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

Chapter thirty

"than we gather the ingredients to complete the ritual for the panther and restore life for the Tear of Luna." Oak says it with determination. They carefully make their way through the forest, trying to find the same faeries from two times before. They come across a clearing with several faeries dancing and singing around a small bonfire.

"Here we go again," Caspian whispers, taking a deep breath and steeling himself. "We have the leaves of wisdom; hopefully they'll give us the charcoal for the ritual." He glances at Oak, who nods back, her expression determined. They slowly approach the dancing faeries, careful not to disturb their revelry. As they get closer, they can see that the faeries are wearing ornate headdresses made of feathers and leaves, and their bodies are painted with intricate designs. The fire crackles and pops, casting flickering shadows across their ethereal forms.

They saw the Queen in all of her glory, sitting back on a throne made of vines and leaves. She had the charcoal in her hands and was looking at them with a wise, knowing gaze. Caspian and Oak approached her, kneeling before her. "Great Queen," Caspian began, gulping.

Queen Mab gave him a nod of approval. "I see that you have brought the leaves of wisdom," she said, her voice soft and musical.

Caspian and Oak nodded their heads, their gaze lowered in respect. "We have gotten the leave of wisdom at your request, Great Queen." Oak said, her voice barely above a whisper. "We need your help once more. We need a piece of charcoal to help complete the ritual and restore the life of the Tear of Luna." Caspian explains, his gaze fixed on the queen and the charcoal in her palm.

The Queen studied them for a moment, her eyes flickering over their faces and giving them the charcoal she had in her palm. "I see that you have indeed completed the tasks I set before you," she said, her voice still gentle. "And you have come here seeking my aid once more. Very well," she continued, holding out a small piece of charcoal between two fingers. "Take this and use it in your ritual. But remember, the power you wield comes with great responsibility. Be careful what you summon, for it may not be what you expect," she warned them, her gaze boring into their very souls.

The queen paused briefly before closing her pastel-colored eyes, a momentary image of a broken ankle flashing across her mind. She opened them again, her gaze returning to Caspian and Oak. "Now, go. Restore what was taken and protect what remains. The fate of the world rests in your hands." Her words were soft but carried great weight.

Oak was getting beyond patient with Caspian's hesitation. She reached out and gently grasped his arm, squeezing it reassuringly. "We can do this," she said, her voice firm but calm. "Together." With renewed determination, they set off once more, retracing their steps back through the forest to where they'd left Soren and Aurora.