“Yes, it’s…the brightest I’ve seen,” I answered, embarrassment churning my stomach. Sharp and Piranha’s faces both said, why would you ever feed that fact to his ego? Willow's fair face flooded scarlet.
“There you have it. Are you sure about that exam? Now I'm curious.” The doctor looked him over like a specimen.
“I'd rather not.”
“Fine, fine, but hear this.” He touched Willow’s shoulder and held up his index finger. “A bright soul is still a gift, even if your power is not Divine. I’d say you’re destined to be a great leader.”
Willow brushed the doctor away and took a step back. “Unless I’m a great leader of musicians, I’m not interested.”
“Just as well. The world needs art as much as it needs good leaders,” Gold-and-Silver said with a secret smile. He looked at the ornate timepiece on his ring finger. “Speaking of which, it’s time to meet in the Meadow. Your destiny awaits.”
Chapter Ten
Little Badger
The mysterious Meadow was inexplicably at the top of the tree. I followed the doctor with heavier steps, weighed down by the new truth of my lineage, and all the questions still left unanswered. Why did they react to my name? What else had the doctor seen with his uncanny eyes? I pictured the twelve dull lights in Glass' clinic, and wondered if they had something to say.
The staircase ended, opening to a small space, empty except for the trapdoor on the ceiling. Thin beams of light escaped from the corners.
“You’re in for a treat,” the doctor grinned, pulling the door open with a leather string. A rope ladder with sturdy wooden steps tumbled out, accompanied by the first true rays of sunshine I had seen in days.
“No way!” Willow ignored the ladder and flew straight upwards, his quick exit leaving a light breeze behind. A second later he shouted back, “Get up here! It’s amazing!”
Piranha leapt, also not touching the ladder, followed by Sharp and her jangling armor. When I climbed through, my eyes feasted on the midnight blue of a dark canopy, which filtered the sunlight and gave everything a turquoise tint. I had climbed into some impossible, magical place. Somehow, at the top of the tree, was a flat, circular field of purple grass and delicate pink flowers, lit by rare beams of sun. This meadow was surrounded by a wall of twisting branches and a thick growth of leaves peppered with luminous fruits.
“I can't believe it! It's just like that old song!” Willow’s golden-honey voice danced through the branches as he sang one of his favorite simple tunes.
“Can you meet me for a moment
In the magic Meadow Blue?
Can we dance just for a while
In the starlight, me and you?”
Mercury was hunched over against the natural wall and made an awkward scramble to his feet at the sound of this music. His wave of white-blue hair was smoothed, a little too much, as if he had been running his fingers though it over and over. His hands were hidden in the pockets of his loose black pants, eyes transfixed on my City friend.
“Hey, uh, listen,” he stammered, looking back and forth between us and the ground. “I’m sorry about earlier…ambushing you all like that. The last few months in this place have been difficult, and I may have forgotten some, uh, manners.”
“We can start over,” she suggested with a sweetened voice, extending a hand for him to shake. “I’m sorry too.”
“Ahem,” coughed Piranha, rolling their eyes. They had once referred to Sharp as a ‘tactical flirt’.
“R-right,” Mercury stuttered and pinched his bruised nose. “I’m sorry about the bow.”
I scratched the back of my head and looked at my feet. “If everyone is apologizing… then I’m sorry for punching you so hard in the face.”
It must have been the way I said it, or just the release of tension, but we all started laughing. Maybe we could be friends after all.
Willow landed with a tumble. Mercury straightened and grew stiff, as if bracing his body for the next apology.
“Trying to get on our good side now, eh handsome?” my friend teased, wrapping an arm around the teleporter’s neck. “I promise I’m not as threatening as I look.”
“That’s…a relief.” Mercury leaned away and forced an awkward smile. “You look about as threatening as a mouse. I apologize for profiling you…my last few encounters with northerners were not so fun. No hard feelings?”
“Not a one!” Willow chirped, drifting on the breeze to where Teal and Tungsten were beckoning him.
A thick orange glow emanated from a cushioned seat secured to an overhanging branch, where Ivory stared at the sparse patches of sky. Her allies sat cross-legged in the grass below. Marrow had a soldier’s posture, and the sunlight did his distorted face no favors. I couldn’t tell if his mouth was scowling or neutral, thanks to the many angles of cuts surrounding it.
To his left, Olivine had undone her green braid, letting the smaller braids hang loose over her shoulders. She was so engrossed with the task of sewing together two pieces of white leather, that she didn’t look up to greet us.
"Everyone is here, Ivory,” Marrow rasped. “Shouldn't we start?”
The sun swam through her hair like molten gold. “Yes, love, but there's something I'd like to do first. Willow!”
My nomad friend floated and danced in a delicate circle, having forgotten his previous grievances. Teal and Tungsten chased from below, trying to grab his hanging scarf.
“Yes ma'am!” he sang.
"You have a beautiful voice,” she praised, clapping her hands together. “Take that one from the top!"
I had to hand it to her, she knew just the right words to say. Willow spoke the language of music better than any other.
"You didn't even have to ask!" He rappelled up the side of the branches, and his voice filled the air, warmer than sunlight, enrapturing everyone. After Piranha harmonized with the second chorus, something infectious spread to everyone, and all were singing. Even Marrow.
"You can be there after sunset
When the stars are hanging low
Or I’ll be there in the morning
With the sunrise early glow
They’ll meet us here at midnight
When the fickle sun is hidden
I’ll see you there, in darkness
Where the fire is forbidden.”
They finished the song to enthusiastic applause. Willow dipped into a low bow as he descended back to the floor, and Piranha grinned with satisfaction.
“Pretty good for a Strawhead!” joked Teal, which earned him a quick slap from his serious-faced brother.
“My heart's all a flutter!” Olivine placed her work to the side and clapped. “Beautifully done!”
