Madam Fineto looked at the small pile of sparkling jewels in her hand.
Onri, her butler stood before Madam.
“I never liked him from the first, your Grace” said Onri.
Tears sprang into Madam Fineto’s eyes.
“But for these baubles” said the incredibly beautiful woman to her butler, in her study, in the Kingdoms Capital, Moon.
“Well, your Grace” said Onri serving coffee to Madam
“Its not as bad as it seems. He’s more or less just stolen the petty cash, I regret the Magnifico being stolen, your Grace, and I’m told the Fire Master has started looking for him.
And I’ve just been contacted by the Queens financial department called “the Firm”, your Grace They seek your services in promoting a Perfume range, Queen Alea specifically asked for your services, your Grace” said Onri
“Did she?” said Madam Fineto going to the window.
“Oh, Alea” sighed Madam looking out at the open sky.
“Thank you” said the former Lady of Everlake
The Lord of Everlake had been stripped of his titles and banished for his trechery, twelve years ago.
The Lady of Everlake was blameless, yet she stood down, and came to the Capital with her butler and some staff.
The people of Everlake love their Lady, but she would not be turned from her decision.
There was a knock at the study door
“Enter” said Madam Fineto.
The door opened and Queen Alea stood in the doorway.
“Alea “ shouted the former Lady, happily running and catching the Queen in a hug.
Alea giggled, “Would you join our Firm, Esmay Fineto?” said the Moon Queen
“Yes” smiled Lady Fineto.
“And, Captain Onri Batton, we would like your services as well” said the Queen smiling.
They both bowed to Alea.
“Night’s Mistress asks to meet with you, Esmay, and Celeste sends you her love,
and to say you have stayed away too long, Lady of Everlake” said Alea.
“Yes, My Queen” answered Lady Fineto.
“Are you happy to live here, Esmay?” said Alea looking out the window at the beautiful view.
Esmay looked at Onri, who smiled at her.
“I am, My Queen” said the Lady of the Lake.
“Good” said Alea
“Lady Lillian is the head of the Firm, and its diverse businesses, will you liase with her, please.
The perfumes are your responsibility in Moon Kingdom, my dear” said the Queen.
“As you will, High One” said the Lady of Everlake
“Lady Lillian invites you both to a dinner tonight, and she says to tell you, there is no Royal Fuss at the Firm”
Esmay smiled, “Yes, My Queen” she said.
“So, I’m just Alea, and she’s just Lill, ok, Esmay” said the Moon Queen.
“Um, Yes” giggled Esmay
“Good” smiled the Queen
“I’ve got to go, Lens waiting” and drawing out her quarter Crystal, the Moon Queen vanished.
“Oh, Alea” sighed Esmay happily
“There” said Onri smiling, “It all comes out right, your Grace ”
The Lady of Everlake looked into Onri’s blue-green eyes, and smiled
“It does, my faithful Captain” she said. Onri theatrically bowed, “Thank you, your Grace” he said smiling.
“I must resume my duties as Lady of Everlake, Onri, the staff must return and tell the people of my becoming Lady of Everlake once more, and we shall move towards Community, as our Queen asks of us” said Lady Esmay.
“As you will, High One” said Onri.
He bowed, then turned and went to find the staff.
Madam Fineto had been sheltered by many rich female residents of Moon, when she first arrived in the Capital.
And all of them called her, your Grace, or my Lady, when addressing her.
She simply became Madam Fineto, The Capitals most astute business woman
She was incredibly attractive, Renato had painted her portrait, but she refused Magnifico’s offer,
and it became a scandal among the wealthy.
The Lords and Ladies talked among themselves quietly, as the Queen and the Chancellor strode into the throne room The Queen ascended the steps and sat on the throne.
“Be seated, Good Folk” said the Queen to the nobility.
“Anna” said the Queen “Could you serve coffee and cake, Please”
“Yes, my Queen” said Anna signalling Kitchen staff to bring in the food
“Food is a very good way to break the ice” Queen Lillian had told Princess Alea, once.
The Starchild had nodded, “Yes, Mum” she said.
Madame Patiserre entered carrying her famous Rum Da Raison.
The whole room cheered, and Madame smiled.
“I bear good news, my folk,” said Alea as the Lords and Ladies ate and drank.
“I petitioned Esmay Fineto to resume as the Lady of Everlake, and she has accepted”
The room happily cheered again and the Moon Queen smiled.
Anna came and stood beside her Queen.
“How did Lillians dinner go?” said Alea quietly.
“Esmay said Hello Mum, when they met” said Lady Anna smiling
“Good” said the Queen.
“Lill is very happy to have her Lady of Everlake on the Firm, my Queen, Thel entertained them and Madame Patiserre and Betty served heavenly food” said Lady Anna.
“Damn, I should have gone” said the Queen.
Anna giggled, “Yes, my Queen” she said.
“Now, who am I today?” said Alea.
“Beautiful and radient, you are Guild versus Throne with the Chancellor at 11 am, my Queen, but the Chancellor asks to take that duty, and your 12 o’clock appointment and wishes his Queen a good morning”.
Alea smiled and looked up “Thank you, my Chancellor” said the Queen.
“Let’s go to Moon, Anna” said the Queen rising from the Throne.
The Lords and Ladies stood and bowed to their Queen.
The Queen and her Lady walked out of the Throne room.
Alea turned as she left, “Yes, Belfry, you may accompany us” said the Moon Queen
“Thank you, High One” said her Captain, falling in behind them at a discreet distance.
“Has the Fire Master found our thief, my Lady?” asked the Queen.
“No, High One, Emperor Wu’s people found him and nothing has been heard of him since, my Queen” said Anna.
“Hm” said Alea.
“Raylea?” sent the Moon Queen.
“Yes, High One” answered the Moon Queens Soul Sister
”Tell the Fire Master to return, the matter is in Wu’s hands now” she said.
“Yes, my Queen” said the Master of Wind and Waves breaking contact with her Queen.
The Lady of Everlake rose early the next day, and was sitting at her balcony table with a view of the whole city below her, writing in a journal.
Onri appeared and brought the breakfast tray and papers to the table.
“Good Morning, your Grace” said Onri with a smile and began to serve breakfast for two, then sat down with the Lady of Everlake
“Well, my dear, now we’ve got a plate full” said Lady Fineto, Onri smiled.
“Yes your Grace” he said
“I’m glad to say your salary has been doubled, Onri” she said and smiled at him.
“I had a visit from Alea early this morning, and we discussed Everlake.
We are both in accord that I should go back to Everlake for the time being.”
“Yes, your Grace” said Onri.
“And you will attend me” said the Lady of the Lake.
Onri smiled, “Yes, High One” he said.
“And we will travel alone” said Lady Fineto.
Onri stopped, and shook his head
“I’m sorry, your Grace, I cannot allow this, the Queen has placed your safety in my hands”
“Oh, you sound like Belfry when you speak like that” said lady Fineto
“Alea is sending Lord Tharg and the Master of Wind and Waves to chaperone us, Isn’t that kind of her” said Esmay
“Yes, your Grace” said Onri.
“Now” said Esmay, Lillian will take care of things at the Firm while we are away.
“How many more staff will we need, Onri?”
“Beside the nineteen we have here, your Grace, we need another twenty seven”, said the butler.
“Oh!” said Esmay Fineto, “Royal Fuss,..”
“Yes, your Grace” said Onri tidying up the breakfast onto the tray
“We shall leave staff here to maintain business and hire staff in Everlake,” said Lady Fineto.
“Yes, your Grace, I shall tell our people” he said as he left
A little while later, there was a knock at the balcony door
“Enter” said Lady Fineto.
Annabelle, her dresser, came in and bowed.
“Oh, Bel, don’t start that, There’s already too much Royal Fuss” she said.
Annabelle smiled “Yes, your Grace” said her confidante and friend.
“Now, my dear?” said Lady Fineto.
“The staff wish to speak to you, my Lady” said Annabelle.
“As you wish, Annabelle” said the Lady of the Lake rising and following her dresser to the Sun room.
Her staff all rose as she walked in “I have not been Lady of the Lake for twelve years, dear folk, to you, I am simply Esmay ”
The staff cheered and clapped, and Esmay Fineto smiled warmly on her faithful staff.
“Who goes, and who stays, Esmay?” said Tom Turnip the gardener.
“Who wants to go?” said Esmay.
No-one put up their hand.
“Ah” said Lady Fineto “Well, in that case, I have a problem with owning our apartments,
so I will gift them to you, the business becomes our co-operative venture, and you will liase with Lillian of the Valley at the Firm in my absence.”
“Yes, your Grace” said the staff together, Lady Fineto grew teary.
“I shall miss you, my dears” she said
“Oh, Esmay” said Tom Turnip.
Some of the women came over and cuddled Lady Fineto
“Esmay Fineto, you have our love and all our hearts” said Tom bowing.
Lady Fineto wiped away a tear “Thank you, my dears” she said.
At sunset, there was a knock at the front door.
Onri opened it and Tharg and Raylea stood there
“Welcome to the Firm, On” said Tharg with a smile.
Onri held out a hand, and Raylea and Tharg slapped it.
“Dude!” said Raylea and they all laughed “Welcome, dear friends” said Onri bowing.
“Has Esmay had enough of Royal Fuss?” said Tharg.
“Yes, my Lord” said Onri as they went to the balcony.
Lady Fineto smiled and welcomed Lord Tharg and Master Raylea and gestured them to seats around the table.
“Well, my dears,” said Lady Fineto as she poured tea for her guests,
“How shall we go to Everlake?”
“We have flying devices, my Lady” said Tharg.
“Boys ride on one ring and girls ride on the other”
Lady Fineto chuckled “And we fly at night” said Lord Tharg.
“As you will, my Lord” said Esmay Fineto
“Where do we fly to, my Lady?” asked Master Raylea.
“Ah, well..” said Lady Fineto.
“Hm” said Onri somewhat perplexed
“We’re not quite sure of that” said Lady Fineto.
“Do you know the mood of the people in Everlake?” asked Lord Tharg.
“I am still loved by the people” said Lady Fineto “They wish me to return”
“My people tell me the same thing, my Lady” said Lord Tharg.
The Lady of the Lake turned to the Master of Wind and Waves
“I suggest we go to Old Man Jetty, Master, and I will show you something of the Lake when we arrive”
“Yes, High One” said Raylea drawing out two floating rings from under her cloak.
She gave one to Tharg.
“A Flying Ring, my Lord?” said Onri, cautiously looking at the device.
Tharg stepped onto the Ring and it rose a foot off the ground, he held out his hand.
“Trust me, On” said Tharg as Onri stepped onto the Ring
The Master of Wind and Waves rose with Lady Fineto gracefully,
then turned towards the Wilderness and Everlake and sped off.
“Hey!” said Tharg looking up, and sped off after the other Ring.
“Master Raylea” said Lady Fineto “My Queen informs me that you can walk on water”
“Yes, High One” said Raylea.
“I will show you a secret of the Lake, Master” said Lady Fineto.
“As you will, High One” said the Master of Wind and Waves
“Everlake was here long before Beorn the Bear, Master” said Lady Fineto looking down at the trees of the Wilderness as they flashed by.
“All of Evernor have awaited the Starchild Queen” she said
They flew above the Pinnacle Mountains and the Wilderness stretched endlessly to the horizon. The stars burned brightly up above them, and the air had the smell of spring just beginning .
Tharg flew close by, and Onri’s face was rapt “I love this” said the Butler.
Tharg chuckled “Do you know Night’s Mistress, On?” said Lord Tharg.
“Yes, my Lord” said Onri cautiously.
Tharg smiled “But you have not met her in person”
“No, my Lord” said Onri
Lady Fineto turned to Tharg “Let’s stop at the top of the Falls, my Lord” she said.
“Yes, my Lady” said Lord Tharg, and they slowly decended following the Moon River .
Moon Falls thundered below them as they landed on a flat outcrop of rock above the Falls.
Raylea gazed around “Oh, it’s so beautiful” said the Master of Wind and Waves.
“Yes, it is” said the Lady of the Lake looking at the full moon rising at the far end of the Lake
“Out in the centre of the Lake is an Island called The Lady’s Seat.” Said Esmay to Raylea.
“The Lady of the Lake must walk to her Seat to be Lady of the Lake, above it actually” she said
“There is a Moon Flower growing on the Island, a Sister Bulb of the Moonflower growing in the Lake of Rushmoor, and it’s fairy, Orchida, who enchanted Areon the Changeling, and transported him to the Multiverse, also appears here at the Lady’s request” said the Lady of the Lake
“Let’s go down to Old Man Jetty” said Esmay.
And they rose together and floated down to a jetty not far from the Falls.
As they decended to the Jetty, they saw a shimmering shape coming through the trees to the Lake.
“Celeste” said the Lady of the Lake happily, as they hovered and landed.
“Welcome home, my dear” said Celeste bowing.
Esmay came and stroked her neck “Hello my Beautiful” said the Lady of the Lake.
Celeste whinnied softly
“I had to go” said Esmay.
“I know” said Celeste.
“He was despicable, Celeste” said Lady Fineto.
“I know” said the Unicorn and drew Esmays gaze into the fathomless beauty of her eyes
“But this is now, my sweet” said Celeste “And we shall follow our Queen, as the Starchild bids us”
“Yes, we will” said the Lady of the Lake.
“Hm” said Celeste and smiled.
Celeste turned and looked at the Master of Wind and Waves.
“Hello, Raylea” said Celeste
The Master smiled “You are the most beautiful creature, Mistress” she said .
“Hold out your hands, young one” said the Unicorn and the Master did as she was bid.
Celeste laid her spire in Raylea’s hands, and both of them began to glow softly.
“Ah, Celeste” whispered Raylea smiling radiantly.
The Unicorn smiled at her “Saphire tells me you will both go dreaming, Master of the Winds and Waves” said Celeste.
“Yes, High One” smiled Raylea Celeste nodded and turned to Lord Tharg and Onri “There is womens business to be done here, and Master Gambe invites you both to a tea party in his garden’ said the Unicorn.
“We would be honoured to” said Lord Tharg, Onri bowed to the Unicorn and smiled.
“Thank you, Mistress” he said .
“Come, both of you” said Celeste “And stand beside me, place your hand on my back and we’ll go for a walk.
The three immediately vanished and appeared moments later at Gambe’s gate.
The stars twinkled up in the night sky, and the mist from the Falls floated past Esmay and Raylea standing on Old Man Jetty. The Lady of the Lake drew a werelight out of the air, and began to float.
“Walk with me, Sister” said Lady Esmay as she floated over the waters of Everlake.
Raylea followed, walking on the Lakes surface.
“My Queen holds you in the highest esteem, Master” said the Lady of the Lake.
Raylea smiled. “We are Soul Sisters, Lady We share our thoughts” she said
“Do you have the Starchild gift, Master?” said Lady Esmay.
“A little of it, perhaps, my Lady” said the Master of Wind and Waves.
The Lady of the Lake told Raylea about the estates Of Everlake, the Mystic Valley, the Well that Morris made, The Southern Door, and the Back Door of Evernor.
“And now we come to the Lady’s Seat” said lady Esmay.
Raylea looked down at the water surface
“I feel a pulse in the water” she said.
“Yes,” said Lady Fineto “The Moonflower heeds the Lady coming”
Ahead, there was a small Island covered mostly in rushes, and in a pond grew the Moonflower of Everlake.
Esmay and Raylea approached the pond and the Lady of the Lake raised her arms and called, “Orchid of the Stars Orchid of the Light, Come to me, bright Petalled One Orchida of the Night”
The pond glowed with a soft blue light, and a stem appeared and grew into the most exquisite Orchid bloom.
A tiny fairy appeared above the Orchid.
The tiny fairy bowed, “Welcome home, my Lady” she said.
Esmay held out her hand, and Orchida flew to her open palm.
“Oh, I’ve missed you” said Esmay.
The tiny fairy blew her a starry kiss, and smiled “Shall we turn on the Lake, High One” said Orchida.
“If you would, my sweet” said the Lady of the Lake.
Orchida rose and circled the Island, and mist rose up billowing on the surface of Everlake, and covered the Lady’s Seat from sight.
Orchida sang a simple melody, and other notes appeared, forming the Orchid Symphony of Opening.
The pond exploded into a beam of light that shot up from the Planets surface and continued on into infinity
Serena’s face appeared hovering beside the pool
“Switching on” she said
The Lady of the Lake and Master Raylea bowed and Serena disappeared.
Light poured into Everlake, then the beam of light shut off and Orchida landed back on the Lady’s palm where she bowed once again to the Lady of the Lake.
“Thank you, my treasure” said Lady Fineto.
Orchida smiled and disappeared in a swirl of stars
All around Everlakes perimeter, lights were going on, and people came out of their houses, dogs barked, Cats meowed, roosters called, all saying, “The Lady’s back”
And from everywhere around the Lake, they came, in cockles and dinghy’s, canoe and small sailing ships to see their Lady .
The women wept with relief, and the men smiled thankful smiles and soon the little Island was surrounded with a thousand vessels The Lady of the Lake rose above the Island and addressed the floating crowd.
“Dear Folk” she said, and each heard her voice like she was sitting beside them.
“Queen Alea asks me to return as Lady..” The whole crowd roared “Yes”.
Esmay smiled “And asks us to join her in community” “Yes” they thundered again.
“And we shall start tomorrow morning, so, until then, Good Night, Dear Folk” said the Lady.
The folk went happily back to their homes and their children .
Esmay and Raylea watched them leave, then Lady Esmay said, “Would you bear me to Gambe’s garden, Master?”
“Yes, High One” said the Master of Wind and Waves, as she threw her cloak over them both and caught the breeze that lifted them up towards Gambe’s house.
As they flew onwards, Raylea said “My Queen says well done, Lady of the Lake”
Esmay smiled “I used to visit the Starchild, when she lived on Serendipity Island, and Ele and Lilly before her.
“Oh” said Raylea “I am Fairy, Master” said the Lady of the Lake “
Ah” said Raylea
“There is Fairy blood among the Folk of Everlake, Master, I am of Saphires lineage” said Esmay.
“Yes, High One” said Raylea looking down as Gambe’s garden came into view.
The garden was lit with liquid light and it travelled around the garden.
Raylea landed them gently down on the grass beside a pond of Light Lobsters, clicking their claws in time with a Gnome Band playing alternate nature on authentic wind instruments.
Gambe sat and listened to them, and smiled at Lady Esmay and Raylea as they landed.
“I felt you switch on the Lake, Esmay” said Master Gambe.
“Yes, it’s good to be home, Gam” said the Lady gently cuddling the Master Mage.
“It was just a circle, Esmay, welcome home, High Lady” said Gambe.
“Would you care for supper?” he asked and they moved inside .
Lord Tharg came and stood beside Raylea, and discreetly held her hand.
“All good?” he whispered.
The Master smiled at her love and nodded.
“Let’s eat” said Raylea “I’m starved”
As Raylea and Tharg entered, they saw Master Archemedes, feather in claw, writing a sonnet For Master Glass, and oblivious to everyone there.
Outside in the air came the sound of honking as Night’s Mistress arrived.
“Evanna” said the Lady of the Lake smiling, and went to meet her sister, as she floated down from her silver seat.
Evanna caught Lady Esmay up in a hug, and Esmay giggled
“Oh, my sweet” said a teary eyed Night’s Mistress “We have missed you so much”
Lady Esmay held Night’s Mistress’s face softly in her hands, and looked into her eyes.
“You are always in my thoughts” said Esmay kissing her forehead
