Caspian's Legacy: The Scent of Truth (book two)

Chapter twenty-seven

Oak felt the beams of sunrays warm her skin as she stretched her limbs, yawning softly. She glanced over at Caspian, who was already on his feet, gathering wood for a fire. The forest was beginning to wake up around them, with birdsong filling the air and the occasional rustle of leaves as animals stirred from their slumber. The scent of dew-drenched earth and newly bloomed flowers hung heavy in the air.

"Isn't it a little late for a fire? We still need to speak with the faeries again to see if they can give us the charcoal we need for the ritual." Oak asked, her voice gentle. Caspian paused for a moment, considering her words. He nodded in agreement and decided against making a fire for now.

Caspian dropped the wood he'd been gathering and looked at Oak. "You're right. We don't want to attract attention or anger the faeries. Let's go and find them without delay." He began to walk swiftly through the forest, his legs eating up the distance with ease. Oak followed close behind, her steps a bit more cautious as they navigated their way through the dense underbrush. The morning air was crisp and clear, with a hint of smoke lingering in the air from the previous night's fire.

"Remember, faeries hate the smell of smoke or even the sight of fire, so we should try to stay away from any open flames," Caspian said, glancing back at Oak to make sure she was following him. Oak nodded, taking a deep breath of the crisp morning air. The forest around them was a tapestry of green and brown, with sunlight filtering through the leaves to create dappled patterns on the forest floor. The air was filled with the songs of birds, the rustle of leaves, and the occasional laugh of a hidden stream.

The sound of giggling echoed across the trees, and they followed it until they came upon a small clearing. In the center of the clearing, a group of faeries danced and laughed around a small fire. Their wings shimmered in the firelight, casting flickering shadows across the ground. They looked up as Oak and Caspian approached, their faces filled with curiosity.

"It's the same faeries from before, isn't it?" Caspian asked, his voice low and respectful. The faeries stopped their dancing and laughed amongst themselves before one of them, a tall and regal-looking creature with a sparkling crown of leaves upon her head, stepped forward.

"They were the ones who tasked us with bringing that abandoned child we found in the forest a few days ago. We're glad that they're safe and sound with the mother now. But we need your help once more, faeries. We need charcoal for a ritual that we must perform to save our village from the evil that has befallen it. Would you be kindly enough to give us some?" Oak asked, bowing her head respectfully. The faeries exchanged glances amongst themselves before the same regal-looking faerie with the crown of leaves spoke up.

"You have proven yourselves worthy. took your time and care with the child. We will help you. Come closer and kneel before the queen of the forest. All must bow before her might." The faerie said, gesturing to a smaller figure among them. Caspian and Oak kneeled before the faerie with the crown of leaves, their heads bowed. The other faeries formed a circle around them, watching with interest.

A beautiful-looking fairy appears before them, her wings shimmering with iridescent colors. Her hair is a tangle of vines and leaves, and her eyes sparkle like emeralds. She floats down to the ground, gracefully landing in front of them. "I am Queen Mab, the ruler of this forest and its creatures. You have come to me seeking aid in a time of great need. Tell me your story and what you require from us."

Caspian and Oak's mouths dropped to the floor in complete awe of the majestic being before them. The Queen's presence filled the clearing, filling the air around her crackle with energy. They both swallowed hard, finding their voices to tell their tale. They explained about the curse that had befallen their village and the desperate need for charcoal for the ritual to break it. As they spoke, the other faeries gathered around, listening intently to every word.

"I see," Queen Mab said, her voice gentle but commanding. "You seek the aid of the faeries to help restore the life of the Tear of Luna. We faeries have always held a sacred bond with the moon, and it pains us to see her suffering. I will grant your request, but there are conditions. You must prove yourselves worthy of our trust. You must undertake a task for us, one that will show your dedication and loyalty to our cause." She explained, her shimmering wings casting a dappled light across the forest floor.

Caspian and Oak couldn't believe what they were hearing. They already have done a task the faeries wanted them to do: bring a lost child back to its worried mother, spend time with the village kids before their secrets come knocking and they come back to the faeries, and now they want them to do something else before they can grant their request. This made them think that they had already done enough to prove their loyalty and dedication to the faeries and their cause.

"seriously? We have already done your first task by bringing the lost child back to its worried mother. We spend time with the village children and come back here to get the charcoal from you. Aren't those enough to prove our loyalty and dedication?" Caspian asked, unsure of how much more they could give.

Oak huffed angrily. "Fine, what's the task you want us to do then?" she asked, feeling a bit put out. The other faeries glanced at each other, some looking a bit sympathetic, but none volunteering to speak up. Queen Mab simply floated back, gazing at the pair with an unreadable expression.

Queen Mab knew if she wasted more time with the tasks. There's a chance they might not complete the ritual in time. So she quickly came up with a task for them. "I want you to go deep into the forest. find an ancient tree. It's called the tree of wisdom. It has a trunk as wide as ten men, branches as tall as mountains, and leaves that are as green as emeralds. gather some of its leaves for us. The leaves of the tree of wisdom will give you the knowledge and wisdom you need to perform the ritual successfully." She explained, her voice steady and commanding.

Caspian's heart dropped to his stomach, as did Oak's. They knew they couldn't refuse the queen's request, no matter how daunting it seemed. The tree of wisdom was said to be guarded by ancient spirits who wouldn't hesitate to strike down anyone who dared approach it. But they had no choice. They had to try.