Olivia was the first to wake. She blinked her eyes rapidly, trying to get them to focus. It took a moment for them to cooperate. She sat up, rubbing at her eyes, and tried again. This time she was successful, and she watched as the sun fell behind the White Mountains bringing nightfall quickly to the lands below. When she looked around, there were glowing lights everywhere. The trees themselves seemed to glow in the growing darkness. A faint music filled the evening air, a very relaxing and peaceful tune. She rose to her knees before looking down and noticing her clothes had been changed. The old blouse and pants she’d been wearing previously had been removed, and she was now dressed in a beautiful silky top that buttoned down the front and matched the dark green trim of a silver wrap on which she’d been sleeping. She also wore an exquisite pair of emerald slacks with matching shoes. As she stood admiring her clothes, it also finally dawned on her that she wasn’t standing on the forest floor, but a wonderfully downy surface. Glancing down around her, she saw what appeared to be a giant pillow on the ground beneath her. Surrounding her were the other children in identical clothes and sleeping peacefully on their own cushy beds.
“Please follow me,” whispered a sweet angelic voice in her ear.
Olivia followed the fairy, careful to avoid waking the others. When she’d successfully navigated the obstacle course of sleeping bodies, she found the pixie waiting for her. The pixie was female in appearance, though Olivia couldn’t say for sure as she’d never seen one until today, with long wavy brunette hair, bright blue eyes, and an outfit identical to Olivia’s, minus the wrap.
“I’m sorry about the sleeping charm we cast on you. We just thought it best to make sure you were all rested, cleaned, and healed for tonight’s events. You being asleep made that easier for us. Do you feel better?”
“I feel...remarkable.” Olivia was surprised, actually, by how fantastic she felt. No aches and pains in her muscles, no stress about what may happen tomorrow, and like she’d just woken from a full night’s uninterrupted sleep.
“I’m glad to hear you say that,” the fairy commented. “Now, if you’d please come this way, Queen Iris would like to extend her thanks.”
Olivia shuffled along behind the fairy as it floated gently down the trail and between two large elms. Olivia had to duck a little to avoid the low-hanging branches as she wound through the dense brush. In front of her, the trees and bushes opened up into an enormous glade, punctuated in the center by the largest oak tree she’d ever laid eyes on. She didn’t think it would have been possible. The silvery light was even brighter here, each leaf of the tree seemingly glowing with its own internal luminescence. She followed the golden twinkling of the pixie’s wings to the center of the clearing and base of the oak.
“If you please,” the pixie requested, indicating a small cushion resting on the ground.
Olivia sat cross-legged and waited as her fairy guide rose up into the cover above. Olivia stared after her, trying to follow the path of her flight. She quickly gave up trying to track the glitter of her wings among the radiant leaves and branches. Soon enough however, Olivia heard a change in the tune that had surrounded her since she’d woken. The song grew louder, more powerful. Every bit of foliage seemed to pulse with the beat. Fairies appeared from out of the woods surrounding the clearing, pausing at the perimeter and hovering in the cool air. An air of expectation filled the night. A collective sigh arose from the fairies, causing Olivia to look back up into the tree above her.
Drifting down from the tree came a parade of pixies. An ornamental guard of some sort led the procession as it glided toward her. She could see the miniature arms carried by the sentries as they took their places before her. Behind them came, Olivia guessed, their queen, dressed in a long flowing emerald gown with silver trim. Her blonde hair floated around her face as if she were underwater. Olivia straightened her clothes and smoothed her own hair self-consciously. The music dropped to a barely audible level.
“I am Queen Iris,” the fairy confirmed. “I would like to thank you for your part in defending our settlement. It has taken us quite some time to rebuild and organize after our last home was destroyed by the goblins. You and your friends provided protection in a time when our defenses were still weak. For that, you are to be honored. You and yours are hereby granted the titles of Fairy Guardians.” A soft cheer arose from the tree line as Queen Iris floated forward, landing gently on Olivia’s right knee. “As you can see, we have replaced your clothing with a gauchlian, something a bit more suitable for your new rank. It is made of fairy silk. It will keep you warmer than normal clothes, it will never tear, it need never be washed, and it will identify you to any other pixie community you may encounter. You shall always be welcomed and cared for wherever fairies reside. We also gave you a manta, a cloak to help keep you warm on the coldest of nights.” Another cheer went up. Queen Iris raised her hands in a request for silence. “Additionally, for your bravery, I would like you to accept this gift.”
Queen Iris flitted away with a quick flutter of her wings, extending her left arm out to her side and guiding two male fairies down to where Olivia sat. Between them they held a square leather sack. It was a little larger than her water container, yet still smaller than her pack. They dropped the gift gently onto her lap and disappeared back up into the tree above. Olivia lifted the pouch and examined it, turning it back and forth in her hands. It seemed to be fresh leather, showing no signs of wear or aging, and was decorated in an intricate pattern that gave the impression that ivy was crawling across its surface. Two strong drawstrings secured the top.
“It’s beautiful,” Olivia gasped, still studying the elaborate design on the leather. She couldn’t quite make them out, but there also appeared to be words woven into the stems that wound their way to and fro across both sides. Opening it and inspecting the interior, Olivia discovered the same designs adorned the inside as well.
“It is an endurtaka,” the tiny queen explained. “Anything you put inside it will replicate. One loaf of bread becomes two. One water pouch, the same. I’m certain that you will find it useful in the journey ahead of you.”
Olivia’s eyes just about popped out of her head. “Really?” she stammered. “Anything I put in here? May I try it out?” she asked excitedly while bouncing up and down on her cushion.
Queen Iris smiled. “Of course, dear.”
Olivia searched the ground around her, opting for a nearby leaf to test her exciting gift. She examined it first, checking it for identifying marks before placing it gently in the pouch and pulling the strings to close it. She looked up at Queen Iris.
“Go ahead, it happens as soon as you pull the strings to close it.”
Olivia opened the pouch and peered inside. A smirk crept across her lips as she reached inside and pulled out two identical leaves. She inspected them both and, sure enough, one was an exact replica of the other. Her eyes twinkled with excitement when she glanced back up at the queen.
“A small token of our gratitude.”
As the others woke, the process was repeated until all six had received the same gift. They all sat together on their cushions, excitedly chatting back and forth, putting various objects into their pouches before pulling out two, laughing, and showing them off to the others.
A fine meal was then served consisting of a variety of vegetation served in plain wooden bowls.
“Forgive us the dinnerware. We are unaccustomed to having humans as guests. We have done our best to make your dining a pleasant experience. Please excuse us if the experience does not live up to your standards,” Queen Iris apologized.
“No need for apologies,” Daniel replied. “The food is delicious. And we would be extraordinarily ungrateful if we were to complain about the type of dishes on which you served our meal. Besides, it is we who should be thanking you for all you’ve done for us,” he said lifting his healed arm. “You did as much, or more, to help us as we did to help you.”
“And the food is delicious too,” Halem added, shoving another fo
rkful of greens into his mouth.
The queen smiled at the repetition. “Well then, I’m glad to hear you are enjoying yourselves. Please let the servers know if you desire another serving. We have more than enough.” Queen Iris flitted away, drifting upward into the cover of the canopy overhead.
The children chatted amongst themselves, retelling the story of the battle with the gnomes and goblins, filling each other in on the details of the fight the others might have missed. Daniel and Aidan did most of the talking as the other four had stuck together through most of the engagement. Aidan had spent most of his time plucking the goblins from their perches high in the trees and dropping them in Styx River. Daniel, on the other hand, had focused his attention on the wandering gnomes, only catching the occasional goblin that had fallen to the forest floor, like the one Olivia had fought.
They laughed and drank, then laughed some more. The clan stuffed themselves with greens, mushrooms, roots, nuts, and berries. When dessert was finally served, they all drank deeply the sweet nectar served to them in silver goblets. The group settled into their seats, finishing off the last of the juice and thanking the pixies that removed the empty cups.
“That was exquisite,” Olivia whispered to Daniel who was now gazing up into the glow of the leaves overhead.
Daniel nodded. “And I don’t feel nervous about what I just ate,” he joked. Seeing Olivia’s confusion, he explained. “When Shon handed me my plate in Alustria, he told me to eat and that it would be best if I didn’t ask what it was.”
Olivia stuck out her tongue in distaste.
“I’m sure it was fine,” Daniel went on, “but still, I was relieved when the fairies brought out fruits and vegetables instead of some unidentifiable meat.”
“I’m glad you didn’t tell me,” Olivia groaned. “I don’t think I could have eaten the food back in Alustria, if I’d heard that.”
Daniel smiled at Olivia and then turned his attention back to the tree. His eyes wandered back and forth, drifting lazily among the lights flickering above. The music eventually died down, but the fairies didn’t leave. The glow grew more intense as the children whispered among themselves, speculating as to what would happen next.
Queen Iris again descended from her kingdom in the treetops and hovered above the youngsters.
“I’d now ask that you present to me your leader, that I may honor that person with one final gift.”
All eyes immediately fell to Daniel, who stood and stepped forward from his cushion.
He hesitated before announcing, “I am Daniel, son of Troy. I have the honor of leading this clan.”
“Very well, Daniel,” Queen Iris continued. “I would like to bestow on you this artifact as a symbol of our recognition for what you have done. I pray you understand the significance of that which is being offered.”
With a deep curtsy, the queen glided away as a group of six fairies descended from above. They held a scepter, elegant in its design and shimmering in the glow of the forest. The fairies placed it carefully in Daniel’s outstretched hands. Raising it in front of him, four empty slots were apparent in the crown that ornamented the top.
“Do you know what you hold in your hand?” the queen inquired, gliding slowly back to Daniel.
Daniel stared in disbelief. “I...I think it’s the...it can’t be,” he stammered. “Wasn’t it destroyed when Argyle took over?”
“The jewels were removed and sent back to different lands as a reward to the mercenaries they provided. The Scepter was removed from the altar and cast into the Styx River. It eventually made its way back to us, compliments of Kyrie, the Queen of the Lake.”
Daniel glanced back at the others, searching for some clue as to how he should answer.
“This gift was given to you humans once before, a long time ago, when Javi stepped in during our time of need. He saved our colony just as you did today. This is the Scepter that was given to him. It was a blessing from my ancestors. It brought peace and prosperity to your lands, which formed the foundation of the Kingdom of Castiglias. That tranquility has since been destroyed, as has the magic carried in the Scepter, by King Argyle.”
“Just Argyle,” Aidan interrupted. “That devil is no king of mine.”
“Well spoken, young Aidan,” the queen remarked. “That magic was destroyed by Argyle when he removed the stones. Without them, this golden staff is but a memory of a better time. A time when all men were free and lived in harmony with fairies. Take it, as a wish that the days ahead of you and yours are filled with serenity. May your lives be long and joyous.”
Daniel ran his fingers down the smooth surface of the Scepter, admiring its beauty, even though it was missing its four stones.
Aidan stood. “But what if we found the stones?” he asked. “What if we found them all and put them back in the Scepter?”
The queen’s eyes blazed. “What if?”
About the Author
Born and raised in Southern California, Scott and his wife relocated to Colorado after the birth of their first son. He currently resides just south of Denver with his gorgeous wife and two energetic boys. After publishing his debut novel in the fiction thriller genre, Scott has switched to YA fantasy in order to combine his passion for writing with his children's love of reading.
If you enjoyed Scepter and would like to read more about the adventures of Daniel and Aidan, Book Two, The Emerald of Phaunos, and Book Three, The Ruby of Helios, are also available. Get updates on this and the author's other current projects on his Facebook page (Scott L Collins).
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