The Wolves of Ossory

15. Ready for Departure

Maeve

We stood on opposite sides of our fathers desk, looking over the areas he circled on the map. I thought back to what packs and clans there were on the secret map last night. One bordered the dead lands, the others more in the southern continents. I was very fond of those areas, but did not know exactly why he would send us there.

What is the significance? I linked my father.

Remember the secret. I have a hunch the Goddess may be close to the land left destroyed in order to build it back up. He linked to Alma and I, glancing at our mother to make sure she was preoccupied.

We both nodded slightly. Aila was restless in my head and pushed forward to look through my eyes. She felt uneasy and i tried to reason it with the long journey ahead of us.

"I have let the king and queen in Gale Kingdom know you will be visiting them. they have no knowledge of the coronation situation and I would advise it stays that way. I doubt they would invade, but you never know how other people may react. That is the last thing we need right now," Magnus started.

"You and Grady will travel there by portal this afternoon and stay the night. In the morning, they have a wizard who has the coordinates to the next place and you will portal there next." Amber added.

We spent the next hour running through the lands we would be visiting and what we need to expect. Given the treaty, we should be safe and unbothered. Our mother gave us both a pair of turquoise earrings to wear that were enchanted to stay on even if we shift. Rubbing the left one opened a connection back home to Magnus and Amber. The right would be in the case of Alma and I getting separated from each other or Grady. He was given 2 rings, appropriately. If we twisted both of them simontaniously, a portal would open up, sending us home.

These were all safety measures put into place if need be. Hopefully, we wouldn't need to use any of them and would be home sooner than 6 months. I couldn't imagine staying away for so long without any guidance, but I knew that If we were successful, I would have to get used to trusting my gut.

Alma and I were making our way to the front doors of the palace when Benson approached us, Fable next to him.

"Ladies, Fable paid a visit to you " he bowed and took his leave. Fable stood alone, two small bags in her hands.

"I came to give you a coronation gift, from Demi and I. I didn't realize you two were leaving?" she stood there a bit nervously and I pulled her into a hug, wishing I could tell her everything.

"Al and I have some business to attend to in a few packs and will be gone for a while. Nothing too serious," I told the half truth, pulling away from her with a smile.

"A queen never rests as they say," Alma chuckled uncomfortably.

"Well, I suppose that is true. These gifts should be very helpful then. They're merlin sacks. You can fit four or five different suitcases in here, yet carry the small bag discreetly. We had gifted two of them to your parents as well a few years ago; very handy!" She handed us both our gifts and smiled.

"Thank you, Fable. You always seem to know what we need before we know ourselves. I'll put them in our rooms." I thanked her and turned to leave, waiting for Alma.

"You go on ahead! I'll see her out," she responded, waving me on. I shrugged and made my way up the stairs as they headed to the front doors.

I do miss spending time with Fable. I don't know why she distanced herself from me after we left to university. I thought maybe it had to do with when Demi, her wife, and her met, but Demi loved to spend time with us too when we met her. It always bothered me a bit, but I figured that people moved on and grew up, leading their own lives. I could never hold that against her. Adult life seems to never stop being busy and chaotic. I understood how priorities change, she also has a little boy now.

I made my way to my room, beginning to pack and thought I'd check out the merlin sack.

It seemed like a normal drawstring sack, so I pulled the opening wide and looked inside. All I could make out was darkness. Rummaging my hand around, I felt a little switch and decided to flip it.

Suddenly, the bag expanded and the opening grew into a small doorway of sorts, a curtain acting as a makeshift door. I pulled the sheet aside and saw a dimly lit room, no bigger than a six foot by eight area, coming up to my nose. That witch was good, I'll give her that. This would be perfect for our journey!!!

Alma

"So, you're leaving soon," Fable started, making her way through the threshold and out of our palace.

"You know how it is, work work work," I responded, letting out a sigh.

"Something tells me there is more to the story, Al," she c****d her eyebrow at me.

I hesitated, wanting to confide in her and tell her all of the s**t we'd been through the last 48 hours. I knew she would know what to say to make me feel like I wasn't crazy.

"Hey, you don't have to tell me anything. Just let me know what I can do to help. Demi and I are here to help." she rested her hand on my shoulder sensing I was anxious and I felt small butterflies in my stomach.

No no no! Artemis scolded in my mind gently. I rolled my eyes at her through my subconsciousness, earning a humorous bark in return.

"I wish I could talk about it. But I promised I wouldn't. I just need you to know how sorry I am for everything. I'm so sorry for that night behind the bookcase. I should've handled that way better. I owed that much to you, even as a friend," I hung my head slightly, wanting to say the words that would make it all better.

"Alma, that was years ago. And it was for the best. I understand that now. Just because we weren't meant to be does not mean I ever stopped caring or respecting you. I needed the distance to find myself, and find what I truly wanted and needed in my life, and I've found that. I have no hard feelings. I'm sorry I slapped you by the way. That was a bit much," she laughed lightly.

"No, I deserved that," I laughed back, feeling a bit lighter clearing the air between us.

"True, you did. If it's any consolation, you have a strong face and my hand was bruised for days!" she confided, taking her hand away and heading towards the street to leave.

"Oh, Fable?!" I called after her. "I do have a small favor to ask."

"Anything," she responded confidently.

"Keep an eye on our cousin Desmond while we are away. Make sure he doesn't do anything wild or harm anyone," I chose my words carefully, trying not to seem suspicious.

"I can do that for you, Al. I'll see to it. Good luck! I'll see you soon," with that, she reached her vehicle and departed.

Although I felt better, I still had that damn ache in my heart. Breakups were a whole different kind of pain, that much I know.

I had finished packing after Maeve had showed me our gifts. Fable never ceased to amaze me with her skills. It was nearing six pm now and Maeve and I were getting ready to say our goodbyes.

Magnus had made sure Desmond was off on a task when we would leave, fearing I would take his head off for sure this time.

"I'm so proud of you girls. I know you'll make it back successful and show those High Chamber a******s who's queen!" our father boasted with pride, pulling us both I to a bone crushing hug.

"Grady, you be sure to take care of them and make sure to use the last resorts we gave you," Magnus said, turning to Grady and shaking his hand hard.

"I will defend our queens with my life, sir." he vowed back, puffing his chest out a little more.

Our mother kissed Maeves cheek and my one freckle above my lip, my 'queens kiss' as Amber called it. After that, we bid them goodbye and Grady used the vile containing to portal potion to conjur up the doorway to Gale Kingdom. Maeve set off first with Grady, and I followed suit. Taking a deep breath, I entered the portal, knowing full well there was no turning back now.