Return to the Featherlands: Chapter 7 (Patreon)

The aroma of fresh flowers leaked through the dirt paths and the roots arching to support them. Even the earth in the Featherlands always had a sweetness to its scent, though as Silvia stood within the darkened tunnels, the stagnant air only tasted bitter. The long, winding branches of underground roads were lit throughout with torches and sparkling gems scattered throughout the terrain above her head. Dense dreariness clung to her skin like a film. The melodies of laughter she once could hear through every corner of the playful world she knew so well were nothing more than bleak absences, an ongoing agonizing scream of silence in its own way that only Silvia could hear.

"Sprite’s Hollow," Silvia repeated. She turned back to the girl who had greeted her waking. "This is it? This is where everyone is?" The girl’s feline features shifted in peculiar ways. Her ears fell limp above her head. Her tail stopped wafting back and forth. It circled around to her hands, the girl clutching onto it like a security blanket.

"Well, there's more to it than this, your majesty" she said. "There's the farm grounds, the pond, the main hall." Silvia blinked, her head still pounding from the ticklish ordeal from which she woke.

"All that's underground?" Silvia asked. The cat-girl nodded.

"As far as I know," she said. "I can show you around if you'd like. Her majesty, Queen Diedra, asked that I stay with you to make sure you're okay, um, your majesty." Silvia raised her hand to her head. The ache burned around her temples.

"Y-yes, please," Silvia said. "Thank you."

"My pleasure, your majesty," said the feline beastie with a bow of her head. The sway returned to her tail. Her ears perked back up. Collecting more of herself, Silvia could make out more features of her companion. Her body was covered in a faint layer of fur, as was true for most Featherland beasties. It was a dim shade of gold in some light and a wispy brown in others. White stripes ran down her arms and legs. Her hands were human in structure, as was the way she bipedally held herself. Her ears peaked slightly over Silvia’s head, between which, long brown hair fell down the back of her neck. A faded blue tank top pressed against her chest and appeared to have gone quite a while since it had last been washed. Shorts rode up her thighs and her feet were protected by a pair of boots that reminded Silvia of Paul’s but slimmer, each following the same disheveled theme.

Silvia found her bag and shoes next to where she woke. She put her shoes back on, a task that already seemed to grow tiresome, and strung her bag back over her shoulders. The cat-girl watched and waited close by, stopping Silvia only when she pushed forward.

“Y-your majesty, are you sure you don’t need to rest more?” she asked. Silvia looked back. She adjusted her glasses, pushing them up the bridge of her nose.

“I’m fine, I promise,” Silvia said. “Are you coming with me?”

“Of course, your majesty,” said the beastie again. She came forward and placed her hand on her chest. “I-if I may, your majesty Queen Silvia, my name is Theadora. Most people call me Thea. You may call me either, whatever you wish.” Silvia gave a tired smile.

“Well, it’s nice to meet you, Thea,” Silvia said. “Thank you for rescuing me.”

“Are you kidding, it was an honor!” Thea exclaimed. “Like, just yesterday I never expected that the queen would return or that I’d ever get to meet her and now here you are.” Silvia’s expression dropped. She nodded and turned around.

“That’s fair,” she said. Thea bounded up next to Silvia, smiling and walking by her side.

“I mean, there I was just picking flowers to help decorate the nursery, and bam!” Thea started. “All of the sudden, her majesty Queen Deidra just comes out of nowhere and is all ‘Queen Silvia has come back, I need you to go make sure she gets to Sprite’s Hollow okay. And I’m all ‘whaaaa?’ Like, whoa. Big day.”

“Yeah,” Silvia said, at a loss for words. She shifted the bag against her back, her hands tightly clinging onto the straps. The pair followed a path of dirt that fed into more dirt tunnels. Vague directional signs made of wood and paint hung nailed to the walls. Graffiti, mostly in the form of carvings into the dirt, gave the dreary roadways a little more life and color. People’s names, images of happier times, and declarations of resistance all gave the paths a guerrilla aesthetic that made Silvia’s stomach churn.

“I assume you just got here, right?” Thea asked. “It’s pretty dangerous out there on your own, especially at night.”

“No, I guess I would have come in last night,” Silvia said. “Sorry, time’s still kind of a weird adjustment right now.”

“What did you do during the night?”

“I stayed with a friend,” said Silvia. “Same one that brought me in.”

“Really?” Thea asked. “Who, if you don’t mind me asking?”

“Oh, just someone I used to know better,” Silvia said. “You probably don’t know him.”

“What’s his name?” Thea asked.

“Paul.”

“Human Paul?” Thea asked. Silvia turned toward her.

“I guess, I don’t know if there are other ‘human Pauls’ here,” Silvia said. Thea squealed. Her cheeks pulled back into a wide smile beneath a rosy complexion. Her ears perked up and tail wafted side to side.

“But, of course!” Thea said, her voice raising as she began to speak faster. “Everyone knows human Paul! We all love human Paul! He helped Queen Deidra and her fairies establish Sprite’s Hollow.”

“Oh, yeah, he did mention something about that.”

“He comes by at least once a week to drop off supplies and food,” Thea continued. “He’ll bring human toys for the children, warm blankets and candy treats, plus books from your world about great warriors and their adventures to keep us entertained. I just finished one last week about a prince who has to defy his family and his duties to rescue a princess trapped in a tall tower guarded by a deadly dragon.” Thea started breathing heavier. A soft purr rumbled between her pauses.

“Well, I’m glad…” Silvia said, dryly. She swallowed and continued forward, holding her head high.

“Plus he’s always there for when we need to go out and might need protection,” Thea said. “His magical prowess is incredible. I heard he once fought off a whole pack of howlers by himself to save a mother and her offspring looking for shelter.” Thea’s tail curled up in front of her. She took it in her hands, stroking it gently. Silvia coughed and looked away.

“Yeah, I saw,” Silvia said, flashes of the night before with him and the Featherland Assassin appearing in her mind.

“And he helped save you, your majesty,” Thea said. “At least, that’s how the story goes. That he was there to protect you while you were both locked away, like a galant prince.” Silvia grinded her teeth a little, fighting back more memories kept sealed away. A cheering crowd. Paul’s red-eye stare. One of the most humiliating and worst tortures she had ever been forced to endure. It all came huffing out of her nose.

“It wasn’t exactly like that,” Silvia said, half under her breath.

“Plus he’s just…” Thea said with a breathless pause. She wrung onto her tail as she swooned. “Ah, he’s just so cute! Seriously, ask anyone here. Human Paul is just so handsome and strong and dreamy…” Silvia huffed once more with a scoffing grunt beneath her breath. She sped up her pacing a bit, but Thea kept up with ease. “But I don’t have to tell you, I’m sure.”

“Where are we heading?” Silvia asked abruptly, cutting off the dazed kitten. Thea looked around for a moment before giggling and scratching at one ear. She shook off a light pink hue beneath her whiskers.

"Ah-oh, yes, sorry your majesty," Thea said. "I was to take you to meet Queen Deidra in the throne room once you were ready." Silvia looked around at the makeshift architecture, passing by unfinished paths blocked off by boards.

"Thank you," Silvia said. Thea followed closely by her side.

"I… I just have to say that we're all very excited for you to be back, your majesty," Thea continued to ramble.

"Who all knows I've come back?" Silvia said. "It hasn't been that long."

"Well, Queen Deidra must have found out soon after," Thea said, tracing the contents of her memory. "I don't know who all she told. She did tell me to not say anything to anyone. Contrary to what you might think, I'm actually pretty good at keeping secrets."

"Hm," Silvia said. Her eyes peered around, studying the inner workings of the Featherland security camp.

"And I hope you know that I’m here for anything you might need, your majesty,” Thea said. “I know you just got here, and we’re so excited that you’re back. I just want to make sure that you’re as comfortable as possible, you know?”

“Well, thank you, but I’m sure I’ll be able to…” Silvia started to say. The more she did, the heavier her thoughts weighed her down, thinking and worrying about having stepped out of Paul’s care for fifteen minutes and still needed rescuing. Silvia sighed. “Thank you. That means a lot.”

The pair continued to walk down one dirt corridor after another. They passed signs, makeshift artwork, and other denizens of varying species. Silvia spotted many fairies working diligently, relaying messages and flying by for supply transport. She saw boys and girls with elven features playing chasing games with imp young of both highland and lowland descent. Slowly, the diverse Featherland races started returning to the forefront of her memory, recognizing highland imps for their bat-like wings and lowland imps for their feathery tails. They giggled together as they played, hidden from sunlight and with minimal room with which to run around. Still, they laughed. They laughed as she remembered Featherlanders did, tackling and tickling one another without a care in the world.

Silvia saw more beastie citizens as well. Many more feline beasties took part in cleaning and gathering food from the designated underground farmland. They collected mostly root vegetables like carrots, potatoes, and others unique to the Featherlands. Their features matched that of Thea’s: cosmetically cat-like while structurally bipedal and humanoid. Canine beasties helped with tunnel construction. Other types seemed either busy with their own tasks or simply made room for those who were. Everyone that she passed appeared far too busy with their duties to even notice that she was there. The more that they seemed to ignore her presence, the more Silvia’s stomach twisted itself into a nervous braid of guilt.

After several minutes of walking in silence, Thea let out a small cough and spoke up.

"I-I'm sorry, I know this is going to make me sound like a total floof, but I'm just so happy to have finally met you, your majesty,” Thea said. Silvia stopped. She looked back to Thea, her large cyan eyes glimmering in the torchlight.

“Really?” Silvia asked. “Why?” Silvia paused upon seeing the elation almost vanish from Thea’s face. Silvia shook her head and sighed. “I’m sorry, it’s just… I was gone for so long. And then all of this happened. I wasn’t there to help.” Thea’s ears drooped over her head. She clung to her tail once again.

“But it wasn’t your fault,” Thea said softly. Silvia blinked. “None of us knew why you weren’t around when… Rumors did spread. You may hear some. But it was all speculation. I’ll say that most of us don’t blame you for not coming back. I think most of those were just happy that you were safe back in your world.”

“But not everyone thinks that way?” Silvia asked. Thea lowered her head.

“Some people did spread rumors like that you didn’t care enough to come back or that you had just kind of forgotten about us,” Thea said. “Those ‘some’ didn’t say very nice things.”

“Understandable,” said Silvia. “For what it’s worth, I’m sorry, Thea.” Silvia turned and started walking back down the path.

“But I never thought that,” Thea called out. She raced back up to Silvia. “From all the stories we were told, the great tragedy of the captured Featherland Queen and how she never gave up hope, I knew those rumors couldn’t be true. I knew you wouldn’t have forgotten or abandoned us. I knew you still cared. And I always held out hope that one day you’d return. You’d return and help us make things right, help us save the Featherlands. Or at least make what we can peaceful again.”

“That… is a really high bar to live up to,” said Silvia. “I’m sorry, Thea, I had no idea that things had gotten as bad as they are. And now that I’m here and I see it, I don’t know what I could possibly do to fix this. Truth be told, I don’t know what I could have done back then to stop this.”

“I know it’s a lot to ask, your majesty,” Thea said. “And it’s probably really unfair to do so. But things aren’t all bad. You helped stop Tickela.” Silvia’s fingers tightened against her bag straps. A shiver traced down her spine.

“If that’s how that story’s told, I’m sorry to disappoint you,” said Silvia, “but my sister and Erica stopped… Tickela. She came because I was taken. I did what I could to stand up to T… h-her, but I did little more than just cause trouble for people around me. Now, I came back because I suspect the new Badland Queen has my sister. I want to help, I really do, but that’s not why I came back. If people here want to keep calling me selfish, maybe they should.” Saliva’s voice shook. She sniffled and breathed through the welling from behind her eyes. Thea looked down at the ground.

“I don’t think you're selfish, your majesty,” she said. “If anything, that’s the part that inspires me most of all.”

“How’s that?” Silvia asked. “I was an awful queen to let this happen and I feel awful still coming back for my own problems.” She heard Paul’s voice echoing her words in her mind.

“Because it’s that love that you and your sister both share that makes things right,” Thea said. She paused. “Okay, maybe that’s a cheesy way to word it, but it’s true. Your sister, Lilly, came and braved the most dangerous lands and challenges to get to you. She took it upon herself to save the Featherlands and it was all because of that love that she had for you. That’s what I feel, at least. And here you are for the same reason. It’s destiny.”

“I am not my sister,” Silvia said. She gave a nervous chuckle that nearly became a rush of tears. “I can promise you that.” Thea hesitated. She led Silvia down an adjacent tunnel, following a sign reading ‘This way: supply station, fairy camp, throne room’.

“Sorry if I brought you down, your majesty,” Thea said. “You know, my brother and I grew up hearing that story. ‘The Tale of the Featherland Warrior’ we’d call it. I think everyone did. All that Lilly did to save you. All that you endured and still never lost hope. All that is what connected most with me. And I carried that with me forever, we both did. We really latched onto that kind of love that makes for an exciting adventure, you know? Where an incredibly brave girl can risk everything to save her sibling, it’s just…” Thea wiped a tear from her eye, dabbing the corner with the tip of her tail. Silvia looked over.

“Are you okay?” Silvia asked. Thea nodded.

“Yeah, I-I’m sorry, your majesty,” Thea said, giving a little sniffle. “I’m fine.” Silvia thought for a moment before swinging her bag around to her chest. She opened the front pocket and produced a small, unopened pack of tissues. She opened it and handed two to Thea. “What’s this?”

“Tissue, for your eyes,” Silvia said. Thea’s eyes shifted curiously, her nose twitching. She took the tissues in her hand.

“Oh, oh!” Thea said. She smiled and brushed the bottom of her eyes with the tissue. “That’s clever. Thank you, your majesty!”

“No problem,” Silvia said. She held out the rest of the pack for Thea to take. “Here, just hold onto them.”

“A gift?” Thea asked. “Are you sure, your majesty?” Silvia smiled and nodded. Thea took the pack of tissues and held onto them tightly in her hands. “Thank you, thank you so much!”

Nearing a junction between several pathways, Thea led Silvia to a wide stone archway. Grass curtains hung from the opening, but stayed pulled back by ropes tied to the two split walls. Beyond the archway was a massive chamber, a veritable cave beneath the ground. Roots paved the walls, keeping the dirt from caving in. Across the walls was a cascade of Featherland flora, colorful flowers blooming and sprouting life to the subterranean relief camp. Grass spread heavily across the floor. More illuminating gems and crystals sparkled in the walls and ceiling. A sprinkle of pixie dust seemed to hang in the air, not unlike that under which she endured a substantial amount of ticklish torment mere hours prior. It tickled her skin lightly, comfortably in the way she remembered the Featherland feeling once before. The floral scents from her memories returned in the room as well. Silvia stepped into the room and examined its contents.

“This is… Queen Deidre’s… throne room?” Silvia asked. Her attention turned to a single, massive bulb hanging in the center of the room off of the largest root bracing the highest point. It glowed bright and exuded more glittery dust raining onto the grass below.

“Yes, your highness,” she said. “It’s not like what the fairies had before, but she’s done a fine job decorating to make it look nice for everyone.” Investigating further, Featherlanders from all over congregated in the room. They sat in small clusters, talking among themselves out of Silvia’s earshot. When she took notice, many seemed to stop. They fell quiet and turned to look in her direction. Some stood at attention while others stared in disbelief.

Silvia, caught in her own mindful whirlwind of nostalgia, cautiously stepped further inside. Her shoes sank into the plush grass. The soft blades reached for her feet with the life they once had from her memories as well. She reached down and ran her hand across them. They tickled and wiggled against her palm, reacting to the sensitive nerves and bare skin. Silvia giggled. She pulled her hand back before placing it down again.

“This is how it used to be,” Silvia said, smiling and laughing. She pulled her hand back once more and stood. “It’s still here. The Featherlands, how it was, isn’t gone.”

“You can still save it, your highness,” Thea said, speaking softly. “I don’t mean to put that wholly on you, but I do believe it’s destiny that you’re here again. The Featherlands can be saved and it can be you that makes it happen.” Silvia’s smile faded. She clung tightly onto her bag.

“Thea, I don’t want to get your hopes up,” Silvia said. Thea nodded.

“I know,” she said. “Forgive me, your highness. No matter what, we will thrive how we must.”

“This is how it’s been,” said a voice from behind them. Silvia turned. She beheld a radiant figure standing just beneath the stone archway into the room. Queen Deidra smiled weakly at Silvia and Thea. Her skin glimmered even without sunlight. Sparkling dust floated off of her wings as they flapped behind her. She towered over both Silvia and Thea, holding herself upright as she glided with pomp and grace. The fairy queen appeared to hover just off of the ground, her bare toes brushing just the tips of the reaching grass beneath her. Everyone in the room stood and watched. Thea’s eyes darted between Queen Deidra and Silvia before bowing.

“Your majesty,” Thea said. “I’ve done as you asked.”

“Theadora,” Deidra said. Her voice was melodic and smooth, a calm to ease the tension. “Thank you. You’ve been a big help. But you don’t need to be so formal if you don’t want to. We’ve talked about this.” Thea stood and scratched at the side of her cheek.

“Y-yes, your majesty,” said Thea. “It’s just… both queens and all…”

“I understand,” Deidra said with a smile. She looked at Silvia and bowed her head. “Queen Silvia.” Thea backed away as Silvia stepped forward. The room steadily became alive with a steady murmur of whispering voices. Silvia looked up at the queen like an old friend of whom she could not recognize from her memories. Deidra’s monarch elegance had faded. Just as full of beauty and grace as Silvia remembered, her regal attire had been replaced with more rural wear. Her clothes had pockets and seemed to be for more practical use rather than upholding her status as Queen. Her long, flowing hair was tied back in a ponytail with a vine and a small purple flower. Silvia blinked for clarity, not expecting the honorable fairy queen to be sharing in the workload. The Featherlanders in the room appeared to revere her as Queen nonetheless. Silvia fixed her posture and responded with a bow.

“Queen Deidra,” Silvia said. She swallowed. She heard her name from the surrounding whispers. Thea’s words came back to her as she expected not all of the reception to be positive. Silvia clenched her hands in front of her hips. She wrung them together and shifted where she stood. “First off, I-I really need to apologize for-”

Silvia’s apology fell short. A warm, tingling force pushed her back. Queen Deidra’s arms wrapped around her body. The fairy queen held Silvia close to her chest, resting her cheek against the top of her head. She squeezed, her wings flapping rapidly. More sparkles flew from them as the whispering seemed to cease for the moment.

“I’m so glad you’re okay,” Queen Deidra said, her voice crackling. “I… I was so worried about you…” The moment came in waves. Silvia fell still and silent. It took her a second to process the gesture and another second to return the gesture by hugging back. Her arms squeezed tighter than she expected they would. An ache grew behind her eyes. She shivered. She held on tight. Queen Deidra sniffled and laid a kiss atop her head.

“I… I’m so sorry,” Silvia said. Her voice began cracking as well. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry.” Silvia repeated the phrase over and over again, losing herself to the repetition. Her voice broke more with each new apology. She continued to repeat herself until she could no longer intelligibly speak and her words turned to sobs against Queen Deidra’s shoulder.

“It’s okay, it’s okay dear,” Deidra said. She rubbed her back and held her close, letting the small girl cry out her sorrows against her. All eyes were on the two queens. More citizens entered the room upon hearing the news. Their stares bared heavily down on the weeping girl in the center while their gossiping voices fell silent.

Deidra gave Silvia all the time she needed to collect herself. Silvia was still sniffling and shaking when she pulled herself back, her nose and cheeks bright red. Thea lightly touched her arm. Silvia turned to see Thea holding out the small pack of tissues for Silvia to take. Silvia chuckled, pinching off only one and leaving the rest to her.

“Thank you,” Saliva said. She dabbed at her eyes and nose before balling it up in her hand.

“I must say that we are pleased to have you back, your majesty,” Queen Deidra said, compensating for her abrupt welcome with a more regal composition.

“That’s sweet of you to say, your majesty,” Silvia said. She wiped away the last of her tears. “Permission to skip formalities?”

“Yes, please,” Queen Deidra said. Both gave a relieved chuckle.

“Okay, good,” said Silvia.

“I can imagine you have many questions,” Deidra said.

“I do,” Silvia said, “but I seriously doubt the answers will make me feel better right now.”

“I will do what I can to answer whatever question you may have in a most positive way.”

“No, please, just be honest with me,” Silvia said. “Even that’s more than I deserve for not being here.” Deidre sighed and turned away.

“It has not been easy, my queen,” Deidra said. “We have been struggling ever since the Featherlands collapsed. We make due, rest assured, but it is simply not safe for any of us above ground.”

“I… I’m so sorry,” Silvia said. Deidra raised her hand.

“My que- Silvia, listen to me,” Deidra started. “There was little you or any of us could have done to stop this. Please do not blame yourself. It is folly and simply is not a constructive use of your mind right now.” Silvia thought for a moment and nodded.

“I will try,” Silvia said with a sigh.

“What would you like to know, my dear?” Deidra asked. In an instant, every question she had between then and the Featherland Assassin attack popped into her mind at once. It came like a screaming, pulsing ache against her head. Still, one stood out, one that Silvia wasted no time asking.

“Have you seen Lilly?” Silvia asked. Deidra paused curiously. “Lilly’s been missing at home for a while now. Well, she’s been distant for sure. It’s… strange. I doubt my mom and dad know much if anything at all, but now it feels as if she’s been gone for too long.” Silvia peered around the room at all the others watching her.

“Would you like to go somewhere more private?” Deidra asked.

“Yes,” Silvia said, quietly. Deidra nodded and turned to leave. “Wait, no. No, I… I just need to…” Deidra stopped and looked back. Saliva raised her voice. “Everyone, I couldn’t come back. I tried, I promise I did. Time and time again I tried to come back in every way I knew how. For months, something was keeping me out. I know that sounds like an excuse and I don’t blame anyone for thinking that it is, but it’s the truth. I tried. I wanted to come back so badly, but I couldn’t. If I could, I would have been here.”

“And you would have been put in danger,” Deidra said. “Dear, what happened wasn’t your fault. I couldn’t stop it, I couldn’t imagine that you would have been able to either. I don’t know why you were kept out of the Featherlands for so long. I can say that I had nothing to do with it.”

“I didn't think that you did,” Silvia said. The others watched on closely. Thea stayed standing by. “I didn’t have any suspicions until yesterday.”

“What happened yesterday?”

“I was attacked,” Silvia said. The mumbling whispers returned.

“By what?” Deidra asked.

“By someone calling themselves The Featherland Assassin,” Silvia said. The mumbles grew louder. Deidre blinked, her expression caught off guard.

“In your world?” Deidra asked. “That doesn’t seem possible. Are you sure it was a Featherlander?” Silvia swung her bag around. She opened up the front pocket and produced the dagger she stole from her attacker. She held it out for Deidra to examine.

“He knew things, told me things, that only a Featherlander could know,” Silvia said. “He attacked me with this.” Deidra came closer to the dagger. She looked down at it closely, her eyes widening more the longer she inspected it. She took it from Silvia’s hand, holding it up to her face. Her complexion fell colorless, her wings slowing their rhythmic flapping.

“It… it’s not possible.”

“He mentioned that there was a new Badland Queen.” Deidra paused to look back at her.

“There is,” Deidra said quietly. The spectators watching on twitched. Some held onto one another while others averted their eyes.

“It was then that I started to suspect that Lilly came back here,” Silvia continued. “If there’s a new Badland Queen then there becomes a way to open the Arium Pruitum. I think Lilly came back to do just that, to go back to the Badland Castle and talk to this…”

“Nysadia,” Deidra said, the sounds like poison on her lips.

“If she did come back, that would have been why,” Silvia said. “I know Lilly better than anyone. I know just how much losing…” Silvia stopped herself. Deidra bowed her head. She looked back down at the dagger in her hand.

“It’s okay,” Deidra said after a pause.

“Losing Erica destroyed her,” Silvia said. “She never moved on from it. I watched it happen. She was miserable day after day after we came back. She stopped eating. She stopped sleeping. She stopped being her. So if Lilly found someone to appease to open the pit, to free Erica, then I know she would have done anything to make that happen, including sacrificing herself. That’s why I think she’s here and that’s why, if she is, she’s going to put herself in serious danger if she hasn’t already. I have to stop her. If she’s already there, I have to save her. I’ll also do anything to make that happen.” Deidra looked at the dagger in her hands. A smile began forming on her lips.

“You’re so much like her, you know that?” Deidra asked with a little chuckle. Silvia shrugged.

“Let’s hope that I am,” said Silvia.

“I want to help, and I will anyway I can,” Deidra said. “But unfortunately, I know nothing of a ‘Featherland Assassin’. This is disconcerting news to me.”

“That’s okay,” said Silvia. “That’s not my main concern right now. And Lilly?” Deidra hesitated. She looked down, her hands fidgeting with the dagger.

“Lilly was here, yes,” said Deidra.

“She was?”

“Yes,” Deidra said. Silvia paused, her eyes wandering off for her mind to focus.

“Okay, wow, I wish that made me feel better,” said Silvia. “How long ago?”

“I don’t know how long it was in your time,” said Deidra, “but here it was a few months ago. She came by wanting aid in making a trek back to the Badland Castle.”

“I knew it,” Silvia said. She held her hands to her mouth. Turned away and paced in place, pushing her glasses back up the bridge of her nose. “I knew it. I knew it. What happened?”

“I had to decline,” Deidra said.

“Why?”

“Because it simply is not safe for her or anyone else,” said Deidra. “I couldn’t risk sending her out there or any of my own as a chaperone.”

“Why not?” Silvia asked. “Is that not exactly what you did last time?”

“Yes,” Deidra said firmly. Her voice was low, but sharp. “And Lilly was not the only one who lost someone that day.” Silvia started to speak, but stopped herself. She eased the heat building beneath her breath.

“I’m sorry,” Silvia said. “What happened next?” Deidra shook her head.

“She went anyway,” said Deidra. Silvia recoiled. “I’m sorry. I tried to stop her, I did, but she got away from me.” A heavy sigh fell from Silvia’s lips. Thea’s eyes shifted.

“I can’t say I’m surprised,” Silvia said. “So I was right? She left for the castle?”

“That was her intention, yes,” Deidra said.

“Alone?”

“I don’t know,” Deidra said. She looked down at the dagger again. She ran her thumb across the side of the blade. “It is possible that she elicited outside help from another.” Silvia’s eyes fell to the weapon.

“If she made it, she’d be there by now,” Silvia said beneath her breath. “But would it have been that long ago?”

“I’m terribly sorry, dear, but I have not seen her since she left,” said Deidra.

“Then she hasn’t returned,” Silvia said. “Wait, you haven’t seen Lilly, but have you seen Erica?” Deidra’s eyes narrowed.

“No, why would you ask me that?” said Deidra, a pained hiss in her voice.

“If she succeeded, if she got Erica out, then Erica would have returned home, right? At some point?”

“Correct,” said Deidra. Silvia's expression dropped. Her eyes slumped, her cheeks began to drain themselves of color. Her voice lowered once more.

“Then she came. She left. She hasn’t come back. And she didn’t…” Silvia thought out loud. She breathed heavily to calm her nerves. Her hands rose to her mouth, pushing against her cheeks around to the back of her head. “She’s in trouble. She has to be. She’s out there, either lost or hurt or taken… or worse. She could be anywhere. Or she could have gotten to the castle and… what that place does to you, I… I have to find her.”

“Silvia, please don’t put this on me,” Deidra said. “I cannot carry with me the guilt of something happening to you as well.”

“But we have to do something.”

“And I cannot, in good conscience, let you go out there the way she did,” Deidra said, raising her voice. “If what you’re saying is true…” Silvia stared back at her. She held her head up high and shifted her bag confidently against her back.

“Your majesty, you said yourself that me and her are a lot alike,” Silvia started. “I am just as determined, if not more, than she was. If you could go back and give her the help she needed, knowing that she would go out anyway, wouldn’t you?” Silvia turned to address everyone else in the room, now packed with people having come by to see her return. “And everyone, I know that I used to be the Featherland Queen. How it came to be that way, I still don’t really know. Where I come from, not many children are given positions of authority. Some of you may want me to still be that. I’m sure a lot of you have lost faith in my ability to be your queen and frankly, I don’t blame you. But that doesn’t make it stop being my responsibility. I’m sorry for all that you all have been through. I blame myself as much as any of you might. Each and every one of you deserves to live in your land. In your homes. With your loved ones. This is our world! No one has the right to take that away!” The soft murmurs quickly became rousing cheers. Applause and roaring praise exploded through the entire chamber. Thea clapped and hooted while bouncing up and down. Deidre watched before smiling back at Silvia.

“I, not as your queen,” Silvia began again, “but as a lover of all the Featherlands and everyone in it, promise you this: I will bring back my sister, I will save the Featherland Warrior, and we are all going to come together to take back our land and put this hag Nysadia back in her place!”

Another explosion of cheers erupted through the halls. Fairies swirled through the air. Beasties came together to howl and roar proudly. Children cheered from atop their parents' shoulders. Magical gusts of sparkles burst into clouds, showing glittery sparkles over everyone. Silvia stood, looking up and wondering when she thrust her fist into the air. Deirda sank in the encouraging faces of her people all around her. She sighed into a defeated smile. Thea purred and squeaked happily. She came closer, eyes wide and twinkling.

“That’s so amazing, your majesty!” Thea said. “It’s destiny, like I said. You’re an inspiration! I just knew it! What’s your plan?” Among the jeers all around her, Silvia turned slowly. She swallowed through a dry throat. In an instant, her enthusiasm soured. Beneath the surging cries of praise, she spoke.

“I have no idea.”