“You have a remarkably free morning, my sweet. The Ambassador for the Barrow Islands has come down with stomach cramps and cannot leave his privy closet. He sends his apologies. At least that is what I think he mumbled through the door.”
Faraday laughed, and inched her way towards the far sideof the bed.
“The Baroness of Tarantaise, Fleurian, has a pimple on her chin and is so embarrassed she has declined your kind invitation to share breakfast. Finally, to conclude this list of woes, the Master of the Butcher’s Guild, who had an appointment to meet with you in the hour before lunch, last night sliced off his thumb into the lamb chop casserole he was preparing for his wife’s dinner.” Yr grinned. “The apprentice who brought me his Master’s apologies assured me the casserole was served regardless.”
Faraday could not believe it. Ever since she had becomeQueen it felt as if each moment of each day was accountedfor. Now, finally, she had a free morning.
“What would your majesty like to do with her sparehours? Read? Sleep? Chew sweetmeats? Have one of the lesser nobles demonstrate that the touch of a man’s hand can be a wondrous thing?”
“Do not even jest about it. You know I hate sweetmeats.” Yr laughed delightedly. Faraday had not joked in months. “The morning is yours, pretty woman. Use it as you wish.”
“Yr,” Faraday said. “I think I feel stomach cramps approaching. I think it would be best if you told the court that I am indisposed this morning and will not make an appearance before lunch.” Her face darkened. “And tell Timozel as well.”
When Borneheld had told Timozel that, as Faraday’s Champion, he must remain in Carlon with her, Timozel had lost his temper and shouted at Borneheld.
“I care not what your visions show you!” Borneheld’s eyes were bright with anger. “Your place is with Faraday.”
Despite his obvious frustration at being left in Carlon, Timozel had taken note of Borneheld’s orders and guarded Faraday every waking moment. In fact, it was as much as she could do to keep him from standing guard by her pillow as she slept. Faraday knew Borneheld had left orders that her every movement was to be watched and reported on. No doubt he had his own fears about the ambitious intentions of some of the more handsome courtiers. Whatever his motive, Borneheld’s orders or the twisted devotion of his Championship, Timozel’s dark and brooding presence shadowed her shoulder virtually every hour of the day. “The Sacred Grove?” Yr whispered. “Yes,” Faraday said. “The Sacred Grove. I need to be renewed, infused once more with peace and joy.”
The emerald light bathed her and power pulsed through her body. Faraday tipped her head back and shook her long hair loose, skipping through the light towards the Sacred Grove. It had been months, many months, since she had managed to find her way here, and she had forgotten how good it felt to let the power flood through her, let the love and the peace and the serenity wash away her doubts and fears. The light changed about her, resolving into shapes and shadows, and she stepped onto the grassy paths that led to the Sacred Grove. The trees formed about her and above her head the stars whirled in their god-driven interstellar dance. Faraday never wanted to leave this place. Exultation filled her.
She stepped into the Sacred Grove. Whispers of wind cradled her body as she walked. Shapes shifted and slipped through the deep shadows behind the trees. She felt no fear at the power of the Grove or the eyes that watched her from the shadows. They did not mean harm, but only wished her strength so that she could find harmony in her troubled life.
Five Sacred Horned Ones stepped forth. The silver pelt who had greeted Faraday on her previous journeys to the Sacred Grove rested his hands gently on her shoulders, and he leaned his stag’s head forward to nuzzle her cheek lovingly.
“Faraday, Tree Friend. We have been so worried. We have seen the pain you suffer, and we suffer with you.”
Emotion almost overwhelmed Faraday. Simply to know that someone besides Yr watched over her filled her with comfort. “Thank you,” she said, and stepped forward to greet the other Horned Ones.
She turned back to the silver pelt. “Have you seen Axis in your visions, Sacred One?”
The silver pelt threw back his head and shook his antlers slightly, his stance noticeably stiffening. Faraday was afraid she had offended him. The other four Horned Ones muttered quickly, then fell silent.
“I have seen him only as he has touched the Avarinheim,” the Horned One said eventually, “for I have not sought him out deliberately.”
“He is well?” Faraday asked.
“He is well,” the Horned One confirmed. “He celebrated Beltide in the Earth Tree Grove with the Icarii and the Avar.”
He hesitated. “He has come into his powers as an Icarii Enchanter, Tree Friend. He asked the Avar to pledge to his cause, as the Icarii already have, but the Avar refused him.” “Oh!” Faraday cried, her eyes wide with shock. “They wait for you,” the Horned One said softly. “They will not move without you, Faraday Tree Friend. You will be the only one who can lead them to Axis SunSoar’s cause. If you wish to.”
What a silly thing to say, Faraday thought, of course she wished to lead the Avar to Axis’ cause. “Does he think of me?” she asked, hating to ask, but desperate to know..”He thinks of you daily, and speaks of you to his friends.” And betrays you with his body, and perhaps even with his heart, the fairy creature thought. Should I tell you that he has given another woman the heir which should have been yours by right, Faraday Tree Friend? No, how can I?
“Thank you. Sacred One …” Faraday hesitated, and the creature stepped forward and rested his hand on her shoulder. “Never hesitate to ask for anything from me, Tree Friend. If I can grant it, I will.”
“Sacred One, you exist in a magical and enchanted world. Does it extend beyond this Grove and these trees here?”
One of the younger Horned Ones stepped forward. “It extends as far as your world does, Faraday Tree Friend, and contains as many, if not more, wonders.” His voice was low and musical, but resonated with power and mystery. Faraday’s eyes widened.
The silver pelt stepped back and waved. “It is all free to you, Tree Friend. Wander as you will. When you wish to return home, just think of this Grove and you will return. From here you can find your way back to your own world.” With that he and the other four Horned Ones vanished. For a long time Faraday stood in the Grove. The stars spun overhead, reminding her of Axis. He had regained his heritage. And he still thought of her! She extended her arms, and danced about the Grove, wishing that he were here with her now. Soon, perhaps, he would share her bed in reality rather than dream.
After some time, Faraday wandered among the trees — and halted in wonder. From the Grove the trees looked dense and closely packed, but once beneath their sheltering branches, she saw that the trees were widely spaced, their branches so high that the trunks looked like the smooth pillars of some sacred hall, lifting the eye to a green-vaulted canopy so distant that it almost became a sky in itself. Her reaction to this enchanted forest was much the same as Azhure’s when she had first wandered into the Avarinheim – she was overcome with the space and the light and the music around her.
Faraday finally dropped her eyes and gazed about her. Small shrubs of exquisite beauty flowered about the feet of the great trees, and between the trees wandered some of the strangest creatures Faraday could ever have imagined in her most fevered dreams. Hedgehogs with horns? Horses with wings? Bulls of pure gold and diamond-eyed birds? Small multi-coloured dragons gambolled along the lowest of the branches and a family of blue and orange-splotched panthers disported themselves in a nearby stream. Dryads and sprites drifted shyly between trees and silver-finned fish flashed beneath the crystal waters of the stream.
As Faraday wandered the sights shimmered and changed, but never became less wondrous. Glades and mountain ranges, oceans and gardens, caves and rolling dunes, this world contained them all. And at the next step always the forest, holding and loving her.
“What can I do for you?” she eventually whispered. “What is it I must do for you?”
The light shimmered about her and Faraday found herself entering a small glade. In the centre of the glade was an immensely cheerful hut, white-walled, golden-thatched and red-doored. Completely surrounding the hut was a spreading garden, enclosed by a white picket fence. There was something a little strange about the garden, but before Faraday could turn her mind to the problem the red door of the hut opened and an incredibly ancient woman emerged.