We gather in the snowy clearing just after midday to begin rehearsals. This time, instead of wyverns and dragon-slayers, it’s love and mischief on the menu. Snow crunches beneath boots, and Hellion hums a concerningly cheerful tune as she lays out props on the frozen ground.
The set is simple. A few cut tree rounds stand in for thrones. Small stones outline a fairy circle. The magic will come later, when the whole town is watching and the queen herself is in attendance. Then, I’ll have to use all my powers of illusion to craft the perfect throne room, make the fairy circle glitter just right, and entice our audience to join us in our shared delusion for a night.
Theatre is truly an art to be experienced with the whole body, mind, and soul.
“How are we doing with preparations for the dreaming tea, Doc?”
Katja flutters in front of me, wings catching the weak sunlight in shifting pastels. “Nearly there. We’ve dried enough Valerian root now. With the Pyramus mushrooms you gathered the other day, all we need is extract of arguta and some hillaberries for taste, and we can get those from Daria’s glasshouse.”
The dreaming tea will help the audience sink into my illusions as they watch, opening their perceptions, widening their senses, and hopefully opening certain hearts.
“And the love potion?”
“Also almost there.” She waves me off. “Trust me, Lark. I’ve got this.”
Trust her. She says it like she’s not the same girl who vanished one of Frederik’s toes instead of healing it when she was seven. This trust thing is hard.
“Places!” I call out. “Helkki, Juho, we’re starting with your scene.”
Katja and Johannes take their places as well. They start with the opening lines, plotting to marry Helkki’s character off to a rich aristocrat.
Helkki races in from stage left to stop them, Juani a step behind her. “Ïti, no. I will not marry him, for my heart is already pledged to Sander!”
Juani steps resolutely to her side. “And mine to Mia.”
“Cut, cut.” I wave a hand, stepping forward. “Juani, you can’t sneer when you say that. You need to look besotted. Like you’re in love with her.”
He curls his upper lip like he’s about to spit a bad berry. “Ew.”
“Ew,” Helkki echoes.
“Acting, little beasties. Acting.”
“Ugh, fine, I’ll try,” Juani says with a yawn. “I much prefer our usual comedies though. This emotional nonsense is hard.”
I choke a laugh. “Yes, my favorite sleepyhead, emotional nonsense is hard.” I glance at the girl perched on a log behind me—the one whose smile I’m definitely not rehearsing lines for.
Val can’t stifle her laughter, letting the bright notes out. My heart skips a beat.
Hard, indeed.
“Oho! I’m your favorite today?” Juani grins.
I send a glittering dragonet spinning toward him, showering him with rainbow sparks before it vanishes. “You might say, every day, even.”
“Hey,” Johannes protests, hands on hips.
“Never fear, Joha. You’re my favorite on odd days.”
He frowns, counting silently on his fingers.
Then, a small tug on my trouser leg draws my attention down. Aili stares up at me with shining eyes. “What about me?”
I conjure a bouquet of butterflies to delight her. “Proclamation! Everyone, listen up. Grumpy is now my favorite. The rest of you have been usurped.”
“Oh, nooooooo...” groans Juani.
“So sad...” sighs Johannes.
