Caveat Emptor: Chapter Four

There's a sensation in youth where trees appear impossibly large. Growing up tends to rob trees of that particular magic. But the tree that served as the entrance to Elvenmoor was the exception to that rule. The trunk was a chalky white color and rough, naturally peeling in a few places to reveal smooth, freshly white bark beneath. It might have passed for an ancient white sycamore if it wasn't for the vibrantly purple, never-falling leaves and the way every inch of it actually shimmered. Natural vines grew around the the base of the tree, weaving in and out of the exposed roots and concealing the entrance down to the homeland of the Ever Realm's elves and fae.

The tree was the first thing Sofia and Cedric saw as smoke from the teleportation spell cleared. Sofia immediately stepped forward, releasing her grip on Cedric's hand. But Cedric didn't let go. Sofia jerked backwards as Cedric pulled her back towards him in an awkward embrace.

"Ouch - Cedric, what are you doing?" Her voice was muffled, her mouth pressed against his shoulder but her eyes looked out over his shoulder and she stopped speaking. Cedric held her close to him, protectively. His eyes were focused on the Whispering Woods Road. It led to the tree, curved around it, and continued along its way. It wasn't anything Cedric hadn't seen before. The the three bodies on the road with limbs at unnatural angles were, however, an unexpected sight. Cedric gripped his wand tightly in his hand, eyes frantically searching the treeline ahead of him for signs of disturbances.

"Do you see anyone behind us?" He asked urgently.

"No one alive," Sofia said into his shoulder before pushing away from him. She turned and faced the road and stopped and stared. Her hand reflexively flew to her mouth and she swallowed, pushing her breakfast back down into her stomach. Cedric, still feeling defensive, turned around to check the treeline behind his back and found a row of hanged men. Uneased but satisfied that there wasn't an imminent threat around them, he put a sympathetic hand on Sofia's shoulder for the second time that morning. This time, however, Sofia shrugged off his touch as her eyes flew to his with a fire behind her gaze.

"You aren't my escort, Cedric. You're my equal. I'll leave you up here and go to Elvenmoor alone if you can't treat me like the fully qualified Sorceress that I am."

He held up his hands defensively. "Merlin's Mushrooms, Sofia. It was reflex, not any judgement on your strength."

She huffed. "I'm more useful to you fighting by your side than tucked under your arm. I'm more than qualified. The Council agreed and so did you."

"I just don't want to see you hurt."

"I don't want to see you hurt, either!"

They stared at each other, each weighing the other. Older to younger. Royal Sorcerer to Princess. Sorcerer to Sorceress.

Cedric forgot, sometimes, how hard Sofia had fought to finish her apprenticeship. Her gender, her age, and her royal position had all worked against her, building up a wild defensiveness in her when it came to her magical prowess. But they were equally footed, magically speaking. And that, here and now, was what really mattered.

Conclusion made, Cedric opened his mouth to apologize when there was a crack and a rustle in the far distant trees. Sofia's head snapped to the sound. She was an animal expert, even without the Amulet of Avalor around her neck. Cedric looked to her and she shook her head. She spoke in a hushed voice.

"That wasn't an animal. We have to go. Now." She took a step towards the magical tree and turned back to poke Cedric in the chest with a finger. "If you're coming, we're doing this together." She turned again before Cedric could answer and he, wand raised, followed after her.

The vines at the base of the tree had given way easily enough. The entrance looked too small for Sofia's lithe frame but she slipped in with ease. Cedric gave the Whispering Wood a last look before he followed after Sofia. There was an uncomfortable electricity in the air, as if the forest was anticipating a thunderstorm even though the sky was cloudless. He shivered against the cool morning air and slipped down into another world.

The journey down the vividly violet trunk interior would have been more startling if Sofia hadn't already described it to Cedric. His body felt like it was plummeting at incredible speed, as if he had leapt from his tower and was caught in an infinite loop of falling with the threat of the ground always just seconds away from impact. His eyes, however, told of a different story. The emptied interior of the trunk was smooth and undecorated but for the natural knots and kinks in the wood. It passed by with casual ease until Cedric felt his feet plant firmly into the ground. He turned and looked up. It was only thirty feet or so down, from this angle. Impossibly short for all the sensations he just experienced.

Cedric took in a deep breath and couldn't help the smile that curled across his lips. He flexed his hands and reveled in the power that seemed to be conducting between his fingers. Magic; the air was alive with it. His breath in almost burned his nostrils for the energy just in the air. He turned, excited, and found the same look of wonderment in Sofia's expression, too.

The sky was pink, casting the world in a pleasantly rosy glow. The land was verdant, delightfully and wildly overgrown save for a cleared path that seemed to go on endlessly. As much as the path called to be followed, the wilds begged to be wandered into. Unfamiliar bird calls gave a sort of background music to accompany actual music that was softly playing a jaunty tune from no discernable source.

"You should write a book," Cedric said idly.

"A book?"

"On this place. No one has written any first hand account. The information that's available is so gobbled, it's nothing better than children's bedtime stories."

"A book," she considered. "I could write a book. I could definitely write a book."

"Why write a book when you could just stay here and play?"

The lithe frame of Elfonso, dressed in camouflaging greens and browns, appeared from seemingly nowhere and stepped up to Sofia. He barely came up to the height of her hip. His face was broken into a broad smile as he took in the two sorcerers, one of Sofia's hands in both of his as greeting.

"Sofia, lass, you've grown so tall, I barely recognized you!"

"It's good to see you, too, Elfonso," Sofia returned with a little laugh. She gestured to Cedric beside her. "This is my friend, Cedric. He believes you have some easy access to Moon Calves?"

"Yesyesyes," Elfonso took his hands back and waved them around dismissively. "The wee sprites told me all about the two of you when they delivered your message. We'll get to all of that. But first -"

"Elfonso, I'm so sorry, but I'm afraid I have to insist we stay on the path this time. It isn't just about me getting home. Lives are at stake."

Elfonso clicked his tongue and shook his head. "Adults," he said with a heavy sigh. "Fine. I"ll lead you straight to the calves."

Sofia raised a questioning eyebrow and Elfonso held his hands up in the air defensively.

"I swear it, little lass." He traced a finger over his heart. "Cross my heart. You have my word."

There was a ringing sound and Cedric turned around, startled. The Green Man above door that led to the core of the tree began to glow.

"Sofia…" Cedric warned. She turned and looked at the door.

"It's fine, Cedric. The door rings, it glows and then it -" as if on cue, the door flew further down the path, nearly out of sight. "It moves. We'll be able to find it again by the bell."

"You're certain?"

"The two of you are quite the pair - both so worried! You're forgetting where you are!" The little elf placed himself between the two and reached up to hook his arms through Cedric and Sofia's arms. "You're in Elvenmoor!"

.

.

A/N: It's Elvenmoor! Nothing could go wrong, right? ;)

Let me know what you think!