Chapter Eleven
After breakfast, the Mayor and the only other city official had come to greet them. Other residents had come along as well, which surprised Flora a bit. She still wasn't used to being regarded highly, even if it was now months since she had taken over the office. They met outside the inn.
"It is an honor to have the Guardian Fairy visit our town," said the Mayor of the small settlement deep in the woods of Linphea.
"Thank you, I appreciate that. If you ever need my help, don't hesitate to call," Flora replied.
"And it is also an honor to meet Linphea's first Resident Witch," he continued, shaking Lucy's hand.
"Thank you," she replied, "My aid will help prevent or solve a whole range of problems."
"Yes... well, good luck on your mission," he said, not used to a witch's way of interacting.
"Is there anything you need?" he asked, turning to Flora.
"I think we've got it covered," she replied. She glanced at Lucy, who nodded.
"Very well, then, good luck, and we hope you'll be able to visit again and stay longer," said the Mayor, and everyone took their leave.
Ygor had not come outside, saying it was their moment. Most wizards were not much on public accolades, preferring to work behind the scenes. Being well known can interfere with their work.
"You ready to go?" Lucy called toward the door, and her boyfriend joined them, wearing his backpack.
Lucy and Flora got theirs and went to the transport leaf Mari had arranged for them. Putting things away, they got aboard and headed into the wilds of Linphea.
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They ate lunch aboard the leaf, preferring to continue traveling as long as possible. Flora called Mari occasionally just to check in. Lucy and Ygor sat together, talking.
On the second day it rained, but Flora would never consider disrupting the weather patterns unless she had to, so while the witch grumbled they continued on wearing waterproof ponchos. They lost contact with civilization; apparently the satellites that handled cell phone traffic didn't cover this part of the planet.
That night Flora left the leaf hovering overhead and they used it for shelter against the continuing rain. Ygor used a bit of magic and dried out some wood for a fire. Lucy lit the fire, making both her and Flora smile at the memories of fighting the fire started by Inez, Megan, and Zee. The three witches had been sentenced to Light Rock, and would be there for the forseeable future.
Flora became better acquainted with Ygor, and silently approved of his relationship with Lucy.
On the third day the Xos Mountains came into sight, slowly growing larger as the distance was eaten up. Lucy checked her map and against the GPS satellite data saved on her phone, saying they were right on target.
The terrain below became more rocky, the forest giving way to grasses and bushes as the feet of Mount Megaxos. The land became rolling hills. Picking a good spot they landed. Collecting their packs they stepped off the leaf and looked around.
"Can we fly up to where the beans grow, or are we going to have to climb?" asked Ygor.
"Climb," said Lucy, sourly, "According to the report, it's the only way to get there, and there's not enough room for the leaf to land without crushing plants."
Since this is the last crop available, we really don't want to do that," said Flora.
"I still don't see why a few plants matter," Lucy muttered, "There won't be enough to go around anyway."
"That's exactly why we need to preserve all we can," said Flora, sharply. "Don't you understand that yet?"
Lucy glared at her boss, but chose not to argue. She sighed. "Fine. Let's find the trail and establish a base. It's getting late in the day."
Finding the trail was easy. A sign had been left by the surveyors, marking the beginning and noting the few possible dangers anyone would run into. They decided to camp there. The transport leaf moved to the side and landed. It had followed them as they hiked, but they would leave it behind tomorrow.
"Lucy, I've been meaning to ask, who did the survey you've been referencing?" asked Flora.
"The last Guardian Fairy had it done," she answered, "I found it in the archives."
As the trio set up their tents and made a fire, none saw or sensed the small robot drone watching them.
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The next morning they started the hike up the mountain. According to the markers it was about two miles in a straight line, and some eight hundred feet vertically. They figured it would take them all morning to get there.
At first the walk was easy, and they talked as they went. Twice Flora left the path, following feelings from plants and helping them grow better. Lucy was impatient, but Ygor waited without rancor. Overhead the drone kept vigil.
As time went on the path grew steeper and rockier, so they had to watch their step. Finally around noon they got to the passage where the Maab beans grew. Going through the short cave they found themselves in a narrow valley filled to the walls with a bright green plant heavy with a brown and pink striped bean.
"Those are Maab beans," said Ygor.
"The plants are healthy and happy," reported Flora. "This seems to be the ideal environment for them."
"Can we take some?" he asked.
"Yes, the beans are ripe," Flora replied. She transformed and flew over the valley, searching carefully for anything out of place or that was a danger to the plants.
Lucy helped Ygor gather some beans, both for his shop and the supplies at the Guardian Fairy's office. As they were putting the bags away, Flora returned.
"Don't go out any farther," she warned, "There's not much room between the plants."
"Don't need to anyway," said Ygor, "Got plenty right here."
"Did you find anything to be concerned about?" asked Lucy.
"No, all's well. And I think you're right; this place is hard to get to and very obscure. I don't think we'll have to worry about someone taking all the plants," said Flora.
Lucy smiled and nodded. "Yep. It simply isn't worth the trouble, unlike when those sokama berries were stolen."
"Hm. I think I'll add this place to the list for satellite surveys, just for the security. I'll probably have it dropped in a few years when the crop is available from other places again," said Flora.
"I'm hungry. Let's eat," said Ygor, heading for the tunnel entrance. The two women agreed and followed.
Back outside the valley they started a fire in a pit left by the survey team and ate lunch. "We'd better get started soon if we want to make it back to camp by sunset," he commented, glancing at the shadows of the boulders laying around.
His companions agreed and after clean up they headed back down.
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"We'll be back at camp in about an hour, at this rate," said Ygor, sitting and resting on a flat rock.
"Yeah, then another three day trip by leaf to the village," grumbled Lucy.
"But it was worth it," said Flora, "I learned something new about my native world, and saw a place I've never seen before."
"That's fine for you, but I would have been just as happy at home," said Lucy.
Ygor put his arm around her waist. "Hey, it's not worth anything that I'm here?"
"Ah, we could have gotten together at home," said Lucy, putting an arm around his shoulders.
Flora smiled and shook her head, but didn't reply. It wasn't an argument she could win.
Finally they got to the marker for the beginning of the trail. That was a relief and soon they were back at the base camp while the sun slowly set.
A fire had just been started when they all felt a wave of magic pass over them.
"What was that?" asked Lucy, her hands suddenly glowing with a black nimbus with a green edge.
"I don't know, but we'd better find out," said Ygor. He took a collapsible wand from his pocket and snapped it open. The tip, which was a yellow crystal, began to glow.
"It came from that way," Flora pointed around a cliff of rock on their right. "I think if we go to the far side we can see."
Quietly they crept up to the rock, voices slowly growing louder, along with the sound of footsteps and brush moving.
Whoever it was would be there in a minute.