She smirked at him. “For defending my honor.”
He laughed, but said nothing as he walked away, climbed up behind Bastien, and left Jovi to her own thoughts.
Everything was going better than she expected, and faster, too. She couldn’t believe they might actually finish this journey in time. Then, she would talk to her father about an alliance with the Mammoth Riders, which he would more than likely accept after everything Meical had done to help her.
If everything went well the rest of the journey, she would be home in a couple days and things would be normal again. Well, almost normal. She had to help Cappa find the sorceress who killed his mother first, but after that, perhaps they would be married and have their own family to protect and cherish. She was of age now, so she should marry as soon as she could.
She just didn’t know if Cappa felt the same way. But she should know, sooner rather than later.
It took little time to reach Delphinium woods, but still precious time where the sun had begun to set, making room for the moon. They had to be quick.
Jovi and her group crossed the Sapphire River without the help of the magical rope. They didn’t need magic when they had mammoths. Soon after, Jovi climbed from Horn and stood in front of the fairy village.
Jovi gasped as she took in the overturned huts and the broken glass all over the ground. Tiny chairs and mini couches had been skewed and buried under chopped wood from tree-homes. Everything had been destroyed.
“Oh my God.” Drawing her hand up, she shielded her lips and froze, unable to walk into the shambles.
The only thing still intact was the fountain. Water poured from the mouth of the glass fairy at the top, but the beauty had not erased the destruction.
Callia’s beautiful blue dress had tears all over it. The fairy held her crown in her hand and as she flew closer, Jovi could see why. It had almost been snapped in half.
Jovi couldn’t understand it. What happened here? Who did this? So many questions, so few answers and none that she could voice yet. No words formed in her mouth. The only thing drifting through her head were her jumbled thoughts.
Meical, surprising her again with his gentleness, reached out and allowed Callia to land in his palm. “Queen Callia. Who did this to you?”
Jovi exhaled, thankful Meical had put words to her own thoughts.
Callia, with a sparkling tear sliding down her pale cheek, looked at her feet (or at Meical’s hand) Jovi was unsure which. “I don’t know what happened. One minute, we were having a gathering, listening to Harp play some music for us around the fountain, but the next…” Callia paused, shaking. “The next minute, men with maroon robes came.”
Bastien hopped to Meical’s side as he met his eyes. “The Fire Mages. Why did they attack here?”
Goffe flew around Jovi’s head as tendrils of hair flew up around her face. “It was her,” he spat. “She did this to us. They came looking for her.”
Jovi’s heart sunk to the floor. “How? The Fire Mages wouldn’t be after me. They don’t even know who I am.”
Goffe kept flying and circled her, then landed beside Callia in Meical’s palm. His hands went to his hips and he narrowed his eyes at her. “Everyone knows who you are, Princess Jovi. They came for you. They didn’t say why. But, I’m sure you know.”
Cappa stepped in front of Jovi. “Hey, now. Jovi didn’t do anything to warrant the Fire Mages attack. As far as she knew, they didn’t even know anything about her.”
And, I’m pretty sure I already said that, but thanks for the reiteration, Jovi sarcastically thought.
“Unless they got a look at her when they attacked The Mammoth Fields.” Meical stroked his poufy beard. “If they saw you, they might have put two and two together. Or, maybe they have spies within the Frost Mage Army.” He shrugged. “It could be anything, but knowing their history of war with the Frost Mages, if they are after you, you can bet it’s something to do with that.”
Jovi faced the fairy King and Queen. “I’m sorry they hurt your village. Are your people okay?”
Callia nodded. “They didn’t hurt any of us, only all of our things.”
With drooping shoulders, Jovi turned and took in all of the devastation. “Do not fear, Callia. I will help you in any way I can. If you want to rebuild, then I will bring wood. Anything. As soon as I finish this thing with the Frost Mages, and this war in Central Orendor is over, I will help you.”
“So will I,” Cappa stated.
“And the Mammoth Riders will be at your disposal too. Anything you need,” Meical said.
“Thank you all. I will hold you to your word.” Callia took to the air, followed by Goffe. Meical dropped his hands to his side. Then, her uncle nudged her with his eyes and tapped at the paper he held in his other hand.
The ingredients. She’d all but forgotten about them. It felt wrong to ask for them now, but it couldn’t be helped. She squared her shoulders. “We need to ask you for some help. There are a couple of things we need from here. Would you mind helping?”
Callia nodded. “If it will stop this war and end the destruction in Central Orendor, I’d be happy to.”
“First, I need bathing water from your fountain. And then milk from a nursing fairy.” Jovi bit her bottom lip, not sure if Callia would be so agreeable now that she knew what Jovi needed.
Callia nodded again. “I will get it for you, but do you have something for me to put it in?”
Meical grabbed two vials from the bag and handed one to Goffe and the other to Callia. Since they were so large compared to the fairy, he didn’t think one could carry both, but Jovi had a different opinion. Fairies were magic, and magic could do anything.
Callia disappeared behind a tree while Goffe dove into the fountain and sprang back up with a vial full of water. He handed it off to Meical. “Here’s the water you need. Keep it safe.”
Meical nodded.
Next came Callia with a vial of creamy white liquid almost filled to the top. “Milk from a fairy mother. She was happy to fill this for you. She’s only asked the same we all ask. Please, stop the Frost Mages and the Fire Mages. Send them from Central Orendor, never to return. They belong in Frostspher, in the western hemisphere. Not here. Not with us.”
Jovi held one finger out and took Callia’s hands with it. “I will do everything I can to make sure that happens. I promise.”
“That’s all we can ask.” Goffe wrapped his arm around Callia, who gave him a stern look. “And, I want to apologize, for my outburst…you know…before.”
Jovi gave him a smile. She didn’t blame him for his outburst. “It is already forgiven.”
Meical placed his hands on her shoulders. “We must go now. We have little time if we are to make it to Bertson’s Waterfall by morning.” With a firm nod toward the Fairies, he led her to the mammoth, lifted her up, and made her feel like a small child. If he’d only asked, she’d have been happy to get on Horn. Why did he have to be such a man?
She pressed her lips together and slid onto Horn’s back as she crossed her arms over her chest. Keeping her mouth shut would be best. For now. Time kept moving, no matter if Jovi wished it would stop or not. There was a lot of ground to cover, and even more after the tears were retrieved.
Meical kicked Horn’s side and the mammoth moved, leaving Jovi’s thoughts with the Fairies. She’d be back to help them, and soon. In the meantime, how would she find out why the Fire Mages were after her? It wasn’t enough that the Frost Mages threatened her family?
Would this ever end?
Not until she ended it and she had every intention of doing just that.
The mammoths walked all night to the waterfall. By the time they made it, the sun had risen, which made it easier to see. Jovi thought it couldn’t have worked out better.
Meical decided Jovi wouldn’t climb Bertson’s Waterfall to retrieve the tears.
“Uncle, you have to let me take some of the risks. I’m trying to save my parents, after all.” Jovi rubbed at the back o
f her neck and tried to release some tension.
Meical angled his head and his eyes stayed on the waterfall, but his mouth was aimed at her. It creeped her out a little. “They are my family, too. I will risk myself to help you save them. Plus.” He paused to meet her eyes “I have a plan.”
Always a plan. The execution is what worries me, Jovi thought.
His words did not calm her beating heart. She placed a hand over her chest and felt it pound through her skin. A sinking feeling hit her stomach and even though she tried to shake it, she couldn’t. She ran her unstable fingers through her hair and watched as Meical and Bastien grabbed a few things, including the bag, and turned away from them.
“If anything bothers you, fight it. But if you can’t, scream.” Meical winked over his shoulder. “We’ll come running if there’s trouble.”
“Thanks.” Goose bumps ran up her arms and traveled down her legs. She shifted closer to Horn and let his fur heat her even through the cloak she wore. It helped, but not much.
As Bastien jogged beside Meical, Jovi heard, “Ready for some fun, boss?”
A chuckle rang out. “I was born ready.”
Jovi rolled her eyes. Men are such idiots. They live for danger, something her tutor always told her, and something they all have said to her sometime along this journey. Ha. They lived for stupidity was more like it. Any chance they could find to hurt themselves and they’d jump right in.
After their conversation drifted away, she watched as they moved down the cliff and to the base of the waterfall, where Jovi and Cappa had climbed at the beginning of all this. They made quick work and scaled the rock like pros. They used the same tool Meical had back at Mount Soumahalla, and made it to the eyes with no trouble.
When they started back down, Jovi chewed her fingernails.
“Are you hungry?” Cappa asked.
Jovi raised her eyebrows. “No, why?”
“Because you sure are eating those fingers like you are.”
Jovi narrowed her eyes, then shoved him playfully against the chest. “Stop that. I can’t help it. It’s a nervous habit.”
“It’s disgusting. Don’t you know how much dirt cakes under your nails?”
She shrugged, dropping her hands to her side. “Nope, but thanks for sharing.”
“Well, I aim to educate whenever I can.” He winked.
“Of course you do.”
Meical and Bastien’s climb down wasn’t as quick as their climb up, so Jovi waited and watched. Eventually, they disappeared behind the base of the cliff, but she’d see them again when they hit the bottom.
Cappa came closer and snaked his arms around her as he trailed kisses up the side of her neck. She gently shoved him away from her, her brows quirked. “What are you doing?”
“I think it’s called flirting.” He grinned. “Or something like that.” He leaned in again.
Jovi giggled, but stopped him again. “We can’t do this now. What if my uncle sees?”
“Let him see. He will know about us soon enough. I am worthy of your hand, aren’t I?”
Jovi nodded. “You are plenty worthy, whether you are a guard or a Prince, but we are supposed to be keeping watch. We can’t canoodle with each other and watch our surroundings at the same time.”
He gazed at her for a few seconds, his eyes widening and his brows furrowing…right before he tackled her to the ground. “No one will see us down here.”
“Cappa, cut it out.” She went quiet when his tongue traced her earlobe and sent tingles spreading across her stomach. Her knees dropped apart and he took that as permission to slide in between her legs.
She tried to push him away, she really did, but her skin flushed, and a second later she crashed against his lips. Their tongues mingled as their kiss deepened until she couldn’t breathe, hadn’t even wanted to. Who needs to breathe when you can feel like this? her thoughts sang.
Warmth cascaded over her and her heart beat so strong it was the only thing she heard. She never wanted this to end. She’d marry him and kiss him forever. It was settled.
Jovi wrapped her arms around him and pulled him closer as she erased any distance between them.
A throat cleared.
Cappa jumped off her and she slid back before she realized it was not Meical and Bastien that had caught them. These three men wore maroon robes. Fire Mages.
The desire disappeared like ice had been dropped down her back. She sucked in a breath, then screamed.
Cappa went to Bastien’s mammoth, where he’d lain his sword, but a flame snaked out and wrapped around him, holding him in place. The flame didn’t burn, but Jovi knew it could, very easily, if she provoked the Mages.
Lying on the ground made her feel as if they had the advantage, and she wished she could have sat up or jumped to her feet, but she didn’t want to risk the movement.
The Fire Mage in front stared openly at her. His skin held a red tint, his hair orange and spiked. Even his eyebrows held an orange hue. When he smiled, his teeth glowed like they were encased in flames. In fact, his whole body looked as if it were burning from within.
He held his hand out. She stared at it a moment, but when he didn’t pull back, she accepted it and clambered to her feet. “Thank you.”
Perhaps if she remained polite, things wouldn’t end badly here.
She grabbed at her rolling stomach and wrapped her arms around herself as she waited.
He tilted his head to the side. “I’m sure you are wondering why we are here?”
She nodded.
“It’s quite simple. The Frost Mages want the cure, but we have been cursed too. I want to make sure when you have the cure, you give it to us first.”
Jovi shook her head. “I’m sorry, but that can’t happen. They have my parents and will kill them if they don’t get the cure.”
He frowned. “I’m sorry to hear of your troubles. But, if you want that boy to keep breathing, you will heed what we say.”
Cappa screamed, a blood-curdling shrill scream that echoed through the forest.
Jovi didn’t look back, instead stood on her tiptoes and searched for Meical and Bastien. Where are they? They should have been back by now, Jovi worried.
Jovi couldn’t wait any longer. “Fine. Stop hurting him. I will make sure you get the cure first. Please. Just let him go.”
Seconds later, swords sliced and twirled through the air and fireballs flew past Jovi’s head. Now they show up! Frustration covered Jovi’s mind.
The flames around Cappa dissipated, and Jovi ran to his side, dropping to her knees beside him. She tugged his head over to lay on her lap. “Are you okay?”
His skin flamed red and burns covered his arms. He was hot to the touch. But even through all that, he smirked. “Oh yeah. This is nothing. Just a little scratch.”
It would be nice to have Catsin’s healing saliva right about now.
She hadn’t looked back and figured Meical and Bastien could handle three Fire Mages. She was right. All three of the Mages lay on the ground as Meical and Bastien wiped the blood from their swords, tucking them into their waistbands.
“Okay, we got the tears. I think it’s safe to say we should move. Now.” Meical helped Jovi up, then glanced at Cappa. “They burned you?” His tone turned shaky, angered that part of their team had been wounded. “Are you too hurt to walk? We can help you if you need it.”
Cappa shook his head. “No need. I’m good. It doesn’t hurt that bad. I think they held back a lot when Jovi told them she’d give them the cure first.”
“That’s what they’re after?” Bastien paced in a circle. “Of course. It makes sense. They probably know there’s no way the Frost Mages will hand it over to them, not after all the fighting between the two races. They came to you to ensure they get it as well.”
Meical ran a hand over the top of his head. “Well, those ones are dead. If we hurry, we shouldn’t have to deal with any more of them. We can get the potion made and take it to the castle before Jovi has to
make any more promises.”
Jovi nodded. “I think that sounds like a good idea. Let’s get out of here.”
So, they did, the sun beaming high in the sky above them.
The sun was high in the afternoon sky and they were about halfway to the cabin. Meical stopped Horn. “We must rest for a few hours.”
Jovi shook her head. “We don’t have time for rest. We have to keep going.” Even if I feel like I might fall off this mammoth at any moment.
Her eyes were heavy and her energy had been depleted. It didn’t help that she hadn’t eaten anything, and barely slept, but she had rested more than her uncle and Bastien. Getting a few hours of sleep wouldn’t delay them too much. They still had a little time.
Meical frowned at her. “Sorry, niece, but I can’t keep going with no sleep. I need a little rest or else I’ll be no use at all.”
Bastien and Cappa seemed a little farther back, but as Jovi slid down Horn’s side, she saw Cappa fall to the ground as he landed in a lump of bones and muscles.
Jovi tensed for a moment, then she ran.
Her feet pounded against the earth and her heart raced in her chest until she dropped beside Cappa. She didn’t think, instead let her instincts take the lead. She placed her ear over his chest and heard a faint thump. His skin had paled so much he looked like a stranger.
“What happened? Help him! Please!”
She tried to pull in breaths but felt like she couldn’t get them fast enough. A moment later, Meical shoved her aside, and Bastien leaned over the other side of Cappa.
Her uncle felt for a pulse on his wrist, then dropped it, apparently satisfied. “I can’t find anything wrong.”
“You didn’t check anything but his pulse. Look for something else! Something is wrong.” Jovi’s shrill voice pierced her own ears, but she didn’t care. She couldn’t when Cappa was sprawled out on the ground in front of her, taking shallow breaths, almost unconscious but not quite.
Meical pursed his lips at her, then focused on Cappa once more.
Cappa convulsed, and Bastien moved to his head, kept it straight, but did not hold him tight enough to keep him confined.