The Real Folktale Blues (Beyond Ever After #1)

by Random Jordan

  “That’s it.” I concluded before rushing to Goldie to snatch up the crown. I held it for not more than a second before turning and chucking the thing at Gabbi’s head.

  She caught it with a toothy smile on her lips. “Careful, that’s expensive.”

  “This is why I never understand you, Gabs. You rage at me for lying but then just lied yourself!” I bellowed through my teeth and threw my bloody arms through the air.

  “You said you wanted the circlet.” She shrugged.

  “It’s not even magical. How could you have Ashe contained in that?” I growled more fiercely.

  “Oh, did I say she was in that? You must have misheard me. Or maybe you just jumped to conclusions because I touched it when talking about her?” Her fangs grew through her smile as she tilted her head just barely.

  “You set me up.” I said in disbelief.

  “Oh, come now, Gnidori. I may not have a magic nose but I could hear you the moment you two were bouncing around on the beams. You should have known I am more aware than most. I’m disappointed in you.” Gabbi’s smile overturned into a deep pout-like frown.

  I threw all my energy into my speed and yanked an axe from my belt as I shot toward her. She slipped the swipe of my hatchet and grabbed my throat, followed by my wrist. Her hand squeezed until the axe was clanking on the floor as she stared into my eyes, while her own swirled between at least twelve different colors.

  “Not so tough when I know you have magic and strength.” She gave me that condescending smile, like she was sorry for me.

  I gasped for air before swirling my remaining hand around to punch her in the face. She just opened her mouth and bit down hard on my fist as it came at her.

  Quick tears and even quicker cries gushed from me. I could tell she was only enjoying this even more, so my lips shut tight.

  She spit my hand out before pulling my face close to hers. Her sharps fangs were jutting out from her frown. “If that is all you have become while I was away, you aren’t even worth my time.”

  She then dropped her hand from my wrist and tossed me by the neck across the throne room till I landed on my back. I blocked the pain pouring through my body and pushed myself up from the ground as she turned to just leave like that.

  “You aren’t leaving here without giving me Ashe!” I roared, trying to copy Bonny’s voice.

  “Oh, shut it, Red Riding Hood.” Gabbi turned to glance back at me, her face in a snarl. “Your precious Cinderella is locked up in the cellar below here. A deal is a deal. I gave her back, not entirely whole of course. Go get her, Kurt.”

  I half-stood stunned. She never used my title, not once. It was like my grandmamma using my full name.

  Charming didn’t even pause for a moment. He was gone out the massive chamber door as quickly as he could with Goldie right alongside him.

  “Don’t think she is really yours though. She’s her own person, Gnidori. She’s strong, stronger than you to let her be captive so that you would be safer. She’s not property; she’s not even a child anymore. And she would do anything for you. A lot of people would. And sometimes you forget that.”

  My eyes fell away from Gabbi as I dragged myself to the table she had been flicking food off of earlier. I tore some of the tablecloth before wrapping it around the wounds on my hand and arms to stop up the bleeding.

  I mumbled while I did all of this, “I know. Thank you.”

  She forced a deep breath out and glanced over me with a lack of the interest she usually had, and then turned toward the door once more.

  “Wait… Gabbi.” I shifted toward her and sighed. My eyes flew up from the wraps on my hand.

  She turned just her head back at me with a look of genuine curiosity.

  “I have to know.” I flexed my fingers into a fist to make sure they still felt fine after the bite they took. “How did you survive your death?”

  She glanced back to the massive open doors and the hallway beyond before lowering her head. “I didn’t, Gnidori. I really didn’t.”

  Then she just walked off to leave me in the chamber, alone.

  Twenty

  Feigned Innocence

  “Oh he is absolutely adorable!” Ashe exclaimed with her normal chipper self. She didn’t even act like she had just been locked in a castle cellar, or had every last strand of her hair chopped down to the stub.

  “Yeah, don’t mind me, I’m just his transportation.”

  Ashe looked up from cuddling the tiny fox she had taken from me when she came dashing into the chamber. She smiled softly. “We all know you are adorable, Gnidori.”

  My face grew hot. “W-what?”

  The short-haired brunette let off a giggle before turning her attention back to the fox, whom was snuggled into her arms. She was completely oblivious to the conversation I had with Gabbi. But it was the only thing really swarming my mind.

  Was she right? Of course she had been. Ashe was a person; an adult at that. Even if she had been hardly sixteen when I first met her as a Faerie Godmother and told her I would make everything better for her. I hadn’t been lying then. But did I really make things better?

  “Gnidori?” Ashe asked as Reynard popped up right in front of my face. I jumped away from the fox and crouched, afraid he was going to piss on me again. Ashe followed my actions with amusement as she lowered the fox back into her arms and glanced to me. “What are you doing?”

  “N-nothing… you just surprised me.” I concluded as I stood erect again and attempted a smile back to her. “What did you want?”

  “Did you want me coming with you? I could stay here, make sure your house gets that spell started on it, you know.” She seemed almost sheepish as she continued, her eyes even averting from me.

  Did I want her to come with me? Really? Thinking of the image of her on the other side of the wall of fire just had me wanting to yell no. But I let it linger for a moment, and realized… She knew the dangers of traveling with me. I shouldn’t be giving her permission. If she wanted to come I couldn’t really stop her without using magic.

  So I stepped forward and brought my fingers up to her chin. I lifted her head so her eyes were facing me and I smiled softly. “It’s your choice, Ashe. But I’d feel better and like it if you came with me.”

  The pure shock and amazement on that girl’s face would stay with me forever. It was even better than the first time I had ever told her I could make all her dreams come true. Maybe because it wasn’t just words this time, I was in a way making her dream come true. At least by Gabbi’s admittance.

  Her eyes grew watery as she jumped and wrapped her arms around me, while the fox squirmed from her hand to claw up my back.

  My arms instinctively slipped around her body. And it was the first time I was really noticing that she wasn’t a child anymore. Her curves pressed to mine, her height exceeded me, and although her face had stayed mostly the same it had grown with some more prominent smile lines that enhanced her dimples further. Even the short crop of hair gave notice to how much older she had gotten.

  She pulled back from me, her face ridden with the color red as she squeaked, “I’d like to.”

  “Good.” My smile widened while I lifted my hands to peel off the fox clinging to my back by the scruff of his neck and brought him around to stare at him. “I can tell you are already going to be so much trouble, Reynard.”

  He looked at me with his slit eyes and yawned right in my face, which made Ashe bust into a fit of giggles. I ground my teeth but stroked his head then let my new travel companion take him up into her arms again. She seemed to coo him back to sleep almost immediately.

  “So, we should probably get going. The longer we stay the more danger we’re in.” I clapped my hands together, before turning to the throne room’s massive open doors. My attention drew to Ashe. “Where is Goldie and Charming?”

  Her face intensified with color as she averted her gaze again. “Uh… well they are busy right now. I thought maybe we could spend some time playing with Rey
nard and catching up. It has been months since I’ve seen you.”

  “We can do that while we travel. Trust me, we’ll have plenty of time to talk. We need to leave, where are they?” I turned completely to the side to face her.

  Her lip quivered briefly before she looked up with new determination. “Okay, I’ll tell you. But first you have to answer one question for me.”

  I sighed. “Ashe…”

  She stared at me with a strong intent, her smile fading back into her dimples with a pout of her lips. “Why haven’t you said anything about my hair?”

  I went stiff and locked my jaw. What do I say?

  “I like it. Maybe a little too short, but it makes you seem your age and regal in a way.”

  “Too short…” She said while deep in thought. Then she looked back at me and stepped forward to grab my hand and hold it to her hair. “Then make it longer for me?”

  I blinked. Her lips were still pouting and her dimples sagged into a frown as I tried to understand. “What?”

  “You have your magic back, don’t you? Can’t you make my hair longer?”

  “How did… how do…” I stumbled for some words at all to say.

  “How do I know? I’m not sure.” Her face contorted into a thoughtful expression before she added. “I can just feel it. You hum with so much energy, not at all like before.”

  I let out a soft laugh and gently gripped on to her hair. “How long?”

  She shrugged, “I trust you.”

  I nodded and closed my eyes.

  Hair was an interesting conduit for magic, it was in the same vein as blood, technically any spell that calls for blood could have hair used in its place, but by much larger quantities. This made magic that messed with hair more frustrating. The slightest touch of magic and I could cast an entirely different spell rather than just grow her hair.

  So instead of grabbing a hold of her hair, I started to stroke it gently, letting the waves of energy ripple off my hand as it slowly grew her hair. It was past her ears before I even opened my eyes. As her hair reached the traces of her shoulders I knew it was a perfect fit for her, especially since I had a future version of her to compare to.

  The rainbow color illuminating from my hand faded as I smiled to her. She touched one of the ends then smiled back.

  Of course it was then that Charming and Goldie came around the corner into the main hallway. My hand quickly pulled away from the back of Ashe’s head but Charming was already smirking.

  “Are we interrupting anything? We can come back.” He crossed his arms as he reached the door way. Goldie was coming up behind him, adjusting her tights one last time before leaving them be.

  My face was burning up, and looking to Ashe I could see the same was true for her. Why did I feel guilty when they had just come back from sleeping with each other? I hadn’t done a thing. We should be the ones smirking and giggling about their little escapade.

  “No. Nothing. We need to get going.” I concluded quickly and stepped closer to the other two.

  “Right, then let’s go.” Goldie added while we started to walk down the hall.

  “Wait.” I stopped and turned to glance at the Tsar with the disheveled hair. “I need to know where Captain Bonny might be currently, Charming.”

  “Bonny? Why?” He looked actually confused for once.

  “Because I can use her help. Where would she be?”

  “At the barracks, most likely. I don’t see how she is going to help you.”

  “You don’t see a lot, Charming.” I turned to Ashe and Goldie. “Come on, we have a solid day’s trip ahead.”

  Then I walked off. Ashe started after me almost immediately, while Goldie smiled and waved to Charming before following along.

  “Happily ever after, ladies.”

  None of us bothered to say anything back. That Tsar always had to have the last word.

  It didn’t take long before we were back on the pixie path, even if we would have to make a detour soon. Night had already fallen, which made it perfect for avoiding the majority of faeries that would be concerned with former godmothers and fugitives.

  It took most of the night and into the eve to even get to the barracks. And most of that time was filled with Goldie complaining, the fox being passed around, and many amusing tales from Ashe like how many times she’s had to shoo away the friendly and annoying dwarves that live near our home.

  It was strangely the most enjoyable travel experience I’d ever had. Was this what I had been missing all this time by not having Ashe along with me? I guess I hadn’t ever really known companionship.

  I was chasing her down the road when the massive steel and stone barracks came into sight. Ashe stopped first then I halted right beside her. The building wasn’t tall, but the length was unimaginable. It couldn’t be easy to find someone in that.

  Goldie was wheezing as she dropped her hands onto her knees and leaned over next to us. She spoke between heavy breaths. “Please say this is it.”

  I nodded and tossed a smile to Ashe before we both dashed down the hill to the soldiers out front of the barracks. Goldie was calling after us to wait up.

  Normally, I would have been just as tired as her by this point. But it had been years since I could feel the magic coursing through me. Plus all the energy Ashe seemed to just radiate pushed me to keep going.

  As we got close enough, the guards turned on us and held weapons out and ready. I let out a breathy laugh. “Seriously? You really think we would be attacking in a frontal charge with two people and wheezy over there?”

  I turned to point at Goldie, but two guards were already around her as she sat on the hill. When I faced forward a spear was pointed almost in to my nose.

  Okay, so I could have maybe gone about this more intelligently than just running in.

  “Look, we are supposed to be here.” I tried to explain while putting my hands up so the guy with the spear would stop jabbing at me.

  “For what purpose?” A guard about Ashe’s height asked. I doubted ‘to visit a military captain’ would count as a truly legitimate reason. I needed to think.

  Then, out of nowhere, Ashe started talking. “We are Captain Bonny’s consort appointments. She is here by now, right? I heard she doesn’t like to be kept waiting.”

  Consorts?! How did I ever come to think Ashe was innocent and child-like?

  The semi-short guard laughed and he pulled his spear away from us. “I always knew she was like that. Maybe when she’s finished she’ll pass you down to us.”

  I wanted to kick that guard in the groin, but that would have blown our new cover. Not to mention hurt me on his armor.

  “I’ll take them to the captain.” The same guard said before nodding to the soldiers leading Goldie up. He better not had been thinking he’d get something out of us.

  I put my hands down as he turned around and called back to us, “Walk this way.”

  One step and I was overcome with nostalgia. I stepped up faster to keep pace with the guard in his full body armor. “Roberts?”

  He put a hand up to his faceplate and shushed me as we stepped inside the barracks. I gave him an annoyed look before stepping back to Ashe and the still wheezing Goldie.

  I chose to lean to Ashe and whisper, “Consorts? Really?”

  She giggled softly, “Kurt allows consorts, wives and husbands to visit with a soldier so long as they are not on a post or duty.”

  “Seriously?” I said a little too loudly.

  She giggled again and nodded. “He’s actually pretty progressive and understanding for a Tsar. You two are a lot alike. You’d like him if you got to know him.”

  “I am not like Charming.” I shook my head in disgust.

  She turned her head to me and smiled. “You both don’t do that well with your personal lives, but you’re both great leaders and inspirational to others.”

  “Yeah, but he tried to kill me.”

  Ashe’s eyes grew wide and worried, and I realized then that I hadn’
t told her about that since it was technically a part of the future. She opened her mouth to say something, but Roberts’ voice came instead.

  “Here we are. Captain Bonny is inside, likely waiting for you. Enjoy ladies.” Roberts nodded and stepped aside. Why was he helping us get in anyway? Did he think I had more information to share on Gabbi’s assault?

  Ashe thanked him and glanced back at me worriedly before pushing on the door and heading inside. Goldie followed suit and then I stepped up. As I passed, Roberts grabbed my arm and whispered, “Was it the wolf that did it?”

  I shook my head. “Someone else with a lot of magic power; a faerie most likely.”

  He gulped hard and nodded before letting me go.

  So that was what he wanted.

  Roberts followed me in and closed the door behind him. He saluted the captain before announcing, “Ma’am, your consorts are here.”

  Bonny, in her purple silk uniform, stood up from her desk and gave Roberts a raised eyebrow. Then her attention fell to me as I slipped in next to Ashe. “Do you moonlight as a companion for women as well, Gnidori? Or is this a special occasion just for me?”

  I shrugged and gave her a look of feigned innocence. “This is my subtle way of saying I want you, Captain.”

  She tried to conceal her amusement but it boiled over on to her face. She was enjoying this way too much. Last time I let Ashe pick the cover story.

  “Well then, we might as well get started. Roberts you are dismissed.” She nodded to him again and he popped the door open, leaving with a resounding bang behind him.

  I shot forward and slammed my hands on Bonny’s desk. “I don’t have time to be tactful.”

  “When are you ever—“ Goldie interrupted, but I lifted my hand and turned it back toward her. Two of my fingers smashed against my thumb and a spark of variant colors erupted, silencing Goldie’s voice.

  My eyes fell back to Bonny and her brilliant silver eye patch. “I know you are the Pirate King. And I know you have a ship. I need you to take us to the Sleeping Kingdom. And we need to leave immediately.”