by D P Rowell
“Woah,” Ace said.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Tharuach said.
They stood on the other side of the shrubs on a rock ledge. The ledge overlooked a gorge of unspeakable depth. Small mountains of rock, tree, and crystal surrounded it and fell into it in a harsh slide. Several more land ledges looked over it miles ahead. Faes by the thousands scattered about the varying tents and stone buildings on the canyon floor. Wide roads of cream sand split the buildings in a city-planned grid. Massive crystals jutted from the ground and walls of the gorge, some so massive, buildings were even carved from them. The faes strolled by on breggards, horses, and other massive beasts leading carriages through the large city. To their left, where the tallest mountain in the range met the rock floor of the gorge, sat a cave opening. Hundreds of feet tall and wide. The bright, white glow of the crystals inside allowed no more visibility, save for a street of polished stone.
“Boys,” Tharuach said as he stepped to the ledge and turned to face them, “welcome to Unth Illiaroch: The Crystal City.”
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
The Wicked Lady
Tharuach led them until the ledge split in two and what seemed like the remnants of a rock slide lay just beneath them and spilled into the Crystal City beneath. The tall fae leapt below and landed on a pile of boulders. From where Ace stood, it seemed too great a jump, but the tall fae had landed safe and signaled for the others to jump next to him.
“The boulders will hide us as we reach the city,” Tharuach said. “Just bend your knees as soon as you land, and you’ll be fine.”
Trilo nudged Ace. “You first. You’re kinda like, the Elyrian. Gotta lead by example, ya know?”
Ace simpered at the scarred fae. He looked beneath, gasped, and jumped. He bent his knees on impact as instructed and surprisingly met little resistance. The rocks didn’t feel as sharp as he’d pictured them. Cameron and Trilo followed next and they climbed the rock slide downward into the fae city. The jutting rocks made it hard to see the city. They spent most of the journey climbing up the rocks and hopping back down.
Ace caught glimpses of the city whenever they reached the top of each boulder. The city volume grew more audible, and the buildings and tents larger and clearer to see.
“Stop, duck!” Tharuach said. Everyone crouched in a crevice between two large boulders. From what Ace had seen, they only had a few more rocks to climb before they were in the city.
“What is it, Tharu—”
“Shh!”
Armor clanked beyond the boulders. Voices shouted behind the boulder in the city.
“Serech frun thoom iethers,” Said the voice of a male fae, “Serni?”
“Thoom,” responded another fae voice, “Thoom andoom. Ley lock?”
“Onz’sech manchui preal jun Munlaleh . . .” the guard paused a moment. “Yen serni dah, belni lech. Z’s chine uruch thie.”
“Ie.”
The clanking of armor continued to march along and repeated the questions to other residents.
“What’s going on?” Cameron said.
“My fae is rusty,” Trilo said quietly, “Haven’t spoken it since I gave up my tattoos. They said something about a sky machine.”
“It just means hovercraft,” Ace said, “they found our hovercraft in Munlaleh. They’re wanting to find and interrogate any non-fae race to see who might’ve used it to get here.”
Cameron sighed. “Well, guess we expected this.”
“Yeah,” Trilo said, “But how’re we supposed to get home?”
Tharuach leaned forward with a heavy stare. “Unless we get the stone back in Ace’s hands, we’re not getting out of here.” The tall fae’s eyes perked up and he took a few steps away from the boulders.
“Where are you going?” Ace said.
The fae turned back to him. “Stay here. I’ll be back in one second.” He walked from the boulders and went out of sight; into the town. Before Ace had time to worry about where the fae had been, he hopped back over and threw gold fae clothing at them.
“Suit up,” Tharuach said as he hopped down, “we’re gonna need to blend in a little better to get from here to the Stone’s Keep.”
“How far away is it?” Cameron said as he thrust his arms through one of the robes.
“Not too far. It’s not the travel we need to worry about, it’s the security,” Tharuach said. “The Stone’s Keep is in the Elder’s Palace.”
Everyone stopped putting on their robes and stared blankly at the tall fae. Including Ace.
“For the record,” Tharuach said, “I never liked this plan.”
They finished dressing and threw their hoods over their heads moments later. Soon, they strolled away from the boulders and into the crowd of faes marching along the cream sand streets of Unth Illiaroch. Tharuach instructed them to keep their heads down. He told them it was common for faes in large groups to walk with heads down in robes during times of mourning. They were usually undisturbed by the public and it would make for a great disguise. Ace had to peek a few times at least. Though he spent most of the time bumping against other faes populating the streets, he caught a few breaks where he could observe the great city before him.
The buildings had more an appearance of huts up close. Extravagant huts. Animal skin cloth held up by polished wooden beams. Many of them had several floors and ledges made of the same light tan wood. Merchants and traders haggled, fae families picked up their food from the market, and an old fae told stories to the children circling around him. Like a fae version of Grandpa Marty. They passed a few buildings carved from the large crystals jutting from the ground. Elegant chandeliers hung from the white ceilings. Rugs of explosive colors and patterns sat on the cream ground and wooden stairs led to the several, towering floors of the crystal skyscrapers. The faes dressed mostly the same as those of Munlaleh, though a few of the golden haired faes dressed more elegantly and covered themselves in jewelry.
Golden and silver-armored faes marched through the streets and Ace lowered his head. Tharuach calmly led them along the road as the armored faes walked by swiftly, determined to get to their destination without distraction. Ace glanced up at times to notice the fae guards asking questions to the citizens in the villages. Once they arrived at the bottom of a great staircase, leading to the massive cave they had seen from the ledge, Tharuach pulled them aside, behind some buildings.
“Follow my lead,” Tharuach said, “just go along with everything I say. Remember, Rio has been here and they think he is the Chosen. There is a definite, greatly sized influence of magic here. If I say run, you do whatever you can to get into the palace and find the stone.”
“Where’s the Stone’s Keep?” Ace said.
“It’s in the palace somewhere,” said Tharuach.
“What? I thought you knew exactly where it was!”
“Well, I know it’s in the palace. My guess is somewhere deep below, hard to reach.”
Ace sighed. “Great.”
Tharuach led them up the long and tiresome stairs where eight guards of golden armor guarded the entrance to the cave. They crossed their spears of crystal tips when the companions arrived. Ace peeked at the wondrous cave inside. It first led to a wide ledge of stone, polished on the top and rough on the sides, hovering hover a sea of sharp crystals beneath. The bright, cut stones extended from the cave walls surrounding the ledge in an oval shape.
The guards and Tharuach spoke in fae and Ace translated in his head, “State your business.”
“We’re here to mourn the loss of my grandfather,” Tharuach lifted his hood. “These are his youngest descendants, sent to gather the body together and take it back to the village for ceremony. As per custom.”
“Your father lived in the palace?”
“Yes.”
“State his name.”
“I am clearly a golden fae. Why should it be peculiar that my relatives would be of the Elder’s palace?”
“Normally it wouldn’t be, but we’re under orders by t
he Queen to triple check anyone wishing to enter the palace.”
“The Queen?” Tharuach said, “You mean, she’s here?”
Ace’s stomach turned over.
The fae guards looked at each other, then back to Tharuach. They slowly eased up their spears and redirected it to his neck. “State your name, sir.”
Tharuach stood frozen.
“Your name, sir. Let’s have it.”
Ace sighed and closed his eyes. Here we go.
He opened his eyes at the sound of Tharuach’s last attempt to get them through, “Tharuach Flare.”
The guards looked to each other and slowly let down their spears. Ace swallowed and tried to focus on lowering his pulse.
“Line of Haydrech Flare?”
“Yes,” Tharuach said.
“Very well,” said one of the guards.
Ace felt a sense of dread arise. Haydrech must’ve been the fae he'd met in Dorneg. The guards had to know he was lying now. Did Tharuach not know his grandfather was living in Dorneg the entire time?
“Follow me,” the guard said, “we will guide you to his body.”
He turned around and led them along the crystal lit ledge. Ace tugged on Tharuach’s robe. The tall fae swiped his hand away. Ace tugged again. Tharuach swiped again. Ace’s heart pounded in his chest. The guard was tricking them. Haydrech’s body clearly wasn’t in the palace. He was gonna take them to Aunt Kaitlyn! Ace gulped and wiped his sweaty palms on his silky robe.
Ace looked up. They were almost at the crossroads where the ledge leading inside the cave walls on either side of them met the one they currently traversed. He had no choice.
He lifted his hood. “They know, Tharuach!” Ace’s voice echoed through the vast of the cave and each guard, both behind, in front, and traveling along the ledge stopped and turned to face them.
The tall fae turned around and faced Ace with wide eyes. For a moment like a lifetime, nothing happened, and the air carried a horrid silence, speaking of their imminent doom.
“Run,” Tharuach spoke. He sparked a wave of Light in both hands and spun around. He thrust the elyr forth and sent the guard flying to the other side of the bridge. The loud thunder of armor crashing into armor boomed as the guard fell into a pile of other guards. Ace, Cameron, and Trilo ran left, where another ledge led to a smaller tunnel. Ace looked back a moment. The tall fae nodded at them as they ran deeper into the cave. Then continued battling the armies now after him. His fluid motions moved like a river. The tall fae snatched the spears from the guards and countered their attacks without breaking a sweat. Ducking, spinning, leaping, and only using the elyr in small portions. Such a moment educated Ace on what a force Tharuach was to be reckoned with.
The smaller cave walls covered their vision of Tharuach as the ledge took a sharp turn inward. Now only a tube of white crystals surrounded them.
“This way, this way!” shouted Ace. He shoved his way to the front of the pack and took a right over another ledge. The ledge took them down a few stairs to a portion of the cave’s floor not covered in crystals. Couches, chairs, and glass tables gave the room an elegant look, as well as a small chandelier hanging from the glass roof below the crystals. Several faes who were drinking and conversing stood to their feet and gasped as the companions sprinted through. They burst through to the other side, now hearing the armored guards chasing after them.
They passed more lounges and a hall of residencies. Ace noticed a door to their left wide open and ran to it. He, Trilo, and Cameron shoved themselves inside and slammed the door shut. At the force of the door shutting, mops and buckets fell from the shelves and crashed on the ground. One of them hit Trilo in the head. He rubbed his head and winced without making a sound.
“Wait . . .” Ace said. The clanking armor of the running guards came and went as they rushed by the closet outside. Everyone exhaled and the sound of the companions catching their breath grew louder. “We’re gonna have to split up.” Ace said. “We’re bound to get caught if we all go together. We need to cover more ground and find the stone.”
Cameron and Trilo seemed hesitant for a moment, then eventually nodded together. “You’re right,” Cameron said. “Much as I hate it, finding the stone is our only chance at this point.”
The door swung open and they turned to face the outside. Ace’s senses left him. For a moment, he didn’t believe what he saw. He convinced himself it was a trick of his mind. Some kind of spell to deceive him.
A fae guard had opened the closet door to reveal Uncle Marcus, dressed in gold fae robes, and a wicked lady. Two guards on either side of them, spears pointed in attack position. The wicked lady stood in a silver fur coat over a golden dress, reaching just the tip of her ankles. Her neck, fingers, and toes even, were covered in jewels of a deep red. Her golden eye shadow shone atop her soulless, green eyes. She'd dressed her blonde hair half up, half down, and it fell gently along her collar bone. Dark red lipstick complimented her rotten smile of bright white teeth. The smile of Ace’s defeat. The smile of a Peppercorn besting a Halder once again. Aunt Kaitlyn had found them. She stepped closer. Ace shook his head and his lips quivered. Her smile grew wider as her golden heels clopped against the stone floor.
“No,” Trilo whispered. “We were so close.”
The wicked lady gestured with her hand and the guard who had opened the door escorted the three companions out of the closet to face the Fae Queen. She leaned close and slowly grazed Ace’s face with her sharp, red painted nails. Ace’s body shook with fury. The touch of her nails scraping his skin made the hairs stand on his arms. He eyed the wicked lady with rage.
“Not close enough, nephew,” the Fae Queen said. “Have you missed me?”
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
Life and Death
Aunt Kaitlyn stood and grinned at the three of them. “Aw, it’s kind of cute. You even brought a little fae into your Halder family.”
“She’s got you all fooled!” Cameron yelled, spit flying from his lips. “She’s a witch! She’s deceived you all!”
Aunt Kaitlyn laughed a deep laugh and turned to the guards behind her. When she did, Ace caught the eyes of another companion among Aunt Kaitlyn’s crew. He hadn’t noticed her before, but there she stood in silver robes just before the queen. The chaser from Dorneg! The fae witch who jumped ship after she’d been caught! “Oh, how pathetic it is,” Aunt Kaitlyn said. “What sore losers the Halders are. Always accusing me of such ridiculous things.”
Uncle Marcus chuckled but the guards remained angry and determined. Ace glanced at him. The Elyrian searched his uncle’s eyes to find any clues to his state of mind, but there were none. The Uncle who had begged him for help back in Naraka had left, and whatever witch had
him now had complete control.
“Prove it, then!” Trilo said. The fae flicked a small light at his palm and the guards jumped and threatened Trilo with their weapons. The one close by held his crystal spear at the scarred fae’s neck. “Touch the Light, Queen.” Trilo sassed.
Aunt Kaitlyn pouted mockingly and waved her hands at the guards. They stepped back, away from Trilo. She inched closer to him as he held the flame forward.
“The elyr is not a weapon!” One of the fae guards said. “They’ve burst in here and attacked our home with it! We ought to slay them right now, Your Highness! They’re no different than sorcerers!”
“Oh, relax,” The Fae Queen said, “They will get what’s coming to them. It’s time I put these sad, sad children in their place.” She stuck her finger in the flame and gave a twisted smile. The elyr wrapped around her finger without burning her. Ace felt a surge of desperation sink in.
No, he thought, how is that possible?
She smiled at him as though she recognized his thoughts and mockingly rubbed her hand all through the flame. “Satisfied?” she said.
Trilo let flame disappear. The three of them stood speechless and defeated as Aunt Kaitlyn stepped back and shot them a wicked glance.
“Marcus,
my love,” she said.
Uncle Marcus rushed to her side and bowed slightly. “Yes, my love?”
“How quickly can you arrange a press conference here, in front of the palace?”
Uncle Marcus slowly rose, eyeing her strangely. The fae guards glanced at one another confused. “Uh, Your Highness,” Uncle Marcus said, “Breen is only accessible by ship. It would take days to get them here, and then there’s the matter of hosting a televised event in Breen, at the palace especially. I’m not sure the faes would—”
“I decide what the faes would and would not do now,” Aunt Kaitlyn said. “Now, the only reason Breen is accessible by ship is because of Breen’s ridiculous rules. I’m not sure if you remember or not, but Yutara is under a new treaty. We are one people now. Tell the press they may take whatever means of transportation necessary to get here. We will welcome them as our own.”
“But, Queen Kaitlyn,” one of the fae guards said. “Have the Elders approved of this?”
Kaitlyn stopped and stared at the guard with eyes able to melt the palace crystals. “I’m sorry, but maybe you weren’t here when the Chosen arrived here and named me Queen. The Elders agreed to this and overturned all authority to me, via the Chosen’s request. You will obey me, or I will have your head. Do you understand?”
The fae guards’ eyes went wide and their faces dropped.
“Do you?” Aunt Kaitlyn shouted.
The guards stiffened straight and said, “Yes, my Queen!” all at once.
“Your Majesty,” Uncle Marcus said. Kaitlyn turned to face her. “What should I tell the press they are coming for?”
The Fae Queen turned to face Ace, Trilo and Cameron. She smiled in such a way it made her eyes seem darker, and her heart, colder. “Tell them the Israh has come to an end; for all Yutara will watch as I hang their leaders.” She leaned close to them and tapped each of their noses as she said, “One. By. One.”