All Minx could see was an open field. Sure, the waist-high grass was beautiful, peaceful even, but they were supposed to be going to another village.
Yenthar climbed off Caser who stopped despite no word from Minx. He couldn't smell anything either but the person who was guiding them said to stop so he did.
Everyone else was looking at him like he must be lost or confused. He looked around and realized no one was dismounting.
He smiled up at Minx, "My princess, this is the one place your mother tested her magic on. There is a dome-shaped shield over this village. It's rather large actually. We moved in as many as we could from other villages when we realized it worked. The beasts are unable to find it. Come, let me show you and introduce you to the people."
He then turned around and walked a few paces forward. He raised his hands above his head and off to the side.
"Aperi Sesami!"
A small opening appeared in which they could see a thriving village beyond the farmlands. Midas and Jaykon landed as the others approached in awe.
After everyone was through, Yenthar turned, repeated the gesture and said "Claude Sesami!" and the opening sealed. It wasn't obvious to the naked eye. From the inside the terrain looked normal. The passageway had a slight, barely perceptible shimmer when it was open.
"Yenthar?" Minx got his attention, "how do the villagers know where the edge is?"
He smiled, "walk toward it, Princess."
She raised an eyebrow and did so. She realized the closer she got the more her skin prickled. When she was really close, she began to feel nauseated.
She turned back, "but I didn't feel this way when I walked in."
He grinned, "that was your mother's genius. Outside, there's no sensation at all. The beasts can trample the area all they want and do no harm to the village. I don't know how she did it, but you may find the answers in her lab."
Minx smiled broadly and nodded. There was potential to safeguard the humans. She'd need to make the fairies stronger, but she already knew there wasn't enough time to get the humans stronger. If she could master this spell, she'd be able to protect them. She set that resolution in her mind and followed Yenthar into the village.
The farming fields looked okay. Minx thought they could look better and worked her magic as she walked by. While Shalt noticed, it was Midas who smirked.
The others, including Owen were taking things in. He had only been on Amazonia and the planet the vampires lived on. He had heard it called "the former Daisy planet" but those words held no meaning for him except through stories his mother told him about a human who had extraordinary plant powers.
Just as they stepped onto a road, he noticed some people plowing a field with hand tools. He thought it was rather passe and spent some ability points to turn up the dirt for them. He kept walking as the ladies looked bewildered.
Minx and Midas both grinned proudly.
Aqua looked for signs of the plants needing water, but they looked well hydrated.
The others focused on the buildings. They were white with brown bracing boards. The roofs were made of thick straw. The chimneys were made of stone.
The village was quaint but sprawling. People were out working, shopping, or visiting friends. It was like there weren't any threats at all. It was clear to all of them that either the god was unable to see them, he had yet to figure out how to circumvent the magic protecting the area or it wasn't a big enough thing for him to find it important. Yet. The thought tickled the back of Minx's thoughts, but she put it out of mind for now.
As they walked toward the center of the village that had a large fountain in the middle, causing traffic to go around it, they heard a very excited, "Yenthar!"
They all looked to see a happy male human with his hand clasped tightly with a female to his right. Unlike the other two villages, the people here weren't wearing rags. This couple was slightly better dressed than the others.
Yenthar smiled back, "Drexel! It's good to see you again," as he made his way toward the couple.
Minx and Midas were caught up in the fountain, more specifically, in the figure of a fairy in the middle of the fountain.
"You look so much like her," Midas whispered.
Minx nodded, her voice caught in her throat.
Drexel appeared happy to see Yenthar, but confused by the attire of his companions. Then his eyes fell on the two fairies staring at the statue. His jaw dropped.
Drexel whispered to Yenthar who had made it to his side, "are they…?"
Yenthar nodded with a smile, "and they brought back these people, her most powerful allies to help us in our time of need."
He clapped his hands to get the attention of the others, "tonight we celebrate the return of the long lost Prince and Princess!"
Minx and Midas both smiled but her ears and cheeks turned a deeper green. She didn't want to say anything, but her stomach still wasn't feeling well after going near the shield. She hoped the nausea would go away soon.
As the twins approached, Minx took Owen's hand as the crowd started to gather. They were all new people, and the villagers were naturally curious.
Drexel was very observant. "I see you're wearing your wedding ring, Your Highness. Which of these lucky men is your husband?"
She smiled sadly, "none of them. My husband had to remain behind. He's an important person in that world."
Drexel's expression turned down to just the right amount of sadness. "I'm sorry to hear that, Your Highness. Am I correct to assume this beautiful young man is the evidence of the love you two shared?"
She nodded, "this is our son Owen." She then proceeded to introduce the others. Caser stepped forward with a grin that looked menacing to the uninitiated and Drexel almost stepped back but the diplomat in him made him hold his ground.
He took the offered tentacle and shook it the way he did the hands of the others and Caser's grin grew, his sharp teeth even more exposed. He had a pleased glint in his eyes.
The mayor sent a runner to his house to have a feast prepared while he showed their guests around the town. Yenthar leaned over and whispered the dietary needs of Shalt and Jaykon to Drexel. Another runner was sent to the mayor's house with the update.
By the time the tour was over and they entered the mayor's house, there were aromas to tantalize anyone's tastebuds. While Minx was hungry, she also didn't want to eat. There was a dish that appealed to her and she began eating. Soon, she no longer felt ill and her fork paused on the way to pick up the last bite as something occurred to her.
She glanced up at Shalt who was sitting opposite her, and he nodded slightly. She shook her head almost imperceptibly. His eyes seemed to agree as they had a silent conversation missed by everyone but Midas, Owen and Drexel who trained himself to never miss a thing. He didn't understand it, but he saw it.
Once the meal was over and no one could move after stuffing themselves, they were all escorted to the town square. There was music, games, and lots of conversation. Minx, Midas, and Jaykon entertained the children by flying them around the village.
When the night came to a close, Drexel invited them all back to his house to sleep off their indulgences. He pulled Minx aside.
"Did you find everything to your liking?" he asked with a kind smile.
Minx smiled brightly, "I did! I was feeling ill after going near that shield. One of your dishes made me feel better and I was able to enjoy the rest of the meal."
Drexel nodded with a smile, "that particular dish is served at every meal these days. My daughter finds it soothes her stomach and helps keep the food down. She's pregnant."