Aurora and Devrim explored the lush land around the base of the ice barrier. Some of the strange plants from the other side of the barrier were here, but there were also new and even stranger plants and animals. Thankfully, none of the animals seemed dangerous. Aurora watched with interest as a small rabbit with horns protruding from its head ate berries as large as a human fist. The berries were purple and looked delicious.

"I am going to try one," Aurora said.

Devrim shook his head. "We do not know if they are safe to eat."

"We do not know if anything here is safe to eat. I am hungry, and the jackalope (she hoped that she had named the rabbit creature correctly) seems to think it is safe." Before Devrim could say anything more, Aurora ripped a berry from the bush and took a bite. Dark purple juice dripped down her chin and arms.

"How does it taste?" Devrim asked, trying not to be disgusted by her purple appearance. Under different circumstances, the juice would have easily been mistaken for dried blood.

Aurora smiled, revealing her purple teeth. "It is actually delicious, like if a peach and a grape made a baby." She spoke with her mouth full, and the words came out slushy.

"Thank you for that visual…" Devrim rolled his eyes upward, but took a berry off of the bush for himself. He took a tentative bite. The fruit was sweet and was just as Aurora had described. He took another bite and the juicy purple ball began to drip. Aurora giggled. "What's so funny?" Devrim asked.

"You should see your face! Your skin is dyed a reddish purple."

Devrim raised his eyebrows, "You are one to talk!"

Aurora looked at her hands. They looked bloodstained. "Fair enough. Do you suppose there are some purple creatures who look like us? Then we could fit right in."

"You are the expert on magical creatures, Your Majesty. I only know what you have told me." Devrim was referring to the book that they had borrowed from the vault. Aurora read it from cover to cover many times in an attempt to memorize it.

"While the book was helpful, it was far from complete. I had no idea what a selkie was, and they were some of my favorite creatures we have met thus far." Aurora finished the berry and wiped her mouth with a cloth from her cloak. "Speaking of selkies, I need some water. Surely the water entrance that Phoca talked of is around here somewhere." The selkie had mentioned that water creatures could enter through an underground spring that connected the lake outside to the Land of Magic within the barrier.

"Ugh, the lake water tasted terrible!" Devrim complained.

"This water would flow into to lake. Perhaps it will taste better. The water I found flowing from the ice barrier was fine."

Devrim had no other suggestion so they went out in search of the river. Sure enough, after walking for a half hour they discovered a wide river that seemed to run straight into the ice barrier and disappear. "Do you want to see if it tastes better than the lake?" Aurora asked with a wicked grin.

Devrim scrunched his nose. The taste of the lake was still fresh in his mind. "I will let you try it. Tasting new things first has been your task today, so don't let me interfere."

Aurora stuck her tongue out at her friend. He was always too clever. "Fine. I will be the brave one." She plunged her hand into the water and scooped it to her mouth. Unlike the warm water of the lake, the river was cool to the touch. Aurora tasted the sweet water and groaned with pleasure as it swirled in her mouth. She swallowed and quickly took another scoop. "It is very good!" the Empress said.

Devrim followed her lead and took a taste. It was so delicious that it was almost addictive. They both drank their fill and then filled their water skins. "Perhaps we should follow the river for a while. It looks like it leads inward," Devrim suggested.

"Good idea." Aurora agreed. Out of the corner of her eye, the woman saw the river water splash like a stone had been dropped in it. When she focused on the spot, a water being about twice her size rose out of the river. It seemed made of water, but also solid and formidable. Devrim saw the creature and drew his sword, pushing Aurora behind him. The creature, who had the face and flowing long watery hair of a woman but no distinct body, looked at Devrim quizzically. "I do not know if the sword will do any good," Aurora said gently.

Devrim lowered the sword and tried smiling at the being. It smiled back. "Maybe it is friendly?" the boy hoped. He took a step toward the creature and held out his hand. The creature towered over them, leaning forward to look at the boy. It said something in a language that the humans did not understand. The pair looked at each other.

"I think it is a water nymph," Aurora said tentatively.

"You mean like that stag we saw?" Devrim was confused. It didn't look anything like the other creature.

"Yes and no. That was a wood nymph. They are not exactly the same." Aurora told him. The water nymph looked at the Empress and nodded her agreement. It seemed she could understand what they were saying.

"It is nice to meet you," Devrim said more confidently than he felt.

The nymph made a gurgling sound that resembled a laugh. "I think she likes you," Aurora said brightly. The Empress curtsied at the towering wall of water. "Pleased to make your acquaintance," she said.

The nymph gave a bow, but was so tall that her watery hair splashed the two humans. Aurora wiped the water from her face. "Thanks, I needed a bath!" The nymph gurgle-laughed again. "I do wish we had a better way to communicate."

The nymph grew serious. A small orb of water rose up from the river and formed into a replica of the ice barrier. "That's incredible!" Devrim exclaimed. Two tiny droplets resembling the Empress and Emperor Consort formed and crossed over the tiny replica barrier. A questioning look lay on the nymph's face.

Aurora understood. "Yes, we crossed the barrier. We are on our way to see the Fates."

The nymph grew excited and motioned for them to follow. Devrim and Aurora, who had no better plan, were eager to comply. They walked along the river bank at a near run. "Maybe this will be easier than we thought." Devrim wished he had not said the words as soon as he uttered them. For the nymph suddenly stopped in the river and seemed to be listening. She began to move about wildly and speak in a language that they could not understand.

Frustrated, the nymph raised a ball of water from the river and formed it into many small, stout looking men. Aurora gasped, "Are you sure?" The nymph nodded. "We need to get out of here!" The nymph dove into the water and disappeared.

Just then a rift in the ground carved a half-circle around the humans, pinning them against the river. Two dozen gnomes exited the hole and surrounded them. They were trapped.