The Queen's Garden Mage

“How is this possible?” Renka and I stood on the edge of a pool confined to the inside of a massive tree truck towering hundreds of feet in the air, above it at an angle was the top of the tree also hallowed out though it’s canopy still existed at the very top, branches lined with leaves formed in the shape of small grooves were fed water from a water fall high above and if you looked hard enough through the rushing water pouring down through the hallow trunk and into this pool, you could almost see it. “How is this tree still growing, when it’s clearly been destroyed?” She walked along the edge of the artificial lake trying to get closer to the upper half of the trunk. “There are plants growing in there despite the rushing water…” She glanced down. “There are fish swimming in this pool, there are plants growing inside of this tree beneath water that’s clearer than any water I’ve ever seen.” She crouched down tracing her fingers lightly through the water, brows raised in surprise. “The water is warm and it doesn’t over flow…Head Gardener.” Renka stood and looked at me. “How…”

“Is this possible?” I finished for her, she nodded slowly waiting for an answer. I sat on the edge of the lake, a large band of smoothed wood, the inner rings of the tree clearly visible. I traced my fingers along its surface listening to its peaceful song, this ancient had found new purpose and a lovely purpose it was. “This pool…this lake was here long before me, before Rosen and perhaps even before the Head Gardener before her. Every generation of Gardeners adds something of their own. I would have never thought of something like this, perhaps this mage had two gifts one of the green and one of the water. As for how it’s possible…magic exists Renka and that is the only explanation I can give. Magic and the determination to make this possible.”

“This place…is amazing.” Renka moved back to the bridge from which we’d come smaller than the one we’d first crossed but no less intricate, an ancient split in half paved smooth somehow, with plants shooting up on either side, green and beautiful. I knew that when darkness fell the adorable buds at the top of those plants would bloom and glow. As they would do every night forever without pause or interference, these plants would never die. They were called eternal fireflies. I watched her stroke one gently causing it to bob slightly back and forth. “Has anyone ever fallen?” She glanced down passed the bridge to see another beneath us, there were thousands connecting the upper workings of the trees and the buildings hard to discern in their canopies if you did not know where to look.

“Of that I am not sure, but when we were young and reckless my fellow Gardeners and I tested the failsafe and jumped. Goddess Rosen punished us right good for our stupidity but we know it works.” I pushed to my feet and came to stand beside her. “You can’t see it, but there are plants weaved together, to form a nest and I’ve never seen anything like it before and nor has Rosen as welled traveled as she is. Some plants only exist here. If you fall those seemingly loose growing plants grow taunt catching you in their embrace and tossing you back up and into this pool. Some cause you to slide down onto strategically placed platforms, but this we thought would be the most fun…” I hesitated for a moment smiling softly. “Do you trust me?”

Renka snorted, “I let you ride me, in a nonthreatening situation.” I tipped my head in acknowledgement before wrapping her in a hug and tipping forward. She screamed almost as loudly as she did when I jumped out of a tree, almost but not quite. I laughed as we fell closing my eyes as I felt leaves brush against my face, relaxing completely when they embraced us slowing our descent. And then suddenly we were being flung into the air the green giggling gaily as we landed in the warm pool of water.

I pulled Renka to the surface before she could panic laughing softly as I burst through the water. The Marr shoved me back under with a growl of frustration. “I told you to warn me if you ever did something like that again!” She cried swimming for the water’s edge.

I came back up sputtering before swimming after her, “I asked if you trusted me.” I countered.

“Yes, and like earlier I would have appreciated a small whispered explanation,” I watched her struggle trying to pull herself out not realizing that the pool sat further down then it appeared when looking from above in certain areas. I followed the green arrows engraved into the dark wood until I found the ones pointing down and stood on the small platform hidden beneath the water before climbing the gentle slope leading out.

“Rhyme!” I jogged around to where she sat treading water before leaning down offering my hand, pulling her out with a grunt of effort.

“If you had just moved a little further to the left or right you could have stepped out. There are four hidden platforms beneath the water and a slope leading out from there.” I offered slicking my hair back.

“The water is clear, how is it that I don’t see them?” She questioned as we made our way back to the bridge.

“The pool is fed constantly by the waterfall, which means the water ripples sometimes gently and sometimes not, but it distorts what lies beneath and the platforms are the same darkened wood as the surrounding walls. Which is why you follow the arrows.” I crouched down pointing them out to her.”

“Ahhh, I see.” She shoved me back into the water. I came up sputtering once more nose burning from the unexpected plunge. “That’s for the surprise. Do it again and I might bite something off.”

I pulled myself out beside her while she watched confused. “Plant mage, giant tree that’s still alive…” I slicked my hair back again. “Need I say more?”

Renka flickered her ears roughly in my direction, I blinked startled as it struck me in the face. “No. I got it.”

“Do you feel better for having done that at least?” I asked referring to my second unintended plunge as she started across the bridge trailing behind least she feel the need to push me again.

“Not really.” Her ears dropped as I caught up to her. I wrapped my arm around her waist steering her along a bridge that you’d walk by easily if you weren’t aware of it.

“I accept your apology,” I murmured, she shook her head butting her head gently against mine before pulling away.

“Where are we going now?” She questioned as we passed through the trunk of an ancient gazing at the intricate patterns carved into the wood arching above us glowing softly with moss. We passed through several other trunks such as these before coming to a tunnel created from a fallen ancient. I stepped onto the lip pausing when Renka clutched at my shoulder. “Is this tree still living as well?”

I listened carefully, able to hear the sleepy murmurs of the moss, the slow drawl of the ancients we’d passed through, and the Ancients singing softly in the background of it all. I furrowed my brow blinking before gazing on the fallen tree before us searching for its spirit while listening for its voice and hearing nothing. “No. It’s dead.” I blink away the spirits before pulling her along. “As for where we’re going…” I smiled. “You’ll see.” I pulled her along.

“I’m starting to understand why you had that bite mark or your neck…it was out of frustration.” I laughed softly at that semi-accurate description.

“We’re almost there.” I offered after half a slither of the sun’s span spent traveling through trees, along thick limbs, beneath elaborate bridges, past countless fancifully built homes and shops that had no names or owners. I was sure that Renka hadn’t seen any of them despite gazing at them with vision far sharper than mine, such was the nature of this place. Hidden in plain sight, it ensured that even if someone managed to get through the Ancients guarding the entrance that the city would never be found.

“Gods…this place is so green, full of life and yet empty. It’s saddening to know that such a place exists and the only ones here to guard it all is a small troop of centaurs. Why create such a place if not to live here?” Renka wondered as we came to an archway, the sun shining brightly beyond it.

I paused in the archway thinking on her words, “I honestly don’t know.”

I stepped through with Renka trailing behind, she froze in her tracks as she took in the glory of what I had created. I watched as she moved to the center of the small grove, she tilted her head back letting the sun shine on her face for a moment before letting her head fall and gazed around. There were flowers blooming everywhere. If you could name it, it was there, flowers that only bloomed in winter, in fall, at night, in the spring, in summer, at dawn existing all at once in that moment. In that space. All my favorite trees lined the circumference of the space. A sapling giant’s spine, standing beside a young ancient forming the archway leading into this space. An apple tree cast shade over a small area where lush grass grew, soft enough to lay on. Half its canopy weighed down with luscious fruit, the other half raining down pink apple blossoms. Faeries fluttered from flower to flower playing tag, while birds chirped nesting in the trees. A small pond sat off to one side fish regularly coming to the surface. A bridge formed from thickly twined raptor vines took you back up into the canopy of the ancients, though it was harder to find then my way had been. The sun shone down perfectly on everything it needed to touch so that it all grew as it should. “Is this yours?” Renka asked after a time turning to look at me.

I gazed around smiling softly proud at how it had all turned out. “Yeah…” I strolled forward and took a seat beneath my apple tree, picking up an apple that had fallen to the ground and rubbing it gently on my shirt. The lush grass had kept it from bruising. “After we’d been here for a few sun cycles and all knew the language well enough to speak properly Rosen rewarded us. She brought us here to the heart of Griffin Forest and opened the gate.” I shivered at the pain I’d experienced. “The centaurs gave us a tour, Fletcher had been much younger then, her father had been in charge. We saw everything we could, but not as much as we’d hoped as children. We swam in the pool I first showed you, and jumped from the bridge there. We were scolded and punished for scaring a few sun cycles off her life.”

I rolled the apple back and forth from one hand to the other as Renka took a seat beside me, “Rosen told us many stories about all the Gardeners that came before us, she instilled in us a sense of belonging. Of finally being a part of something greater than ourselves and then she told us to make something…anything we wanted, our part of this place that someone might find and explore generations from now and find amazing. She left us then for two seven days each of us had a centaur as guardian and we did what we wanted.” I laid my hand on the ground, “We’re actually sitting on a dead ancient, this space is how massive its trunk had been, it had fallen destroying several other trees, I healed them and hallowed this space out much like the pool we’ve been to.”

“I filled it with soil…that was the first seven day, and I had lots of help from the plants, the second seven day was spent acquiring all the plants, seeds and saplings I needed to make what I’d wanted. I placed them strategically so that one plants growth would not stunt another’s. I dung the hole for the pond and lined it with water repellent vines so that it would not just seep into the soil. I filled this place with as much magic as I could spare until the entire grove glowed softly with it and asked simply of the green to become what it willed and then I left and let nature take its course.” I waved my hand to encompass all that we could see, “This is the result.”

I took a bite of my apple, enjoying the way it sang across my taste buds. Renka picked up an apple nearly the size of her head and gazed at it curiously before rubbing it on her shirt. “I’d ask how it’s possible to create such a place in perhaps ten sun cycles or less but I know what your answer will be.”

I stared in fascination as she nearly bit the entire apple in half with just one bite. “How…” She gazed at me eyes glowing softly ears flicking in my direction. “Never mind.” She smiled softly before taking a smaller more human seeming bite of her apple.

“It’s annoying isn’t it?” She questioned leaning back against the tree.

“Just a tad,” I offered continuing to enjoy my apple, not realizing how hungry I’d been until that moment. Though Renka had stated I’d been gone…for two seven days I hadn’t given it much thought.

I plucked a few blades of grass after finishing my apple and proceeded to eat them while Renka watched chewing slowly brow raised. “Why are you…” I wiggled my brows eating several more blades of grass. “Why in the Gods are you eating grass when there are countless apples littering the ground around you. If you reply magic I will bite off a chunk of your flesh.” She warned pointing her apple core at me before eating it in two bites, though I’m sure she could have finished it in one.

“It’s sweet grass, soft like a pillow and sweet enough to eat. They’re greens really. Here try some.” I twisted up a small bit and raised it to her mouth, she gazed at my fingers warily ears laid back. “I just ate it.”

“One blade at a time not a small bundle of maybe disgusting.” I chuckled softly before popping it into my mouth before offering her another small buddle.

“I will bite you...” I tipped my head in acknowledgement of her words before pushing the sweet grass into her mouth. She chewed slowly before swallowing, she gave me a narrowed eyed look before picking up another apple. “It’s not bad, but I like the apples better.”

“Hmm,” I tossed an apple at her head that she caught easily in her mouth chomping it in half while I wrinkled my nose at how widely she stretched her jaw. “How the…”

“One of the Horse People,” was her only explanation and really you shouldn’t have needed more than that.

We sat for a time just enjoying the warm sun and the simple peace of being, while sating our bellies with apples and sweet grass. I traced my fingers through the damp strands of her hair as she lay dozing with her head on my shoulder, each of us leaning back against the strong trunk of the apple tree. I found myself trailing my fingers lightly over the collar wrapped around her neck, it was warm and supple, a light tan leather without scars or blemishes despite how long I’m sure she’d been wearing it. There were no seams, it was just one unbroken ring if I didn’t know what it’s purpose was I’d call it beautiful in its simplicity. “Does it hurt…” I questioned not sure if she was awake enough to answer, her breathing deep and evenly spaced.

The Marr sighed, the air gusting from her lungs, “No,” she breathed. “On most days I hardly feel it at all. I’ve worn it for such a long time…”

“After this is all said and done we’ll have it off you before you know it…”

Renka chuckled wryly, “You won’t. There are only two ways to get it off, the enchanter ensured that by dying soon after the magic was cast.”

“Well you can still travel freely…” She shook her head ears drooping.

“A slave that can travel far from their master can easily escape Head Gardener. I can travel no further than a hundred feet from the person who owns me. Otherwise it become uncomfortable…that or I find myself questioning why I left. It’s maddening to know that if I just keep walking I’ll be free but to suddenly find yourself turned around wandering back in the other direction. How do you think I came upon you when you came through the maze, why do you think I haven’t left your side since?” I thought about how close we’d been since she’d found me.

“When I told you to go…?” I questioned.

“I’d not have let you die alone; I would have saved you regardless. I could have tried to escape, let you die and perhaps be free…though I doubt it. Someone always finds me. Which is the reason I only ever killed one man. He deserved it, but his death did not free me from my chains. I do not regret helping you, but my choices were quite limited.”

“You said there were two ways to free you?” I stroked her ear smiling softly when it batted lightly against my fingers.

“We are free of all human limitations in death.” I rolled my eyes at the cliché. “I’m not willing to die just yet, though there were times…” She grew silent for a moment.

I shrugged the shoulder her head lay against, “And the other?”

“Someone who cares for me has to agree to wear it freely…”

“They have to take your place?” Renka sat up, tracing her fingers lightly along her collar. I could see several words written in a language I could half understand. Her name no doubt, Santi hadn’t lied about that.

“If you’re asking if they’re restricted to the same limitations then no, they could hurt me or even kill me if they wished without feeling a hint of pain, we could part and never see each other again and they would not feel compelled to return. No the only thing they would have to show that we’d known each other at all would be this collar, that would no longer bear my name.” Renka shrugged at the look on my face.

“What’s the catch?” I wondered aloud, deciding that it sounded too simple.

“They’d have to actually care about me and we’d have to share a kiss.” I narrowed my eyes while she gazed off into the distance seeing something that I couldn’t.

“It sounds almost too easy…”

“And yet here I am sun cycles later still enslaved.” Renka spoke softly voice filled with bitterness. “You’d be surprised by how many people think less of you because of what you are, not who you are.” She shook her head, “Different has never been good for me.” Tears formed in her eyes larger than normal, though perfectly suited for one of the Horse people. Her lips quivered as she struggled not to cry.

“If a kiss is all it takes to free you and all I need do is wear a collar you hardly feel for the rest of my life then I’ll do it.” I offered without hesitation.

“Really…” The Marr choked on a sob eyes sparkling with hope, they were brighter than I’d first thought darkened by sadness and experience. The world could be a cold place and I’m sure she’d experienced more than her fair share.

I bowed my head gently cupping her face in my hands, “Hopefully I care enough yeah?”

Renka chuckled softly shifting closer, “You offered…no one else ever has.”

“True.” I murmured softly tracing the tears from her face as I leaned in heart racing in my chest as I pressed my lips against hers. Renka hesitated for a moment before kissing me back. She tasted of sweet grass and apples, of tears and sadness. Her lips were soft, and supple against mine. I could tell that perhaps she hadn’t kissed many people in her life, her mouth hesitant, and a little unsure as it moved against mine.

Time slowed, the light of the sun flickered beyond my closed eyelids, my heart thumped strongly in my chest, I could feel hers beating just as strongly against mine. Her hair was soft though still a little damp as I twinned my fingers in it. I shivered slightly as she laced her fingers along my neck. A kiss that was meant to be short and sweet grew longer, more passionate. My lungs screamed for air and still we kissed…When we pulled away I gasped blinking spots out of my vision. I opened my eyes to find myself on the ground with Renka hovering above me. I was really starting to get tired of finding myself laid out on the ground…I thought briefly before raising my hand to trace along the smooth expanse of her neck.

“It worked?” I questioned hoarsely trying to catch my breath.

Renka gently traced her fingers along the collar circling my neck. “Only one way to find out. She leaned down before I could ask her what she was doing and bit me at the juncture where my neck met my shoulder. I arched from the ground crying out softly as pain sang along my nerves.

“Goddess…” I groaned when she pulled away wiping her mouth. I raised my hand to my neck fingers coming away damp with blood. “You bit me. I just freed you and the first thing you do is bite me?”

“Hmm,” Her eyes glowed softly with mirth as she traced her thumb gently along the wound. I hissed pushing her hand away. “I think it looks good.”

I rolled over pushing myself into a sitting position, blood dampening the neck of my shirt. “You broke the skin.”

“I have very strong teeth…your skin is very soft. I bit you as gently as I could.” I gazed at her over my shoulder in disbelief.

“That was gentle?!” She bowed her head solemnly. “Goddess I’d hate for you to have been angry and done that.”

“That’s how I killed that one owner…I wasn’t gentle at all.” I cupped my neck, able to feel the collar resting lightly against my fingertips. I hardly felt it at all so light was it around my neck.

“It looks different now,” She reached forward tracing the supple leather. “There are vines, green vines, and a small flower where my name once was…” Renka smiled softly. “It’s a flower from the plains, it signifies freedom to my people.” I watched her as she wiped several more tears from her face.

“How does it feel to be free to do as you wish?” I asked dropping my hand ignoring the stinging burn every time I shifted my neck.

The Marr pressed her brow gently against mine twining her fingers in my hair as she nuzzled my cheek softly in affection. “Like a dream come true…”