Page 8 of Wings of Starlight

“I hereby call this meeting to order.” Clarion cleared her throat when her voice wavered, just barely. “We’ll begin with reports from the ministers. Minister of Summer, will you please share any new business?”

“We are nearly ready for the seasonal turn,” Aurelia said languidly. “I have little to report on, apart from your coronation.”

Elvina said nothing, but she looked visibly discomfited. Clarion did her best to put it far out of mind. The alternative was giving weight to that quiet fear within her: that Elvina did not trust her to assume her role.

“Preparations are proceeding on schedule,” Aurelia continued. “We have gathered nearly all the sunlight we’ll need, and we’ve identified the perfect location. When you have a free moment, Your Highness, I’ll ask that you come by to approve it.”

In her warm, drawling cadence, Aurelia outlined the other projects her fairies had been working on over the past week. By the time she finished, Iris was practically vibrating with barely restrained excitement.

“We’ll continue with the Minister of Spring’s—”

“I amsoglad you asked, Your Highness. My garden-talents are hard at work on the floral arrangements. But there are just a few tiny things I want to nail down….” Iris procured no fewer than five bouquets from beneath the table. Rowan looked on in silent wonderment as she placed them in a neat row. “Talk to me about colors. What do you think of these? We could also go in a completely different direction and—”

Clarion felt only a little overwhelmed. “I trust you, Minister. I’m sure it’s going to be beautiful.”

“It certainly will be.” Iris preened. “Ooh! But that still leaves the matter of the dewdrop mosaics…. The water-talents have been experimenting with designs. Of course, I can’t bring them here, but perhaps soon, you could come by Springtime Square, and we can go overallthe details.”

“I look forward to it,” Clarion said, and she found she meant it. Even if she did not have the eye for design that Iris did, her enthusiasm was admittedly infectious. “Minister of Autumn…?”

“I,” Rowan said, ruefully, “have nothing to contribute at the moment—at least not to your coronation.”

It was understandable. Although autumn wouldn’t arrive on the Mainland for months, preparing for the seasonal change took a great deal of coordination and effort. Before she could say so, Iris huffed out a sigh.

“Oh, but youdo,” said Iris. “I need to borrow some of your fast-flyers.”

“Ah, right.” Rowan tapped his chin. A teasing edge crept into his tone. “Now, why was that again?”

“To carry the petals for—Ugh!” Iris threw up her hands “Listen. If you can’t appreciate my artistic vision—”

“While we’re on the subject,” Aurelia interjected, “I could use some tinkers, if you haven’t put them all to work yet.”

“A more practical concern,” Rowan mused. “But I’m not convinced I can spare them.”

As the three of them wandered down the back roads of their tangent, Elvina fixed Clarion with another speaking look from across the table. This one said,Well?

Right.It was up to her to bring the meeting to order.

“If I may,” Clarion cut in, softer than she intended. Even so, they fell quiet. Every gaze in the room landed on her again. Determined not to lose her nerve, she continued, “Surely we can arrange a schedule that works for everyone. Perhaps the Minister of Autumn can spare some fairies for one day a week…?”

Rowan glanced at Elvina, as if seeking her approval. Elvina only gave a vague wave of her hand, as if to say,As she wishes.

Satisfied, Rowan nodded.

Clarion couldn’t bite back a smile. Perhaps she had managed one small victory: a resolution for a problem that had been brought before her. Before she could continue the meeting, however, a scout-talent all but tumbled into the room from above.

All five of them jumped with surprise.

The scout only narrowly avoided crashing into the table. Nevertheless, she saluted Elvina, even as she struggled to even out her breathing. It was as if something had chased her all the way here. Clarion chanced a look back at Artemis. Curiosity and concern warred in her expression, but she did not break from her station.

Elvina stood, once again assuming her role as queen. “What is it?”

“Apologies for the interruption, Your Majesty,” the scout-talent wheezed, “but just before dawn, a monster was sighted in Pixie Hollow.”

A chilly silence descended over them.

Iris spoke first, her confusion evident in her voice. “A monster? Like a hawk, or—”

“No, Minister,” the scout replied gravely. “A monster. I don’t know what else to call it. It crossed into Spring from Winter.”