Ashvale

Claire wasn't sure what to expect of Ashvale, but not this. The Sprite city was different from Esterpine in many ways. Where Esterpine was elegant with glittering sheets of shaped glass and crystal, Ashvale was quaint, with moss covered cottages. It looked like a place meant for forest nymphs. Mesmerized didn't begin to explain the way she felt walking through its streets. She trailed wide-eyed behind Princess Taylynn, who led them to a large three story cottage.

They'd arrived in the middle of the day, so the dirt walkways were bustling. The Sprites they passed stopped to watch. As soon as their onlookers realized who the prince and princess were, they swept into deep bows whispering in Eldunar. Some of their voices were too low, but she caught much of their respectful greetings.

Her feet were aching from days of walking. She was tired, hungry, and wanted nothing more than a hot bath and soft bed. The cottage rising up before them looked as if it could offer that and more. Something warm and inviting—a direct opposite to the cold Crystal Palace.

"This accommodation belongs to our family," Taylynn explained, standing before the door. "We stay here whenever we come to visit." She ran her hand over the knob without speaking; the sound of a lock clicking had Claire and Koldis glancing at each other. "We do not keep palace staff here, so our home is closed up while we are away." Without a backwards glance, Taylynn disappeared into its depths. Feowen led jeanine in after her. By the time Claire and Koldis stepped through, Taylynn already had the large entry room glowing with light.

"It's..." Claire trailed off, stepping away from the others to take it all in. She turned in a circle, eyes studying the ceiling, the stairs that led to the upper floors, and arched doorways leading to the other rooms. "It's magical."

"It feels more like home than the palace ever will," Feowen said, as if reading her thoughts. He casually removed his boots and plopped them on a set of shelves by the door. Following his lead, the rest of them did the same.

Every inch of the cottage was wood, and aside from the floor, every inch of wood was carved by an expert hand. Each arch was bordered by vines and flowers. Deep lines along the walls depicted murals across the stretches of plain wood. The bannisters along the stairs were wrapped with gossamer fabrics that shimmered. Plush rugs underfoot were woven with vibrant purples and blues. Heavy drapes framed the windows, letting in the forest's glow from outside.

"Now—" Taylynn turned to Claire and Koldis, eyes bright. "Who would like a tour?" Her face held nothing of the stoic seriousness it usually did. The princess loved this place—it was written in her expression, in the relaxed set of her shoulders.

Claire glanced at Koldis and noticed with a measure of satisfaction that he was transfixed by Taylynn's expression. "Koldis would love a tour, wouldn't you?" She elbowed him, which made him blink and glance down at her, only to frown. Caught in the act. "We both would," she added, grinning at Taylynn.

"Good. Follow me."

Little had changed between Taylynn and Koldis in the past couple of days. They'd settled for frosty politeness on the few occasions they spoke to each other. But she didn't miss the way Koldis's gaze followed her. And much to her satisfaction, she even caught Taylynn frowning at him on the rare occasion he was preoccupied with other matters and wouldn't see her staring. A frown was better than nothing—Claire supposed.

They were lead through a formal and then an informal sitting room. Instead of sofas, they were filled plush stuffed poufs—what she'd call giant bean bag chairs. A large dining room that would hold ten was conveniently situated beside a cookery. The cookery wasn't quite like any she'd seen in Dragonwall or even Esterpine. While most Sprites did their cooking outdoors, this one was clearly meant to break the trend. Or perhaps Ashvale as a whole was simply much different than the rest of the world. It was outfitted with a water pump, sink, countertops of glossy wood, an iron stove, a giant fireplace, and a latticework of dried plants hanging from the ceiling. It looked more like a kitchen than a cookery. A huge table ran down the middle with plainly carved chairs—somewhere a family might gather informally for meals. A quick glimpse into the pantry showed it stuffed with all sorts of magically protected foodstuffs like flour and sugar, dried fruits, nuts, and the like.

Claire had asked early on—because she'd seen wooden furniture in Esterpine as well—why the Sprites were okay with chopping down trees but not eating meat. The answer was simply that as long as it wasn't a tree with a living spirit, and the tree was willing to be of service, the Sprites had no qualms about utilizing what the forest would provide. Here, that was very evident.

The bedrooms, of which there were six, were on the upper floors. Each had its own bathing chamber and plumbing, complements of Sprite magic. There were even toilets—or as close to what she considered a toilet—which left her grinning with delight. These toilets had a pull cord, something she compared to the archaic versions in her own world, which released a catch in the bottom.

The top floor attic was her favorite place in the whole home. Because of the shape of the roof and its sloping eaves, this one had a lower ceiling that tapered along the edges of the room. It had multiple windows along the long sides where the roof sloped down, overlooking the single story cottages that filled Ashvale. There were two writing desks, more plush poufs for sitting, thick rugs, a fireplace at each end, book shelves, a wine cabinet, and a table with a half-finished puzzle stretched across it.

"It doesn't look much different from homes in my world," she confessed, turning to take everything in. It looked lived in—well loved.

"Best room in the house," Feowen said, falling into one of the poufs. He was swallowed up by it. He reached over and dragged another beside it to kick up his feat before noticing that Jeanine was watching him with open curiosity. Sitting up straighter, he removed his feet and patted the vacated pouf to urge her over. She sank down beside him only to have him grin wickedly before throwing up his feet onto her lap.

Claire watched, releasing her bottom lip when she realized she'd been biting it and staring.

"Let us take this time to freshen up and decompress from our journey," said Taylynn. "Then we can tour the city, make a few introductions, and eat an evening meal."

It was a plan none of them could argue with. Claire rushed below to her room for a bath.

***

No one knew her in Ashvale—a relief in and of itself—so Claire had no qualms about donning a traditional Spriten gown and showing off her markings during their tour. And what a tour it was! She instantly loved Ashvale more than Esterpine. Perhaps quaint cottages were more her thing than elevated elegance. Much of the city was designed similarly to Esterpine in terms of layout. But it all else it was different, except perhaps the evening meal, which was done similarly to Esterpine's. They gathered in the large city clearing at low tables on cushions. She took every opportunity to greet her table mates and converse in Eldunar. Despite their open looks of curiosity, they didn't act surprised by her ability to speak it. Perhaps to them she looked like a strange Sprite—someone with far fewer markings, a lack of otherworldliness, and yet, still somehow Spriten. They did however throw obvious glares at Koldis, who openly ignored the looks with feigned obliviousness that impressed her. She made an extra effort to translate most of what was said to him, so he wouldn't feel left out. She noticed Feowen did the same with Jeanine whenever anyone conversed with him.

As the meal was drawing to a close, a female stood and drifted their way. She bowed and began speaking with Taylynn in Eldunar. They exchanged pleased greetings at first before the woman invited them to join her at her home tomorrow. Then she drifted away as gracefully as she'd come.

"Lixiss honors us," Taylynn mused, but something in her voice was pleased.

"What did her invitation mean?" Claire asked. Taylynn sat directly on her right; she kept her voice low so the Sprites further down wouldn't be privy to their discussion. While she'd caught most of what Lixiss and Taylynn had said, they'd spoken rapidly and some words hadn't been familiar.

"She has offered you the drink of enlightenment. It is sacred—reserved for our people alone." At this, Taylynn leaned around Claire and paid Koldis a pointed look, as if she expected him to ask for so much as a sip when it came time to drink it. He snorted and looked away, ignoring her.

"So it's...it's real then?" Claire asked. "I'd heard of it—of what Ashvale was famous for, but I wasn't sure..."

"It is absolutely real, Lady Claire. Why do you think I orchestrated this trip."

Understanding dawned upon her. "You're hoping I'll get answers—answers the Tree hasn't yet given you. Answers about the staff and how to find it."

"Hmm...Koldis wasn't inventing nonsense, then," Taylynn said, keeping her voice low. "Saffra did see Isabella's staff."

Claire hesitated. "She saw Isabella's staff crossed with Cyrus's sword. Together, I wielded them against Kane."

"And? What happened when you did?"

She frowned, chewing on the inside of her cheek. While the rest of the table continued on in conversation, she noticed that her own companions were listening intently. "I blocked his magic somehow. But after that...? Saffra doesn't know. The vision never had an end. I might not have survived. I don't...I don't know."

Taylynn sat up straighter. "I think the remainder of this conversation is better done behind closed doors. If you are finished, let us retreat."

They cleared their dishes and utensils away to the communal collection area before retreating back to the royal family's cozy cottage. With unspoken understanding, they shed their shoes at the front entrance and traipsed up the stairs to the attic room where Feowen went to each fireplace and created the green flames she was so used to seeing. It was a welcome heat. Then they sank into a collection of poufs with satisfied sighs.

It was Taylynn who spoke first, breaking the comfortable silence. "Whenever I communicate with the Tree, I rarely receive a direct explanation or answer. Most of what I get must be interpreted." She glanced at Feowen and Jeanine, perhaps wondering how much she ought to say. Claire held her breath, afraid to disrupt the possibility of information—information she'd been desperate for since the moment Cyrus dropped into her life. "I have always done the Tree's bidding. Go here—do this. Go there—do that. But a handful of years ago, the commands became more predictable and possessed wider reaching...consequences. It began with your Lady Saffra. I was sent to her. She was only a child then, seven, eight perhaps. I do not know if she was always meant to be a seer, or if what I did made her such. I like to believe it was already in her blood, and my tampering left her stronger." Claire sucked in a breath, eyes going wide, but she didn't say anything. "I gave her water from the spring at the base of the Tree's roots. Simply drinking the water is not enough. But with the King Tree's blessing, it became...more."

"Her visions of me..." At this, Claire could no longer keep quiet. "She started having visions of me at a young age. She never knew exactly what they meant."

Taylynn nodded, but she didn't take her eyes from the wall. Her gaze was far away. "Our Tree has roots in this world, in all worlds, but in each, it is known by a different name. I am sure your people have plenty of names for their deities, Claire. But here, the Tree is our supreme being. Or rather, what lies within it. The tree alone, its bark and branches, is simply a manifestation. But with the thing inside, it is not merely a tree, but the Tree. It demands balance, and so much has happened to upset the balance of this world. But it knew of you—oh yes—who you were, what you are, what role you must play. Of that much, I was certain. It was ready and waiting for you. And when Cyrus came to the forest, it was I who pushed him towards the Kengr Gate and your world—"

"You—" Koldis exploded to his feet, face red with rage.

"Sit down, Drengr," Taylynn hissed. Her words were so forceful that Koldis's legs collapsed and he flopped back into his pouf, but his rage didn't disappear. "I was not responsible for anything that happened to him beyond that. I did not kill him, if that is what you wish to accuse me of. Do not make an accusation you might regret." She exhaled, as if to calm herself. "What happened with the Stones was...out of my control. The thing that called Cyrus here. A vision—I am told. It did not come from the King Tree."

"It was from Kane," Claire said. "He manipulated Saffra to meet his own ends."

"Yes, that was my understanding too, although I knew little of it at the time. We could not deny the Shield his due, nor the king his property. Kane's ambush, the Vodar, all of it happened outside of our control—my control. But I knew. Yes, I knew when it happened what must be done." She shook her head. "'Send him through the Gate,' said the Tree. 'Guide his path.' And so I did. I followed him—not too far behind—into your world. With the power borrowed from the Tree in this world and yours, I was able to push him towards you."

Goosebumps erupted across Claire's skin and she recalled something Pelwyn had mentioned when they first met. Of Taylynn's role in everything. "You were the reason he fell into my corn field and not someone else's."

Taylynn nodded.

A low draconic growl broke the silence. "He might have survived had you not sent him through the Gate. We would have found him in the North, treated his wounds, brought him home."

"Yes." Taylynn's face fell. "And Claire? Would you have found her in the North, too?"

Koldis snapped his mouth shut. His shoulders fell. His eyes darted to Claire's and she held his gaze, a sudden sick feeling in her stomach. "He had to die so that I would come here," she whispered. "It was the only way. He...I think he knew that."

"Nothing Cyrus ever did was needless," Koldis said, resigned. The storm clouds did not leave his eyes. If anything, he hated Taylynn even more. "You've been manipulating us—all of us."

"That's my sister," Feowen muttered. He and Jeanine had been quiet.

"Yes...and no." Taylynn shook her head. "I learned long ago, one does not ignore the wishes of the Tree. To do so is..." She swallowed and fell silent. Claire had a sudden thought of Queen Jade, of the things she knew of Jade's reign. How long had Jade been ignoring the Tree? Did it even speak to her anymore?

"Taylynn's right, Koldis. It's not fair for you to blame her for any of this. I loved Cyrus and I knew him a mere week. I can't begin to know what you felt..." Claire shook her head. "The world has been out of balance for a long time. But think of what it means that I am here. What it means for Talon. For the kingdom. And what it means for Dragonwall if it's true—that I'm the only one who can defeat Kane."

"We do not know that," he snapped. "You are the one that made the Promise."

"An Unbreakable Promise?" Taylynn asked, sitting up straighter.

She nodded and told the Sprite princess all about what she'd said in making her Promise to avenge Cyrus's death, to eliminate Kane or die trying. Taylynn relaxed into her pouf. "That wasn't my doing, nor was Cyrus's Gift. But the Tree must have known that you and Cyrus would devise a way to cement your fate. Sometimes, all fate needs is a little push in the correct direction. Oftentimes, I am that push. And not just for you..." She sighed, suddenly looking much older than the twenty-some years she usually appeared. Positively ancient. "I'm tired," she said, coming to her feet. "Please excuse me. I shall retire for the night." A moment later, she was gone.

"Well, that was cheery," Feowen said, standing and moving over to the wine cabinet. "Anyone?" They all nodded, so he poured them each a goblet of wine and passed them around. He and Jeanine retreated to the table to work on the puzzle.

Claire kept Koldis in her sights. He drained his goblet and set it on the floor beside him. She did the same. He was still disgruntled, she could tell. Instead of letting him stew, she stood and plopped down on his pouf. It was too small for two bodies, so she was all but in his lap. She put her arm around his shoulders and leaned her cheek on his head. "I'm sorry," she whispered, voice thick. "I hope I am a fair trade for Cyrus." Her heart wept knowing the cost—what Cyrus had paid so that she might come here.

You are more worthy than I will ever be, and more important, too, Cyrus mused. His words softened the guilt she felt. Softened the pain.

"Claire." Koldis didn't weep, but his eyes glittered as he turned his upper body and wrapped his arms around her, burying his face in against her collarbone. It felt...like comforting a child. She knew how much he'd loved Cyrus, how Cyrus's death affected him more than some of the others.

"For what it's worth," she said against his hair, "Cyrus thinks I'm worthy."

A dark chuckle fell from his lips, muffled against her skin. "You are more than worthy, Claire. Cyrus lived a full life. I cannot say it was good nor bad. He experienced both at different times. But you? Yours is only just beginning."

She hesitated. "The journey is only ever the beginning, isn't it?" She pulled away and tilted his head up to gaze into his eyes, searching, before she kissed him on the forehead. "You should go apologize to Taylynn."

At this, the innocence left his face and his jaw dropped, but she saw some of his playfulness come back as she stood and went back to her pouf. "Why in the name of all the gods would I ever do that?" he all but growled.

"Oh, I don't know." She shrugged nonchalantly. "I think she's drowning in burdens. More than she lets on, anyway. Kind of like someone else we know?" She lifted a knowing eyebrow. "I think what you said hurt her more than she would ever show. Could be a good excuse to...you know...make conversation."

He leaned back casually. "She said she was tired. She's already sleeping by now."

"Hah. Right. An excuse to get away from you," she chided. "Which means that by showing up at her door, you'll be doing exactly what she tried to avoid."

His lips pulled up at the corners. He stretched and let out a loud yawn. "You know, I think I'll retire too." Standing, he gave Feowen and Jeanine a solute. She noticed the wicked gleam in Feowen's eyes but wasn't sure if Koldis saw it too. "Good night, all." With that, he too disappeared down the stairs.

"Well," she said, standing to look at the puzzle on the table. "If we hear shouting in a few minutes, I won't be surprised."

Jeanine laughed. "You'd better join us here for those next few minutes before you head down into the hallway."

"I think that's a good idea." She took a seat and and set about looking for puzzle pieces to fit into place. It was a coastal landscape, with a deep sandy beach and a crescent half moon shape. There were ships on the horizon, and a vivid orange sunset.

"I've never seen the sea," Jeanine mused. "But I'd like to."

Feowen glanced at Jeanine, his eyes lingering on her expression as she fit a piece into the puzzle. He said nothing and they fell into companionable silence. Much to her disappointment, no sounds came from below. She wasn't sure if that was a good thing or not.

At last, she took her leave of Feowen and Jeanine, deciding that they might also want some time alone. Seeing the way they glanced at each other whenever they thought the other wasn't looking reminded her too much of Talon. It made her heart heavy with longing. All she could hope for were answers—answers to all the questions she had—so that she could hasten her return before her heart cracked open.

⭐️🌟⭐️🌟⭐️

Happy Friday Bookdragons!

Well, I didn't get great news from the orthopedic dr this week...According to the X-rays, it does look like a hairline fracture in the small bones in my thumb/wrist area. He said the only way to know with 100% certainty would be to get an MRI = more $$ and the same treatment either way. I'm to wear a wrist split/brace for the next 2-3 weeks (or until the irritation is completely gone). I'm not in any pain as long as I don't use my hand. Typing is out. I'm typing right now to write this and it's making my thumb totally numb from pinching the nerve. 

I've tried the speech to text feature on my ipad and I just can't do it. It uses a different part of my brain and the creativity doesn't stick the same way. This is, unfortunately the last chapter I have written. I've got about 1000 words of the next one, right up to the moment when Claire drinks the drink of enlightenment, and that's it.

I'm going to take a break from posting. I often do this half way through the writing process, taking a 6 week break. I have done it for the last two Dragonwall books and it worked well for me (especially as a mental health break). Believe it or not, we are at 75,000 words! I usually aim for a book of 160000-180000 so we really are about half way. With my mother-in-law coming for the holidays, and my inspiration feeling a bit dry, injured hand, it's the prefect time (and the perfect storm) to use this down time to finish mentally plotting the last half of the story. 

The last half of the story will move fast. Claire must defeat the evil force acting upon the forest. We will see what that is soon enough. And make some serious confrontations. She must also find the staff, or perhaps become worthy of it. And then, of course, feel confident enough in her magic to return to Talon, who, by then, will likely be in Fort Squall enacting his own plan (hint hint). There are some details I've got to work out with all of this, which is why writing has drastically slowed down. 

Okay, don't want to play with fire here. I've already typed more than my poor hand should. 

I will officially be taking a six week break. This will give my hand time to heal, and give me a couple weeks to generate a stack of chapters for when I start posting again. I will return to regular chapter posts Friday January 28th. Until then, I won't be super active here. But I am always sharing stories and little things about my life over on Instagram: melissa.nicole.mitchell

And if you're looking for books to keep you occupied, check out my blog over at authormelissamitchell.com where I have tons of book reviews and recs! Feel free to subscribe to my newsletter too (i'll be sending my last 2021 letter at the end of Dec).

Happy holidays, everyone! Thank you all for your patience and understanding. We will meet again in the new year! 

All my best,

Mel