“Mother, what’s wrong?”

Mother entered the house just as I was walking through the foyer to the kitchen for breakfast. Her face was glum and heavy as though she had just got the worst news.

“Renovation for the cathedral has been approved…”, she sighed heavily.

“Renovation? It was just remodeled 3 years ago! What need do they have for it? Other than for that old man’s vanity?”, I protested.

She sighed in defeat, “I tried to convince them otherwise at the town hall this morning, but despite the commoners' protest, the town leaders have decided to go ahead with the plan. They plan to utilize the old eastern forest”

I let out a breath of shock. That area hosts some of the oldest trees in the region.

“Is there—”

“No”, Mother quickly answered.

I swallowed hard and nodded.

“We at least have cuttings from each tree, right? We even got ones from all of the new sprouts… So, the tree spirits are safe…”

The tree spirits. A lot of, but not all trees, have spirits. And not many humans can see them. I think that's about the only special thing I can say my family has, is the ability to see them. Usually, they aren’t troublesome to care for, but it can get busy when the town needs wood for building. Cutting the trees displaces the spirits, so we have to find empty trees for them to live. Luckily, every generation of caretakers safeguard against the influx by taking cuttings of the spirits' trees and propagating them in pots just in case. This has saved us quite a few headaches over the years on both the human and spirits side. Relocation is swift as they can feel the still living piece of their tree in my family's garden and they follow the signal to here. If the land is not being cleared for use, we replant their new tree in the spot the old one once stood, if they so desire. Many choose to stay in the garden for the safety, especially the elder trees, and help out.

“Safe, but if we’ve missed any we could be dealing with an overwhelming influx…”, Mother added.

She rubbed her temples in aggravation, then suddenly turned around. A gloomy looking man stood behind her.

“Uncle Amerland!”, I exclaimed.

He nodded to me, but only addressed my mother.

“What’s the trouble?”, Mother immediately asked.

My mother’s older brother, Amerland, rarely shows face, except for when there’s trouble afoot. He works as the record’s keeper in the palace and the Aniceta informant for occult-related matters.

“The King also wants to thin the southern forest. Says it could be a breeding ground for enemies of the crown…”

“That’s Elven territory!”

“But he doesn’t know that. I’ve kept those records hidden away as you requested. It may be time to—”

“That may make this situation worse. He may deem them as unwanted, thus enemies”

“What if we ask the Elves for help? The forest is their home and their duty to protect it. They could also help with the tree spirit issue”, I interjected.

Mother glared at me. I shrunk as if I misspoke.

“Jiji is right… We cannot delay this any longer. We must convince both sides to meet and discuss peacefully”, Uncle Amerland agreed.

“So be it”, Mother said, “You handle the King, Amerland. We…will deal with the Elves”, she looked down at my chest where the Starlight Meadow badge hung.

She waved her hands at me, signaling for me to get ready. I hustled to the kitchen to prepare for the journey, only to find a lanky boy lounging in the chair by the fireplace.

Ah, I have a younger brother, Saovin. He's the perfect example as to why, traditionally, caretakers are girls.

“Hey Sao, can you take this food up to the old east cabin before dusk?”, I sighed.

“Alright I'll do it tomorrow”

“No. It has to be done today.”

“But I had plans!”

“What plans besides sitting on your ass?”

“I was gonna... I was... I have plans okay!”

“Rrrrright. Nevermind. By the way, have you been in here naked all day?”

“This isn't naked, this is half dressed”

“Whatever, but have you?”, I asked looking to the side.

“Yeah, what's the problem? I'm here alone.”

“The Hooded Raven tree is in here”

“So?”

And that's another reason, the males can't see the spirits. This poor spirit has been visually assaulted by this beast of a boy all morning. I picked up the tree and placed her in the window. I would love to cook him up and feed him to an occult, but that’d be frowned upon, given the Aniceta male is an endangered species. Very few are born and even fewer have ever been a caretaker; my grandfather being the only one in the past few generations. It was said it was because he was from a spiritual tribe from the plains, but I don’t know much about him given he died when my mother was young. Grandmother never talks about it, probably because it was possibly an unnatural demise. Fortunately, we are able to make use of the boys for long distance work requests.

I sighed, “Anyway, I need you to do a few tasks for me. Mother and I are going to be busy with the tree spirits for a while”

“Here you go with these tree spirits again! If someone heard you talking like that they’d think you were crazy and throw you in the madhouse!”

“Don’t be jealous because you can’t see them. Just do as I say without delay!”

“What if I say no?”

“Then you’ll have Mother and Herongolde to answer to!”

He shivered at my threat. I could tell the vision of Herongolde’s transformation flashed across his mind, for the hairs on his arms stood to attention.

“Okay, Okay, bully!”, he stuck out his tongue and snatched up his filth covered shirt.

“Here’s the basket. Don’t eat any of it!”, I commanded as I pushed it into his hands and pushed him out of the kitchen.

With my brother out of the way, I searched for the old map of the Elven roads and the pass for the Aniceta family to enter the sacred city. I searched the kitchen storage, the study, and the library, but it was nowhere!

Starting to panic, I remembered Grandmother’s desk in her room. Only problem, it’s off limits, worthy of a whipping from every elder on the continent if I break in without permission.

“M-mother…”, I approached with caution.

She whipped her head around so fast I jumped!

“What? Why aren’t you dressed?”

“I can’t find the Elven road map and the pass…”, I shuffled nervously, “I think it may be in Grandmother’s special keep”

She sighed and tossed the key to Grandmother’s room, “Look for it. Don’t open or touch anything else! Got it?”

I shook my head and raced to the grand master bedroom. I shivered as the door unlocked and opened. Careful not to knock into the various stacks of books and chests, I crept into the room. Letting out a heavy breath, I touched Grandmother’s desk and slowly pulled open the largest drawer. Many of the papers were marked with the confidential seal, so I touched them with the lightest fingers possible as I dug deeper into the drawer. Finally, a document in Elvish appeared with a stone card tucked between its folds; the map and the pass! I gently placed everything back and closed the drawer. Locking the door, I sighed a breath of relief and returned to the rush of preparing for this diplomatic journey.

Handing my mother the items, she cut her eyes at me in suspicion as she pulled on her cloak. I gave her a nervous smile, proving I did no wrong.

“Be ready in five minutes”, she demanded.

In a hustle, I packed and saddled Lilith, joining Mother at the gate on her horse, Magmus.

“Keep up. We must make haste, so no lollygagging on this mission, understood?”

“Yes, Mother”

She nodded and led the way to the southern forest at full speed. As we entered the forest, Mother held up the pass, which revealed the path to the Elven realm. Immediately after noon, the capital came into view and I gasped in awe. It was smooth stone towers carved from the mountain hills that seemed to glisten.

“Take it in as much as you can while moving- this could be your first and last time to see such a sight”, Mother smirked as she urged Magmus to go faster.

I smiled in delight, but then suddenly felt uneasy.

“Mother, I think we have company”, I hummed looking at the figures shadowing between the trees.

“Don’t mind them. It’s just protocol”, she assured.

When we reached the gates, the guard stopped us.

“Who are you? State your business!”

“Aniceta, we request an audience with Queen Mother Daenes and King Myavin! It’s urgent!”

The guards looked at each other and discussed it in Elvish. Impatient, my mother repeated her words in Elvish to emphasize the severity of the issue. They all jumped and raced to open the gates. On the other side, a beautiful Elf sat on his horse.

“I am captain of the guard, follow me”, he instructed.

We nodded and followed him on the road through the city to the palace. Everything was a beautiful harmonious blend of nature and function. The Elves that saw us looked just as amazed, it seems humans are a rare sight in the sacred city.

“Dismount”, the Elf commanded as we reached the palace gates.

Simultaneously, Mother and I were politely offered a hand down, then, in the same moment, relieved of our weapons. I shook off the shock to follow after Mother, who was becoming more impatient and faster by the second. Our cloaks were taken and a soldier led us to the throne room.

“Aniceta”, a booming voice called out as soon as we entered.

I looked up to see the gorgeous Queen Mother and her King for the first time in the flesh. The books about them did them no justice. Next to them sat a familiar face, Prince Aritra, with a small, almost smirk on his face.

“Aniceta… It has been quite some time since that name has graced these halls”, the Queen Mother spoke.

“Yes. I believe not since you yourself were a girl, Madame Aniceta”, the King added.

“I am blessed that your graces have remembered me so”, Mother bowed.

“I see though time has humbled you, it has been kind to you. Or perhaps I have grown old?”, Queen Mother chuckled.

“You haven’t aged a day, your majesty”, Mother replied.

“Is this your daughter?”

“Yes, your grace”

“Is she as wild as her mother who nearly burned half the southern forest to ash?”, the King smiled at me as I bowed.

Mother twitched as though a sour spot had been hit. With a look of shock, I glanced at my mother, whose eyes were squeezed shut and silent curses were on her lips.

“She is within the bounds of acceptable, but I had hoped your graces had forgiven and forgotten my adolescent mistake”

“Forgiven. Not forgotten. It has become a part of our history and a great party story”, the King laughed in glee.

Mother’s face was the look of embarrassment. I raised my eyebrows at the word “acceptable”.

“On to more pressing matters, why has the Aniceta family sought council with the Elven kingdom? I don’t believe your services have been requested as of late”, Queen Mother stated.

“Yes, unfortunately, an urgent matter has arisen. The human king of Haon has set his eyes on the southern forest for clearing and the eastern forest for lumber, I fear this could be of danger to the Elven High Realm, its people, and the tree spirits, your graces”, Mother explained.

“King Durae’s successor, Kaiat, am I correct?”, the King asked.

“Yes”, Mother affirmed.

“That violent boy that I urged Durae to pass over as his successor?”, Queen Mother reconfirmed.

Mother nodded in shame as Queen Mother’s jaw tensed shut.

“Though the locals still whisper of you, we have kept our silence in regards to the nonhuman races as agreed, but can do so no longer. I ask that the two sides meet in council to avoid any misunderstandings”, Mother stated.

A tense sigh filled the room surrounding the situation. I swiftly glanced around, only to land on prolonged eye contact with Aritra. Pinching my lips closed, I looked away.

“What of the King? Is he willing to have a civil conversation?”

“Amerland is currently briefing him of this very situation also”

“Then we shall wait for his response. Captain, send a hawk to Amerland Aniceta regarding our decision”

“Yes, your grace”, he replied and left.

“Thank you, Queen Mother”, Mother bowed again and turned to leave.

“Are you leaving so soon?”, the King asked, “It has grown late, why not stay and catch up on old times?”

“We appreciate your hospitality, but there is much to do to prepare for the coming crisis”

“Until the hawk returns, I doubt there will be any progress, besides a good rest never did any harm”, he smiled softly.

“If you put it that way, your grace, then who am I to decline”, Mother accepted, “it will also be good experience for my daughter”, she glanced at me.

“Then it is settled”, Queen Mother interjected and stood.

She glided down from her throne to tower over us and smiled at me softly.

“Your name is Jylan, if I am not mistaken, you are the spitting image of your mother, but your spirit… holds something entirely different”, she said.

Unsure of what she meant, I thanked her with a bow. She looked down at my badge around my neck, her eyes glided to the side as though glancing back, then walked past us. The King and Aritra followed suit.

“Come, I will personally show you to your quarters to freshen up for dinner”, the King beamed, “It feels like centuries since I’ve seen you!”

He gave Mother a tight shoulder hug as he escorted us down the corridor to a guestroom. Aritra said nothing, but burned holes into the back of my neck the whole way.

“I’ll have a guard come escort you when it’s time, rest until then”, the King smiled, “Ah, yes, your horses will be well cared for, so don’t worry”

With a wink, he walked away and we bowed in unison. As the door creeped shut, Aritra’s and my eyes met right before it closed.

“Use this time to update your knowledge on the Elves in their habitat”, Mother lectured.

“Yeh”, I said in a daze.

“Jylan?”

I shook my head, “Yes, Mother?”

“Screw your head on tight, girl, now is not the time to be in the clouds!”

“Yes, momma”, I said sheepishly.

“Straighten your back. You may get away with poor etiquette at home, but not here. Any offense will be remembered and… punished”, she sighed at the end.

“Like you?”

Mother seemed to puff up, then deflate. Giving up on lecturing me, she quickly washed up, beautified, and put on fresh clothes. I followed suit.