Page 104 of The Dragonrider and the Void
At this, Lark carefully withdrew both the Solarium and Umbrium ingots, holding them in her open palms. The contrasting energies, one radiating golden warmth, the other absorbing light into perfect darkness, created a visual representation of the balance she sought.
Thalia leaned closer, her flowering hair extending tendrils toward the ingots as if testing their authenticity. After a moment, she straightened.
“Follow me,” she said simply. “Lady Viridian will determine whether Spring joins this unusual alliance.”
As they followed Thalia and her companions into the heart of Verdant Haven, Lark noticed the difference in how this court conducted itself. Where Summer had been formal and Night calculating, Spring seemed guided by impulse and intuition. Fae darted among the trees, some appearing almost childlike in their wonder, others ancient and wise beyond comprehension. All shared that same quality of perpetual becoming, as if they existed in a state of constant transformation.
The massive trees grew closer together until their canopies merged into a living cathedral. Sunlight filtered through leaves of jade and emerald, casting dappled patterns on a forest floor carpeted with flowers that bloomed and faded beneath their feet. At the center of this natural temple stood the largest tree of all, its trunk hollowed out to form a chamber that stretched upward beyond sight.
Inside this living throne room, countless fae gathered on balconies formed from branches and platforms of woven roots. They whispered among themselves as the visitors entered, their voices creating a sound like wind through new leaves.
At the chamber’s heart, upon a throne formed from a single massive flower in perpetual bloom, sat Lady Viridian, sovereign of the Spring Court.
Unlike her counterparts in the other courts, Lady Viridian appeared almost childlike at first glance. Her form was small and delicate, with skin the color of the first spring shoots and hair like flowering vines that constantly bloomed and seeded around her crowned head. Only her eyes betrayed her true nature, an ancient knowing filled with the wisdom of countless beginnings. Unlike the other fae nobles, Lady Viridian had no wings to speak of. That would be a trait that blossomed in youth but solidified in adulthood.
“Approach, curious gathering,” she called, her voice surprisingly deep and resonant from such a small form. “Let me look upon you.”
Lark stepped forward, aware of Nix, Umbra, and the Summer guards following at a respectful distance. She bowed, but not as deeply as she had before the other sovereigns, instinctively understanding that Spring valued authenticity over formality.
“Rise, dragonrider,” Lady Viridian said, leaning forward with undisguised interest. “You carry both dragon and fae magic within you. How novel! And essences from both Summer and Night.” She clapped her hands with childlike delight. “Such contradictions in one mortal vessel! Tell me, how does it feel to contain such opposing forces?”
Lark hadn’t expected this question. “Like balancing on the edge of a blade,” she answered honestly. “Each power pulls in its own direction, yet together they create something neither could alone.”
Lady Viridian nodded approvingly. “Well answered. Now, speak your purpose. Why do you seek Spring’s essence? We guard our Vaerdium jealously, as it represents all beginnings and possibilities.”
Lark repeated her explanation about the Void Drinker’s escape and its plans for the coming Flashover. As she spoke,she noticed something unusual. Unlike the previous sovereigns, Lady Viridian seemed almost, entertained by the crisis.
“How marvelous,” the Spring sovereign exclaimed when Lark finished. “Not the threat itself, of course, but the potential it represents. Every ending creates space for new beginnings, you know. Even catastrophes hold the seeds of renewal.”
Nix drifted closer to Lark. “Be careful,” she whispered. “Spring sees opportunity in chaos. They may not perceive the threat as we do.”
Lark nodded slightly, then addressed Lady Viridian again. “The threat is real, Your Grace. Without complete Vaerdium, the binding ritual cannot succeed, and both our realms will suffer.”
Lady Viridian’s expression turned thoughtful. “Perhaps. Or perhaps this is simply the natural order asserting itself. The old giving way to the new.” She studied Lark intently. “What concessions did you offer Summer and Night for their contributions?”
“Permanent gateways between realms, maintained by representatives from both worlds,” Lark explained. “No more isolation, no more abandoned sentinels. A new beginning for the relationship between Sataran and the fae realm.”
At the phrase “new beginning,” Lady Viridian’s eyes brightened with interest. “Now that does sound intriguing. A fresh start, unbound by past mistakes.” She rose from her flower throne, her small form floating gently to the ground before Lark.
“But I require more than promises,” she continued. “Spring thrives on potential, on seeds planted for future growth. If you truly seek our Vaerdium, you must demonstrate your capacity to nurture new beginnings.”
“How would you have me prove this?” Lark asked.
Lady Viridian smiled, revealing teeth like tiny perfect pearls. “A simple test. Before you, I place three seeds.” She opened her palm, revealing three identical small, black seeds. “Eachcontains a different potential future. You must choose one and coax it to grow using your dual magic. The path it reveals will determine whether Spring joins your quest.”
The entire court fell silent as Lady Viridian placed the three seeds on the forest floor before Lark. They looked perfectly identical, giving no hint as to what each might contain.
Lark glanced at Nix, who offered no guidance beyond a slight shrug. This was a test she would have to navigate on her own intuition.
Kneeling before the seeds, Lark considered her options. She could examine each seed with her dual magic, attempting to discern their nature before choosing. But something told her that wasn’t the point of the test. Spring valued impulse, intuition, the leap of faith required to begin any new journey.
Following her instinct, Lark selected the middle seed, picking it up and cradling it in her palm. “This one,” she said simply.
Lady Viridian’s smile widened. “Now nurture it with your combined powers. Let us see what future you choose to cultivate.”
Lark closed her eyes, focusing on her connections to both White Eye and Nix. The draconic power flowed through her first, strong and steady despite the distance separating her from her dragon. Then came Nix’s fiery essence, flickering and wild. She guided these opposing forces together, creating that now-familiar purple energy that represented perfect balance.
As the dual magic surrounded the seed, it began to warm in her palm. Lark opened her eyes to watch the tiny black seed crack open and send forth a delicate green shoot that grew rapidly, spiraling upward and branching out. Within moments, a miniature tree had formed, its trunk the thickness of her thumb, its branches spreading to form a perfect canopy.
