Chapter 7: Fallon

"Did you find the training manuals?" Devon shouted from the back room of their apartment.

"I'm still working on packing up clothes!" Tamara shouted back as she hurriedly stuffed summer-wear outfits into a trunk.

It had been several months since her arrival in New Camelot. Life continued to be interesting as she lived with Devon and the other Jewel Riders. Tamara had trained more with the Heart Stone, and could now hear Ruby with ease all the way across the city. Spike and Sugar proved more difficult to hear from longer distances, but Devon assured Tamara that was more likely because they were still young and didn't have Heart Stones of their own.

Her musical training with the Avalon Symphony was slower going. Tamara still felt hopelessly behind the other musicians, and ill prepared for the upcoming summer concert. Madame Maria had turned out to be a wonderful mentor for spellsinging though, having studied the art's history all her life. Professor Hill still pushed Tamara to her limits, but she was grateful for his knowledge (and the continued presence of someone from Cantyr in her new life in New Camelot).

Princess Gwenevere maintained her frosty attitude toward Tamara, despite the pink-haired girl's best efforts to be warm and friendly. Finally, she had simply had to forget about Princess Gwenevere and focus on her studies, hoping that the other girl would eventually come around.

Queen Anya had taken Tamara and the other Jewel Riders with her on a few diplomatic and state visits to outlying baronies. This travel was one of Tamara's favorite parts of the position – she had been places she had never dreamed possible. Even to the opening Craft Faire of the season at Castle Whiterock! The tents had stretched out for miles, and Tamara was of the mind that you could find anything you might be looking for there. (Tamara was a bit disappointed they hadn't had a chance to go out to the Rainbow Falls, but knew she'd have plenty of time to go back later.)

But with the inescapable heat of summer taking over New Camelot, the court was prepping for its annual move. Each summer, King Jared and Queen Anya moved (along with a sizeable amount of staff, the Jewel Riders, and Merlin) to their palace on the shores of Lake Avalon. Devon had also told Tamara that a large number of the nobility – knowing of the annual move – also owned homes in and around Paradise, the closest town. Tamara was thrilled when Devon told her about the move – her mother had told her of the natural beauty at the summer palace and lazy days spent swimming and boating on the lake.

Tamara sat on the trunk in an effort to close it, and turned the locking clasps with great difficulty. Queen Anya had sent her for measuring and primping by Grand Designer Antonio, who had designed a fabulous wardrobe for the Jewel-Rider in Training. Tamara had found the man's pretentious airs insufferable, but couldn't deny his skill with thread and needle. These were the finest clothes she had ever owned.

"Is there any more room in that trunk?" Devon asked as he came out of the back room carrying the animal-training manuals he had been searching for the last two days.

"Not unless you want to be hit in the face by a pair of flying pantaloons," Tamara said with a laugh.

Devon threw the books on a coffee table before slumping down on the couch. "Looks like we'll have to requisition a fourth trunk."

"I'll take care of it," Tamara said as she hopped up waved goodbye to Devon. "Round up some drinks while I'm gone though – I'm positively parched!"

Tamara jogged down to the central office of the palace staff, waving to King Jared as she ran past him. The Crystal Palace was a flurry of well-orchestrated activity as the staff prepped for the annual move. When she finally tracked down the Underbutler for the Crystal Palace, Tamara had to stamp several forms in order to finally get the trunk. She loaded it onto a wheeled dolly, and began the slow task of pulling it back to the room.

"Can I give you a hand?" a voice from behind her said. Tamara spun around to see Max standing there, carrying a small knapsack.

"Oh, thank you!" Tamara replied, gratefully relinquishing the dolly handle to the burly teenager and trading for his knapsack. "Are you all packed up for the move?" she asked as they continue down the hallway.

He smiled shyly at her. "I've been packed since last night. I couldn't sleep, so I just continued packing. I always get antsy before the summer move – I love Lake Avalon," he admitted.

"I'm so looking forward to it," Tamara said. "Growing up on the Great Plains, we don't really have any big lakes. Just a fishing hole here and there."

"How about I take you out on my sailboat, then?" Max said. "Show you a few of the sights?"

Tamara clapped her hands in delight. "Oh, that would be wonderful!"

"Sounds like a plan, then," Max said with a smile.

"Why do you like Lake Avalon so much?" Tamara asked.

Max looked thoughtful for a moment. "Well, the Kingston family has had a home on the lake for a few generations, and my mother Jenna would always take my brother Julius and I there over the summer to vacation with our aunt and uncle. I have so many good memories of those trips," he said.

"It sounds wonderful," Tamara said. "We didn't go on too many vacations. Always too many things to take care of on the farm! But I do remember some wonderful camping trips to the Eagle Eye Mountains."

They arrived back at the portico that covered the entrances to the Jewel Riders' quarters. "Ah, Max, come in and have a drink with us!" Devon said from their doorway. He poured them glasses of a bubbling golden liquid from a frosty pitcher.

"Honey juice!" Max said, his face breaking into a smile. "I haven't had this in years!"

Tamara savored the sweet, fizzy drink. "So refreshing!" she said.

"It's a favorite at the cafes in Paradise," Devon said. "You'll probably get sick of it by the end of the summer season," he added with a chuckle.

Max poured himself another glass. "Not me – I had forgotten how good this stuff is!"

"What's all the hoopla going on in here?" Josh said as he appeared in the open doorway. "Hey, honey juice! Can I get a glass of that?"

"By all means," Devon said as he poured a glass for Josh, who settled himself on the floor of the apartment.

Josh drained the glass in one go and gave a loud whoop. "Man, that totally hits the spot!"

"So are you all ready for the move tomorrow?" Devon asked Josh.

"Dude, King Jared's sending the Pack along with some of the staff tonight to open up the Summer Palace and get it ready before everyone's arrival tomorrow. So we'll be hanging out enjoying the lake free from anyone else for a whole morning."

"Heh, I wish," Max said as a laid back in his chair. "More likely we'll be tasked to help get everything set up."

"Try to think of a 'magical emergency' we can conjure up tomorrow that takes us out onto the lake. Maybe Devon could summon a lake monster?" Josh said, as everyone laughed.

Max and Josh finally bid their goodbyes and went to saddle up Stormrunner and Shadowgale. "We'll see you tomorrow at the lake!" Josh said.

"I'm looking forward to our boating expedition," Tamara said to Max with a blush.

When the two wolf riders finally disappeared, Devon turned a sly eye to Tamara. "You have a boating expedition with Lord Max tomorrow, eh?"

Tamara blushed. "Like you're one to talk!" Ever since Devon and Argent had come clean about their relationship, the Heart Stone and Moon Stone riders had been spotted on picnics, at concerts in New Camelot, and dancing late into the night.

"Hey, we kept it under wraps for a couple of years!" Devon retorted. "This is just the gates of passion being opened and the waters unleashed."

"You're incorrigible," Tamara said as she returned to packing. She and Devon worked through until supper, where they broke for a few hours, and then worked late into the night.

When Tamara finally rolled into her bed that night, she was utterly exhausted, but excited all the same. What would tomorrow bring?


The day dawned bright and hot. Tamara washed up and changed into summer travel clothes before the staff came and picked up their four trunks for loading onto the baggage wagons.

"You'll be driving the Crystal Carriage," Devon said, as he brushed his teeth after a quick breakfast down in the dining hall. "You already have a good relationship with Boreas, and he does kind of intimidate the rest of the drivers."

"Fine by me – I love driving that sumptuous carriage anywhere," Tamara said. "And I do so love chatting with Boreas during long trips. By the way, how long will it take us to get there? Will we be camping out overnight anywhere?"

"With the sheer amount of people making the move we'll have to take the main roads, so it'll probably be late afternoon by the time we arrive at the Summer Palace."

Argent knocked at their door then, a small travel case in her hand. "You are both ready?" she asked. As always, the elf woman looked incredibly elegant in her summer riding outfit.

"Very nearly," Devon said as he kissed Argent's cheek. He tossed a few more books into his bag before locking up the room. "Goodbye, quarters. We'll see you in three months!"

Tamara picked up Spike and Sugar and followed after them, her excitement level rising. They made a stop by the royal stables, where Tamara greeted Boreas before hitching him up to the Crystal Carriage. Devon and Argent mounted Ruby and Aquilon, and the group made their way out to the front of the palace.

Tamara stopped the carriage as they neared the crowd gathered for the move. There were at least fifteen carriages, wagons, and carts, along with many mounted riders.

"Good, our last stragglers are here," King Jared said from the back of Goliath as the great brown wolf loped up to them. Tamara (as always), couldn't resist scratching behind the great wolf's ears.

You always know exactly the right place for scratching, Goliath rumbled as he began to pant happily.

"Everyone's ready then?" Queen Anya said as she and Wintermane joined the group.

"Let's get this circus on the road," said Devon. "Anya, are you and Jared taking point?"

The Queen nodded. "Yes, and I'd like you and Argent to follow with Tamara at the rear. Keep everyone moving," she added with an impish grin.

King Jared roared the orders to move out, and soon the caravan was on its way. Tamara looked at her map – they were following the Old Avon Road, which ran parallel to the River Avon. Tracing the line with her finger, she saw that the road actually continued on through Paradise and went all the way to Port Avon and the river's end in Avon Bay.

The summer warmth was a joy to Tamara, and soon she shed her cloak and put on a wide-brimmed straw hat she had brought with her from home. Going was slow with such a large caravan, and Tamara's mind began to drift.

During her last lesson with Professor Hill, he had mentioned an upcoming Craft Faire that would be taking place on Midsummer's Eve in Paradise. The Avalon Symphony Orchestra was going to hold a special preview concert of upcoming music from the next season. While Tamara was away from New Camelot, the Maestro and Madame Maria had given her a number of new pieces to work on, including a special solo song she would perform during the Symphony concert.

As the morning wore on, Tamara pulled a pennywhistle out of her bag and began to work on a new tune she had been writing in her spare time. The Maestro had encouraged Tamara to not only study the established forms of music, but to begin writing music of her own. Tamara had always made up little ditties on her own to pass the time on the farm, but this was the first time she was seriously working on new pieces. Madame Maria had told her, however, that most spellsingers had been composers as well. Tamara dreamed of one day composing something worthy of the Avalon Symphony, but knew that day was far, far away.

The caravan stopped to water the animals and get some lunch at a tree-lined embankment along the River Avon. Tamara made sure Boreas had enough to drink before settling down under a weeping willow with Devon and Argent.

"I heard you practicing the new song, Tamara," Argent said as she poured crystal-clear water from the river into a cup for Tamara. "Have you thought of a title yet?"

Tamara shook her head. "Nothing yet – it's really still too new to tell with something like that, to be honest. The musical shapes are still coalescing up here," she said with a laugh as she pointed to her head.

"Just don't let them curdle up there, kid!" Devon added with a chuckle before Tamara swatted his arm.

After an hour of rest, everyone climbed back into their saddles and carriages and the caravan rumbled on down the Old Avon Road. The road curved into the Misty Moors for a time according to Tamara's map, and then down into the Riverdells where Lake Avalon and Paradise were located. They passed the turnoff for the Bay Road, which Tamara saw would lead off to Merryland, Bunbury, and the Fairy Forest deep inside the Misty Moors.

After another few hours on the road, Tamara was giddy with relief to pass the sign welcoming travelers to the Riverdells. Long thought by its residents to be the most beautiful region of Avalon, the Riverdells were the home to many artisans and Craftmasters. It was a land of lush, rolling hills and countryside dotted with countless lakes, rivers, and streams. The Crown Jewel of the region was the Rainbow Jewel, so named for the gorgeous Rainbow Falls where it had been discovered.

Not long after crossing over into the Riverdells, the caravan crested a small hill, and Tamara's breath was taken away. Spread out below them like a blue diamond jewel was Lake Avalon. From their vantage point, Tamara could make out the white sails of boats crisscrossing the lake. At the side closest to them stood the warm red stone of the Summer Palace, the royal standard already flying from the ramparts. It was different from the giant gem-like Crystal Palace, but Tamara thought the way the orange-red stone stood out against the blue of the lake was absolutely marvelous.

"Quite a sight, eh?" Devon said as he and Ruby pulled up beside Tamara. "If you squint, you can make out the village of Tranta on the other side of the lake."

Tamara took his advice, pulling out a spyglass so she could make out the white stone keep of Tranta.

"The legend goes that Paradise and Tranta were once ruled by feuding brothers who sent their armies across the lake every day to wage battle," Argent said, pulling Aquilon along the other side of the Crystal Carriage. "It's a very old story, though, so nobody knows if it is really true."

"It would be very sad to see war in such a beautiful place," Tamara said.

The caravan began their move down the hill when Tamara saw three giant wolves trot out of the Palace's main gate and ride out to meet them. Drake, Josh, and Max waved to the caravan from the back of their wolves, and Tamara waved back.

"Good trip?" Drake asked as he and Thunder came to check on her.

Many good smells? Thunder echoed.

Tamara made a production of stretching. "I'm certainly ready to be out of this seat! How did the set-up go?"

Drake shrugged. "Josh and Max disappeared a little earlier today, so I got stuck helping out."

Tamara had to stifle a giggle, remembering her conversation with Josh and Max the previous day over the pitcher of honey juice. "Well, I'm glad you were here to supervise. Where are we staying, by the way?"

"There aren't separate suites for the Jewel Riders here like at the Crystal Palace, but I did reserve us a block of rooms close to the stables. And with a spectacular view of the lake," he added with a wink.

"So am I still sharing with Devon?" Tamara asked.

"No, he and Lady Argent requested a room together this year," Drake said with a blush. "So you've got a room next to the suite Josh, Max and I are sharing."

Josh and Stormrunner trotted up. "Prepare for epic late-night card games!" he said with a laugh.

"Definitely looking forward to it now!" Tamara said, her excitement growing.

"Queen Anya made the room assignments this year, and Gwen is close to us as well," Josh added.

Tamara's stomach suddenly knotted up. What a way to make the next three months super uncomfortable, she thought. Gwen wouldn't move into the Sun Stone rider's quarters at the Crystal Palace until she inherited the jewel, and Tamara had been relieved that their interaction was therefore minimal. But now she would probably be face to face with the princess almost every day. It was definitely enough to put a damper on her enthusiasm. Still, Tamara refused to let the Princess's bad attitude toward her ruin what was otherwise shaping up to be an excellent summer. After all, Argent, Devon, and the Pack boys would be there as well.

Palace staffed rushed out to take the cargo once they arrived at the gates of the Summer Palace, and Tamara led Boreas to the stables, settling the white bear in a comfy stall and promising to check on him later. Around her, Devon was settling Ruby while Argent did the same for Aquilon. The Pack had set up stalls for their wolves yesterday, and Tamara greeted Shadowgale and Stormrunner before leaving the stables.

Hoisting her small bag onto her shoulder and trailing Sugar and Spike behind, Tamara followed Devon and the other Jewel Riders around the U shape of the Summer Palace toward an inner courtyard. Inside, she found lawn games being set up, as well as many lounge chairs and umbrellas. Several of the nobles she recognized from New Camelot were already there playing croquet in their summer whites, and Tamara was sure she caught a glimpse of Merlin and Archie lounging under a tree.

But the view of the lake was the most spectacular thing of all. The late afternoon light sparkled across the water, setting it alight. The inner courtyard of the palace had many windows to take advantage of the view.

Following the others, Tamara climbed up to the deck and entered the Summer Palace through a side door that led into a small solarium. Inside, the floor was black and white checkered tiles, with pieces of comfy wicker furniture scattered into small groupings.

"This is where we'll have lessons with Merlin," Devon said to the group. "I know it'll be super distracting with such a nice view of the lake, but for the summer, lessons will likely be shortened to half days. Afternoons will be free to follow your personal pursuits and other assigned work."

"Don't forget simply relaxing and having a good time," Merlin said, appearing in the doorway behind them. "We may still be covering core concepts, but I need this time to recharge as much as you do," he added with a smile.

"Dooohooo, I love coming here over summer!" Archie exclaimed with a sigh as he settled onto a wicker ottoman. "They have an excellent library as well!"

"Don't spend your whole time in the library, owl dude," Josh said, raising his trademark sunglasses onto his head.

"Perhaps not quite the way I would have phrased it," Merlin said. "But an accurate admonition all the same. At any rate, we'll begin lessons again tomorrow morning after the morning bell." The wizard was about to leave the room before he turned around and said, "If you need me for anything, I'm staying in the cottage just down the road." And with that, he vanished in a puff of scented smoke.

Tamara coughed after inhaling some of the smoke. "Well, he does like to make an exit," she said, as Devon patted her on the back.

They moved out of the solarium and into the hallway of the Summer Palace. Tamara passed elegant salons and even glimpsed a view of the large library that Archie had mentioned. Eventually, the group climbed a set of stairs, and turned down the hallway that ended in the tip of the palace's U shape. A door at the end of the hallway opened onto a small terrace, and Tamara couldn't resist stepping out onto it and warming herself in the afternoon sunshine. As light breeze blew up from the lake, rustling her pink hair, and Tamara breathed deeply of the pine-scented air.

Turning around finally, she saw the rest of the group was grinning at her. Tamara began to blush. "Oh, don't let us ruin your moment of bliss there," Drake teased.

"Surely you remember when you first saw the sight from that balcony as a callow youth?" Argent asked, quirking an eyebrow and moving to lean on the railing next to Tamara.

Argent led them back in and handed out room keys to Tamara and the Pack boys. As Drake had promised, they were next door neighbors for the next three months. Tamara was delighted with her room, which – though small – had a comfy bed, washroom, writing desk, and bureau. Tamara found her trunk had already been delivered, and set to unpacking its contents. Meanwhile, Spike and Sugar bounced on the bed.

Tamara unpacked her clothes (and musical instruments) before a light knock sounded at her door. Turning around, she saw Max standing there in shorts and an open vest. "I'm ready to fulfill that boat-ride promise whenever you are," he said.

"Give me just a minute to change," Tamara said with a wave as Max shut the door. She traded her travel clothes for a flowing summer dress and her floppy straw hat. Tamara felt her heart beating quickly. Did this quality as a date with Lord Max?

Tamara took a deep breath to steady herself before opening the door. When she did, she found herself facing the rest of the Jewel Riders, also already changed and apparently ready to go.

"You weren't planning on leaving us here while you and Max went for a boat ride, did you?" Devon asked slyly.

"Oh, um, never!" Tamara replied, waving her hands. Though I was kind of hoping!

The group made their way down to the first floor, then, where they ran right into Princess Gwenevere. Tamara couldn't help feeling a little jealous as she saw how natural Gwenevere looked here with her golden hair and tanned skin.

"Hey Gwen, we were just about to go out on the boat – want to come?" Drake asked.

The princess slipped a hand around Drake's arm. "Well, I mean, if you insist, who am I to turn it down?" Tamara had to stop herself from gagging a little.

A long boat dock stretched out from the Summer Palace onto the lake, and Tamara could see several vessels moored there, from a grand yacht that could only be King Jared and Queen Anya's to small two-person dinghies. Max guided her to a mid-sized sailboat, and the group pulled off the canvas cover before climbing aboard. Drake and Josh used their Forest Stones and a bit of magic to push the boat out of the harbor before Max unfurled the sail.

Tamara clapped in delight as the wind picked up and caught the sail, snapping the fabric taught and pulling them along with it. She waved to Max before lightly stepping toward the bow of the ship. Looking down, Tamara could see how they sliced through the water. From the vantage point of the lake, Tamara could look around and see how Lake Avalon sat in natural valley.

The middle of the lake had a small uninhabited island. Tamara used her spyglass to get a closer look at Tranta as Max took the boat in a loop around the island before heading back to the Summer Palace. "Will we ever have the chance to visit Tranta?" she asked Max.

"Oh sure," he replied. "Lots of good restaurants over there, and you'll especially have a chance to meet tons of the people from Tranta during the Summer Solstice Festival."

"I can't wait," Tamara said as she leaned back against the railing of the boat.

Once they got closer to the harbor, Max rolled up the sail, and he, Drake, and Josh expertly guided the boat back into its snug harbor (with a little help from their Forest Stones again. Tamara was pretty sure that was a non-standard spell.)

"Couldn't resist going on the water right away, huh?" King Jared said as he strolled along the dock and helped them tie up the boat. "Not that I can blame you – it's a beautiful day for sailing. But why don't you all clean up and get ready for some dinner. We're having a big cookout tonight to celebrate our arrival."

Tamara did as she was told, and soon was enjoying meat carved from the spit set up in the courtyard. Tables had been set up all along the deck, and Tamara was surprised to see the staff and the monarchs sitting down together.

Noticing her confused look, Devon whispered to Tamara, "Etiquette and protocol are a bit more relaxed here in Paradise. The King and Queen are technically on vacation here, after all."

They enjoyed the rest of the meal (and marshmallow roast afterward!) before turning in for the night. Tamara slept well, and the next morning she was up early and enjoying a pot of tea in the dining room before Drake showed up. He was dressed very casually again today, and Tamara definitely enjoyed the sight.

"Hit me with a cup of that brew," Drake said, pushing his cup toward Tamara, who poured the strong breakfast tea she preferred. Drake took a deep swig. "Ah, that totally hits the spot. I could not for the life of me go to sleep last night, so here we are." He pulled the skin under his eyes down and gave Tamara a ghoulish look.

"The waves lapping at the shore were like a lullaby for me," Tamara said.

Drake raised an eyebrow. "What are you doing up so early anyway?"

Tamara shrugged. "I always had to get up early on the farm. What about you – I thought your family ran an inn?"

"Must be where my deep distrust of morning people comes from," Drake chortled, taking another sip.

Josh and Max waved as they entered the dining room. "I see Captain Morning is off to his usual start," Josh laughed, socking Drake in the arm.

Soon, breakfast was served, and Tamara dug into her eggs and potatoes with relish. "Somehow, the food just tastes better today!" she exclaimed.

"Eat up, because lunch is a pretty light affair around here," Josh said. "We don't want you to blow away in a strong wind."

After the breakfast dishes were cleared, Tamara and the others traipsed down to the solarium, where they found Merlin and Archie already preparing for the lesson. Devon and Argent had claimed a small sofa, and Princess Gwenevere had taken a large throne-like chair (not that Tamara was surprised or anything).

"Now students," Merlin said, as he settled on a stool. "Since we have two likely upcoming Circle of Friendship ceremonies later this year, I thought today would be a good time to test your knowledge on the subject. Who can tell me what the purpose of the Circle is?"

"The actual Circle or the act of going through the ceremony?" Josh asked.

"Let's start with the actual circle," Merlin said.

"Well, everyone knows that the Friendship Ring is the most magical place in Avalon," Gwenevere said.

"Perhaps," Merlin allowed. "But what does that have to do with the Enchanted Jewels?"

"It is where you created the Jewels, yes?" Argent ventured.

Merlin nodded. "Magic calls to magic. It was the place where I first felt a strong connection to the Magic of Avalon, and where I was able to tap into that magic and forge the Sun Stone."

Tamara noticed Princess Gwenevere perk up at the mention of her future Enchanted Jewel. "Why was it a Sun Stone, Merlin?" the Princess asked.

When Merlin answered, Tamara could sense an undercurrent of sadness lingering there. "Because just as the sun rises again after the night, Queen Gyneth bound the people of Avalon together with hope for a new tomorrow."

"And the Moon Stone came afterward?" Argent asked.

Archie nodded. "Oh yes! What's that saying you always use Merlie?"

Merlin smiled. "Though the Sun may light the day, in darkness Moonlight shows the way. There must be a balance always."

Devon got into the conversation, "But two polar opposites can still cause friction. And then you made the best jewel."

Merlin laughed. "I'm sure you see it that way, Devon! But yes, the Sun and Moon Stones needed a harmonizing magic. And that was the Heart Stone."

"Don't forget the most popular Jewel," Drake said.

"Aye, the Forest Stones tap into the primal, untamed Avalon," Merlin said. "I based their design on the Jewel of a…friend I once knew."

"What about the other jewels? The Lightning Crystal and the Fire Stone?" Tamara asked.

"Ah, I see someone has been doing their assigned reading," Merlin said. "Those Jewels, unfortunately, were made for times of war. They both possess great destructive power, and therefore have never fit into the balance of the original six Enchanted Jewels well. They only choose bearers in times of great upset and upheaval. Thankfully, their powers have not been needed for some time."

"So if this were a musical score, those two Jewels would be discordant notes?" Tamara asked, trying to relate it to something she understood.

Merlin looked thoughtful. "Not quite, young Tamara. More like minor chords, slightly out of tune."

"Did you ever make any other Jewels, Merlin?" Max asked.

"I've had a few failed experiments over the years," the wizard admitted. "But we like to sweep those ones under the rug," he added with a chuckle. "Now, let us bring this discussion back to the Friendship Ring. If you think of the wild magic of Avalon like an underground aquifer, you can think of the Friendship Ring's location as a kind of natural wellspring."

"So you could tap into the land's magic more easily there?" Devon asked.

"Exactly," Merlin replied. "And though it is the strongest of these places, each of the areas that the Crown Jewels were discovered are especially magical places. Magic calling to magic again."

"Why do we hold the Circle of Friendship Ceremony there, though?" Devon asked.

"Magic must be especially strong to re-tune Enchanted Jewels," Merlin said. "You could conceivably hold the ceremony at any of the special magical places in Avalon that allowed you to tap into the wild magic, but the Friendship Ring has always been the best place." Josh's hand shot up with a question. "Before you even ask, Joshua, yes, we have made emergency jewel transfers at other magical sites. Thankfully not for a very long time, however." Josh got a sheepish look on his face and lowered his hand.

"Moving on from the physical location aspect," Argent began, "Why design the jewels to change hands every generation?"

"Part of the reason is due to the ease of bonding with a magical animal at a young age," Merlin said. "I met Archimedes when I was very young."

"That's right, bub!" Archie said, and everyone laughed.

"As I was saying," Merlin continued, "The Enchanted Jewels move from one generation to the next for another reason as well – that much power for too long has always had the possibility of causing Jewel Riders to go rogue."

Tamara sat up in her to listen more closely. "Has that ever happened?" she asked.

"Not with the Enchanted Jewels I designed, young Tamara," Merlin said, his voice reassuring, "But working with Wild Magic is by no means a safe profession."

"Wild Magic isn't the only problem," Archie added. "When people hold the power of a Jewel for too long, they can become addicted to that power. And that fear of losing their power can corrupt them."

"Is that what happened to the ancient wizards?" Princess Gwenevere asked.

A dark, pained look passed behind Merlin's eyes, but he maintained a smile on his face. "My lady, some things are beyond even my ability to say."

So he doesn't want to tell us that story, Tamara thought. It must either be very tragic, very personal, or both.

The lesson moved in a different direction, and soon the noon bell was ringing. Merlin had assigned them a few pages of reading in one of their textbooks, so Tamara grabbed a sandwich and an apple from the kitchen and sat out on the deck to read. Below her, nobles played more croquet and badminton.

As she finished the last few pages, a dark shadow blocked her sunlight. "Hi Tamara," Max said. "Do you mind if I sit down?"

"By all means," she said, gesturing to the empty seat across from her.

His face began to get red as he started to speak. "Well, I mean, I just wanted to ask, I mean, considering the Summer Solstice Craft Faire is coming up, that is, I just wanted to ask if perhaps you might like to go…together?"

Tamara was taken aback. Was Max…asking her on a date? "I, um…" she said, not quite sure of what to say. She had never been asked out before.

"Oh, if you already had plans," Max said, as he began to get up, his face even more red than before.

Tamara clasped his arm. "I don't have plans. That is, I'd love to go to the Craft Faire with you, Max," she said with a smile, feeling her face flush slightly. "Or at least, I would if I even knew when it is!"

"Oh, it's a few weeks from now," Max said. "It runs the whole week of the Summer Solstice, and it's second in size only to the one at Castle Whiterock."

"I do have a prior commitment to play a concert with the Avalon Symphony," Tamara said, remembering the pieces the Maestro had given her to practice.

"That's fine," Max replied. "I'd love to hear you perform again, too – I don't think I ever said so, but you were marvelous at the garden party back in New Camelot."

Tamara (realizing finally that she was still holding Max's arm and quickly releasing it), said, "Why thank you – I really am fond of that song."

"Anyway, I'd better be going," Max said. "Drake, Josh and I are taking the wolves out riding this afternoon. See you at dinner?" he asked, a hopeful note in his voice.

"Absolutely," Tamara replied with a wink.


Days turned into weeks as the Summer Solstice Craft Faire approached. Aside from doing work for Merlin and their daily group lessons, Tamara was kept quite busy practicing her music for the upcoming concert in the afternoon. Tamara ground her teeth in frustration as she missed a particularly challenging string of arpeggios for the third time on her violin.

The nice thing was that from time to time one of the orchestra members would come out to Lake Avalon for vacations of their own, and (probably under threat from the Maestro) always managed to hook up for a short practice with Tamara and update her on the orchestra's overall progress. She still thought it would have been better to practice with the whole group, but Jewel Rider training did take precedence for the time being.

Under Merlin's counsel, Tamara had also kept working on her spellsinging. Aside from pieces in The Canticle of the Elements, it was hard going. After weeks and weeks of practice, Tamara had barely gotten farther than lighting a candle. Spellsinging took incredible concentration, and a session would drain Tamara for several days. Still, she was determined to keep working at the art. Tamara just wished Madame Maria had come with her.

"Sounded like a raw note," Devon said, poking his head into the room where Tamara was practicing. "Maybe leave it for today? They're serving dinner soon."

"Devooon," Tamara cried. "I can't have another tipsy noble telling me how wonderful it is to meet me. They're driving me crazy!"

"And like I've told you a hundred times, it comes with the territory," he said with a shrug. "Just don't forget that during the festival this place is crawling with people, and lots of them are going to want to meet you as well. It'd probably be a good idea to leave Spike and Sugar here during the first few days. I'd hate a repeat of the Fyfe incident."

Tamara nodded. "But you know if I don't take them at all I'm liable to have a riot on my hands!"

"Just promise to take them the last few days and placate them with slices of Bubbleberry Pie," Devon said with a laugh.

"Sugar already has such a terrible sweet tooth," Tamara said. "I actually caught the two of them trying to steal a pie off the kitchen windowsill the other day!"

"Maybe we should shift your study time from music to baby animal wrangling," Devon replied.

"I'm frankly ready to just put away study time for now and enjoy the festival tomorrow," Tamara answered as the put her violin away and followed Devon to dinner. "I never thought I'd be excited for a week of no lessons!"

"Aye, everyone is ready for a break," he answered. "Still, I can't believe this'll be my last Summer Solstice Festival as a Jewel Rider." Tamara detected a wistful note in her mentor's voice.

"Are you sad that your time with the Heart Stone is coming to a close?" she said softly. "Are you mad that I'm taking your place?"

"I'm not mad at you Tamara – I've made peace with the fact that I'm not going to be a Jewel Rider very much longer," he said, shoving his hands into his pockets. "Much like the fame that I told you comes with the territory, having to gracefully move on comes with it as well."

"I wish you could be around as my teammate," Tamara said.

"Me too, kid," Devon said. "And to answer your other question…yeah, I am a little sad. I've spent more of my life with the Heart Stone than without it. I've never really even thought of what I'd do without it." He fingered the ruby stone hanging around his neck. "And though it's probably selfish of me, I hope the jewel is proud enough of me to leave me with a parting gift like it did Charity. Even if it's just still being able to talk to Ruby – I'm not sure I can stand the thought of losing her voice in my head."

Tamara clasped Devon's hand. "I don't think the jewel would leave you hanging like that," Tamara said. "The gift it gave mother had a huge impact on the rest of her life. But have you given any thought about what you and Argent will do after you step down?"

Devon shrugged. "Not really. Argent says she would be happy to remain in Avalon, but sometimes I wonder. Though the Border Mists make it next to impossible to leave, I've always wondered what strange creatures lay outside our venerable borders."

"Perhaps you could become a naturalist, like Baroness Von Griego," Tamara suggested. "There are still many areas of Avalon that haven't been properly explored – the Jungle, the Crystal Cliffs," she said.

"Sweating or freezing to death are my only options, eh?" Devon said, poking Tamara's arm.

As it was the eve before the Summer Solstice Festival opened tomorrow, most of the Summer Palace staff were away helping get everything set up. The dining room was nearly empty, and Tamara was excited to have Devon all to herself for the evening. The Pack boys were all helping set up, and Argent had ridden out with Merlin to investigate a possible Wild Magic outbreak.

"Are you ready for the performance tomorrow?" Devon asked Tamara as they took their plates and headed out for the deck to watch the sunset over Lake Avalon.

"Whether I am or not, the performance is happening," Tamara said. "I'm just really hoping no spellsinging sneaks out and disrupts everything. I'm still glad that Merlin and the Maestro see fit to keep that information among a small group."

"It's for you own safety," Devon said. "Despite Merlin's best efforts, there are – and have always been – unsavory characters in Avalon. And they could do quite a bit of damage if they blackmailed or captured you before you got a handle on your powers. After you master them, of course, you should be able to spellsing them into hamsters or some such punishment," he said with a laugh.

"It might be an insult to the hamsters!" Tamara replied before breaking down in peals of laughter. By Avalon, it felt good to laugh. She had been so focused on the upcoming concert (and freaking out about her date with Max) that she hadn't had much time to just relax and hang out with her new friends.

"So, what does Max have planned for your day together tomorrow?" Devon asked.

"Wait, how did you know about that?" Tamara replied.

"It's a small palace, dear," Devon said, patting her hand in mock sympathy. "Word does get around, you know."

"Oh dear," Tamara said, blushing. "Does Drake know?"

"Playing both sides, eh?" Devon said.

Tamara snorted. "It's not like that at all!"

"You know, I'm not sure the Princess will like you any better if you try to date the boy she likes and her cousin at the same time. It really does look a little greedy," Devon said.

"I like Drake, really, but I can't say I see us being more than just friends in the long run," Tamara admitted. "Though he is terribly handsome."

"I shall pass on your compliment with the greatest alacrity," Devon said, bowing.

"And if you do I shall be forced to make up a gaudy love ballad celebrating you and Argent, then watch with glee as it gets overplayed at countless weddings," Tamara countered.

"Touché, my dear," Devon said, waving his fork at her.

They finished up dinner, and Tamara turned in early. She and Max had promised to meet up at breakfast before riding out to the festival together.


The sky was bright and clear as Max helped Tamara up onto Shadowgale, then climbed on behind her. Tamara had dressed for the day in a floral sundress and her floppy straw hat. Sugar and Spike had complained vociferously at the prospect of missing the first day, but Devon's plan of placating them with Bubbleberry pie seemed to do the trick.

"I barely slept at all last night," Max said with a yawn. "They had us working on last-minute preparations until past midnight!"

Tamara smiled. For his part, Tamara thought Max looked very handsome in spite of getting little sleep the night before. He was outfitted in a tank top and shorts, and to Tamara looked the very model of relaxed comfort. "Are you wearing Josh's sunglasses to hide dark circles under your eyes, then?" Tamara teased.

"That's probably closer to the truth than you realize," Max said.

Shadowgale trotted south along the Old Avon Road, joining up with other travelers streaming out of Paradise. The Summer Solstice Festival was held in open ground between Paradise and Tranta. According to Argent, this was to commemorate the end of hostilities between the two towns after many years of conflict.

"I never realized there were so many people here!" Tamara said, looking out over the vast crowd making their way toward the festival grounds.

"You have to understand, every inn in both towns are crammed full of people right now," Max replied. "This is not only the second largest Craft Faire, but it happens to also be in one of the most picturesque locations."

Tamara had to agree – the shores of Lake Avalon could not have been more perfect for an event like this. "Do the King and Queen attend many Craft Faires?" she asked.

"I think they used to attend more often, but nowadays they seem content to just enjoy this one and the Yule Festival in New Camelot at the beginning of winter," Max said. "Gwen still goes to lots of Faires, though. I think she enjoys the dancing," Max said.

More like the attention, Tamara privately thought, though she said nothing. While she could talk to Devon about her frustration with Princess Gwenevere, saying anything in front of Max would have been totally improper – he was related to her, after all!

After a good hour riding on Shadowgale, the festival grounds came into sight, a gleaming white tent city. Tamara could hear faint strains of music over the treetops, and felt the infectious, bubbly excitement that always came with Craft Faires.

Perhaps it was that Max was a Jewel Rider, but he and Tamara were able to ride right into the Craft Faire without disembarking. The tents were arrayed in a series of broad lanes, peppered here and there by colorful wagons of the traveling merchants, game booths, dancing squares, and food stalls.

Tamara grew dizzy with the sight of everything. Dancers leaped and whirled, fire-breathers and sword-swallowers amazed with dangerous feats, acrobatic acts soared overhead, and Tamara could have sworn she even saw people trying to pull a sword out of a tree!

"Well, where shall we go first?" Tamara asked Max.

He smiled, and her face grew warm. "I definitely want to win you an awesome prize at the game booths before the day is over," he said. "But first I thought it might be nice to tour some of the artisans' stalls. I think there's supposed to be a pottery and sculpture exhibit today with works from some of the great Craftmasters."

"Sounds good," Tamara said, "But don't forget I have to report to the music stage by Evening Bell to get ready for the concert."

They headed toward the southwest corner of the Craft Faire grounds, and found signs directing them to the exhibition. The pieces were absolutely amazing – Tamara had musical talent, but she was always impressed by artists whose creations had the chance of outliving brief performances. The entrance to the court containing the exhibit had a large statue of a dragon made of beautifully fired red clay.

"Princess Kale commissioned that one," an older, dark-skinned man said as he walked up to them. Tamara could see by his epaulets and badges that this man was a true Craftmaster.

"Did you sculpt this fine piece?" Tamara asked, taking in the detail of the scales and craggy underbelly.

He nodded. "Aye, I did," he said with a smile. "I spent three months on every tiny detail – all from the original source, of course! I had to measure Princess Kale's dragon myself, which is no mean feat!"

"Grimm is very forbidding," Max said with a nod. "And you captured it very well, Craftmaster…"

"Alfred, my name is Alfred," the man said, shaking Max's and then Tamara's hands. "And judging by your fancy neckwear, I'm guessing the two of you are Jewel Riders?"

Max nodded. "Max, of the Knights of Avalon. And this is Tamara, the next Heart Stone rider."

"Well, it's a pleasure to meet you both, though I wouldn't want to trade places for the world," he added. "Anyway, please take you time looking around. My statue of the dragon Grimm might not be for sale, but plenty of other items are!"

Tamara and Max bid the Craftmaster goodbye before continuing through the exhibition. There was rustic pottery, beautiful blown glass, more sculptures, and even people showing off dinnerware services! Tamara purchased a small glass bird that looked like the Azure Hawk, and Max ended up finding a lovely water pitcher that he said he was picking up for his mother, who was something of a collector of the artisan.

Out of the corner of her eye, Tamara caught sight of a whirling, spinning motion. Moving away from Max for a minute as he haggled over the price of a glass bauble, she found herself staring at a black girl with purple-black hair. The girl's feet pumped tirelessly at the kickwheel that powered her potter's wheel. Tamara watched in delight as the girl's fingers deftly dug into the moist lump of clay, first pressing down in the center to create the hole, then – almost like a flower in bloom – shaping the rest of the pot. The clay almost seemed to grow organically from her fingers, and soon Tamara was lost in the spinning motion.

"You'll have to wait for it to bake if you're interested," the girl said, breaking Tamara out of her reverie.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to stare!" Tamara said, walking closer to the girl. "It's just that I've never seen someone in the act of creating something so beautiful before. Where I'm from, pots are pretty much just that."

"Then welcome to a wider world," the girl said with a chuckle. "My name's Fallon," she said, sticking out a wet, clay-covered hand. "Hah, sorry, I couldn't resist!" Fallon said before rinsing her hands in a water basin.

Tamara noticed the girl wore a badge proclaiming her to be an apprentice sculptor. "How long have you been doing this for?" she asked.

"Oh, I've officially been an apprentice for about four years," Fallon replied. "But I've been sculpting and throwing pots my whole life. My father is the Craftmaster who made that dragon sculpture you saw when walking in, so you can imagine the expectations," Fallon said.

Tamara held up the Heart Stone locket. "My mother was the previous Heart Stone rider, so I can imagine the expectations pretty well," she said with a smile.

"Oh, wow, you're the next one, huh?" Fallon said, taking a closer look at Tamara's necklace. She gave a wistful sigh. "I've always dreamed of being a Jewel Rider and travelling all over Avalon."

"But you're so talented at your craft!" Tamara said.

Fallon shrugged. "Just because I'm good at sculpting doesn't mean it's the only thing I want to do in my life. Didn't you want to do something else before being selected for the Jewel Riders?"

Tamara was surprised how instantly Fallon was able to read her. "Yes, actually. I've always wanted to be a professional musician."

"Ah, a wandering troubadour, singing her heart out," Fallon said with a grin. "Sounds pretty romantic."

"I'm actually performing with the Avalon Symphony Orchestra this evening," Tamara said. "We're going to be on the main music stage if you'd like to come."

Fallon gave a low whistle. "The Avalon Symphony, huh? You must be pretty good!"

Tamara laughed. "It helps that the new director was my old teacher."

"The inside connection, then. Still, it's not often that the Avalon Symphony performs outside of New Camelot," Fallon said. "So thanks for the invite! I'll have to drag my mother along too – I know she'll enjoy the music."

"Everyone is welcome to attend," Tamara said. Max joined her then, and they chatted a bit more with Fallon before moving on to view the rest of the exhibit.

By the time noon rolled around, Tamara's stomach was growling, and she and Max made their way to the food tents to dig up a little lunch. As they neared them, however, King Jared and Queen Anya passed by in the company of several beautiful unicorns.

"Max, Tamara," Queen Anya said, waving them over. "We want to introduce you both to Queen Sierra – the Queen of the Unicorns."

"A pleasure to meet the nephew of King Jared and the daughter of Lady Charity," Queen Sierra's voice echoed in Tamara's head. By his intake of breath, she knew Max was able to hear the Queen as well. She must be very magical indeed to make herself heard by everyone!

Tamara and Max gave a little bow. Tamara was dumbstruck at the ethereal beauty of the unicorn queen. Her coat was pale lavender, her pale blue mane braided with jeweled stars. Her horn was a pale gold, and faceted like a jewel. "Allow me to introduce my retinue," Queen Sierra said. "First, my daughter Moondance, and my nephew Kiernan." Tamara was delighted to see a pale blue unicorn with a purple mane and horn step forward, followed by a blue unicorn male with a red-orange mane. "They, along with Violet, Toria, and young Cleo will be eligible to take the Trials as the next unicorn ruler when I am gone."

"Which will thankfully not be for a very long time," Queen Anya said. "Now, why don't we all go have some lunch together? It's been ages sine we had a chance to catch up, Sierra, and you so rarely come to events in Avalon."

Tamara would have followed if she could. Even since Queen Sierra had introduced her young niece Cleo, Tamara' Heart Stone necklace had been going haywire. It pulled at Tamara's neck, pointing toward the young pink and lavender unicorn.

Your hair matches my coat! Tamara heard the baby unicorn say. You're pretty, too!

"Thank you, little one," Tamara said, crouching next to Cleo.

You can hear me? Cleo's startled voice reverberated in Tamara's head. But how?

"The magic of my Heart Stone locket allows me to speak with all magical animals," Tamara said. "But there's something different about you…it was much easier to talk with you than any other magical…"

Suddenly, the locket shot out a wave of ruby red light that engulfed Cleo. After her initial neigh of protest, Cleo was raised up a few feet off the ground. When she put hoof to sod again, however, the baby unicorn was marked by a Heart Stone-shaped magical mark on her flank.

"What exactly just occurred?" Queen Sierra asked, bewilderment and fear in her voice.

"Nothing to be afraid of, Sierra," Queen Anya replied. "But I am delighted to inform you that your young niece has been selected by the Heart Stone as a Jewel Rider candidate when she comes of age!"

"A member of my house, destined to be part of the Jewel Riders?" Sierra said. "Why, this is cause for celebration! Long have the unicorns desired a closer relationship with the people of Avalon, and what better way to foster friendship than with the closest possible bond people and unicorns can achieve – that of the Jewel Riders."

"My thoughts exactly," Queen Anya said. "Tamara, one of your duties as the future Heart Stone rider will be looking after the next generation of magical animals that are likely to become bonded companions."

"Devon mentioned something about that," Tamara replied. "Has he ever taken care of any of the current generation's animals?"

Max nodded. "Oh yes, he worked with all three of our wolves. They were quite the mischievous rascals until he calmed them down."

Tamara knelt down in the grass next to Cleo. "My name is Tamara," she said. "And it looks like we'll be together from now on," she said with a smile.

Oh boy! Cleo bounced all over, her little pink unicorn body practically vibrating with excitement. Will I get to live in the Crystal Castle and play with the princess?

"You'll live in the Crystal Palace," Tamara corrected. "And of course you'll meet Princess Gwenevere before too long," she added quickly, wanting to make a good impression in front of the Queens. "But remember that being a Jewel Rider is a great responsibility. Merlin counts on us to ride the Wild Magic and monitor the kingdom for him."

I'll do my very best! Cleo said, stamping her front hoof with determination.

Tamara giggled. "I know you will, little one," she said, before rising to meet Queen Sierra's serene gaze. "Good Queen," Tamara said, "I will do my best to watch over Cleo and guide her as she trains for the future. We thank you for placing your royal trust with us." Tamara gave another little bow.

"We know that Cleo shall do well with the daughter of Charity. Your mother once did us a great service, which we have not forgotten. It seems that you are doing us a great service as well - trust that it will be remembered," Queen Sierra said, inclining her head toward Tamara.

"Now then, with that in mind, I'm still ready for some lunch," King Jared said.

Tamara followed the group to where they would be eating, and now Cleo trotted beside her instead of with her unicorn cousins. Tamara could have sworn that the Princess Moondance turned her head to gaze back at them several times. She was an absolutely breathtaking creature.

Once everyone was settled (the unicorns with dandelion greens and the humans with savory sandwiches), Tamara watched in fascination as the three monarchs had a spirited conversation about politics, closely watched by the male unicorn Kiernan, who always seemed to be trying to ingratiate himself with the royals.

Moondance, however, had set down next to Tamara and Cleo. You can hear all of us, right? The unicorn princess asked.

Tamara nodded. "Yes, my Heart Stone necklace gives me the ability to understand and get used to having magical animals in my head before I take on the real jewel."

Then can you tell me what it's like to be a Jewel Rider? Moondance asked, her voice wistful.

Tamara smiled. "I'm probably not the best person to ask - I'm not a real Jewel Rider yet."

But you have a future that you chose, Moondance said. You are free to make your own way.

"More often I think that it chose me," Tamara said. "And it's not a future without obligation, princess."

Please, just call me Moondance. The unicorn tossed her head, shaking out her purple mane.

"All right, Moondance, then what would you like to do with your life?" Tamara asked, genuinely curious.

I want to see the world and experience everything, Moondance said quietly, almost so quietly that Tamara had a hard time hearing her. You don't know what it's like to have people always telling you where to go, how to act, the expectations they have for your future. What about what I want for my future?

"Your destiny is for you to decide," Tamara said, laying a comforting hand on Moondance. "Princess or no, you do your people no good if you're miserable."

Maybe you're right, Moondance said. I just wish my path was a little clearer.

"Perhaps it will never be clear, but you have to forge ahead doing the best that you can," Tamara said. "Perhaps you might like to come to the Avalon Symphony's concert tonight – I've always found that music helps me to think over my problems in new ways; perhaps it will do the same for you?"

Moondance whinnied, something Tamara realized was a laugh. I'm not one much for music, but how can I turn that down? Moondance said. I'll be there, Tamara. Perhaps I can get mother to go as well.

"It would be an honor to have the Unicorn royal family in attendance," Tamara said.

After a very pleasant lunch, Tamara and Max bade farewell to the unicorns, Jared, and Anya before continuing on to the game stalls. Tamara tried her hand at lawn bowling (only to find out she couldn't hit the broad side of a barn – and she was familiar with barns!), and Max fulfilled his promise of winning Tamara a prize (it turned out he had excellent hand-eye coordination with the ring toss game). Tamara left with a large stuffed bear that reminded her of Boreas.

The afternoon wore on, and before she knew it, Tamara was only one bell away from the Evening Bell and her performance.

"Thank you for a lovely day, Max," she said. "You will come to the concert tonight, won't you?" she asked.

"Of course," he said. "Like I said earlier, I wouldn't miss a chance to hear you play again!"

Tamara blushed. "Thank you. Will you escort me back to the Summer Palace afterward?"

Max nodded. "It would be a pleasure and an honor."

Without thinking too much about it, Tamara stepped up on her tiptoes and kissed Max on the cheek. "See you later, then," she said, before running away to get changed.

Why in Avalon had she kissed Max? Tamara liked Drake, didn't she? Oh, it was all getting so…fuzzy now. Still, she had had a wonderful day with Max, and he had been both kind and absolutely charming. Tamara squeezed the white bear closer to her chest as her face grew warm. Well, tonight wasn't the time to be worrying about such things. She had a concert to get through!

"Finally, my student arrives!" Maestro Hill exclaimed as Tamara emerged from the changing tent in her sleek black performance gown.

She grinned. The more things changed, the more some things would always stay the same. "I'm not technically late, you know…" she said, smiling as the Evening Bell just began to ring. She hugged the Maestro, who hugged her back.

"It's good to see you too," he said. "I have greatly missed having someone on my side during orchestra practice, after all!"

"Surely Madame Maria is a help," said Tamara.

The Maestro nodded. "Aye, but you are the one who truly understand the new philosophy for this orchestra. You are the one who can help me breathe new life in an otherwise crumbling institution."

"You're worried about the performance, aren't you?" Tamara said, more of a statement than a question.

"I would be lying if I said I wasn't," the Maestro replied. "This is the first time this orchestra has played to a crowd like this – oh, what if our music still doesn't reach the people?" he murmured.

Madame Maria emerged from the changing tent in her own performance gown. "That's defeatist talk, Hill!"

Tamara laughed as she hugged the older woman. "You set him straight, Madame!"

"We're going to give them a concert to remember tonight," Maria said. "And like a phoenix being reborn, so shall the Avalon Symphony be reborn tonight."

"But reborn into what?" the Maestro asked, breathless.

"Who knows?" Maria replied. "That's the fun part, though, isn't it? We get to chart a new course tonight, and you have the privilege of being our guide! Oh, that I would live to see such exciting days!" she trilled. "Come along, Tamara – we need to get everyone tuned up and ready to go!"

Tamara dutifully followed, leaving the Maestro to his continued pacing back and forth (and wearing a circle in the grass!) The orchestra had set aside a tent to get tuned up. Madame Maria made sure each section sounded perfectly in harmony before running everyone through a few warm-up scales. Tamara breathed a sigh of contentment. How she'd missed playing in a group!

Finally, Madame Maria led them onto the stage. There were bright gem-lights set up so they could read their music, and they also allowed Tamara to see the huge crowd that had gathered for the event. Blankets were spread all over the grassy knoll that swept upward from the stage, forming almost a natural amphitheater. Tamara could also make out the royal pavilion set atop the knoll, housing not only King Jared and Queen Anya this time, but also Devon, Argent, Princess Gwenevere, the Pack, Queen Sierra, and the rest of her unicorn court that had traveled to Lake Avalon for the Craft Faire.

The members of the orchestra then began stamping their feet, building tension and excitement before Madame Maria clear voice rang out across the crowd, "Please put your hands together for the leader of Avalon Symphony – Maestro Hill!"

The crowd cheered and roared their approval as the Maestro emerged from the side of the stage. "Thank you all for coming tonight!" he yelled to the crowd. "We hope to provide a musical tableau worthy of you this evening, and are excited to share a preview for our upcoming season. Later this year, we will be making a tour, and hope to see you all there. Now, without further ado, I give you the Avalon Symphony!"

He turned from the crowd back to the orchestra then, and Tamara saw that his face was alight with wonder and excitement. He mouthed the words, "Make it sing!" to the orchestra members, a phrase that had been their constant mantra since their first practice.

He raised his baton, and to Tamara the orchestra truly did sing. The first song they played was the first they had practiced after Tamara joined, and she was shocked at how different a flavor the same piece could have. Where the original had been stiff, this time the piece flowed naturally – and quite beautifully.

The next piece was a sprightly number that had people tapping their toes to the beat of the music. Out of the corner of her eye, Tamara could see that the King and Queen were clapping along with all the other members of their retinue.

For their third number, the Maestro took a short break to dedicate the performance of the piece to Queen Sierra and the other unicorns in attendance, thanking them for being such staunch supporters of the people of Avalon for so many years.

"We are happy to help our long-time friends and allies!" Queen Sierra's voice magically rang out across the crowded green space. "May peace and harmony long be the notes by which our relationship is sung."

The orchestra waited with bated breath for the next song to begin. It was a complicated, older piece that had not been performed for many years. The Maestro had found it down in the Crystal Palace Library, and brought it to practice one day. It was titled "Amalthea's Song," and was supposedly a true record of the First Queen of the Unicorns, who had led her people to Avalon following her good friends Queen Gyneth and Merlin. Tamara stood up and made her way to the front of the orchestra. There was a vocal section of the piece that the Maestro had invited her to sing.

Tamara was nervous as a cat in a room full of rocking chairs! She had never imagined that there would be so many people here, or that multiple royals would be in attendance. As she took a deep breath and looked out over the crowd, she spotted Fallon in the crowd, near the royals' pavilion. Tamara smiled, remembering her conversation with the girl from earlier that day. Follow your heart, and it will lead you straight and true, Tamara thought.

The orchestra began to play, and Tamara luxuriated in the sweet, soulful sound that they produced. The song supposedly traced Amalthea's journey, starting with peace and happiness in her homeland. It was followed by a dark period - the middle of the piece, full of crashing cymbals and drums beating a relentless pace. Amalthea had to flee from something - the stories didn't say, but Tamara felt as though a huge beast was chasing her to the ends of the world. Finally, the score crested like a wave crashing on the shore, bring the unicorns and their families to Avalon.

It was then that Tamara began to sing, her voice magically amplified by the Heart Stone locket to carry out over the crowd.

"Across a sea of stars we trod,

Familiar as an ancient rhyme,

With tune of hope our feet were shod,

A path to peace for all of time."

"In Avalon a welcome fair,

Didst greet our weary souls,

No longer were we to despair,

No longer face the shoals."

"A wizard as our guiding star,

And friendship's hearth ablaze,

No more cursed to wander far,

Sun shining down its rays."

"Enchanted bond that will not sever,

The future now is clear,

Friends Together, Friends Forever,

This mantra we hold dear."

As the song ended, Tamara saw a spark of blue magic shoot up from the royal pavilion. It coalesced around Lady Argent first, forming a crescent moon shape, before bursting apart and lighting up around two individuals: the unicorn princess Moondance, and the young sculptor Fallon. They were both lifted bodily into the air a few feet off the ground.

"Friends, a glorious thing has happened!" Merlin said, standing up from his place at the royals' pavilion. "The glorious power of Amalthea's Song has shown a new path for the Jewel Riders!" Tamara thought she could hear a hitch in Merlin's voice when he spoke the word Amalthea, and wondered if the wizard had actually known the first unicorn queen. "We are blessed with the next Moon Stone riders – young Fallon and the Princess Moondance!"

The crowd started chattering all at once in great excitement and anticipation. Tamara was shocked too – her own experience had been nothing like this! Could her spellsinging magic have been a key to unlocking this wondrous event? The crowd continued to chatter as Merlin raised his staff and spoke a word that Tamara didn't understand. In that instant, he, Moondance, Fallon, Queen Sierra, and two people who must have been Fallon's parents vanished from the gathering. Merlin presumably had much to discuss with them!

The orchestra had a few more songs that they were going to play, and finished the set despite the people's attention being elsewhere. Still, Tamara thought it had been a wonderful performance all said and done.

"I'm a little disappointed we lost the focus partway through," the Maestro said.

Tamara shook her head. "I wouldn't be if I were you – just think, this orchestra will forever be linked with Fallon's discovery as a Jewel Rider. And the fact that it happened after we performed Amalthea's Song. It was truly an inspired choice to perform that this evening."

The Maestro smiled. "I fell in love with that song the instant I first discovered it in the Palace archives. I was drawn to it in a way I can't fully describe."

Madame Maria set a hand on her one-time student's shoulder. "Well, perhaps the magic of Avalon led you to that song, just as it led young Fallon and the unicorns here today. Magic works in mysterious ways."

Tamara changed back into her sundress and packed away her violin. When she emerged from the changing tent, she found Max waiting for her, along with Drake, Josh, and Devon.

"That was wonderful," Max said, taking Tamara's hand.

Devon gave them a knowing look before saying, "I think we'd better hurry back to the Summer Palace and say hello to our newest teammates."

They hopped back on their mounts, Tamara again riding with Max. The wolves were running this time, and Tamara relished the night air blowing through her hair as they travelled the forest shortcuts back to the palace. Ruby and Devon had long since taken to the air (preferring not to get her large wings tangled in the underbrush), and Tamara saw the large winged cat alight on the palace lawn as the Pack emerged from the forest.

The first thing Tamara heard was yelling coming from the open door. "I will not let my daughter's talent go to waste so that she can chase rainbows and moonbeams! Fallon has a promising future ahead of her; she is talented enough to one day be a Craftmaster!" the voice bellowed. Shapes emerged from the palace door, and Tamara recognized Alfred and a woman who must have been Fallon's mother. "Fallon, come along now!"

"Sir, I don't think you understand," Argent said as she dashed out behind Alfred. Tamara was shocked to hear a note of anger in the usually serene voice. "The Jewel chooses the rider. The Moon Stone has selected your daughter as the best person in her generation to be its holder. This is not something to be taken lightly, or to be so casually brushed aside!"

Alfred snorted. "A bunch of mumbo-jumbo, if you ask me! Let the jewel pick someone else, then."

Tamara was horrified. How could someone say such awful things? Queen Anya, King Jared, Queen Sierra, and Moondance followed Argent out onto the lawn. "Think of my sacrifice!" Queen Sierra said as she moved regally toward Alfred. "I give up my daughter too, and possibly the heir to my throne. I do not do it without reservation, but I know that our children can do powerful magic together. And powerful magic will not be denied."

"Don't I get a say in my own future?" a small but powerful voice said as Fallon emerged from the doorway. "Father, I appreciate that you are thinking of my future, but you didn't feel what I felt when the Moon Stone chose me. You didn't feel the magic coursing through you, didn't feel the rightness of the world in that very moment that Moondance and I were connected." She shook her head, and tears started pouring down her face. "Please know that I love you, but my place is here now."

Fallon's mother gasped as Alfred's features tightened into a mask of rage. "Fine, then! Give up everything you've been working for your whole life! Throw away your talent in order to chase a foolish dream that will be over in a decade. Just don't come back to me begging to be let back into the guild, because if you choose this, your name is off the books!"

"Fine!" Fallon yelled. "Take my name off the guild's records. Better yet, why don't you just scratch me off the family tree as well!"

Fallon's mother started crying then, as Queen Anya ran to comfort her. King Jared stepped forward then. "That's quite enough of that!" he boomed, instantly silencing everyone there. Tamara had never seen the normally jovial King in such a temper. "Now, if we can't discuss this like civilized people, then that's it for tonight. We'll meet again tomorrow morning."

"We will do no such thing!" Alfred said. "Don't think you can throw around your royal title and intimidate me." He turned on Fallon. "Daughter, your mother and I are returning to the wagon. I will extend my grace period until midnight tonight. If you don't return before then, don't bother returning at all." With that, Alfred stormed off, dragging Fallon's mother behind him.

By then, Fallon was crying too and ran back into the Summer Palace, followed closely by Lady Argent. Tamara ran after them pulling along Moondance with her, hoping to be a bridge between the two new bonded riders. Tamara eventually found Fallon sobbing into Argent's lap in a tucked-away library, while the elf woman gently rubbed the younger girl's back.

"I am so sorry things turned out this way, young Fallon," Argent said soothingly.

None is sorrier than I, Moondance said. Tamara repeated the words for Fallon's benefit.

Fallon sniffed and raised her head, revealing tear-stained cheeks. "I don't want you to hurt," she said, moving toward the unicorn and hugging her. They stayed that way for long moments before pulling apart and sharing a secretive smile.

"What will your decision be, Fallon?" Argent asked. "I will not attempt to influence you, but as you have no doubt heard, I am stepping down with Devon very soon and seek a worthy heir for my Moon Stone. You are that heir."

Fallon nodded, before turning to Tamara. "What was it like for you? How did you know you were ready to take this on?" she asked.

"You just…know," Tamara said. "It's like everything is in proper focus for the first time in your life, and you're absolutely sure of the path you should take."

"I felt that," Fallon said. "And I know it's something that I can't turn away from, even for my father." The girl wiped her eyes on her sleeve before Tamara produced a handkerchief.

"It sounds as though your course is clear," Argent said, "Though not without obstacles."

Fallon sighed. "I guess nobody said it would be easy." She looked up at Tamara. "Thank for translating for Moondance," she said.

Tamara grasped Fallon's hand. "It was my pleasure and honor. If you need anything else, let me know, all right?"

Fallon nodded. "I'll be fine in time." Turning to Argent and Moondance, she added, "It sounds as though we have a lot to discuss."

Tamara left the room then, and when she closed the door she ran straight into Princess Gwenevere, listening at the door. "Princess, can I help you with something?" Tamara asked a bit coldly.

"I just…wanted to see if Fallon was okay," Gwenevere said.

"Nobody is okay after something like that happening to them, but Fallon is strong – she'll pull through, I think," Tamara said before turning to walk away.

"Wait," Gwenevere said. "Do you mind if I walk with you?"

Tamara raised an eyebrow. "There's no law against it." What was this girl getting at? Tamara felt mentally and emotionally drained, and was almost too tired to care. Almost.

They walked in silence through the empty halls of the Summer Palace for a few minutes before Gwenevere spoke up again. "I owe you an apology, Tamara," she said.

Of all the things Gwenevere could have said at that very moment, that was the one thing that Tamara least expected. "For what, exactly?"

"For being absolutely terrible toward you ever since you arrived," Gwenevere said, not meeting Tamara's eyes. "I was jealous; you were getting all the attention – Drake's attention, anyway. And, well, you know that you're going to be a Jewel Rider. You were the first chosen of our generation."

"I assume you're not counting any of the Pack?"

Gwenevere rolled her eyes. "Of course I'm not – they're different from the three jewels."

"Frankly Princess, you knew you were going to be a Jewel Rider long before I did," Tamara said. "It's in your bloodline to wield the Sun Stone."

"It doesn't always work, you know," Gwenevere said softly. "Look at my Aunt Kale – she was firstborn and didn't inherit. What if the Sun Stone doesn't work for me?"

Tamara had honestly never thought of that idea before. "Has that ever even happened?" she asked.

Gwenevere nodded. "About ten generations ago, I found that none of the royal children were worthy to inherit the Sun Stone, and it chose a distant relative instead. So the line from Gyneth remains unbroken, but it's anything but direct."

"Mmm," Tamara said. She still didn't feel that sorry for the Princess, but at least it was a start. "And what about Drake, then?"

Gwenevere blushed. "Let's just say that it's complicated?"

"I can live with that," Tamara said.

"Good, because I want to put any bad feelings behind us and start over. Fallon will need our support going forward, and we need to be united for her benefit," Gwenevere said.

"We need to be in tune," Tamara added. "The Enchanted Jewels always work best when the Three are in tune." She gave Gwenevere a hard look then, before adding, "Are you truly sincere about all this?"

The Princess nodded. "Our parents had wonderful experiences that led them to remain friends forever. I want that, and you and Fallon are the two people that's most likely to happen with. But you'll have to take it slow with me – I've never had real friends before."

"Then promise that we'll support and be there for each other, both in our capacity as Jewel Riders, and as friends," Tamara said with a smile.

"I promise," Gwenevere said, before offering her hand.

Tamara took the offered hand, shaking it vigorously. "Then let the fun times begin!"


Author's Note: Full disclaimer - Amalthea and the vague details of her story are borrowed from Peter S. Beagle's wonderful novel 'The Last Unicorn.' Seriously folks, go read it. (Then watch the movie!)

Also, much of the backstory for this chapter is based on information presented in two episodes of the show: 'Badlands' from Season One, and 'Vale of the Unicorns' from Season Two. And in case you were wondering - yes, Merlin knew Amalthea and her horn became the Jewel of the Unicorns. :)