¤ Hurricane Silver

Jaysen woke up the next day to the jumbled sounds of things been thrown around across the corridor. Drowsily, he tottered out of bed, and swept open the curtains, letting the sunlight pour in. Shrugging off his sleepiness, he dressed quickly into his Scorpio armour, cramming his Silver Identity onto his head without bothering to comb his unruly brown hair.

Meanwhile, the sounds got louder and faster, as if someone was getting more and more determined in their intention to turn the room upside down.

Rummaging through his tattered backpack, he pulled out his golden Serpent dagger in its sheath, and strapped it in place securely, before exiting the room. Walking across the oak-panelled corridor, Jaysen pushed open the slightly ajar door.

‘Good morning, ladies, wha- Omph.’ The pillow hurled at his face swallowed up his next words.

‘The journal’s gone!’ His vision cleared as Ida pulled away the pillow apologetically. He gagged, trying to get rid of the cottony feeling in his mouth. Ida gestured helplessly at the hurricane Silver dashing about the room. ‘Did you remember where it last was?’

‘Yeah, I put it on the dresser over there last night.’ He said, pointed to the mirrored dresser at the far side of the room, only to have the hurricane directed to the hapless piece of furniture.

‘But I have searched that place a thousand times!’ Silver cried in frustration, as she found nothing. Dejected, she gave up and plonked herself on the bed, face buried in her hands.

‘Ah, don’t worry, my cheery ray of sunshine, I’m sure it’s somewhere to be found.’ Watching the girl, Jaysen felt like going up to her to hold her hand in comfort. Unsure, he turned to help Ida instead, picking up stray pieces of clothes and bottles of potions lying about on the floor.

Just then, there was a knock on the door. The three of them turned to see a slightly stunned Elma staring at the wreck hurricane Silver had made. ‘What can we do for you, madam?’ Jaysen asked politely. ‘Please excuse the mess, there were some strong winds that the weather forecast forgot to mention.’

‘I see.’ Elma said faintly, flicking her wings slightly. ‘If everything is okay…’

‘Sure it is. See, we are working to rescue the last of the victims.’ Jaysen indicated the stuff he held in his hands and gave the most charming smile he could muster.

The housekeeper’s lips twitched a little as she held out a piece of parchment. ‘This note is for Miss Silver.’

‘A note?’ Silver looked up from her hands, her grey eyes narrowing in apprehension. ‘From who?’

‘I-I am not at liberty to say, ma’am.’ Elma stammered, her voice strangely nervous. Ida went over to take the note from Elma, and handed it to Silver. Slowly, she broke the red wax seal on the parchment and unfolded it.

Jaysen thanked the housekeeper and shut the door after she left. Turning around, he watched Silver, her face paling as she read the note. Ida, reading it over Silver’s shoulder, also had a similarly shocked look. A worm of worry wriggled in Jaysen’s mind.

‘What’s wrong?’ Jaysen gently tugged the note out of the girl’s hands; numbly, Silver let him take it.

On the thin parchment was a short message, written in a flowing ornate script.

Miss Silver, Adventurer Librarian,

Greetings. I hold the journal of Salmer Scadur in my hands. You will meet me at the entrance of this house once you receive and read this letter. It is best that you obey at once, and keep this to you and your party only.

It was left unsigned.

Frowning, Jaysen flipped the letter over to examine the broken seal. The hardened wax pieced together to show an ornate device of a winged lady, holding both staff and sword, behind a scrolling ribbon.

Hang on, this looks familiar. Diving into the depths of his memory, he realised that the account in Salmer’s journal had described this very device as the crest of the fairies’ Royal family.

‘This is from fairy Royalty.’ He said aloud, passing the note back to Silver. She nodded solemnly. ‘Yes. I recognise the seal from the journal. How did they find out about my Project so quickly though…’ Silver ran a hand through her curly hair as she thought. ‘Maybe someone told them…’

The preoccupied look on Silver’s face made Jaysen smile a little.

Just then, there was a muffled thud. Tensing, Jaysen looked around quickly. It turned out that Ida had dropped the white potion bottle she was holding, the thick glass bottle bouncing harmlessly on the carpeted floor. At least that fairy Edel wasn’t lying. He thought, mildly amused despite the tension in the room.

‘W-who do you think it is?’ asked Ida nervously.

‘Probably old Spiruna, or even Scadur.’ Silver read the note again.

‘Oh.’ Ida bent slowly to retrieve the bottle. ‘Do you think the fairies will harm us?’

‘I don’t think they can do that. We haven’t done anything wrong, I’m sure.’ Silver sat up straighter, confidence in her voice. ‘Let’s go meet this fairy then.’ Jaysen said, and strode to the door to hold it open.

Silver nodded grimly, setting her blue Maro firmly on her head. As she left the room, she stopped to collect her Olympus bow, checking that it was properly strung. Jaysen followed after Ida, patting the dagger at his waist to reassure himself.

¤ Hedwig: Regent, Sorceress and Pure Malice

Elma bowed them into the hallway. There, a winged figure emitting a faint halo of light stood, contemplating the gem-studded top of the golden staff she held. On top of her flowing deep purple hair was a subtle golden circlet, with small diamonds studded along the rim. Attending to her was another fairy, obviously of lesser status. The plain white tunic this attendant wore that was a great contrast to the rich flowing robes of her mistress.

At Elma’s announcement, the fairy lady straightened up, glancing sharply at the three of them in a flash of amethyst eyes.

‘They would have read the message. We shall not waste time, Ariex.’ The fairy lady said, looking away. She sounded almost bored, as she seemed to dismiss the presence of the three mortals in the room. Ida trembled a little from where she stood behind Silver.

The attendant placed herself between the trio and her mistress, her white wings spreading a little to intimidate. ‘Librarian Silver. You are hereby warned by my mistress that while your tenacity and diligence is to be commended, it would be better if you abandon that foolish venture which you call a Project,’ she intoned formally, as if reciting from a prepared script.

Tact is obviously not one of your mistress’s virtues. Carefully, Silver phrased her reply. ‘I only represent the Ellinia Library in its quest to gather all knowledge in the world and I have taken care not to interfere with anyone or any business that the fairies may have-’

‘But you have.’ The attendant interrupted haughtily. ‘My mistress is not pleased by your incessant prying into this affair.’

‘If I may be so bold to ask, what interests do the fairy Royalty have in the affairs of Ellinia Library?’ Silver said, trying hard to conceal her indignation.

‘If you do not understand, mortal imbecile, I shall spell it clearer. My mistress has advised you that on no uncertain terms you are not welcomed to pry into the affairs of Orbis.’ The attendant snapped, her eyes blazing in affronted fury. Her wings shook, as if in disbelief at Silver’s defiance.

Silver felt the hair at the back of her neck bristle at the outrageous insult. ‘At least return what belongs to us. Surely you will not stoop to the level of stealing from an imbecile?’ Her knuckles whitened as she clenched her grip on her bow.

Suddenly, the fairy lady laughed, an eerily hollow laugh that rang like pure silver bells, and sent chills down the listener’s spine. She waved the attendant aside with the golden staff, ignoring her spluttering protests. Her shuttered amethyst eyes darted to peer at Silver through a veil of long lashes, even as she addressed her attendant.

‘The imbecile has fire after all, Ariex. Fine. We shall give them back the worthless book, but only if they retrieve for us the garnet necklace that we lost to the Lucidas at the Garden of Darkness last month.’

Twisting a plain gold ring off one of her fingers, she tossed it carelessly. It rolled to come into a shuddering halt on the carpeted floor at Silver’s feet. ‘The ring should gain the mortals admission through the servant’s door at my manor.’

Turning to Elma, the fairy lady said caustically. ‘Your mistress has poor taste in guests. You will let her know that.’ With a derisive ruffle of her golden wings, she swept out of the hall in a rustle of silken robes, her attendant scurrying to keep up.

Politeness obviously isn’t one of your virtues either! Silver fought the urge to draw her bow. Shaking with rage, she bent to pick up the ring.

‘You best listen to Lady Hedwig, ma’am. She isn’t one to be trifled with!’ Elma came up to the trio, wringing her hands anxiously.

‘Hedwig?’ Jaysen’s ears pricked up. ‘You say that fairy just now was Lady Hedwig?’

Elma nodded vigorously. ‘She’s Royal Regent to Orbis. Ever since the old King died, she has been taking care of affairs in Orbis. They say she is a very powerful sorceress.’

Silver exchanged a look with Jaysen, her mind racing to make the connections. This was the fairy lady that had sat under the Royal device, presiding over Aurora’s Selections match in old El Nath. She was the fairy mage that had tested Aurora for magic with a spell. And in their time, now, she was Royal Regent!

‘How long has she been Regent?’ Silver asked Elma.

‘Oh, not very long. About fifty odd years.’ Elma said. ‘Dear me, I can’t remember correctly.’

‘Not long?’ Silver exclaimed, before remembering that Elma was too, an immortal fairy. For beings that can live up to centuries at a time, fifty years would be but a blink of the eye. She started to look at Elma in a different light. This middle-age looking fairy matron was probably older than all the trio’s ages combined and tripled.

Ida spoke up then, a small sob in her voice, ‘I don’t think we should offend her, Silver. What if she hurts us…?’

‘Royal Regent, sorceress, whatever she is. No one should stop the progress of knowledge for selfish reasons!’ Clenching Hedwig’s ring hard, Silver felt its cold smooth edges press hard into her palm.

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Next chapter: link

Links to previous chapters:
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In case you start imagining that ‘Hedwig’ is as kind as a certain famous wizard’s owl of the same name, she isn’t. I looked up her name, and it seems that ‘Hedwig’ means contention and spite. I thought it perfect.

And for some strange reason, I’m in a mood to write in short short sentences today. Like this. Does strange things to what I am trying to express though. Forgive me.

Lots of love with Hazelnuts and Chocolate Chips Cookies~!