by J. S. Malcom
Dabria leans in toward us, but directs her question to Cade. “What about Silvermist?”
“Not good,” he says. “People are split, but at least some seem to be galvanizing.”
“Maybe they can help,” Dabria says. “After all, what’s going on here affects them too.”
“Absolutely,” Revlen says. “But we can’t count on it. We may not have that kind of time. I strongly suspect we don’t.”
Gylth turns his attention to me. “Revlen’s message was brief, but she said you came to rescue a friend. Is your friend from Silvermist?”
If he knows where I’m from, I don’t understand why he seems to make this assumption. Although, I do plan on helping Helen, Lily and Mitch too.
“No, she’s from my realm,” I say.
My words are met with a moment of silence. Then, Tayora says, “But that would mean…”
“Yes, a changeling,” Revlen says.
Tayora doesn’t say anything, but behind her eyes I see the wheels turning.
But it’s Dabria who goes where her mother fears to tread. “I thought changeling spells couldn’t be broken,” she says “I mean, it’s never happened.”
“But it has,” Esras says. He looks at me, his meaning clear.
Gylth all but slams down his mug of tea, his eyes going wide. A grin spreads across his face. “You broke a changeling spell?”
“Yes,” I say. And it’s not so much a feeling of pride that swells up within me, as the sudden realization that I too can give them hope.
Gylth shakes his head, as if to make sure he heard right. “Are you sure?”
“Father,” Dabria says. “Obviously, she’d know.”
Gylth gives his daughter a mock-scowl, and then turns to me again. “Well, damn,” he says. “Someone get this woman another dupple ring.”
CHAPTER 17
Other than the night when we rode out of the city, the next two days are the only time I’ve known in Faerie when I didn’t feel threatened, trapped or as if I was about to die. We help out Dabria’s family, working with them in their gardens and tending to their animals. We visit their orchard to collect fruit. Yes, I see my very first dupple tree, resisting the urge to fall to my knees in praise. We mill the fae version of corn for flour. We help fix a fence, and start a new well. Gylth and Tayora keep insisting we don’t need to work, that they’re more than happy to have us as guests. Still, we assure them that we’re happy to help. Which is true.
During these times, I watch Esras. I haven’t known him long, but it’s the first time he hasn’t had a pained look in his eye, or a muscle working at his jaw. He relaxes and smiles, jokes and laughs. He works hard when given the chance, never once expecting thanks or credit. I can tell I’m seeing him as he truly is, a man with no interest in riches, status or influence. A man who only wants peace, both within himself and for those around him—a peace he’s dreamed of since his sister died.
We also rest as much as possible. For me, that’s not easy to do. Each day spent is another knowing that Julia remains held captive. As well as the others from my realm, those teenagers taken along with who can say how many more. I’ve wondered about them too, of course, many times. If I fail Julia, do I fail them all? From what I know, I can only assume that the answer is yes. And how could I ever begin to know where they all went, to even try bringing them back?
The fact is, I just don’t know. All I can do is learn a little at a time, while waiting for the next opportunity to make things change. I try telling myself that’s enough for now. That it’s all I can do. That I need to trust in those around me to keep leading me forward. And, that, right now, I should rest while I can.
On the third night after dinner, we gather behind Dabria’s house, where her father lights a fire in a small pit. We share a bottle of wine, and then another. Above us, the stars shine and a mild breeze blows through my hair. The flames flicker and dance. Those around me talk of other times, perhaps not entirely good, but not as bad as the ones they now face. I learn more about their realm, about their beliefs, their customs and history. For that brief time, as the wine warms my stomach and the fire my skin, I finally feel like a welcome visitor in this place called Faerie.
At one point, Gylth says, “Tell us about your realm, Cassie. We know so little about it.”
Good lord, where to begin? I think for a few moments, and then tell them about countries, politics, and war. About races, strife and progress. I describe computers, cell phones and the internet. Before I know it, I find myself rambling on, but no one seems bored. Just the opposite, as they raptly listen. At one point, they ask about music and it gets ridiculous with them asking me to sing. I actually do, because I’ve had enough wine. We all laugh as I both try and fail to reach a high note in my solo rendition of Bohemian Rhapsody. “Scaramouche, Scaramouche, will you do the fandango?”
“What’s a fandango?” Tayora asks.
I admit that I have no idea, and we all laugh that much harder.
Later, Gylth and Tayora beg off, saying they're tired. Not long after, Revlen claims the same, although I suspect she’s hoping to avoid being a fifth wheel. Of course, you'd have to be blind not to notice the attraction Cade and Dabria share. At the same time, I feel sure Revlen noticed that moment between Esras and me that day at the river. It's difficult not to observe what passes between four naked people suddenly encountering each other.
We sit for a while more, but I'm not surprised when Esras says, “I was thinking I might take a walk. Anyone interested?”
“Sure,” I say.
And, of course, Cade and Dabria decide they're fine where they are. Which was at least half the point to begin with, allowing the two of them some time alone. So far, they appear to have had none. Although, my pulse picks up a little, since I get the feeling that Esras wouldn't mind being alone with me.
Soon, we walk through the quiet streets of the village. It doesn't seem very late, maybe ten or eleven, but most of the houses around us are dark. Which I guess makes sense, given that the people here seem more aligned to the rising and setting of the sun than to any sort of clock.
We reach the end of a street and keep walking a path out into the prairie. The only sound comes from a breeze rustling the grass, causing it to undulate like gently rolling surf in the moonlight. Above us, glittering stars are spread out across an inky sky.
“Do you feel it?” Esras says.
Under different circumstances, it would probably be a confusing question, but I know exactly what he means. I've felt it each day, growing stronger since we left the centaur camp. It’s the energy of the ley line reaching out, almost as if she’s searching, although her power hasn’t yet come back to me as it did on the night when I rescued Ellie.
“They’ve got it locked down again, don’t they?” Even from this far away, I can feel it.
Esras nods. “I’m sure you’re right, but the magic of this realm is strong. Some say stronger than all others. Some of that energy still manages to escape. In places like this, you can feel it.”
I nod toward the village behind us. “Can they feel it?”
“A little, I'm sure.”
It's Esras's way of being kind, but the implication is clear. They may feel it, but not like we do. And it's the first time I notice that he never put that ring back on, after the centaurs returned it to him. He may choose to access that power when we return, but I suspect he's broken that last connection with his people.
The moon illuminates Esras's face, enough so that I see the playful smile tugging at his lips. “Maybe you should try it,” he says. “You know you want to.”
And he's right, I do. I feel the magic rising inside me, making my nerve endings tingle. He's tempting me, knowing I want to be tempted.
“Maybe just a little,” I say.
Esras's smile grows. “Exactly. Just to keep in practice. You don't want to get rusty.”
He doesn’t have to say more. I will the magic into me, and it accepts my invitation. That current surg
es through me, and even this far from the compromised ley line, I remind myself to be careful. I haven't forgotten what happened the last time I gained access to fae magic. Even as I think it, from somewhere either deep inside, or very far away, I hear a voice say, Your fae magic.
I expect to conjure an orb or a fireball, a flare to light up the night. At the last instant I feel a new possibility within me. I raise my hand, thrust it out, and an arc of blue lightning streaks through the air.
I jump back and laugh. “Whoa. What was that?”
Esras speaks softly, sounding a bit stunned. “Fae magic,” he confirms.
I try again, thrusting out once more, but this time grabbing hold of one end of the lightning before it arcs away. It shouldn't work, but it still does. The light I grabbed hold of wraps itself around my wrist and I snap it like a whip. A crack sounds at the other end, and a blue flash lights up the night.
“That's suspension magic,” Esras says. “If you hit a living thing, it would be immobilized.”
Within my mind, I see images of Lauren Flannery suspended in her moment of death. Is the magic I just made related somehow to that which Vintain used? Something tells me yes, that here a mage powerful enough could use magic like this for many purposes.
Esras snaps me out of it, grinning now. “Let's see what else you got.”
I can't help but smile back, as those other thoughts fade from my mind. “Was that a challenge?”
“I suppose you could interpret it that way.”
“I do.”
Esras starts backing away, that smile still on his face. “Then I challenge you to a duel. Magical weapon of your choice.”
“Excuse me?”
Esras laughs, and I know I'm seeing a part of him that I couldn’t have if we hadn’t come here. Within him still lives a carefree young man, poised to play games and compete. “You heard me. Take a shot. It's not like you can hurt me.”
I narrow my eyes. “Remember whose idea this was, pal.”
Esras laughs again, but then jumps back as I thrust out. A blast of light streaks toward him, this time a swirling green electrical sphere. He thrusts his hand out too, countering with a bright white lightning bolt. My sphere explodes in a shower of sparks, shooting out like fireworks.
I stride toward him. “Really?”
He walks toward me too. “Yeah, really,” he says, imitating what, to his ear, must be my accent. “Is that all you’ve got?”
I have to laugh at his impression of me. “Not even close.”
We thrust out our palms once more. Two charges streak through the air to meet and explode. Fireworks shoot out again, cascading around us, as we continue closing the gap between ourselves. We do the same again, our magical energy colliding, this time with a burst of light just before our faces. Each time, I tell myself it’s not possible. But, each time, it grows stronger. My body tingles and vibrates as his magic mingles with my own, somehow coursing through my veins.
We stop, facing each other, just a foot apart. My chest rises and falls as I catch my breath. Then he reaches out to take hold of my hand. With just that much, his magic arcs through me. Then he pulls me in and his soft lips part mine. Once again, I’m on fire. I shudder with pleasure as a tingling sensation spreads down the length of my stomach. Our breath mingles, wet and warm, our tongues wrapping around each other in a sensual dance. Heat keeps building at my core, rippling through me stronger and stronger, to the point where I can’t help panting. He lifts my shirt to caress my belly, and I let out a soft moan of longing. His fingers trail slowly up, his hand rising to cup one of my breasts, and then the other. I buck against his touch each time, and he soothes me by kissing the side of my neck, and then the top of my shoulder as he pulls my shirt back. He lifts it off, kissing the hollow of my neck, and then going lower to brush his lips against those points that wait for him. I arch my back, pressing into him as the vibration grows even stronger, becoming nearly unbearable. It travels lower, and lower still, the heat and pressure building to where I’m sure I’ll explode. He reaches to undo my pants just as I reach to free him too. I pull him in tight, his desire pressing into me as we drop to our knees. We keep kissing hungrily as Esras eases me onto the grass. He keeps his eyes on mine, closing them only when the moment comes that he gently thrusts forward. I cry out with pleasure, as what I’ve imagined from the start finally happens. Then I close my eyes too, even as I keep seeing the stars swirling above.
CHAPTER 18
I get jolted from a deep sleep as someone grabs hold of my arm. “Get up. We need to go.” It’s Revlen, and she shakes me this time. “I mean it. Wake up.”
I lurch upright and look around in the dark, at first unsure where I am. Then the night comes flooding back to me. Me and Esras, the two of us having sex, then laying in each other’s arms, us walking back together after and quietly slipping into the house.
Okay, right. I’m in the loft.
“I don’t understand,” I say. “What’s going on?”
“Just get moving.”
Thankfully, I’m still dressed. I throw off my blanket and jump up from the mat where I’ve slept for the last three nights. Revlen is already at the ladder, climbing down. “If you’re bringing anything, get it now.”
With that, she’s gone, and I scramble in the dark to find the athame. I haven’t kept it strapped to my leg for days. I strap it on quickly and run for the ladder. I climb halfway down and then leap to the floor below.
The light of a candle flickers, and I can barely see as dark forms move around, forms I soon realize are Esras and Cade getting ready to go. Gylth, Tayora and Dabria stand across the room, keeping themselves out of the way.
I try again, asking anyone who will answer. “What’s going on?”
“Men are riding this way,” Gylth says. “They were spotted by one of our sentries.”
My memory flashes back to that boy rising from the grass to run toward the village when we first approached. They must keep someone watching out there, which makes sense. I’ve been fooling myself to think I’ve been safe. No one is safe here, or anywhere in Faerie, not the way things are.
Cade and Esras stop scrambling, coming to where Revlen and I wait. We stand as a group as Gylth strides toward us through the dark. “Follow me,” he says.
“What about the horses?” Esras says.
“Don’t worry. We’ve got them.”
Who the ‘we’ is I don’t know, but I’d trust Gylth with my life. Right now, in fact, that’s exactly what I’m doing. It’s the other thing he said. Don’t worry. And this time, I don’t at all doubt we have plenty to worry about.
Soon, we’re all but running down the street. We follow Gylth to where that street ends in a building. It’s one of the larger ones, like those in the center of town. It has two wide doors, which men fling open in the dark. I can’t see their faces, but I’m sure I haven’t met them in the time we’ve been here.
One of them speaks softly. “Everything is ready.”
The other closes the door. We’re in darkness except for the moonlight from one window, which casts an eerie glow.
One of the men says, “Ready?”
“Yes,” Gylth says.
The same man whistles softly and, across the room, another man taps his boot heel three times against the floor. He’s a shadow behind sacks and barrels lined up in rows. Until this moment, I had no idea he was there.
Suddenly, the floor parts as two men push up doors from beneath. Lamps glow from where they stand beneath the earth, backlighting them. I can’t see much, but I can make out that the ground ramps down past them.
“Go,” Gylth says.
We move quickly down the ramp, the men above us closing the doors again. We’re in a chamber, where our horses stand nickering. We climb upon them as they glance back nervously, the whites of their eyes catching what little light there is. Beyond them, a tunnel lit by torches stretches into the distance, to where it eventually tapers off into darkness.
“The sent
ry said they’re still two miles out,” a man says. “You should still have time.”
Revlen flicks her reins, commanding her horse to move. “Let's go!”
*
The tunnel is long, much longer than I expected, torches lighting at best a quarter of the way. Maybe that's all they had time to light for us, or maybe they knew that by then the horses would no longer be afraid. For a while, we ride blind, relying on the instincts of our horses to carry us forward. Eventually, the ground starts to slope up again. The horses know to stop before we know why, and I cast a sphere of light so we can see.
We find ourselves in a chamber again, dug beneath the earth, this time with wooden walls for support. I can't imagine how long it took to create these tunnels and chambers. Years, I'm sure. Possibly decades. But those who built them weren't wrong in thinking that someday they'd be needed. We wait and listen, soon hearing what we're waiting for. Our horses whinny despite our whispered assurances, as from behind the walls the horses of those hunting us thunder past.
It’s the first chance I’ve had to ask what’s been on my mind. “How did they know?”
Revlen takes the question, her gaze, as always, calm as it meets mine. “We don’t know that they do.”
I’m not sure what she means until Esras says, “That’s true. Vintain has plenty of men, and the situation keeps growing more dire. They could be checking everywhere.”
We look to Cade for his thoughts, but he remains staring into the darkness. His face is a mask of worry. I have no doubt that he’s thinking of Dabria and her family.
Finally, he speaks softly. “We should go back.”
“Cade, we can't,” I say.
He turns to me, about to speak, his eyes bulging. I fear being the brunt of his anger, but Esras steps in.
“Going back would get them killed,” he says. “That much is guaranteed.”
He’s right, I know, but it doesn’t make things easier. I reach out, taking hold of Cade’s hand as Esras dismounts to swing open the chamber doors. No one says another word as we prepare to ride again.