ã€ŠThe Seven Dreamersã€‹


 1.

    ¡®Look!¡¯

    Peony looks. The road winds down the hill, towards the horizon that seems very far here, in this gently slanting land of fields and meadows. She pats the horse absent-mindedly on the flank as she watches.

    The carriages look as if made of gold and amber, glimmering in the setting sun. But Peony knows it is only painted wood. Wasting gold on decoration would be too much even for the nobles. Theirs is not a rich country, even if not the poorest either.

    The princess could change that. She comes from a foreign land, to marry into their royal family. She has been met at the border, and taken into the care of her new people. It must be a comedown for her. Peony wonders why she agreed, or if she was given a choice at all. A foreign princess, used to finery and great wealth, would not want to come here ¡ª would not want her circumstances so reduced. But it is for the good of both realms. It is said that marriages like this always bring peace, at least for a time. The times are peaceful enough as they are, at the moment, but it is always better to have an assurance.

    The carriages draw closer. Peony watches, and further uphill her sister watches, too.

    ¡®Do you think we¡¯ll see her?¡¯ Orchid asks, her eyes on the largest, best-painted carriage. The curtains in the windows are drawn, so there is no way to see inside.

    Peony considers it.

    ¡®If she¡¯s not ashamed of being served by the likes of us, then I guess we might.¡¯

    ¡®If she is ashamed, I would not want to see her anyway.¡¯ Orchid smiles as she says this, because it is a lie ¡ª it is only a joke. Of course they¡¯d like to see the Princess. They had never seen one, before. But it would be nice if she is¡­ well, nice. Sometimes nobles are, other times they are not, and there is really no way to predict it.

    The girls kneel as the carriages pass by. The horses are slow, visibly weary from the hard road. Once the procession has moved on, Orchid stands up, brushing the hay off her dress. Her trousers show from under the hem, disappearing into the riding boots. Peasant girls wear short dresses. It is not exactly proper, but there is not much choice when you have to do so many different jobs and be agile.

    ¡®The sun¡¯s going down,¡¯ Orchid says then. ¡®I¡¯d rather not ride home in the dark. Let¡¯s finish.¡¯

    Their patch of hay is not large, but it is still a lot of work for only two women to manage. At least they have the horse to carry the load. The hay has dried nicely, and should not rot when stored.

    Once they are done gathering it, there is no space left in the cart, and neither of them likes going so high up as to ride on top. Peony walks next to it, while Orchid takes the horse carefully downhill, wary of the load. Peony herself does not like riding: the horse is too large for her, and her feet barely reach the stirrups. It is not a comfortable arrangement. Grown woman though she is, she remains small. Orchid is taller, and so usually takes over this particular task.

    As the sun slides below the horizon and the night looms, the wind picks up. Orchid keeps pushing her hair out of her face. Black hair ¡ª just like Peony¡¯s own, just like everybody else¡¯s they have ever seen. Some foreigners, it is said, have hair that is brown like tree bark, or gold like straw, or even copper-red, but none who look like that have ever made their way into the village. Peony wonders if the Princess might be one of those odd foreigners. She cannot quite imagine how it would look, to have this strange hair, but she would like to see it, just to know that it is indeed a real thing.

    The carriages have long disappeared from view. The girls approach the village, which lies in a small valley. The twilight has colored the world dark blue, but even from the distance the sisters can see that in the tavern every window glows brightly. There aren¡¯t usually many people passing through their village, but the Princess comes with a retinue, and serving all those people would keep everyone busy until the early hours of the morning.

    ¡®Poor Plum,¡¯ Orchid says. ¡®No studying for her tonight. She¡¯ll hate that.¡¯

    ¡®We should come and help tomorrow,¡¯ Peony says. ¡®In the afternoon perhaps, if we can find time.¡¯

    They come into the house, into the quiet. Their mother is asleep in her bed. Orchid moves fast, silently, to check that she is breathing. Both sisters still remember the strong and lively woman she was, teaching them, laughing with them. Now she can do little more than sit in the sunlight, staring at the world around in puzzlement. But at least she¡¯s still alive. As long as she still lives, there is hope.

    Orchid lights a candle. It is a cheap one, and therefore reeks, but its light is good enough for their current purposes. There is leftover porridge in the oven, still warm from when Peony made it for dinner. They share the remains before going to bed.

    Summer nights are short, and Peony knows sunlight will wake her soon enough. In the dark, she can hear Orchid, breathing slower and slower as she drifts into sleep. Their mother keeps turning restlessly in her blankets, winding them around herself like a cocoon. Peony hopes she is not having a nightmare, but there is no way to know.

    This is the fourth time Plum has to run up the stairs. They are not made for running ¡ª they are not even enough, and she stubs her toes more than once on her way. She keeps one hand on the railing, while clutching the sheets to herself with the other. She has a nice fresh dress on, so the sheets are safe. Her parents would die before they¡¯d let the Princess sleep on unclean bedding.

    Plum has not seen her yet. She glimpsed the entrance, but the Princess was veiled and cloaked so heavily she looked almost round because of all the layers on her. Plum has not yet seen her face.

    She runs into the room and shoves the sheets into Magnolia¡¯s waiting hands. Magnolia is the eldest. She would be married by now, if only there were more boys around. But most families here have produced girls. It is unfortunate, the parents say, but secretly Plum is glad. She herself is old enough for marriage, too, but she is far more interested in studying. It is a challenge to get books here, in the middle of nowhere, but she is not picky. Anything will do ¡ª the thinnest paper, the shabbiest covers, the palest print ¡ª as long as there is something to learn inside. Plum has collected quite a library over the years.

    ¡®Help me,¡¯ Magnolia half-gasps, and Plum notices that her sister is very pale. ¡®Help me stretch it over the bed¡­¡¯

    ¡®Sit down,¡¯ Plum says warningly. ¡®I¡¯ll do it, just stop for a moment, before you fall.¡¯

    ¡®There isn¡¯t time,¡¯ Magnolia says, but she does seat herself on a coffer. ¡®There are so many of them, too many at once. How can we do it in time?..¡¯

    Below, in the dining room, their parents are entertaining their esteemed guests. Plum can hear the distant babble of voices. It is not very loud ¡ª no raucousness is allowed in the presence of royalty, foreign royalty especially. The other guests were turned away, and had to lodge with the other villagers. This is not good for business, nor for the neighbors, but Plum hopes they all understand. It is a great honour that the Princess came through their humble settlement at all, greater still that she deigned to stay for the night. Such things do not happen every day.Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

    When Plum rushes downstairs again, in search of their best scented soap this time, she stops when she sees Iris huddled under the stairs.

    ¡®Why are you here?¡¯ she asks in surprise. ¡®Did you finish with the cooking?¡¯

    ¡®Mother told me to go away,¡¯ Iris says, looking up guiltily. ¡®I broke a plate.¡¯

    The common dinnerware used in the tavern is simple and cheap enough to be broken occasionally without much regret, but the prettier items, brought out of storage for today¡¯s special visit, are far more costly. Iris should¡¯ve taken greater care. But Plum knows their mother has probably done enough chastising already, and there is no need for more.

    ¡®Go help Magnolia, then,¡¯ she suggests gently. ¡®It will be all right. It¡¯s only one plate.¡¯

    ¡®I also burned the sauce¡­ I¡¯m terrible at this.¡¯

    ¡®You¡¯re young.¡¯ Plum pulls her up by the hand, gives her a quick hug. ¡®You can still learn. You should ask Pine to teach you, she¡¯s a better cook than any of us. Now go upstairs.¡¯

    For a moment, she watches Iris run, then heads towards the storage room. The dining room doors are shut. She can hear her parents speaking, then some male voices, but none of it clear enough to understand words. She wonders if the Princess speaks at all ¡ª if she is permitted to speak to commoners. Plum¡¯s books say nothing about it, but then again, she has not yet managed to acquire any on royal etiquette.

    The air in the hut smells strongly of coriander and of fennel. Pine watches the smoke rise up to the ceiling, circling, weaving itself into weird and fanciful forms.

    ¡®Anything?¡¯ she asks, curious, but her mother ignores her, squinting into the depths of the cauldron.

    ¡®River,¡¯ she orders, and Pine hands her the flask of river water. Magic doesn¡¯t always require rare ingredients.

    The liquid in the cauldron appears transparent, yet somehow Pine cannot see beyond it ¡ª not the cauldron¡¯s bottom or the spoon, nothing that should be there. But she is not surprised, not anymore. She knows the theory of how this works, even if she herself is not yet skilled enough for practice.

    ¡®I am reading something¡­¡¯ her mother begins musingly, hesitantly. ¡®Something in the¡­ She doesn¡¯t come alone. Something¡¯s coming with her, has arrived already.¡¯

    ¡®Something bad?¡¯ Pine asks immediately.

    ¡®Doesn¡¯t look like it¡­ but strange, very strange.¡¯ Her mother gives the liquid another swirl, coughs when she inhales some of the fumes. ¡®There¡¯s something foreign here.¡¯

    ¡®Well, she is a foreigner.¡¯

    ¡®No, something else, something other¡­¡¯

    Suddenly the fire flares up, and they both jump back. Pine knows what this means: time is up. The spell has run out of fuel, and is over. But her mother seems to have learned enough. She reaches for a metal grip to take the cauldron off, and once she does, Pine promptly covers the fire. It dies down under the lid, hissing. Her mother lights the candles. Their steadier light reveals beads of sweat on her face. Spells like this take a lot of energy.

    ¡®Something is here that doesn¡¯t belong here,¡¯ she says. Pine must have looked apprehensive at this, because suddenly her mother laughs. ¡®Ah, no, that isn¡¯t necessarily bad. It did not feel malicious to me, only strange. Perhaps we will know more if it seeks us. It did feel a little confused.¡¯ She grows more serious. ¡®That doesn¡¯t mean we should grow lax, though. Be on your guard if you see it, whatever it is. Always be on your guard.¡¯

    ¡®Of course.¡¯

    The hut stands some distance from the forest margin, hidden from unwelcome eyes. Pine can¡¯t see the village from here, but she can sense its emanations if she strains her hearing ¡ª excitement and worry, and a great deal of sleepiness. Pine herself is tired, too. It is rather late already. The herbal smells lull her further, but she knows the day is not done yet.

    She takes the cauldron outside, to the well, to rinse it thoroughly with fresh water. The sky is clear. When Pine looks up, she can see stars abound in gaps between treetops. It is a good sign, a lucky sign. She knows well not to rely on luck ¡ª so many things in the world are stronger than luck, magic one such. Still, the sight lends her tranquility. There is no telling yet whether the coming of this foreign princess will help their country or lead to turmoil. But Pine trusts her mother¡¯s perception. At least the Princess comes in peace.

    So many layers, so much cloth¡­

    ¡®My lady, let me help you!¡¯

    But Jade cannot wait. All of these robes are suffocating. Wearing so much made sense back home, in the mountains ¡ª but here, where summers are warm and still, it feels hideous. She unwinds the lengths of cloth one by one, letting them drop to the floor. She knows she can do this faster than her new, unfamiliar servant would.

    At least this woman knows her language. It was torture at dinner ¡ª to hear them all talk, yet understand no more than a lone word here and there. As if Jade had walked into a dream ¡ª a nightmare where she could hear nobody, and they could not hear her¡­ It is even worse than home, where people may not have listened, but at least she knew they could understand her. Jade has tried, really tried to learn the language of this new land, but it seems impossible. She¡¯s been working on it for months now, ever since she was informed of her new fate. Yet even after all this time, she is still useless.

    At last Jade is free, with only her thin shift remaining. She notices a mirror on the wall, but it is not much good ¡ª the surface is not flat enough, and the reflection of herself is wavy. She sits down on the bed heavily.

    ¡®You can do my hair for the night now,¡¯ she says to the servant. The woman has been trying to pick up the garments, and has her arms full of cloth now. She hesitates, and Jade can guess why: a servant cannot disobey an order, but leaving the Princess¡¯s dress in disarray is also unacceptable.

    ¡®If my lady will let me call for someone to deal with this?¡¯ she asks, and Jade allows. She does not care to see more strangers, to hear more of their speech, frightening to her in how unintelligible it all is. But she understands that there are rules in the world of servants, rules best not meddled with.

    A girl comes in with a bow, all proper, but once she straightens she cannot keep her eyes off the Princess. Jade meets her stare, and the girl blushes, but does not look away. The people here are poor but proud, she has been told, and do not bend much. This is an interesting change.

    She tries to remember the alien words, contort her tongue to produce the right sounds.

    ¡®What is¡­ your name?¡¯ she asks eventually, haltingly. The servant is braiding her hair. The woman¡¯s fingers are swift, and she¡¯s almost done.

    ¡®Magnolia,¡¯ the girl says. Jade doesn¡¯t know the meaning of that word ¡ª that name ¡ª but it sounds pretty.

    The girl smiles timidly, as she folds the clothing. Jade does not intend to smile back, yet somehow it still happens. At the sight of Jade smiling, the girl lights up.

    She asks something, but Jade has no hope of understanding, and looks to her servant for help.

    ¡®She wants to know if my lady desires anything else,¡¯ the woman translates. The floor is clear, the many layers of Jade¡¯s attire all in a neat pile.

    Jade desires many things. She wants to sleep, and to learn this new language, and above all, not to feel so horribly alone. The last of the daughters, the least wanted, she had come to accept her place and her fate, and stifled as best she could the longing to be loved. Still, sometimes it would rear its head, and remind her of her weakness. This girl is a peasant, and likely only curious, Jade tells herself. Soon enough, Jade will leave this place, and never see her again. This is no place to look for friends. But that smile tugs at Jade¡¯s heart, and Jade is still looking back.

    ¡®Not tonight,¡¯ Jade says. ¡®But tomorrow, perhaps. Tell her to come tomorrow.¡¯

    The servant relates this, and the girl bows again, smiling wider. She is very pretty, much prettier to Jade¡¯s eyes than Jade herself. If Jade looked like this, maybe her parents would have cared more for her. And she certainly would not need to worry whether her future husband would care. As it is, she worries a great deal.

    She never wanted this. Amethyst is the ambitious one, the one who would have chosen this, may have even found happiness in it. Jade can only be wary, thrust suddenly into a fate she¡¯d never expected or asked for. There was always a risk, but she had thought there weren¡¯t any more princes left, that she would be spared, and could live out her life in peace, if not in happiness. Things have changed much too fast.

    One candle is left burning for the night, for security purposes. Jade knows that her guards are laid to sleep in the corridor outside, and downstairs, and in the yard. She has been provided with a great deal of guards. But she feels no danger in this land, at least not yet. She has not yet met her husband.

    The spirit travels¡­

    It is not common for spirits to lose their way. This one does not know how it happened, or when, exactly ¡ª when the forests through which it flows became unfamiliar, when the birds and the trees changed, and the ground itself shifted in color. The spirit had not detected it until it was too late, and now¡­

    Now it has to settle down. Home or not, it can delay no longer. The time has come, and it must heed the call or perish ¡ª and it is not ready to die, not when a chance at a new life, a new turning, is so close. But to continue, to do as its nature commands it, it needs to find an opening. A mind, or better yet minds, welcoming enough to understand, to accept, to protect and nurture¡­

    There. In that green valley, close to the forest. There they lie dreaming, not knowing yet what is passing so very near. They will do well enough.

    The spirit enters the forest, winding its way between the trees.

    The time has come. Soon, very soon, there will be a beginning.

 2.

    ¡®Apple,¡¯ Plum repeats patiently, slowly. ¡®Apple.¡¯

    The fruit sits on the table, shiny in the sunlight. Magnolia knows its flesh is rock hard ¡ª it¡¯s too early for it to be ripe. But it looks lovely ¡ª spring-green, with just a small patch of pink. The Princess stares at it strangely, though. Magnolia wishes she could ask, could understand why, but they do not yet have enough vocabulary in common.

    The Princess repeats the word. It is not a very good approximation, but she genuinely tries, and Plum smiles in encouragement.

    Magnolia does not need to smile on purpose. She is glad enough already to be here, instead of work ¡ª to be able to lounge in the sun, and look at the Princess freely. She and Plum wouldn¡¯t have been able to come see her, if not for Orchid and Peony helping them finish their chores early. Magnolia wanted to invite them to serve the Princess, as well, but in the end she decided against the risk. The Princess may appear amiable, but she is still royalty, and Magnolia fears to impose.

    Yet she wonders now if that fear was unfounded, after all. When the sisters came in and made to sit on the floor, the Princess motioned them up and into chairs. She does not flinch if their fingers accidentally brush hers. She seems shy, but she smiles at them, and Magnolia does not want to leave. This is easier than she would¡¯ve thought, and more natural. It is easy to forget the distance, forget the finery this girl is wearing, and let her fall into place as one of them, just another sister they¡¯ve been missing all this time¡­

    No. This is just fancy, the way Magnolia would like it to be, rather than what is. The Princess is still a stranger, and a noble one at that. It is important to be wary.

    ¡®Pear.¡¯ Plum takes the next fruit out of the basket they brought. It was Plum¡¯s idea to teach the Princess about food first. Food is a necessity as well as a pleasant topic, so it should have been a safe choice. But for some reason the Princess is restless.

    She repeats the words readily enough, though, and soon they manage to get her to converse briefly with Magnolia, pretending to ask for dessert. Magnolia tries her best to encourage this effort, both to appease a possibly dangerous noble, but also because it seems to entertain her, and Magnolia does like to see her happy. But something about the Princess worries her more and more.

    Plum notices it, too.

    ¡®Are you cold?¡¯ she asks. They have not dealt with this word yet, but she mimes it by shivering.

    The Princess looks unsure, but then suddenly sneezes.

    Magnolia and Plum exchange worried glances. If the Princess falls ill on their watch, they could be in trouble.

    ¡®Come inside, my lady,¡¯ she says hastily, getting up and motioning towards the door. ¡®Come into the warmth.¡¯

    She¡¯s not sure why she keeps talking, knowing as she does that it will not be understood. It feels rude to be silent, somehow. Magnolia leads the Princess indoors and upstairs, into the room where her servant awaits. Plum comes in soon, too, bringing a teapot and a set of cups with her. Magnolia can see her sister¡¯s hands tremble slightly while making tea. Plum tries to follow the custom of the Princess¡¯s own land, but the description of it she found in a book was not very detailed, and Magnolia sees the eyes of the Princess widen slightly as she watches. Plum must¡¯ve done some of it incorrectly. But the Princess does not protest, and takes the tea without a word. She does not let go of the cup, and Magnolia wonders if her hands are cold. The Princess is expected to leave in the evening, but Magnolia is no longer sure it will happen as planned.

    Orchid is counting. The heels are tricky, and she¡¯s afraid to make a mistake. She is not looking forward to redoing half a sock, if she muddles it up and fails to notice in time.

    She sits outside, next to their mother. Orchid¡¯s hands have been scrubbed into whiteness, to avoid soiling the wool. Knitting wool in this weather is not comfortable, but there is little time left until the fair, and she wants to finish as many items as she can.

    Peony is working in the garden. Orchid sees the top of her hat, bobbing up and down as she weeds, moving along the rows. As long as this weather holds ¡ª as long as it does not get too cold, too early ¡ª the harvest should be plentiful this year. They may not have much, but at least they have that.

    Their mother is humming under her breath, but it¡¯s not a song Orchid recognizes. It is only little noises, incongruous, disjointed and out of tune. But it sounds like she is content, and Orchid tries to take heart from that.

    It has been a long time. Underneath their cottage lies a small cellar. In its floor, the girls have dug out a hole. They are careful to hide it from sight, each time after they¡¯ve added something ¡ª first goes a board, then a layer of earth, packed so it looks untouched, and then a barrel. Nobody knows that the hole there, apart from Orchid and Peony. They put all they earn in there, all they can spare. By now, it is almost done. Soon they will have enough for travel to the capital, and to pay someone there.

    They do not know yet who that will have to be. It may be a witch, but they would need a strong one ¡ª stronger than Pine¡¯s mother, for one, and by quite a margin. When it happened, and their mother wandered out of the forest lost and wordless, they brought her to the witches¡¯ hut immediately, dropping everything else. But it was no good. Orchid had never known there was something Pine¡¯s mother could not do, but she learned that day. She remembers the way the witch¡¯s face went white as milk, remembers the panic in her voice when she screamed at Pine to keep away. Only when she chased them out of the house, and commanded them to stand some distance away, did she tell them what it was. A curse, she said ¡ª and powerful enough to drag her down with it, if she tried to touch it. There was no hope of her lifting it, she said. No hope of seeing where it had sprung from, either. A far more powerful witch would be needed to do those things. Maybe in the city they can find one such.

    If they do not, then the doctors would be their next choice. Sometimes science can cure what magic cannot. Orchid is not sure how that works, but she has read of it in Plum¡¯s books, so there is that hope, too. Doctors and witches cost about the same, so either way they should have enough money for one try.

    Every time a traveler from the city comes through the village, Peony or Orchid go to ask them about city prices. They have to do this stealthily, of course, so as not to alert this stranger to the fact that they have money. Nobody knows they do, or at least nobody knows for a fact. Their friends probably suspect, but they can be trusted, and so do not count.

    Mother gets up and wanders indoors, as randomly as she does everything now. She walks slowly, shuffling, the way a much older woman might. Orchid drops the sock to her knees for a moment, giving herself a short rest. She knows she must not be lazy, but she has learned from experience that having no breaks at all results in less work done, in the end. She stares towards the square and the tavern. Her eyesight is not great, but the distance is small enough that she can still make out the figures emerging from the large front door. She cannot see their faces, but their dresses tell her who they are. The faded pink is Magnolia¡¯s, the blue is Plum, and the poppy-red is Iris. The honey-colored brocade, glittering in the sun, is unknown to her, but it looks so luxurious that it must belong to the Princess.Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

    Orchid stands up, to see better. Two guards follow the girls as they walk out of the yard, and into the square. As they draw nearer, Orchid can finally see the Princess¡¯s face.

    She is younger than Orchid thought ¡ª younger than Orchid herself, for sure, though still an adult. Her hair is not an odd foreign color after all, but the same black they all have. Yet she still looks a stranger. She is pretty, in a fine-featured, ethereal way that Orchid is not used to seeing. Maybe they all look like that over there, in the country the Princess comes from. The warm, sunny color of her dress should bring out the blush on her cheeks, but instead she only looks more pale, and behind the smile she gives Magnolia Orchid thinks lies worry.

    ¡®Hello,¡¯ Plum says when they are close enough for speech. They stop by the gate. ¡®The Princess wished to be given a tour, before taking her leave.¡¯

    Orchid remembers herself and drops to her knees. But it only takes a moment or so for Magnolia to call out ¡ª

    ¡®She wishes you to stand up! Or at least I think that¡¯s what she wants¡­¡¯

    Orchid rises. The Princess is talking to Plum in a low voice, but Plum looks more confused than anything. This is when Peony comes up, dusting the earth off her knees.

    ¡®Can you tell her I apologize for my appearance?¡¯ she asks the girls. ¡®But, you know, this will happen if you show up with no warning¡­ And am I not to kneel either, then?¡¯

    ¡®I don¡¯t think she cares for that,¡¯ Plum says. ¡®She seems annoyed by all the kneeling. Must be because she¡¯s one of the younger princesses. They aren¡¯t treated like this, you know, at that court of theirs. Not important enough. This must all be strange to her.¡¯

    ¡®She wanted to talk to people,¡¯ Magnolia says. ¡®I think. I think that¡¯s what she meant.¡¯

    ¡®Talk?¡¯ Peony echoes. ¡®How, when she doesn¡¯t know the language?¡¯

    ¡®Well, that¡¯s why she¡¯s learning,¡¯ Plum says, a little defensively. ¡®Why don¡¯t you try? Say hello to her.¡¯

    The Princess stands very straight, and despite the heat of the day she shivers a little. Magnolia touches her shoulder in support, and Orchid can see the guards glaring at this, but they remain silent.

    ¡®Hello, my lady,¡¯ Orchid says with a bow. The Princess gives her a nervous smile.

    ¡®Hello,¡¯ she says. Her voice is soft. ¡®What¡­ is your name?¡¯

    When both sisters tell her, she stares blankly, then turns to Plum.

    ¡®Explain?¡¯

    Iris heaves an audible sigh, earning another glare from the guards.

    ¡®You have any peonies around here?¡¯ she asks. ¡®No? Didn¡¯t think so. Magnolia, you brought the slate, right?¡¯

    ¡®He did.¡¯ Magnolia turns to one of the guards with a solicitous gesture. He says nothing still, but from somewhere inside his many layers of clothing a writing board appears, and a thin piece of chalk. ¡®Thank you.¡¯ Magnolia hands the things to Iris, who starts sketching. ¡®There should be some wild orchids in the forest, this time of year, but I don¡¯t think anyone here has any in their garden¡­¡¯

    ¡®The miller might,¡¯ Peony says. ¡®But that¡¯s too long a walk for the lady, I suppose.¡¯

    The Princess keeps turning from one to another as they talk, and there is an alert expression in her eyes. But she does seem pale. When she sneezes again, Orchid can tell Magnolia is worried. It looks like only a small cold, not something Orchid herself or any of the other villagers would ever care about. But nobles are more frail.

    ¡®You should bring her to Pine,¡¯ Peony says, apparently thinking the same. ¡®They can take care of her there.¡¯

    But Magnolia shakes her head.

    ¡®Too far,¡¯ she says. ¡®It¡¯s a hot day, and in this heavy dress¡­ Hopefully all she needs is to just lie down for a bit.¡¯ She glances at the guards, who are close enough to hear her every word. ¡®You know I wouldn¡¯t have taken her outdoors even now, what with how she looks. But she wished to go, and I can¡¯t say no to her, can I?¡¯

    Iris¡¯s pictures are done, and the Princess grabs the slate in delight and shows it to the others, saying something that sounds like approval. Iris colors a little, looking pleased.

    ¡®No need to say no to the lady,¡¯ Peony says, pulling the gate open. ¡®We can help you with the tour, can¡¯t we? Won¡¯t she like more guides? I remember a lovely little meadow by the pond ¡ª I bet you don¡¯t know the place. No orchids, but the lilies are beautiful.¡¯

    ¡®I know it,¡¯ Iris interjects.

    ¡®Well, I can still show her, can¡¯t I?¡¯ Peony says with a shrug. ¡®You can¡¯t just keep the lady all to herself if she wants to talk to people. We are people, too.¡¯

    Magnolia starts waving her arms about, trying to convey to the Princess the idea of their new destination. The guards look on. Iris sets to drawing again. Orchid hesitates, considering whether they should really go. There is still much work left to do, and she does not like to take any more breaks than she must. Still, it is not every day that you can meet a Princess. They can spare a little bit of time now, when they are almost done.

    Orchid locks the door as she leaves. Even after all this time, it still feels wrong to her to have to lock up her own mother, but there have been incidents.

    Love is for commoners.

    Jade knows this, yet she still hopes. She knows nothing of her future husband ¡ª not his age, nor his looks, not even his name. She suspects it may be because they haven¡¯t chosen yet ¡ª haven¡¯t decided which son she is to marry. She would not be informed if that was so. She knows she has no right to expect him to love her. This marriage is not for love. For her kind, they never are. Yet her heart still beats fast, and she has not quite given up yet.

    Love lives in songs and poetry, in beautiful paintings and old legends. Jade is not even sure it there is a place for it in reality, but she still wishes. There is something special about the idea, something that calls to her ¡ª in the air, in her dreams. It must be fever that makes her so wistful ¡ª fever, and all these new faces around her. She should have known better than to walk around when she was already growing ill, but she could not pass on the chance.

    There is warmth when they look at each other, warmth she envies so much it hurts. Yet they look like that at her, too, as if she is one of them ¡ª as if she is good enough, for once, for someone. It is ridiculous to seek acceptance from peasants. Of course she would be good enough for them, with her blood and her status. But Jade has been so starved for affection, much more so than she realized, that being shown even a little bit has undone her completely. She feels shame over it now, yet she knows she would do the same again and again, if she could ¡ª would stay here forever, if she could.

    She will not be able to, she knows. But at least she can dream.

    In the small mirror, she can see her own face is tired and grey, yet there is also a wild gleam in her eyes. She hands the mirror to the servant, who hangs it back up on the wall.

    ¡®Try to sleep, my lady,¡¯ the servant says. Jade wonders if she disapproves of her Princess spending an entire day with mere peasants. It is impossible to tell.

    Jade is left alone to help her rest better, but sleep doesn¡¯t come. She watches the candle as it grows shorter and its light descends ever so slowly. The night will seem very long. The shadows shiver a little, and the air feels charged, as if before a storm. Yet the skies are clear.

    Where the candlelight does not reach, Jade can see moonlight falling onto the floor. Has her servant forgotten to draw the curtains, or is it the way of this land to sleep like this? Jade does not call out. The moon has risen high, and the outside air seems like a noon reflected in a dark pond, the moon itself a false sun ¡ª a trick. Jade blinks at the light ¡ª the lights ¡ª the strange, eerie lights that float through the room towards her.

    She stares into them, and hears without hearing. It is not quite music, but it is calling to her. She stretches out a hand, and a light lands on her fingers. It feels weightless, and soft as down. Jade gets up.

    The outer edges of her vision ripple, like a river that¡¯s just out of sight. The lights swirl around her, blue and green and purple. She must go now.

    There is a tree growing right outside her window. There are windows below, too, but she knows she will not be seen, even if she does not quite understand how she knows it. Jade climbs out, hugging the branches awkwardly to herself. Princesses do not climb trees, and she has no experience with this. But the lights help, and she makes her way down without slipping once.

    The night is quiet and warm. Jade walks barefoot along the street and towards the forest. The village lies sleeping, the houses all dark and unresponsive. They certainly will not see her go. Her feet are growing cold, and the stones of the road hurt her soles, but she ignores it all. This is much too important.

    The lights lead her into the forest, into the darkness under the trees. There is a part of her that still remembers, that understands she should be afraid, but the fear never comes.

    Jade disappears into the woods, and the lights disappear with her.

 3.

    It is not easy to walk through the forest at night.

    Pine holds her lamp aloft. There are wolves in this forest, but a witch has nothing to fear from them. A wolf will always avoid fire, and fire is simple enough to conjure.

    Still, the silence unsettles her. The lights lead her on, bobbing ahead, forming a trail that winds through the woods. For now, Pine has been able to keep to a track, but she cannot know if this luck will last.

    She has a vague feeling that the lights do not like her. She can sense their magic tugging at her, seeking to control. That they cannot succeed must be a discomfort to them. But she follows them, which apparently is all that matters, because they let her be.

    A crashing noise comes from the darkness to one side, and Pine stops. She raises her hand higher, ready to call up a flame. A wolf would not be this noisy ¡ª most animals would not ¡ª but one can never know.

    After a pause, the noise starts again. Pine hears a faint moaning ¡ª human moaning. Deciding, she abandons the track and walks towards the sound, using her free hand to push branches and ferns out of the way.

    She finds the human soon enough.

    ¡®What¡­¡¯ she begins, stretching a hand to Iris to raise her up, but then she realizes the lights are here, as well. They circle above Iris¡¯s head, reflecting in her eyes.

    ¡®Thank you,¡¯ Iris says to Pine¡¯s hand once she¡¯s up, but there is no recognition in her voice. She sounds nothing like herself. ¡®I must go.¡¯

    ¡®We must all go,¡¯ Pine agrees, but now she is wary. The lights seemed innocent enough when she¡¯d thought they¡¯d only come for her, just as her mother had seen. Magical things do often seek contact with magical humans, and this is not the first time for Pine that she has found herself having to walk into the darkness alone, to help them with whatever it is they require. But now she knows they have called for others ¡ª for regular folk ¡ª and that is not the normal way of things at all.

    ¡®Are you alone?¡¯ she asks, just in case Iris hears. It is possible the spell on her is not solid, and may waver. ¡®Have you seen anyone else?¡¯

    But Iris does not answer. She begins to move again, walking as the lights lead her, heedless of where she steps. Pine hurries along, watching, pulling her away from thorn bushes.

    She tries to think, fast. Is there something she can cast on Iris to wake her? Pine doesn¡¯t want to let the girl go on like this, unknowing and unaware. There has to be something. Pine has studied this ¡ª the influences, the illusions. She has broken the spell over herself easily enough, but it is much trickier with others, when you cannot feel what you are doing. Still, there must be a way. If only she could concentrate properly¡­

    She tries to steer Iris towards the track, which is awkward when she only has one hand free. Pine bites the lamp ring with her teeth. It tastes of iron and her own skin, but at least now her gestures are more effective.

    The two girls climb onto the track, only to see another figure wandering just ahead, barefoot and dressed in white.

    Pine panics momentarily. Another! How is she ever to manage two? But fear jostles something in her mind, and she finally remembers ¡ª there is indeed a spell, a taxing one, but doable. She lets go of Iris¡¯s hand, pushing the girl on a little. Iris notices nothing, and keeps walking.

    Pine puts the lamp down and casts, twice.

    Blackness floods her field of vision as the claps resonate through the woods. The force of the spells has pushed the air out of her lungs, like a fall would, and she gasps, bent double and temporarily blinded. It takes a few heartbeats before she can breathe deeply again, and the black fades away. Was this worth it? Has it worked?

    But once her vision clears, the first thing Pine sees is another wanderer, a bit further away, and she cannot help groaning in frustration.

    The lights spin indignantly overhead, but do not attack. At least that is a good sign. Iris looks around in mute horror, her eyes wide open and both hands over her mouth. The second wanderer has come closer, and Pine can see her face now, but she is unfamiliar. Later, it can all be dealt with it later. Pine throws a third spell, knowing she is overreaching ¡ª knowing she will faint. But as her legs turn to dough and the ground hits her in the face and chest, she hears another clap and knows that at least she has not missed. At this point, that would have been unsurprising.

    ¡®Pine! Pine, can you hear me?¡¯

    Pine recognizes this voice, even before her sight returns to confirm. Peony. Her voice, her face, her fingers digging in fright into Pine¡¯s arm like so many twigs.

    Peony pulls her up into a sitting position, and Pine looks around. The lights appear to have multiplied, and the track is lit so well it could be mistaken for day, if not for the colors being all wrong. The place seems eerie, with green and blue and purple swirling around in chaos. Peony, Iris, the stranger girl ¡ª they all look ghostlike, and the path is unrecognizable.

    ¡®What are we doing here?¡¯ Iris whispers. She¡¯s in her nightdress, and her feet are bleeding. ¡®What is she¡­¡¯

    ¡®I remember,¡¯ Peony says, glaring up at the lights. ¡®They called to me. They led me here. What are you?¡¯ she yells at them, loud enough to be heard for miles, and they drift away from her. ¡®What do you want?¡¯

    The third girl stays silent.

    ¡®Who are you?¡¯ Pine asks her. Iris gasps and waves at her ¡ª

    ¡®Don¡¯t you know? It¡¯s the Princess!¡¯

    ¡®Don¡¯t worry,¡¯ Peony says flippantly. ¡®She¡¯s our friend now, isn¡¯t she? Aren¡¯t you, my lady? You seem to like us.¡¯

    The Princess blinks at her in incomprehension. Pine stares at them both. She should¡¯ve known, from her nightdress alone ¡ª none but the Princess could have such a fine one, and with embroidery this elaborate ¡ª but she had been too distracted by the spells to notice. So this is the Princess. If not for what she is wearing, she would look no different from the rest of them. She notices Pine¡¯s stare, and startles her by stretching a hand out to her.

    ¡®See?¡¯ Peony says, as Pine takes the hand circumspectly and stands up. The Princess smiles, and Pine attempts to smile back, but she still feels too dizzy for that. ¡®I told you she likes us. Of course she would ¡ª you should¡¯ve seen Magnolia and Plum fawning over her. Iris, I¡¯d beware if I were you. Looked like they found a new favorite sister.¡¯

    ¡®Oh, shush,¡¯ Iris says, without much rancor. ¡®You¡¯re only jealous she likes Magnolia more than you.¡¯

    Peony shrugs.

    ¡®Well, can¡¯t argue with her taste there. Everybody likes Magnolia.¡¯

    ¡®We should hope they don¡¯t,¡¯ Pine says, indicating the lights, and Peony grows serious. ¡®It¡¯s bad enough that we are all here. No need for more.¡¯

    ¡®What are they, anyway?¡¯ Peony asks. ¡®What do they want? Looks like your sort of thing, Pine.¡¯

    ¡®It is magic, yes,¡¯ Pine agrees. ¡®But they should not come for non-witches like you. This is not how¡­¡¯

    ¡®Look!¡¯ Iris says suddenly, pointing, and the others turn around to look. And then, before Pine can say anything, do anything, Peony is already running.

    ¡®Don¡¯t touch my sister, you abominations!¡¯ she screams at the lights, taking swipes at them with a branch as she leaps over the ferns. ¡®Not her! Let her go!¡¯ Pine hasn¡¯t seen her pick the branch up, but Peony can be very fast. The lights scatter, and Peony jumps at Orchid, hugging her, holding her, trying to stop her. But Orchid¡¯s eyes are just as empty as the others¡¯ had been, just as unseeing, and she struggles in Peony¡¯s arms, saying nothing, intent only on getting out.

    Pine stumbles after, and in a moment Iris slides under her arm to support her. The Princess follows them, too, picking her way through the undergrowth. They reach Orchid just in time, as she¡¯s about to extricate herself. She shoves Peony into a tree as she does, so hard that Peony yelps in pain. The prospect of casting again, without proper restoration, makes Pine feel cold deep in her stomach. But she sees the terror in Peony¡¯s eyes, and knows it must be done.

    This time the faint is deeper, and emerging from the dark takes effort. Someone is holding her, rubbing her temples. She opens her eyes to see the lights, and Iris¡¯s face right above her.

    ¡®Listen,¡¯ Iris says, and behind her Peony is nodding. ¡®Not that we aren¡¯t thankful for you saving us from their spell ¡ª we are ¡ª but you shouldn¡¯t do it if it pains you this much.¡¯

    ¡®We don¡¯t want you to be hurt,¡¯ Peony adds.

    ¡®Well, I don¡¯t want you to play puppets to who knows what.¡¯ Pine stands up gingerly, leaning on Iris¡¯s shoulder. ¡®Do not worry about me. I will be well enough.¡¯ She is not very sure of it, in truth, but there is no need to frighten them. Fear only wastes strength, and they may need it still.

    Orchid has found some by-the-road, and is holding the crushed leaves to the back of Peony¡¯s head. Pine can see her hands shivering. Summer nights are not exactly freezing, but it is still nighttime, and Pine is the only one dressed warmly enough for it. She pulls off her coat, but then hesitates. Everybody looks cold.

    ¡®Give it to the lady,¡¯ Peony says, nodding to the Princess. ¡®She¡¯s been sniffling all day.¡¯

    As the Princess swaddles herself in the coat, Iris asks ¡ª

    ¡®What now?¡¯ She waves at the lights. They circle overhead, and to Pine¡¯s eye appear vaguely annoyed. ¡®Do we follow them, or leave?¡¯

    Peony glowers at the lights.

    ¡®Leave and never come back, if you ask me,¡¯ she says. ¡®We are not their playthings, to be pulled around however they wish. They do not deserve our help, if that is what they want. Should have asked nicely.¡¯

    ¡®I doubt they are capable of understanding such things,¡¯ Pine says. ¡®Propriety and politeness are human concepts. And anyway, I¡¯m not sure they¡¯ll let us go. They have called us here for a reason.¡¯

    ¡®Well, we can at least try,¡¯ Peony says. ¡®Give me the leaves, Orchid. And don¡¯t look at me like that ¡ª it wasn¡¯t your fault. It was all them.¡¯ With another glare at the lights, and with the by-the-road held to her head, she starts walking back, towards the village.

    ¡®Wait!¡¯ Pine tries to follow, but her legs are still too weak to match Peony¡¯s stride. ¡®Wait, be careful, they might¡­¡¯

    Yet as the lights spiral down and out, momentarily surrounding Peony as if in a glittering cocoon, she backs away from them unharmed. Pine breathes a sigh of relief. She would not be up to much healing right now. The lights form a shining wall in front of Peony, hung across the path like an enormous curtain. It is bright enough to hurt the eyes, but at least it does nothing else. Still, Pine can sense power sizzling in it ¡ª power that, if at rest for the moment, is still far greater than her own.If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    Peony shields her eyes with her arm and tries to walk around the wall. But it moves with her, and bars her way wherever she goes until she gives up and turns around to stalk back to the others.

    ¡®I can¡¯t even touch it,¡¯ she complains. ¡®It just pushes me away, no matter how I try.¡¯

    ¡®So they do not want us gone,¡¯ Orchid says. ¡®Can you cut through, Pine? Or are you too ill for that?¡¯

    Pine shakes her head.

    ¡®I doubt I could even if I were well,¡¯ she says. ¡®Anyway, it may be wiser to do as they want. They drew us here the only way they knew how, but that alone does not make them evil. It¡¯s possible this will be harmless, after all. We might be safer proceeding than trying to escape.¡¯

    ¡®We might?¡¯ Peony says with a snort. ¡®Is that what it¡¯s like to be a witch, then ¡ª to have to trust some forest apparitions, just like that, because they are magical?¡¯

    ¡®Sometimes it is like that, yes,¡¯ Pine says. ¡®Can someone find my lamp, please? I think I left it over there.¡¯

    The lights are back to swirling above the track. Together, the girls proceed deeper into the forest, keeping as close to each other as they can. Pine keeps her eyes on the trail, but even so the constant shifts of color are confusing. She can feel her strength flowing back, the natural currents around her replenishing her resources, but it is a slow process. If something happens before she is better, if she has to break more of these spells¡­

    Yet the dance of the lights before her eyes is mesmerizing, and after a while it seems to Pine she can almost make out a voice, just on the edge of hearing ¡ª not words, not as she knows them, but a meaning.

    ¡®We are coming,¡¯ she whispers then in response, and the others give her startled looks. ¡®We will help you. Don¡¯t be afraid.¡¯

    But the voice is too distant and too weak for her to know if it is answering ¡ª if it has heard, at all ¡ª and all she can do is go on.

    Iris is cold.

    At least it is not winter, now. She can imagine what that would be like, walking like this ¡ª in nothing but her nightdress ¡ª over cold ground, with frost cutting her feet. Although the random rocks that litter the road now do not seem that much of an improvement. She¡¯d never realized there could be so many rocks in the middle of a forest. Iris does not complain, because the others have it no better. Still, secretly she wishes she could just return home, into warmth and niceness.

    She does not like to be without her sisters, either. They have never left her alone for long, not unless one of them had to go to the city or the fair. They would not have left her now, either, she knows, if she called for them. But under the spell she did not think to do that. She did not think of anything much, then.

    It had been an exciting day, walking around with the Princess, even if it had amounted to later being stuck with the chores well into the night. Iris does not know how long she slept for, afterwards, but it feels as if she managed no more than a few minutes before her room grew light and the call crept into her dreams. She remembers little of getting up, of climbing out ¡ª only strange glimpses of blues and purples, and a force compelling her to forget all else and go.

    On her own, Iris would have never risked this journey. The forest is much too dark and frightening, even with a witch for company. The ferns loom under the trees, emerald where the light reaches them, and fading to black further away. It is probably best she does not remember walking through it all alone. The girls have already gone much too deep into the forest for her taste, and will be going deeper still.

    The track they are using is for carts and riders ¡ª for people moving fast. There is a good reason why walkers do not take it, but go around the forest instead. On horseback, it can be crossed in a day, if the weather is clement and you know your way. But on foot it is a much longer journey, and much more perilous, despite the track itself being of a decent quality. Iris herself has never seen this part of the forest except from the height of a cart, and that only in summer. There are wolves in this place, and some say even bears. Pine should be able to repel them if she were at her full strength, but she looks liable to faint again at any moment, and so Iris is worried. Whatever reasons Pine may have for trusting these lights, Iris does not know them, and is not sure she¡¯d be convinced even if she knew. Magic has always fascinated her, but not so much that she would be glad to risk her life for it. But Pine appears calm now, and Iris does not have much choice other than trust that.

    The land is growing hilly, and the trees stand taller. Iris looks up, but she can no longer see the stars behind the bright, darting lights. Peony and Orchid have been holding hands, and she snuggles closer to them, too, for warmth, sliding her arm around Peony¡¯s waist. Her feet hurt less, now, but she knows it¡¯s only because they have started going numb. Iris wonders how much longer there is to walk. It feels as if they have been going for hours, but with the skies still dark it is unlikely to be true.

    The road inclines, and suddenly Pine stops, with her eyes locked on the far distance.

    ¡®What is it?¡¯ Orchid asks. The lamp swings in her hand. Its light is invisible now, but they have all been too wary to risk extinguishing it yet.

    Pine¡¯s expression is strange.

    ¡®I think I can¡­¡¯ She shakes her head a little, as if trying to dislodge water in her ears. ¡®Now that we¡¯re closer, I can almost make it out¡­ what it is¡­¡¯

    ¡®It?¡¯ Iris prompts, intrigued despite herself.

    ¡®The voice,¡¯ Pine says, ¡®the call, the reason why¡­¡¯

    Iris stands still for a while, listening with her, but she can hear nothing except for the breathing of the others. They stand around quietly, too, waiting for Pine to say more, until at last Peony can hold it in no longer ¡ª

    ¡®Well? Do we go on, or what?¡¯

    Pine blinks, as though awakened from a dream.

    ¡®We go,¡¯ she states, and starts walking up the incline, faster now. ¡®Almost there.¡¯

    The others follow her. For a while, nothing changes, but then between the trees in the distance Iris sees a clearing. It startles her, because there should be none here ¡ª or was not, until recently. Could it be a new one, where trees were recently felled? But the stumps look ancient, weathered as they are and covered in lichen and moss.

    Together, the girls step into the clearing cautiously. Over their heads, the lights stream inside, too, and gather in the sky, circling. Above them, the moon hangs in the sky, round and bone-white. Below, in the middle of the clearing, a giant flower lies, with its thick pale petals closed for the night. Iris looks beyond the flower, to the other side of the clearing, and sees two more people there.

    The spirit is ready.

    This was not the way it was meant to be ¡ª not like this, without much warning or preparation. But if it is stranded in this strange land, then so be it. There is no time to waste. Its heart is formed, its blood is ready, and must start moving soon, or turn into poison. Life must begin now, or it never will. There is no time to prepare these humans for their role. They will have to learn on their own. In a way, that will be interesting to see.

    The spirit can feel their eyes on it, can sense their gazes converge as they take in its shell. They are much too alert for its liking, and most of them much too hostile, but it is too late now to correct any errors.

    The lights arrange themselves in the night sky and gradually fall into a spin. They have failed, but it is not their fault. The patterns of magic in this land are unfamiliar, and hard to manage. This will all have to do the way it is. As long as the humans listen, everything can still happen as it must.

    As long as they listen¡­

    But they do not. Their attention is all for each other, their minds are distracted, and after a while the spirit grows frightened. Without them, it cannot proceed ¡ª without them, it can do nothing. Has it made a terrible mistake?

    The sky turns¡­

    It is like walking out of a fog. Magnolia looks around, but what she sees cannot possibly be right. There are flashes of a memory in her mind ¡ª a forest, a stream, climbing and falling. There are cuts on her legs that are shallow but numerous, and they sting. But she does not quite remember how she got them. She knows she went into the forest, but she has no idea why.

    The others are all staring at her, and the sight of them both heartens and scares her. Pine lies on the ground, clutching her head. Plum stands next to her, with a bewildered look on her face. Magnolia opens her mouth to speak, but then her eyes find the Princess, and her heart falls.

    For a moment, the understanding refuses to penetrate. The Princess cannot be here. Especially not like this ¡ª at night, unguarded, and wearing next to nothing even though she has been ill. Have they led her here, somehow, for a reason Magnolia cannot recall? Have they taken her here, without letting anyone know? In Magnolia¡¯s fragmented memories of her walk through the woods she is alone. But if the others are all here, they must have passed through the same ground, too. What did they bring the Princess for? Magnolia¡¯s heart hammers so strongly that it is hard to breathe. This can easily be a hanging offence. This can see them all dead, and tortured beforehand. If the Princess blames them¡­ The thought is unbearable, and something needs to be done at once.

    ¡®My lady!¡¯ The Princess does not care for bowing, but Magnolia only remembers it when already prostrated on the ground. ¡®My lady, forgive us¡­ forgive¡­¡¯

    But the Princess will not understand. Magnolia is close to wailing in despair, but she must keep her composure. The grass pricks her nose, and she can smell the earth, and an odd lakeside scent on top of that. She is the oldest here, and so it is her duty to protect them, to save them if need be. Yet how can it be done now, when it is already too late? And what if the Princess falls ill, worse than she was ¡ª what if she dies? The visions of gallows flash through Magnolia¡¯s mind. She must not let it happen. This is all too horrible to think of, but think she must.

    Somebody is pulling her up, their hand on her arm, stinging her freezing skin with the warmth of the touch. This makes her thoughts scatter. Magnolia looks up and sees the Princess, with stars in her hair.

    ¡®Magnolia,¡¯ the Princess says, sounding uncertain. ¡®Up?¡¯

    Magnolia rises, mesmerized. These are not stars, she sees now, but strange lights ¡ª blue, and purple, and green, forming a slowly moving circle above. So that is why the lighting has felt off to her. Distracted by all the people, she did not realize.

    ¡®What are you apologizing for?¡¯ Peony asks, and Magnolia turns to face her. ¡®You didn¡¯t do anything, did you?¡¯

    ¡®We have brought her here,¡¯ Magnolia says, and it takes some effort to keep her voice steady. ¡®Brought her, when she is unwell¡­¡¯

    ¡®We brought her?¡¯ Iris gasps in indignation. ¡®We brought nothing! It was all them ¡ª they called us, they pushed us all through the thicket, not so much as asking ¡ª¡¯

    ¡®They?¡¯ Magnolia feels as if her own head is spinning, not just the lights. This is when she notices Iris¡¯s feet, and gasps, too. ¡®You¡¯re bleeding! What have you been ¡ª¡¯

    But they are all like this, she sees now ¡ª all the girls, standing around with their feet bare. Their ankles are criss-crossed with red, and the hems of their nightdresses are torn in places, and stained green. The wet patch in Peony¡¯s hair looks sickeningly like blood. Pine is the only one dressed properly. Even so, she is white as paper, and when she tries to get up, her legs wobble so much that she immediately sits back down on the ground.

    ¡®I am done,¡¯ she says in a hoarse voice, closing her eyes for a moment. When she opens them, her gaze does not focus immediately. ¡®No more, tonight. If they bring more here under that spell, they¡¯ll have to stay like that until Mother can see to them.¡¯

    ¡®What spell?¡¯ Plum asks, but Magnolia interrupts ¡ª

    ¡®Did a spell bring her here?¡¯ Pine nods. ¡®That is even worse! Don¡¯t you understand that they will make it our fault, or Pine¡¯s fault at least, you¡¯ll see that they will ¡ª and she is ill, too, so what if she gets worse, what if she dies ¡ª they will execute us all, they will ¡ª¡¯

    ¡®I agree with your concern,¡¯ Pine says. ¡®But we have more immediate worries, now. It¡¯s beginning.¡¯

    ¡®What is?¡¯

    But once Magnolia looks where Pine points, there is no need for an answer.

    An enormous flower lies in the middle of the clearing ¡ª like a giant water lily, but there is no pond in sight, and no stem either. The closed petals are white and thick, and trembling. Magnolia looks up only to see the lights gather speed. They rotate faster and faster, until they coalesce into one ¡ª a wheel of light, a crown of blue fire so bright it outshines the moon¡­

    Abruptly, the wind rises. Someone grabs Magnolia¡¯s arm. She turns to see Plum¡¯s wide, panicky eyes.

    ¡®What¡¯s happening?¡¯ Magnolia hears Peony shout, her voice smudged by the wind. ¡®Should we run?¡¯

    ¡®No!¡¯ Pine shouts back, straining to be heard. ¡®Don¡¯t run! It needs us, all of us, by its side!¡¯

    ¡®For what?¡¯

    ¡®Nothing! Just don¡¯t leave it!¡¯

    It is easier said than done. Magnolia and Plum cling together, but the wind is so strong now that it is hard to stay upright, or stay in one place. They step back a little until they find a tree to grab, and remain there, watching.

    The petals have begun to glow as they shrink where they lie, as if consumed by an inner fire. The ground is shaking. Plum¡¯s hair has come unbound, and keeps being thrown into her face. Magnolia can see the others have stepped back to the edges of the clearing, too ¡ª all of them but Pine, who remains where she was. The wheel of light spins so swiftly it begins to emit a keening wail, a sound almost too high to be audible. The petals turn to ash, and the wind blows it away, revealing something that was within ¡ª a shape, a spine¡­

    The wheel explodes in a flash of unbearable brilliance. The shock of it hits Magnolia in the stomach and throws her back into the woods. It takes her a while before she can see well enough to risk standing up. Her ears ring, but behind this she thinks she can hear something.

    Magnolia sees Plum speak, but the words don¡¯t reach her. Plum motions towards the clearing, and together they stagger back. The sudden dark is near-impenetrable, but a bit of light remains somewhere ahead.

    The burned remains of the flower emit a sour smell. Pine sits by it, clutching her lamp. The glass in it is cracked in places, but the flame inside has endured, and as Magnolia steps closer it enables her to see. A small body lies now where petals used to be. It looks like a newborn foal ¡ª spindly and slimy, and generally horse-shaped. But it is much smaller than a foal should be, and no foal ever born has been this color. Greenish gray, the creature seems like something fished out of a river. Then Magnolia sees it move. Its mouth opens ¡ª a toothless hole.

    Magnolia realizes it must be crying.

 4.

    ¡®How can you be touching this thing?¡¯

    Peony looks down in revulsion, and Orchid cannot blame her. The creature is disgusting.

    ¡®Someone has to,¡¯ Pine says, but Orchid can tell she is queasy, too. It¡¯s hard to hear ¡ª Orchid¡¯s ears are still ringing ¡ª but she tries her best to understand the words, half-lip-reading as Pine continues, ¡®It¡¯s all alone, and it¡¯s cold here. We must help it.¡¯

    ¡®What is it?¡¯ Plum asks. ¡®You heard its voice, didn¡¯t you?¡¯

    ¡®Yes, but it¡¯s not as if it introduced itself, you know. It was only a call. But I think I¡¯ve read about these creatures. It¡¯s a being from far west, a horned horse of sorts.¡¯

    Orchid squints at the creature¡¯s head, and can just make out a tiny bump right above its eyes. The Princess steps a bit closer, seeming cautious but interested.

    ¡®Far west?¡¯ Iris asks. ¡®What would it be doing here, then?¡¯

    ¡®I think it got lost.¡¯ Pine decides she has put enough leaves around the tiny creature, and picks it up ¡ª a sad little bundle, swaddled in green. The creature has stopped crying, but that is somehow more worrying. ¡®They begin as spirits, you see, traveling with the wind until they move on to take this shape next. The winds must¡¯ve brought it further than planned.¡¯

    ¡®The spring was windy,¡¯ Magnolia agrees.

    ¡®But what are we to do with it now?¡¯ Peony asks. ¡®We¡¯re not its mother. We have no milk for it. Does it even take milk?¡¯

    ¡®That wasn¡¯t in the book I read.¡¯ Pine gets up, cradling the creature in one arm, and leaning on Plum with the other. ¡®We¡¯ll have to experiment to work it out. I will take it home.¡¯

    Orchid feels relieved at this, but suddenly Iris speaks out¡ª

    ¡®It¡¯s not yours to take! It called on all of us. It belongs to all of us.¡¯

    ¡®You can come along, then,¡¯ Pine says with a shrug. ¡®It¡¯ll be better that way, actually, because I really need to rest. Could someone carry it for me, please?¡¯

    They exchange glances, and Magnolia takes the bundle. It moves a little as she does this, then stills again.

    Pine starts the walk downhill and towards the village, and the others follow. Without the eerie lights, the forest appears normal again. Beyond the circle of light from the lamp, nothing can be seen in the deep shadows, but the sky has begun to lighten. Orchid checks the oil in the lamp. It has almost run out, but with the dawn near it should be enough.

    It is only a summer night, but they have been out for much too long, and by now Orchid can feel the cold lodged deep in her bones. The road is not very rocky, nothing compared to the city ¡ª or so she imagines ¡ª but even so every step hurts. The girls are not used to walking barefoot much ¡ª not here, where winters are long, and springs and autumns hopelessly muddy. Every fallen needle pricks like a metal pin, but Orchid trudges on, trying to think as little as possible, to avoid concentrating on the pain. She can hear their steps, shuffling along the track through the quiet woods. The Princess walks by Magnolia¡¯s side, silent and uncomplaining, but her sniffles do not sound encouraging. Orchid wishes she could talk to the Princess, to ensure her protection, but there is no way.

    What will they find when they reach the village? Magnolia¡¯s worry has found its way into Orchid¡¯s head, and now she cannot shake it off. Will they make it before sunrise, before people start to wake and the Princess can be missed? The sky is deep blue, so there must still be time. Maybe they have a chance.

    Orchid is very tired. She did not get enough sleep, and now that is catching up with her. Her perception blurs, and the road seems to take hours under this dark sky. It feels a little like walking the sea depths should be for fishes. How can a summer night be so cold? Her skin has grown numb, and warmth is now like a distant dream, never to come true.

    Most of Orchid¡¯s life has felt this way, in recent years, ever since the curse. Her mind is floating as she continues to force her feet onwards. The string of duties never ceases, and each day is the same as the last, or near enough to no longer be distinguishable. She is a dutiful daughter, and so is Peony. They have decided on this path, have chosen it, so there¡¯s no point in protesting now. It is not the hardest of paths ¡ª not as if they had to work in a mine or a quarry. They do take some rest, sometimes. They have food and a bit of land, a home to call their own. It could have been far worse. Yet even though Orchid knows all this, sometimes she cannot help wanting to give up. Simply to lie down, and sleep, and never wake up again.

    The fields appear in the distance. The forest is ending. Orchid steps out of it with the rest of the girls, walking on legs she no longer feels, whether from cold or sleepiness she is unsure. She can see the village now. The sky has lightened to pale violet, and so she at last snuffs the lamp.

    A little down the road, a small side path separates from it, leading to the witches¡¯ hut. They have not yet come to it, but it is already visible, and so Pine says ¡ª

    ¡®I should take it to safety.¡¯ She gestures to the creature in Magnolia¡¯s arms. Orchid cannot tell if it is asleep or dead, motionless as it is. ¡®But I am worried about you. Magnolia was right. If you face trouble because the Princess was ¡ª¡¯

    ¡®There might still be time,¡¯ Peony interrupts. ¡®We might make it back before they all wake up.¡¯

    But Pine shakes her head.

    ¡®I don¡¯t think any of you are up to running at the moment. And if you walk, you will not be in time. You will be seen.¡¯

    ¡®So what if we are?¡¯ Peony shrugs. ¡®Does it matter? We should be able to convince our own fellow villagers to keep quiet.¡¯

    ¡®But we will not convince the guards,¡¯ Plum says grimly, and Peony gives a little groan. ¡®They keep watch at night, and even those who do go to sleep still rise with dawn. They may not know yet that she is gone, but they will once they see her with us. And see it they will, too, those on duty at least.¡¯

    ¡®Much good they are at watching if they had not seen her leave,¡¯ Iris mutters.

    ¡®Perhaps they have,¡¯ Orchid says.

    ¡®My point is,¡¯ Pine continues, ¡®will it do any good for me to come with you?¡¯

    ¡®Are you up to enchanting a whole division of guards?¡¯ Iris asks.

    ¡®Of course not. But I could ¡ª¡¯ Pine nods to the creature.

    ¡®No!¡¯ Magnolia hugs it closer to herself. ¡®You cannot show it to them! What if they hurt it, what if they think it¡¯s evil ¡ª what if they want to kill it? You cannot let them see it. They won¡¯t understand.¡¯

    ¡®Well then,¡¯ Pine says with a shrug, ¡®I will take it home. Iris, you wanted to come take care of it, too?¡¯

    Iris hesitates, looking at her sisters.

    ¡®Go,¡¯ Magnolia says. ¡®We will be fine.¡¯

    ¡®You don¡¯t know that,¡¯ Iris protests.

    ¡®She will speak up for us,¡¯ Magnolia says quietly. ¡®I know she will.¡¯

    With that, they all look at the Princess. She seems startled by their stares.

    ¡®What?¡¯ she asks, pulling Pine¡¯s coat tighter around herself. ¡®What?¡¯

    ¡®It¡¯s all right,¡¯ Magnolia says, forcing out a smile for her. ¡®I know you won¡¯t betray us. I know you care.¡¯

    But it seems that the Princess understood something was not quite right about that smile. She looks into their eyes, turning from one to another, as if searching for explanation. But they have none to give her ¡ª none that can reach her, at least.

    ¡®Trust her,¡¯ Magnolia says stubbornly. ¡®She is on our side.¡¯

    ¡®There is no reason for you to think so,¡¯ Orchid says.

    ¡®I know. That¡¯s what trust means.¡¯

    At the fork, they split, and Pine and Iris proceed along the forest edge towards the way to the witches¡¯ hut, while the rest begin the descent towards the village. The Princess walks in the middle, swaddled in her shawl, watching her own feet. She looks worried. She also looks ill, and sniffles even more, now that they¡¯re in the fields and the air has changed.

    They enter the village when the sun rises, just as Pine said. But the first golden light of morning falls not on a few sleepy faces, but on a crowd ¡ª hushed, fearful crowd of people who clearly had not been to sleep. Orchid stumbles when she sees them, all gathered in their one street. She does not know yet what it means, but it cannot possibly be any good, and terror grips her. Her legs turn heavy as stone, and it is harder than even before to keep on walking.

    The others slow down, too.

    ¡®What is it?¡¯ Peony calls out, but a neighbor she addresses backs away mutely, shaking his head. ¡®What is going on?¡¯ But the crowd remains silent, only staring at them.

    In the quiet, the sound of a door slamming full open comes loud as a thunderclap, and the people flinch. Orchid flinches with them.

    Magnolia¡¯s mother runs towards the girls. Her face is pale as cheese, and her dress is crumpled.

    ¡®What is this?¡¯ The words begin in a shriek, but her voice breaks, and she finishes in a furious whisper, ¡®Where have you been? Why have you taken her?¡¯

    ¡®We¡­¡¯ Magnolia begins, but Orchid never finds out what excuse she was intending to offer. The crowd parts to let the guards through, and for a moment Orchid can see nothing but the gleam of a sword. Death in sunlight.

    ¡®There they are,¡¯ the guard with that sword says. His voice is not loud, but it carries. ¡®Those who have stolen the Princess. The criminals.¡¯

    More swords appear. The crowd draws further back. Orchid feels Peony¡¯s fingers gripping her own, and squeezes back out of habit. What is happening now does not seem real, even though she anticipated this. It was one thing to expect trouble, another to see quite how bad it could be. The guards must have seen the Princess leave, and raised the whole village. They must have had hours to search, and panic, and devise terrible punishments. Bile rises to Orchid¡¯s throat as she remembers some of the rumors. Dying on a sword might be preferable.

    The sunlight reflects off steel and right into her eyes, making her squint. Magnolia¡¯s mother is crying. Her own mother must be back home, still, not knowing¡­ Really, it is best that she never knows.

    Somebody says something, but it¡¯s too soft to make out the words. A spear lifts to touch Magnolia¡¯s chest, just over her heart, and Orchid can see her shudder. It feels unreal, all of it. Maybe it is all a dream, the whole thing ¡ª the lights, the creature, the sunrise and the steel. Let it end, then. Orchid can only hope.

    But it doesn¡¯t end. Instead, someone shouts something right next to her ear.

    Orchid fails to understand and blames it on her tiredness at first, but then the Princess pushes past her. The guard replies with a bow, but his stare is cool, and his spear remains aloft. The Princess speaks again ¡ª a rapid outpouring of words this time, trembling yet forceful. Magnolia smiles through tears, but Orchid can sense no relief yet. For the first time, seeing that man¡¯s face, she wonders if the Princess defending them may not be enough.You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

    At last, the guard lowers the spear, and motions the girls towards the tavern. The Princess steps first, keeping her head high. The other guards move out of her way, but do not sheathe their weapons. The villagers look on.

    ¡®Please take care of our mother,¡¯ Orchid calls out to no-one in particular. Nobody replies or moves at all, and she can only hope they have heard and will heed her. They all know her, but she can understand why they may not want to acknowledge her now. The guard waves the girls on again, more impatiently now, and the girls follow the Princess at what Orchid hopes is a sufficiently respectful distance. The panic has subsided a little, and in the aftershock her whole body is unwieldy. More than anything, Orchid wants to sleep. But she can see now that this will not happen any time soon.

    So far, the creature has refused milk, water, fruit, honey and porridge. Iris looks around for more choices.

    ¡®In the cellar,¡¯ Pine calls from the outside, where she stands listening to the air. ¡®There¡¯s a barrel of salted beef. Try that.¡¯

    Iris climbs down. The beef is packed very tightly, and it takes her a while before she can extricate a piece. She replaces the covers carefully, knowing Pine and her mother will not appreciate it if she lets the thing spoil. Although beef salted so heavily is not likely to spoil for a long while.

    ¡®Where did you get it?¡¯ Iris calls out once she¡¯s back upstairs. ¡®The barrel is strange.¡¯

    ¡®It¡¯s from a seafaring friend,¡¯ Pine¡¯s mother replies, stepping inside. ¡®Not the most pleasant of foodstuffs, but keeps for ages. Go on, try feeding it. Salt has magical properties, so maybe it will enjoy that.¡¯

    But the creature does not. It is too weak yet to stand, too weak even to lift its head, but it still tries to roll away from the beef, staring at it with its huge, grey eyes in such apparent fear as if the beef is about to bite.

    ¡®I guess not,¡¯ Pine¡¯s mother says with a sigh. ¡®Seems I¡¯ll have to go get some new options. What have we not tried yet? Carrots? Not likely, I believe, but let¡¯s check.¡¯

    While she looks, Pine comes inside, a frown on her face, and Iris forgets the creature immediately.

    ¡®Anything? Are they well? Have they made it?¡¯

    ¡®I don¡¯t think so.¡¯ Pine sits on a stool. Her eyes are red-rimmed, and she blinks heavily, like an owl. ¡®I heard¡­ questions, a lot of questions. But no blood.¡¯

    ¡®That means nothing,¡¯ Iris says hotly. ¡®So they haven¡¯t been hurt ¡ª good, but they¡¯re still in danger! Interrogation is bad news. We should do something.¡¯

    ¡®I agree,¡¯ Pine¡¯s mother says, as she returns with the carrots. ¡®But we must be wise. Pine is in no shape to be helpful, right now. And you, Iris sweetling, are too young. I shall go to the village, and check on what is happening.¡¯

    ¡®But if they¡¯re asking,¡¯ Pine protests weakly, ¡®they¡¯ll know I was there, too, and they might¡­¡¯

    ¡®You think I won¡¯t be cautious?¡¯ Pine¡¯s mother smiles. ¡®They are no threat to me. I will return. And while I am gone, you must sleep. Both of you.¡¯

    ¡®What about¡­¡¯ Iris begins, waving towards the creature, but Pine¡¯s mother stops her ¡ª

    ¡®Nothing we can do now, it seems. I will search for other alternatives. It must like something. Actually¡­¡¯

    She seems to have had an idea, but at first Iris doesn¡¯t understand what it is, and only watches as Pine¡¯s mother takes a knife. It is one of her spell-knives ¡ª smaller than those in the kitchen, and with a blade charmed to repel diseases. She slices across the tip of her finger, and Iris gasps.

    ¡®Blood? Really?¡¯ Pine perks up a little, intrigued. ¡®You think it might be?..¡¯

    ¡®Let¡¯s see.¡¯ Pine¡¯s mother stretches her finger towards the creature, and it makes a gurgling sound as it tries to raise its head. With the other hand, Pine¡¯s mother helps it up, and it latches onto her finger, lapping at the dripping blood with its tiny greenish tongue.

    Pine looks on with a mixture of fascination and disgust on her face. Iris feels somewhat nauseous, too. The creature takes its time drinking, but eventually it does let go, and its head falls back. It looks at the people still, but its stare seems calm, at last.

    ¡®Well, this is no good,¡¯ Pine says. ¡®We can¡¯t just feed it our blood ¡ª we can only spare so much. Perhaps we could for now, but not once it grows. Do you think it¡¯ll take animal blood?¡¯

    ¡®That would be the hope,¡¯ Pine¡¯s mother says, as she gets up. ¡®I¡¯ll go get that, then.¡¯ Iris stares, captivated, at the wound as it heals right before her eyes. ¡®Get some sleep. The wards should warn you if someone comes.¡¯

    ¡®Yes, mother.¡¯ Pine looks longingly at the bed in the corner. ¡®Take care, though. All those guards she has¡­¡¯

    ¡®I am always careful.¡¯

    Pine¡¯s mother steps out, and through a window Iris watches her disappear into the forest. The morning sun shines brightly, and the greenery outside looks inviting. Iris can hardly recognize in it the eerie dark world of the night before.

    Pine falls onto the bed and slides into sleep moments after, but Iris stays by the window a while longer. She cannot see the village from here, but her heart looks on it nonetheless. Questions, many questions. Well, she has plenty of her own, now, but no way to know the future. Will they answer well? Will they find a path to safety? It can¡¯t be all as bad as Magnolia said. It cannot be. The Princess seemed so reasonable, and fond of them, too ¡ª surely she will protect the girls. Still, maybe it would have been better to go with them.

    Iris falls asleep where she sits, with her head on the table. The last thing she sees is the creature nibbling at her hair, then spitting it out in distaste. It looks kind of endearing as it does so, like a kitten.

    ¡®I know what I have seen,¡¯ Jade says angrily. ¡®I know what happened. I may be unwell, but I am not blind, nor insane, or anything else you seem to imply.¡¯

    ¡®I would never imply anything so untoward with regards to my lady,¡¯ the head guard says, bowing yet again. ¡®Nevertheless, it is my duty to doubt this unlikely story. These village louts may have tricked you, may have medicated you¡­¡¯

    ¡®Louts?¡¯ Jade glares at him ¡ª she knows she¡¯s glaring, but he is unperturbed, and this only infuriates her more. ¡®They are more educated than you, you know. Haven¡¯t you seen all the books they have here? They¡¯ve read so much. And they¡¯ve been a great help to me. Without them, I would¡¯ve been lost in that forest. They saved me, not hurt me, as you seem to believe for some reason.¡¯

    ¡®My lady does not know this land,¡¯ the guard says, softly but with a certainty Jade hates. ¡®These are prideful people, tricky people. Difficult. They have rebelled in the past, and they are barely part of our kingdom even today. They have their own ways, strange ways. Some even say they practice magic, and are not ashamed of it. These are not good people, my lady must understand. If we could¡¯ve taken any other path, could¡¯ve stayed elsewhere, if this forest was not so¡­¡¯

    ¡®But the forest is so,¡¯ Jade snaps. ¡®And they saved me from it, when my fever made me delirious. When it had passed and I found myself alone in that forest ¡ª can you imagine how frightening that was, how grateful I was to have them come for me? The least you could do is show them some respect, not shut them in that room as if they were criminals.¡¯

    ¡®But they may be that, my lady. They may still be that.¡¯

    ¡®Didn¡¯t I just tell you otherwise?¡¯

    ¡®Indeed, my lady. But you could be misremembering, delirious as you say you were.¡¯

    Jade breathes in, breathes out, trying hard not to scream ¡ª or sneeze. Dignity is important if she wishes to be heard, to make him believe this story. If she were a queen, none of this would be happening. But she is just a princess, and young, too ¡ª not much more than a child next to this man. Her power has limits, yet even back home she never had cause to feel it quite as cuttingly. Nonetheless, she must find a way.

    ¡®You have no proof of any wrongdoing,¡¯ she says, as calmly as she can. ¡®You have no ground to keep them locked in ¡ª to punish them in any way. Such is the law, both of my former home and of this land.¡¯ The laws she has found much easier to learn than the language. ¡®I commend you on your dedication to my protection, but at this point you can do no more. You must let them go. That is my order.¡¯

    The guard appears to be looking right through her. Jade shivers. He is a very large man. No guard would dare harm a princess, she knows, but still he is a very large man. She wishes he would leave already, do as she asks and then go away.

    He bows yet again, but his eyes never leave her face, and Jade is sure he is discontented. The discontent of a mere guard should not worry her, yet it does.

    ¡®As my lady commands.¡¯

    He walks out of the room, and his steps are so heavy they cause the wooden floors to creak. Jade stares at his back, then at the closed door. Then she sneezes, hard enough to give herself a ping of a headache.

    ¡®What did she say?¡¯

    The girls stand huddled in the kitchen, whispering. The air is very warm. Mother keeps looking at them in suspicion, but doesn¡¯t interfere. Plum can tell her own concentration is trying to slip away, but this is not time to sleep, not yet.

    ¡®We cannot really ask her,¡¯ she whispers. ¡®We don¡¯t have the necessary words yet, and anyway she is upstairs, and we¡¯d have to come up with an excuse to go to her.¡¯

    ¡®Can¡¯t you figure out some way? We have to know,¡¯ Peony hisses back. ¡®They may have simply let us go, for now, but what if they change their minds and decide to check her story? Whatever she told them worked, which means it probably wasn¡¯t the truth. We need to know what it was, to confirm it if they come asking again.¡¯

    ¡®I agree,¡¯ Magnolia says. ¡®We got off lightly for now, but our luck might not last if they catch her in a lie.¡¯ A yawn she cannot suppress interrupts her for a moment. ¡®We will have to think of something.¡¯

    ¡®Hurry,¡¯ Orchid says. A fly buzzes past her, and she waves at it irritably. ¡®Who knows what they¡¯ll think of next, or when. Did he look to you like he believed it all?¡¯

    ¡®He looked like he¡¯d love to hang us all, belief or no belief,¡¯ Peony says grimly. ¡®I would not trust him if I were the Princess, and I do not trust him being me.¡¯ She touches Magnolia¡¯s nightdress on the left side, where the sword pricked her. Magnolia hasn¡¯t changed yet, and the red spot is easy to see. ¡®He has his own views on what must be done.¡¯

    ¡®But he has to obey the Princess,¡¯ Magnolia says.

    ¡®Yet she¡¯s only a Princess,¡¯ Plum counters. ¡®And there have been many times when that amounted to little.¡¯

    The smell of fresh bread fills the air, as Mother takes it out of the oven. The birds are singing outside. Plum is not sure if she is more hungry or sleepy. She is so tired she can barely stand, but that smell is seductive. She can easily imagine herself stuffing her mouth with those loaves, all of them one by one. She swallows.

    ¡®We need only to hold it together until they leave,¡¯ Peony says. ¡®Once they¡¯re gone, it won¡¯t matter. How long do you think it¡¯ll be, till she¡¯s well enough to travel?¡¯

    Magnolia looks nervous.

    ¡®Yesterday, I¡¯d have guessed a few days,¡¯ she says. ¡®But after last night¡­¡¯

    ¡®It was only cold,¡¯ Orchid says, wonderingly. ¡®Very cold, admittedly, by the end, but ¡ª don¡¯t you just get over it?¡¯

    ¡®We do,¡¯ Peony points out. ¡®We are used to these things, to the outdoors. But she has lived differently. She is not as strong. Anyway,¡¯ she says, ¡®let¡¯s deal with what is now. We go home, and you two,¡¯ she points at Magnolia and Plum, ¡®try to find a way to learn what exactly she told them.¡¯

    Peony and Orchid leave, half-walking and half-stumbling out of the kitchen. Mother watches them go as she cuts the vegetables, then turns to her daughters.

    ¡®Are you done with your secrets?¡¯ she asks, pointing at them with the knife. ¡®Am I to expect more trouble from you?¡¯

    Magnolia and Plum look at each other.

    ¡®We must all hope for the better,¡¯ Plum says, as vaguely as she can.

    ¡®Mother, do we have any blackroot left?¡¯ Magnolia asks.

    They do, but only a little. After they finally go change into their day clothes, Plum watches over it as it cooks in its tiny pan. It bubbles from cold to boiling in minutes. Blackroot must not be kept boiling for long, or it will lose its potency. She takes it off the stove, and pours two cups for herself and her sister.

    Blackroot is no substitute for sleep ¡ª its effects are only seeming, and wear off after a few hours, leaving the consumer worse than before. But in circumstances like these, blackroot is better than nothing. Plum can almost feel its juices begin their course through her veins, infusing her tired limbs with energy, clearing her sight. This is not the time for sleep. This is the time for investigation. The others rely on her.

    And it will have to be her, she knows. In crisis, she is a faster thinker than Magnolia. And Magnolia panics easily, while Plum does not. Magnolia will take over her chores for the moment, and Plum will try to gain an audience upstairs. Grateful as she is to Magnolia for taking on the double workload, the gratitude is fast overshadowed by fear. What she herself has to do now will not be easy, either.

    Plum climbs up the stairs, and immediately a guard steps forward to bar her way. At least it is not the one who interrogated them before.

    ¡®You will not proceed,¡¯ he says. ¡®You are not wanted.¡¯

    ¡®Really?¡¯ Plum looks up at him, trying to radiate innocence. She will have to bluff shamelessly. She has no clue if what he says is true, or if what she¡¯ll say can work. ¡®Has the Princess herself decreed it so? You must obey her, you know. Have you asked her opinion? Has she told you she wishes not to see me? Because she told me differently. She told me she¡¯d want to see me. Told me to come, first thing in the morning. So here I am, obeying the lady, as I must. And so must you, right?¡¯

    The guard hesitates, then barks out an order. Another one moves to take his place, ungluing himself from the wall he was leaning on. The guards stand all along the corridor ¡ª eleven of them in total, Plum can see. The rooms here are all taken by them, too. The retinue is all guards, excepting one servant. They must have been very apprehensive about bringing the Princess through these lands.

    The guard Plum spoke to strides along the corridor, then disappears behind a door. But it is not a door to where the Princess resides. The substitute guard stares at Plum, saying nothing, his face expressionless and his hand resting on his sword. Plum feels jittery, from blackroot or from fear she cannot tell. Her fingers have grown cold.

    The first guard emerges again, but does not approach Plum. Instead, he heads towards the Princess¡¯s room, and two more guards follow him. Plum waits, watching as they are admitted inside, and the door shuts behind them.

    The silence is stifling. She is scared to be here, scared to be facing all these armed men, but she does her best not to look down. This is her family¡¯s home ¡ª her own home ¡ª and she has the right to stand here, all day if she so wished.

    The corridor seems different from the usual. There are only two windows ¡ª at one end of it and the other ¡ª and so the place can be quite dark even during daytime, unless you bring a lamp. But the guards have plenty of lanterns, bright enough to show every corner of the place. At least the corners are nothing to be ashamed off, clean and with no cobwebs in sight. Plum remembers how she and Magnolia took turns to climb up a ladder to inspect the ceiling, just a few days ago, when they received news that the Princess was coming. Iris was not with them then ¡ª she was set to polishing the cutlery, Plum remembers. What is she doing now? Plum can only hope her little sister is sleeping peacefully, and not heading here. Even with the interrogation having gone their way, the tension in the air is plain, and the tavern is not a good place to be.

    How long have the guards been inside? It feels like hours, yet Plum can tell from the slant of sunlight that only a short time has passed. She wishes they would hurry. It is so awful to have to stand here, facing all these strangers and their swords. Plum cannot forget how it felt to see a sword pointed at her sister, even if it in the end the damage was little. She must make no mistake.

    The guards come out of the room of the Princess, and Plum cannot move, can only stare at them as they march toward her. The guard she spoke to appears sour now.

    ¡®The Princess,¡¯ he announces, looking down on Plum, ¡®has expressed the desire to see you. You may come.¡¯

    Plum raises her chin and passes by him, expecting him to follow her. But he does not. She feels his eyes on her back ¡ª at least, she thinks she can feel them ¡ª but she does not turn around to check.

    Plum has to remind herself she is no criminal, and did nothing wrong. Under all these stares, it is easy to forget.

 5.

    The void of sleep is deep and black, and heavy as granite. Peony falls in as soon as she lies down, and does not dream. When she wakes again, late in the afternoon, it takes her a few moments before she remembers where she is, what happened, and why the light is not where it should be.

    Orchid blinks at her owlishly. Their mother¡¯s content humming drifts in from the outside through an open window. There is some pottage left on the stove, from when a neighbor came. But the woman herself is long gone to her own home, and the food has cooled.

    ¡®I don¡¯t like sleeping during the day,¡¯ Orchid says. ¡®My head hurts.¡¯

    ¡®I know,¡¯ Peony mumbles, crawling off the bed. ¡®But we should get up. Work.¡¯

    She dislikes intensely this shift in time, this need to do now, at this late hour, the chores that belong to the morning. She remembers dimly that after the interrogation she did dress and go out to milk their one cow, and to feed the animals. But the lack of sleep made it all murky, then, and she moved her limbs as if in a dream ¡ª doing what she needed, but with no thought in it. All her ability to think had been wasted on the interrogation, and its endless repetition of the same. We did not take the Princess, she had said over and over again. We did not harm the Princess. We would never do such a thing. We are loyal to the crown. Peony wonders now if the guards were able to tell the difference. She would never hurt the Princess, that was true. But loyalty to the crown was only a word ¡ª meaningless, as far as she knew, anywhere outside the capital.

    The rebellions were far enough in the past that even their mother would not recall much, if she were capable. Most of the time, it was easy to forget any such things had ever been. The land was long healed of any ravages, and the people have moved on. Peony grew up not thinking about it much. The stories the elders told were just that ¡ª stories, shadows of a time that had once been. She did not think it held any relevance, any relation to her present. She did not think it mattered.

    She learned better in that small room in the tavern, where they were shut in with the guards. Plum had whispered to her to be quiet, but for once Peony had not needed that reminder. The armed men staring at them terrified her enough that it was hard to speak even when she was told to. She was very glad then that Iris had remained behind.

    It was not a proper interrogation, really. Nobody asked for their story. It was simply a barrage of accusations ¡ª of stealing, of trickery and treachery, all stated as fact, as if trying to provoke a heated denial. But the sight of those swords froze any heat before it had the chance to surface.

    Magnolia spoke for them ¡ª stammering, twisting her fingers incessantly, but she spoke first, and Peony was deeply grateful. The rest of them had to only repeat after Magnolia, and that made it easier. We did not take the Princess, Peony intoned along with the others. We did not harm the Princess. Never would we do such a thing.

    It did not take that long in truth, but it felt like hours, with time trickling slow as honey in the airless heat of that room. The window had been shut tight ¡ª as if they would get far if they tried to escape through it. Sleepiness came over Peony in waves, making it hard to follow Magnolia¡¯s voice at times, but she struggled on and repeated it all, over and over, in response to every accusation. We did not harm the Princess. We would never do such a thing. Loyal to the crown. Did not. Would never. After a while, she started to forget which of these words were true, and which only what was expected of her. Maybe that was the point.

    Peony stares at her own walls, at her sister looking around in confusion, searching for her discarded clothes. It is all over now. She should let it go. Whatever the Princess said has worked. It does not matter what the guards think, as long as she sides with the girls. It will be good to have her in the capital if she is like this. She might speak for them there. It could be good for the village, good for their whole corner of the land.

    But that means she will leave¡­

    It should not matter. Peony has enjoyed making her laugh, but still the Princess is a stranger. Yet she defended them ¡ª lied for them ¡ª and when a spear was lifted against Magnolia, she paled so much¡­

    Magnolia has trusted her from the start. Peony is more wary, behind all the talk. The Princess is only being polite and protecting the innocent, as nobles are supposed to do. It means nothing.

    Still, when she goes away it will be a sad moment¡­

    ¡®I wish I could go and see her,¡¯ Orchid says, as she is folding her nightdress. The hem is torn, but not so badly that it cannot be mended. ¡®To say thank you. She knows that word, right?¡¯

    There is no need for her to say who she means.

    ¡®Well, we still might get the chance,¡¯ Peony says. ¡®She is not well enough to leave yet.¡¯

    ¡®They might take her anyway, though.¡¯

    Their mother waddles indoors, still humming. Both girls turn to her, but she does not look at them.

    ¡®Well, you know how it is,¡¯ Peony says quietly. ¡®You always say it. We all do as we must. She has her obligations, as we have ours.¡¯

    ¡®I know.¡¯ Orchid¡¯s voice sounds strange. ¡®Oh, don¡¯t I know ¡ª ¡¯

    With a gulp, she crumples to the floor by the bed. Peony leaps to her.

    ¡®What is it?¡¯ She touches her sister¡¯s forehead, touches her hair, searching automatically, desperately for the hurt she knows she will not find. ¡®What¡¯s wrong? It will be all right, it will¡­ just don¡¯t cry¡­¡¯

    ¡®I am so tired,¡¯ Orchid sobs into her shoulder. ¡®It¡¯s been so long¡­ so long¡­ I can¡¯t take it anymore¡­ and she doesn¡¯t even look at us. It¡¯s as if she does not care at all. What if she doesn¡¯t, Peony? What if she¡¯s been gone all this time, and there is nothing to save? All these years, all the work, what if it¡¯s all for nothing ¡ª¡¯

    This is the fear Peony knows well, but it is also one she never speaks of, as though ignoring it can make it disappear. She tries to find the right words, something supportive, as she holds Orchid closer. But nothing comes to her. After so long, she cannot deny that the risk is real.

    ¡®We will deal with it when it happens ¡ª if it happens,¡¯ she says eventually. ¡®Until then, we must not give up. We have always known the chance is slim. But we must try. As long as there is hope, we must try.¡¯

    ¡®Don¡¯t you ever want to give up?¡¯

    ¡®Of course I do. I¡¯ve never told you, because I thought you were so strong that you would not understand¡­¡¯ Orchid gives a short, strangled laugh. ¡®We should talk more. Not just of work.¡¯

    ¡®I know. But there is so much to do¡­ I don¡¯t even read anymore. I feel guilty for every moment I¡¯m not being useful. Yesterday, when we went on that walk, I kept thinking that I shouldn¡¯t have¡­¡¯

    ¡®We are nearly done anyway,¡¯ Peony says. ¡®We can go soon, and find a doctor, and then perhaps ¡ª¡¯

    ¡®But what if they still can¡¯t ¡ª¡¯

    ¡®Then we keep trying until we find someone who can. Like she would, for us.¡¯

    ¡®I know,¡¯ Orchid says softly, staring at their mother with glittering eyes. ¡®She would never give up on us¡­¡¯

    They sit on the floor for a while longer, until she stops crying. Peony holds her, stroking her hair. Their mother wanders outside again. She leaves the door open, and from her place Peony can see outside ¡ª the yard with the chickens, and a few houses, and beyond, the fields and the distant forest that looks almost blue in the afternoon haze.

    Jade lies on the bed. She is not quite sure how long it¡¯s been. The air is too hot and too cold by turns, and her vision is playing tricks on her. Sometimes she sees Plum, and Magnolia, and the rest of them. Other times ¡ª the lights and the creature. It is hard to tell which of these are dreams, and which are real.

    Some must be real, she knows. The room has to be, and the bed with its heavy covers ¡ª too heavy for Jade¡¯s taste, so she keeps throwing them off. But her servant swaddles her again. Jade seems to remember arguing about it, but she is not sure if she truly did it or only intended to. She also recalls Plum seated there by her bed, brushing her hair, speaking to her in a tongue of which Jade can only understand a few words. If only she could learn¡­ if only she were better at it¡­ but she is too sick to do anything about it now. She remembers trying to explain ¡ª to relate ¡ª no, she¡¯d not tell the truth, she¡¯s not stupid, of course she made up a story, a good and safe story¡­ Did she find a way to say it? Did Plum understand? Jade cannot be certain.

    She sees the creature often, too, and that has to be a dream. It could not have been brought here ¡ª not with all these people watching. The being appears comfortable enough, as far as she can tell, but the way it looks at her in those dreams unnerves her. There is accusation in those strange eyes, and longing. She needs to be with it, at least sometimes. She must go to it. The lights call for her, and she must go¡­

    The dark woods swirl above her head, as she falls into the torrid night. In those dreams, Jade is no longer a Princess ¡ª no longer to be married and taken away from home. In those dreams, she is just one of many. But even when lost in that darkness, she knows ¡ª or feels, rather ¡ª that this will not, cannot last. Reality will have to reassert itself. She will have to leave this place, these dreams, and go on to do what she was sent into this land for.

    Jade is aware, indistinctly, that a message has been sent to inform the capital of her delay. It will inconvenience them some, she knows, but not too much ¡ª it is only an engagement, after all, not a wedding, and so easier to postpone. Maybe they¡¯ll have more time this way to pick a husband for her at last. Maybe she will at least be told his name.

    Sometimes Jade dreams of home, too. These are bittersweet visions ¡ª the mountains, the white rivers, the sky so high and dark that it was almost as if you could see the stars at noon. She was not let out of the gates much, but at least she could look out of her window, or climb an outer wall and watch from there. Sometimes she saw the goats leaping about, and the sheep in their meadows, and the shepherds. From some windows she could see the sunrise, and sunset from others. And beyond all this land ¡ª the shepherds, the sheep, the rivers and grass ¡ª the distant peaks rose ever higher, glimmering white with snow¡­If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    Jade was never all that wanted there, never all that needed, but still it was home. Wanted or not, at least she belonged there, and the very ground under her feet seemed to recognize her. What will it be like in the capital? Will it ever feel better? Will she be able to love it ¡ª and him?

    Curled on her bed, with blankets thrown off yet again, Jade cries searing, feverish tears, as Magnolia¡¯s cool hand touches her forehead. A Princess must not complain, provided as she is with all sorts of riches. And Jade does keep silent and never grumbles. But just for the moment, she wishes she could ask, instead, simply to stay here for good. Just for the moment, she wishes she could be one of these girls, instead of herself. Just to fade into the shadows, and walk free¡­

    The spirit rests.

    It has always enjoyed these times of respite ¡ª when the hard work is done, and all that is left is waiting. It will not be long until it is stronger, larger, more powerful. It will not be long until the next stage of the journey ¡ª the next spoke in the ever-repeating wheel of its existence. But for now it can lie back and rest. Its body is still too weak to take much else, anyway.

    It likes to lie in the sun, now ¡ª the sun that it can once again see, after a long while of only sensing its presence. The warmth is pleasant on its newborn skin. The dwelling the humans built for it is pleasant enough ¡ª the spirit likes the smell of the wood they used, and the thin long windows by the roof that it can see the sky out of. The mothers come to meet with it there ¡ª to feed it, and play with it, and talk to it in their curious human babble. The creature has not learned to understand it yet, but it will soon enough. As its brain grows and its perception heightens, it will all become much easier.

    If only there wasn¡¯t something missing¡­ All the mothers are there but one, and the spirit feels her absence keenly. She had been there at the birth, and that forms a bond that must not be broken until its time. She must feel this, too, yet she has not come. Days go by, many of them, and the mothers come and go ¡ª all the rest, the other six, but never her. She has to know she is missed. She has to.

    Even in the redolent warmth of sunlight and with the sleek, tangy blood to sustain it, the spirit grows uneasy and restless¡­

    The guards stare at them, but do not speak. They have learned not to interfere by now. But it is clear they still disapprove.

    Magnolia breathes in deep as she opens the door. They may think what they will. Her new friend is all that matters.

    The Princess smiles the moment the sisters enter, radiant despite her weakness. Plum puts down the food, placing it on a bedside table. Magnolia feels a little ashamed of her own robust health. They have both been through the same cold night, yet she did not as much as sneeze, whereas Jade¡­

    ¡®Hello,¡¯ she says, and Plum echoes her. Magnolia sits down on the bed. She would hesitate at first, because it is much closer than she knows is appropriate. But the Princess wants them close, and so by now the girls have learned to overstep. ¡®Hello, my lady.¡¯

    ¡®Apple,¡¯ she says firmly. ¡®My name is Apple.¡¯

    Nobody else calls her that ¡ª she is ¡®my lady¡¯ to them all, and maybe sometimes ¡®the lady Jade¡¯. But there is no-one in this room but the three of them now, with the servant gone. So Magnolia repeats the name as asked, and she is glad when that makes the girl smile. Outside, they may be a Princess and her lowly subjects bound to proper silence. But in here, alone, they can at least talk freely.

    Not that they can manage much talk. But the Princess is trying. Plum places a board on the bed. The bed is huge ¡ª the largest they had in the tavern ¡ª so there is more than enough space for a board and three people to sit around it.

    ¡®Where is¡­ Iris?¡¯ the Princess asks, as Plum begins to position the tiny figurines. Carved of walnut and decorated with tiny specs of silver, they are quite an expensive set, but for the Princess their parents allowed them to take it. It is tricky to set up this board for three when it has been designed for five, but Plum has worked out a way.

    ¡®Washing dishes,¡¯ Plum says now, miming the action. ¡®She might come later.¡¯

    The Princess blinks at this, and Magnolia wonders how much she has understood. It is difficult to tell most of the time. But then they have been up here with her so often now that it sometimes seems they can understand each other without words, in a way.

    ¡®Why don¡¯t you tell us a story, my lady Apple,¡¯ Plum says. ¡®You should practice.¡¯

    The Princess nods and, after considering the board for a while, begins in a halting, uncertain voice as she moves the first figurine to begin the game.

    Her command of their language may for now be little different from that of a toddler, but her skill with the board is impressive. Even Plum cannot always win. Magnolia has long ago given up on trying, and simply enjoys the game ¡ª and the tale ¡ª throughout her inevitable defeat. It does not matter, when it is only a game. She is glad enough to be here, listening to that voice, seeing her sister and her friend both so content.

    It will not last, but Magnolia tries not to dwell. The distance between them cannot be erased, and the different paths they must walk cannot converge. Soon, the Princess ¡ª Apple ¡ª will have to leave, and Magnolia will have to let her go. It was always going to happen this way. They got more time than expected as is, with her illness and having to stay here longer.

    Whatever happens later, at least for now the Princess appears happy. Magnolia can only hope she will go on like this, and find joy in that future life which awaits her in the capital. When the Princess looks up at her, Magnolia smiles encouragingly and does her best to hide her own sadness. It will not be easy to let her go. It has only been a short while, but it will not be easy.

    The cart creaks a little as the mare steps from one foot to another. Pine pats her absent-mindedly with one hand, to keep it calm. With her other hand, she counts through the pile.

    ¡®Ten, twelve, fourteen¡­¡¯

    Twenty-two socks has Orchid knitted ¡ª eleven pairs, in total. Orchid stands by, holding more goods ¡ª scarves, and mittens, and sweaters. Iris is waiting for her turn, too, with her jars.

    ¡®I am so old enough,¡¯ she is muttering under her breath, addressing no-one in particular. ¡®I should go. They should let me. Isn¡¯t it only sensible? I¡¯m good with money, good at arithmetics. And the road is not that dangerous, certainly not with a witch. I should so go.¡¯

    ¡®I¡¯d take you if it were up to me,¡¯ Pine says with equanimity, ¡®but it is not. You must tell your parents all this, Iris, if you want to come. Here, Orchid, let¡¯s pack the scarves now¡­¡¯

    ¡®I did tell them,¡¯ Iris goes on gloomily. ¡®They don¡¯t care. They don¡¯t understand. Next time, they tell me. They¡¯ve been saying that for years, now.¡¯

    Orchid has to bite her tongue not to snap at the girl. Some people have parents who cannot say anything anymore. Iris does not see how well she has it. But it would do no good to shout at her. It is better that she never knows how bad it can be.

    Pine notices.

    ¡®They are only trying to protect you,¡¯ she says to Iris, with a glance at Orchid as she speaks. ¡®Some are not so lucky, to still have parents who can do that.¡¯

    Iris colors.

    ¡®Sorry, Orchid, I didn¡¯t¡­¡¯

    ¡®Never mind,¡¯ Orchid says. She tries her best to mean it. Iris is a good girl, even if she is going through a somewhat annoying age. They have all been there. ¡®It¡¯s all right.¡¯

    Pine takes the sweaters and begins to roll them, one by one, neatly so that they don¡¯t crinkle. There¡¯s something meditative about watching her do it. Maybe it¡¯s just because Orchid is tired from her own work this day that it is pleasant to just stand and stare idly, even if it is only for a short while. Day by day, it all goes the same ¡ª the milking, the weeding, the mucking and feeding, the digging and picking, the fields that are too large for just the two of them¡­ And through all of it, she knows with guilt that Peony is doing harder jobs, because Orchid is good at knitting, and so she must knit to make the money.

    Yet if the fair goes well, they might be done at last, just as Peony said. The thought feels impossible, after all this time. Peony spoke to a traveler recently ¡ª very carefully, so as not to alert him to the fact that they have means ¡ª about what a city doctor asks for services these days, or a city witch. Not much has changed, which means their calculations remain correct. If the fair goes well, there will be enough for passage for three, and for the doctor¡¯s fare. If it goes well¡­

    A noise ¡ª a blaring of horns ¡ª shatters the quiet as sure as thunder would, and Orchid spins toward the sound. The mare whinnies, and Pine whispers to her hastily to calm it. The riders are walking down the main road, slow and stately. They are still distant, but Orchid can already see that behind them a carriage is drawn.

    Iris¡¯s eyes grow huge.

    ¡®A noble,¡¯ she breathes, amazed. ¡®A noble¡¯s come! Who is it?¡¯

    ¡®From the capital,¡¯ Pine says, meaning the direction from which the riders entered the village. ¡®Perhaps they¡¯ve come for her.¡¯

    The Princess. She had lain ill for a while now ¡ª a couple of weeks ¡ª but, even with the country being small, it is still barely enough for a messenger to reach the capital, and this procession to leave it and come all this way. They must have ridden fast, at least some parts of the way. Their need for the Princess must be great if they came like this.

    The girls kneel and lower their heads. Others around ¡ª the villagers who chanced to be out ¡ª do the same. The city people coming here is a rare occurrence, but it does happen sometimes, and they all know the rules.

    A man dismounts. Orchid can only see his boots, but she guesses that it is his voice that booms ¡ª

    ¡®The Prince has arrived to see his bride! Where is the Princess? Show the way!¡¯

    The Prince. Orchid really wants to look up ¡ª to see him ¡ª but it is too risky. Their brush with the law is recent enough that it is best to toe the line for now, and to attract no attention.

    Pine, though, thinks differently. Witches have little fear.

    ¡®She is that way.¡¯ Pine must¡¯ve pointed to the tavern. At least she is still kneeling. ¡®She has been well cared for.¡¯

    The man steps toward the carriage, and his feet disappear from view. There is some muttering, then ¡ª

    ¡®I shall proceed on foot,¡¯ a pleasant voice says, and the slight creaking of hinges announces a door opening. ¡®You may rise, my loyal peasants. There is no need for that much ceremony. After all, I am not a king yet.¡¯

    The riders all give courteous laughs. Orchid stands up as told, and at last dares to take a peek.

    The Prince¡¯s eyes are sliding from subject to subject, benevolent but indifferent, as he turns around to take in the village, squinting at the sunlight. It must¡¯ve been dark inside the carriage. His clothes are splendid, if not quite as much as those of the Princess, and his headdress sparkling and magnificent. But Orchid feels let down. If not for his attire, she would not have been able to pick him out of a crowd. Orchid lowers her eyes quickly, fearing he may read her mind somehow and be offended. But he is just a man, no better or worse to her eyes than any other. Somehow she imagined more for their Princess, although she is not quite sure what that should mean.

    The Prince proceeds to the tavern, followed by some of his people. The others remain in the road, surrounding the carriage, some surreptitiously wiping road dust off their boots. Iris glances at the tavern, clearly worried.

    ¡®I should go. They might need me¡­¡¯

    She looks at the guards, doubtful, but they don¡¯t react to her words, and she sets off towards the tavern, walking fast and keeping well away from the small procession. Orchid watches her slide into a small backdoor, just as the Prince arrives at the main entrance. He is admitted inside ¡ª she can see Magnolia¡¯s mother briefly, her back bent low ¡ª and then the quiet descends again.

    Orchid sees some of her neighbors muttering to each other, and turns to Pine.

    ¡®Do you think he¡¯ll take her away now?¡¯ she asks quietly. ¡®Is she well enough?¡¯

    But it is then that Pine gasps in pain and cringes, stumbling. Orchid catches her shoulders, to keep her upright. She sneaks a glance at the guards, but they seem unbothered, most turning away already. Pine does look like she is simply having a headache, to those who do not know what she is. But Orchid knows, and so she is worried.

    ¡®What is it?¡¯ she whispers.

    ¡®Something¡­¡¯ Pine mutters through clenched teeth, rubbing her forehead with force. ¡®I don¡¯t¡­ I need to run home, to check something. Can you take the cart for now? I should be back¡­ shortly¡­ I think.¡¯

    As soon as Orchid nods, she turns and strides away unsteadily, soon breaking into a run. The guards watch her go, but don¡¯t stop her. Maybe that is because she is not heading towards the tavern.

    Orchid reaches for the reins. As she comes closer, the mare snorts, but never looks away from the riders. Orchid¡¯s is a familiar presence, but theirs is not, and their mounts are large and unknown. Orchid puts the jars Iris left behind into the cart, and leads Pine¡¯s horse towards home, stroking her neck gently to calm her down.

    There are no words for this pain.

    The world revolves, flashing with lightning bolts of white-hot fire before the eyes of the spirit. Its bones ache, its tendons weep, its blood sears its heart, but none of it compares to the agony in its mind ¡ª in its very essence. This is not the time for separation, this is much too early, wrong, unnatural, and the torment cannot be conveyed. This must not be happening. The order of things must not be disturbed, and now that it has been, the spirit is in a deep, debilitating panic.

    It is all their fault. Its mind spins, losing its grasp on reason, losing any sense or memory of self. It is they who are taking her away, they who are making her go. They will pay. They will all pay. The pain grows, until it looms larger than the sky, and there is nothing left.

    Rent by its own broken magic, trapped in a cage of agonized flesh, hurt and infuriated and lost, the spirit wails and shudders, and has no intent to stop¡­

 6.

    Along the road, the noises carry well, and as soon as Pine hears them she takes the rest of the way at a dead run. Her head is still ringing from the call, and she falls several times on her way, but she hardly notices the pain as she gets up and keeps running. She pulls the door of the hut open, and shock stops her in her tracks. The call was not very clear, and she did not expect this.

    ¡®I¡¯ve caught it,¡¯ her mother wheezes, lying on the floor on top of the creature. It is writhing under her weight, growling and trying to angle its head up to take a bite. Its teeth are very white, and very sharp. ¡®Don¡¯t just stand there, help me! Get a rope!¡¯

    Pine unfreezes and dashes across the room, towards the cupboard that holds their supply. Behind the strings and bundles of yarn ¡ª red and white and black, for ritual as well as for clothing ¡ª lies a coil of thicker rope. She grabs it and whirls to face the room again, where her mother is struggling to keep the creature down. It has grown so much already. Pine grabs at its hind legs, but the creature slips out and kicks her elbow, hitting just the right ¡ª or, in this moment, the wrong ¡ª spot. For a moment, Pine can see nothing because of the pain.

    ¡®Careful!¡¯ her mother shouts, but there is no need.

    Pine tries again, and this time she manages to catch both of the creature¡¯s hind feet. Shifting them to one fist, she begins to tie the rope around them with the other. The limbs feel strong as eels, but fortunately not as slippery, and after some struggling she manages the bind.

    Once the back is done, it gets easier. The forelegs are weaker. It takes some effort to keep them ¡ª and Pine¡¯s own hands ¡ª away from the being¡¯s face and teeth, but soon enough it is over. Mother slides off, breathing heavily. Pine checks the knots. The creature stares at them, snarling, and its eyes shine with rage.

    Only now does Pine realize that the house is largely wrecked. The bundles of herbs that hung under the rafters are now torn and spread all over the floor, and the chairs lie overturned. The bed had a leg torn off, and the blankets have all slid to the floor. Several of the window panes are broken. The coals from the stove lie strewn about, and Pine can sense the remains of a spell on them ¡ª a dampening, no doubt cast by her mother to keep the place from burning down. By the table, a bucket is upside down, as well, and the floorboards next to it are soaked in blood, by now half-dried and brownish.

    ¡®You¡¯ve been feeding it,¡¯ Pine guesses, and her mother nods ¡ª

    ¡®Nothing out of the ordinary, you know, all well-behaved as always, and then suddenly ¡ª¡¯ She waves a hand at their surroundings, taking in both the destruction and the creature itself, which still wriggles impotently in its bonds and snaps at the air. ¡®It¡¯s been following me all morning ¡ª you know how bored it gets if we shut it in. If only I¡¯d got a premonition, anything¡­ but I never¡­¡¯

    ¡®I didn¡¯t either,¡¯ Pine says. ¡®I only felt your call. I had to leave the cart with Orchid.¡¯

    ¡®I couldn¡¯t stop it. Any spell I tried only made things worse. And it doesn¡¯t react to the usual ¡ª silver, ginger, iron, ash, none of it.¡¯ Mother wipes the sweat off her face. Her eyes glisten, agitated. ¡®Imagine what could happen if it ran off, if it hurt somebody¡­ I made a mistake, not taking more care, I should¡¯ve known better. But there never was anything, anything¡­ it was so well-behaved, and friendly like a pup¡­¡¯

    ¡®I know,¡¯ Pine says. The heady smell of crushed herbs is giving her another headache. She stands up, watching the creature warily. ¡®Should we bring it into the shed?¡¯

    ¡®I think so,¡¯ her mother says, rising, too. ¡®And then clean up. But even before that, we must investigate. This was quite odd.¡¯

    Pine looks around for the cauldron, and sees it hanging on one of the herb hooks. She will have to get a ladder to reach it. For now, she takes the creature¡¯s hind legs, while her mother takes the front, and together they maneuver it out of the door and into its shed. It is not easy to carry the creature while it keeps twisting and growling, trying to wriggle out of their grip. And it is heavy, too. In a way, Pine supposes, they should be thankful this outburst happened now and not later, when the being would¡¯ve been even larger, and impossible to control.

    This is not real. This cannot be happening.

    Yet it is, and as Jade is lead downstairs and into a carriage, she tries to convince herself this is only a return to normalcy. This was meant to be only a short stop on her journey. She should be glad her Prince came for her. It is an honor. It is as it should be, and was going to be all along.

    If only he had let her say goodbye¡­ But he did not understand when she mentioned it, and she does not know how to reach him.

    ¡®Villagers?¡¯ He looked at her when she said it, close enough to touch yet with enough distance in his eyes that she wondered whether he would even care if she screamed. ¡®But they have already been honored enough by your very presence in their midst, my lady. There is no need for more ceremony.¡¯

    Then he left, and Jade has been dressed properly, in one of her brighter gowns, and conducted downstairs to her carriage. She will ride apart from him, in her own carriage. This way is more proper.

    At least if she is alone, she will be able to cry.

    But what is it about this all that makes her inconsolable? She should be happy she is going, at last, to take her rightful place. Jade tells herself off for the complaining, for how ungrateful she is being. Many could only wish to be in her place. Some of her sisters, she knows, would have given anything for it. It is a great fortune to be married to a Prince ¡ª to become Queen one day, if she is lucky and her husband is chosen as heir. It is something to be envied. She will never need, never toil, never freeze or starve¡­

    But she will be alone, alone, alone. The word tolls in Jade¡¯s head like a bell. Love is for commoners. Still, she had hoped, hoped he could be¡­ but now she has looked into his eyes, and has seen him look back as indifferently as he might have at a tree or a wall. The Prince is polite, and may well remain so forever, with her. Another in her place may have tried to win his affection, to flirt and laugh and make him love her. But Jade has never learned how to do those things, and now the insurmountable distance she sees in his eyes quenches in her any desire to try. She had been warned this is how it would likely be. She was prepared. But it does not hurt any less, for all that.

    If only he had let her say goodbye. But the Princess is not supposed to be friends with peasants. Her own guards treat her with enough suspicion as it is, for inviting these girls into her presence so often. Maybe it was unwise to do that. But for the first time in her life, someone seemed to want her there ¡ª someone seemed to care. How could she have resisted that?

    She must let it all go now, must let them go. She must forget what it felt like to be one of them, accepted and at peace, as though all was well and right in the world. That is all consigned to the past now. It is all over, and she will not even say goodbye.

    Sunlight floods the tavern¡¯s yard as Jade steps out, but to her everything appears grey, as if covered in dust. There is no reason to pine, she tells herself again. None. This is a great honor. Words run through her mind in circles, one chasing another, until they lose all meaning. The villagers ¡ª her subjects, soon ¡ª bow to her, and she forces herself to smile. Then she sees Magnolia at the edge of the crowd, watching the departure, and it costs Jade all the strength she has not to cry out, not to run to her.

    Yet Jade manages the path to the carriage, and holds herself together until the doors shut behind her, leaving her in the gloom. Only then does she fall onto the seat, and allow herself to weep soundlessly into its pillows.

    Peony walks slower and slower, as she reaches the cottage. In the evening light, all things cast long shadows, and it can be harder to see, but she can make out surely enough a cart abandoned in their yard, its poles propped up with barrels. A horse stands a little way from it, chewing on the hay. It is their hay, but it is not their horse. As Peony approaches gingerly, she recognizes Pine¡¯s mare, and her worry eases some. Still, this is strange.

    ¡®What is she doing here?¡¯ she asks as soon as she enters. Orchid looks up from the stove, where a stew is bubbling. Their mother sits in a chair by the window, staring out into the sunlit garden.

    ¡®I wish I knew,¡¯ Orchid says, and Peony is glad to hear her own grumpiness mirrored in her sister¡¯s voice. ¡®Pine left her to me and ran home. I think it was some magical concern. You know how the witches can be.¡¯

    ¡®When was it? Shouldn¡¯t she have left for the fair by now? She¡¯s not going to drive through the night.¡¯

    ¡®Well, she might,¡¯ Orchid allows as she goes back to the table. ¡®It¡¯s not like she¡¯d have much to fear, it would only be inconvenient. Still, it was around midday when they came for the Princess. And now it¡¯s¡­¡¯

    ¡®Who came for the Princess?¡¯

    ¡®Oh, you¡¯ve not heard yet? The Prince himself.¡¯ Peony would¡¯ve expected some enthusiasm at this, but Orchid sounds aloof.

    ¡®Was he not nice?¡¯

    ¡®I don¡¯t know if he was anything.¡¯ Orchid shrugs. ¡®Just some man. Lovely clothes, but¡­ Well, that¡¯s it. Lovely clothes.¡¯ She hesitates a bit, before adding ¡ª ¡®I don¡¯t know if he¡¯s good enough for her. I don¡¯t know if she¡¯ll be happy with this man.¡¯

    ¡®Well,¡¯ Peony says. ¡®I hope she will be, but if she is not¡­ Such is the way of her kind, and she must know it better than we do. They do not marry for happiness. Not like we might someday, not like our parents did¡­¡¯

    Orchid looks at the carrots lying before her, and when she speaks her voice is wistful ¡ª

    ¡®I wish I could remember that.¡¯

    ¡®They were happy,¡¯ Peony says, ¡®until¡­¡¯

    Her voice trails off. She doesn¡¯t want to finish ¡ª doesn¡¯t need to, either. They were all happy, until their father died. The girls were both little, but Peony at least has some memories of him ¡ª a large, laughing man. He made their mother laugh, too. Mother had learned to live without him, eventually, learned to smile again, but it did take a while. And then¡­

    Peony turns to her, in the chair by the window. Then she was taken away from them, too. Is she still there, inside that body? Can they bring her back? It has been so long. It may be too late. Maybe Orchid is right, and it¡¯s been too late all along.

    No, this is not a good way of thinking. They must not give up. Peony herself said it, and she must mean it now, in order not to fall apart. Her nails are all dark from the work, no matter how much she scrubs them, and she can¡¯t remember the last time she had enough sleep. But there are worse sacrifices. At least they still have their land and their livestock, to make a living from. At least there is still hope, if they earn enough.

    ¡®We are close,¡¯ she says quietly. ¡®If the fair goes well¡­¡¯

    ¡®But Pine still isn¡¯t here,¡¯ Orchid interrupts. ¡®It is worrying. Should one of us go to her? I think she went home.¡¯

    ¡®Let¡¯s wait a little more,¡¯ Peony says. ¡®I¡¯ll go and see if she¡¯s coming.¡¯

    But when she steps outside and climbs up the lower branches of a tree to see into the distance, the roads in both directions are clear. The forest looms in the distance, but she can make out no movement there, either.

    Peony jumps down, and as she lands softly as a cat, she looks towards the tavern. The sight makes her briefly freeze until she can be sure, then call out ¡ª

    ¡®Orchid! Orchid, she¡¯s here!¡¯

    In a moment, with Orchid still wiping her wet hands on her apron, they both run out towards the place, heading for the back door where Peony saw Pine enter just moments ago.

    Magnolia can barely hold back from chewing her fingers, she¡¯s so worried.

    ¡®Don¡¯t hurt it!¡¯ she keeps repeating. ¡®Careful! Look at its eyes ¡ª is it crying? Oh, poor thing!¡¯

    ¡®This poor thing nearly bit my hand off,¡¯ Iris mutters. ¡®I don¡¯t think it¡¯s hurting much. Look at all that thrashing.¡¯

    ¡®It does seem very energized,¡¯ Plum agrees, staring at it in mingled caution and curiosity. ¡®Can¡¯t you bind its jaws together, too?¡¯

    ¡®No,¡¯ Pine¡¯s mother says. ¡®That could damage its nose.¡¯

    The door bangs open, and Magnolia turns towards it to see Peony and Orchid, wide-eyed, in the doorway. A draft comes in with them, rustling the curtains, bringing in the fragrance of late summer flowers.

    ¡®Where have you¡­¡¯ Peony begins, but then she notices the creature. It is hard to miss, with all the noise it makes. ¡®What ¡ª¡¯If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    ¡®I was going to come to you,¡¯ Pine says. ¡®We have a problem.¡¯

    The creature arches its spine, and its eyes rotate wildly in its face. As it moves its head, the horn swishes around violently. But nobody stands close enough for it to make contact.

    Magnolia can still remember the friendly little thing it was when she came to visit the witches. Even if it drank blood, it was still likable in its own strange way. Now it all seems gone, washed away by a torrent of inexplicable fury. She knows she should be frightened now, as the creature lies there staring at them all in obvious hatred ¡ª and she is feeling it, truly, as she looks at its snapping teeth and the long, pointed horn. But there is also pity. She had cradled this being in her lap far too many times not to feel pity now.

    ¡®What¡¯s wrong with it?¡¯ Orchid manages. ¡®It was never¡­¡¯

    ¡®Come inside,¡¯ Pine¡¯s mother says firmly. ¡®Close the door. I¡¯ll tell you.¡¯

    The kitchen is warm, and in semi-darkness. The sun is setting, and they haven¡¯t lit the lamps yet. Pine¡¯s mother finds one hanging under the ceiling, and motions towards it. With a flash, the flame comes to life within the glass, and Magnolia can¡¯t help but look up at it in amazement. That Pine¡¯s mother is a witch is known, but outside of healing they rarely see her display her skill.

    ¡®What is it, anyway?¡¯ Father asks, rubbing his eyes. He still seems mildly shocked. ¡®It¡¯s like a horse, but those teeth¡­ and that thing on its head¡­ Where did you find it?¡¯

    ¡®In the forest,¡¯ Pine says, keeping the details to herself. ¡®That night when we went to fetch the Princess, remember? It¡¯s a magical creature. But it¡¯s always been so peaceful.¡¯ Magnolia notices she has omitted the being¡¯s unsavory eating preferences, too. It seems prudent. Mother and Father were upset enough by its appearance, and it is likely best not to alarm them further. ¡®Yet it went mad today, and when we looked in the ¡ª¡¯

    ¡®When we looked for the cause,¡¯ her mother cuts in smoothly, ¡®we discovered that it has formed a link with those who found it ¡ª so,¡¯ she spreads her hands out, ¡®all of our girls here. But there was another with them that night, when they found it.¡¯

    ¡®The Princess.¡¯

    ¡®Indeed. And she ¡ª she is gone.¡¯ Pine¡¯s mother lowers her voice a little. ¡®I¡¯m afraid this will only be the beginning. This creature will sicken next, and probably die if the link is not restored promptly.¡¯

    ¡®So what if it does?¡¯ Mother shudders as she stares at the being. It glowers back. ¡®Why do you want to save something so¡­ so¡­¡¯ It clangs its teeth again, making her flinch before she finishes ¡ª ¡®Vicious?¡¯

    ¡®It is not for us to question the ways of the woods,¡¯ Pine¡¯s mother says, and Magnolia wonders briefly if she is intentionally trying to be as vague as possible. ¡®It has come to us, it depends on us ¡ª on the girls ¡ª and it would be,¡¯ she clears her throat, ¡®unwise¡­ to let it down.¡¯

    Mother pales a little.

    ¡®Unwise? Do you mean¡­ in your sort of way?¡¯ She tries to pull Iris behind her, and Iris grumbles in protest. ¡®Could my daughters get cursed?¡¯

    The witches exchange glances. Pine¡¯s mother says ¡ª

    ¡®We cannot exclude this possibility. Once you have the trust of such a creature, neglecting it might have¡­ drastic consequences.¡¯

    ¡®So will chasing the Princess,¡¯ Father says firmly. ¡®I¡¯ve had enough of it already, you know ¡ª with her being here, strangers looking over my shoulder, we all of us fearing to make the smallest of mistakes¡­ If I let my girls go after her with you, don¡¯t you think they¡¯ll be angry at your daring?¡¯

    ¡®She has defended us before,¡¯ Magnolia says. She knows they will not understand, except maybe Plum, but she hopes her certainty will carry her through. ¡®She will again. We have to trust her.¡¯

    ¡®And the Prince?¡¯ Mother says sharply. ¡®Will he listen?¡¯

    ¡®Their horses are fast,¡¯ Orchid interrupts suddenly. ¡®If we want to catch up with them, we should not waste time. They must have gone far already.¡¯

    ¡®The carriages will hold them back, though,¡¯ Peony says.

    ¡®Yes, but not that much. Do you want to have to ride all the way to the capital?¡¯

    ¡®But must we all go?¡¯ Iris cuts in, turning to the witches. ¡®Can¡¯t the two of you just take it to the Princess?¡¯

    ¡®No,¡¯ Pine says. ¡®That would only break its link with those who would remain here.¡¯

    Orchid and Peony look at each other, and Magnolia can almost hear their unspoken exchange. Another fair is not until spring. The girls never talk of what they¡¯re trying to do, why they¡¯re working so hard, but Magnolia has figured it out a while ago. She has tried to help, too, whenever she had time ¡ª coming in to cook with them, to knit with Orchid. But they are proud, and will not let her do much.

    ¡®Father, can¡¯t you go to the fair, after all?¡¯ she tries, just in case. ¡®We do need to sell ¡ª¡¯

    But, as expected, he says ¡ª

    ¡®You know I can¡¯t, child. I¡¯m far too busy here. If none of you girls can make it, then we¡¯ll just have to wait until next time.¡¯ He grins at her and ruffles her hair. ¡®We can go without it, can¡¯t we?¡¯

    ¡®Yes, I know,¡¯ Magnolia says, smiling back. She wishes she could just come out and say it ¡ª that it wasn¡¯t herself she meant, not her family she was worried about ¡ª but she knows Peony and Orchid would be offended if she did, and so she keeps silent.

    Orchid is staring at the creature with a grim look in her eyes. Magnolia is not quite sure, but it appears to her that its thrashings have lost some energy. The horn has left long scratch marks on the table, and next to them there are wet spots, too. The expression on Orchid¡¯s face is strange.

    ¡®I think it is weeping,¡¯ she says quietly. ¡®We should take it to her.¡¯

    ¡®But ¡ª ¡¯ Peony begins.

    ¡®There will be other fairs,¡¯ Orchid says, in a very level voice. ¡®I don¡¯t want to see it suffer any longer. And being tied like this can¡¯t be good for it, not long-term. We should go.¡¯

    Magnolia looks over them all. Plum, observing it all from her corner so intently she seems all eyes. Iris, with arms folded tightly on her chest. Peony, looking lost and unsure, the way she hardly ever does. Orchid, motionless by the door. Pine, who meets Magnolia¡¯s eyes directly as she says ¡ª

    ¡®Orchid is right. We¡¯d better hurry.¡¯

    ¡®Vote, then,¡¯ Magnolia replies. ¡®Do we go?¡¯

    She puts her hand forward, palm up, and the first to cover it with her own is Orchid. Peony and Plum follow. With a small eye roll, Iris joins, too. Pine smiles a little as she puts her hand on top, then says ¡ª

    ¡®They will stop for the night. We might come upon them soon enough.¡¯

    The darkness outside has grown fuller. This would be the time for them all to have a bit of supper and go to sleep, but not tonight. A shiver crawls down Magnolia¡¯s spine. It is excitement, in a way, but not of the joyous kind. The memories of the dark forest are still fresh enough in her mind, and she does not look forward to more. She is not afraid of the dark, not really. Still, it is uncomfortable.

    ¡®Not to disrespect your craft,¡¯ Father says with a glance at Pine¡¯s mother, ¡®but how sure are you that they will understand this need? I¡¯d be careful with the Princess, if I were you. And with the Prince even more so.¡¯

    ¡®We will be careful,¡¯ Pine¡¯s mother says. ¡®After today, believe me, I will watch it all like a hawk. We will take care.¡¯

    ¡®Don¡¯t anger them again,¡¯ Mother says, looking at each of her daughters in turn. Magnolia smiles back, trying to be encouraging. ¡®I don¡¯t want you to be¡­¡¯ Suddenly Mother¡¯s composure breaks, and she gives a great gasping sob. ¡®I don¡¯t want them to hurt you again!¡¯

    ¡®They didn¡¯t, last time,¡¯ Magnolia says to her, reaching to pull her into a hug. ¡®Just a few questions. Nothing happened.¡¯

    ¡®But it could have! It still can¡­ you know how they are, the nobles, the authorities, you never know ¡ª just one wrong step, one word ¡ª¡¯

    ¡®The Princess has protected us before,¡¯ Plum says. ¡®She will, again. She is a good person. She won¡¯t let innocent people be hurt. And we don¡¯t mean anything against her, after all. We just wish to help this creature.¡¯

    ¡®And then what?¡¯ Mother asks. ¡®Once she sees it ¡ª well, let us say the link is restored, then what? She won¡¯t return here with you. Will you have to go with her? To the capital? Will you not come back?¡¯

    Magnolia¡¯s heart falls. She is stupid not to have realized this. But Pine¡¯s mother says ¡ª

    ¡®Once it¡¯s restored, I can look into separating them safely.¡¯ With a glance at both other adults, she adds ¡ª ¡®Mind you, I cannot promise you it will be done. But I believe it should be possible. It didn¡¯t seem complicated, from what I¡¯ve seen of it. Not like¡­¡¯ She glances briefly at Peony and Orchid. ¡®This I should manage. This should work.¡¯

    ¡®And if it doesn¡¯t?¡¯ Father says. ¡®Then they must come with her?¡¯

    Pine¡¯s mother pats him on the shoulder, smiling.

    ¡®I will take care of them. If they go, then I go, too. And I will send word to you. It should not be long, either way,¡¯ she adds, gesturing to the creature. ¡®Soon, it will grow, and need its¡­ need the girls no longer.¡¯

    ¡®How soon?¡¯ Mother asks.

    ¡®That remains to be seen. A week? A month? Who knows, perhaps just this one night.¡¯ Pine¡¯s mother claps her hands once, as a conclusion. ¡®So! Since we are all going, we must have transportation. Our cart is too small, so can we borrow yours? I promise to send it back to you, if we end up continuing the journey.¡¯

    The parents look at each other, then Mother sighs.

    ¡®Let Plum drive,¡¯ she says. ¡®She is the best at it.¡¯

    Plum runs out first, heading for the stables. Magnolia files out with the others.

    Orchid and Peony run for their house, likely to get some warmer clothes. The sun has set, and the air is growing chilly. Mother brings out some woolen tops, too, and Magnolia pulls hers on. It is not autumn yet, not yet harvest time, but that will begin soon enough. She does not want to imagine not being here for it, leaving her parents to do it all by themselves.

    The witches carry the creature out, swaddled again in the covers they brought it in. The bundle wiggles between them, but with much less ferocity than before. The being must be hungry, too. And Magnolia cannot forget its eyes. For all the snarling, all the rage in that bony body, there was something in the eyes¡­ well, not human, not truly, but something relatable still. A sadness, grief even, that she wonders if Orchid saw, too ¡ª if that was what moved her to speak in favor of going. Orchid knows well what it is like to lose something, and have little hope it will ever return.

    ¡®It will,¡¯ Magnolia whispers to herself, quiet enough that the others cannot hear. She is not quite certain whether she means it for the creature, or for Orchid and Peony. ¡®She will return.¡¯

    Magnolia is not sure, but she has to believe.

    The stars flicker above, growing brighter and more numerous as night falls. Peony and Orchid reappear, swaddled in warm wool, too. Peony licks her lips as she climbs in the cart, and she seems a little flushed.

    ¡®Just a few bites,¡¯ she explains when she sees Magnolia looking. ¡®Can¡¯t let it go to waste, right? Here, have some.¡¯

    Magnolia takes the bun, still warm from the over, and bites into it, as she watches the others. Father and Plum finish hitching the horses, and Plum climbs up to take the reins. Father lights the lanterns. The witches sit right behind Plum, with the creature held in their lap. The other girls cluster in the rear. Mother grasps their hands, one by one ¡ª not just her own daughters, but the rest of them, too, even Pine¡¯s mother.

    ¡®Go safely,¡¯ she says, looking at her daughters one by one. ¡®Remember who you are.¡¯

    ¡®Yes, Mother,¡¯ Magnolia responds, but she feels uneasy as if she has just lied. If she had remembered who she was, she would have never befriended the Princess in the first place. But she looked so lonely¡­

    Apple. Her name is Apple. But they will not be able to call her that in front of the Prince. It is strange to realize they¡¯ll meet her again, so soon after what they all thought was a farewell.

    As the cart wheels out of the yard, they wave. Magnolia watches her parents grow smaller, until they disappear behind the trees, and only the lantern glow can still be seen. The village, dark and quiet, slides past until they reach the road. There Plum looks doubtful.

    ¡®We cannot gallop,¡¯ she says, clearly wishing she could. ¡®Too dark, even with the lanterns, and the cart is too heavy. But I¡¯ll try to go as fast as possible.¡¯

    The circles of light sway around the cart, blinding, and the night beyond them is an impenetrable wall of bluish blackness. The cart shudders as it follows the dips and turns of the road, but at least they are moving.

    Magnolia looks at the witches, and sees Pine stroking the creature¡¯s head. It has stopped moving, but its eyes are open, and it stares upwards, into the starlight. It is definitely crying now.

    The Prince¡¯s hand is cool, and dry as powder, which is quite proper of him.

    ¡®My lady?¡¯

    Jade realizes she¡¯s been staring, and hastily lowers her eyes. But he does not sound angry.

    ¡®Let me conduct you to your room, my lady.¡¯

    He does not have to do that, and she wishes he would not. Yet it is not her place to stop him ¡ª not her place to tell him anything. A wife must submit. Commoner wives may ignore this rule with impunity, but Jade knows she cannot afford to. There have been princesses ¡ª queens, even ¡ª cast into dungeons for disobedience. Her Prince does not seem like the sort to do such a thing, but she knows that appearances can deceive. It was so back home, and it will be so at this new court, too.

    This tavern is different ¡ª larger, and more luxurious. The village is bigger, too. They have gone quite a long way today. It certainly felt like an eternity to Jade, shut in the carriage all day. She does not like traveling, but she wonders now if she would miss it later, when it is all finished. There is no reason for her to dislike her husband, yet she is still glad when he is gone. The door shuts behind her back, nearly soundless on well-oiled hinges, and she is left alone with her servant.

    This is the point where the girls would try to speak to her, start with the questions. Jade would only understand so much, but at least they would try. But her servant only asks ¡ª

    ¡®Does my lady need anything else?¡¯

    ¡®No,¡¯ Jade says, and that is the end of the conversation. This is as much as is appropriate, this and no more.

    At least she has been given a book. It is a present from her husband ¡ª a short volume, beautifully illustrated, with the alphabet and some basic words. Some of them she has learned already, but some are new. Jade leafs through the pictures, whispering the words to herself. She will forget most of it, she knows, now that she has nobody to remind her and talk to her. Her memory is very flawed. All of her is flawed, really. No wonder her Prince is not interested ¡ª he must¡¯ve hoped for better. A prettier wife, a smarter wife, one who would not struggle so with the language. One who would entertain him, instead of moping and crying. A cheerful wife. He must be unhappy with this arrangement, too.

    The bed feels too soft, and the air too warm. Jade opens a window, before she snuffs the lights. She does not dare to open it fully, fearing questions, but at least she can risk leaving a small gap between the shutters. Princesses are not supposed to deal with such things themselves, but she no longer cares. If the night grows too cold, and she is ill again¡­

    Well. That just might solve everything.

    Jade falls asleep lying across the too-soft bed, with the draft from the window washing over her. The air smells of grasses, and it is not that cold after all. But it is enough to disrupt her dreams. She cannot remember what she sees, and only knows that it was deeply sad. Then again, right now everything seems deeply sad to her.

    The shutters stop the sunlight, and so it doesn¡¯t disturb her. By the time Jade wakes, it is almost noon, and from the yard below she hears yelling. The horses are neighing, and a fly is buzzing in the room. The room is very warm. She rises from the bed and almost calls her servant, but then the words finally reach her consciousness ¡ª

    ¡®Apple! Apple, come out!¡¯

    Disbelief floods her heart, and hope ¡ª terrifying, poignant hope. That girl cannot be here, yet there is no mistaking her voice. Jade leaps towards the window, heedless of her own state, pulls the curtains aside, then throws the shutters open wide. The wind creeps into her nightdress immediately, making her shiver, but that is irrelevant.

    There they are ¡ª all of them, Magnolia, and Plum, and the rest ¡ª standing there in the yard, as if they came for her, to save her and take her back. Jade¡¯s heart leaps as if about to burst out of her, before she remembers it is impossible. She must stay, must go on to the capital ¡ª she cannot go back with them ¡ª but they have come, at least they¡¯ve come¡­

    Then Jade notices that there are guards all around, with their spears aloft and their swords unsheathed. One moves closer to Plum ¡ª the one who called out ¡ª and lifts his spear to aim¡­

    ¡®Don¡¯t you dare!¡¯ The last time, Jade had not been loud enough to stop it before it happened. Never again. Her scream is so harsh it is almost a growl, and the guard¡¯s hand drops as he stares up at her in shock. ¡®Let them go right this moment! That is an order!¡¯

    Jade stays by the window just long enough to see that he obeys, then dashes out of the room and down the stairs. She has briefly considered jumping out of the window, but with the height that could lead to more problems than it would solve. There are people in the hallways staring at her, but it does not matter. None of it matters. She cannot let anything bad happen to her friends. She will not let it happen, not this time. Once was enough. It was all her fault then, but it will not be now. She will lie if she must, she will beg if she has to, but she will not let them be hurt again because of her.

    In the yard, she stumbles in the bright light, but rushes onwards, not seeing the guards, not caring she is barefoot.

    ¡®Let them go,¡¯ she repeats just in case, to no-one in particular. ¡®Do not touch them. That¡¯s an order.¡¯

    But then she sees the tense faces of the girls, and remembers they cannot understand this language. She has to explain, to tell them not to worry.

    ¡®Are you well?¡¯ Jade asks, and for once the foreign words roll out easily. Plum smiles as Jade goes on, ¡®I am here. You are safe.¡¯

    Magnolia laughs and pulls her in a hug, and Jade hears some indignant murmurs, but she ignores it all. For just a moment, she feels whole. For a moment, it is like coming home.

 7.

    Pine¡¯s mother is trembling.

    ¡®So close,¡¯ she whispers, soft enough that only the girls can hear. ¡®So close. I was afraid I¡¯d have to¡­¡¯

    Pine pats her hand in reassurance. She knows that together they would have had enough power to stop all these guards. But the consequences of doing so would be drastic. Witches such as themselves are only tolerated as long as they behave, and hurt no-one, and do not rebel.

    Pine would have never made this journey if it was up to her. Too many men with swords, too much danger here, around these nobles and their authority. But the need of the creature was too great.

    They stand by their cart, not knowing what to do next. The guards look perplexed. Magnolia holds the Princess, murmuring something to her. Plum is smiling, victorious.

    ¡®I told you it¡¯d work,¡¯ she says again. ¡®I knew she¡¯d hear.¡¯

    ¡®Don¡¯t do that again,¡¯ Orchid says. Her palm is still on her heart, as if that can calm its beating. ¡®Do you know how scary it was when he nearly stabbed you?¡¯

    ¡®He wouldn¡¯t,¡¯ Plum says. ¡®I¡¯d have moved away. I¡¯m fast, you know that.¡¯ But she doesn¡¯t seem as sure of it as her words imply, and her hands are shaking.

    Magnolia lets go at last, and the Princess looks at the other girls. There are tears on her cheeks, but she is smiling.

    ¡®My lady?¡¯

    And just like that, the smile vanishes as if it has never been. The Princess whirls around to face the Prince, and Pine drops hastily to her knees. No need to anger him ¡ª not now, when they need his favor. It will not be easy to sound subservient, but under the circumstances there is not much choice.

    The Prince strides toward the Princess, and when Pine lifts her head just a little for a glimpse of his face, she sees shock there. He motions to one of the guards, and the man darts away. Jade remains silent.

    The Prince begins speaking again, in a voice soothing yet slightly forced. The guard returns with an embroidered coverlet, and hands it to the Prince with a deep bow. The Prince puts it over Jade¡¯s shoulders, but she doesn¡¯t move to take it, and he has to hold it in place for her. He keeps talking, and his tone grows more natural as he goes on, with his shock decreasing and his self-possession coming back. Pine does not know this language, save a few words of address that her mother taught her. Yet the way the Princess stands, silent and unresponsive, makes Pine worry despite not understanding the words.

    ¡®You!¡¯ The Prince turns to the villagers, there by their cart, and points at Pine¡¯s mother. ¡®Rise, and explain this¡­ incursion.¡¯

    ¡®Yes, my lord.¡¯ Mother stands up and steps forward a little, placing herself in front of the girls. Pine can only see her skirt, now. Further away, Jade still stands as if frozen. Magnolia is wringing her hands. A face appears in the tavern¡¯s window, but only momentarily, probably deciding that it is best not to interfere. ¡®We apologize profoundly for the disturbance,¡¯ Mother says, ¡®but there is an innocent life to be saved, and it is only my lady who can do it.¡¯

    ¡®How can that be?¡¯ the Prince asks, and it is hard to tell if he is inclined to believe or not. ¡®My lady is no healer.¡¯

    Pine hears her mother breathe in, and recognizes what is coming. Her heart sinks. This could end them all if the Prince has prejudices they did not account for. But she remembers the creature in the cart, and knows what had to happen. There is no time for intrigue, for any but the most direct means.

    ¡®I am a witch, my lord,¡¯ Mother says simply, and Pine hears the Prince gasp. ¡®You may have heard that one night, during the lady¡¯s stay in our village, she journeyed into the woods. That very night, a mystical creature was born there, and because the lady was among those who discovered it, it then has come to recognize her as one of its¡­ mothers, after a fashion. This is a magical bond, my lord, and when the lady¡¯s departure severed it¡­ Well, perhaps it will all be clearer if my lord sees for himself.¡¯

    The Prince waves in the direction of the cart, and two of the guards move cautiously towards it.

    ¡®You understand what will be done to you if you endanger my person, or the lady¡¯s,¡¯ the Prince says evenly.

    ¡®I do, my lord.¡¯

    The guards look inside the cart, and one of them shrieks in horror ¡ª

    ¡®What!¡¯

    ¡®What is it?¡¯ the Prince demands, standing on tiptoes to see yet also stepping back. ¡®Can you bring it out?¡¯

    ¡®We shall attempt to, my lord,¡¯ the other guard says, but its voice is tremulous. ¡®What is this thing, witch? What atrocity have you created with your rituals?¡¯

    ¡®My magic cannot create life,¡¯ Pine¡¯s mother answers. She still sounds very calm, but Pine knows her well enough to understand it is only pretense. Mother is just as afraid of the Prince as they all are ¡ª as they all should be. The ways of execution favored by the capital are not merciful, nor fast. ¡®This being is a stranger, wandered in from lands far away. But it is very ill now, and too tired to hurt anyone.¡¯

    ¡®With that horn? I wouldn¡¯t¡­¡¯ one of the guards begins, then ¡ª ¡®And look at those teeth! There¡¯s blood on them!¡¯

    ¡®Blood?¡¯ The Prince takes a few more steps away from the cart, and pulls Jade back with him. Iris lets out a tiny whimper. ¡®Innocent, didn¡¯t you say? Is this an evil plan, to unleash this onto my person?¡¯

    ¡®No, my lord,¡¯ Pine¡¯s mother says, and at the same time a guard speaks ¡ª

    ¡®It is tied up, my lord. A great deal of rope.¡¯

    ¡®Well, keep it that way, then,¡¯ the Prince says with a shiver. ¡®Check that the rope is secure. And bring it out. I wish to assess this atrocity myself.¡¯

    From where she is, Pine cannot see what the guards are doing. She can only risk lifting her head so much. But she hears them as they lift the creature between them, then jump out of the cart awkwardly, raising more dust. The Prince clamps his free hand over his mouth, and a few of the guards do the same.

    ¡®What is that?¡¯ the Prince begins, his voice muffled by his own fingers. ¡®Some kind of twisted, horse-like, utterly disgusting¡­¡¯

    Suddenly, as the creature is being laid on the ground some distance away from him, Jade pulls her hand out of his and flings herself towards the creature.

    ¡®My lady, no!¡¯

    But it is too late. Jade kneels by its side already, her hands around its face ¡ª not minding its half-opened mouth, the bloody teeth, the long, sharp horn. Jade touches its brows, its cheeks, and it looks up at her in mute entreaty, but nothing more happens. It cannot, without magic. Pine tenses, searching for the broken ends of the bond, but her mother finds them first.

    ¡®I can feel it,¡¯ she says excitedly. ¡®There it is now, my lord, the bond, clear as day to me.¡¯ Now Pine finds it too, but to her it is no more than a frayed shadow. She still has much to learn. ¡®I can fix it, restore it. May I proceed?¡¯

    ¡®Will it hurt my lady?¡¯

    ¡®No.¡¯ This is false, Pine knows. With this unknown magic, Mother has no way to be sure. But if she had said so, the Prince would likely not allow it ¡ª and that they cannot afford. The creature lies still, all fight gone from it, and Pine can sense its life ebbing ¡ª slowly but surely.

    ¡®Then you may.¡¯ The Prince gives Mother a sharp look, then his face softens when he turns to Jade. Yet his voice remains on edge, as he says, still addressing Mother ¡ª ¡®But remember, if anything goes not as you say, then¡­¡¯

    ¡®I understand, my lord.¡¯ But Mother is already striding forward, and as she approaches, Jade looks up.

    For the first time, the Prince seems to notice the others ¡ª the girls, kneeling by the cart, forgotten. Plum is surreptitiously trying to dust off her hem.

    ¡®You may rise,¡¯ the Prince commands, but he sounds anxious, and his eyes slide back to Jade and to the creature. ¡®Stay where you are, and do not interfere.¡¯

    ¡®Yes, my lord,¡¯ Magnolia echoes.

    They cluster together to watch.

    ¡®My knees hurt,¡¯ Peony whispers. ¡®Do you think it will work?¡¯

    ¡®Seems so,¡¯ Pine replies in a whisper, too. ¡®I can pick up on little of it, but if Mother says¡­¡¯

    Plum is biting her lip as she watches.

    ¡®Will it be long?¡¯ she asks.

    ¡®Don¡¯t think so¡­¡¯

    Jade sits motionless like a stone, with one hand still on the creature¡¯s cheek. Little enough seems to be happening, but Pine can feel what cannot be seen, and she senses the great amount of energy her mother is pulling in. It is like darning, a little ¡ª patching the bond, pulling the ends together until they overlap enough for the flow to recover, for the lives connected to interact again¡­

    The wind rises, and Jade¡¯s hair streams all around her face. She pulls the coverlet closer around herself, but her eyes are on Pine¡¯s mother. The hands of the witch are moving, weaving a pattern only she and her daughter can comprehend. The others stand around, watching quietly, and Pine is the only one who glances upwards and sees what she knew would be happening ¡ª the clouds racing to cover the sky that was clear just moments ago.

    Abruptly the sunlight disappears, and now, startled, the Prince looks up, too.

    ¡®What is this?¡¯ he demands again, but there is fear in his voice, hiding behind the command. ¡®What have you done?¡¯

    ¡®No need to worry, my lord,¡¯ Pine¡¯s mother intones, as her fingers keep on weaving. ¡®This is to be expected. Nature is reacting, that is all. Quite safe.¡¯

    ¡®Safe? You¡¯re bringing a storm upon us!¡¯

    ¡®Not a storm, my lord, this is not a strong enough magic ¡ª a spot of rain at most¡­ It is almost done, just¡­¡¯

    Suddenly Jade gasps and folds over, as if stabbed in the chest.

    For a moment, all is quiet, then the Prince roars ¡ª

    ¡®Seize the witch! Haven¡¯t I warned you?..¡¯

    But Jade is already standing up, wobbling on unsteady legs, raising an open palm towards the guards to stop them. Pine¡¯s mother steps away, and Pine can feel the sudden rush of energy around them, which means that it is finished. The healed bond rings in the air, alive as if with electricity, so bright to her senses that she wonders how the others can possibly not see it, not feel it in their very nerves. Yet the creature still lies bound, and Pine knows it must be released now. It has spent too long tied down as it is.

    She dashes forward, past the guards and Jade and her own mother. The Prince yells something, but Pine doesn¡¯t catch it. The wind keeps rising still, whipping her braid around, getting under her clothes. There is a knife in her boot, and she pulls it out to hack at the bonds, to set the creature free.

    But as she leans down to do it, she sees a flare of light beginning in the creature¡¯s pupils, and then she has only enough time to scream ¡ª

    ¡®Shield your eyes!¡¯

    Then it grows, rapid as a waterfall, and even through tightly shut eyelids its brightness is almost unbearable.

    The spirit rises¡­

    It was not an easy journey, in this strange land so far from home. Yet it has found a way, and those who would protect it until it was grown enough to return the favor. They were frightened, and the spirit knows. They were mistrustful, and the spirit is aware. But they remained by its side, even when the pain of parting shattered its mind and made it no more than a wounded animal. Even then, they remained.

    The spirit remembers.

    It is not easy to love something so uncanny, so disturbing. It is not easy to care for it, when you do not love it. But they are human, and humans are moved by tears. The spirit can see tears now, on the cheeks of the one who abandoned it ¡ª who now stands aside, shivering, her eyes covered by a fold of cloth. As the light dims, the covers are lowered, and the eyes cautiously open again.

    The spirit watches, and the people watch back¡­

    Orchid stares up at the figure. It is only the size of an overlarge horse, yet in the same time somehow it looms half across the sky, shining moon-white against the grey clouds. Its horn sparkles as if made of diamond, its mane seems finer than the most delicate of silks, and its eyes glimmer a deep, watery green ¡ª the only reminder of the sickly color the creature had been. It feels to her as if the being is looking directly into her soul ¡ª all of their souls. But the touch of its mind is not malicious.

    The flash threw most people to the ground, and they are rising now, slow and wary. The guards step closer to their lord, but their eyes are trained on the creature. The Prince is staring up at it, too, with his mouth slightly open.

    ¡®This is¡­¡¯ His voice breaks, and he has to start over. ¡®This is incredible. What are you?¡¯

    The creature does not speak, yet its voice makes its way into Orchid¡¯s mind as effortlessly and naturally as if it has always belonged there.

    You have been told true. The creature¡¯s eyes are dark like the bottom of a pond, yet the darkness glows, and Orchid can see the Prince tremble. I am not of this land. I travel to find those who will aid me, and then aid them in return. But I do not travel in this land, which is far from the place of my origin. Yet the woods and the rivers change so subtly, and the road tempts¡­ Its voice grows softer, stranger. I had lost myself on the way, and by the time I knew it, the time has come for the change. Thus I was to find what I needed, or expire. The great eyes move from the Prince to slide over the girls ¡ª all seven in turn. A warm, gentle wind touches Orchid¡¯s face ¡ª nothing to the gale that was. But you, humans ¡ª you are the same everywhere, the same darkness and same light in every one of you. And so I did find those I needed, and moved onwards as I was meant to. Now the time has come to show my gratitude to those who were my mothers through this time ¡ª this life ¡ª this iteration. Those who did not turn away from me, did not abandon me, even if they did not quite understand.This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    The Princess says something. She stands right before the creature, and Orchid can only see her back, but once she speaks her voice makes it clear she has been crying.

    True, the creature responds to her, but I could hear the call of your heart, and knew you did not want to go. And you have come to me the moment you could. Therefore I forgive you, and you should stand with the other mothers of mine. Go to them, where you belong.

    She nods, clearly understanding its words just as Orchid can. Orchid has to wonder if the creature is even using a language at all, or if its communication is somehow more direct. Jade steps back without turning, until she bumps into Plum, who catches her by the shoulders, then embraces her.

    ¡®Where she belongs?¡¯ the Prince asks in sudden suspicion. ¡®The lady is to be my wife. She belongs with me.¡¯

    She will go where she chooses.

    ¡®Well, good,¡¯ the Prince says, somewhat grumpily. ¡®We do have an agreement, you know. It is of great importance. My lady belongs in a palace, not in some border village.¡¯

    ¡®What now?¡¯ Pine¡¯s mother asks. ¡®An iteration, you say. This is a path you¡¯ve walked many times before, haven¡¯t you? So what now? What do you do next?¡¯

    The creature¡¯s eyes lift to look beyond the yard ¡ª to the road that winds between the fields, and the forests in the distance.

    I shall return to my homeland. I am grown again now, and powerful. I will leave you and go. Its stare travels back to rest on the girls again. But before I do so, ask of me what you will. You have found me and stood by me, and in return I shall grant your wishes, if that is in my power. One wish for one mother of mine.

    The words do not immediately make sense, but when Orchid realizes their meaning, a fervent hope stabs through her heart. She turns to Peony and sees the same thought in her eyes. Is it in this being¡¯s power? There is only one thing Orchid truly wants, but that she wants more than anything. Can it be this easy, after all? No need for the money, no need to travel far? She is terrified to believe, yet hope blossoms even as she tries hard to stifle it, knowing how much it will hurt if it cannot come true.

    But order has to be observed.

    The Prince pushes the Princess forward, muttering something into her ear. There is urgency in his voice, almost a plea. Next to Orchid, Magnolia and her sisters are talking in hurried whispers, too low for her to catch.

    The Princess kneels, looking at the ground, and speaks.

    The creature blinks.

    A wise choice, it says, but it sounds disappointed. Are you certain?

    She nods.

    Peace it is, the creature says. Iris and Plum start whispering again. Eternal peace I cannot grant you, for it is not within my power. But peace in this land for a few generations ¡ª that much I can give you. Another may ask me now.

    The Princess whispers something that must be a ¡®thank you¡¯. Magnolia steps forward tentatively, casting backward glances at her sisters.

    ¡®I will wish for health,¡¯ she says. ¡®For health for all in our village, and however many others would be possible.¡¯

    I am capable of doing this for a few towns. Which ones would you pick?

    Magnolia looks even more nervous, and starts wringing her hands again.

    ¡®I can¡¯t choose, can I?¡¯ she says. ¡®Everyone deserves it, really. Can¡¯t it be random? Then it¡¯s fair.¡¯

    As you wish. Health it is. Another may ask me.

    As Magnolia thanks it and retreats, Iris steps forward. Peony grips Orchid¡¯s hand very tightly.

    ¡®I will ask for good harvests,¡¯ Iris says. ¡®Mother told me of that famine from before we were born¡­ I don¡¯t want that to happen again.¡¯

    ¡®That was not our fault,¡¯ the Prince interrupts. ¡®Nobody could¡¯ve expected a winter that harsh. Even in the palace we had to eat rats and the like. Good wish, girl.¡¯

    A few generations I can give you. Good harvests it is. Another may approach me.

    While Iris thanks the creature, Plum strides forward.

    ¡®Education,¡¯ she proclaims once her sister finishes, and her eyes sparkle.

    ¡®But you have it!¡¯ the Prince interrupts again, indignant.

    ¡®True, my lord,¡¯ Plum says, and because of her height she ends up looking down on him. ¡®But it is not enough. Believe me, I have more books than anyone else in the village, and I remember how much work it was to acquire each one. And I would not even know how to read if not for my parents ¡ª and they had been taught by our witch here. We need more, my lord, much more. Books ¡ª good, cheap books for everyone. Teachers, for those who cannot read. Knowledge that is useful and true, that a person can rely on. Knowledge that will save us when those few generations run out, and people have to face war and famine again.¡¯

    This cannot happen immediately, the being says, but I can start processes that will lead to this. Will that satisfy your wish?

    ¡®Yes, and you have my gratitude.¡¯

    Pine approaches the creature next, as her mother watches on.

    ¡®I shall ask for luck,¡¯ she says. ¡®Even the best of harvests can be mismanaged, and the most educated people can err. My wish is that when this happens, it does not hurt us much. Whatever comes, my wish is that we all walk out of it unharmed, or as close to it as can be.¡¯

    The creature contemplates her for a bit.

    This is a complicated wish. But I will do what I can. I cannot save you from death, but I can deflect more minor troubles. Will that be enough for you?

    ¡®Any improvement is enough. I thank you.¡¯

    Peony¡¯s fingers lie cold as ice in Orchid¡¯s grasp ¡ª or is it her own skin that has grown cold with fear? After the Princess, they could have already approached ¡ª there was no more need to wait then. But it is scary to ask, knowing they may hear it cannot be done. The creature¡¯s stare focuses on them, and Orchid knows the time has come. There is no more delaying.

    Two left, the creature says. Why have you not come forward? I sense that your wish is urgent.

    Holding hands, together they come closer. The others look on, and Orchid can see understanding in their eyes. They must all know, for all that she and Peony tried to hide it. What happened to their mother could never be a secret, not after all these years. Their friends must all know that there was some sort of a plan.

    ¡®We have only one wish for the two of us,¡¯ Peony says. ¡®Please, can you lift the curse from our mother?¡¯

    To Orchid, it is as if the whole world stops while the being considers this request. The tufts of grass in the yard, the fences, the curtained windows all swim into sudden sharp relief ¡ª more real than Orchid ever remembers. It can only last a moment, yet feels interminable. If it cannot be done¡­ if it can¡¯t be¡­

    It is a great curse, the creature says at last. And old. Very deep-rooted. But I will attempt to unravel it. Wait.

    It closes its eyes and lies down on the ground, folding its legs under the body. A real horse would never move in this fluid, cat-like way. Why is she paying attention to this? Orchid tells herself off for it, but it is no use. She cannot think of what is happening now, of what is being decided. She cannot. It is too much, after all this time. What if even this creature cannot help ¡ª is there even any use in asking witches, then? Surely they cannot be more powerful than a being that could grant peace to an entire country. So if it does not work¡­ if¡­

    Peony grips her hand hard enough to hurt, but Orchid welcomes it. It is a grounding, a reminder of reality. Other people lose their parents and go on living without them. Other people manage.

    But Mother is not dead, not yet, and it has been this tiny sliver of a chance that has always cut them so deeply, pained them both so much¡­

    The sisters wait, staring at the creature, and Orchid knows she cannot look away. Her heart hammers so powerfully it is hard to breathe, and her legs have grown weak. If she has to move, she will probably fall. So she does nothing, and only stands there, with Peony¡¯s hand in hers feeling as if they¡¯ve grown into one, joined in their fear and burning, desperate hope.

    The creature opens its eyes, and Orchid feels the earth move under her feet.

    I have done it. It is broken.

    ¡®Water, now!¡¯

    Following the Prince¡¯s command, a guard rushes into the tavern, and the moment he opens the door Magnolia can see a figure inside. She understands. If this was happening in her own home¡¯s yard, she knows her parents would be eavesdropping, too. It is preferable to keep an eye on your guests at the best of times, and then after that enormous flash¡­ It must have been visible from miles away. Anyone would want to know what that was about.

    Water is brought out, but Orchid is coming around already. Peony sits on the ground, cradling her sister in her arms. Orchid¡¯s gaze is wild.

    ¡®Did it just¡­¡¯ she stammers, then her eyes find the creature. It looms over her, too, staring down into her face. Its neck is arched in a curve that suggests more snake than horse. ¡®Did you just¡­¡¯

    Yes. Rest easy. It is done.

    ¡®May I ask?¡¯ Pine¡¯s mother pushes forward. ¡®Could you tell me what caused it? And is there a way for me to break such a thing, if I ever encounter it again?¡¯

    You do not have the strength, the creature says, but it is unlikely you will ever be needing it. The presence that had cast the curse has since departed from this land. Had that woman gone into the forest before the curse appeared?

    ¡®Well, of course,¡¯ Peony says. ¡®We all go there often, to hunt, or gather roots or berries.¡¯

    Has she trapped any creatures there?

    The girls exchange a glance.

    ¡®You mean hares and the like?¡¯

    Not that. Has she caged any?

    ¡®A bug?¡¯ Orchid suggests uncertainly. ¡®An interesting bug, she said.¡¯

    ¡®No, a spider,¡¯ Peony says. ¡®I think it was a spider. But that can¡¯t be it, can it? Spiders are not magical.¡¯

    This one was, the being says, and there is much sadness in its voice. This was a witch¡¯s child, a child of magic, turning into spider or man as the sun comes and goes. When he was caged, the confines killed him, and the witch cursed whoever had done it.

    ¡®Who was she?¡¯ Pine¡¯s mother asks. ¡®I never knew any such.¡¯

    You may not have met her. She was not human, but a spirit ¡ª a traveler like me. She left this land a long time ago, perhaps because it proved so perilous to her kind. I cannot sense any fresh traces of her, only the old tracks that remain.

    ¡®She did not want to kill it, though,¡¯ Orchid says quietly. ¡®There was no need. She only wanted to show it to us because it was so oddly colored, so she put it in a jar. She would have let it go.¡¯

    The trap prevented him from turning into a man, as was required by his nature. That is what killed him.

    ¡®But how could she have known?¡¯

    There was no way, the being speaks, and its voice is mild. Humans are often led into trouble by their very humanity, the good and the evil of it alike. I am no human, but I am imperfect also, and therefore I shall not judge you. This trouble of yours is over now. Learn from it, and walk free. Your mother is restored to you as you asked, and waits for you back home. The creature takes a step back, giving them more room. But you have only made one wish for the two of you. You can make another.

    The two sisters exchange glances again, but they don¡¯t seem to know what to ask. Magnolia looks at the others ¡ª Iris and Pine standing by the cart, Pine¡¯s mother near the creature, Plum who holds Jade in her arms¡­ Jade, who is crying into Plum¡¯s shoulder, silently yet in such apparent grief that Magnolia can take it no longer.

    She dashes towards Peony, and whispers something into her ear.

    ¡®How?¡¯ Peony asks, in obvious surprise. ¡®What way is there, without causing conflict? And didn¡¯t she just ask not to have that?¡¯

    ¡®There has to be a way!¡¯ Magnolia grips their shoulders, searches their faces. ¡®Just ask, and if there¡¯s a way it will know, won¡¯t it?¡¯ She waves towards Jade. ¡®Can¡¯t you see ¡ª don¡¯t you see her ¡ª¡¯

    ¡®You don¡¯t even know if she wants it,¡¯ Orchid says.

    ¡®Well, you can ask about that, too, can¡¯t you?¡¯

    Again the two sisters look at each other. Magnolia waits, her heart beating fast.

    ¡®All right,¡¯ Orchid says at last. ¡®She did help us. We should at least offer, in case she does want it.¡¯

    She rises, and Peony with her, propping her up when her steps are unsteady.

    You have decided on your other wish, the creature says. Speak, then.

    ¡®We ask you,¡¯ Orchid says, ¡®to set the Princess free. If she so desires.¡¯

    Jade lets go of Plum as she turns around. Her eyes are red. She may not know that many words, but she can recognize her own title. Magnolia clasps her hands together, to still their trembling.

    Do you wish to be free? the being asks of Jade, but its words are understood by all. Do you wish to be no longer what you are, but someone else? To walk a different road?

    ¡®No, she does not!¡¯ the Prince yells, jumping between the creature and the Princess. But it does not look at him, and Jade doesn¡¯t appear to notice, either. The Prince stands on tiptoes to slam his fists into the creature¡¯s chest. He is not the strongest of men, but there is enough passion in these hits to compensate for it, to hurt. Yet the creature stands unaffected. ¡®She is to be my wife, to be queen with me! We have agreed! You cannot just take her away, you cannot ¡ª don¡¯t just stand there, you fools, help me save your queen!¡¯

    But the moment the guards move to obey ¡ª uncertain though they seem as to what exactly is required ¡ª they are stuck to the ground, and cannot make one step more.

    Do not fear, the creature tells them, as they stare in panic. You will be released, once it is decided.

    ¡®Let them go, you filthy thief!¡¯ The Prince hits it again. ¡®Do you want us to have war, now? Don¡¯t you understand there will be one, if you steal her? It was bad enough she had to pass through this bother of a country, and I was careful ¡ª I sent her great many guards to avoid exactly this! And here you come, taking her from us, shattering all we worked for¡­ Don¡¯t you understand what her people will do to us all if she disappears? Didn¡¯t you just promise her peace? You promised, promised!..¡¯

    Your touch cannot harm me, the creature informs the Prince, and he steps back, breathing hard. And you have no need to worry yourself. Peace I have promised, and peace there shall be, regardless of her choice. But a choice she will make.

    ¡®How can I not fight you,¡¯ the Prince says feebly, sounding on the verge of tears. ¡®How can I not, when you take her away¡­ when we agreed¡­¡¯

    It is up to her, not you. Such was the wish, and I shall do what was asked of me. Still I have not heard from her. Its large, green eyes settle on Jade, on her face, puffy from the tears, and her thin shoulders, and bare feet showing from under the coverlet. You may speak your mind freely. I will find another to take your place, another who will be willing, the way you¡¯ve never been. I know your heart. I know what you want. But you must say it to make it true.

    The clouds still cover the sky, slate-grey and low, but it is as if a beam of light shines on Jade¡¯s face when she speaks one word only ¡ª one of the very first words she learned in the tongue of this land ¡ª

    ¡®Yes.¡¯

    Nothing much has changed, it seems, yet everything is shifted slightly, and Jade is amazed. The eyes of her Prince go out of focus for a short while, and when they return to alertness, he does not look at her once.

    ¡®Mount,¡¯ he says to his guards, ignoring the villagers completely. The creature is gone as if it had never been. ¡®We must ride forward to meet my bride.¡¯

    He motions in the direction where they came from yesterday ¡ª where the border lies, and the village.

    ¡®A bride, my lord?¡¯ a guard asks, respectful yet still a little stunned.

    ¡®Don¡¯t you remember, man?¡¯ The Prince casts him a disapproving glance. ¡®The Princess Amethyst, the one promised to me. They say she is very eager to meet me, and I must say I am, too. A very lovely lady she is, they tell me. Intelligent, too. A great entertainer. We must not let her wait. Where is my carriage?¡¯

    Amethyst would be eager, Jade knows. The youngest of all the daughters, she never had much in the way of prospects. She would be overjoyed now if she is going to have this chance of becoming queen. And the Prince should be happy with her ¡ª or happier, at least, than he would have been with Jade.

    He never looks at her as he climbs inside the carriage, never looks out of it as the procession rolls out of the yard and away through the hills. Jade stands there, shivering, still barefoot and with her coverlet.

    For a moment, she is afraid to face the others. Will they recognize her, will they remember?.. Or will she be left alone in this world she does not understand? Has she just made a mistake? She never even asked for details, never made sure¡­

    But then a hand touches her shoulder, and she turns to see Iris, smiling at her just as before.

    ¡®Looks like you¡¯re not a princess anymore,¡¯ the girl says. ¡®Now you can stay with us.¡¯

    This is when Jade feels tears welling in her eyes again, when she realizes the creature¡¯s parting gift. No matter how hard she tried, she never managed to learn much of this language. But now all the words rings clear and comprehensible, so easy as if Jade has used them her entire life.

    ¡®Hey!¡¯ Peony steps in, lifting Jade¡¯s hair out of her eyes. ¡®Hey, don¡¯t cry¡­ We thought you wanted this. Didn¡¯t you? What¡¯s wrong?¡¯

    Jade shakes her head.

    ¡®I¡¯m fine,¡¯ she manages to get out between gasps. ¡®I¡¯m well¡­ I just never thought I could have this ¡ª that it could be over ¡ª never, never¡­¡¯

    They are all looking at her, all smiling at her and patting her arms, but it is Orchid¡¯s stare that stands out to her.

    ¡®I know what you mean,¡¯ she says quietly, and Jade smiles back at her through the tears.

    She has nothing now, and she knows it. Even the coverlet belongs to this tavern, and she leaves it on the fence. There is nothing she possesses apart from the nightdress and the ribbon in her half-undone hair. Pine¡¯s mother settles by her in the carriage and takes out a comb.

    ¡®You will have to make your own living, you understand,¡¯ she says calmly, as she goes through Jade¡¯s hair. The clouds above are receding. ¡®It will not be easy. And you¡¯d have to change your name, too. You cannot be Jade now ¡ª that¡¯s a noble¡¯s name.¡¯

    ¡®She has another,¡¯ Plum cuts in. ¡®Apple.¡¯

    ¡®Well, Apple it is, then,¡¯ Pine¡¯s mother says. ¡®Unless you¡¯d like a different one? No? All right. You have no home, of course, but we¡¯ll see who might take you in. You can stay with us, I suppose, but there isn¡¯t much space¡­ Or in the tavern, if they are willing. Or with¡­¡¯

    She falls silent, and when Apple turns to see why, the witch is looking at Peony and Orchid. They are sitting straight as spruces, and seem very tense, but their eyes are shining.

    ¡®We would have to ask her,¡¯ Orchid says in a small, tight voice. ¡®When we¡­ I mean, if¡­¡¯

    ¡®I can¡¯t do this,¡¯ Peony interrupts, grabbing her sister¡¯s arm. ¡®I can¡¯t take the wait! What if it lied ¡ª what if she¡¯s not ¡ª¡¯

    ¡®You know it didn¡¯t,¡¯ Pine says soothingly. ¡®She will be well. She¡¯s there.¡¯

    And when they enter the village, with the evening sun covering it in gold, there is indeed a woman standing by the cottage, outside, as if she¡¯s been waiting for them all this time. Orchid¡¯s eyes are huge, and as she climbs out of the cart she moves slowly, dreamlike, still not quite believing. Peony jumps out first and rushes towards the woman, running right into her embrace. They hold each other tight, but then the woman looks up to stretch a hand towards Orchid, and with a strangled gasp, Orchid dashes to her, too. After this, Apple cannot really make them out from behind her tears.

    ¡®You cry a lot,¡¯ Iris notes. Apple wipes her eyes ¡ª

    ¡®I¡¯m sorry! I¡¯m sorry I¡¯m not¡­¡¯

    ¡®That¡¯s not what I mean,¡¯ Iris says. ¡®Cry if you want to. We all do, sometimes. Just¡­ I hope you can be happier now. It¡¯s all over, whatever it was that you hated there. You are free of it now. They seem to have forgotten you. You can go where you want now, be what you want.¡¯

    ¡®Can I be your friend?¡¯ Apple asks, and Iris laughs.

    ¡®You are,¡¯ Magnolia says to her. ¡®You already are.¡¯

    ¡®You are one of us now,¡¯ Plum adds.

    The world around shines in the light of the setting sun, and the sky overhead is a deep, dark violet. Some sadness will always live in her heart, Apple knows, but at least for a time ¡ª however much there will be for her, in this changeable life of freedom ¡ª she can feel alive again.