by Toni Cox
I stared at him. Could it be?
“Freckles…” He took a deep breath and hesitated. I could see he struggled with something. “Dana, I want to take you somewhere, where I think you may get some answers, but you have to promise me that you will never tell anyone about this place. Can you do that?”
I hesitated, uncertain, but my curiosity, and my need to find out what was going on, won out. Intrigued, I leaned forward. “I promise.”
“This may not be what you expect and may come as a bit of a shock, but I want you to keep an open mind. Can you do that, too?”
“Yes, I promise.”
Thomas sighed deeply. “Alright, then I will take you to see Arianna.”
Chapter 8
“What?” I jumped to my feet.
It was, indeed, not what I expected. Thomas wanted to take me to a witch. Not only did he want to take me to a witch, but he wanted to take me to my witch. How did he even know my witch?
I glared at him while my thoughts chased each other around in my head. I was sure my heart was playing drums with my ribs inside my chest.
If Thomas thought taking me to a witch would give me answers, then maybe my magic was witch’s magic. With all this animosity between the legendaries, perhaps it had been Thomas’ ploy all along to get me to the witch.
Frowning, I thought of our first meeting. The shifter had told me that he thought I was a witch, but then why had he chased me? He had known I was fae and only stopped when he’d seen the blue glow from my hands.
That’s when his demeanour changed, and he offered to help me. And me, like a fool, had fallen for it. So naive. Like the spoiled princess that I was. Bile rose to my throat.
“Freckles, what’s wrong? You’ve gone all red.”
“Don’t. Call. Me. That.”
Thomas held up both hands. “Alright, alright.”
How could he look so innocent? Maybe he was just trying to help me. This would be my one opportunity to get to the place I have been trying to get to ever since I left the palace.
So, why was I so upset about it? My whole body tingled with unspent magic flowing through it. The feeling of pins-and-needles especially bad in my arms and hands.
“Dana, look, if you don’t want to go, I’ll understand.”
I wished he would shut up. I wasn’t ready for an answer, yet.
Would I be walking into a trap or the solution I have been looking for? The situation was undoubtedly dire enough to risk it, but would I be strong enough to defend myself if it was a trap?
I have had no chance, yet, to look through the book Elder Ronan gave me. I knew nothing about how to defend myself from witches.
Panic started to set in. I was over-thinking it and making things worse. Taking some slow breaths, I tried to calm myself.
Thomas took a step towards me. My heart did a wild leap, finishing in a somersault, and I lost what little composure I still had.
My hands spread involuntarily, and the blue glow flowed from them to illuminate the dark alcove beneath the trees. Thomas shielded his eyes and stepped back.
The magic kept flowing, vibrating down my arms. Tiny, blue sparks flew from my fingertips, fizzling out into the air.
Harder and faster, it came, and I couldn’t control it. It poured from me in pulsating waves, washing over the surrounding forest. I couldn’t hold on to my sanity any longer and, with the magic, I also shed my tears.
Just when I thought it couldn’t get any worse, the screams of the horses penetrated through my sobs. In the bright, blue light, and through the tears stuck on my lashes, I saw Thomas trying to catch the Gypsies.
Too late. The horses galloped past, terrified.
“Dana,” Thomas’ voice drifted through the fog of my brain, “Dana.” He shook my shoulders.
As the glow subsided, my legs turned to jelly. Thomas was there to catch me, and he lowered me gently to the ground. His strong arms encircled me as my back leaned against his chest.
It was a good thing the magic took it out of me, because, for once, I wasn’t blushing. I was only glad I hadn’t killed Thomas.
“Do you want to talk about it?” he said gently.
“I don’t know what happened. I have no control over it.”
“I think you do, Freckles. Tell me what you thought before it happened.”
I frowned at his use of that nickname, then sighed. I doubted he would ever drop it.
“It wasn’t anything good if that’s what you want to know,” I replied.
“That’s what I thought. You were upset. So, maybe it’s like a defence mechanism.”
“I suppose. I’ve only used it a few times, and then only in emergencies.”
“So, if this only started a few weeks ago, and if this is not a fae thing, that means you’ve had no training, right?”
“Right.” I was starting to get rather warm in his embrace.
“Then, I think, it’s only natural that you are not able to control your new magic, yet. You need a teacher, one that is proficient in that kind of magic. Once you’ve learned, it won’t be so scary anymore.”
I shifted, getting uncomfortable. “And where will I find a teacher like that?”
“I told you, I have seen similar magic before. Although,” he laughed, and my back vibrated, “not quite as wild as yours.”
“Do you mean Arianna?”
“Yes, Arianna.” Thomas paused and finally released me from his embrace to turn me to face him. “Was the thought of me taking you to her what upset you?”
I nodded mutely.
“Why?”
“Because that is where I am supposed to go.”
This time, he stared at me, mutely.
“My father told me that if I wanted answers, I needed to find a woman called Arianna. It was the only information he could give me, so I basically left Draeguard blindly.”
“And, with a lot of faith.” There was admiration in his voice. “I know Arianna well. If she can help you, she will. We only have one problem.”
“What’s that?” My heart beat faster. I was tired of problems.
“Our horses ran away.” He grinned. “We’ll have to walk the rest of the way.”
I rolled my eyes. “I don’t think so. Horses are something I know about. They won’t go far in the dark. They will either come back to us during the night or find themselves a place to sleep. We should find them in the morning.”
“If you say so.” Thomas looked sceptical.
“Then, you’re not upset?”
“About what?”
“That I am supposed to seek out this Arianna woman?”
“Why would this upset me?”
We were so different, Thomas and I. Where I questioned everything, Thomas simply accepted things for what they were. It infuriated me sometimes. Like now.
“Don’t you think it’s just a bit too coincidental? Or, maybe, suspicious that a fae king would send his daughter to seek out a witch?”
Thomas raised his eyebrows. “Who said Arianna is a witch?”
“You did.”
“No, I never said she is a witch.”
“But,” blood shot into my cheeks again, and I was glad for the darkness, “you told me this blue magic is witch magic, and Arianna would have answers. How would she know if she isn’t a witch?”
“Oh, so you are assuming she’s a witch?”
Although no longer in Thomas’ arms, our legs were still touching. I scuttled backwards.
“Well, am I right?”
“No.”
My mouth gaped open, and I hoped he couldn’t see me. I’m sure I looked like an idiot, for I had never been this confused in my life. Or, this angry.
Either Thomas was lying, or that elder from the library didn’t know what he was talking about.
“Then, what is she?”
“I am sure she will tell you.”
“Thomas,” it came out harder than I had meant it to, “enough with the riddles. It is the future of the kingdom that is at stake. Please, if not for
the kingdom, then at least for me, can you take this seriously?”
Even in the dark, I could see his amber eyes flash. “If I weren’t, I would not have offered to take you to Arianna. I am taking a chance just being with you.”
“If it is such a risk to you, then why are you helping me?”
I couldn’t help myself. I should just shut up and be happy that he was helping me, yet here I was questioning him.
“Would you rather I didn’t? I can stop if my help isn’t good enough, anymore.”
“I didn’t say that.”
“Then, why are you arguing with me?”
“I’m just tired.”
“Take my sleeping bag. I’ll keep watch.”
Thomas stood and walked away, leaving me alone in the dark. The sparse moonlight that filtered through the trees was barely enough to see by, and I groped around for Thomas’ pack to get the sleeping bag.
The shifter infuriated me. I could not tell if he was helping or leading me on. Everything he did seemed to have some ulterior motive. Yes, he was getting me to where I needed to go, but now it almost seemed too easy.
With a dull throb behind my eyelids, I laid my head on my hands and stared off into the darkness until I eventually drifted off into sleep.
***
“You were right,” Thomas’ voice greeted me when I opened my eyes in the morning.
“About?”
“The horses came back. I fixed their reins as best I could. We can carry on riding as soon as you’re ready.”
I would have killed for a bath and a toothbrush right then, but I didn’t tell Thomas that. Instead, I went to the river and did the best with the little that I had.
A berry bush grew nearby, and I used my fae magic to coax it to grow some more ~ just enough so we could have some breakfast. At least, the fae magic I could control.
“There are some farms along the way where we will be able to get some food,” Thomas assured me. “The next town is Silverlakes, but it’s still a day’s ride away.”
I had never been this far away from Draeguard, and I realised how small my world had been. I thought myself educated and worldly, but I was anything but.
Quagmired in my thoughts, we rode in silence, with Thomas stealing provisions from the farms along the way. I hated the idea, but as we had no other means of getting food, I pushed it to the back of my mind.
In the evening, Thomas found us an abandoned barn at the edge of a forest to sleep in for the night. The horses appreciated a place to lie down, and so did I.
When we opened the barn doors in the morning to resume our trip, the world was hidden within a cloud of thick mist.
Riding through the forest, shrouded in the thick blanket of fog, sent shivers down my spine. I hoped that once we were out in the open, it would get better, but as we reached the fields beyond the treeline, it was apparent the fog was going to be with us for a while.
“It will clear once the sun rises high enough and melts it away.”
My nerve endings told me otherwise. “I don’t think so. It will be cloudy later, and the sun will not get warm enough to melt the fog before the clouds cover her.”
Dew droplets clung to Thomas’ eyelashes that now fell down his face as he blinked. “How do you know? And, her?”
“I told you, fae magic is earthbound. We have a connection with all things natural. I can feel the weather. ‘Her’ is the sun, silly.”
“Oh,” he blushed but laughed.
We rode in silence for a while before Thomas brought his horse close to mine.
“I don’t think we’re alone.”
His hushed voice in the silence of the mist raised the hairs on my arms.
“What? Who?”
“Take my horse. I’m going to shift and scout around to find out.”
“Be careful, Thomas.”
He jumped off his horse and threw me his reins. Enveloped in fog, his shifting took on a ghostly quality, and my heart skipped a beat when the white wolf emerged through the mist.
His amber eyes briefly made contact with mine, then Thomas raced off across the field. Almost immediately, the mist swallowed him, hiding him from my sight.
Alone, I suddenly felt vulnerable. The horses became edgy and pranced around. I let them decide the pace, and we were soon trotting at a fast gait; I hoped Thomas would keep up.
Several miles later, even my riding-trained legs were getting tired, and I reined in the horses. My gelding fought me, and Thomas’ horse simply pulled the rein from my hand.
I tried calming my horse with my fae magic but to no avail. Only when I saw Thomas’ shadow flitting in and out of the mist to our right did I understand ~ he was driving the horses.
The wolf pulled closer and growled. He nipped my horse on the hocks until the gelding broke into a gallop. I got the message.
Leaning over the heavy horse’s neck, I urged him to greater speed. These horses were built for strength and beauty. Speed was not their strong point. Still, they could run.
Unfortunately, not forever. After several more miles, I had exhausted all my fae magic on the horses, and they had exhausted all their stamina. Covered in sweat and breathing heavily, their movements became laboured and heavy.
Tendrils of fear traced themselves down my back, and I chanced a glance over my shoulders. The mist roiled and danced with a light wind that had come up, and in between these gusts, I could now see a tall, sleek horse carrying the dark elf.
Thomas appeared by my side again, nipping at the gelding, urging him on. I knew my horse didn’t have much more to give. The dark elf’s slender horse was catching up on long, powerful strides.
The closer he came, the more I felt it ~ the elf’s dark magic. It was only a fraction as strong as during the attacks of the palace, but it was the same type of magic.
I remembered what Thomas had said about the elves using the magical elements they collected for their dark magic, and I wondered who died for this elf to be able to perform this magic on me.
Nauseated, I clung to my horse’s thick mane, begging him for more speed. The sound of hoofbeats echoed wildly in my ears.
The dark elf was now only a few strides behind us. When I dared to look back once more, he pierced me with a glowering look of his dark eyes. It sent a stabbing pain straight to my belly.
I cried out and looked away. The dark magic became more intense as the elf came even closer. He was now right behind us. Thomas dropped back, snapping at the other horse’s legs.
The dark elf lashed Thomas with his whip. I cringed at Thomas’ cry of pain.
With another spurt of speed, the dark elf caught up with me. Thomas was on his heels, trying to stop his horse, but to no avail.
Desperate, I turned my tired horse, veering to the left. The elf followed quickly. His hand reached out. I ducked.
I turned again. And again. The grabbing hand so close. I turned the other way, knocking into the elf’s horse. It staggered, but so did mine.
With despair, I felt my horse give up. It could go no longer. The big Gypsy gelding slowed, and the dark elf reached out across the distance between us. His steely hand closed around my arm like a vice.
Chapter 9
I screamed at his icy grip. The dark elf sneered, baring his pointed teeth.
My horse stumbled, and I thought he might fall. The elf pulled my arm, and I slid across the big horse’s back.
Clinging on for dear life, I kicked out, connecting with the elf’s shin. He only snarled and yanked harder on my arm. His dark magic made me weak.
A sound like a thunderclap reverberated across the field. I ducked my head between my shoulders, but the vice grip on my arm was suddenly gone. The acidic smell of lemons hung in the air.
My horse stopped, head dropping to the ground, breathing heavily ~ he was done.
Panicked, I jumped off and ran, but could not see the elf anywhere. His horse milled aimlessly with the other Gypsy not far from me, and Thomas was mid-shift a few feet away.
; I stopped, staring at the scene in confusion. My ears still rang from the thunderclap, and I tried to get my bearing. What just happened? I could feel a tingle of magic in the air.
Just then, a dark figure materialised out of the mist, and I backed away towards my horse. My eyes searched for Thomas, but my warning shout stuck in my throat when I saw him smile and run towards the figure.
I thought I was losing my mind.
The figure finally came into focus, and I could see that it was a woman. It didn’t take much for me to make the connection and guess that she must be Arianna.
Thomas ran up to her and embraced her. She returned his hug, but glowered over his shoulder, glaring at me. A shiver passed over me.
Her dark eyes travelled over me, assessing me. Her dark hair was bound atop her head, enhancing the stern cast to her features.
When the pair made their way towards me, all my senses warned me to run. I began to tremble slightly, and I held onto the sweaty horse for comfort.
“Dana, she found us,” Thomas laughed. “This is Arianna. And, this is Dana,” he continued, introducing me to the tall woman clad in black.
Arianna nodded her greeting but did not speak to me. Instead, she turned to Thomas with a hissed question. “Why did you bring a stranger to me? You know the rules.”
Thomas did not look flustered. “These are exceptional circumstances. Trust me.”
Arianna narrowed her eyes. “What’s with the trouble you brought to my front door? Are those ‘exceptional circumstances,’ too?”
“Please, I can explain.” He started to look uncomfortable under her scrutinising stare.
“Nothing should give you the right to bring a stranger onto my land without my express permission first.”
Thomas squirmed. I wanted to leave.
“But,” he hesitated, then found courage somewhere and looked Arianna in the eyes, “this is Dana of Silverstalk, Princess of Draeguard, and the kingdom is under attack by dark magic.”
I thought he’d done well until I saw Arianna’s face. She’d gone red and dark at the same time. A forbidding scowl distorted her face, and her lips quivered, then drew into a thin line.
“Arianna?” Thomas stared at her with wide eyes.