The exile date was rapidly approaching. And she was rapidly getting nowhere. Although her heart told her that Sled and Milori were innocent, she was afraid to trust anything and anyone. Almost.
Clarion flew to the tinker shop tree and found Mary in the middle of waving her hand before herself and counting to ten. The shop was nothing short of a madhouse with fairies flying everywhere and snow owls flapping about madly at the ceiling with strings tied to their feet.
"Mary?" she called over the chaos.
"...ten," she said with a great sigh and turned around to see Clarion.
"Whatever is going on?" She ducked just as a snow owl zipped by her head.
"The carts we were building for the repairs were nearly done. And then one of the fairies," she said and threw a look at a young gangly one, "thought it best to speed up production by having the snow owls help."
Clarion couldn't help it-she burst out laughing. Whether it was the stress of everything else or the madness going on around her, she laughed until she had to hold her belly.
"It's not funny! We are so far behind now!" Mary barked in frustration. "The carts are broken, the baskets are torn...ohhhhh...1, 2, 3, 4..."
"Mountain!" Clarion called.
He swooped down and landed before her, hungry for her attention.
She untied his feet and then flew onto his back. As soon as she rode out on him, the other owls followed and calmed down being out of the confined space. Clarion slid down, and Mary walked out with the tinkers.
"Thank you, Clarion," she sighed with relief.
"The owls can help, just don't take them indoors. The ladybugs like to weave-they can help repair the baskets. And the mice like puzzles, so they can rebuild some carts. Now, when you have a moment this morning, I really need to discuss something with you."
She nodded. "Now before I get buried in work again?"
Clarion slipped into Mary's back stock room with her. "Mary, you work often with the guards being you do so much night work during the busy seasons. Whom do you trust completely? Whom does Gary trust?"
Mary cocked her head thoughtfully. "Well, Guard Thomas has always been good. Gary told me to always use Thomas if I need help at night."
Clarion chewed on that. "Thomas is good and has proven loyal."
"May I ask what this is about?"
Clarion blushed. "Well, please do not tell anyone we spoke. I'll tell you in time."
Her next stop was at the border. Bernard had been there at two o'clock in the morning, and he was still there in autumn just before the guards were due to switch shifts.
She caught Gliss's eye.
As soon as the guard switch happened, Gliss met her under a tree in winter near spring.
"Anything?"
"No, my queen, although Bernard is powerfully angry he is on border duty. He seems..." She hesitated.
"What?"
"Well, he is constantly asking your whereabouts. I questioned him on this last night, and he said he's used to being your guard and simply worries about you."
"But you don't believe him."
"I don't know. He doesn't have many friends, but then again many shy fairies don't. But he seems far from shy," she answered in confusion.
"Gliss, was it Sled's or Milori's idea to take the fall?"
Her eyes grew impossibly wide, but she blinked in the next instant and was composed. "I'm not sure what lies you've heard-"
"Gliss, you do realize that if I'm unable to prove Sled and Lord Milori innocent, you will have falsely testified against your lord if we later learn they were innocent," she said gently.
The poor fairy looked terrified. "Someone is telling you lies."
"Milori told me," she said carefully, watching Gliss's reaction.
Releasing a deep sigh of relief, she said, "He asked me to serve him in this way and vowed no harm would come to me if we failed." Her dainty chin quivered. "We were so certain it was Bernard, and Lord Milori came up with this plan. He wanted to do it alone so if it didn't work, none of us would get hurt. But Sled refused, believing he could protect Lord Milori by taking the severer punishment himself," she wept. "We didn't know the punishment would be the same for both of them. Lord Milori loses his pixie dust faster every day because he eats less and less. He can't handle it that Sled is getting pulled into this. I thought this would be over within a day or two, that we'd figure out who the culprit is. They're relying on me to get them out, and I can't figure out what happened." She wept, speaking faster in her distress. "Lord Milori would be furious if he knew I told you, but if we can't prove them innocent, he plans on admitting the day before exile that he commanded Sled into taking the heat so Sled can go free. I don't know what to do," she sobbed into her hands.
Clarion put her hand on the girl's shoulder. "Gliss, I moved them to a cave where they're better protected. And left them without guards."
Gliss looked up. "What?" she sniffled.
"You must not tell anyone that we have spoken-even Lord Milori."
She caught Bernard on his way home. He bowed when Clarion stopped before him. "May I have a word?"
"Of course, Queen Clarion." He followed her to the far side of the border of autumn.
She turned and took a deep breath. "Bernard, I must apologize for my temper in winter. I do not take well to being underminded."
"My apologies. It was not my intent but honestly a misunderstanding. If you desire me at the border, I will serve you without question or challenge."
She released a sigh. "Thank you. The stress of the traitors has my nerves on edge. I...I would actually prefer you to be my guard again. You have served me for years and are familiar with my odd habits."
He met her eyes. "It would be my pleasure, my queen," he said with a gentle smile and soft bow. "My deepest apologies for making you doubt my loyalty."
She gave a soft nod. "Please return home, and you'll be on day shift with me starting tomorrow."
He nodded. "But may I ask where your guards are now?" He asked, looking around.
She cleared her throat sheepishly. "I find they are easy to slip past, which makes me nervous whom could slip past them to me."
Bernard smiled. "You do keep your guards on their toes. I will be there at first light."