beloved prince at the bottom of the tower. It was a young man she’d never seen before. He called up to her, ‘Alexandra, let down your hair and I’ll come save you.’
“‘But you’re not my prince,’ she cried. ‘You cannot save me.’
“‘Allow me to try,’ the stranger said.
“Feeling she had no other choice, Alexandra threw her braid out the window and watched this young man, undaunted by the danger of his task, climb her hair to the window. Then she first laid eyes on her rescuer. His clothing was torn and his skin scratched by the forest of thorns he’d fought through. She could see burns from fighting the dragon. But she saw past these and into those pale blue eyes and immediately fell in love with him. In a story like no other, she had discovered love at first sight. She asked, ‘What is your name?’
“He replied, ‘Lysander, prince of Coleston.’ Without waiting another moment, he kissed her and the enchantment was broken. A flight of golden stairs magically appeared and Prince Lysander led his newfound love down below where three fairies were waiting. Those fairies were Calista Periwinkle, Vulcan Firebrand, and me.
“Naturally we were quite confused to see Alexandra being led down by someone other than her prince. Maximillion was found and after speaking to everyone involved we were able to piece together what had happened. Your father had secretly been helping Maximillion with his classes since he was not able to attend Charming Academy himself. That’s how he had come to know of Alexandra and of the dangers of rescuing her. He’d seen Maximillion flee, and unwilling to allow a princess to be left alone forever, he risked his own life to save her.
“It was determined that Alexandra and Lysander would marry, seeing as they were so in love with each other. However, it was also decided that the story would not be written because Lysander, though a Prince Charming in every sense of the title, had not graduated from Charming Academy. Prince Maximillion was stripped of his diploma and will never earn the title Prince Charming.”
“But why wasn’t the story written? It shouldn’t matter that he didn’t come to this school. He saved her, didn’t he?” Lucian asked.
Phillipa sighed, “I don’t have an answer for that, Lucian. In truth, it should have been, however I was not present for the final decision. Calista would know. Your father shouldn’t have been able to get through those obstacles. So, in a sense, you are second generation and I hope you see what results from failure. While it was certainly good for your parents, Maximillion lost everything that should have been his. That’s a horrible price to pay simply for a different bride.”
Lucian was silent as he finished brushing the last carriage horse. He heard Zephyr whinny. He turned with a smile and walked over to him. “Are you feeling jealous?”
Zephyr snorted and pushed Lucian’s chest with his nose.
“I owe you a gallop, don’t I?” He rubbed Zephyr’s forehead. The horse whinnied and he turned to Phillipa, “May I take him for a ride?”
“I don’t know, Lucian,” she frowned. “It’s getting late and you still struggle with him.”
“Please, Phillipa?” he begged. “I made a promise and a gentleman never goes back on his word.”
She laughed. “Using my own logic against me isn’t fair, Lucian. Alright, you may ride. Put this in your pocket,” she said as a piece of pink paper came out of her wand. “This way if Calista or anyone else sees you out they’ll know you have permission. Just be sure you put Zephyr back in his stall clean and fed.”
“I will. Thanks, Phillipa.”
She smiled before turning to Zephyr, “And you take good care of Lucian for me.”
Zephyr whinnied as she patted his neck before leaving.
Lucian put Zephyr’s tack on him before leading him outside to the pasture. The moon was rising as the sun fell towards the horizon, leaving a brilliant splash of color behind it. Zephyr’s coat glowed orange as Lucian led him to the mounting block. He climbed up and clicked his tongue. Zephyr started off at a walk but needed little encouragement to stretch into a gallop. Lucian held the reins loosely, allowing Zephyr the freedom to go at his own speed wherever he wanted. As the world flew by, Lucian basked in the glorious sunset and the feel of the wind whipping his copper hair. Zephyr began to slow down after a while, working his way down to a brisk walk. Lucian looked about, his honey-brown eyes taking in the cool violets and blues that replaced the fiery sunset. He saw a group of sunflowers that had dropped their seeds. He dismounted and gathered them in his pocket. His mother loved sunflowers; if he wrapped them well enough, he could send them to her in his next letter.
Holding on to Zephyr’s reins, Lucian walked about for a while, checking for more flowers that might be ready for picking. Ever impatient, Zephyr pushed his arm. “Are you ready to go home now, Zephyr?” Lucian asked, stopping to stroke the horse’s neck.
He snorted and pushed Lucian again.
Lucian laughed, “Alright, alright, I get the hint. Come on; let’s find a stump or something I can climb up on.”
To his surprise, Zephyr knelt down, allowing Lucian easier access to the saddle. As Lucian climbed up, he patted Zephyr’s neck. “I guess we’re a team now, aren’t we boy?”
Zephyr whinnied before beginning the ride home. The moon shone brightly around them, bathing everything in a silvery glow. Lucian listened to the sound of crickets chirping as he and Zephyr neared the stables. Zephyr began to speed up the closer they got to the cheery barn. Once they reached the pasture gate, Lucian dismounted and led Zephyr into the stables. He put the tack away before rubbing Zephyr down. Then he got his curry brush and brushed Zephyr’s coat until it gleamed. After filling his box with oats, Lucian patted Zephyr’s back before leaving the stables.
He hadn’t gotten very far when he heard Kaelen’s voice, “Well, if it isn’t perfection himself out after hours.”
“Leave me alone, Kaelen,” Lucian said.
“I was just asking your buddy here if he was brave enough to go into the witches’ garden.” Kaelen was pointing to a skinny, terrified-looking boy Lucian recognized from class, but didn’t know by name. “He could do it. I wonder if you can.”
“Is there a purpose behind going into their garden? Because I have better things I could be doing,” Lucian replied, making to go around Kaelen.
“I knew you were chicken.”
“Am not. We’re not allowed in the garden. Everyone knows that.”
“Nah, you’re just chicken. And now everyone will know that you are a coward. It’s going to be awfully hard to save your princess if you’ve got no spine.”
“Fine,” Lucian snapped, “I’ll go into the stupid garden.”
“Not so fast,” Kaelen said, grabbing his arm. “You have to prove you were there. I want you to steal one of their herbs and bring it back to me.”
“I hope they catch you,” Lucian hissed, wrenching his arm away and walking up to the gate. He could hear the witches chanting as he neared the house. He pulled the garden gate, hardly daring to breathe as is creaked.
“What was that sound?” he heard one of the witches ask.
“Just the wind, Sister,” another replied. “On with your lesson.”
Lucian let out a silent breath of relief and slipped into the garden. He walked through the garden and looked at the tenderly cared-for plants. He couldn’t spoil it. His eyes fell on a bunch of weeds. Kaelen was so awful at botany he would never know the difference between a weed and an herb. He pulled up the weeds and then his eyes fell on a bare patch where someone had clumsily pulled out a plant. He felt horrible, even though he hadn’t done it. If only he could replace it. A soft plop next to him made him look down. Lying on the ground was one of the sunflower seeds he’d gathered. Of course! But he couldn’t plant them here. As they grew, they would block the sunlight. If he planted it under the window, though, it just might work. He tiptoed to the house and poked three holes into the soft, cold ground. He gently dropped a seed into each hole before covering it. In a voice that was barely a whisper, he said, “Please gr
ow.”
As he started to creep away, he heard a voice in the hovel say, “It’s time to bless the garden, Sisters.”
Frantically, Lucian began looking for somewhere to hide as he heard their door creak open. Seeing a large tree just outside the fence, he rushed to it, hopped silently over the fence. Curious to see what was happening, Lucian peeked around the trunk. He saw five witches walking in the moonlit garden. It was difficult to say what they looked like. All were wearing dark colors, except for one who was wearing a blood-red gown. She had curly, fiery red hair that spilled about her shoulders. One appeared older than all the rest, her hair blue-white in the moonlight.
“Calypso, it is your turn to be the voice. Everyone clasp hands in the circle.”
A young-looking witch raised her face to the sky. “Blessed earth below, hold our growing plants. Blessed water above, rain upon our growing plants. Blessed air all around, be gentle on our growing plants. Blessed fire in the sun, shine down upon our growing plants. Make all that is good grow with speed and cast out wicked thorn and weed.”
Together the witches chanted, “Blessed earth, blessed water, blessed air, blessed fire, keep care our garden dear.” There was silence for a moment, before the five sisters returned indoors.
Lucian silently went around the garden and back to where Kaelen was waiting. “Here are your herbs,” he said thrusting