Page 98 of Prince of the Northwest Forest
“Hey, buddies,” I call, crouching down when I spot some industrious rodents who are digging holes in the ash and bringing up soil. “You’re doing an amazing job so quickly.”
More noses and beady eyes pop up out of the ground. “Prince Kalle!”
“I’m so grateful to you all for doing this work for the realm. You’re going to make it so that trees can grow here again.” I smile. “You’ll deserve special commendation from the royal family.”
One shakes her head. “We aren’t doing this for recognition. We’re enjoying the work. It’s very satisfying to have the new soil come up through the ash.”
I stroke a gentle finger over her ears. “Well, you’re doing great. Keep it up, and thank you. I’ll be sure to tell my parents. I can’t wait to come back and see all the regrowth you have enabled.”
“You’re welcome!” the group choruses.
“What was that all about?” Mats asks once we’re on our way again.
“I’d read that gophers are exceptionally good at restoring areas hit by volcanoes. In a study on how they helped reseed areas after Mount Saint Helens blew, the scientists moved some gophers there for less than a day, and they managed to single-handedly—paw-edly?—regrow the area they touched. So, I was working at the Renversé Hotel, because we thought you might be around there somewhere, and I was asked to deal with the gophers who were causing hazards for guests. I had the idea of asking them to come work here instead, because I thought they could do some good and it would get them away from predators.”
“So they came up here?”
I shrug. “I guess so. I thought I’d need to arrange for transportation, but maybe these are cousins of the ones who were there, or something. The animal communication network is astonishingly fast.” If the ones I talked to in Princedelphia are still there, I hope they aren’t causing more issues on the hotel grounds.
“I know.” Mats scrubs his face, and his hand comes away dirty. “It’s going to be dusty and ashy for the rest of the way, isn’t it?”
“Mostly, yeah. It’ll be even worse once we start going up Mount Pátu.”
“Something to look forward to,” he says dryly. Despite the barren landscape, when the sun goes down we manage to find a lonely wood nymph who takes us in for the night. Their food is meager, but they share it willingly, and I send a blue jay to Risteárd, asking him to restock this nymph’s supplies.
The next morning, we start the climb up Mount Pátu. By the time we reach the top, we’re grimy, tired, and hungry. But we make it to the obsidian castle in record time. Again, the guards give us a more cordial reception than Justice and I received in Icedonia. Again, I’m thrown by the firecats lounging in front of the various fires. And again, we are shown to the throne room. This time, though, we’re greeted by Princess Eleanor, and her reaction to Mats is very different from the cool reception she gave me last time.
“Mats!” she cries, hopping off her throne and hurrying over to him. “Where have you been?”
She’s concerned for him. Perhaps it’s possible that she could be a potential friend rather than only an adversary.
He smiles at her, and it’s one of his genuine smiles. “Hi, Eleanor. I’m sorry I missed our wedding date. I was in the Fae Realm, and I didn’t realize so much time had passed.”
She taps his bicep and gives him a flirty wink. “Naughty. You’re not supposed to go there.”
“Perhaps.”
“We’re just glad he’s safe,” I emphasize. “He gotkidnapped.”
Eleanor’s big eyes go wide. “You did? Oh my gods. Are you all right?”
Mats nods. “I’m fine. They treated me well. I didn’t even realize there was a problem until I got home and everyone told me I’d missed the wedding.”
“Well, then there’s no lasting harm done.” She claps her hands. “Would you both like to get cleaned up? And then, after eating, Mats and I can talk alone, perhaps.”
“A bath would be marvelous,” I say.
York shows us to our rooms. He puts me in the same room I shared with Justice, and all I can think about is our first kiss. Our first … everything.
I miss Justice. How is he doing? I imagine him steaming up all kinds of milk and serving delicious coffee drinks to the clientele of Café Magnifique.
After a refreshing bath, I dress for the meal. I’m headed down the hallway to join everyone in the dining room when Martin stops me. An Anna’s hummingbird is buzzing around his head.
Is it a message from my parents?
“What is it?” I ask.
“Justice has gone to the Fae Realm,” the hummingbird says, his wings flapping so fast that they cool my face.
