The Key: Book 2 The Rose Tree Chronicles

Chapter Seventeen: The Sirens' Threat

Rein couldn't find any sign of Renée as she made her way to Carnific, so she decided to wait until the empress arrived inside the Cataras Springs. She landed in a tree on the island after about three hours of non-stop flight and scanned the jungle-life around her to make sure she was in the right place before she set the seagull free.

Rein opened a hidden hatch in the tree, jumped inside, and slid a long distance deep into the island. It had been a while since she last visited the Cataras Springs, so this dark tumble into the underground made her nerves a bit flustered. She soared out of an uprooted tree root and safely caught herself in the air. She glanced around to verify her location and then flew toward a small mushroom town deep in the garden. There, she approached a specific lavender mushroom home next to a sparkling blue stream and she knocked on the tiny wooden door. A brown-haired pixie dressed similarly to Rein opened the door and glowed at the sight of her.

"Rein Bow!" she exclaimed.

"Lilli Padd," Rein replied pushing her back inside. She shut the door before she continued. "There's no time for hellos. Someone's coming to the Springs. Many, actually."

"Really?" Lilli asked. "Who?"

"Empress Renée of the five oceans, some pirates, and perhaps the Mystery Miracle Worker."

"Why are so many people coming all at once?" asked Lilli. "And how do you know about it?"

Rein answered Lilli speaking at a hundred miles per hour and Lilli hardly caught anything she said. When Rein had finished telling her story, she added, "We need to move everyone out of here right now. They'll be arriving soon."

"What's the problem?" asked a darkly-dressed male pixie who had just entered the home.

"Rein Bow just reported that we're getting some questionable visitors," Lilli answered. "Start spreading the news and tell everyone to pack their belongings."

"Plural, huh?" He looked Rein up and down. "And you expect us to believe you didn't lead at least one of them here?"

"Relax, Thundre Storm," said Lilli.

"I bet that's how you got your wings back," he continued. Rein narrowed her eyes at him. "You do realize that this is the only home the merpixies have and you just took it from them, right?"

"Enough," Lilli said in Rein's defense. "We both know that there were many before her who gave them the majority of the information they have. For all we know, you may be one of those who are more responsible."

"Fine, but if you haven't noticed, she swore an oath," Thundre pointed out. Rein glanced at her hand where the glow shown through the glove.

"She told me," Lilli said. "Just leave."

Thundre glared at Rein before he exited the mushroom without another word.

"I'm sorry," Rein said with her head bowed.

Lilli sighed. "It doesn't matter. We all knew this day was going to come sooner or later, with or without help from anyone else. I'll make sure everyone gets the news. Why don't you keep watch for the pirates and the Mystery Miracle Worker with the rest of the lookouts?"

Rein exited the mushroom to find a group of pixies standing around brooding, shooting daggers at her, and Thundre was among them. Rein glared back at them but didn't utter a word. Nothing she could say would make them side with her. So she flew off and exited the Springs through the same tree by which she had entered. She sat on a limb and looked over the ocean to wait to see sails or a rowboat appear on the horizon. As she waited, she removed her glove to observe the scar on her palm, which ached consistently at this point. It shined brightly enough to hurt her eyes. After three centuries of longing to gain something, Rein now found herself longing to be rid of something.