Dragon’s Head Village: Actors and Patrons

Breakfast was over and Hermonia watched her mum and grandmum get ready for the day.  It seemed they took so long to get ready when they were already beautiful the way they were when they awoke.  Hermonia quickly grew bored watching adults primp and buried her nose in a book until they were ready.

Crispin devoured his breakfast and slipped out of the house when Zovah departed to tend to the bigger dragons.  “She won’t really miss me for a couple of hours and if she does,” he thought to himself “she’ll assume I’ve found some place warm and dark to nap.”

Flinn had returned with the rosemary and lilies as requested, and without a word of thanks his mother shooed him from the house.  “Just make yourself scarce while I have visitors this morning, they have no need or want to associate with the likes of you.”  Flinn was so accustomed to these slights and paid no attention.  He was actually grateful this time because he needed to go meet Crispin and Arsenic before his mother’s guests arrived.  Flinn slung his fishing pole on his left shoulder and headed off toward the river.  If his mother or Brock spared him a second glance, they would assume he had gone fishing for the day.

The rays of morning sun bathed Arsenic in light, creating a halo affect perfectly contrasting his red wings against the moss that made up his bed.  This was the one place where Arsenic didn’t kill the flora and thus he was happy sleeping here on the ground, smelling the moss, and curling up into a tight ball at night, a crimson speck on a bed of silvery green under the moon.  The morning sun quickly roused him and he fluttered awake and turned his face to the sun.  He allowed himself to soak up the warmth of the sun as his wings dried the last of the night dew from their crimson petals.

Warm, dry, and hungry Arsenic was ready to meet Flinn and Crispin.  He thought about stopping for some honey and biscuits made by his sisters but was too eager to learn how his plan was going to pan out.  He was cautiously optimistic, he just had one of those feelings.  He may be the worst flower fairy ever be Arsenic knew, deep in his soul, that he was meant for great things and those things were centered around helping the village.

Like actors backstage, our unlikely band of heroes were missing out on what was taking place in the village they all loved.  In the smallest house in town, at the furthest edge of the village square was the home of June and her four children.  This morning, like most morning, the children would go without breakfast.  June’s husband, Harold had left on a fishing trip two weeks ago but had yet to return.  The house had run out of food stocks and Harold had taken the family savings with him.  June hadn’t grown up in Dragon’s Head and was slow to make friends.  Her pride and shyness kept her from asking for help.  As she sent the children outside, June heard their stomachs rumble in protest and it was all June could do to not break down in tears of desperation and humiliation.

Arsenic flew by as the four children entered the front garden, he heard their stomachs rumbling and he paused to watch.  He perched himself on the window ledge and listened.  Despite their obvious hunger, the children were happy and cheerful.  Arsenic decided to spy on their mother and his first look at her face made him flutter to the window ledge like a petal falling from a flower.  The despair and guilt on the woman’s face moved Arsenic and he knew what the first mission would be.  Arsenic threw off the weight of emotion and sprung back into the air and flew as quickly as possible to the meeting with Flinn and Crispin.  It was time to meet the others and get Hermonia to join them in their cause.

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The Widow’s Quest Begins, part 3

Claudia woke up, still exhausted and emotionally drained.  After the disappointing search of the boat and the motorhome, she was out of ideas.  Where on earth could Abe have hidden a treasure in the house?  Surely she would have come across a hidden treasure cleaning the house over the years.  This was the single thought that plagued her all night and it continue to plague her as she showered and dressed for the day.

Abe wasn’t a sneaky man, he was as open as her favorite book.  He couldn’t keep a secret from her throughout their marriage and yet, somehow he had managed to keep this whole hidden treasure a secret.  She walked into the kitchen, brewed herself a strong cup of coffee, and sat down in her favorite chair.  Sipping her coffee she surveyed the living room and couldn’t spot a single spot where Abe could have stashed something without her knowledge. 

Her glance caught the paintings on the wall, wondering if there was anything secured to the rear of the paintings.  She thought it was unlikely, the paintings were dusted on a regular basis and nothing had ever seen amiss.  Her coffee quickly disappeared as she let her mind wander and consider where in the house Abe could have hid something. 

Claudia stood and made herself another cup of coffee.  And made a spur of the moment decision, “Alright Abe, you gave me this quest and you failed to give even the most minimal of clues.  I hope you are proud of yourself.  I will solve this quest, even if it means I tear this house apart in the process.  I like mysteries and quests, as you well knew.  So, my love I miss you and you are extremely irritating right now but I will solve this mystery.”  There was a strength and determination in her voice that friends and family would be surprised to hear.

As the coffee brewed, Claudia headed back into the bedroom and quickly slipped into pink yoga pants and a gray t-shirt.  She slipped into her favorite slipper socks, two bunny faces peaked up from her feet.  A slight involuntary smile graced her face at the memory  of Abe bringing home the socks from a business trip  couple of years ago.  As she made her way back into the kitchen, the smile still played about her face.  Her eyes weary and the dark smudges clearly evident, but there was a determination in her footsteps. 

Grabbing her coffee cup, she headed for Abe’s office.  She hadn’t been in here since that horrible moment when she had returned home from the hospital.  The room was covered in a fine layer of dust and had the stale, unused odor that often accompanies spaces that have been closed off from the rest of the house for a while.  As she walked into the room, waves of memories came crashing down like a wave slamming into the beach during a thunderstorm.  Her knees buckled, coffee sloshed from her cup, and she quickly sat down in the nearest chair.  She hadn’t expected the memories to crash down and overwhelm her.  It took all of her remaining emotional strength to not flee the room, slamming the office door behind her. 

“Just sit here Claud, let the memories crash down.  They can’t hurt you.” Claudia was talking herself into staying.  One hand clutching the coffee cup, the other clutching the arm rest on the chair but what both hands had in common, were white knuckles and tight grips on their respective object.  The tension in the room was palpable.  The tears began to slowly slip down her face, silent sob racking her body.  The only sound that could be heard was the sounding of tears splashing into her coffee. 

An hour or so later, the tears had stopped and at some point Claudia had set down her coffee cup.  She tucked her feet under her and curled into the chair, accepting the simple warmth it provided.  She drifted off to sleep, to emotionally exhausted to shake herself awake and begin to search Abe’s office.  She fell asleep in Abe’s office for the first time since he died.

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Dragon’s Head Village: The Birth of a Friendship, part 4

Hermonia woke early, before any of the adults in the house were stirring. She listened to the sleeping house, hearing little squeaks and snippets of conversation all around her. She couldn’t make out who or what was being said but she found comfort in these conversations.
She slipped from her bed, shivering in the cool of the house after the warmth of her bed. Hermonia slipped into her favorite slippers, lemon yellow and hand-knitted by Mum, her padded feet making no sound as she shrugged into her coat and slipped outside.

The morning air was crisp and cool, a layer of fog covering the flowers and lawn. “Daisy, are you up yet?” Hermonia’s voice was urgent but soft.
Daisy fluttered up from where she had been sleeping, rubbing the sleep from her eyes as she came into view. “Hermonia, its early so early the tree frogs haven’t gone to bed yet. Why are you up?” Her voice was husky with sleep but friendly.

“I know it is early. I’m sorry but I couldn’t sleep anymore. We are supposed to go see the herbalist this morning and I was wondering what you knew about her.”

Daisy could detect the undercurrent of strain and trepidation in Hermonia’s voice. “I don’t know much but what I do know isn’t pleasant. She has two sons, Brock and Flinn and clearly favors Brock. She doesn’t associate with the village much and she is generally thought of as a necessary evil. I also know that she is only a successful herbalist because of the flower fairies. She has a black thumb worse than Arsenic’s and if it weren’t for the flower fairies, everything she attempted to grow would be dead.”

Hermonia looked thoughtfully at Daisy while she spoke, a line of worry began to crease her brow. “Is she going to do horrible things to me?”
Daisy smiled, “Not possible, even if you weren’t going with a member of your family the flower fairies would not allow Elspeth or Brock to harm you.”

Hermonia beamed at this and Daisy watched as another worry flitted behind her eyes. “What is concerning you now?”

“How do I hug a flower fairy without crushing you?” Hermonia’s voice was puzzled and thoughtful, clearly indicating this was a problem she had spent considerable time reflecting upon.

“Well, I’m never actually thought about it myself,” replied Daisy. “No human has ever asked to hug a flower fairy.”

Hermonia’s face screwed up into a pout, clearly not the answer she wanted. “Humph, I will think of something but now I must slip back inside before everyone else begins to wake-up. I will come find you after the visit to the herbalist’s today.”

Hermonia waved and before Daisy could respond she had already slipped back inside the warmth of the house. Daisy smiled and made her way back to her bed. She crawled in between the rose petals and curled up next to her sister Petunia.

Crispin woke early too, before any of the other dragons and he stretched reveling in the solitude. The bigger dragons were asleep outside in their barn but here inside Zovah’s house all was quiet, still, and warm. He had fallen asleep curled up on his favorite cushion by the roaring fire last night. Now this morning, the fire was just glowing embers of pale orange and vibrant yellows. However, the house was still warm and cozy and Crispin was well rested despite his concerns for the activities planned for later this morning.

Crispin strolled around the house and decided to act as expected and promptly pounced on the sleeping Zovah. Zovah grunted with annoyance as Crispin landed on her stomach with all his weight and wings fully extended. He purred and nudged his head beneath Zovah’s hand so that she would pet his head. Zovah, still mostly asleep, petted Crispin unaware that her smallest dragon was up to things she had no clue about. Zovah sleepily decided that it was time to start her day and pushed Crispin onto the floor unceremoniously.

“Time to get busy old boy,” Zovah said as she clambered from her warm and comfortable bed. Crispin roared his displeasure as he threaded himself between Zovah’s legs. He was satisfied with how his morning was progressing and was sure it was a good sign for the morning’s activities.

Dragon's Head Village: The Birth of a Friendship, part 3

In the pre-dawn light, Arsenic shook himself awake and made an effort to be as still and quiet as possible.  Crispin awoke and stretched, his white fur a stark contrast to the multi-colored dragons sleeping all around him.  Crispin, unused to being awake before the sun resisted the temptation to roar is displeasure.  After all, it would be impossible to sneak out of the house if he awoke Zovah and the other dragons.

Flinn had being wake most of the night, excitement had prevented sleep from coming.  As the pale lavender light streaked across the sky, Flinn quickly sprang from his bed and threw on clothes.  He fully expected his brother and Mom to still be sound asleep, snug in their respective beds.  To his surprise, he ran into his mother as he tiptoed from his room.

"And just where do you think you are off to at this hour?". His mother's question catching him off-guard.

"Um," he stammered unable to quickly come up with a practical reason for being up so early.

"Don't bother, just come help me before my company arrives in an hour or so.  I need you to light the stove and put the kettle on to boil.  And while the water is boiling, go pick me a bundle of rosemary and a bundle of lilies."

"Yes, ma'am," came Flinn's immediate reply.  And he slowly made his way to the kitchen, grumbling under his breath all the way about his bad luck running into his mother this morning of all mornings.

His mother, Elsbeth, stared after him and shook her head in dismay.  "That child is my last and I can't wait until he is old enough to kick out of the house.  He isn't Brock and he is hopeless with herbs and potions.".  Her long black hair extended past her knees and had yet to be tied back for the day.  Elsbeth was vain about her hair and she spent the first part of every morning plaiting her hair.  As she shook her head, she headed back into her bedroom.  She sat in front of her mirror, her most prized possession, and assessed herself.

"The wrinkles are becoming more pronounced, I must discover a cream that will make them fade.  The village can't see me age and grow old and feeble.  I am the great and mysterious Elsbeth, never shall I be seen as old."

Little did she know, that Brock had woken up when he heard voices in the hallway.  "What she doesn't realize is that soon the village will fear her no longer and will come to me for all their potion needs." His voice cracked mid-sentence, that curious mix of husky and childlike that most teenage boys experience. Brock was large for his age, fifteen last winter, and had a complexion that matched his personality.  He wasn't liked by others and spent most of his days with his mother as his only company.  He paid no attention to Flinn, ignoring him entirely unless it was to mock him or trip him up.

Flinn slipped into the small kitchen and quickly lit the stove and set the kettle to boil.  He didn't know any other life and didn't expect any kindness from his own family.  Shivering slightly as he went to collect the requested items for his mother, Flinn paused to watch the sun peak over the horizon and light up the morning sky in a brilliant array of colors.  The sublet pinks and pale oranges of the morning sky promised warmer days to come, this realization made Flinn smile.

Flinn quickly gathered the rosemary, the woody stems and strong fragrance reminding him of Crispin, strong and stalwart, unshakable.  The lilies reminded him of Arsenic, delicate and strong.  Requested items gathered, Flinn picked up a rock and attempted to skim it across the stream.  The rock sunk quickly and Flinn laughed muttering, "Someday I will figure out how to make rocks skip like Zovah does."

Flinn walked toward the house slowly, thinking about the day ahead.  His face screwed up in  thought, his brow wrinkled as he tried to figure out how to disappear before his mother came up with some awful chore designed to keep him hidden away from her visitors.

"I know, while she drinks her tea I will grab my fishing gear and head out.  So long as I come home with fish for dinner, I will hopefully avoid getting in too much trouble." He thought to himself and a slow smile flitted across his face momentarily.

Placing the rosemary and lilies in the herb room, Flinn made sure to be as quiet as he could possibly be.  He grabbed his fishing gear without being seen or heard and left the house.  He knew that neither his mother or brother would give him a second thought until much later in the afternoon, and by then he would have met-up with Crispin and Arsenic and finally been introduced to Hermonia.

The Widow’s Quest Begins, part 2

Claudia slipped from the SUV and fumbled for the key to the motorhome, memories cascading like a waterfall.  Abe spending countless hours locked in the garage after work, early weekend mornings, after Mass on Sundays, and grabbing a sandwich and heading back out to the garage as he wolfed down dinner.  She remembered feeling neglected and jealous of the motorhome in the beginning but in the end, she loved the motorhome as much as Abe. 

The key slid easily into the lock and the door opened and Claudia was overwhelmed with Abe’s scent.  She breathed deeply, inhaling that wonderful mix of sandalwood, motor grease, sawdust, and BBQ that she wished could be captured in a bottle for all time.  Yes, the air was stale and there were other odors mixed in but all she could smell was Abe and she quickly shut the door behind her trying to preserve the last of the heavenly scent before it escaped to be lost forever.

Claudia collapsed in the nearest open spot and gave herself up to the moment.  Breathing in the very essence of Abe, hearing his laughter, and catching the mere perception of Abe out of the corner of her eye.  Claudia shook her head in an attempt to clear her head and to think clearly.

“Oh Abe, what am I supposed to do without you?  How am I supposed to go on with our life if you aren’t here?”

Silence was the only response to her question.  The sun filtered through the closed blinds in the living area of the motorhome.  The subtle pale blues and lavenders creating a warm and cozy feeling.  Claudia slipped off her shoes and stood, determination flooding through her.  She opened the cabinet nearest and quickly emptied it’s contents all over the table.  It was an assortment of board games and a couple of decks of cards.  She quickly rifled through the boxes but only found the expected contents in each one.  As she shoved the games and cards back, she bite her lip in consternation. 

She went through all the cabinets in the living area and kitchen efficiently but thoroughly.  There was nothing remotely unexpected in any of them.  She did find an unexpected $50 in spare change and bills but surely that wasn’t what Abe considered a precious family treasure.  All the remained was the bedroom and she didn’t know if she could face the bedroom.

Claudia sat down and forced herself to try and relax.  She could feel the tension and the anticipation in her muscles.  A couple of quick stretches and a silently prayer and she was ready to face the bedroom.  As she opened the door, she saw their bed and she gasped involuntarily.

As she slumped against the door, she sighed heavily and felt a couple of tears trickle down her face.  She forced herself forward and sat down on the bed.  As she sunk into the mattress, she glanced around trying to figure out where Abe could have hidden something.  She quickly eliminated the drawers on her side of the room.  Abe wouldn’t have hidden something on her side in case she discovered before it was intended to be discovered.  She settled on his side of the room and quickly dumped the contents of his side of the room on the bed. 

Settling herself amongst the clothes and cluttered of Abe’s, she began to sort.  Nothing unusual, spares socks and shorts, hiking boots, jeans, sweaters, shirts, and sneakers.  All items she expected to find.  She sorted through the couple of books Abe had stashed, no secret notes or treasure maps slipped out pointing to “X” marks the spot.  Frustration set-in once again and as she replaced the clutter back in it’s appropriate spot she talked to Abe.

“Abe, why did you give me some impossible quest and not even leaving me a clue?”  Her voice was husky with emotion and exhaustion.  “I’ve searched the two most obvious locations today and come up empty, not even a note.  I miss you more than words can say but I never would have guessed you could be as frustrating in death as you were in life.”  She shook her head and laughed at this last statement.

There was a smile on her face as she surveyed the room.  “Well, it’s back in order and I’m exhausted and hungry.  I’m going home and I will tackle this again tomorrow. Why am I talking to myself?”

Locking the motorhome behind her, she climbed into the SUV and drove home. 

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The Widow’s Quest Begins, part 1

Claudia awoke early the next morning, exhausted emotionally but energized at the same time.  She dreamt of Abe last night which had become normal, but as she lay there in the pre-dawn light she reflected on last night’s dream.  Unlike previous nights, Abe wasn’t reaching out to her or walking away from her rather last night it was images of Abe as he lived his life.  Laughing and engaging in activities he loved while he was alive.  She smiled as the images danced in her head, Abe lighting the grill and prepping for a weekend in the woods. 

“The dream couldn’t have been just a mere coincidence,” Claudia thought.  “Abe was trying to telling me something, a clue maybe?”

Claudia mulled this thought over as she made coffee and carried it back into the bedroom.  As the coffee cooled and she showered, the thought wouldn’t be dismissed that her dream had significance.  Slipping into her comfortable navy sweats and Abe’s soft and favorite t-shirt emblazoned with Animal from the Muppets, Claudia grabbed her coffee cup and made her way to the kitchen and made herself another cup.

As the coffee brewed, Claudia grabbed some paper and a pen making a list of all the likely places Abe could have hidden this family treasure.

1. Boat
2. Camper
3. Under the bed
4. Hidden compartment in his desk?
5. Back of the file cabinet

A smile graced Claudia’s face, not one of those fake, insincere smiles she had been flashing to family and friends since Abe’s death.  This smile came from the heart and lit-up her face as she thought about Abe.  Unbeknownst to Claudia, the healing process had begun and she was going to be fine in the coming months.  Abe might be physically absent but his presence and love would be felt for the remainder of her days.

“The boat and the camper are the least likely I think.  I’m going to tackle those first.”  As she sipped her coffee, she realized that she had begun to talk out loud to herself to fill the silence. Shrugging her shoulders, she decided that if it brought her comfort than it wasn’t hurting anyone.

As the door to the garage silently shut behind her, Claudia made her way to the boat.  The three car-garage held their SUV and the boat.  The camper was stored at a facility a couple of miles down the road.  “Boat first, no sense driving over there if the treasure is hidden in the boat.”

She climbed into the loving restored boat and the memories came flooding back.  Abe hunched over the crumbling and rotting wood as he assured her that despite it’s outward appearance now, one day she would be a thing of beauty.  Claudia shook her head now, as she had all those years ago, smiling at the memory and the beautiful boat Abe had restored.  Over the next hour or two, every cushion and cubby hole was thoroughly searched and although she found a pair of lost earrings and a couple half-finished paperbacks there was nothing resembling a family treasure hundreds of years old.

Her hair had slipped out of it’s pony tail and as she re-secured her hair, she surveyed the mess she had made, there were cushions haphazardly placed, cubbyholes half-way closed, and bits and pieces of their life scattered on every available surface.  The sight brought a heavy hearted smile to her face and Claudia sat down with an audible “thud” as she surveyed the mess.  “Oh Abe, I miss you.  I miss reaching out and feeling you beside me.  And most of all, I miss knowing that we will never again have a sunset boat trip on the lake.”  The tears flowed but she made no effort to stop them, nor did she feel guilty for the first time since that phone call a month ago for being alive without him. 

The tears passed as she straightened up the boat.  Once the boat was once again immaculate, Claudia climbed down and brushed herself off.  Without sparing second thought for how she must look, she grabbed the keys to the car and the camper and headed out.  The camper was only fifteen minutes down the road and Claudia made it without really paying attention to where she was going.  Pulling up to the camper, another wave of memories engulfed her.  Another of Abe’s restoration projects, this one an old motorhome from the 1970’s.  She remembered the look on his face as he proudly drove up in the thing as she came out the front door. 

“Abe seriously, it is in worse condition than the half-finished boat you are reviving in the garage.  What are we supposed to do with this, this thing?” her voice was filled with contempt, confusion and exasperation all at the same time.

Abe had smiled as he parked the motorhome and walked over to her.  “Don’t worry honey bunch, it will be lovely and we can spend our golden years escaping into the woods and away from the hustle and bustle.  Just imagine, our own private hide-away just ready and waiting for us whenever we want.  I promise it will be perfect.”

Claudia shook her head, trying to clear the memories.  “Oh Abe, it is beautiful and I would have loved to spend time in the woods with you.”  Again, the tears started as she slipped from the SUV and unlocked the camper.

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Dragon’s Head Village: The Birth of a Friendship, part two

Flinn stood calmly and looked curiously at Crispin and Arsenic. Crispin couldn’t believe the façade of calm and pounced on Flinn. Claws out, he landed on Flinn’s bare leg and hung on as if Buttercup had come back to life before his eyes.

Flinn flinched but made no move to remove Crispin from his leg. Rather, he said “That really smarts Crispin, if you wanted my attention you could have just asked me a question.”

Arsenic merely laughed and made his way up to Flinn’s left shoulder. “Don’t mind him, he’s grumpy and he doesn’t really know who he can trust.”

Flinn nodded and merely reached down and stroked the bristled fur on Crispin’s spine. “I promise Crispin, you can trust me.”

Crispin growled and released his hold on the boy’s leg. “We shall see about that. After all, I’ve have heard the whispers about your mother.”

Flinn slumped down against the base of the tree, his whole demeanor instantly changed. “What are they saying now? I’ve seen the looks when I walk in the village. I have no friends and it is lonely.”

Arsenic settled on Flinn’s shoulder and spoke up. “We, Crispin and I, have been talking. I have come up with a plan and I think I’ve convinced our friendly dragon here to help us all. But it means we all have to trust one another and be willing to take a risk.”

“I still think it is a horrible idea,” muttered Crispin. “I mean after all, a dragon, a fairy, a boy, and a wee girl unite to save a village? It’s daft.”

“What wee girl are you talking about? I want to help.” There was an air of excitement and curiosity in Flinn’s voice that was undeniable.

Arsenic spoke before there was a chance to for Crispin to start to complain. “Flinn, first anything we talk about this afternoon is between the three of us. Promise?”

Flinn vigorously nodded his head, his long brown hair slipping over his eyes as he nodded his head.

“Alright then, here’s the situation. I’m a horrible flower fairy. Everything I touch withers and dies and yet I love the village and the people. The other fairies are afraid I have something catching and they ignore me most of the time. Crispin here has a night time problem, he can’t sleep and so he roams the village at night. I followed him several nights and you will never guess what our “oh so scary” dragon here does on these nights.”

“What? Does he plug chimneys or dig up rose gardens?”

Crispin scowled, the displeasure evident on his face. “I do not dig up rose gardens. I told you this was a bad idea Arsenic. Can we kindly go now before this goes any further?”

Arsenic just laughed and ignored the plea. “Flinn he actually helps people at night. He sneaks into houses and shops and gardens and does things that need to be done. I’ve seen him stoke a fire that has almost gone out and tuck a smile child back into bed after the covers have ended up on the floor. One night I watched with amazement as Crispin straightened the butcher’s shop after a particularly bad day for the butcher.”

Flinn looked down at Crispin and smiled. “I never thought the stories about him were true. They seemed like too much bluster and not enough sustenance to be honest. Who is the wee girl and how do I fit into the plan you have?”

“The wee girl is Hermonia, she just moved back into town with her parents. She is three, maybe four, and she, like you, can see fairies. She is also not fearful of Crispin. She is very curious and intelligent and is fearless. I quite like her but Crispin is completely nervous about trusting one so young.”

“I’ve met her once when she came to my mother’s with her parents. She was quite talkative and funny. I liked her. But how do I fit into your plan? I am just a boy and according to my mother not a particularly bright or funny one.”

Crispin spoke up, “Your mother is wrong. I’ve watched from a distance since you were very small. Your mother is a bully who favors your sister because she wants her to someday take over the herbal business from her. Your mother has convinced everyone she’s a ‘witch’ and thus the village fears her. I think you are smarter than your mother and sister combined.”

Flinn just stared at Crispin, a bewildered look on his face. “You’ve been watching me? I never even knew.”

Crispin nodded, “Yes but I think you and Hermonia are too young to be involved in Arsenic’s crazy plan. It’s one thing if I get caught sneaking around, everyone already doesn’t trust me but you and Hermonia are innocent and if we get caught there is nothing we can do to help you. The village doesn’t even know about the flower fairies and they will never believe that I can talk.”

Flinn nodded, his face pensive. “That is true but although I’m only eight I know that a life without risk is boring. I’m already bored and lonely enough. I want to help. I understand the risks but I would rather run the risk of getting caught then doing nothing.”

Arsenic fluttered down to the ground standing between Crispin and Flinn. “Then it is a deal. The three of us are in. That just leaves having a conversation with Hermonia.   She is always with an adult unless she slips out of the house to talk to the fairies. I guess I will try and catch her on one of those occasions.”

“I heard she’s coming her in the morning with her mother. I’m not sure why they are coming or how long they will be here.” Flinn spoke up, excited and nervous.

“Then tomorrow morning it is. I will be here with the first light since I’ve noticed the Hermonia likes to wake up with the sun. Crispin I will brief you at tea time if you can manage to sneak away from the afternoon walk.”

Crispin nodded his head slowly, “It seems like the best plan. Although I still think it has too many risks for the children to take.”

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