Part 2: Fate’s Design
Chapter 6 Ban
Present time, after the beanstalk sprouts
“For now, I think the beanstalk is under control. We tried to go up and search early this morning, but the air was very thin. With everything else going on, it took a day to just get things in order for me and Ray to leave and take a peek. We brought Odette with us.”
I grunt as Z gives me a brief recap of earlier, curbing some of my curiosity about the large green stalk I saw way over in the Butterfly Garden. So far across Mystica, I should not be able to see anything close to the former Missing Shoe Tavern, but the stalk caused enough alarm that even Legs was concerned.
Pool of Truth.That’s what Legs said. I should broach the topic with Zarev, but right now, he seems a bit too distracted with everything else going on.
In all honesty, Raymundo would usually be the one to update me. Z and I clash half the time we talk, and if Ray’s poor brother, Thomas, wasn’t lingering on death’s door, I have no doubt he would be the one contacting me. As it sits, Zarev reached out to me, and seeing as I’ve avoided speaking with my friends for ages now, I finally pulled out my seeing stone and answered him. As much as I want to return to the north and awaken Neve, this strange beanstalk could require a detour.
For now, it seems strange but manageable. It’s not disastrous enough to draw me back across Sherwood, and Ipurposefully headed toward the Frostlands the moment Legs was finished with what I needed. It kept me from worrying. When it comes to Dahlia, she’s like a second mother to me. Z might be a little stressed, but he knows how important Ray’s family is to us all. If they desperately needed me, I would already be there.
Ray gave the others a brief summary of what happened beneath the lake, but they still don’t know half of what’s going on with me. Thinking back to the hours before Ray and Odette appeared, I didn’t fully update them on everything. There’s simply too much left to the unknown.
Something’s wrong. Barty hasn’t appeared in some time, and Dima’s been missing longer than usual. I’ll admit, his presence isn’t missed, but try as I may I can’t get out of these damn bars. At least when the wizard’s here I can try and trick him into letting me out. If all else fails, it’s fun to piss him off.
With the marks on my face beginning to heal, I feel a little like Lucius. His scars are much deeper than the ones Dima left on my skin, and he really let me feel his rage last time he was here. Hiding on the other side of this prison cell and cutting me with magic felt like a coward’s approach.
When he’s back next, I plan on playing weak before I exact my revenge. I can’t be stuck here anymore. Things were unraveling in the Frostlands before my detour, and now, I worry that Neve’s mother might have done something to strengthen her sleep. After all, it’s been weeks. Even if the Snow Queen isn’t stirring up trouble, the Icebound will.
Last time I saw Ice Queen Neve, hidden in what Ronnie must assume is an unknown cabin of sorts, she appeared to be on the verge of waking. That would mess with her mother’s plans, and Ronnie’s already kept her daughter asleep for far too long.
Neve doesn’t know the truth. But I’ve watched Dima gloat about the needle whenever he’s extra angry at me, so I know it’s here. Once I get it and wake the queen, there’s nothing anyone can do to stop her from learning all that she’s lost.
I might have some grievances with the Snow Queen, but Neve is the one who deserves revenge.
“It’s not something that’s going to be easy to explore,” Zarev goes on, dragging me from my thoughts. He manages to sound both annoyed and bored as he explains, even though he’s the one who contacted me. I asked about the beanstalk, and he’s giving me more of an update than I’ve had in months. “Odette can barely breathe up there as a bird or a person. It doesn’t appear to affect myself or Ray. I haven’t brought Rapunzel up there yet. She had to stay close to Thomas. We’re considering going back to explore, just us Reapers.”
“Is he improving at all?” I ask carefully. Zarev mentioned Ray’s brother right at the beginning of our chat, but he gave me little to go on about how the man actually is.
“With Rapunzel at his side, he’s hanging in there.” Zarev sighs, and my friend rarely sounds so tired. “She’s having to heal him again every few hours. Perhaps when the wounds are older, but right now she can’t go far and he isn’t recovering properly.”
I take that in, making a note to meet Zarev’s princess later.Rapunzel.The most I ever heard about her was in the cave with Dima, and he didn’t know much.
Before I can say anything, Z continues rattling off details. He must be under a great deal of stress, because he’s not usually this talkative. At least not with me. “The tavern is still in ruins. There’s no immediate threat, as far as we could tell from the beanstalk, so investigating its secrets is the least of our concerns.”
“How’s Dahlia handling the tavern?” I ask, fearing the answer. Z assured me during the first moments of our chat that Dahlia and the others are okay, even if the tavern itself is gone.
“She’s spitting mad,” Zarev replies with a snort. “She splits her time between fretting about Tom and bossing the rest of us around. Odette did try to ease some of the burden and ask her parents for aid in rebuilding, but Lucius already took care of things.”
“Lucius?” I remark, surprised.
Zarev nods, his orange eyes glowing brighter as he smirks. “Ray spoke with him, and once he learned Dahlia was having a hard time he sent riches our way.”
“How?” I press. So far as I know, Lucius doesn’t send anything beyond the thorny walls. And in recent years he hasn’t left the confines of his home at all. It would take either a miracle or a tragedy to get him to leave.
“Oh I made Cyrus deal with it,” he continues, grinning. Who the hell is Cyrus? “The little fucker had no issue disappearing into Sherwood with me to pick up some coins. Odette’s parents are sending supplies from Swan Lake as well. Things we don’t have easy access to out here, and the coins Lucius sent will help buy what else is needed to rebuild.”
I take that all in wordlessly. Z will tell me who Cyrus is in his own time. Now Lucius… he never leaves his home, but I wonder if that’s changed to help out Ray’s family. “Did Lucius meet with you himself?”
Zarev winces. “Lymara. She gave me an extra bit of pixie dust too for our travels. She wouldn’t say much of anything about Lucius. It’s a shame. Rapunzel really wants to speak with him about her sister.”
Rapunzel has a sister? So much I don’t know. “I’ll try and reach out to Lucius soon. Maybe he’s in a talking mood if he let Lymara leave the palace.”
“You know he doesn’t care what his half-sister does. Lymara could leave Thornton altogether and Lucius wouldn’t bat an eye.”
