Rose's Arc

Chapter 4 of 8

Rose knelt at the pool's edge, the blue flower in both hands. The water lay black and still. She opened her mouth to ask for her wish, then stopped. She didn't know what stood below the surface, or what it wanted. Luna had warned her back on the trail: the spirit might refuse, or worse. A wrong word could turn it against her. Behind her, Luna hovered above the stones. The fairy had guided Rose past the black pines for a promised garden. She kept her distance from the water, wings tight. "Speak," Luna said. "But mind your words. It hates a beggar. Show it something first." "Show it what?" Rose asked. "You brought a gift. Give it before you ask. Don't ask at all yet." Luna's voice dropped. "It's proud. Feed the pride." Rose looked at the flower. She had planned to trade it for the wish, plain and quick. Now she saw the risk. If she pushed too fast, the spirit might drag her under. She set the plan aside. She leaned over the pool and laid the flower on the water. It floated, blue against black. "I dug this from the dark roots," she said. "The thorns cut me. I brought it for you, not for what I want." The water shivered. A slow ring spread from the flower. Rose held her breath and kept her hands open, empty, on her knees. "I know you keep to yourself," she went on. "I won't crowd you. I only came to see you, and to give this." She swallowed. "If you send me away, I'll go." The flower sank. It didn't drift down. It pulled straight, as if a hand took it. The pool went smooth again. Rose waited. Nothing rose. No voice came. But the cold in the air eased. The prickle of being watched softened into something gentler, almost curious. Luna drifted closer, careful. "It took the gift," she whispered. "It didn't take you. That's more than most get." Rose let out a shaking breath. She had not angered it. She had guessed right: give, don't grab. The spirit had accepted her, and she was still whole. Then the surface stirred once more. A single object floated up where the flower had gone down. Not the blue flower. A feather, long and pale green, glowing faintly. Rose reached and lifted it. It was warm. "It answered," Luna breathed. She stared at the feather, and for once her sly smile was gone. "That's a token. It wants something back before it grants anything." Rose turned the feather in her fingers. She had won the spirit's welcome. But the welcome came with a price she couldn't yet read. "What does it mean?" Rose asked. Luna shook her head slowly. "I don't know. I've never seen it give one of these." She looked at Rose. "Whatever it wants, you'll have to find out. And soon."