Eight

“You can’t ride with us!” Adara announced when she saw Poppy eyeing the carpet. “There isn’t room!”

“I don’t need a ride,” the fairy replied. “It’s just that I’ve never seen a magic carpet up close before. How does it work?”

“I tell it what to do,” I said. “It listens to people with the right kind of magic. Do you know the way to Oculura and Dyspepsia’s cottage?”

The fairy shook her head. “I’ve heard about it, but I’ve never been there.”

“Then follow us,” I told her. “It’s easier to show the way than it is to give directions.”

As soon as the carpet started rising, Poppy became tiny and darted over to me. She flew beside me the entire way, a silent companion I didn’t mind at all.

I had mixed feelings about visiting the witches Oculura and Dyspepsia. Although I had become friends with the sisters, the memories of my first visit to their home still made me uneasy. The cottage had once belonged to Vannabe, a woman without any magical abilities who thought she could learn to be a witch by reading a real witch’s books. Searching for ingredients for a spell, she had captured Eadric and me. We were frogs at the time, and unable to help ourselves until I read a spell from a different book. In the meantime, we had to spend a very unpleasant night in the cottage, afraid that we were about to die.

I still couldn’t return to the cottage without my stomach churning. Eadric didn’t seem to mind it nearly as much. He looked around with interest as I landed the carpet.

“They fixed it up!” he said. “That roof is new and the cottage has more windows now.”

“What a lovely garden!” Adara cried as Poppy darted off. “Would you like to explore it with me?”

“I can’t right now,” I told her.

“I was asking Eadric,” she announced, turning to smile at him.

Eadric glanced at the cottage. “Maybe in a few minutes. I want to see inside.” He hurried off without sparing her another look.

Adara sighed. “Queen Frazzela warned me that this might be difficult, but I never thought it would be this hard!” she said under her breath.

I turned to her, startled, but she was already wandering off into the garden. Were Adara and Eadric’s mother plotting something? Precisely what was the difficult thing Adara was trying to do? Worried, I looked around for Eadric. When I saw that he was already halfway to the cottage, I hurried to catch up.

The witches had put a lot of work into the area near the cottage. A large garden in full bloom surrounded the little building, filling the air with a heady fragrance. Flowering fruit trees marked the garden’s corners. I saw at least two fountains and three birdbaths, and that was just in front of the cottage. The brilliant blooms weren’t the only source of color, however. Full-sized fairies dressed in brilliant hues walked between the rows while their tiny friends fluttered from one blossom to another, tasting nectar and exclaiming over the vivid display.

“It looks more like a party than a rally,” Eadric said when I joined him. “Is that Oculura carrying a platter?”

Eadric and I had met Oculura at the magic marketplace while looking for an ingredient for the spell to turn Haywood from an otter to a man. Although Oculura had later introduced me to her sister, Dyspepsia, Eadric had never met her.

“They’re serving food!” Eadric exclaimed, quickening his pace. “I wonder what it is.”

While Eadric hurried toward Oculura, I looked around, hoping to spot Chervil. Unfortunately, I had no idea what the fairy looked like. “Is Chervil here?” I asked a passing fairy.

“He’s in the garden behind the cottage,” the fairy replied. “He said he’ll start his speech soon. Have you tried the puff pastries? They’re delicious!”

When I rejoined Eadric, Adara had found him again and had her hand on his arm. “I’m going to get some,” she declared. “I didn’t eat much at lunch. Eadric, are the pastries any good?”

Eadric was about to pop another pastry into his mouth, but he paused long enough to say, “They’re wonderful!”

“Emma!” Oculura called from only a few yards away. “Is that you? I really can’t tell. I put two new eyes in this morning. They’re from a pair of cousins who never could see eye to eye. Everything is a little blurry. They’ve been giving me a headache, but I haven’t had time to change them. Come inside with me while I get more pastries. I can change my eyes and we can talk. We can’t be long, though. Chervil is going to start his speech soon and I don’t want to miss a word!”

I followed her inside, with Eadric and Adara trailing behind us. The cottage looked very different from the first time I saw it. The room was cleaner now and the sisters had replaced most of the furniture, including the bed and table that Vannabe had used. The only thing hanging from the new ceiling was a lantern made of brass. I was relieved that the changes made it seem like a different room.

“Can I take some of these?” Eadric asked, pointing at the pastries cooling on the table.

“Help yourself!” Oculura told him. “I made plenty!”

After helping himself to a handful, Eadric wandered out the door, munching.

“Do you know Chervil very well?” I asked Oculura.

“Oh, my, yes!” she replied. “I’ve grown his plants in my gardens no matter where I’ve lived. We’ve known each other since I was just a girl. That’s why I said he could have his rally here. He’s such a dear and gets along with everyone. Even Dyspepsia likes him, and she hardly likes anyone. Ah, here we are!” Oculura took the jar of eyeballs from the shelf and shook it. The jar seemed fuller than it had the last time I was there.

“Are those real?” asked Adara.

I gave her an annoyed glance before turning back to Oculura. “This is Princess Adara from Lower Mucksworthy. She wanted to come with us today.”

“How nice,” Oculura said with a chill to her voice.

“It looks as if you’ve added to your collection,” I said, watching the eyeballs swirl around inside the jar.

Oculura nodded. “I have. I believe seeing things from different people’s eyes broadens my perspective and makes me more open-minded. Here, these should do,” she said, reaching into the jar. “They don’t match, but the previous owners were both very fair minded.”

After removing her eyes from the sockets, she popped in the new ones and blinked. “It takes a moment for them to come into focus. Ah, that’s better!”

Adara gasped and put her hand over her mouth. “I think I’ll go find Eadric,” she said, and hurried out the door.

I narrowed my eyes as I watched her go. Whatever she was up to, I knew I wasn’t going to like it. “Do you have a bowl I might borrow?” I asked Oculura. “And some water, if you don’t mind.”

“Going to do some scrying?” Oculura asked as she fetched a pretty blue-and-green bowl.

I nodded and took the bowl from her hands. “I have some questions about Adara. She arrived at the castle, claiming to be a relative. I think she’s up to something. Oh, thank you,” I said as Oculura poured water into the bowl.

“So she’s not a relative?” Oculura asked.

“Grandmother doesn’t think so,” I told her, and bent over the bowl.

I hadn’t done much scrying, but I knew what to do. Passing my hand over the water, I thought about Adara. When the image of her face appeared in the water, I murmured, “Where does she come from?”

The image of a castle squatting in a muddy plain appeared in the bowl. It was an ugly castle with three low towers and very few windows. “That’s Lower Mucksworthy,” said Oculura. “Dyspepsia and I visited it once years ago. We didn’t stay long, though. The stench from the mud flats gave my sister terrible headaches.”

“Who is Adara’s father?” I asked. Just because she came from a castle didn’t mean that she was a princess. For all we knew, she could be a serving girl.

A moment later, a picture of a middle-aged man sitting on a throne appeared in the water. His arm was propped on the arm of the throne and he was resting his chin in his hand, watching children of various ages playing at his feet. The man looked weary, even in the wavery image.

“So her father is the king,” I said. “Why did she come to Greater Greensward and what does she plan to do?”

The image of the king disappeared, and one showing Eadric’s mother talking to Adara appeared in its place. I had never visited Upper Montevista, but I guessed that’s where they were when I saw the mountains through a window.

With Oculura watching over my shoulder, I repeated my question. Nothing happened for a moment, so I leaned closer, concentrating harder. Suddenly the image became clearer and we could actually hear the muted voices of Queen Frazzela and Adara.

“You are lovely, my dear,” said Frazzela. “You’re just the kind of princess I had hoped my son Eadric would marry. Tell me, have you ever visited Greater Greensward?”

Adara shook her head. “No, I’ve never had the opportunity to go there. This is my first trip outside Lower Mucksworthy.”

“I’ve always thought that was such an unfortunate name for a kingdom. Mucksworthy! Ah well, it can’t be helped. I chose you for your beauty, not your kingdom. Now, I want you to travel to Greater Greensward, where my son is mooning over a girl who is totally inappropriate for him. When you see Eadric, smile at him, bat your eyelashes, do whatever it takes to get him interested in you and away from that dreadful Emma. Once you’ve lured him away, bring him back here. You’ll have the most magnificent wedding that you can imagine, plus I’ll send your father all that gold I promised him. Do you think you can handle that?”

“Of course,” said Adara. “I’ll have him here before the end of the month.”

“Excellent!” said Frazzela. “My carriage is ready to take you and …”

They were still talking when I passed my hand over the bowl again and the image faded away.

“Wow! That was impressive!” declared Oculura. “You got sound! I’ve never been able to get sound when I scry. You are the most powerful witch in the kingdom! Of course, I knew that when you turned yourself into a dragon at the tournament. I can’t wait to tell the other witches about this at the next council meeting!”

“At least I know what Adara’s up to now,” I said. I wasn’t surprised; I was angry. It had never occurred to me that my future mother-in-law hated me so much! I knew it was because I was a witch, but that didn’t make it hurt any less. “I’ll tell Eadric when Adara isn’t around. I don’t want her to know that I’m aware of her plan, at least not yet. Please don’t tell anyone what you heard just now.”

“What about Dyspepsia? Can I tell her?” asked Oculura.

“Not for a few days,” I said. “I don’t want her to tell anyone, either. Thanks for letting me use your bowl. It’s very pretty.”

“Keep it!” she told me. “I have five more just like it. Dyspepsia gave me six of them for my last birthday. I don’t know anyone who needs six scrying bowls!”

“Thanks!” I said, and tucked it in the cloth sack I carried.

I waited while Oculura filled the platter from a tray of pastries resting on the table. As soon as she emptied the tray, it refilled itself. “I bought that tray at the magic marketplace,” Oculura explained. “After I bake something on it, the tray will refill itself up to ten times. I think I’ve emptied it three or four times so far today. I don’t know how often Dyspepsia has been back in, but we should have more than enough for the entire rally.”

“It’s very nice of you to do this for Chervil,” I told her.

“What are friends for?” said Oculura. “Have you talked to Dyspepsia yet?”

I shook my head. “We arrived only minutes before you found me.”

“Then I’d better warn you. She’s been getting hard of hearing lately, which makes her a bit grumpy.”

Oh dear, I thought. Dyspepsia was almost always in a bad mood.

The first thing I saw when we stepped outside was Eadric carrying as many pastries as he could hold in two hands. When he saw me, he started walking in my direction. “Here, take the one on top,” he said, holding up his hand. “They’re really good! I’ve already eaten a dozen.”

“He must have gotten those from Dyspepsia,” Oculura said. “Maybe I won’t have enough.”

I took one and bit into it. The pastry went poof in my mouth and was gone, leaving behind a sweet and delicious aftertaste.

“They taste wonderful, but there’s not a lot of substance,” said Eadric. “I could eat these things all day and never feel full!”

“There’s Dyspepsia!” cried Oculura. “I need to ask her how many times she’s emptied the tray. I think I’ll have to whip up another batch.”

Eadric turned to me, a frown creasing his brow. “Are they running low?”

“Hello, Dyspepsia,” I said as Oculura’s sister approached. Dyspepsia’s expression was always sour. She looked even more unhappy now, and grunted when I spoke.

“Why is everyone muttering?” she asked. “I see your lips moving, but I can barely hear you. Speak up!”

“It’s not them!” Oculura shouted. “It’s your ears. They aren’t working like they used to! You should get new ones. I know! We’ll start an ear collection for you—like I have my eye collection. Then you’d be able to hear all sorts of things!”

“I like that idea!” Dyspepsia replied. “What kind should I try first?”

The two witches had been shouting, so anyone at that end of the garden could hear their entire conversation. When Dyspepsia started to look around, half the fairies clapped their hands over their ears and hurried to the back garden.

“I guess Chervil is going to start his speech soon,” shouted Dyspepsia. “Everyone is headed that way.”

“Then we should go there, too!” Oculura shouted back at her.

Word must have spread about Dyspepsia’s proposed collection, because more fairies covered their ears as she passed by. When we reached the back garden, we found it crowded with fairies big and small. I spotted Sumac, Maple, and Aspen with a group of other fairies who cared for trees. Maple waved when she saw me and looked as if she was going to come over until a rustle in the audience made everyone turn toward the podium set up next to a stone sundial.

Fairies stepped aside as a tall, thin fairy wearing a tunic made of slender leaves strode toward the podium. He had a pointy nose and sparse green hair, but the most distinctive things about him were the slugs following him across the garden. Some were ordinary garden slugs, others were much bigger. A few were almost the size of small dogs. When he reached the podium, the fairy turned to face his audience. He smiled and opened his mouth to speak, but suddenly glanced down and started to shake his leg.

Three slugs were trying to climb him. “Get off me!” he told them. “I can’t play with you now. Can’t you see that I’m busy?”

The slugs slid off, but the moment Chervil stood still again, they climbed back up. The fairy sighed and started to pace back and forth, leaving the slugs behind. Turning to the audience, he began his speech even while he walked. “Most of you know me, but for the few who don’t, my name is Chervil and I’m hoping to become your next ruler. I know some of you have heard my opponents speak and … Ah, hello, Sumac. Hi, Poppy. I wasn’t expecting to see you here today.”

Sumac and Poppy smiled and waved to him, then turned to wave to the other fairies in the audience. When a ripple of applause spread through the fairies, Chervil scowled and cleared his throat. “Anyway, as I was saying, I’m afraid that I don’t agree with either of my opponents. I think they both have bad ideas that would not work, no matter what they say. I propose that instead of antagonizing humans by banning them from the enchanted forest, or coddling them by using our gifts to do their work for them, we should remove ourselves from human affairs altogether. It is time we mind our own business and let humans mind theirs! Humans are violent and deceitful. They are going to bring themselves down! If we ally ourselves with them, we’ll be brought down, too!”

“He’s right!” shouted a fairy.

“Forget the humans!” cried another.

“Humans are always making stupid mistakes,” Chervil continued. “I’m sure you’ve all heard the expression ‘It’s only human.’ Everyone knows how foolish they can be. Well, I say we should let them make their mistakes!”

“What do you propose we do?” called Sumac.

“Cut off all ties with humans. Take our business elsewhere. Ignore them when they come to us for help. If you need help, ask a brother or sister fairy.”

“But a lot of our friends are humans!” Poppy shouted.

“Then make new friends!” Chervil shouted back. “If you have so many human friends, tell me this: Why have you turned your back on your fellow fairies?”

“I haven’t!” Poppy replied, looking indignant. “I just—”

“What do we do when they come to cut down our trees?” shouted Sumac. “Are you saying we should let them?”

“Of course not!” replied Chervil. “We have others who can protect the forests. Let the ogres and trolls handle the humans. Support the Vili instead of scolding the poor women for protecting the forest animals by hunting down the hunters. The forest can take care of itself, if we only let it!”

“Are you saying we should let the trolls and ogres go wherever they want in the forest?” someone called out.

“I’m only saying that—” Chervil began.

I was horrified. From what Oculura had said about Chervil, I thought he would have been friendlier to humans.

“Queen Willow would never have agreed with this!” shouted a fairy with a puff of white hair. “She kept the trolls and ogres under control and never let them rampage through the forest.”

“She was the wisest fairy ever!” yelled Maple. “None of the stuff that’s been going on would have happened if she was around. Maybe we don’t need a new ruler! We should wait and see if she comes back.”

“Everyone knows that Queen Willow has been gone so long that she must have faded away!” cried Chervil. “She isn’t coming back and she never designated anyone to carry on after her. Queen Willow’s days are over, and it’s time for change. We need a new ruler who can make wise decisions and lead us in the right direction.”

“And you think you’re that person?” called a fairy with a deeper voice.

“I most certainly do!” Chervil shouted.

“No, I am!” called out Sumac.

“No, it’s me!” cried Poppy.

“How would you rule without a powerful magic wand like Queen Willow’s? Do any of you have a wand like that?” called the fairy with the deep voice.

All three candidates shook their heads. “She took her wand with her,” replied Sumac. “It’s lost forever and there aren’t any more like it around.”

“Then what makes you think that you can rule?” the same fairy asked.

“Because somebody has to, and we have as much right as anyone!” shouted Chervil. The other two candidates nodded.

“And none of you are any good!” called someone from the other side of the garden. With that, the fairies began to leave.

Adara nudged me with her elbow. “That last fairy was right. I wouldn’t pick any of them. You’re the Green Witch. Can’t you help them figure out what to do?”

“I would if I could,” I told her, “but I don’t know what they should do, either.”