Nyx looked away; afraid Mercury might realise she had overheard her. She didn’t hear anything from the Archdruid. His mind remained hidden behind a wall of impenetrable energy. Good. She did not want to hear any more about what they had planned for her. This had turned out far worse than she could have imagined. Darius had warned her they might want to harness her powers. She shuddered to think of what they might force her to do if they did discover how powerful she was.
Gideon snorted. “She is not fit to be my servant. Let the little bastard have her. She’s worthless.”
Isabella cackled. “Why would the little bastard need protection? His life has no value.”
Nyx caught the way the queen said “bastard.” She didn’t like Darius and would be glad to get rid of him.
Mercury’s jaw ticked. “We all have enemies. We can’t afford not to be careful any longer— even you know that, Isabella.”
“You, perhaps, but not I.” Isabella glowered at Mercury.
“Fine, do as you will with the girl. If you can’t make use of her, bind her powers at once.” Fergus waved his hand in dismissal. “Come, wife, we have things to discuss.”
“Wait.” Nyx couldn’t believe the words coming out of her mouth. She scrambled up and rose to her full height. All eyes in the room turned onto her. “If I prove to be a good servant to the druid, I want my freedom.”
“Who are you to bargain for such a thing?” Isabella scoffed. “I should have you whipped for your insolence.”
Nyx, be quiet, Darius snapped.
Nyx held up her hand. “Begging your pardon, but I’m not your subject. I wasn’t born in your realm, and Harland’s death was self-defence. Under the laws of the lower realm, I demand to be released if I serve my penance.” She knew the laws of the lower realm well enough. Harland had taught them to her in case she ever got arrested. He had always said, “If a good thief knows the law, they can work their way around it.”
“You are still a fae and—” Isabella protested.
Fergus held a hand to silence his wife. “You are still a slave and subject to my laws, girl. Unless someone buys you, you will remain the property of my son.” Nyx’s heart sank. “If she doesn’t prove useful over the next few weeks, I want her dead.” Fergus swept out of the room.
Nyx knew one way or another she was stuck here unless she found a way to escape.
Chapter 10
Darius breathed a sigh of relief once his father and stepmother finally left the council hall. Thank the spirits that was over with, though it hadn’t gone as he had expected. How had he ended up with Nyx as his servant? Darius might have wanted to keep her power a secret, but that didn’t mean he wanted to be stuck with her.
Gideon gave Nyx a scrutinising look. “Perhaps you do have power and are hiding it somehow. I will train you as well. Come to my chamber one evening. I’ll send for you.” With that, he left too.
Nyx glowered after the elder Valeran brother; her hands clenched into fists. She had looked afraid earlier but now fear seemed to have given way to anger.
“You have courage, girl. I will say that,” Mercury remarked.
Nyx didn’t wilt under his mother’s steely gaze. “I know how to get what I want.” Nyx raised her chin. “Even around powerful people. What gives you the right to treat people this way?”
“Nyx,” Darius warned. His mother might not be in such a strong position of authority as the Archdruid, but still her power was not to be underestimated. Why couldn’t Nyx keep her mouth shut like he had told her? Did she have a death wish?
Darius couldn’t believe Nyx had stood up to the Archdruid the way she had. He didn’t know whether to be impressed or horrified. No one challenged the Archdruid. His father had killed people for lesser offences than that. Fergus must have been in an amicable mood for a change. Darius had expected his father to kill her on the spot and he probably would have if Mercury had not intervened.
Mercury chuckled. “Lose your defiance, little sewer rat. You might be a good thief, but on these islands you are nothing. You’re worth even less than the dirt on my son’s boots.” Her lips twisted into a grim smile. “I can treat people any way I wish. I am the wife of the Archdruid. Who are you? A queen? A highborn lady? No. You are nothing.”
Darius winced. Anger flared up in him at what Nyx had to endure. He might find Nyx irritating, but he felt sorry for her. Others would have gone mad or been broken by the Archdruid’s full power, but she hadn’t and Darius had to admire her for that. Nyx gritted her teeth then opened her mouth to speak again, but Darius cut her off. “Mother.”
“It’s good to see you.” His mother gave him a stiff embrace.
Darius returned her embrace. Although he loved her, he doubted the feeling was reciprocated. Mercury loved power. It was why she allied herself with the Archdruid. Who else had more power than him?
Darius opened his mouth to speak and send Nyx away, then he closed it. He couldn’t tell her to leave. She would run off and he doubted his web would slow her down forever. She was too strong to be contained.
“Mother, I don’t need a servant.”
“Would you rather your brother had her?” Mercury arched a perfect eyebrow. “I suspect she has power but is somehow hiding it. You are lucky your father did not sense it, or he would have killed her. Imagine what your brother would do if he could harness her abilities.”
Darius shuddered at the thought. No, he didn’t want Gideon using her. That was why he had repressed her power. But that didn’t mean he wanted to be stuck with her. Still, she was safer with Ambrose than here with Gideon. After all, his mentor would know what to do.
“Come, let’s walk. I haven’t seen you in weeks.” Mercury took hold of his arm.
“Mother, I have to get back to Ambrose,” Darius protested.
“I’m sure that old fool can spare you for a few moments.”
“He’s not a fool.”
Mercury cackled. “You think too well of people, my son.”
Darius glanced back at Nyx. You’d better come with us, he told her.
Nyx glowered at him. It’s not like I have a choice, do I? She trailed a few paces behind them.
Darius conjured a ward so Nyx would not hear them. As much as he wanted to get back to Eldara, Darius knew he had to indulge his mother for a little while.
“I do wish you would move back to the palace. It’s much safer for you here than living on Eldara,” Mercury remarked. “How you stand living among all those trees and those fae I will never understand.”
Darius snorted. “I’m stifled here. The court is your world, not mine. Besides, I like living among the other druids, and having different fae around does not bother me.”
Mercury scowled. “It would be nice to have my children by my side. Your brother and sister are at Trewa because your father feels it’s safer for them there. I never get to see any of you.”
Darius bit back a laugh. Blaise and Flora weren’t allowed to stay here because Isabella refused to have them on the islands. She hated having Fergus’ other children paraded in front of her. If anything happened to Gideon, any of Fergus’ other three children could become his heir, and the queen knew it. Darius only got to stay because he was born here. Mercury had refused to send him away no matter what the queen said.
“How long are you staying this time?” Darius asked. His parents were always gone for months, travelling from realm to realm. Some of the courtiers often travelled with them whilst those loyal to Isabella remained here. When he was younger, he had been dragged along with them and stayed in the care of a nursemaid or any druid who was available to care for him.
“A month or two perhaps.” Mercury shrugged. “You know your father never likes staying here for long. Who can blame him when he is forced to contend with that pointy-eared harlot?”
“Mother!” Darius winced. “You know you can’t talk about the queen like that. She is still his wife. Besides, your feud with Isabella is your business. I want no part of it.”
&nb
sp; “I am his wife too, dear boy,” Mercury snapped. “I do wish your father would see reason and annul his marriage to that fae whore.”
There would be no point in telling his mother to watch her tongue. She would never listen, and she considered herself far beyond Isabella’s power. Isabella feared Fergus too much to ever go up against Mercury directly. It was one of the many reasons why he had chosen to leave Avenia and live on Eldara with the other druids.
Darius decided to change the subject. “Do you know anything about the rifts and the darklings?”
Mercury waved a hand in dismissal. “I do not, nor do I see why it’s a problem. Evil spirits come and go all the time.”
“Yes, but people are being killed. The veil is breaking, and you of all people should know the danger that poses to the rest of Erthea.”
Mercury laughed. “The veil between the worlds has been there since Erthea came into being. Nothing can break it. Rifts are bound to occur at some point.”
“But how else would you explain the rifts? They are not natural. Spirits like the dark things are not meant to walk in this world.” Darius sighed in frustration. “How can that not bother you? It isn’t right, and you know it.”
Mercury had taught him sorcery and about how the spirit world worked. He didn’t like to use such magic and preferred to stick to the elemental magic used by the druids. The druids believed in spirits, both good and bad, rather than any gods. The magic that controlled and used spirits was forbidden by them as it went against nature itself. Anything that did that was not the druid way.
“Rifts do happen, especially if someone is using dark magic to summon spirits.”
“Who would do that and why?” He frowned at her. “You haven’t been practising anything, have you? If you caused this problem, I want to know about it.” He had considered the possibility of this being his mother’s doing. No one on Erthea could control spirits or had the knowledge of them the way she did. Although Darius couldn’t figure out why she would do such a thing. “Did Father put you up to it?”
Mercury glowered at him. “How dare you accuse me of such a thing! No, neither of us had anything to do with it. Even if we did, would you go against us?”
I go up against you all the time. That’s why I joined the resistance and do everything I can to help them. Darius kept his thoughts to himself. He hoped to the spirits his parents never found out about his affiliation with the resistance or the work he did with them. They would punish him no doubt, but it didn’t matter. Helping others was much more important.
Darius hesitated. “I would have to, yes. You know how I feel about Father and his dark magic.”
Mercury gave a humorous laugh. “You sound so self-righteous, my boy. This is the world you belong in and the legacy from which you were born. You have that same darkness inside of you no matter how much you try to fight it.”
Darius shivered. “Do you know anything about the rifts or not? You may not care about the problem, but I will do everything I can to stop it.” He scrutinised her gaze. He knew her in some ways better than he knew his father, and if she tried to lie to him, he would know.
Mercury shrugged. “It could be any number of reasons. Even so, it’s foolish of you to be wasting time on this. You’re second in line, you should be with your father and I.” She shook her head. “Instead, you waste time running around in the forest with the other druids. I thought I taught you better than that.”
“I joined the Guard to help people. I do more good out there than I could ever do at court.” Darius kissed his mother on the cheek. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go.” He needed to get home or else he risked being stuck here with her even longer.
She scowled at him. “That’s it? You only have a few moments for your mother?”
He rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m tired. It’s been a long couple of days venturing into the lower realm and back. I need to return home. I’ll visit you again before you and Father leave.”
Mercury hmphed. “See that you do. It would be nice to spend some time together for once.”
“We could spend more time together if you didn’t follow Father everywhere.”
She chuckled. “Who else would keep him in line? His harlot? No, I think not.” She hesitated as she turned to leave. “I may not know what is causing the rifts, but be careful, boy. If the tear in the veil is unnatural, you will be dealing with some very dark magic. Magic that is best left well enough alone.”
Mercury turned and trailed off in the opposite direction.
“Why do you think I stay away from you and Father so much?” he muttered under his breath. “Your magic is best left well enough alone.” He rubbed his chin. He needed to get home but at the same time he wanted to investigate the matter further to find out more information about the darklings. That would have to wait till the morning. He had to talk to Ambrose first.
“Are we done here now?” Darius spun around and found Nyx sitting on a bench. He had almost forgotten she was there. “Can we leave?” She stopped tugging at her bracelet. “I think I’ve learnt enough about your family for one day.”
He sighed. “Neither of us is happy with this arrangement, so let’s try to make the best of it, shall we?”
Nyx scowled. “I still don’t understand why you —”
Darius held up a hand to silence her. “It’s been a long day, let’s go.”
Darius used a transportation ring to transfer them over to Eldara.
Nyx gasped when they appeared in the middle of the forest. The trees dwarfed above them so high they disappeared into the clouds.
“Welcome to Eldara, the druid isle,” Darius said.
Despite it being nightfall, lights sparkled all over the trees. Sprites danced overhead and more lights twinkled as seeds blew in the wind.
“This is…magical,” Nyx breathed.
“Now you know why I like living here instead of at the palace.” Darius took in the familiar scents of trees and grass. Being here felt like true freedom. “Ambrose said you can live with us, so this is your home now too.” Weariness washed over him. It had been a long couple of days since leaving home for her village and rescuing her from execution that morning. They both needed rest.
Nyx gasped when a hoard of glowing lights swirled around her head. She waved her arm to shoo them away. “What are they doing?”
“They’re spirits. It’s alright, they won’t hurt you. Spirits are everywhere here since the veil between the worlds is thinner at this point on Erthea.”
“Is that why you refer to spirits all the time the way others do gods?” Nyx flinched. “Why are they touching me? I don’t like it.”
“They do that to anyone they consider a good soul. Druids don’t worship any gods; we believe in following our own path. Spirits are part of life and death, that’s why we respect them.”
“No doubt your father thinks he’s a god. What do these things want?”
Darius bit his lip to stop making a remark about his father. “They must like you.” Darius couldn’t imagine why. “I know you’re not happy about this arrangement, but let’s make the best of it, shall we?”
Nyx tugged the bracelet and yanked it off. “Fine.”
“Ambrose’s house isn’t far.” He trudged ahead. “You can have some food and rest when we get there. I thought you would be glad for that.”
Nyx didn’t answer. It took him a few moments to realise her presence had retreated.
Nyx was gone.
Chapter 11
Nyx bolted the moment Darius’ back was turned. She had no idea whether the bracelet would help her or not since her powers gave off so much energy, but she didn’t want to risk that strange invisible barrier appearing again and blocking her way. She had to get out of there and find a way back to the lower realm before anything else went wrong.
Those strange, coloured lights — or spirits as the druid called them — had freed her and healed her injuries, including her damaged wing. Nyx had to admit it felt a lot bet
ter not being covered in bruises and scrapes. Her wing no longer ached either, which she was grateful for as she ran past the sky-scraping trees.
More lights danced around Nyx’s head. Were those spirits too? She didn’t have time to find out. Why was this place so full of lights? Back in her forest in Joriam it had been pitch black at night and the perfect place to hide away. The land there had been much easier to navigate. Here, she couldn’t hide anywhere. Plus, she had no idea how to get out of this realm. The only way she had seen to travel was by airship, dragon, or through those circles the druids had used.
Nyx had no idea how those rings worked or where to find a ship. She would have to use everything within her power to get off the island by herself. She had never flown long distances before and didn’t know if she even could do so. First, Nyx needed to find somewhere to hide and take cover for the night.
She flapped her wings and rose off the ground. Once high enough, she grabbed onto a tree and swung up into the branches. Climbing was one thing she was good at. The branches were thick and sturdy, so she knew they would hold her weight.
When she got high enough, she would have a good view of which direction to go in. Maybe she could rest here for tonight and leave at dawn. She didn’t like the idea of trying to navigate her way in the dark. At least during daylight she would be able to see better and decide what the best course of action would be. Despite the healing she had from the spirits, weariness washed over her. Nyx had never used her power as much as she had today. It had drained her strength, and she needed some sleep.
Nyx climbed higher. Good gods, how high did the tree go? The tree limbs rose into the heavens. But she could not stop, she would not become a slave to that druid or anyone else. She might not like her abilities, but they were hers, and she would not let anyone else use them for their own gain.
“Climb, little Nyxie; there’s nowhere to hide.” Harland stood on the branch above her. “I will always find you.”
She shivered as Harland appeared before her. Not again. Nyx’s hands slipped, and she yelped as her fingers slid from the branch that she had been reaching for. She gripped the tree and flapped her wings to gain some momentum. Her grip tightened as she scrambled up onto the heavy limb. Nyx glowered at Harland. “You can’t be here. You’re dead.” She couldn’t believe he had appeared again. She had hoped seeing him earlier that morning had just been her imagination. Yet he had come back to haunt her once more.
The Calling (The Andovia Chronicles Book 1) Page 10