Evils of the Night-Chapter 13

A Royal Reunion

By the time morning came, all the elves and fairies were assembled in the tree. Sylvia was surprised how many there were. One could hardly move without bumping into someone. The night elves that never came to the tree showed up, and up in the night quarters, a huge introduction ceremony was being held.

Sylvia met Henry first. He wore black, like the majority of the boys. His blonde hair was shorter, and his hazel eyes smiled and laughed like a summer day.

“Hi, I'm Henry.” he said, sticking his hand out to shake.

“Sylvia.” she replied.

“I suppose you've heard of my gang. We're never at the tree.”

“Yeah, they mentioned you.” Sylvia replied.

“Well, let me introduce you.” Henry said, motioning four more elves over to her. “This is Kyle, Sally, Ben, and Josh.”

Sylvia smiled. Kyle was tall, had buzzed brown hair and light blue eyes, and was definitely fit. Sally had red hair and blue eyes. She was as smiling and friendly as Henry was. Ben also had short brown hair and bluish eyes. Sylvia couldn't figure out what color they were exactly. Josh was quiet, had shaggy brown hair and blue eyes. A lot of people have blue eyes. Sylvia thought.

After the introductions were made, Sylvia introduced them to Jayden and Ivy. Then she pulled Cynthia into their room.

“OK. What are their power colors, just for my information?”

Cynthia laughed. “Well, Henry is a green. Sally is a green. Ben is a blue, and Josh is a green.”

“Lots of greens. I guess Felix will have company.”

Cynthia smiled. “Yes. It's too bad Lucia is the only black. I was hoping for another black.”

Sylvia sighed. “I can't pretend to be sympathetic.”

Cynthia's smile vanished. “Don't let your mutual dislike prevent you from working together. Electricity and fire make a powerful combination.”

“I can control both. I don't need her. Besides, she'll kill me for 'stealing' Jayden.” Sylvia's voice was defensive.

Cynthia put her hands up. “I'm just saying. Don't let her run your life.”

Sylvia was tempted to blow her off. The entrance of Ivy prevented her from replying.

“There you are, Sylvia. Jayden's looking for you.”

Sylvia got up from her bed and followed Ivy to where Jayden stood on the upper balcony.

“OK, we're the purple elves.” Jayden said. “We're the most powerful. I just wanted you guys to know that we have to work as a team. We have to keep the night elves together.”

“Jayden, are you OK?” Sylvia asked.

“Yeah, why wouldn't I be?”

Sylvia and Ivy exchanged looks. “You're preaching like an army commander.” Ivy admitted.

“You're nervous about the battle, aren't you?” Sylvia questioned further.

“Who says there's going to be a battle? We could make a truce.”

“That's been tried.” Damian said from the bottom of the stairs. “The Mud Queen and her subjects have broken the treaty many times. This isn't a one-sided attack, you know.” Damian came up the stairs. “We are waging war on them too.”

“We are?” Jayden was obviously surprised.

“Yes, we are.” Damian replied. “The swamp creatures are treacherous, so when they attack, be on your guard at all times. It will be a terrible day.”

They were interrupted by the sound of a horn on the ground. They looked out over the balcony rail. There, in all her swampy glory, was the Mud Queen.

“That's her.” Jayden growled. “There's the witch that murdered my family.”

Sylvia put a hand on his arm. “Easy there. Don't let your emotions run your head.”

Ivy looked at the swamp elves and fairies. Some of them rode on the backs of owls.

Damian turned to go. “You three should go join the Moon Queen.”

They ran down the stairs. Drake, Fayette, and Warren were already with the Moon Queen.

“We will attempt negotiations.” the Moon Queen said. “But be prepared for an ugly battle.”

The six of them nodded. Sylvia fingered the elvish sword that hung from her hip. She and Jayden had been training together in sword fighting. The wood elves had been happy to teach them.

The Moon Queen exited the tree with the six of the night creatures. Jayden and Warren walked slightly behind the Moon Queen. Sylvia, Ivy, Drake, and Fayette fanned out behind them, so they walked in a “V” shape. The Mud Queen and six of her followers came forward.

“Coming to surrender?” she sneered.

“No, sister, I come to negotiate.” the Moon Queen replied.

The Mud Queen laughed. “Negotiate? Negotiate what?”

“Your patrols have kidnapped some of my wood elves from our lands. I sent an envoy to your court demanding their release. You refused. You broke the treaty, sister.” The Mud Queen's eyes darkened, but the Moon Queen wasn't finished. “If you return my scouts to me, I will retract my troops and let you go on your way.”

The Mud Queen really did laugh this time. It was a terrible, almost screeching laugh. “You may recall your troops if you like. I have no need for your filthy scouts. But if you retreat, we're coming after you. You've ruled this kingdom long enough!”

The Moon Queen was about to speak when suddenly her sister caught sight of Jayden. “You! You were supposed to be dead!”

Jayden's jaw tensed. “But I'm not.” he said, icily.

The queen's eyes narrowed, but before she could speak, the Moon Queen cut in. “If you plan to attack us, so be it. You cannot overrule the power of the Moon, sister, and the Moon chose me to be Queen.”

“Stella...” the Mud Queen purred. Apparently the Moon Queen's name was Stella. “The moon cannot choose. It is inanimate.”

“You have spent too much time with humans, Mira.” Stella said calmly.

Mira spat in the grass. “Well, sister, your time of reign has come to an end. Prepare to meet your destiny.” she paused. “Or should I say, your destruction.” she whirled her staff in her hand and shouted. Her six followers raced back into the woods. An owl swooped down and Mira mounted it.

“Go!” Stella shouted. The six night creatures raced back to the tree.

Jayden blasted through the door. “Elves and Fairies! To arms!” he shouted. A huge door in the tree cracked open. The elves and fairies under Stella's rule formed ranks and began marching.

Outside, there were six purple martins standing, watching the procession of the elven and fairy armies. Jayden and Sylvia approached them. The bird who seemed to be the leader bowed his head to them. Jayden and Sylvia bowed in return.

“We have been summoned by Stella the queen of the moon to carry her trusted servants into battle.” he said.

They were joined by Ivy and the fairies at that moment. Jayden spoke to the bird. “We are honored.”

“Let us go. The owl riders are already in the sky.”

Each of them climbed onto the shoulders of a martin. Sylvia first asked her bird her name.

“My name is Midnight Rose.” the bird said, shaking out her soft feathers. “But you can call me Rose if you like. It's much shorter.”

“Great! I'm Sylvia.”

“Very pretty name.” Rose said. “Easy to remember too.”

“Thanks!” Sylvia replied. “So...have you ever been in battle before?”

Rose dipped her head in assent. “Yes. I have seen many.”

“Well then at least one of us knows what we're doing.” Sylvia joked.

If birds could laugh, Rose certainly would have. Instead she ruffled her feathers again. “You're funny Sylvia. I like you.”

“Everybody ready?” Jayden asked. He and Warren had already started forming ranks. Sylvia took her place on Jayden's left.

“You ready for this?” he asked.

“Bring it on.” Sylvia replied.

Stella landed on a martin of her own. “You are all about to face the battle of your lives. Wait for the signal horn before you take flight.” and she flew away.

“Signal horn.” Jayden repeated. “Great.”

And so they waited. The last of the elves and fairies had marched away toward the great clearing where the swamp army was camped. They heard a shout. The battle had begun.