The Queen's Garden Mage

Emery patted me on the back grinning, “For a moment there I thought we were gonna lose you. I should have known if anyone was likely to go for the Princess it would be you.” He shook his head in disbelief.

We gazed at the Heir now talking with the Queen and her sister Princess Mariel, Prince Sorel hovering near by, curious as to what had happened.

“Lose me on the second day, in a forest no less.” I smiled softly, “Not a chance Em not a chance.”

Libeth hugged me bouncing with excitement, “I can’t believe you managed to find the Princess…You’re doing a really bad job of hiding how powerful you are.” She added as an afterthought just low enough for me to hear.

I thought back to the web of vines, the bark shedding like dead skin from the trees… “I know.” I murmured softly ending the conversation.

“Are you sure you do not wish to marry me, I believe my parents will be very proud if I bring a Goddess home with me, despite the fact that I’ve only ever been interested in men before,” Dahni said hugging my other arm the flush to her cheeks telling me she was only half joking.

“Dahni I’m not going to marry you.” I replied chuckling softly before dropping a kiss to her brow.

“Don’t encourage her,” Libeth warned. “Or you’ll find yourself on your horse traveling across the desert with no one the wiser.” Dahni stuttered her protest while Libeth laughed at her justified indignation.

I slipped free of them both, smiling at Eden who tipped his head in greeting but did not comment on all that had transpired. “How did everyone do?” I asked, after a moment, curious.

“Well…” Libeth gazed around the small group and then beyond before grinning, a spark of mischief shining in her eyes. “The Princess told us we could only bring back one guard; she did not say that we could not help each other capture guards.” I gazed at the sly looks on everyone’s faces, Dahni and Tailaan included.

“How did you all manage to pull it off?” I questioned resisting the urge to laugh at their genius, when I was so thoroughly impressed.

“First,” Eden broke the silence. “Emery, Libeth and I found each other and then we found Dahni and Tailaan, it was easy work after that to capture the guards with the child’s slumber seeds you gave to each of us…though we did manage to knock out Dahni by an accident she woke just before we approached the Training Fields.” Libeth’s sheepish look told me exactly who was at fault for that.

Dahni smiled shrugging slightly, “Things happen, all is well.”

“We planned it like this before we left,” Emery stated. “We were waiting to see if the rules countered our plan before we told you…not for a moment did we think that we’d be rendered unconscious the moment the Princess stepped down from speaking.”

“It’s alright,” I smiled. “I’m proud of your planning. I’m glad we’ll all be progressing to the third day of the Tournament. Do we know how many we’ve lost?”

Libeth shook her head, “We won’t know for sure until the dawn of tomorrow when the next challenge starts.”

“Gardener Denarii!” I glanced up to see her Majesty beckoning me over.

“Stay out of trouble,” Libeth warned as I walked away glancing back at her to show that I’d heard and acknowledged her words.

I bowed slightly more from tiredness than anything else, if I went any lower I wasn’t sure I’d be able to stand back up. Rosen sensing this took hold of my arm supporting me. The day was catching up to me. “Majesty?”

“Do you recall where exactly you left the impersonators?” Her words were quiet, her expression serene, you’d have never guessed she was talking about a possible kidnapping or at worst an assassination attempt.

“Yes,” the Queen bowed her head in a nod while Princess Mariel offered me an orb.

“Think of the path you took, remember as best you can and then push with your mind,” She said guiding me. I did as she instructed, the Princess nodded gazing into the orb before taking it back from me. “Thank you.” Mariel disappeared before I could so much as tip my head. The Queen followed not far behind leaving Rosen, Adri and I standing alone.

“That was quick…” I murmured rubbing my face tiredly to find that I was still covered in dried mud. No one had said a thing. I glanced towards the Princess to see her hiding a grin of amusement.

Rosen rubbed clumps of dried mud and grass from my neck, “I have no idea what you did to find yourself such a mess child but…” she snorted. “You are in great need of a bath.”

“I’m aware.” I mumbled wryly, as she pulled random blades of grass from my tunic.

“Come Gardener, we must discuss our deal,” Adri ushered me away. “You can bathe after.” I allowed her to take my arm pulling me away from Rosen and towards the gardens we both loved so much.

We walked in silence that despite my nerves was comfortable, we entered the Queen’s Garden and I believe we sighed simultaneously both finding peace. “I’ve missed this,” Adri pulled away moving towards the fountain trailing her fingers through the water. “The only place on palace grounds I can just be without Royal Guards trailing in my wake.”

I raised my brow, “Every time I’ve seen you there have been no guards anywhere in sight Princess.” I joined her beside the fountain.

Adri chuckled softly, “I am good at losing them.”

“That’s not the safest thing to be doing at a time such as this,” I offered wryly remembering her penchant for calling me reckless. “Especially after what just occurred.”

“I can protect myself…”

“Only so far,” I rebuked. “You are after all only one person and the Heir besides. You protecting yourself should be the last resort, not the first.” The Princess stared at me eyes sparking with defiance but she didn’t argue. “You fail to understand that you are the Heir now, not just some token Princess who can do as she wishes. The people need you Highness, the land is restless, our enemies planning, the Void slowly but surely growing not towards us but other lands.” I waved my hands encompassing the gardens and beyond. “This is your safe haven but it is not the only place in this world, there are more suitors here for alliances than anything else, have you ever thought to ask why? A water mage!” I exclaimed, “A water mage, a highly sought after individual has come from Raleli and I’ve never met a water mage from the desert. They’re needed too heavily to leave, that’s like one of the Queen’s Garden mages going to investigate the Void…something major has happened for her to have the blessing no less of her Head Councilor to come to us.

“Your brother is angry, a poisonous snake ready to bite when you turn your back, he has the Council against you and you haven’t even taken the crown, Prince Eris is trying to take your hand by any means necessary and the Queen can do nothing without the support of her people. People are trying to kill you…the cards are stacked against you Highness and you stand here before me claiming you can protect yourself.” I shook my head, “Now is not the time for pride, pride will get you killed and it would be a foolish death besides leaving your people bereft a ruler that they sorely need regardless if they believe it or not.”

“I am not my mother…”

I took Adri by the shoulders gently halting her argument, “No one wants you to be.” I spoke softly. “We want the Gardener that lies in your heart, the woman who will nurture this land until it grows to new heights. The woman who will make this land her garden, and let it thrive as nature should, who is loving and kind. The woman who forgives her brother his grievance despite the fact that his actions are unjust, who practices with her guards and makes them laugh when she falls, who threatens to behead her healers and shakes her head when they laugh in her face. A woman the people do not fear but respect and love because of who she is, not because of the title she carries. Your mother is a great Queen, but she will never be you Adri and I would serve you…”

My heart stopped when she kissed me, the saplings in my stomach growing to full grown trees as my eyes fluttered closed, her lips were soft, achingly soft against mine. Her strong hands wrapped around my arms to keep me in place as her mouth moved gently capturing and then recapturing my lips, stealing every thought from my mind until all I could hear was the gentle flow of our breathing and the green growing things, murmuring in the background, trying to be quiet for my sake. I shivered as she traced her hands up my arms to my neck and into the short hairs that graced the back of my neck. I thought briefly she must be standing on her toes because surely she hadn’t grown in the last few moments. When she pulled away I stood wide eyed as she settled back on her feet, she had been standing on her toes, crossed my mind as my heart thumped a startled rabbit in my chest and I struggled to remember the process of drawing air into my lungs.

“I hadn’t specified where I would kiss you,” Adri murmured after a moment of silence, “I had thought to kiss you on the cheek, but…” Her Highness shook her head. “You are so good with words Gardener and then you said my name.” She smiled and it was a smile I’d never seen from her before, as bright as the sun and as beautiful as any flower I’d ever seen, it was a smile meant just for me and once more my heart stuttered in my chest.

“Sister!” Princess Mariel strolled into the Queen’s Garden wearing the guards practice uniform, we turned as one to face her. “You have a scheduled meeting with the Horse Master?”

Adri tipped her head in acknowledgement, “I enjoyed our talk Gardener…” She hesitated before continuing. “Rhyme. Thank you for your words.” The Heir bowed slightly, Mariel’s brows disappeared somewhere in the curling waves of her hair but she didn’t comment. I stepped back startled at the show of respect. She stood gracing me with one more smile before turning to walk towards her sister. The Queen’s third child gave me a curious look but refrained from commenting until they were far beyond the reach of the Queen’s Garden. I’d have known if she’d spoken, the flowers would have told me so.

I sagged onto the fountain rubbing my hand gently across my chest, face warm, “Goddess,” I murmured reaching up to touch my lips still tingling from her kiss. “I said her name…” I sat with my fingers on my lips. “She said my name,” I breathed rubbing my hand along my neck. It felt nothing like the trail of heat her fingers had left in their wake. I brushed my bangs from my face, slipping free in spite of the plait I’d had my hair in all day. “Goddess…”

“Are you praying child?” I glanced up as a familiar voice drifted towards me in the growing darkness.

“If I am I don’t know what is it I’m praying for.” I shifted sideways allowing Rosen to take a seat beside me on the fountain.

“Peace perhaps…we could all use a little peace in our lives. Happiness…I know you try so hard to appear happy despite the fact that even now as old as you are you still miss your home.” Rosen smiled at me bumping me lightly with her shoulder. “I know you are not praying for power you already have enough to surpass my own.”

“Perhaps…” I turned to Rosen beseechingly. “I pray for guidance.”

“Guidance in what? I believe you’ve forgiven her Majesty as much as you ever will which is more than most in your place. Your brother’s story is so very different than yours despite that you’re are twins.”

“He was so excited to come here, to a new land, a new place to explore, once he’d learned of the horses. Once he found that he could make something of himself without having to ride my coat tails. He was such a man…even then.” I murmured softly lips curling in a bittersweet smile. “I do not begrudge him the place he’s found here; the niche he’s carved for himself. His men respect him, he has the title he deserves. Reason is happy.” I finished slowly unbraiding my hair.

Rosen placed her hand comfortingly on my shoulder, “The difference Rhyme is that he is happy with his horses and without them…can you say the same about your gardens.”

I raised my hand holding hers to my shoulder lightly squeezing her fingertips as I thought of twilight eyes and satin soft lips. “No…but perhaps one day I will be.”

Rosen smiled leaning forward to rest her brow against mine, I closed my eyes taking comfort in her closeness. She wrapped her arms around me and suddenly I felt as I had so long ago when I’d first arrived here, a child gazing up into the eyes of a woman who grew up in this land but still understood what it meant to be different, except now I was gazing down and the light in Rosen’s eyes was respect, not the sympathy I’d seen sun cycles ago. I hugged her close squeezing her smaller frame, “Thank you.” I murmured breathing in her scent of earthy soil and sunlight.

“For what?” She asked rubbing my back.

“For helping to make me into the woman I am today, for being the mother I thought I’d lost once I got on that ship…for being the guidance I did not know I needed for so long and giving me love. Thank you for being exactly who you are, Rosen Len, thank you from the bottom of my heart.” The Head Gardener held me tighter then, breathing deeply through the emotion that blocked her throat.

“I could not have asked for a better student…or daughter to offer my guidance to Rhyme Denarii.” I laughed softly thinking about all the mischief I’d gotten up to when I felt particularly wronged or angered in my youth.

“Are we thinking about the same Rhyme?” I questioned finally pulling away.

Rosen brushed my hair back from my face before pressing a tender kiss to my brow, “The one who sits before me now, more powerful than I, but respects my wisdom none the less. The woman honest in all things, who is reckless in pursuit of the green’s song because to her plants have spirits too. The same one who has pretended all these sun cycles to be happy, for her brother’s sake, the one who despite the fact that she dislikes violence has become a warrior for her mother’s sake and a healer for her own…Friend to the Heir and perhaps one day more, be it Head Gardener or simply confident.” She stroked my cheek smiling softly. “That’s the Rhyme that I speak of, the one who even now continues to grow stronger in her gift. Not the child who grew up long before her time, but the woman that she’s become in spite of it.”

I blinked tears streaming my face at the fact that she saw all that in me, this woman who I respected more than all else, this woman who had nurtured me and mothered me when I’d needed it. I hugged her close again. “I love you Rosen.” I murmured the first time I’d said those words to someone besides my brother since I’d left Kantari. “I love you so much.” I murmured heart aching.

“I know.” She murmured into the raven black waves of my hair, “I’ve known you loved me since the day you ran to find me in the Queen’s Garden showing me your pouch and how you had finally learned to separate the seeds.”

“I was so excited,” I murmured remembering that day. “I’d been practicing the entire sun cycle, every day and I could not think of anyone who would appreciate it more than you.”

“Not even your brother?” Rosen questioned curious as to the why she’d been first.

“Not like you would.” I offered knowing it for the truth, Reason did not quite appreciate all that I could do, they would always just be pretty plants and parlor tricks to him.

“I love you too.” I felt the firm press of her lips against my hair and I sighed content. “You still need a bath.” Rosen said after a long moment of silence in which I had begun to drift off to sleep.

I sat up allowing her arms to fall away, “Thank you for the reminder,” I stood stretching small bits of dirt flaking away from my clothes and skin to fall to the ground. I grimaced at the grimy feeling.

“You’re welcome,” the Head Gardener stood as well walking with me as I left the Queen’s Garden parting on our walk towards the palace. Likely headed to speak with the Queen.

I strolled along the path leading to the palace, passing by the Training Fields catching sight of Reason and the Heir talking together, while several skilled soldiers put their horses through their paces demonstrating the skills my brother had taught them. I raised my hand in greeting as I passed, Reason returned the greeting recognizing the long sweep of my dark hair despite the distance no doubt.

Deciding that the servant’s bathes would probably be full and not wanting to go back to my room just yet I went to the youngest of the Queen’s Gardens, the one that often struggled to thrive. I circled the palace and entered the Griffin Forest following a stone laid path until I came upon Katina Lake named after the Queen’s great grandmother, I stood on the sandy shore and gazed at the floating foliage at its center. I stripped myself bare tossing my clothes into the water before racing in, and diving once I reached the cliff’s edge hidden beneath the surface of the water.

I swam deep, hair streaming behind me, I’d forgotten to braid it before I’d entered the water. I reached the center mass of greenery where I’d found, many of the fish liked to hide and pushed towards the surface. I breathed deep gazing on an arrangement of water lilies and lily pads, arrowhead and cattails all glowing softly in the light of the moon. I fell backward turning so that I lay floating among the plants. Once a small cliff that fell off into a deep valley, Katina Lake had been one of the elder of the Queen’s Gardens. Until a child had died falling from the cliff’s edge, her sister’s child. Unable to bear the sight of it any longer, the Queen’s grandmother had water mages come from every corner of the world and with her Garden mages had reshaped the land and made a lake. Now at the heart of the lake rests the largest Alia rose in existence glowing softly with magic that never dies in honor of a royal life that by rights should never have been lost.

Every child who came to live at the palace learned to swim, I closed my eyes remembering the story as told that day I’d first stepped into the water, thinking of how sad and yet beautiful it had been and still was. When I opened my eyes I lay resting on the Alia rose skin glowing softly. I smiled as the spirit of the rose stroked my hair not having many willing to risk death by entanglement in the plants just to get so close. She was beautiful, more human in appearance than most of the spirits I’d seen. I could not help but think that she looked a lot like Queen Katina’s lost niece. I sighed softly rolling from the strong petals back into the water sinking briefly among the green before it swayed parting for me, slower to move with the hindrance of the water. I swam through the path created back towards the shore grabbing my clothes as I moved stumbling as I stood feeling heavier outside of the water.

I rung out my clothes as best I could, shivering in the evening chill as I pulled them on over wet skin. I cocked my head listening to the forest gazing into the shadowy canopies above. Someone was watching me…I pulled on my boots, checking to make sure my blade and pouch still rested against each hip hidden, though not so well anymore with my water laden clothes, by the fall of my tunic.

I moved towards the tree line whistling softly, the same song I’d sung with Rosen several days prior about Shades and how they came in the night. I stepped into the underbrush and ducked aside as someone fell from the shadows. I tackled them into the moonlight, and we struggled for a time rolling across the sand, Goddess I’d just gotten clean too. I pulled my blade free touching it to their throat, the shadows shifting around them, their form still distinctly human though of course I couldn’t tell the gender. “One more move and it’ll be your last.” I warned face a mask of stone.

They lay motionless breathing heavily while I held my blade to their throat unwaveringly. I felt for the fabric of their shirt ignoring the feel of soft breasts, with the flick of my wrist I reversed the blade and sliced her shirt open while she cried out startled shadows faltering long enough for me to catch sight of the tattoo I was looking for. Before I could ask questions a fist shot out of the shadows catching me in the jaw, I fell sideways catching myself as they slide from beneath me shoving me with a firm foot to the side.

I rolled over pushing to my feet only to be knocked back down. “You know,” I murmured warm blood trickling from the small cut above my brow as I caught her foot, not wanting to be kicked again, I dragged her back to the ground. “I never thought the Queen would sink so low.” I grunted as we wrestled across the sand once more. I growled after being punched in the face several times unable to see the blows coming beneath the cloak of shadows. Goddess those amateurs in the forest had been a cake walk compared to this stubborn Shade.

“What…” A familiar voice breathed recognizable even through the gravely cloak of her magic. I smirked sprinkling flower petals across her body watching as the shadows slowly dissipated revealing the Queen’s third child, Princess Mariel startled to find her magic fading so swiftly.

“Low enough to make her own daughter a spy, a shadow mage of the highest order. A Shade…” I finished sitting back on my heels.

“It was my choice.” The Princess murmured all fight gone out of her. I watched as she raised the soft petals to her face, blood red in color. “Succubus?” She questioned catching my eyes.

“Yes. Illegal in Angileri after a series of kidnappings made possible because the flower’s petals neutralize all magic.” The Princess tried to strike me again only to find her hands trapped in a nest of vines. “All magic except mine that is.” I finished as she glared up at me.

“You are so much more than what you appear to be,” Her Highness huffed trying to free her hands to no avail.

“And yet no more than I ever said I was.” I murmured wondering how my shirt had become so torn. “Does your sister know that you watch over her?” I asked gazing at the thorny vines spiraling just above my heart.

“Does she know you’re more than just a Gardener?” Mariel countered observing my tattoo with more understanding than anyone who had seen it before. “Does she know that you can speak with the dragons as she does?” She questioned proving once and for all that she was more than the pretty face everyone thought her to be.

My lips curled slightly, as I leaned over her gazing into the bright blue orbs that were her eyes, “You are a good actor Princess, hiding behind your frivolous, ditzy façade, playing the spoiled little royal, but really you’re the most dangerous of your siblings aren’t you.” It wasn’t a question, I stroked my finger along her cheek gazing into eyes that showed wisdom beyond her sun cycles. “The Queen’s Spy Master, her confident in all things, her observer of hidden meetings and the protector of her most important asset; the Heir to the throne and your own beloved sister. Everyone thought if Adri stepped down you would take her place, but you’ve had your magic for a long time yes. You knew the outcome as your mother did, a daughter with shadow magic.” I shook my head. “What if your sister had said no, what if she hadn’t passed the Trials? A Shade cannot take the throne, a Shade cannot rule, nameless and faceless, all Shades remain in the shadows.”

“The dragons told my mother…before I took the oath. They told her that Sorel would fail because of his arrogance and that I would hold no true title beyond Princess because of my magic. It was too strong, I wouldn’t properly bond…despite Adri’s love for the gardens a gift for the plants did not develop and so she went through the Trials and now here we are. I am where I want to be and she is where she has always belonged regardless of what she thinks.” I tipped my head in understanding releasing her hands and shifting backwards allowing her to sit up gently rubbing her wrists.

“You’re a good sister.” I murmured finding my feet dusting sand from my trousers before going to retrieve my blade.

“How did you know I was near? How did you sense me in the darkness?” She called out scrambling to her feet, holding her shirt closed as crimson petals drifted down around her.

I smirked turning to face her as I sheathed my blade. “You’re asking a plant mage how she sensed you in the forest…”

“None of the other Gardeners would have,” Mariel countered walking towards me. “None of them ever have before. Not even Rosen, not truly. Though when I was young in my magic she came close a few times.”

“You never thought to follow me before?” I raised my brow curious.

“You disappear often, and you’re hard to find let alone keep track of. I saw no need when I knew you were harmless.” Her Highness replied falling into step beside me as we entered the forest, trying and failing to summon her magic.

“What changed your mind?” I ducked beneath a low hanging branch and watched amused as the Princess walked right into it growling softly as she rubbed her face.

“You did that on purpose.” I chuckled softly brow raised.

“What exactly did I do save duck Highness?” I questioned while she glared at me.

“You’re stronger than my mother gave you credit for, stronger than Rosen has thought to admit though I’m sure that was purposeful on her part,” She offered drolly as we continued on our way with her paying more attention to the forest around her least another low hanging branch smack her in the face.

“Why Princess, I have no idea what you’re talking about.” I said voice dripping with feigned innocence.

Princess Mariel shoved me back against a tree, while I wondered where exactly the Queen’s daughters hid their strength. “You are dangerous Gardener Denarii, dangerous and powerful and yet my sister trusts you.” She ripped open my shirt tracing her fingers along the tattoo on my chest pausing at the belt clenching my trousers shut before sliding her hand down to cup me firmly between the thighs. “The dragons for all intents and purposes trust you.” Her hand tightened on sensitive flesh while we gazed into each other’s eyes.

“If you like it rough Princess Gardener Rendell is your man, despite his pretty façade his is very forward in his love affairs.” She clenched me tighter pinching my little bud, on purpose no less. “I’m more for gentle love making.” I finished as if she weren’t trying to tear out my womanhood.

“Funny…” She leaned forward sinking her teeth into the juncture of my throat, I clenched my teeth, jerking as she broke skin, the metallic scent of blood filling the air as she pulled away shadows slowly obscuring her features. She stepped away from me a triumphant smile gracing her lips. “The only person immune to the succubus flower’s effects. Hmm good to know Gardener.” I watched as she drifted along the ground leaving no foot prints. “As for the love making…perhaps another time. Just know for now that you have my trust…Let it not be taken lightly or lost. Bad things will happen if you cross me.” I blinked and she was gone leaving me with an aching sex and a bloody mark on my neck. Not how I imagined my night would end. Not at all.

I raised my hand to my neck wincing slightly, who knew such a pretty woman could bite so hard, I wondered using my other hand to cup my sex. Who knew such a small woman could be so strong…Goddess not I. I stared at the blood now staining my hands, certainly not I.