The Queen's Garden Mage

“You are a hard woman to find.” I glanced up to find the Heir walking towards me donned in the guard’s practice uniform, a green tunic and brown trousers, hair pleasantly mussed sticking to her neck and brow. She had a streak of dirt on her cheek I was sure she was unaware of.

“Training with your guards Highness?” I questioned smiling softly as I set the horse brush back in the bin I’d taken it from.

“Yes, it motivates them to see me fall on my… behind.” She finished after seeing my upraised brow.

“I’m sure they’re motivated because their future Queen takes the time from her busy day to spar with them, not because you fall on your behind. As well I’m sure you don’t fall half as often as they think you should, being a woman and all.” Her grin could probably make the flowers bloom in that moment, it certainly took my breath away.

“They underestimate me and I always use it to my advantage,” I chuckled softly shifting closer to the mare feeling slightly uncomfortable in her Highness’ presence and not knowing why.

“How do you use it to your advantage Princess?” I asked curiously.

“Well most of them are men and so when I fight them I,” She leaned close looking at me with sparkling eyes. “I just make sure that my tunic is just a little looser than normal.” I gazed down into the valley between her breasts before tossing my head back and laughing fully for the first time in a very long time.

“Princess, the Queen has raised very intelligent daughters…I have no idea what happened to her son,” I finished brow furrowed.

“He craves power and he will never have it. Not truly anyway…” Adri sighed softly fixing her attire. “We were close once…”

“What happened?” I questioned softly seeing the need to share in her eyes.

“We grew up and he wanted to be King, he wanted to be remembered as the one who broke the succession of Queens and I, I wanted that for him as well because if Sorel was King then I could stay here and spend my days in the gardens. Then reality set in, he failed his Trials and I…I didn’t.” The Princess traced her fingers along my mare’s muzzle allowing her to nip at her palm. “He’s bitter, when our mother took me beneath her wing and taught me the things a monarch should know it became worse.” The Princess shook her head; tears that she was unwilling to shed shimmering in her eyes. “I would give it all up if I could just have my brother back.”

I hesitantly placed my hand on her shoulder, “Your Highness, if your brother were half the royal you or your sister are he’d be happy for you. He would gaze on you with pride in his eyes and try in his own way to better the Queendom, to better himself and his people. Instead he uses his title to get what he wants and grows angry when it doesn’t work. That is no fault of yours.”

Adri took a deep breath before wiping her face. “I apologize, you are but a commoner and here I am practically weeping my sorrows away on your shoulder.”

I laughed good naturedly taking no offense to her unintended slight. “Princess, my people are said to be descendants of the Fae and Gods alike and so who would be considered the commoner among us?” She blinked at my gentle rebuke before chuckling softly.

“You are good with words Denarii,” Her Highness countered smiling softly.

I shrugged but chose not to reply. “Rhyme, I need you to leave the stables you have my stable hands wandering around like ninnies wondering what to do with themselves…Oh,” Reason stopped in his rant upon casting eyes on the Queen to be. “Your Highness,” He bowed until he could no longer look her in the eyes. “It’s a pleasure to have you grace us with your presence.”

The Princess tipped her head in respect, stepping forward to take his arm in a warrior clasp, catching my brother by surprise. “The pleasure is mine Horse Master. I had hoped to see the men in action upon their mounts but alas all I had time for was a few light sparring sessions.”

“Perhaps another time?” Reason offered without hesitation as they let their arms drop to their sides.

“I would like that,” the Princess smiled brightly stealing my breath once more, and this time my brother’s as well judging by the slight widening of his eyes. I smiled softly turning to trace my fingers through my mare’s mane. “Gardener?” I glanced up to find the Princess looking at me with serious eyes. “A word?” She beckoned me away, leaving no room to question or argue. I followed without hesitation while my brother looked on with curious eyes.

“You do realize the next time he sees me he’ll try to pump me for information?” I walked towards the Training Fields, stopping by the fence to watch the recruits train.

“Yes, but unlike the Horse Master you aren’t known to be a gossip, you aren’t well known at all actually and you are very hard to find when you’re working. The only person said to be able to find you in one of the palace gardens is your brother and considering how rare it is he looks for you, one could say that was luck more than anything else.” Adri shook her head, “It’s very frustrating and fascinating at the same time.”

I leaned on the fence strands of hair falling into my face, I ignored them not sure where I’d lost the leather thong that held it back this time. I was starting to wonder if I tied it right, Reason never had this problem and he moved around more than I did training the recruits, the guards and soldiers alike. “The Queen’s Gardeners work four days on and then have two off. Libeth and I work the same shift from first day to fourth day, off fifth and sixth day and then working seventh day to third day. Emery and Eden have off first day and second day and work third day to sixth day and then have off seventh and first day and so when two of us have off there are still two Gardeners working at the same time. Rosen’s schedule is more random she works the gardens as she pleases and rarely if ever takes off. Then the schedule is compounded by the fact that we rotate through the four gardens spanning the palace grounds. It makes it nigh impossible to know for sure where the Queen’s Gardeners are at any given moment in time.”

“I’ve noticed,” I chuckled at the Princess’s wry tone.

“It protects us Princess crazy though it may seem, there are many people out there who would kill to have the power your mother has at her fingertips after all plants can be dangerous too…”

“Indeed,” Adri flinched at Rosen’s sudden appearance, I smiled having seen her coming over her Highness’ shoulder. “Every poison in existence can be traced back to a plant of some kind. Some can destroy entire armies; the worst are the kinds that poison the land. The Void is a byproduct of such a poison. It sits on the edge of our Queendom and reminds us of the evil that mankind can commit.”

The Void was created long before any of us were even the inkling of a thought in our parents’ minds, it was not the cause of any of our wars but its existence affected us all. After all it took the work of many a plant mage to keep it from spreading. Angileri was at war with the Void and we’d been at a standstill for generations, neither eradicating it nor losing land to the ever-expanding wasteland. Other countries weren’t so lucky as ours, they hadn’t realized the importance of plant mages until it was nearly too late and they suffered, while we flourished. “What brings you to the Training Fields Head Gardener?” I questioned breaking the sullen silence that had fallen over us.

“The Queen has a re…”

“Watch out!” We all looked up at the shouted warning to see an arrowing speeding straight for us. Rosen raised her hand as I whispered a request. Long before the bolt reached us it split in two and fell to the ground sprouting leaves. Rosen furrowed her brow lowering her hand.

“Such an amazing display of power Head Gardener you stopped an arrow with the raise of your hand.” The Princess smiled softly before continuing. “I can see why my mother holds you in such high regard.”

“The Queen respects my wisdom more than my power after all power can fade over time. Wisdom only grows,” The Princess and I tipped our head in mutual respect of that statement while watching Rosen leap the fence to retrieve the arrowhead, the shaft itself had become a small plant billowing in the wind. She came back to us twirling the perfectly shaped arrowhead between her fingers. “It was impossible to avoid, but well the wood was once a part of a tree.” Rosen caught my eye as she finished her sentence. “It took no power at all to do what it was meant to do.” She turned back to the Princess smiling softly as she pocketed the arrowhead.

“I hope you serve me half as well as you serve my mother Head Gardener Rosen, with great wisdom and unfailing grace.” Her Highness said bowing slightly, about the respect you’d give a well favored noble. Adri took her mother’s words to heart.

Rosen smiled more fully, “Highness I’m old and gray now, surely I will be dead and gone long before you sit the throne.”

I snorted softly and the Princess laughed. “Yes, you must have missed my mother talking about how she plans to enjoy her later sun cycles in retirement only keeping a seat on the Council so that she may keep up with the going ons of the Queendom. There is more than one reason my mother did not allow my brother to inherit, passing the Trials being the largest one.”

Rosen chuckled shaking her head. “I can hear the shock sweeping the land as we speak.”

“Adri?!” We all looked up to see Prince Sorel racing toward us, Rosen grimaced, the Princess deflated and I just stared at the blatant disrespect he’d just given his sister.

He reached us a few moments later none of us willing to make it easier by meeting him halfway. “Brother.” Adri acknowledged his presence with a tip of her head, neither Rosen or I were willing to give him the courtesy.

“Your suitor is waiting for you,” He offered smiling graciously, it looked uglier than the sneer he wore last night, at least that expression had been genuine.

Her Highness made a face of distain while her brother grinned more broadly, “Prince Eris may be my only suitor but that does not mean I will sink low enough to marry him.”

“It goes against custom…”

“Does the Queen not dictate what custom demands.” I countered before he could begin his argument. The Princess smiled behind the cover of her up raised hand while the Prince stared at me with open hostility, Rosen simply observed without comment.

“One day I will show you your place,” He growled threateningly.

I swept my hand towards the Training Fields, “Why not let that day be today fair Prince?” I asked calmly waiting for him to refuse as I knew he would. He continued to glare no longer willing to speak. I nodded slightly letting my hand fall. “As I thought, there is a reason you failed your Trials.”

Rosen caught Sorel’s fist before it could connect with my face, Adri started at the show of violence I didn’t so much as flinch. “Quick to anger,” I tsked while Rosen shoved him away. “Not a trait befitting a ruler, much less a noble of such high stature. Every time I see you Highness you prove me right.” He stood up straight dusting off his clothing while Rosen gazed at him with open disdain, Adri took hold of her brother pulling him away.

“Let us go brother before you embarrass yourself more in front of the Queen’s Head Gardener and her successor.” The Princess shook her head confidence growing in the face of his small dishonor.

Sorel tore his arm away from his sister before marching down the path fuming. “I can protect myself,” I said without turning from the path after the Heir and her unruly brother was long gone.

“As well I know it but I did not want to you to so openly disgrace, the soft handed man. He’s a snake if I’ve ever seen one and I couldn’t tell you if he’s poisonous or not.” Rosen replied gaining my attention.

“Poisonous for sure, I do not need to feel his bite to know it.” Rosen bobbed her head in agreement. “What did you want of me?” I asked changing the subject to more important things.

“The Queen requested that we somehow insert more greenery inside the palace.” Rosen sighed softly.

“Are the five gardens not enough for her?” I questioned brow furrowed.

“Well no one, save we three, know that the Shadow Garden exists, and possibly soon the Heir, but that is beside the point. Although most do not think that Adri should sit the throne, royalty will come, nobles, sons and daughters alike will come and a tournament will be held in the Princess’s honor in the hopes that the winner will take her hand.” Rosen’s face showed the unlikelihood of that happening. Everyone knew that the Queen’s Tournament was a way to foster good relations with the people and the neighboring lands, it was a way to form new alliances and perhaps a way to find new love. Though many a consort had been found via the Queen’s Tournament it was not always a participant and just as many had not been found at all. No, the Heir did not have to marry the winner but it was a sign of good fortune for her to at least give him or her a chance if she’d not already found a likely match by then.

“If Prince Eris is any indication of the suitors that will come forth well…” Rosen heaved a heartfelt sigh at my words.

“I hope her Highness will not settle for less than what she deserves, someone equal to her in all things.” I patted Rosen lightly on the arm consolingly. “Amazing work by the way.” I raised my brow waiting for her to explain. “You dropped that arrow with no more than a look and an inkling of power, I simply supplied the perfect cover.” Rosen looked at me respect shinning in her eyes. “Truly each time I see you in action I know it’s only by your grace alone that I retain my position. You are one of the strongest mages I’ve ever known and I have known many and seen more spanning all crafts, countries and continents in my sun cycles of living. It is an honor to work with you.”

“I have practiced nearly the whole of my life…”

“Yes,” Rosen bowed her head slightly in acknowledgment of my words, “As have I and I am near about thirty sun cycles your senior, while I have reached the peak of my power yours is still growing. After all I, can cultivate poison without coming to harm, you can detect it in any food or drink man can imagine and then eat it without any adverse effects.”

“I still haven’t forgiven you for that,” I murmured referring to the time she’d fed me a poison most well-known for inducing stomach sickness often used when someone had ingested something fatal. Given randomly it could have you bedridden for several seven days depending on the dosage, a drop was enough to throw up for sun slithers, she’d given me an entire vial. Thankfully I’d been fine, in fact I hadn’t even been aware until she’d told me later that seven day. I had quickly learned to detect poisons soon after, if I didn’t know her I’d have thought Rosen was trying to kill me not help me. I had ingested more poison than I cared to admit in the name of Healing.

“I know,” She smiled softly remembering what I’d done, how the Pleasure Garden had bloomed red for an entire seven day and not a one of her Gardeners could fix it. Rosen had seen the glint in my eye and had come up with a very good explanation when questioned by her Majesty. Now every sun cycle during the summer moon cycles, a seven day is chosen and whatever garden Rosen happens to be working at the time blooms red in honor of that seven day where my rage simmered. And on the eve of the seventh day, the night she apologized, we share dinner together. No one knows the why of it and everyone assumes it’s the Head Gardener’s doing, we’ve told no one differently. People come from all over to see the strange yet beautiful anomaly.

“The Queen wants to display her power by having greenery placed strategically throughout the palace. The Queen’s Tournament will be announced during this coming seventh day, and will start a fortnight after that, lasting seven to ten days depending on how many suitors decide to participate. Near about the entirety of it will be held on the Training Fields, all hunting parties will of course be held in the forest. We have three seven days to get this done. Do you think we can manage it?” Rosen gazed at me while I calculated all the things that must be done each day to ensure that the Queen had what she desired in the amount of time she’d allotted us.

“Will we build the seating?” I questioned referring to the tiered benches that the audience would sit on to observe the tournament. There were two built already but they would not be able to hold the captivity of people that were sure to arrive for this event. The last had been nearly thirty sun cycles ago after all. It had taken three moon cycles to build temporary seating, it would take all of Angileri’s carpenters to do it on such short notice now and still they may not be finished in time.

Rosen gazed across the entirety of the Training Fields ignoring the recruits and taking in the space, it was large, nearly as large as the ground the palace sat on but not quite. “How long would it take?”

“A seven day,” I offered without hesitation. “A hundred saplings evenly spaced spanning the circumference of the entirety of the Training Fields. I’d give it a seven day if we all worked together towards a common goal. It would exhaust near about all our reserves so I would do this last.”

“Could you do it alone?” Rosen gazed at me face a mask of indifference, the answer lay hovering in the glint I saw shimmering in her eyes.

“It would take a lot of power…”

“That’s not what I asked,” She countered not unkindly simply unwilling to take my nonsense.

I heaved a sigh rolling my shoulders as I once more took in the space, after a slight hesitation I nodded firmly. “I could…”

“Will it exhaust your reserves?” Rosen questioned brow raised curiously.

“So long as I do not have to do anything of that magnitude again before the tournament is over I should be alright.” I offered slowly thinking it over.

“How long will it take you?” I sighed considering all the other things still to be done.

“A seven day to do it right, but regardless it’s up to the Queen to make the decision.” I countered trying to end this conversation.

Rosen laughed, “Yes and it will be a hard decision indeed, pay near every carpenter in Angileri and hope that they will finish before the start of the Queen’s Tournament or simply have her Gardeners whom she need not pay more, build it and be assured that it’s done on time.”

“When you put it that way there doesn’t really seem to be a choice,” I murmured softly.

“Exactly, the stands will be the last thing done a seven day prior to the beginning of the Tournament. Every day of that last seven day we will stand here leaning against this fence and you will use your magic to grow the stands. It will seem as if we are working together, when in reality you will be doing it alone and once more I will be taking credit for your work.” Rosen looked at me a question in her eyes, it took her but a moment to ask it. “How do you feel about that?”

I gazed out across the recruits training now with the more seasoned guards and soldiers to give them a feel for different styles, builds and ages. “If I wanted your position Rosen perhaps I would be upset but you will always be the better politician, your wisdom will always be greater than mine and you guide us all with a gentle hand. Without you I would not be here, able to do what you ask of me. You sit here and tell me I am more powerful and yet in my mind you will always be the greater mage…” I let her take in my words before finishing. “I feel thankful that you would do this for me, knowing it causes you no small guilt to claim work that is not your own.”

“You are going to be the greatest Head Gardener Angileri has ever known, that is, when you decide you’re ready for it.” Rosen chuckled. “Let it not be when I am too old to enjoy the stir you’ll cause among court with your blunt honesty, and very accurate displays of respect.”

I laughed with her, thinking about the look on the Prince’s face, “I make no promises I don’t intend to keep.”

Rosen bowed her head in acknowledgement, “A good trait to have.”

“Are we starting today?” I questioned referring back to the Queen’s request.

Rosen smiled, “I know how much you miss your gardens on your days off, but I felt we could make an exception just this once. You have the royal wing, the ballroom, the dining hall and the throne room. I will task Emery, Eden and Libeth as I cross their paths today. Try not to finish too quickly, wouldn’t want to make your fellow Gardeners look bad.”

“I will try to remember that sound advice,” I countered wryly.

“And stay out of trouble.” Rosen warned turning to head towards the Queen’s Garden where either Emery or Eden would be found covering for me that day. Libeth was probably hovering close to the kitchens, that woman was always hungry.

“Trouble is my brother’s middle name not mine, I am a saint among the masses!” I called as Rosen walked away, easily able to hear her snort of disbelief despite the distance.

The grass beneath my feet chuckled gaily in amusement at my antics and I smiled before racing towards the palace, excitement building with every frantic step, not for the Tournament, not for the many feasts, nor for the royalty. No I was excited that I would get to test my magic, that I would get to create something truly magnificent, I raced through the servant’s entrance laughing with delight. My work would hold for generations to come and none would be the wiser that I was anything but an ordinary plant mage. I burst into my rooms falling onto the couch that sat in our foyer. I leaned back and closed my eyes listening for the murmured voices of the raptor vines that adorned my windows. Three seven days of arriving suitors and royals alike. I opened my eyes gazing up at the ceiling as I thought about all that the Heir must endure even before the Queen’s Tournament has begun. I thought about those saplings growing in the pit of my stomach, about the difficulty to draw air when she smiled at me, about the sensation of drowning in the twilight wonder that was her eyes. I thought about all these things and wondered what it was about Adri that made me not mind sharing my gardens with her.

A knock sounded on the door drawing me from my thoughts. “Come in!” I called pushing myself up into a proper sitting position.

“Every time I come to your rooms I dread actually knocking on your door, not knowing if it’ll be you or your brother that responds.” Libeth sighed in relief stepping into the room and closing the door before coming to join me on the couch.

“Is my brother trying to court you still?” I asked curious about her reaction.

“It is not so much that he wishes to court me, I would be alright with that, it’s that he also wishes to court every other female he can think to get his hands on at the same time.” Libeth offered clearly exasperated.

“My brother can be foolish sometimes,” I nodded sympathetic to her plight.

“An idiot is more accurate.” I laughed softly at the look on Libeth’s face.

“Well I have been making fun of him quite a bit of late and I did not want to be the one to say it.” I shrugged. “I will simply agree with the honesty of your statement. Now what brings you to our shared quarters if you’re not looking for my brother to give him a piece of your mind.”

“Rosen has informed me that we have a lot of work to do in the three seven days leading up to the Queen’s Tournament, she asked me if I wanted to partner you and of course I agreed. It’s not every day that you get to work with the most skilled garden mage in the palace second to the Head Gardener her own self…though that could be debated.” A spark shown in Libeth’s eyes. “I’ve had the pleasure of talking to your brother while he was deep in his cups, he speaks very highly of you when asked despite the insults passed between you by the way.”

“Considering my brother does not actually know the half of what we do I would take everything he says with a grain of salt,” I replied with unwavering eye contact.

“So, his assumption that you are a bit backwards in your loving affairs is false?” Her questioned sounded like clarification more than anything.

I looked at her with narrowed eyes, “He insinuated that I preferred women to men?”

“Insinuated,” Libeth clucked her tongue, “Outright stated as fact more like, I decided I should hear it from the mother plant herself.”

I furrowed my brow, “I have been courted by both and slept with neither…”

“So you’re still unbroken?” Libeth’s eyes were wide with disbelief.

“Is it so hard to believe?” I felt a bit insulted at what she was implying.

“Excuse the insult to your character but yes, you’re magnificent, a gem among stones, more honest than any truth sayer, more loyal than the most loyal steed walking the palace grounds, a hard worker and strong in your magic. You would make the perfect partner to any woman or man alike. I would think that many would try to claim your heart if even for a short time. I know I would if I’d even thought for a moment that you considered me in that way.” Libeth blushed softly as she finished her small yet passionate speech and found me staring.

“You think that of me?” She nodded no longer able to speak. I leaned forward gently resting my brow against hers. “My brother does not deserve you.” I murmured softly before leaning forward to kiss her softly on the lips, a gentle kiss, soft and lingering an apology more than anything else. I pulled away first as was prudent.

Libeth sighed softly, “Only you could break someone’s heart with a kiss,” we both laughed at the sardonically spoken comment.

“Is it not proper to let your suitor down with a chaste kiss?” I questioned not sure if the custom had changed.

“Only to those you like and wish to remain friends with,” Libeth traced her fingers lightly over her lips still a little flushed in the cheeks. “I will tell my children of the Head Gardener and how she kissed me, long before the world knew her name.”

I smiled for her words were sincere, “You think too highly of me…”

“No,” Libeth shook her head, “You don’t think highly enough of yourself. I know you don’t think it but you are fit for royalty regardless if you were born to it or not.”

“Thank you.” I accepted her words and Libeth tipped her head in respect.

“Now let us get back to work so I can sooth my broken heart with manual labor,” I chuckled knowing she wasn’t serious but thankful for the change of subject.

We talked about where we would start and what flowers and plants we would use well into the evening. My brother didn’t understand how we could have so much fun talking about what basically amounted to flower arrangements. Libeth scoffed and before I could throw something at him for such an insult to our profession, after all we catered to the land and understood the earth far more than he could think to image, all he did was instruct a few animals that graced the surface of this land, our work did not compare. Libeth put him in his place while I sat laughing softly. It had been a long eventful day; I just knew that there would only be more of the same to come. I hoped the Heir was ready…I hoped I was ready because I felt that we’d all be tested in one way or another. Let us hope that the other lands did not find us lacking…