The Queen's Garden Mage

I gazed at the palace servant that was also my friend and felt older than my twenty-three sun cycles, when my mother forced me to come here for a better life I don’t think she could have ever imagined something quite like this would happen.

“We need to move her…” Reason and Eden moved forward. “Without anyone touching her for an extended period of time.” Taeli added quickly before they could touch Kiyen.

“Do we have a sling for injured?” Libeth asked after a moment of thoughtful silence.

“Yes actually,” Reason added chuckling slightly before sending two guards to fetch it for us. “It was beneath your bed,” he replied shrugging slightly as he gazed at me, “And I found myself thinking. Why not…?”

I smiled softly, “Thank you for believing in me Rea,” he smiled at me before tousling my hair.

I shoved him away with a well-placed glare, “I’m going to enjoy being able to do that.” He laughed softly while I fixed my hair. The guards returned just as I thought to retaliate.

We laid the sling as close as possible, without touching her. “Now how are we going to do this?” Libeth glanced around the circle of people waiting for ideas. While everyone stood around nervously gazing at each other waiting for someone else to volunteer I crouched low and slipped my arms beneath Kiyen’s still frame and then with a small bit of effort lifted her from the ground shuddering slightly at the sickening feeling that overtook me.

I felt my eyes flutter, time slowed, it felt as if I gazed out at the world through a veil of shadows. I heard whispers, just beneath the song of the Ancients seductive voices nauseating in their intensity. I took a deep breath before setting her as gently as I could into the sling. I sat back on my heels ignoring the whispers and waiting for the wisps of the Void to disappear from my skin. “Goddess...” I breathed before glancing up to find everyone staring at me. “What?” I pushed myself to my feet. “You were all taking too long and I couldn’t stand to see her lying on the ground anymore.” I sighed softly. “She’s my friend…”

“How do you feel?” Taeli asked carefully.

“That’s a hard question to answer considering all that has happened in the last few days.” I replied honestly.

“Is the Void inside you?” She tried again.

I gave her a look that questioned her intelligence. “If it were, do you really think I’d reply honestly?” I countered not unkindly.

Everyone relaxed, “That’s definitely Rhy.” Reason said rolling his eyes at my smart remark.

I gazed around the circle of people and saw that the only royalty before us was a Prince that no longer held his title. I furrowed my brow. “Where are the foreign monarchs…where are the people and their guards?” I questioned curious.

Emery answered, “They departed while Libeth and Taeli went in search of you…this is a war they cannot fight, something none came prepared for and many cannot afford to die or be infected when they have no one to replace them…it would be catastrophic. We did the best we could as Gardeners and not politicians to ensure that if they chose not to aid us, then at least they would not initiate war with us in this time of weakness because if we fall…surely the Void will come for them next.” Emery turned to Taeli, “Your father, King Teaon of Dangilere leaves you in his steed as well as his most trusted guards, he promised to send half his army to aid us in whatever we may need. Several others volunteered food and Healers. We took what was offered graciously, the highest ranking military man here is the Captain of your father’s guard detail and we were not willing to let him lead us.” He glanced at the Prince. “There is no royalty, there are nobles and those suitors who wished to stay and aid us like Tailaan and Dahni. We have many of our soldiers and our guard and most if not all of the recruits…but as Taeli said they would destroy us if they came upon us now.”

I glanced at my fellow Gardeners, at Tailaan, Dahni, the foreign Captain and the Prince that was not a Prince…these were the people that we had to save a nation. Who would we follow? “Who’s in charge if not Captain…” I glanced at him waiting for a name.

He stepped forward and offered me his arm, I took it in a warrior clasp. “Captain Sowin at your service Gardener.”

“I would say it’s a pleasure but…” I shrugged and he nodded his understanding though a simple bow of his head would have sufficed I did not hold it against him.

“Who is in charge if not Captain Sowin? Guard Captain Neola is hopefully safe but nowhere to be found, the Sol-Lea is infected and the Head Gardener…” I took a deep breath heart aching. “Rosen…for all intents and purposes is a traitor.”

“Perhaps your people should vote,” Sowin offered not wishing to offend.

I glanced around the circle of people before me, “Are we to have our meeting here then…at the edge of camp?” I questioned.

“Why not…we are Gardeners not meant to be confined to stuffy tents,” Eden sat upon the ground beginning the circle and everyone followed suit. The ground was lush covered in grass, it grew soft beneath me, Renka who sat beside me blinked in surprise before shifting away and then back again. She said nothing while I watched and chose not to explain herself once she was done.

“Where do we start?” Dahni asked curiously glancing around the circle.

“Let’s start with what we know.” Reason supplied, “And go from there.”

“The Void has spread…”

“Where did it start?” I wondered aloud.

“The Void lies in the heart of all our joint nations…it is what keeps us from meeting. Angileri, Raleli, Dangilere and…” Dahni rubbed her head trying to supply the last nation that would touch ours if not for the Void.

“Samere.” Taeli supplied, “Often forgotten considering how well they keep to themselves, across the water lies Erangi and Kantari and the ice nation Ierilo in the mountains. There are others but those are the big seven that truly hold power, all others exist at the will of kind monarchs that see no need to over throw them.”

Dahni bowed her head, “Yes, it began there, hundreds or thousands of sun cycles ago, long before us. Alia the Queen of Angileri was the first to fight it with her Gardeners…and others followed. It grew stagnant. Until two sun cycles ago, those on the border were in danger and we did not know it. It spread slowly…” Dahni shook her head. “I came with permission from the Council hoping to find answers, but I did not make it as far as I’d hoped in the Tournament…and then it didn’t matter anymore.”

“As you well know I came with the same intention, hoping that Angileri, known for its forests and gardens would be able to stop it. The strongest plant mages in the world are found in Angileri…there’s even a saying.” I raised my brow at Taeli’s words.

“There’s a saying?” I could not help but ask.

Emery tipped his head catching my attention, “It is like beautiful men and architecture in Erangi. If you’re looking for a plant mage you go looking in Angileri. There’s a reason why the Green Sprout exists and it’s not just because it’s a good tavern.” He finished with a shrug.

“The Void has begun spreading more quickly, taking root in all kinds of people, young, old, weak, strong, morals don’t matter though I’m sure those with ill intent enjoy the power the Void brings to them, while those with kind hearts find themselves pushed to the back of their own minds an observer in their body.” Taeli continued bringing us back on track.

“How do you know this?” Libeth inserted.

Taeli sighed, “my friend…tried to attack my father, the King. When he died he thanked us and struggled to put into words the horror he had experienced without being able to do anything about it. A fate worse than death…”

“The Queen and Heir may be dead, Mariel is infected and Rosen has betrayed us. Is there anything else we have not said aloud?” Eden added gazing around.

No one said a word, “Now we come to the two most important questions. Who’s in charge and how do we stop it?

“Well we said we would vote on who’s in charge,” Reason supplied. “I suppose we should do that first; we’ll all write it down on a scrap of paper and then Captain Sowin can tell us who has the majority. How does that sound?” He gazed around waiting for someone to object, when no one did a recruit on standby offered us each as bit of paper, I waved him away picking up a leaf cradling it in my hand, as I watched murmuring to it with my magic the veins within the leaf shifted to form several words. I curled it up and offered it to the recruit as he came back around.

Sowin took the small sheets of parchment waiting until he held all in his hand before reading each of them carefully, making note of them on a sheet of parchment of his own, raising his brow slightly when he came to my leaf. Reason snorted when he saw it shaking his head with a smile. “Well…it’s unanimous,” I leaned back on my hands dread settling in the pit of my stomach when he looked at me. “You did not vote for yourself… but” Sowin chuckled. “Your leaf says anyone who can do the job and you qualify.”

I fell back onto the ground slinging my arm over my face as I groaned loudly. “Finally where we all thought you should be sister,” Reason said a smile clear in his voice.

“Now Head Gardener Rhyme…what should we do to fix this?” Libeth asked using a title I’d hope I’d never hear in reference to me.

“Gods!” Someone exclaimed causing me to shoot up, heart racing, to find Kiyen pushing herself from the ground. She looked haggard but if I couldn’t see the wisps of Void flickering with in her near taking on a form I understood, I’d have thought she was fine. The sick feeling that I’d felt while she was unconscious was gone as if it had never been.

“Gardener Rhyme?” She squinted at me before smiling warmly. “You’re alive…he told us you were dead but I didn’t believe him.” She crawled towards me while the others watched in horror not knowing what to do, not knowing who was in control or if Kiyen was even aware of the Void lurking inside of her. I sat leaning back on my hands as she grew closer trying to remain calm. “I knew you of all people wouldn’t die so easily.” Tears formed in her eyes before trickling down her face, I twitched slightly when she touched me. “They sent me with a message…but never told me anything and Resli.” Kiyen sobbed softly climbing into my lap. “Resli is still there, my brother in all but blood and he has him doing Gods know what.”

I wrapped my arms around her pressing my hands lightly against her back, murmuring words of comfort as the Void clung to my skin, narrowing my perception of the world as those voices, similar to the green but more malevolent spoke to me. I found myself captivated by the voices that sounded almost familiar if not for the seductive power that lingered within them…

“Rhyme…Rhyme!” I woke with a gasp rolling over blinking in confusion to find myself laid out on the ground.

“What happened?” I groaned pushing myself up to find Kiyen once more unconscious on the sling in the center of our small gathering. Libeth and Eden were crouched beside me, Sowin now sitting a little closer to Kiyen his sword in hand.

“The Void played on your compassion…”

I shook my head. “No, she looked fine, her words were sincere…”

“That’s what the Void does Head Gardener, it is not always a blatant attack with swords and knives or bows and arrows. The goal is not always to kill but to spread, like a fire, like a disease, like a…”

“Weed.” I supplied without thought.

“Exactly, that is what makes it so dangerous, it exploits people, Kiyen’s emotions are genuine, her remorse heartfelt and you love her so of course you wish to give comfort. The Void spreads through touch…can you imagine how many people have grown infected this way…” Taeli’s words left me feeling hallow.

I moved forward and gently stroked Kiyen’s hair before pulling back and pushing to my feet. “Goddess,” I traced my fingers through my hair. “We need to fix this.” I turned away walking back towards the Ancients, Renka and Libeth quick to follow.

I moved quickly through tents littering the forest and stopped once more before the Ancients towering side by side. The trees beside them forming a wall that literally separated this part of Griffin Forest from the rest. And if you rode as hard as you could in either direction, you might not realize it at first, but you’d find that the wall of trees kept going seemingly forever until several sun spans later when you arrived right back where you’d started.

“Explain how this is about perception?” Renka said waiting patiently while we gazed on the Ancients waiting for the others to catch up.

I sighed softly laying my hands gently upon the words etched into the wood, “Rosen told me that only one of the Queen’s Gardeners could cause the Ancients to part, that at most times it was the Head Gardener. Trusted and respected above all else…she had never heard of their being two people because this is more than about strength and if you’re found lacking you aren’t just pushed away, you’re drained of all your magic and if you don’t die then well you’ll wish you were. She told me once that if anyone could do it, it would be me because even though she’s the Head Gardener we both know who’s the stronger mage. I’m sure every Gardener has known for quite some time.”

“The grass…it grew soft beneath you without you saying or doing anything. I shifted away and found the ground hard before shifting close to you again and finding it soft enough to sleep on. The green as you call it…aids you without question.” Renka said explaining what she’d been doing earlier.

Libeth placed her hand on my shoulder, “You can do this.” She murmured softly as everyone else finally caught up.

I turned to Renka, “For once I agree with one of your friends.” She supplied snorting softly.

I chuckled softly before leaning forward and resting my brow on sun warmed bark, “This could take a while,” I warned. Before closing my eyes and asking a request…my chest felt as if it were ripped opened as the Ancients drew heavily on my magic speaking slowly, words took decades to form while I stood before them trying to understand, to comprehend all that had come before me. Watching and absorbing as much as I could until I found myself kneeling before the very first Gardener, stripped bare of all my power. I could hardly breathe and truly in that moment I felt death would have been a blessing.

I gazed up at his glowing form, struggling to keep my head up so tired was I in that moment. I did not think I could stand; I did not even remotely think to try. His name I knew was Gal and he gazed down at me for centuries longer than it took the Ancients to tell me the story of this place. “Rhyme.” He spoke my name and it was heart stopping in its beauty and simultaneously excruciatingly painful at the same time. I clutched at the ground feeling my nails dig into rough bark where my body truly existed. My head hung low as I fought the urge to scream, tears streamed from my eyes. Each breath I took was labored. I was so sure that I would die, that I would be drained of my magic and fall dead in a matter of moments or was it sun cycles, decades, centuries. Time held no meaning, I have never wanted anything to end so badly. Death in that moment would have been a blessing.

“Gardener Rhyme…” I gazed at him through the shortened strands of my hair, spittle dripping from my mouth now frozen in a silent scream. If I could have told him to shut the hell up I would have. “I see your pain, I have taken your magic and still you refuse to give in.” My ears rung, blood dripped from my nose, my arms quivered. Goddess, I never thought it would be this hard. Head Gardener Gal stood in deep thought gazing off at something I could not see beyond the glowing light that surrounded us. I realized as he stood silent that I could no longer hear the voices of the green, I could not hear the song of the Ancients. All I could hear were the ringing of his words in my ears.

“You have come this far,” He leaned down and cupped my jaw in his hands lifting my head with ease. “I suppose. I will take your measure…” I shuddered as his eyes pulled me in and dragged me under. Just as I had watched the birth of this place, the slow but steady rise of every bridge and building so too did it…did he, did the Ancients take me in, from my birth, through my childhood, past me being taken, to the woman I had become. The Ancients and through them this man, this place knew my worth. They knew me more thoroughly than anyone ever had and when he pulled away freeing me of his gaze I felt raw, worn thin and weak. I felt more defeated in that single moment than I had when Eris had shattered my world…one did not remotely compare to the other.

Head Gardener Gal stroked his chin while tears streamed steadily from my eyes, he bowed his head once before taking me in once more. Now quivering with the last bit of strength I held, fighting to stay on my hands and knees. Blood streaming from my eyes, my ears, my nose and my mouth, while I struggled to breathe. “I have but one question.” I closed my eyes at the pain his words caused. “Why was this haven formed?”

My eyes fluttered open and I answered with the first thing that came to mind, “To protect the woman and the people you love.” I croaked unable to say more even if I tried. Head Gardener Gal smiled softly before reaching down and taking me gently by the shoulders. He pulled me to my feet and steadied me. “Rhyme, Gardener Rhyme, now Head Gardener Rhyme Denarii formally of Kantari now of Angileri, child born of the green, lover of the earth,” he waved his hand before me. “I have measured your worth, I know you to be strong, the Queen trusts your judgement and the Princess has fallen for your personality. Enter the Last Garden, and may all those you love and wish to protect follow safely behind you. Lead them well Head Gardener and know that your predecessors are with you.” He slapped me firmly on the back and the world instantly went black.

When I opened my eyes I found myself kneeling at the base of the Ancients hands curled into fists against strong bark. My heart raced, I moved my hand to clutch at my chest. I could feel that my magic lay where it should, near about gone but still there. The green sang my praise, the Ancients singing with them. I breathed a sigh of relief that I still lived with my magic intact, for a long time I kneeled there too weak to stand. I glanced up to see a new day had dawned, the sky slowly lightening. I did not know if it were but one or several, to me, it had felt like centuries. My throat was dry, my lips cracked, my face was streaked with tears. I touched at my nose, my ears and my mouth to ensure that I was not bleeding. After what seemed a slither of the sun’s span I glanced around to find myself not alone.

The embers of a fire lay smoldering not ten feet behind me, around the dying embers lay Reason, Libeth and Taeli fast asleep. I could see Renka walking through the trees along the edge of camp slowly making her way back in this direction ears flicking every which way. I called on my magic trying to gain her attention and chuckled softly when a root shifted knocking her from her feet. She stood quickly, and glanced around before turning towards me. I raised my hand weakly when she narrowed her eyes dropping it as she came running towards me. “You’re alive.” She cried softly as she kneeled beside me, so as not to wake the others.

“Yeah…and I’m just as surprised as you are.” I husked softly. The Marr quickly pulled a canteen from her hip and raised it to my lips helping me drink slowly. “How long was I…out.” I questioned softly resting my head on her shoulder.

“Two seven days…Prince Eris has sent more infected and several dead.” Renka offered holding me against her least I fall over. She turned towards the Ancients still firmly in place. “They have not parted…is your magic gone?”

“No…” I took a deep breath glad to find it free of pain. “I still have my magic.”

“The trees…”

“Call them Ancients.” I supplied trying with her help to push to my feet.

“The Ancients have not parted,” Renka wrapped her arm around my waist holding me easily while I struggled to stay standing on legs riddled with cramps. I grimaced stretching as best I could with her help.

Once I was able to stand on my own I placed my hands upon the words etched by the very first Gardener. I listened to the Ancients song before closing my eyes and making a request. I stepped back as the ground shuddered waking the others sleeping by the remains of a fire, the first Head Gardener’s voice rang in my head. Enter the Last Garden, and may all those you love and wish to protect follow safely behind you.

The Ancients shifted only slightly creating an opening large enough for a small dragon to climb through, easily passible for several men standing abreast. I stepped through the entrance with Renka standing close behind to find myself met by a line of centaurs. “Gods…” Renka breathed in awe as they towered over us, with hair cascading in waves down their backs, kept at bay by the warrior bun I was used to seeing on my brother. They wore vests of green, with patterns of spiraling vines in gold and black. They held swords and bows alike and all held an air of power. A female came forward pawing at the ground with her hooves.

“Finally come into your own Rhy?” Her voice was strong, authoritative and yet familiar in its tenderness. I smiled softly as she leaned close resting her brow against mine.

“Fletcher,” I breathed recognizing her scent and the softness of her hair from when I had first come through the Ancients. “It has been so long.” She squeezed me softly before pulling away.

“I feel that you are not here to add to the Last Garden, but to finally put it to some use.” She shifted her large girth until she stood beside me, her men parting to reveal a path winding up to the top of a hill. “I did not think it would happen in my lifetime, but I can’t say I’m disappointed it did.”

“You won’t feel that way for long.” I murmured softly leaning against her side.

“Who are your friends?” Fletcher questioned taking note of my words but choosing not to comment on them.

I glanced over my shoulder to see Renka, Reason and Taeli gapping like fools at the creatures before them. I chuckled at their fascination, we hadn’t even topped the hill yet. Libeth came to greet Fletcher as I had, having met her before.

“You know Libeth,” I waved my hand towards the other three. “The one who looks like my twin, is my twin Reason, Taeli comes from the same land we hail from and Renka.” I clutched her shoulder squeezing softly. “Renka is one of the Marr.”

“It is good to meet you, cousin.” Fletcher said good naturedly as she bent down and pulled Renka into a bone crushing hug.

Renka hugged her back just as strongly completely ignorant of the fact that her feet no longer touched the ground. Fletcher set her down gently smiling softly at us all. “Fawlin will guide you and your Gardeners to where you belong while we take the others on a tour.”

“There are many more,” I warned as Fawlin pulled me to the side, I kept hold of Renka deciding it was best to keep her with me. Libeth came with us knowing all that lay instore for them.

Fletcher bowed her head in acknowledgement, “We will gather them Head Gardener, let Fawlin lead you to your place and we will handle the rest.”

I tipped my head slightly in agreement before moving with the smaller centaur, though she was no less grand than her leader. Libeth took Fawlin’s offered hand leaping when she pulled her up and onto her back.

“Do you trust me?” I asked Renka softly as we walked up the hill.

“With my life, as crazy as that sounds.” She offered back gazing all around her. The only difference thus far were the centaurs, perhaps the trees were greener but who could truly tell.

I murmured softly in her ear as two more centaurs broke off and came towards us no doubt about to offer us a ride. Before they reached us Renka broke into a slow jog and I smiled at her choice. I ran after her jumping when she bent low for a moment landing on her back, I twinned my fingers in her mane, her transformation happening smoothly from one breath to the next and suddenly we were galloping towards the crest of the hill with Fawlin and her fellow centaurs fighting to catch up. Renka gave a horsey laugh and I laughed with her as we topped the hill and raced across a bridge formed from a fallen Ancient the other side a paradise created from the dreams of a thousand Gardeners.