Page 16

“As long as he possesses the wand, yes. You mentioned seven tales, and seven is a powerful magical number. No doubt the Spirit Wand will feed off of whatever magic is involved in these stories.” She frowned.

“It is strange, however; what you have described is a bastardized version of the Faery Trials, a once proud tradition of Faery.

The Trials were the bridge between humans and Faery, when humans would travel to our realm to be anointed with a task to prove their worth.

Some were tests of bravery, some of wit, some of true love.

If a human successfully completed a trial, they would be granted one single wish.

It could be as big or small as they wanted, except for three exceptions: to bring back the dead, to cause someone undue harm, or make someone fall in love.

Only the best of your kind were able to pass these trials—those who were pure of heart and soul, who had faith in magic and goodness.

And the most powerful of them eventually went on to become Spirits.

“But the Spirit Wand on its own has never been used for the Trials. The magic is not balanced enough; its energy is too volatile, too unpredictable. I do not know what Lore has in store for you, but I do know this: it will not be pretty and it will not be easy.”

“So there’s no hope?” Serena’s heart sank.

“There is always hope. The Faery Trials ended before my time as queen, so I cannot help you much more there. However, I can give you a little gift.”

She waved her hand and the crystal from her necklace rose and floated toward the surface of the mirror, and to Serena’s shock, through it. It hovered in front of her, glittering and beautiful, casting light upon the entire room.

“I want you to have this. It is Faery’s greatest treasure, and it will guide you on your journey. ”

“Guide me? How?”

“The Silver Crystal works with a mind of its own; even I do not know how exactly it will help you,” said the queen. “But rest assured it will be there when you need it most.”

The crystal chose that moment to rush at her chest and then…

It went through it.

Serena gasped, feeling a tingling sensation in the spot it had vanished.

“Remember, fairytales are inherently tales of goodness, and even Lore’s curse cannot change the fact that the only way to complete a tale is by performing feats of bravery and kindness and wit. Just like his curse powers the Wand, your strength will fuel the Crystal.”

“How can we be sure he won’t do something else after the curse is lifted?” questioned Grim.

“Once you complete all the tales, the curse will lift, and you will get a wish, for the Faery Trials always end with a wish. In that moment you can wish for the Spirit Wand. Once that is out of his hands, Lore will be powerless trapped in that world, for the wand is the only thing sustaining him.”

“Won’t he expect that?”

Nerida shook her head.

“There is no doubt in his mind that you are going to lose. He is a being driven by hatred and vengeance; he does not understand the power that a heart driven by faith and love and goodness can have.”

Serena’s cheeks flushed hot. “I’m not…I mean I can’t do much, there’s nothing special about me. I don’t stand a chance against something like that.”

“Serena,” said the queen solemnly, “you are the first of Larke’s descendants to have the kind of presence Arcana had.

Do you think I do not know how the wild ones have been reacting to your presence?

The fire spirits, the daughters of the air, and the light in the forest. Not only that, but you have just been gifted Faery’s greatest treasure by the Queen of Faeries herself.

Do you truly believe these are just coincidences? ”

“The wild ones?” she repeated, finally being able to name the beings that had been appearing around her.

To her surprise it was Grim who answered.

“The spirits consist of three categories.

There are the Five, who are the rulers of the Spirits, they are the most powerful and have managed to retain a corporal form even after centuries.

Then there are those who cannot become corporal anymore but are still able to communicate and think the way humans and faeries can.

The wild ones are Spirits who could not hold cognition for long. They do not have the same sense of self that we do; they exist within the elements as part of nature. Like the daughters of the air and the fire spirits.”

“The wild ones reacted to Arcana’s presence in this world first,” said Nerida. “They protected her and blessed her where they could. She was also the only person to actually see their forms.”

“I saw a woman dancing in the fire,” said Serena wonderingly. “Was that a fire spirit?”

Both Grim and Nerida looked at her in surprise.

“Yes,” said Nerida. “That’s…I knew they were reacting to your presence, but I did not realize you had seen one of them. That is quite remarkable. I do not know anyone other than Arcana to have their affection to this extent.”

“You were close to Arcana too, weren’t you?” asked Serena, for it was clear to see the way the queen’s eyes softened when she talked about Serena’s ancestor.

“I was,” said Nerida with a sad smile. “After the wild ones, it was I who discovered her. I have never seen a soul shine so brightly. Even that one’s overlords”—she nodded to Grim—“couldn’t resist her charm, and they’re a crotchety bunch.”

“They’re not my overlords,” he muttered and was ignored by both women.

“And you think…I’m like that?” asked Serena.

“Serena, I knew you were special the first time you arrived to stay with your aunt, long before I finally made contact with her. I may not enter the human world anymore, but I know everything that goes on within Glenn. I’ve seen you have faith in Faery and magic when the villagers mock you, when the preachers target you with their hateful words.

I’ve seen you reach out to the daughters of the air instead of being scared, and I have heard the way you tend to your little garden and take care of the critters that visit it.

You are the purest soul I have seen in a long, long while.

I am only sorry I was not able to intervene in time before Lore’s curse. ”

She didn’t know what to say to that. Her throat was choked with tears, and she was only able to manage a shaky smile.

Nerida gave a small smile in return and looked at Grim.

“I do not care what your quest from the Five is, but you will protect this young woman with your life. She is more important right now than the Spirit Wand itself. Guard her well.”

“I don’t need you to tell me that,” muttered Grim.

Serena shot him an incredulous glance, unable to believe that he would be so rude to the Queen of Faeries herself, but Nerida merely shrugged, seeming to accept his unspoken acquiescence.

“I must go now,” said the queen, looking at something to her side that they could not see, “but just know that you can pick this mirror up and contact me at any time if you need me. Just hold it, and let me know you’re there. Oh, and Serena? ”

“Yes?”

The queen smiled, her first real wide smile, her eyes dancing. “You are definitely the fairest in all the land.”

She disappeared then, leaving behind Serena blushing furiously.