Peri looked guilty. Or something close to it, at the very least. It was hard to tell when he was chugging back a bottle of wine like it was water, stopping only to snatch food off of Vivian’s lunch plate. The only indication of guilt was the occasional wary glance he gave towards Madame Reen. The healer stood with her arms crossed, glaring at the man. He quickly averted his gaze. He reached for Vivian’s plate again, only for Madame Reen to make an angry noise and slap his hand away. He pulled his hand back with the look of a wounded puppy.

  ‘Where have you been?!’ Madame folded her arms back again, her glare firmly fixed on the irresponsible man. ‘You better have a good explanation as to why you dumped your ward in my infirmary for three days, leaving her to fend for herself against those… those men. Honestly, if it weren’t for those sweet boys, they would’ve arrested her then and there.’

  Peri slumped further into his seat, trying to make himself look small. ‘I was busy. I’m here now, aren’t I?’

  Madame Reen’s arms unfolded to settle her hands against her hips. ‘Only because I send three letters telling you to come pick up your ward.’ She shook her head. ‘What idiot put a child in your charge?’

  ‘That’s what I’d like to know,’ Peri grumbled under his breath, his slouch deepening as he sunk further into the chair. He seemed to be trying to meld into the couch so as to hide from the wrathful woman’s gaze.

  ‘Stop slouching!’ Madame Reen snapped, finally turning her attention away from Peri to run a final check on Vivian, who had finally been able to finish her lunch without unwanted hands snatching food off her plate. She pushed the plate back, waiting for Madame Reen to finish and discharge her.

  Vivian was quite eager to leave. It’d been three whole days of nothing but eating and sleeping. If it weren’t the frequent visits from Aiden and Felix, she would’ve been bored out of her mind. Even though they had never said it out loud, the two boys had taken it upon themselves to check up on her so as to make sure that no more unwanted visitors tried to coerce her into making a false confession. Vivian was grateful for their help, something she seemed to be receiving quite a bit of it from the people around her. She needed to find a way to pay it back.

  ‘Very well, you’re good to go.’ Madame Reen stepped back. ‘But I still want you to be careful for another week. If you feel anything strange, come tell me at once.’ She turned to glare at Peri. ‘I would tell you to keep an eye on her, but since I know that won’t happen, at least try to not stress her out.’

  Peri shrugged. ‘No promises.’

  Madame Reen let out a deep sigh, turning to look at Vivian. ‘Good luck child. You’re going to need it.’ She smiled kindly. ‘Now go. I know you’ve been itching to leave.’

  Vivian shuffled out of the bed. ‘Thank you, Madame Reen. I’ll try not to come back too soon.’

  ‘I hope that was a poor joke and not a prediction… See you around, Vivian.’

  Peri nodded his towards the doors. ‘Let’s go.’ He marched out without a backward glance, eager to be out of the healer’s line of sight. Vivian bid Madame Reen farewell before hurrying to catch up with him. The infirmary was on the ground floor of the academy, in the right wing opposite to the administrative section they had visited earlier for registration. There were still a few students milling about the entrance hall, some in groups chatting and laughing and others with their heads bowed down into the books they were reading. Peri and Vivian walked out the grand double doors and were making their way down the front steps when she spotted two familiar figures approaching from a distance. She raised a hand in greeting.

  ‘I see you finally managed to escape the infirmary.’ Felix grinned as he approached. ‘Good to see you back on your feet.’

  ‘You would have seen me on them two days ago if someone…’ Vivian nodded at Peri. ‘Had come to pick me up.’

  ‘I came now, didn’t I?’

  Aiden snorted. ‘After Madame Reen’s third letter. That is not an accomplishment.’

  ‘Look we had to get your room fixed up anyway.’ Peri was digging around in his pockets for something. ‘A druscan fell and caved in the attic remember?’

  ‘It’s fixed already?’ Vivian was surprised. ‘That was quick.’

  ‘Yes, well magic is handy like that.’ Peri finally pulled out what he was looking for out of his pocket. It was her identification token. ‘Speaking of magic, take a look at yours.’ He handed the glass card to her. ‘I swear girl, you get more and more strange by the day.’

  Vivian agreed with the sentiment; her eyes wide as she took the glass token from Peri. It was no longer empty. Instead, thin tendrils of gold spread through the glass, forming a pattern like the branches of a tree. They sparkled and shone as she held it up to the light, the tendrils almost seeming to move as if they were alive, as if the tree was still growing, putting out new branches.

  Wait, not almost.

  ‘It’s still moving,’ she whispered, as if she was afraid any loud noises would frighten it into stopping. But no, the branches were growing, causing the pattern to grow denser slowly. She looked at the older man for an explanation.

  Peri shrugged. ‘I don’t know any more than you do.’

  Felix let out a low whistle. ‘It’s still growing. Do you think it’ll stop when the glass is full?’

  ‘It’ll probably fade out before then.’ Peri tapped the glass token. ‘It’s not as bright as it was three days ago.’

  Aiden leaned in to take a closer look at the token. ‘Perhaps one of the professors here might know what it is. They are masters in the field of magic.’

  Peri shook his head. ‘I think we should keep this quiet for now. There is too much negative attention on you right now. They might find this ominous rather than a curiosity.’

  Vivian reluctantly nodded in agreement. She wasn’t magic-less and yet she couldn’t show it to anyone. Still, she understood the need for caution right now, especially after Lord Adar and Lord Lisht’s impromptu visit the day before.

  ‘Well, we best be heading home,’ Peri said. ‘Come along now, Vivian.’

  ‘We’ll walk with you,’ Felix offered before Aiden could say farewell. ‘We came to see you anyway.’

  Vivian couldn’t help the smile that spread across her face or the warm, happy feeling in her chest. ‘Sure. That would be great!’

  Aiden rolled his eyes in exasperation, but still followed quietly as they left the academy grounds and entered the marketplace.

  ‘Oh, we could stop on the way at that bakery I was telling you about,’ Felix suggested. ‘Their cakes are simply divine!’

  Vivian rubbed her head sheepishly. ‘I don’t really like sweets.’

  Aiden gasped softly. ‘Heathen!’

  Vivian shot him a look. ‘I’m sorry. I didn’t realize sweets were your religion.’

  Felix grinned. ‘He’s got a real sweet tooth. It’s a wonder he still has any teeth left.’

  ‘I brush,’ Aiden snapped back. ‘You may not have heard of it before, but it’s called oral hygiene.’

  The three of them bickered back and forth as they walked through the streets towards home. The streets were nearly empty, the afternoon crowd had not started yet. The weather was pleasant as they strolled down the cobblestone path. It was only when they passed the Secret Garden did she suddenly remember.

  Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

  ‘Peri, about the fairy silk… do you know what I’ve to do next?’

  ‘Sith’s looking into that, so you should ask her. Meanwhile, you should get ready to start working, forest ranger.’

  Aiden frowned. ‘Why the hurry?’

  Peri sighed. ‘One of the clerks send by the council to investigate the fire told me that some of the members were starting to have second thoughts. We need to show some results before these doubts have time to solidify.’

  ‘But I can’t even read yet, let alone draw maps and keep records!’

  ‘I can draw maps,’ Felix offered. ‘If you want, I could do it. Aiden could help.’

  Aiden glared at the blonde. ‘Or perhaps Aiden has other plans…’

  Felix raised an eyebrow. ‘Like what?’

  Aiden opened and closed his mouth a couple of times before giving up his search for an answer. Felix grinned in triumph.

  ‘Thank you.’ Vivian smiled gratefully at them. ‘I don’t how I can repay you.’

  ‘Well, if you ever do get permission to start selling items from the woods, I expect a heavy discount.’ Felix rubbed his hands together. ‘Or perhaps a share of the profits.’

  Aiden flicked Felix’s ear and he let out a yelp. The blonde turned to glare at his friend. ‘We don’t even know if we can enter the woods. For all we know, she might be the only one who can.’

  ‘Well let’s find out now.’ Vivian pushed herself in between the two boys before Felix could retaliate. ‘We’re headed there anyway.’

  They had left behind the city, passing through the fields tended to by the goblins who raised their heads as they passed by. Vivian nodded and greeted a few of them politely as they followed the winding path up to the cottage. Her eyes were immediately drawn to roof which had caved in and was glad to see not a single shingle out of place.

  Felix looked up at the fixed roof. ‘It looks as good as new.’

  ‘That’s dwarven handiwork for you.’ Peri pushed open the front door and stepped in. ‘It’s impossible to find fault. Quality work at its finest. We also paid them to go ahead and furnish it as a bedroom while they were at it.’

  Vivian grinned and followed him. ‘My own room. I never had a room of my own.’

  Aiden looked at her curiously. ‘Where did you sleep?’

  ‘I shared the floor and a quilt with my three brothers.’ Vivian made a face. ‘It was a tight fit and they all snored.’

  ‘Younger or older?’ Felix asked.

  ‘Older, all of them.’ Vivian rolled her eyes. ‘And they never let me forget it.’

  Vivian wondered how they were all doing right now, after they had tried to poison her. She shook herself out of her thoughts as they seemed to be heading down a dark path.

  ‘Sith must be home.’ Peri walked towards the dining room where the clattering of spoons and plates could be heard. ‘Come along now, let’s ask her about that silk business.’

  The three thirteen-year-olds shuffled into the room behind Peri. He was right. Sith sat at the dining table, finish off the last of her lunch. She looked up as they entered and gave her a warm smile.

  ‘Welcome home, Vivian.’ She placed her spoon down in her empty bowl. ‘How are you feeling now?’

  ‘Great!’ Vivian smiled back. It was a good feeling to be welcomed back. ‘Madame Reen took good care of me.’

  ‘I’m glad to hear it.’ Sith rhythmically tapped her claws on the table. ‘Though I heard that your stay wasn’t completely uneventful.’

  ‘Oh, it was awful!’ Vivian crossed her arms and shuddered. ‘They seemed hell-bent on blaming me for the fire. They should really make up their minds. Am I too weak a mage to use magic or am I powerful enough to start a raging forest fire?’

  ‘I can understand why Lisht acted that way. He’s always been a snob. Hates commoners and believes that all other species are somehow underneath him. You should’ve seen the tantrum he threw when I became a part of the Council.’ Sith stopped drumming her fingers on the table. ‘But Adar is a surprise. He’s usually quite cordial. And not nearly as big a fool as Lisht.’

  ‘I don’t know why, but for some reason he seemed more dangerous than Lisht.’ Goosebumps rose up Vivian’s arms. ‘Thankfully, these two,’ she looked at Aiden and Felix. ‘Came along and put an end to it.’

  Sith nodded at them. ‘For that, I am grateful. It’s hard to find people with a backbone these days. So, if you ever find yourself in need of my assistance, do not hesitate to ask.’

  Felix rubbed his head shyly. ‘We didn’t do much. Anyone would have done the same.’

  ‘I think we all know that they wouldn’t have.’ Peri put his feet up on the dining table, but immediately removed them when Sith scowled at him.

  ‘Well then, we will keep your offer in mind,’ Aiden said. ‘But I hope we never have to call in this favour. If we get into trouble big enough to require your help…’ He sighed and looked at Felix and Vivian. ‘Well, if I keep walking around with these two, I’m sure it’ll happen soon enough.’

  Felix smirked at Vivian. ‘Did you hear that?’

  She smiled back. ‘I did. He plans on sticking around.’

  ‘And here I thought he would bolt the first chance he gets.’

  Vivian placed a hand on her heart in a dramatic motion. ‘It’s so touching. His commitment to us is so sweet.’

  Aiden scowled at her. ‘I should’ve kicked you off the carriage harder.’

  Sith chuckled and stood up. ‘Alright, alright, enough with the teasing.’

  Vivian raised her hands in mock surrender. ‘You’re right, we have plenty of time later… now that he’s committed himself to us.’

  Aiden growled. ‘I’m leaving.’

  Vivian grabbed him by his sleeve before he could take a step. ‘Alright, I’ll stop teasing!’

  Aiden glared at her but stayed. ‘I’m only staying because we need to check whether we can enter the woods with you.’

  Sith looked between the three children. ‘What’s this now?’

  ‘Oh, we were talking about me starting my job as a forest ranger and they offered to help with mapping and recording since I can’t read yet,’ Vivian explained. ‘Also, if I’m going to be hunting down resources in the woods, like that fairy silk, I could use a few extra pairs of hands… speaking of which, what about the silk business. What do I do next?’

  ‘Well, I spoke to Council about it.’ Sith shrugged. ‘As expected, they were hesitant at first, but I managed to convince them to let you do it, provided that you take a trade license.’

  ‘That way they can tax you for the trades you make.’ Aiden nodded. ‘I suppose they don’t care as long as they get a share of the profit.’

  ‘Alright then,’ Sith pushed the chair back in. ‘I need to get back to work. You children have fun.’

  ‘Quiet fun,’ Peri warned. ‘I’ll be sleeping so don’t you dare wake me up.’

  ‘But you are such a delight when you’re awake,’ Vivian said, sarcasm evident in her tone. ‘Still, we will try to restrain ourselves.’

  Peri fixed a glare on her but didn’t say a word before marching himself upstairs to his room. Sith shook her head in exasperation as she watched the man leave. She bid farewell to the three of them before leaving as well. They heard the front door shut behind her.

  ‘So,’ Vivian nodded towards the back door. ‘Shall we?’

  The three of them trooped out of the cottage heading for the line of druscans behind the house. The forest looked tranquil, branches swaying in a gentle breeze that carried with a melodic birdsong.

  Vivian looked back at Aiden and Felix. ‘Alright, here goes nothing.’

  Felix clapped her on the back. ‘Good luck!’

  Vivian reached out to the nearest druscan and placed a hand against its trunk. Behind her she could hear Aiden muttering under his breath. ‘Please say no, please say no.’

  Vivian turned her attention back to the druscan in front of her. Um, how do I start…? Maybe an introduction…

  Yes, that would probably be best… also, in case you didn’t know, your thoughts are very loud.

  Vivian jumped a bit when a strange voice invaded her mind. She cautiously turned her attention towards the foreign presence in her head.

  You can hear me?

  Yes, for some apparent reason… you must be the child Rayne was talking about… Um Valorie?

  Vivian, Vivian Wright…

  I like Valorie better… ever considered changing your name?

  Vivian shook her head. No, I’m keeping it… And, you are?

  The druscans branches shuddered and seemed to stand up straighter. I am Loherangrin Glendale the third, son of Hoel Glendale, Late Count of Mergrand.

  If trees could look smug, this one truly did. His branches seemed to be preening and his trunk looked like a chest puffed out. Vivian looked back to Aiden and Felix with an incredulous look but the two them merely shrugged.

  ‘Look we can’t hear it,’ Aiden pointed out.

  ‘Him,’ Vivian corrected. ‘It’s Lohe-something. And he seems to be boasting.’

  The name is Loherangrin Glendale the third, son of Hoel Glendale, Late Count of Mergrand and I am not boasting, you churl! Honestly, can I never get a conversation partner with even a modicum of intelligence, if not decency.

  Listen, Loher. I need-

  That is not my name!

  Think of it as a pet name, because there is no way that I’m going to remember the long version.

  I do not want a pet name, whatever that is…

  Look, I just wanted to ask if I could bring these two inside the woods with me. Do you have a leader or someone I could ask? Perhaps Rayne.

  A huff sounded inside her head. We do not have a leader, but I suppose he comes closest. Consider yourself lucky that Rayne has spoken for you, otherwise you would be finding yourself on the wrong end of my razor-sharp roots. The druscan shifted his roots a bit to emphasis his point and the three of them took a cautious step back. Go on then. Rayne has been waiting for you. The others will let you pass.

  And as for my friends…?

  As long as you’re under Rayne’s commendation and you’re with them, they may enter the woods just this once. But unless you get explicit permission from Rayne, there won’t be a second time.

  The druscan grudgingly named as Loher, moved aside followed by the other druscans behind him, creating a path through the woods for them. Vivian looked back to her friends and nodded.

  ‘He said you can come along just this once. But we have to get permission from Rayne if you want to come again.’

  ‘Damn it!’ Sheath cursed. Felix hooked an arm around his shoulders and dragged him forward, following after Vivian who cautiously took a step onto the newly created path. She glanced back once more.

  ‘Last chance to turn back.’

  Felix grinned and slapped a hand on Aiden’s mouth, muffling his protests. ‘No chance. We’re coming.’

  Vivian grinned. ‘Alright then, let’s go find Rayne.’