For Damian Romiro

There once was a fairy named Sarah Roots-and-Leaves whose only job was to care for the trees that bordered the world of men and Faerie. She was perfectly content with never wanting anything to do with either world. Humans were confusing, and the Royal Courts of Faerie were snobbish, to say the least. Sarah had no proclivity for magic, spoke little, and had no friends to speak to anyhow, so to be surrounded by trees (who also did not speak, befriend, or magic) was just the way she liked it.

Unfortunately for Sarah, her disregard for anything related to man or fae was violated when she was summoned by some magic spell. Her body seemed to fold into itself until unraveling itself in a dank space of black stone and moss and high ceilings. She also noticed that she was not alone and that there was a woman staring at her with equal surprise. Before Sarah could introduce herself, the woman began to bark orders.

“Fairy,” she cried out (which was a silly thing to do Sarah thought because they were the only two people in the room), “I am Carlotta Lioscos! Sister to Rhonder Lioscos, king of these walls and lands! As your summoner, I command you to use your magic to remove Rhonder’s only living heir from the line of succession!”

Sarah wasn’t too sure where to begin. She had never been summoned before and rarely did magic ever and now she was expected to murder someone she never met and to do so with magic. Sarah began to ask Carlotta Lioscos how she was to begin such a task.

“I have found the perfect spell,” Carlotta interrupted her by lifting an opened, heavy tome to show the spell and all its various pictograms. A title in large, flourishing letters decorated the top of the page: ON CATCHING BREATH. “This will silence your wretched target and everyone will think it suffocated in its sleep!”

Sarah seemed to vaguely understand the mission, her purpose, and her target but as she began to raise her concerns, Carlotta had thrown the tome at her.

“Take your leave, fairy! You have my permission to return to the Other Lands once the spell is cast!” Carlotta commanded, and Sarah felt the uneasy feeling of folding before her vision went black and she found herself somewhere else.

In this new place, Sarah Roots-and-Leaves first heard the sporadic crackling of a dying fire. She could hear the crickets outside and an owl hooting, and the autumn wind spinning the leaves. There was a cradle in the center of the room, a baby in prostrate sound asleep. This must be the thorn in Lady Carlotta Lioscos’ side and the heir to Rhonder Lioscos; the baby she had been sent to murder.

Sarah Roots-and-Leaves opened the heavy book and turned to the spell ON CATCHING BREATH, and read the instructions. They seemed clear enough but this would still be the first spell Sarah ever performed. She did the rites, said the words, and called upon the various powers that be. The first time she did the spell the fire had almost gone out. Where it went, she wasn’t too sure, but eventually found it trying to make a break to the nearest window. She caught in and placed it back in the hearth before it could cause any serious damage. The second time she performed the spell, the world outside became heavy with silence. The rustling leaves still spun in the wind but made no sound. The owl screeched out to the night, but no cry was heard. The crickets bowed their wings together, yet their chimes were empty. It took several minutes for Sarah to reverse whatever she did.

The baby groaned in its crib and its tiny eyes peeked behind its drowsy lids, giving Sarah the impression that it too was wondering when she was going to accomplish her task. Eventually, she reread the instructions a few more times and when certain she had done everything right, she placed her fingers on the lips of the baby and drew out its breath. It was such a small, spindly thing. It had the same consistency as a cobweb, but it was warm to the touch and wafted pleasantly. The baby opened its mouth, perhaps to gurgle or cry, but no sound was made. Sarah wondered if that was what the Lady Carlotta had intended, but seeing as Sarah did as she was asked, her task was complete.

Sarah put the wispy breath of the baby in her coat pocket and walked out of the castle. The night watchmen were bewildered by the presence of a fairy, and when they questioned Sarah, she merely pointed towards the baby’s room and continued walking. As she made her way down the stairs, the whole castle came to life by candlelight. People were waking up and bustling at the news that there was a fairy in the castle and that something was wrong with baby Prince Kiel Lioscos. The king, the queen, the watchmen, the extended family, the cooks, the gardeners, the caretakers, and the keeper of keys all surrounded the bassinet and gently roused the baby, who fluttered his eyes and reached out for his mother and made no sound.

Kiel Lioscos did not whimper; he did not cry; he did not gurgle as other children do. The infant prince would open his mouth but nothing would come out. The queen cried out and wept for her child, who would now no longer speak or sing or cry. King Rhonder was also saddened, until realizing that nothing had changed. The castle would be quieter, his son would be more difficult to understand, but his son was still his son, and one day would be king whether he could speak or not. So the king and queen raised their son like any other family would, and nothing terrible came from the fact that Kiel Lioscos could not speak. He eventually did become king, who ruled with patience and wisdom, for he did not interrupt or shout, only listened.

Carlotta Lioscos was eventually found out. Some accoutrements were discovered in her chambers; objects that suggested magic, subterfuge, and malevolence. When many were calling for her execution, King Rhonder exiled his sister to the desert on the basis that while Carlotta was malicious and conniving, she did not actually hurt anyone.

On the border of Faerie and the mortal world, Sarah Roots-and-Leaves cared for the trees and spoke to no one. One day when pulling weeds, something lithe and wispy meandered from her pocket. She had almost completely forgotten the breath of infant prince years ago. Sarah did not think anyone would want it back after all this time, so she pulled a nearby weed from the ground and planted the cobweb in its place. From the spot where it was planted, something sprouted. A small, lithe, and wispy plant grew with tiny flowers and the gentlest fragrance.

The small flowers grew wild, and everyone knows that where baby’s breath sprouts a path to Faerie is near.