Peter peeked out from behind the corner before entering the practice yard. To his relief, it was empty.
“What are you going to do?” Malachi asked. “There’s no one here to practice with.”
“Should that keep me idle?” Peter drew his sword and walked to the square courtyard’s center where he crouched in a ready position.
“I…I suppose not. It’s just that I’ve never seen anyone practice alone.”
Peter gave him a grin. “Watch and maybe you’ll learn something.” Closing his eyes, which still burned from reading too much over the past six days, Peter let his stiff muscles stretch as he began to move through the first form. Not that the forms were necessary anymore. Complicated patterns of blocks, parries, cuts, and thrusts memorized and practiced in an exact order without deviation seemed somewhat nonsensical now. He could have performed them backward. But they were familiar and soothing, and Peter hoped they would help him think.
He needed something to help him think, particularly after his time with Katy had ended abruptly with Donella’s announcement that the fairies were to return to bed soon after supper for an early start the next day.
And just as he’d hoped, each move flowed in a familiar, smooth pattern, something that was most comforting. It made him feel as though he actually had control over something in the world. Until he moved his sword through the air in a mock parry only to have his blade meet actual steel.
Peter's opened his eyes just in time to see Karel’s sword come at him again. And again. It was half a minute of poor defense before Peter was able to regain his footing and go on the offensive. Thankfully, in the brief glimpse he cast around for Malachi, the boy had tucked himself into a shadowed corner of the practice yard.
“You missed a session this morning,” Karel said as he blocked Peter’s attack.
“William has missed at least one session for the last three days.”
“William’s daughter is ill.” Karel rolled and put Peter on the offensive again. “Do you have a daughter we don’t know about?”
“I’m not sure I’ll ever be allowed to have a daughter at this rate.” Peter feinted to one side before pivoting to the other.
Karel snickered as they circled once again. “Has your little bubble of true love been popped?”
More like it had been invaded by a lot of uninvited guests. But Peter wasn’t about to tell that to Karel. Instead, he began to circle in the other direction. “No one seems to miss me when I’m gone.”
“Doesn’t matter.” Karel pivoted. “You’re stupid if you think you’re fooling anyone into believing you don’t care.” He gave Peter a dark smile, his eyes glittering. “Everyone knows you’ve been visiting the annals.”
“What of it?” Peter lunged and launched a series of fast, ferocious attacks, hoping the close proximity would throw the other prince off.
“Don’t get arrogant,” Karel huffed.
Peter was grateful when Karel’s words started coming out in short bursts.
“What” Karel panted, “are you trying to prove?”
Peter quickly launched a second attack. What was Karel after? Was he here to taunt Peter? To gather information for his father? Or was he here on his own accord?
Blast. His distraction made Peter miss a step. “I never liked politics,” Peter grunted, back on the defensive.
“You agreed to be crowned king.”
“It was the only way to help Katy—Ah!” Peter’s eyes stung as he received a cloud of dust in his face. “Glad to see you play by the rules here.”
“You’re more naive than I thought if you expect the people around here to fight fair.” Karel circled him, breathing heavily as Peter tried to wipe the sand from his stinging eyes. “Every rhin that comes to the tree wants to be High King. And when he fails, he wants the others to fail too.”
Peter glared up at him through painful, watery eyes. “As I suppose you do as well.”
“I did. Once.” Something in Karel’s voice changed. But before Peter could consider it more, Karel was attacking again. This time, he reached Peter could before Peter could get to his feet. Peter blocked him while still down on one knee, berating himself for spending so much time in the annals over the past few days. He might not be so stiff if he’d actually gotten out of a chair for more than an hour at a time.
“What changed?” Peter puffed as he tucked and rolled, springing to his feet.
“Doesn't matter.” Karel stumbled but regained his footing. “If you fight for her the way you're fighting me, you don't stand a chance.”
Peter struck harder and faster, sending Karel stumbling backward again. But even as the other prince regained his footing, he still wore a smile, his pale eyes reminding Peter of a viper’s. Peter attacked yet again, this time landing a satisfying crunch to Karel’s nose before knocking him to the ground.
“What I want to know is why you’re so intent on doing this yourself.” Karel wiped the blood from his mustache on his sleeve. “What are you out to prove as you try to break every rule in the book?”
“Doing what?” Peter’s temples throbbed, and he felt dangerously close to losing focus, though he wasn't sure why. Crimson colored his vision, but he managed to hold onto his reason. Barely.
“You’re doing everything in your power to defy the Higher Chancel.” Karel's eyes were bright, almost too bright as he planted his sword in the dirt.
“I like rules when they have a purpose.” Peter stood taller. Sweat dripped from his temples, but he ignored it and looked Karel in the eye. “And yet, the more I see, the more I think these rules are an attempt at cheating Atharo of the power only he is supposed to possess.”
Karel paused to spit. “And you know this how?”
“I’ve read the Chronicles,” Peter snapped. “And I’ve seen what the chancels do to maintain power that should have never been theirs.”
“Look.” Karel’s eyes flashed. “You may be ready to play the hero to your girl and even your isle, but you haven’t a clue about what’s really going on here.”
“Then why don’t you enlighten me?”
Karel scowled. “The relationship we’ve worked so hard to build between the fae and humans is hanging by a thread. Everything you’ve witnessed has been forged through years of careful balance and sacrifice.” His knuckles whitened as they squeezed the hilt of his sword. “And that balance is crumbling. It has been for decades.”
“Why?” Peter asked.
“For a number of reasons. But first and foremost, we reproduce far faster than the fae. We’re also more natural with weapons, which can be even more destructive than fae powers. Because of this, the fae often feel they have to be on the offensive. They take offense where none was meant, and they interpret disagreements as threats. Failing crops all over the isles and the human population continuing to grow make for competition like we’ve never seen before.”
Peter clenched his jaw. “That doesn’t make what the chancels are doing right.”
Karel pulled his sword from the dirt and examined it. “If you’re going to take that stance, you’ll need more than a fairy mark to protect you.” He gave Peter a small, mean smile. “Or your love with your fairy.”
Peter froze. “What do you mean?”
Karel raised his chin. “They want your betrothed more than anything I’ve ever seen in my life, and the chancels will stop at nothing to get her.”
Whatever string had been holding Peter sane snapped. His vision went the color of blood, and his raised his sword. With a cry of rage, he charged Karel before he even knew what he was doing. Karel threw his sword up just in time.
Green sparks exploded where their swords clashed. Karel let out a cry.
When Peter's vision and the smoke around them cleared, he was still standing in the middle of the courtyard. Karel, however, was slumped against the wall across from him. As the senseless anger dissolved, he began to realize he had done something very foolish. But just as he started over to see if the other prince was alive
, Karel let out a ragged laugh. Peter nearly passed out from relief as Karel pushed himself to his feet.
“Are you—”
“Don’t apologize.” Karel shook his head then coughed. “You cannot show weakness if you’re going to survive here.” He stood up and sheathed his sword. “And you’re going to need all the strength you can get.”
Peter folded his arms, not bothering to put his weapon away. “Why are you here?”
“My father sent me,” Karel said. “He wanted me to let you know that you are not to interfere with official isle business again. Not the way you meddled in that cobbler’s shop.”
“I’ll do what I think is right.”
“Then I hope, for your sake, that you are.” Karel smiled, and a dangerous light burned in his eyes before he stalked away.
17
Confessions
“Now just remember,” Jagan said as he tapped Katy’s arms, “roll your shoulders back. There, that’s better. Fairy children are given flying instructions for years before they manifest.”
“How?” Katy asked.
“They’re often taught to practice in water.”
Katy sighed. “I’m terrified of water.”
Jagan laughed. “All I’m saying is that you can’t expect yourself to learn it all in one day.” He gently lifted her left wing and peered at it. “Are you sure you didn’t hurt it last time you fell?”
Katy let him inspect her, but she said nothing. According to the fairy healer Donella had brought along, her wings were just as good as any other wings he had ever seen. There was no reason she shouldn’t at least be able to learn to glide off a stupid rock.
Which, unfortunately, was exactly what she was failing to do over and over again. Twenty-four times since they had arrived in Summer that morning, in fact. And she had the bruises to prove it.
“There. That’s the problem,” Jagan said, stepping a little closer. “You’re slouched again.” He touched the small of her back, sending a shock through her at the unexpected contact. It had the desired effect, however, and she immediately straightened. “Try again.”
Katy paused briefly before taking another leap off of the boulder. For one very short second, she felt the wind blow through her wings. But instead of moving the way they were supposed to in order to catch the wind, her wings stayed completely still.
Until she was face down on the ground.
“Katy?” she could hear Jagan run up behind her. “Are you alright?”
Yes, she would survive. But instead of rising and climbing back up the rock, Katy really just wanted to stay there for a moment. After all, the sun was a delicious kind of warm that made her want to be quite lazy and simply lie in the meadow Jagan had taken them to, where she could lie among the purple and red and yellow wildflowers, worrying about nothing but inhaling the smell of plants and making sure her skin didn’t grow too pink.
Before she could properly enjoy such a sensation, however, cruel hands gently grasped her by the arms and pulled her upright.
“Come now,” Jagan said with a soft laugh. “It’s not all that bad.”
“You’re right,” Katy whined as Nikki dusted her off. “It’s worse.” She looked up at the cornflower blue sky. “Not only am I the only fairy that can’t freeze a pinecone—”
“That's not true,” Nikki chirped from her perch on a nearby tree. “Children can't. And a fair number of adults.”
“I’m also the only fairy that can’t fly.”
“Rubbish,” Jagan said. “I won’t have such things being said about the loveliest fairy on the isle, even if she’s the one saying them.”
Katy was rather sure Nikki briefly froze at this statement. But she covered it well, for in another minute, the smile was back on her face, though it might have been a hair less bright than before.
“Where's Donella this morning?” Katy carefully maneuvered her way out of Jagan’s reach and trudged back to the rock to climb up again.
“She had to attend a session, so she flew back to the palace for the day. But she’ll be back tonight,” Jagan said. Then he flitted up to the rock and took Katy by surprise by putting his hands around her waist to pull her to the other side of the boulder. “Try jumping off of this side. You’ll have more time before you hit the ground.”
Katy did her best to assure him it was she, not the boulder that needed changing, but the damage had already been done. The flicker of pain she’d seen in Nikki’s brown eyes a moment before was clear as a stream when Jagan touched her the second time. Her knitting needles clacked harder and faster than ever, and her jaw trembled. Katy wiped her forehead on her arm and hopped down to Nikki. She linked their arms and turned to face Jagan again.
“Jagan,” she said brightly, “would you give us a few minutes alone?”
Nikki looked up at her with as much surprise as Jagan did, though Katy hoped Nikki’s expression wasn’t also one of resentment.
“What for?” Jagan frowned.
By this time, Nikki seemed to catch onto what Katy was saying. She jammed the needles into a pocket on her skirt and put her hands on her hips. “Sometimes, women enjoy relieving themselves in private.”
Jagan blushed. “Oh. Oh, yes. Um…” He glanced around. “I have a few people I need to talk with back at camp. Just don’t be too long.”
Nikki rolled her eyes and waved Katy beyond the giant boulder she’d been leaping off of all morning. As soon as they could no longer see Jagan, Katy folded her arms.
“Alright, tell the truth.”
“What?” Nikki mumbled.
“You’ve hardly spoken a word all morning. You didn’t even touch your breakfast.” Katy took a step forward and asked in a gentler voice, “What’s wrong, Nikki?”
Nikki stared at her for a long moment before jaw began to tremble.
Katy blanched. She’d had very little practice with friends of any kind, let alone girl friends who actually felt comfortable enough to cry together. Atharo, what do I do? “You… you love Jagan. Don’t you?” she whispered.
Nikki burst into tears. “Yes. And I don’t deserve to be your friend. And now I feel awful!”
“I don’t understand. You’re the best friend I’ve ever had!”
It was a moment before Nikki had calmed down enough to talk. And even then, she had the hiccups. “Jagan told me last year that he needed to focus on his duty to the isles.” Nikki sniveled. “He said he just couldn’t settle down any time soon. There was too much to do. And I tried to leave him alone. I really tried! But when I found out that he was going to help train you, I thought maybe I could be part of it too. If I was your friend, spending time around Jagan would be duty, not distraction.” She began to cry again. “I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to use you. I only wanted—”
“Nikki,” Katy held her friend at arm’s length. She waited until her friend had gathered herself enough to speak. “Nikki,” she said again quietly, “I understand.”
Nikki paused. “You do?”
Katy nodded. And with her understanding came even more guilt as she remembered the numerous ways Jagan had tried to catch her attention that week. “Before we were engaged, Peter was engaged to a woman named Saraid.”
Nikki gasped. “But he loves you so much! How is that possible?”
Katy gave her a wry grin. “He became engaged to her on his uncle’s advisement before he rescued me from the town where we used to live.”
“So there was a time he didn’t love you?”
“Oh, he always loved me. But like a sister. The same way he’d loved me when we were little.” She hesitantly wiped a tear from Nikki’s cheek. “It just took a little time after we were together again for him to remember what we had.” Even as she remembered it, she shivered. Watching Saraid fawn over Peter had been bad enough. How awful it must be to have a friend become the object of a beloved’s desire. For she hoped Nikki truly saw her as a friend.
“But you’re perfect for Peter.” Nikki pulled out one of her knitting needles and began t
o draw in the dirt. “I’m not right for Jagan.”
“Who said so?” Katy demanded.
“No one has. Not aloud, at least. But everyone knows Donella’s been getting Jagan ready for a Higher Chancel position since he was a boy. And Higher Chancel spouses are supposed to be just as refined as the members themselves.” She looked at the ground. “You’ve probably noticed by now, but I’m not exactly the Higher Chancel kind.”
Katy wrapped her arms around her friend’s shoulders. Hopefully, she was being comforting, and not just strange. “But fairies don’t kneel at the Tree of Diadems,” she said, her voice slightly stronger. Herself excluded, of course. “Who cares what the spouses are like?”
“My father says I’m nothing like my mother.” Nikki looked up into the blue sky. “He says when she was alive, she was poise itself. And I know he wishes I was like her. I talk too much too fast. I can’t focus, and I move far too often.” She looked down and shook her head again. “Anyway, it wasn’t that I didn’t want to be your friend.” Her words started coming faster. “I just hadn’t seen him in so long—”
“Nikki.” Katy shook her arm gently. “I said I understand.”
“You mean, you’re not angry?”
“No! I mean, yes, I am frustrated. But not with you.” Nikki’s father, however, could use a good ear boxing for saying such things to his daughter. “Does Jagan know how you feel?”
Nikki swallowed. “I don’t know how he couldn’t. We were inseparable until I turned twenty years.”
Katy sighed and pulled her friend into a hug. And to her surprise and delight, Nikki let her. “Don’t worry about what they say,” she whispered. “I like you exactly the way you are.”
“Really?” Nikki’s face lit up. But before Katy could respond, they were interrupted.
“Nikki!” Donella peeked around the rock they’d been standing behind. “I thought that was you.”
Nikki wiped the tears from her face. “Hello, Donella.”
“What’s wrong?” Donella frowned and pushed a strand of dark hair from Nikki’s face.
Nikki shook head. “Nothing.” But she gave Katy a shaky smile.
The Autumn Fairy of Ages Page 16