Ring of Storms [1]

37.

Rae

We entered the portal and were whirled, swiftly, into the Faerie kingdom where we alighted. Its landscape never ceased to amaze me. It was almost like every portal travel had a way of reinventing the way I perceived the wondrous sights.

I breathed in the cool breeze with relish as I led the way to the Grand herbal garden. Nara and I were on a mission to pick up some rare herbs for Measer Fern. The druid had been working hard on a concoction that he wouldn’t divulge any information on yet. Faeries in their differing enchanting allure voiced out their pleasant greetings as we passed by the market square. 

“Nara, babe! Just the person I’ve been looking for,” a female faerie with bright blue wings called out before rushing towards Nara and dragging her towards a cake stall, hurriedly. “I need your exquisite tasting buds on this,” she offered in explanation for her behavior as she pointed to two sumptuously decorated cakes.

“No more needs to be said, Marigold. Who are the contestants?” Nara rubbed her hands together in anticipation as she eyed the delicacies, hungrily. Who could blame her? Faeries where the best bakers hands down. 

“Dawn and I,” Marigold answered, poking a bare-chested male with a harness, clutching his wand, across his broad chest.

“That hurts you know. Do keep your instruments of torture to yourself,” he grumbled, referring to her long nails. Marigold mimicked his speech, annoyingly, and he frowned at her. No doubt barely repressing the urge to push her head into one of the awaiting cakes. From their mannerism it was clear as day that they were siblings. 

Only siblings could be this bothersome. 

Nara was unfazed by their ongoing repartee as she tucked into the cakes with delight. Even offering me a bite which I declined, politely. She shrugged, signifying that I was missing out and continued her feast.

“Wait a minute. You’re not supposed to start now,” Dawn protested, finally noticing Nara’s actions. His arm was around Marigolds’ neck as he ruffled her hair, playfully, with his knuckles. However, now they were both transfixed at the record time it had taken Nara to consume almost half of both cakes.

“They taste delicious. That much I can tell you,” Nara replied with her mouth full before she turned around swiftly, grabbed my hand and skedaddled down the star-compass-rosette cobblestone pathway. 

“Argh! Let go of me you big oaf,” Marigold squirmed from under her brothers’ hold, behind us. “Hey Nara, I said to taste not devour!” she screamed after us, but we were so far gone that she could do nothing but chuck a few pieces of bismuth at us before she chuckled, lightheartedly. 

“I still love you Mari! More specifically your cakes!” Nara shouted back, chuckling along with her. “No joke. Those cakes were delish,” she complimented, finally slowing down to a relaxed stroll.

“I can tell,” I murmured with amusement, signaling that she had some cake crumbs by the side of her mouth. She dusted off the particles, comically, as I got lost in the wonderful sights that surrounded my vision.

Enchanted fireflies flittered about to light up the atmosphere before they came to rest upon tall silver-colored trees. Their wispy crystal leaves sparkled when hit by the bright energy star that replaced what we knew as the sun. Its magical mechanism ensured that it dimed at night to give off multicolored hues that were reflected by the magnificent wings of its inhabitants.  

The artistically arranged rows of stalls followed a swirl pattern that eventually led to the resplendent towering structure of Queen Liras’ castle. Its old age allure was every child’s fantasy dream come to life with gold-trimmings lining its windows, an ingenious connecting bridge, and clear waterfalls emanating from a spring within it.