Chapter 62

Lady Maria's cottage

The renowned and famous Alpha of the Rebel Pack was Jerome Wallace, his first legendary Fairyland resistance had already occurred when his brother Andrie fought the army of the Dark Lord who became the ally of Lady Magda years ago, and presently Jerome Wallace and his pack of fifty werewolf burned the soldier's armory of Lord Colton and started a fight in the tavern that ended up burning almost the nearby houses. Since then, they have been hunted by the King's soldiers. Alpha Jerome, however, remained in action with a large company in the southern part of fairyland near the deserted Werewolf kingdom. They wore disguises and moved into distinct groups. They wandered in various ways and hid in plain sight while feigning to be what they were not. Unless they attained help and a lot more of it, their accomplishments would be sufficient.

They came upon traveling Eastwards almost. Some of them roamed alone, and they kept some in minor groups. Some proceeded in substantial enough groups to be bothering.

Jerome and his people journeyed by day and set a tent in the afternoon. He allowed the men to rest a little as soon as the twilight fell. They would sneak out of the encampment and ambush Lord Colton's warrior. They never strode far from the camp, they swept the darkness in a circle around the primary encampment, and they would retreat before they moved on.

Lord Colton's soldiers were invariably armed and equipped, they were skilled, and despite the element of surprise incorporated with great leadership, Alpha Jerome lost dozens of men already. Three had injuries that prevented them from moving forward and they wound several others, but most of them stayed. But he was abducted one night and held as a hostage in his mansion for days. Being the rebels of fairyland did not sit well with any of their men, but they had no alternative. Their enemy was the finest of the best, and they were merciless.

After some formal pleasantries he asked Lady Maria for help."Oh god, poor man, so many injured, Jerome dear, tell your friends to bring the wounded and all who need my healing." Lady Maria announced then turned her head to Anna, "I need you to help dear, come on faster and you two, help them settle near the garden shed." pointing to the soldiers, Lady Maria instructed Harry and David without even asking if they would cooperate. Even with a massive headache, Harry didn't complain. Yet, they scampered and followed the woman's instruction.

After many hard hours of healing the wounded, Lady Maria cleaned the blood and mud off their armor. She was alone in the privacy of her backyard shed when Anna peeked. She noticed her but waited for Anna to gather herself to approach. She walked to where Lady Maria sat. They took a glimpse of each other. "Lady Maria..." Anna hesitated and her face set up with a determination as she endures her natural qualms. Lady Maria acknowledged as she waited for her to speak. "Why can't I heal the soldiers earlier? I tried harder but it seemed like there was no warmth inside me to soothe them. Do you know any of this?"

"Oh dear, not everything can be settled by your fire, but don't worry that much, that's why I have many herbs stocks in case something couldn't be treated by sheer magic or ability, have known that by now."

From the side of the shed, Jerome Wallace emerged, "Nice meeting you descendant of the Moon, I'm Alpha Jerome Wallace  and I and my man will be in your assistant, we have been traveling everywhere looking for the toy and the prince and yet, our encounter in the tavern gave us hope when the descendant of Moon and Fire graces us her present, my apology for the troubles by the way."

"Apology accepted, Alpha."

"Thank you, milady. Where is the Prince?

"At the garden shed I guess."

After hours passed, on the other end of the garden, the path to the backyard shed was occupied by Jerome Wallace's men, they grew tired with every passing second, as the bread was given to them in an unhurried manner, none spoke out of weariness and drowsiness. Harry watched them from a distance. He couldn't help noticing the absolute expectant expressions on those hopefuls' faces upon looking at him. If only he could comfort them financially, he will do his best, but this is the Moonkand. Physical money from the human world was useless here, yet he smiles at them. They are his people and he promised to give them what they wanted. A land for their family. Soon. The Golden Royal kingdom shall arise.

After some time, Lady Maria  and Anna served the food. Harry thought no wonder those Jerome's men were queuing up! It simply amazed them by the two beauties offering them nourishment. And however, Anna was enjoying listening to their jokes and banter. Their accent was such a playful tune as if they were the star of their movie. She could have sat there all day to listen and laugh.

But then Harry thought: What if Anna was their only hope? She was the only one who could cure the ferals right? How would they do that? And what if he'd awoken from this dream and found out that Anna was trapped here in the Moonland forever? No, he hopes that it would never happen to them. If it did, he would come back and learn to dream anew. Now that she's here, he never wants to stay awake. He knows she was his hope. Anything new can impose motivation, yet what is living without it worth it? He'd rather die than lose her.

*****

Miles away, the wind was high enough to keep the trees swirling, concealing the sound of the Lord Colton's soldier's footsteps on the small path towards the cottage. A couple of nights earlier the legendary soldier strolled the fairyland, filling it with threat and danger. They were said to skin their rebels' prisoners alive and toss them in the sand to heighten the agonizing pain and over two hundred fairy soldiers left their camp before dawn marching toward the healer's mountain with dozens of ferals. The warmth that had been in the air just last week had either faded away into the sky or leached into the earth.

The breeze was roaring like a swirling storm when they reached their destination; it was the sort of rough night that made one assume that spirits and evil might well be merging. The wind brings neat drops, each one a promise of the rain to come. As chilled air moves the clouds, streaks of grandness breakthrough from a patient moon.