by Ivy Clyde
10
Moira
My eyes blinked open to the ceiling of a strange room. Gray light of dawn filtered into the room through the curtained windows in the far side. Suppressing a yawn, I sat up. The whole house was shrouded in silence.
Climbing off the bed, I picked up a thick robe left for me on a stand and donned it. Since it was close to sunrise, I could safely slip inside the smaller houses to look for Rowan and Leon without attracting attention.
I walked out into the entrance hall and pushed open the heavy doors. The chilly breeze sweeping inside sent a shiver through me. Clutching the robe tighter around me, I padded out into the open courtyard.
“Morning, Moira.”
A loud gasp escaped me as I whirled around.
“Hey, it’s just me,” said Lucia from the top of the roof. “I’m sorry I scared you.”
“It’s fine,” I said, massaging my chest while my heart raced a hundred miles an hour.
Lucia knelt forward and leaped down from the roof. If I hadn’t seen Rowan and Cade making such jumps, I would have received another shock at seeing her drop to her feet from such a height.
“I didn’t think you’d still be here,” I said. “Why didn’t you come in?”
“I was keeping a watch over these perimeters,” she said. “Other than the servants and the maid serving you, no one else came into these parts. Neither Vishen nor his household is paying any attention to this distant relative of his. They even shoved you into this shithole.”
“It’s not so bad,” I said with a grin. “It’s not like I was born and bred in the luxury of the Sun Palace. You should have seen the neighborhood I grew up in. If you have to worry about someone, it should be Leon and Rowan.”
Lucia chuckled. “They are tough men.”
“You’re starting to like them?”
She gave a nod. “They risked coming into Amaris to find you. I respect them for not even taking the time to consider the repercussions. They came despite knowing it could be a trap. I am glad you’ve chosen such worthy mates.”
A note of sadness tinged her last words. Sometimes, it was difficult to understand these shifts in her emotions.
“Cade is injured for the moment or he would have come,” I said, hoping she would feel reassured about him too.
“I am sure he would have,” she said, still looking somber. She took a deep breath and wiped the emotions from her soulful green eyes. “I have to leave soon. It is best I leave you with more information about the Engorging Bell.” She moved toward the smaller house to the left.
I followed her as she pushed open the main front doors.
To my surprise, the place seemed even smaller from the inside. Rowan came in through a door that connected the hall to other parts of the house. The alert look in his eyes disappeared as soon as they fell on us.
“Is Prince Leon awake?” asked Lucia.
“No, but I will wake him up,” said Rowan.
Lucia moved toward the small square table in the corner and took a seat there.
“Are you okay?” I asked, looking closely at her. She seemed anxious about something.
“I know the princes will look after you while I am gone but I can’t stop worrying about you,” she said in a soft voice so only I could hear it. “I can’t stop thinking whether it is wrong of me to keep you here. Amaris is already on the brink of extinction. My family is already dead. Would it be so wrong to keep you safe and let the inevitable happen?”
“I can’t believe you’re saying this,” I said. “You’re the one who brought me here so I could do something about the way things are. I thought you wanted to change what was happening.”
“I hadn’t met you back then,” she said, looking away from me. “I didn’t know how brave, kind and…beautiful you are.”
A soft smile came on my lips. My hand held hers tightly. “Look at me, Lucia.”
She turned those glittering emerald orbs on me. “We can’t let the person who destroyed our families live so freely. As long as we are alive, the daughters of our fathers, we will make sure justice is upheld in our home. People like Vishen and Coran would be punished for everything they did to us and our people.”
A mix of emotions flitted through her eyes. She stayed quiet as she gazed at me, capturing my whole attention.
The loud sound of approaching footsteps broke the spell between us. We moved apart and sat straighter in our chairs. My heart beat hard in my chest. Was it the sudden bout of patriotism I felt for Amaris or something else?
“Why did you want to see us?” asked Rowan.
Leon yawned and combed his fingers through the disheveled locks of his crimson strands. Part of me wanted to kiss him and drag him back to bed.
“I wanted to give you this,” said Lucia, bringing out a roll of parchment. Unfurling the scroll, she flattened it on the table. “This is a map of the whole manor,” she explained.
We all leaned forward to take a closer look.
“This area over here is heavily guarded,” she said, pointing to a circular area in the central courtyard of the main building. “Other than Vishen and his few trusted people, no one is allowed to step in there. I believe he is hiding the bell in one of the small houses here.”
Rowan looked closely at the map, his steely-gray eyes studying every detail on it carefully.
“You can leave it to us,” said Leon. “We will find and replace the bell.”
“I’m afraid you can’t do that without Moira,” said Lucia.
Rowan and Leon glanced at her.
“What do you mean by that?” asked Rowan.
“I didn’t mention this earlier but only those who have the blood of the ancient lunar fae kings can touch the Engorging Bell without being affected by its dark powers,” explained Lucia. “Moira must be the one to take the real bell.”
Leon groaned.
I frowned at him. “Don’t treat me like I won’t be able to do it,” I said, glaring at him.
“I want to keep you safe while Rowan and I handle breaking into this high-security area,” said Leon.
“I was thinking the same,” said Rowan.
“I won’t let you risk your lives without me,” I told them both.
Rowan exhaled a long breath and looked back at Lucia. “Anything else we need to know?”
“No, this is it,” said Lucia. “Take a few days to familiarize yourself with the manor and its grounds. Keep your eyes and ears open. If you hear anything strange and interesting, make sure to share it with me.”
“When will we see you again?” I asked.
“I don’t know.” She smiled when she noticed me staring at her. “There is a royal hunt coming up in a few days. Vishen would probably try to use the opportunity to lure me or kidnap me. It is the best excuse to make up for losing a prince. The wild beasts can take all the blame for it while he uses me for his sacrificial ritual.”
Cold washed over me. “You will let him grab you?”
“I have to risk it so he believes in my illusion. He has to believe the whole ritual was pointless and that it didn’t help him gain even an ounce of power.”
“Why not kill him?” asked Leon. “Why go through with this charade?”
“He is a powerful man,” said Lucia. “He is older than me and centuries older than you both. Defeating him would be a difficult task. Also, attacking him would alert those men who support him and seek to gain something from him. I don’t want to kill the soldiers they send at us.” She took a deep breath and continued. “Eventually, I want a peaceful, whole kingdom for Moira to take over. To do that, we have to crumble the power of these nobles from the inside out. Battling for power and shedding more blood will further the weaken the kingdom.”
“I agree with you,” I said. “I wanted to kill Coran at first too, but what’s the point? His crimes would die with him. My mom would never receive the justice she deserves. The whole world needs to know what Coran did and how she disappeared.”
“Be careful, then,�
�� said Rowan in a rough voice. He stared at the map before him but I could feel the tension pouring out of him.
“Yes, don’t die sky-elf,” said Leon.
Lucia chuckled. “I will try not to.”
I pressed her hand tightly, unable to say the right words. My insides tightened impossibly at the thought of her lying on Vishen’s chopping block willingly. At this moment, I knew I wouldn’t be able to accept it if she died at his hands too. All for me, I thought as pain lanced through me. They are all willing to sacrifice themselves for me.
Perhaps, it was better when there was no one there to care for me. It hurt so much more to see the people who loved you risking so much for your sake.
“Stay alive,” I said in a thick voice. “As your future queen, it is my command.”
Lucia stared at me and that strange emotion passed through her eyes once more. It flickered away too quickly for me to understand it. “I will do my best, My Queen.”
11
Moira
Poppy returned to my side just as the sun was about to set. She helped me dress in a new navy blue gown which came from one of the many crates that came with me. After combing my tresses, she styled them into thin braids and added strings of tiny sapphires to dangle alongside them. Her meticulous ways strongly reminded me of Gilly.
My mind wandered to the young brownie maid. I imagined her walking around the vast room in the Sun Palace, setting up goldflowers in vases. Deep inside, I hoped she was safe and recovering from the wounds on her face.
“My Lady?” Small hands shook my shoulders. “My Lady?”
My hand jerked from the foreign touch. Looking around, I saw Poppy staring at me worriedly.
“Sorry, were you saying something?” I said.
“I asked if you’re happy with my work.”
It took me a moment to realize she was talking about the way she’d dressed me. I glanced at the mirror. The young woman reflected back on its spotless surface seemed like a stranger. I looked like one of the beautiful fae women around me now. Even better, if I were to be honest, because of the luxurious dress and jewels glittering in my hair, ears, and neck.
“You did a great job,” I said. “Thank you.”
A cheerful smile lit up her pretty face.
“Can you take me around the manor grounds today?” I asked. “I want to see what this place looks like.”
“Of course, My Lady.”
After studying the map Lucia left us, I studied and memorized it with Rowan and Leon. It was more convenient for me to walk around the manor without attracting any suspicion. A lady walking with her maid was too usual a scene for anyone to pay any attention to us. This way, I could sneak around and locate the exact place where the Engorging Bell was being hidden.
Poppy led the way out of the house and crossed the small courtyard to reach the gates of the fenced enclosure. She took small measured steps which automatically made me walk at a slower pace.
Servants and lone guards walked past us but no one glanced at us twice. I pretended to look around in wonder, exclaiming at the life-like marble statues of ancient deities lining the broad pathway. Manicured bushes, heavily laden with fragrant blossoms, covered the spaces between them.
The palatial manor came closer. My gaze swung around the area, knowing we were close to the place where Vishen hid the Engorging Bell. Far to our right, I caught sight of an enclosure similar to my lodgings. The only difference was that tall bricks walls fenced the area instead of flimsy bamboo poles. There were no guards at the gates but they formed a wide circuit around it.
Breaking away from Poppy, I walked that way.
I’d walked halfway toward the enclosure when Poppy’s voice reached me.
“My Lady, don’t go that way!” she called.
I ignored her. My magic stirred in my veins the closer I got to the enclosure. A kind of electric wave rushed through me, causing the sparse hair on my arms to stand up in response. Even without seeing it with my eyes, I could feel the strange pull of the Engorging Bell. While it didn’t affect me badly, my magic still warned me.
“My Lady! Please, stop!” Poppy’s voice kept calling me but I didn’t stop until a pair of tall, heavily armored guards stepped in my path.
“No one is allowed here,” said one of them in a strict voice. “Go back.”
The second guard stayed silent but glared down at me.
“Who does she think she is?” came a strange snarky voice from behind me. Knowing it wasn’t Poppy, I slowly turned around.
A well-dressed young woman marched toward me. Her gown of silver gossamer and jewels of glittering diamonds made her shine in the twilight. She would have been truly beautiful if she didn’t have an ugly scowl marring her delicate features.
Poppy rushed up to me at once. Her fingers dug into my arm as she hissed, “Bow.” She was already bending low at her waist, refusing to even look up at the stranger. “Bow!” she whispered again, pulling on my arm.
I bowed my head as the young woman came to stand before me.
“Who are you?” she asked in a rough tone. “How dare you trespass in my uncle’s home?”
Uncle? She was Vishen’s niece too?
Fingers gripped my chin and yanked my head back, forcing me to look into the dark eyes of the stranger. Her gaze narrowed as she stared at me.
“Who is she?” she asked in a lower voice to the maid who accompanied her.
“I believe she is Lady Violet, Lord Ampin’s daughter.”
A look of pure irritation came over her features as she stared at me. Her fingers dug hard into my chin, making me wince. “They said you were plain and ugly,” she muttered. “They lied.”
“Please, Lady Alana,” said Poppy. She’d gone down on her knees before this woman. “My mistress came to the manor yesterday. She still doesn’t know any of the rules here. It is not her fault.”
A cruel grin lifted the corners of her lips. “You’re right. It’s not her fault, it’s yours.” She let go of me and stared down at the kneeling woman. “Ten lashes.”
Poppy’s petite body shook but she stayed on the ground with her head bowed.
“Don’t think you’re a princess here,” she said with a sneer. “You’re a nobody here. Uncle is being charitable by keeping you in his home. Don’t think you’ll ever be my equal and get a chance to be in Prince Eoghan’s harem.” She turned away and walked back to the main path with her maid.
The breath I’d been holding in whooshed out of me. Kneeling down, I held Poppy’s shaking shoulders. “You won’t have to take those beatings,” I said. “It’s a command.”
She looked up at me with tear-filled eyes. “But Lady Alana’s command has more power over yours. You cannot stop my punishment.”
“I’m so sorry, Poppy.” Holding her shoulders, I helped her stand up. “I will talk to my uncle if needed. There is no need to go for punishment just yet.”
She shook her head. “Don’t bother about this insignificant punishment, My Lady. You are new here and don’t know the rules. I should have told you about this place earlier. It really is my fault for not warning you.”
Poppy reminded me of Gilly again. Why did these maids think they were of an inferior race just because they were working for the royalty or the nobility? When I am in charge there will be proper labor laws, I decided. The thought surprised me. I couldn’t believe my mind had already accepted the responsibility of being a ruler…
The more time I spent with Lucia, the more powerful I felt. It was an emotion that even my mates couldn’t spark inside me. Their love made me feel safe and protected, but Lucia’s devotion made me feel strong. She’d completely transformed the weak, spineless girl I’d once been.
“I have seen enough for the day,” I said aloud. “Let’s go back.”
Poppy gave a somber nod and led the way back to my humble lodgings.
The sun was at its peak. Sounds of all activities around the enclosure had ceased by now.
I was dressed in fitted leath
er pants and a tucked-in full-sleeved shirt. Tall boots wrapped around my calves, providing both comfort and protection. The long length of my blond hair was tied in a tight braid.
“You look like a sexy assassin, love,” said Leon with a grin. His amber gaze swept me from head to foot with an appreciative look. “I can’t wait to peel those leather breeches off your legs.”
“Will you focus?” Rowan snapped. He stood with his arms folded across his chest, glaring at the two of us. “This is not the time to be fooling around.”
Heat spread through my cheeks as guilt washed over me. Leon, on the other hand, continued to grin goofily. His smile made me want to chuckle too but the severe expression on Rowan’s face drove away the urge.
I suppose he had reason to be anxious. Leon and I would be sneaking into the walled enclosure while Rowan would keep a watch over the entrance to the one-storied building. Leon was a master when it came to breaking illusions and barriers while I was the only one who could touch the Engorging Bell without feeling its dark impact. This naturally left Rowan to watch out for us.
It was a blessing Vishen put me in these humble lodgings. There were no servants or maids to serve throughout the day. They only came during the evenings and left at dawn, making it easy for us to sneak out of the bamboo enclosure.
Having walked the paths earlier today, I was able to lead the way for Rowan and Leon. It was slightly unnerving to see the usually busy place to be completely empty and deserted when the sun was shining down on us. We would all need time to get used to the way the lunar fae lived during nighttime. Still, we were careful, using the marble statues lining the main pathway to stay out of sight.
Soon, we reached close to the guarded area. Armed soldiers stood attentively, keeping a lookout for intruders.