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BY GARRON OF FAIRENDALE
Head Gardener
The countryside around Fairendale is abundant with green grasses and plants by the hundreds, but if you do not know these plants, you will find yourself charmed in the worst of ways. Some of the plants in the fields surrounding Fairendale will make you fall asleep simply by smelling them, and so we, the people of Fairendale, warn our children to keep away from the green open fields, particularly those closest to the Weeping Woods. The grasses will sometimes allow a traveler to pass unaffected, but many times they will not.
This, as you might imagine, limits the sustainability, which is simply a fancy word for how people live, of Fairendale. With such large green fields, one would think we could raise animals or plant enormous gardens, but that is not the case.
Fortunately, we do have a safe patch of land where I have cultivated a large and beautiful garden. This garden feeds the people of Fairendale. It feeds, too, the sheep of Fairendale, which is the only animal we have found that is immune to the charm of the grasses. I believe that we do not need these sheep as much as the villages claim we do, for a garden provides enough sustenance to live on, but that is a story for another day.
Here are top three things you will need to sustain yourself in a land like Fairendale:
1. A robust garden.
All you need for a robust garden is a plot of land you can cultivate. I found this plot of land on the easternmost side of Fairendale. To begin this garden, I asked Arthur of Fairendale to build me large rectangles made of wood. I then turned some soil in the field beyond (alas, I fell asleep twice) and used that soil to fill the rectangles, plunging seeds deep within the bed and watering regularly. In a matter of time, I had a garden.
The weather in Fairendale is quite mild, which means that we can grow all manner of tasty food—tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, and many other delicious vegetables, as well as strawberries and blackberries and grapes (these latter fruits are grown on wooden trellises, also supplied by Arthur), and the base of all our sustenance: wheat.
I am very proud of my garden.
2. A dedication to weeding the garden.
Every fruitful garden must be diligently weeded. The children of Fairendale occasionally help me, but mostly I use the daughter of my assistant, whose name is Ruby. She is quite good at what she does, and I do not have to explain to her the difference between a weed and a plant.
3. A healthy herb garden.
Herbs are not only good for seasoning the dishes we are able to cook in Fairendale, but they are also quite good for healing people. The village healer uses my herbs regularly. They include basil, chamomile, echinacea, feverfew, lavender, lemon balm, marigold, parsley, peppermint, rosemary, sage, thyme, and St. John’s Wort.
The people of Fairendale use these for a variety of things, including:
Flatulence
Cuts and scrapes
Head aches
Stomach aches
Colds
Relaxation
Sleeping draughts
Wounds
Digestive problems
Bad breath
Concentration
Throat aches
As you can see, it is possible to live on very little, if one is diligent about maintaining and cultivating a robust garden.
The Royal Family of Fairendale
King Willis: The current king of Fairendale. Has a deep love for sweet rolls, and it shows in his, well, wideness.
Queen Clarion: The current queen of Fairendale. Is underestimated by her husband, but we shall see just how powerful she is soon enough.
Prince Virgil: Son of King Willis and Queen Clarion, best friend of Theo. Prefers rye bread with melted butter to sweet rolls, depending on the day.
King Sebastien: Deceased king of Fairendale, exception to the line of boys who tried to steal thrones and were, upon failing at their quest, forever banished to sail the Violet Sea. Was killed by a blackbird.
The Villagers of Fairendale
Arthur: Village furniture maker and magic instructor to girls who possess the gift of magic. Is a bit reckless but always manages to come out on the other side—though one is not always assured it will be so.
Maude: Arthur’s wife. Bakes spectacular pumpkin sugar cookies. Prefers caution to reckless abandon.
Hazel: Daughter of Arthur and Maude, twin of Theo. Cares for the village sheep and can even, amazingly, understand them.
Theo: Son of Arthur and Maude, twin of Hazel. Finishes his chores early so he can sit in on magic lessons.
Mercy: Daughter of Cora, best friend of Hazel. Prefers spectacular acts of magic to “boring” ones.
Cora: Mother of Mercy, widow, shape shifter. A woman who moves.
Garron: The town gardener. Talks to plants as though they can hear him. Has three sons: 12-year-old twins and a 13-year-old.
Bertie: The town baker. Enjoys showing off his air-kneading skills for the children.
Staff of Fairendale Castle
Garth: Page for King Willis, the oldest of twelve children. Sometimes calls King Willis “Your Wideness.”
Cook: One of the few shape shifters in the land. Shape shifts into a bear. Is highly annoyed by her assistant, Calvin.
Calvin: An orphan who began working as Cook’s assistant instead of traveling to live with distant relatives in Ashvale—and so did not perish in the Fire Mountain that claimed the entire population of Ashvale many years ago. Tasked with feeding the prisoners in the dungeons beneath the dungeons.
Sir Greyson: Captain of the king’s guard. Receives medicine, which keeps his mother alive, in exchange for his service to the king. Carries a magical sword that cannot be lifted by any but him.
Sir Merrick: Second in command to Sir Greyson.
Important Prophets
Aleen: A prophetess who is one hundred forty-two years old, from the kingdom of White Wind. Wears ebony skin and what appears to be a collection of snakes for hair (though it is not).
Yerin: A prophet who is one hundred forty-two years old, from the wild woodland between Lincastle and Eastermoor. Has white hair that makes the dark of the dungeons where he is imprisoned a bit less dark.
Dragons of Morad
Zorag: King of the dragons of Morad. Lost his parents in the Great Battle, when King Sebastien stole the throne from the Good King Brendon. Would like nothing more than peace.
Blindell: Zorag’s cousin, raised as the dragon king’s son. Lost his parents in the Great Battle, when King Sebastien stole the throne from the Good King Brendon. Would like nothing more than revenge.
Larus: One of the elder dragons of Morad, male. Counselor to Zorag.
Malera: One of the elder dragons of Morad, female. Counselor to Zorag.
The lost 12-year-old children of Fairendale
Ursula
Chester
Charles
Thumbelina (known as Lina among the children)
Minnie
Jasper
Frederick
Ruby
Martin
Oscar
Homer
Anna
Aurora
Rose
Edgar
Harriet (known as Hattie among the children)
Isabel (known as Izzy among the children)
Ralph
Dorothy
Julian
Tom Thumb
Philip