Chapter One: Carys

The wind whipping at her hair and the sea spraying up from the bow of the boat might be behind them now, but the thrill in Carys's body had only intensified as The Wind Raider gently floated in toward the harbor.

Although she had not seen this place for far too long, Wishing Moon Bay looked just as she remembered it. From the first glimpse of the brick walls of the various warehouses that lined the harbor, to the hodgepodge array of houses and stores that stretched out behind them, all nestled in the arms of the majestic mountains that made up the bay. Though today it looked as though the snowy mountains extended all the way down, almost to the shoreline, as the buildings were coated in thick white, which sparkled under the bright, late morning sun.

"It really is as beautiful as you made it out to be."

Carys turned to look at Orimorn, his tall, slender figure draped in simple robes, who shuddered a little, not used to the cold conditions. "I told you I wasn't exaggerating."

"And I shall never doubt you again. I can tell even from here that this is a good place, full of good people and intentions." Orimorn's face took on a faraway stare.

Carys smiled wryly. "You're right. But so is Mythia. Maybe without being as cozy as Wishing Moon Bay, but there's plenty of good there. It's just going through a tough time at the moment, but with people like you looking out for it, the kingdom will be okay."

Orimorn nodded, trying to force a smile. "I just can't stop thinking about how things would have been so very different. If we had managed to get all the leaders to agree to that peace meeting all those years ago."

"We did all we could," Carys reminded him gently. They had been thwarted at the last moment as they tried to broker a peace deal that would have seen neighboring countries united. But their plans had been scuppered by other, more powerful forces. Forces who had seen the united countries as a threat.

Orimorn shook his head. "If only the dragons from Cairnnor hadn't decided to intervene, things would not have..."

"It does no good dwelling on the past. We can't do anything to change what has happened. All we can do is strive for a better future. And now that the old dragon lord is defeated, we can move forward toward peace once again." Carys took a deep breath."As soon as the holidays are over, we will sail there and start our mission anew."

Orimorn seemed calmer as he turned to Carys. "I know you risked a lot when you traveled to Cairnnor with me back then. I hope you know how grateful I am, and always will be, that you accompanied me to try to persuade the dragons to stop interfering with the Mythia meeting."

Carys shrugged, the gesture hiding the resentment she felt inside for the old regime on the dragon isle. "At least the only reprimand we got was being ejected. You never know, we might even be able to visit again now that there is a new government in charge." She took a deep breath. "But for now, enjoy the festivities here. It will do you good. And before you know it, we'll be back under sail, headed straight for Mythia, and we'll set things right."

Orimorn smiled again, genuinely this time. "You're right. I've got so much planned to see and do here that I don't even think I'll have time to worry about this new deal."

Carys nodded. "That's the spirit!"

She turned her eyes back to the fast-approaching dock to see two people at the edge of the jetty waving at her.

"Carys!" Aunt Elsbeth's voice boomed across the harbor as the crew of The Wind Raider expertly moored the ship in the docks of Wishing Moon Bay. She often wondered if Captain Ronan used a touch of magic to aid his crew.

Carys leaned against the ship's railing and waved. "Aunt Elsbeth! Marilla!" Carys hadn't been back here for a couple of years or more, and until she saw her cousin and aunt, it hadn't quite hit her how much time had passed.

And more than that, she only just realized how much she had missed Marilla, and her aunt…well, second aunt, since Elsbeth was Carys's mom's cousin. But Elsbeth had always insisted Carys call her Aunt Elsbeth.

And no one argued with Elsbeth.

"I can't believe you are finally here!" Marilla shouted over the cacophony of loud voices and clanging metal that made up the soundscape of the docks.

"Me neither!" Carys turned to Orimorn, who watched her with an amused expression. "Well, I suppose this is farewell for now."

"Indeed." He gave a shallow bow. "But not for long. Enjoy your Christmas, Carys."

"You, too." Carys then clutched her luggage, one carpet bag and a trunk. She had learned long ago to travel light—something she was once again grateful for as she made her way toward the gangplank. "Thank you, Captain Ronan."

"You're welcome, Carys," said the captain, humbly bowing his head as he gracefully lowered himself. "I'll see you in a few days."

Carys's mood waned for a moment. "I'll be here." Her stay in Wishing Moon Bay was to be so very brief, but she would make the most of it. This was the first Christmas she would spend with family for three years. Her job paid no heed to traditions and holidays.

But she was here now, she reminded herself. And she planned to have the best time.

"Look at you!" Elsbeth threw her arms around Carys as soon as her feet touched dry land. "You look..." Elsbeth sighed. "So like your mother."

"It's good to see you, too, Aunt Elsbeth." Carys closed her eyes as she hugged her aunt.

When her aunt finally loosened her grip, Carys opened her eyes and stepped back.

"Carys." Marilla was quieter than her mother. Calmer might be a better word. She embraced Carys gently, her touch warm and comforting. "Welcome home."

Carys felt a lump form in her throat. Home . It had been so long since she'd thought of anywhere as home, but if she had one, this place…these people, were it. "Thanks, Marilla. It's good to be here."

"Well, you must be starving after your voyage," Aunt Elsbeth said, eying the ship warily. "And exhausted to boot."

Carys looked over her shoulder at The Wind Raider. "The journey wasn't too bad, actually. Captain Ronan runs a tight ship, and they're used to having travelers on board, so it was all very civilized."

"Well, that may be, but I'll never understand how you can spend so much time on the ocean. It's not natural," Aunt Elsbeth huffed.

Carys smiled ruefully. "I have little choice," she said. "It's part of the job."

"Well, let's not talk about work right now," Marilla interjected, sensing the tension as she took one of the bags Carys was carrying. "Let me."

"Yes. No business talk, not when it will claim you from us again far too quickly," Elsbeth complained.

"Come on." Marilla linked her arm through Carys's, and Elsbeth mirrored the movement as they strolled away from the dock. "We've prepared a feast to welcome you home. And there's to be a gathering of the coven this evening. We're celebrating both your return to us, and Liselle's child's first Yuletide celebration."

Marilla sighed contentedly. "A tea party and plenty of food and good company. What a wonderful way to spend the evening. But first, Mum has cooked all your favorites for lunch."

"If there is one thing I have missed, it's your home cooking, Aunt Elsbeth," Carys said.

"Now you are just flattering me," Aunt Elsbeth said, but her cheeks flushed pink at the compliment. "Though I must say, I've outdone myself this time. I've made all your festive favorites—roasted goose with chestnut stuffing, candied yams, and, of course, my famous plum pudding."

"My stomach thanks you." Carys squeezed her aunt's arm. "Although my waistline might not."

"Nonsense, you look as if you need feeding up," Elsbeth snorted. "All that foreign cuisine and long, hard journeys."

Carys caught Marilla's eye, and they both smothered a smile. Elsbeth had nothing against foreign cuisine. She simply did not like her niece spending so much time in faraway lands where she was unable to visit for such long periods of time.

But Carys knew how important her work was, even if her family didn't fully understand it. As they walked through the cobblestone streets of Wishing Moon Bay, the scent of pine and cinnamon wafting from the festively decorated shops, Carys felt a pang of guilt.

She knew her visits were too infrequent, her absences too long. But the work she did as a diplomatic envoy was crucial, especially in these tumultuous times. Still, seeing the twinkling lights strung between the lampposts and the wreaths adorning every door, Carys couldn't help but feel a wave of nostalgia wash over her. The familiar sights and sounds of Wishing Moon Bay during the holiday season stirred up memories of her childhood, of simpler times before her duties had taken her so far from home.

A time when she'd been a part of something small. Instead of something big.

But lately, her heart yearned for those smaller somethings. For those more intimate connections.

"Oh, look!" Marilla's excited exclamation drew Carys from her reverie. She followed her cousin's gaze to see a group of carolers dressed in colorful gowns and cloaks gathered in the town square, their voices rising in harmony as they sang traditional Yuletide songs. The sight brought a smile to Carys's face.

"They're out earlier and earlier every year," Elsbeth grumbled, but when Carys glanced at her aunt, she had an excited, almost childlike smile on her lips.

"Perhaps you can try caroling this year," Marilla suggested to Carys. "Especially if you know any exotic yuletide or Christmas songs."

Carys laughed. "I'm afraid my singing voice hasn't improved much since I left. I wouldn't want to scare away all the holiday cheer."

"Nonsense," Elsbeth chimed in. "Your voice is lovely. You just need more practice, that's all."

Carys shook her head. "I am no match for you, that's for sure, Aunt Elsbeth. But I have learned a few interesting holiday tunes from my travels. There's this one Midwinter song from the Frostlands that's sung entirely in whispers—they say it's to keep from waking the sleeping frost spirits."

"Oh, how fascinating!" Marilla exclaimed. "You must teach us later. I do envy you. All the places you see, the people you meet."

"And I envy you, dearest Marilla," Carys whispered to her cousin.

"Carys." Marilla locked eyes with Carys for a moment. However, Carys broke away, her eyes captured by the old apothecary, where her mother used to buy her herbs to make her potions when Carys was just a girl. The large bay windows were frosted with delicate snowflake patterns that danced as though alive, just as she remembered it from all those years ago.

"I mean it," Carys continued, more to herself than anyone else. "You have roots here, a place to call home, and people who love you. That's something precious."

Marilla squeezed her arm as they walked on through the streets of Wishing Moon Bay. As they turned the corner onto Moonstone Lane, Carys sensed a sudden tingle of magic in the air. The street was alive with enchantment, snowflakes suspended mid-fall, twinkling like tiny stars. A wreath on a nearby door burst into song as they passed, its pine needles swaying in time to a jaunty carol, and children played in the street, chasing each other around, causing the suspended snowflakes to swirl around as they passed by.

"Oh my," Carys breathed, her eyes wide with wonder. It was as if she had been transported back in time, as if she were seeing the town through the eyes of the young girl she once was. "I'd almost forgotten how beautiful it is here during the holidays."

Elsbeth chuckled, a warm, rich sound, reminding Carys of cozy evenings by the fireside, making spiced cider and telling ghost stories. "That's the magic of Wishing Moon Bay, dear. It never truly leaves you, no matter how far you roam."

"And the town always puts on its best show for the winter solstice." Marilla sighed happily. "I'm so happy you are here to share it with us this year."

"Me, too," Carys replied.

They walked on, leaving the stores behind as they headed down quiet roads until they turned down a lane leading away from the town, bordered by snow-covered fields, where cows lowed, their breath visible in the crisp winter air. At the end of the lane stood Aunt Elsbeth's cottage, a charming two-story stone building with a thatched roof and smoke curling from the chimney.

As they approached, Carys noticed recent additions to the garden—a collection of enchanted gnomes that waved cheerfully as they passed, and an archway of twinkling fairy lights that seemed to dance to an unheard melody.

"You've been busy," Carys remarked, admiring the festive decorations.

Aunt Elsbeth beamed with pride. "Well, I had to make sure everything was perfect for your visit. It's not every year we get to welcome you home."

"Just wait until you see inside," Marilla said with a roll of her eyes.

"Aunty," Carys chided. "You didn't have to make a big fuss."

"If it makes you feel any better," Elsbeth began, "it's not just for you."

"It's for Koralyn , too," Marilla explained.

"Liselle's baby. Koralyn is just the sweetest name." Carys nodded knowingly. It was one of the reasons she had made the effort to return home this Christmas.

"I know, I know," Elsbeth replied. "He's only a month old, and he won't remember it at all…"

"But Liselle and Flint will," Carys said gently.

"Exactly," Elsbeth said.

As they stepped through the front door, Carys was enveloped in warmth and the mingled scents of cinnamon, nutmeg, and freshly baked plum pudding. The entryway was adorned with garlands of holly and mistletoe, and a massive wreath hung on the inside of the door, its berries glowing like tiny embers.

"Oh, Aunt Elsbeth," Carys breathed, taking in the cozy, festive atmosphere. "It's absolutely magical."

The living room beyond was a winter wonderland. A towering evergreen stood in the corner, adorned with twinkling lights and shimmering ornaments, some of which were floating around the tree instead of hanging from its boughs. Garlands of pine and holly wound their way around the room. The smell of the leaves and the way they occasionally rustled, as if caught by a breeze, created an atmosphere of being beneath snow covered pine trees in the forests around Wishing Moon Bay.

"Come, come," Aunt Elsbeth urged, ushering them farther inside. "Let's get you settled and fed. You must be famished after your journey."

As they entered the kitchen, Carys was hit with yet another wave of nostalgia. The room was exactly as she remembered—warm, inviting, and filled with the mouthwatering aromas of Aunt Elsbeth's cooking. A large pot bubbled on the stove, and trays of cookies and pies lined every available surface—no doubt lying in wait for the guests of the gathering later.

"This is all…" Carys covered her mouth with her hand as tears pricked her eyes.

"Oh, dear." Elsbeth shrugged off her coat and wiggled her fingers. The coat floated away to the coat stand that stood sentry by the front door while Elsbeth threw her arms around her niece. "Is everything all right?"

"Everything is just perfect." Carys took a deep breath, inhaling the comforting scents of home. "I just didn't realize how much I missed all of this, all of you, until now."

Marilla squeezed her cousin's hand. "We've missed you, too, Carys. So much."

Aunt Elsbeth let her niece go and bustled around the kitchen, as she put the finishing touches to their meal. "Well, now that you're here, we're going to make the most of every moment. Sit down, Carys. Lunch's almost ready. And take that coat off. It'll be plenty warm enough in here."

"No, I want to help," Carys insisted.

"There's no need…" But then Elsbeth pressed her lips together as she nodded. "All right. You know where everything is."

Carys unbuttoned her coat and hung it in the hall, where she'd dropped her luggage as they entered the cottage. But before she could return to the kitchen, a shadow darkened the frosted window of the front door.

Her body tensed, an automatic reflex to unexpected guests, and she had to stop herself from shouting for security, or a bodyguard, which in this case would have been Elsbeth.

The doorknob turned, and Carys hugged the wall of the corridor, wondering whether she should duck into one of the side rooms, just in case someone dangerous had followed her to Wishing Moon Bay.

"Merry meet!" rang out as the door opened.

"And merry met," Elsbeth rushed out of the kitchen, her face aglow with joy. "We weren't expecting you so early, Liselle!"

Carys stepped back and pushed the tension from her body. She was home, not in the charged political climates of far-off lands. There was no danger here. Just family.

"Carys!" Liselle stepped inside. She was practically glowing. Maybe it was the smile on her face, framed by her silver-streaked hair, or just the twinkle in her eye, but Carys' cousin looked radiant compared to when she had last seen her—she really had found a new lease of life since moving to Wishing Moon Bay.

And surely the little bundled up baby in her arms had something to do with it all.

Liselle handed the baby over to Elsbeth, as if she had a choice not to do so. "It's been so long."

"Liselle." Carys hugged her cousin. She had missed this particular ray of sunshine and was looking forward to hearing from her directly how she had found a mate, a new home and a new business all in the span of last Christmas.

And hope bloomed in Carys's heart. Hope that it was never too late to find a happy ending.