The Autumn Fairy

by Brittany Fichter

  Instead, the cave floor shook. When Peter dared to open his eyes, he found the buck lying still before him. A click drew his attention to the left, followed by two more arrows deep into the beast’s side. Behind the buck lay the does, with arrows in their sides as well. Carey didn’t lower the crossbow until the others had thoroughly examined the biggest beast twice. While they did, Domnhall helped Peter up off the floor.

  “That’s a rather messy hit to the head. Let me look at—Where are you going?”

  Peter had staggered to his feet and was already halfway to Benjamin, who was staring at the creature’s corpse. As soon as Peter reached him, he had the young man shoved up against the cave wall. “Why didn’t you kill it?”

  Benjamin just stared at him.

  Peter shoved him harder. “Answer me! Better yet, answer me this! How did those creatures get past you while you were on watch! You couldn’t even call out to let us know they were coming?”

  “Because he was sleeping, too.” Tomas called from farther inside the cave. As he walked into the light from the fire, he threw down Benjamin’s familiar green cloak. “I found this balled into a nice little pillow in the corner.”

  Peter turned back to Benjamin, but where there had been only fear in the boy’s eyes, now there was a spark of resentment as well.

  “So you didn’t just nod off because the night was dark,” Peter said. “You purposefully abandoned your post. You put every life here in danger, and in doing so, threatened the success of our mission and the well-being of the kingdom!”

  “You only put me on watch because you hate me!”

  “I put you on watch because you must learn to discipline your mind and body if you’re ever to amount to any sort of success as a knight! But since you are so determined to disobey me at every turn, and in doing so, proven your disdain for the position and calling, consider that your final assignment.” Peter stepped back. “Benjamin O’Hara, upon our passing through these caves, you are to return immediately to the castle. And upon your return, I relieve you of all your knightly duties and your position as squire. You may return home and seek employment that is more to your choosing.”

  The color drained from the young man’s face so much it was visible even in the dim light of the distant fire. “You mean...I won’t be knighted?”

  Peter folded his arms.

  “I have spent my entire life preparing for this!” Benjamin’s voice began to rise. “Years as a page and squire! And now you would strip not only me but my family of this honor?”

  “I didn’t strip your family of any honor.” Peter leaned down until they were face-to-face. “You did.”

  Benjamin’s eyes grew round, and when he spoke, his voice was nearly inaudible. “You’re in earnest.”

  “You have disobeyed me time and time again, and in doing so nearly got me and others killed twice. Yes, I am deadly earnest, I’m afraid. Now take your cloak and go back to sleep by the fire. I will take watch.”

  Benjamin began to protest, but Tomas took him by the shoulder and escorted him back. But Domnhall remained.

  “You’re sure this is the—”

  “ I cannot have the quest endangered further.”

  “I understand that,” the older man said slowly. “I only wish to see you free of consequences of a decision made in anger.”

  Peter sighed. “I have less than a week to fix this. I cannot risk anything else, even one of our own, to save it.”

  Domnhall bowed his head. “Of course. As you wish, sire.”

  Somehow, that made Peter feel even worse.

  46

  Aedan

  “You’re going to love the Second Isle!” Aedan nearly tripped over himself as he walked backwards. Every few steps he broke into flight and then put himself promptly back on the ground again. “And the Fourth Isle is full of so many things to see! And so many people will want to talk to you! I don’t think they’ve seen an autumn fairy there, either! Recently, at least. And the food there is superb!”

  Katy couldn’t help smiling at his enthusiasm as they walked to their usual spot by the rotting tree. Since she had decided to leave the isle with him, he hadn’t stopped talking long enough to do anything but pause to swallow a few bites for meals. Even the charred room he’d spent so much time preparing for her had no effect on his mood. His smile was as bright as the yellow on his shirt.

  “Everyone will want to meet you! I’m sure of it! And maybe someone will know more about your—”

  “Aedan?”

  “Yes?”

  “You’re standing on an anthill.”

  Katy smiled again as he leapt about and muttered words that sounded an awful lot like the words the sailors used to call out back on the docks in Downing. Then, turning, she pushed her sleeves up and stretched her hands out to the little mounds of soil they’d prepared two days before. She closed her eyes and imagined the gentle colors of spring. In her mind, she saw little wisps of green growing up, swirling out of the soil. In the back of her mind, she could see the brown rot of death. Now if only she could get the seeds to stop somewhere in-between.

  If she was very careful, she could sometimes stop the plants just before they reached the final moments of their glorious life. And if she timed it just right, she could speed their delicious produce to ripeness in just seconds. Of course, if she wasn’t careful, they would end up like all of the others. Dead. Gently, she pressed her power forward, only to withdraw it a few seconds later.

  Two lean, sturdy stalks stood where the mounds had moments before. Aedan leaned in and examined them, and he grinned when he found one with an ear of corn on it.

  “Hold on.” Katy brushed the husk with the tips of her fingers. It immediately darkened, and when Aedan peeled its outer skin back, it revealed plump white and yellow kernels.

  “Very nice,” he said, beaming. “You’re really becoming sensitive to your different levels of ability.”

  “I only wish I could say the same for my unconscious.” Katy sat back on her heels and stared at the blackened forest with a sigh. “With each day, it grows more difficult.” As she spoke, the corn stalks withered and crumpled to the ground before their eyes.

  Katy closed her eyes in frustration, but then she felt a hand on her chin, lifting her face. She looked at him grudgingly.

  “You’re doing wonderfully. It’s only to be expected when you’re this close to your manifestation. After you finish, you’ll have control like you never thought you could.”

  Katy sighed and nodded, managing a small smile, and Aedan helped her to her feet. “All fairies go through this. It’s the reason the young are moved to a special part of their respective isles a year prior to their manifestation. The elder fairies can monitor them and intervene if a certain fairy grows too strong. For every single youth there are three elders. If someone is very strong, they’re moved temporarily to a restricted area on the King’s Isle.”

  “The King’s Isle?”

  “The main isle in the center of the others. It’s special, where the Higher and Lower Chancels meet every year to discuss policies and politics.”

  “Why is it called the King’s Isle?”

  “Oh, something about a prophecy. It’s said that Atharo will reveal himself once again when the isles are united beneath a high king once more.”

  “I remember now. The prophecy! Sir Christopher had me memorize it as a child.”

  Aedan rolled his eyes and shrugged. “Not that I ever had a reason to pay much heed. I was too focused on returning here.”

  Katy felt her cheeks redden, and she looked at the ground as he fixed her with the wondering stare he so often wore, as if she were the only woman in the world.

  If only Peter had ever looked at her like that.

  But no, she shook her head as they walked to another part of the courtyard. She mustn’t dwell on such things. Peter had made his choice. And though Katy certainly didn’t feel for Aedan the way she felt about Peter, she secretly studied the set of his broad shoulders an
d wondered how long it might be before she did. Surely a happy ending wasn’t impossible for her now. Hadn’t Atharo answered her prayer? Someone was going to protect the isle from her power. They would go to the other isles where she might finally be one of many, accepted without question or suspicion.

  She might one day find love.

  “Since you’re doing well with the plants, let’s see if you can focus your gift with your mind instead of your hands.” They knelt before a small bed of colorful mushrooms. Some were yellow and flat, others were white and round, and there was even one that was bell-shaped red with white dots all over it. “This one,” he pointed to the red and white mushroom, “is poisonous. See if you can focus your power on it in your mind without killing the others.”

  Katy frowned. “Without touching them? That seems rather dangerous, considering last night.”

  “You weren’t trying then. And before you say you can’t, imagine me trying to touch the clouds every time I wanted to change the weather.”

  Katy pursed her lips, but instead of arguing, she stared at the mushrooms for a long moment before hesitantly pushing outward with her gift.

  The red and white mushroom remained full and healthy. Every single yellow mushroom, however, exploded.

  Katy resisted the urge to throw something, but when she looked up at Aedan, he was frowning in the direction of the fort.

  “What is it?”

  “I thought I heard something.”

  Katy stayed seated as he went to the nearest gate and stuck his head out. Her heart pounded as she waited. Had Antony possibly followed her and discovered them? If so, would she be able to keep Tearlach from killing him? She wasn’t sure where he was, but she didn’t trust him. Aedan, she was rather sure, would be willing to create a diversion rather than kill the knight. For as much as Katy feared Antony, she had no desire to cause Peter pain by killing one of his closest friends.

  But if it was Peter who had found them instead of Antony...Katy felt her heart falter for a moment. If it were Peter, she would have to go out and inform him of her decision herself.

  “Well,” Aedan returned, but his eyes were still distant. “I didn’t see anything, but I think I might need to go and find my brother. Perhaps he’s noticed something amiss.” He shivered and began to refasten his cloak.

  “Before you go, I have a question.” She reached out and grabbed his hand, only realizing the sentimentality of the gesture after his eyes widened at the touch. She cleared her throat. “You seemed to think Peter’s promise was important.”

  “Aye. According to our legends, it was a prince’s promise broken that cursed the entire isle, rather than the Olc War.”

  Katy nodded. “Then what happens if I leave? Will Peter and the rest of the isle still be punished by Atharo if I’m the one who upholds the bargain and not him?”

  “I cannot speak for Atharo.” Aedan sighed and crouched down beside her. He looked a little sad when Katy withdrew her hand. “And I know this is hard, but what I’ve come up with is this. Perhaps there’s a way for everyone to be happy. Maybe Peter’s promise to save you will be fulfilled by blessing your future with people who would guide and teach and love you as one of their own…considering that he’s already chosen his own fate. If he allows you to leave, he’s still playing a part in saving you from manifesting alone.” He looked up again, his eyes bright. Then he turned his head, as though listening. After a moment, he said, “I need to find Tearlach. Will you wait for me? I shouldn’t be long.”

  She nodded and gave him a smile as he went, but his words stayed with her long after he had gone. Maybe he was right. Maybe, if she could find Peter before the manifestation and explain to him all she had learned and become since they’d last parted, he could let her go.

  It seemed too good to be true. Peter would have Saraid, and Katy would have Aedan and, eventually, her people. No hearts would be broken, and no one would die. Of course, convincing Peter would be the difficult part, she smiled sadly to herself as she stood and brushed her hands off. He was so stubborn. But perhaps his love for her as a sister would open his eyes to the possibilities that he’d always promised could be hers. Just not in the way either of them had anticipated. Still, that didn’t mean such a conversation would be easy.

  Excited by the revelation, Katy set off in to catch Aedan. Maybe she could address both him and his brother together and convince them to help her find Peter.

  She wandered through the fort’s empty halls, calling both their names before going back outside and searching the many courtyards and the outer wall. She had never seen where Tearlach preferred to spend his time, aside from yesterday. But Aedan hadn’t headed off toward the forest, and he wasn’t in the fort, so she made her way toward the south part of the property, the part she’d never seen before.

  Sure enough, when she rounded the south side of the castle, she discovered a set of stables beyond the gardens, catching just a glimpse of Aedan as he ducked into the first one.

  Katy followed him but kept her pace slow so she wouldn’t startle Tearlach when she discovered them. Aedan didn’t stop, though. Instead, he hurried in and out of the stables, one after another. There were a lot more of the little buildings than Katy had anticipated. The first set of stables turned out to be filled with chickens, the second with sheep, and the third was empty. But when she approached the fourth, she was able to make out a voice.

  “…less than a week left. Then you’ll have all the freedom to roam that you wish.”

  Katy pressed herself up against the outside of the doorframe. The cold, harsh tone could only belong to Tearlach. She waited to hear Aedan answer the strange words, as he was the one she had followed, but to her surprise, there was only a strange groaning sound. Peeking around the corner, she stifled a gasp.

  The entire stable was filled with creatures. At first glance, they appeared to be a variety of wolves, foxes, deer, wolverines, and even a few rabbits and snakes. But the closer she studied them, the more she felt her courage dry up in her chest. These were no ordinary woodland creatures.

  From the largest wolf to the smallest snake, each and every animal was grotesquely misshapen. The deer had oversized fangs and white, opaque eyes, and the snakes had not one but two heads. The wolverines had several rows of needle-sharp teeth sticking out of their jaws at strange angles, and the foxes were unusually muscled. The wolves were nearly the size of horses.

  Where was Aedan?

  Tearlach was at the far end of the stables, still talking to the animals. He drew a small blue bottle from his shirt and poured some onto a spoon. Then he fed the spoonful to the wolf he had his arm wrapped around and proceeded to rub its neck as it began to violently shudder.

  Katy shuddered herself and, not wishing to be caught alone with Tearlach again, was about to leave, thanking Atharo that he hadn’t spotted her, when Tearlach turned, moving his cloak out of the way with his hand. Katy froze.

  It couldn’t be. Katy stared in horror. The brothers were twins, which meant they would look very much alike. And as Katy hadn’t seen Tearlach’s face when she’d spoken with him, she had no way of knowing if there was even a way to tell them apart. Perhaps even their cloaks were the same, as they had probably purchased them at the same time. But the cold voice she’d heard only a moment before had been Tearlach’s, and the man who was gently rubbing the muzzle of one of the monstrous wolves was definitely Aedan. For unless the brothers were in the habit of matching their clothes, there was no mistaking the yellow shirt Aedan had been wearing only minutes before.

  Katy dropped to the ground and licked her dry lips. A voice inside pleaded with her just to leave it be, to accept what she’d been told and allow Aedan to take care of it all. But, another voice whispered, what if she was right? There was only one way to find out.

  Katy scrambled outside. “Aedan?” she called, praying her voice would sound distant. “Where are you?” Then she crawled back inside and peeked around the corner.

  The man that sounded like T
earlach and dressed like Aedan looked up. “Stay right there!” he called. “I’m coming to you!” Quickly, he shut the pen gate and hurried down the aisle.

  Katy wanted to crumple to the ground. Instead, however, she pushed herself to stand and was waiting for him when he approached the stable door.

  “Ka—Oh! There you are.” He watched her for a moment before his smile faded. “I take it you saw,” he said softly.

  Katy nodded but couldn’t bring herself to speak.

  “My brother asked me to watch them for him when he stepped out—”

  “What are those things, and what are they for?”

  For the first time, Aedan’s green eyes were wary. “My father had a gift with animals.”

  “So he made them into monsters?”

  “He created them to protect us from the humans.”

  “And he needed an entire army?”

  “The crown has an entire army! It’s only for protection, I swear!”

  But Katy shook her head. “I don’t believe you.”

  Aedan shut the door to the stable and clasped his hands behind his back, and for the first time, Katy saw the ice in his gaze that she’d felt from Tearlach’s hooded eyes the day before. A little ripple of fear slithered down her spine. She squared her shoulders though and met his gaze. She forced her voice to sound calm.

  “I also think you’re lying about Tearlach.”

  He shifted from one foot to the other. “What do you mean?”

  “I mean I don’t think you have a brother. I believe you’re one and the same.” She took a step closer and refused to let herself tremble as she searched his face. A warning inside her head reminded her that she had only known this man…this olc for less than a fortnight.

  “Then if that is the case,” he said coldly, “you might also do well to know what I am capable of and that I am willing to do anything to get what I deem necessary.”