn’t sure what else to say.