The Autumn Fairy of Ages (The Autumn Fairy Trilogy Book 2)

by Brittany Fichter

  “Oh, he was up hours ago. Someone saw him take a horse from the stables.”

  Katy nodded and tried not to frown. Why hadn’t he told her he was going? “Did he tell anyone what he was doing?”

  “No. Oh, hello! What’s this?”

  Katy turned to see the driver of their coach out of his seat and arguing with someone. As they came closer, she realized it was Firin Reaghan.

  “You can’t just waltz in and demand to sit with the Third Isle’s high fairy,” the driver was saying. His round face was red and shiny in the light of the torches. “Firin or not!”

  “If you give me a chance to talk with her,” Firin Reaghan replied, folding his arms and staring up at the big man, “I can assure you—”

  “It’s quite alright,” Katy said, stepping between the two. She smiled at the driver. “Thank you, but Firin Reaghan is a dear friend. I would be honored to have him sit with us.”

  The driver huffed, but he quickly opened the door. As she was getting in, however, she didn’t miss the firin’s smug smile as he followed Nikki in behind her.

  When they were all inside, relief and guilt dueled inside Katy as she moved to sit across from him. His hair looked as though it had been trimmed, and he was wearing a new blue robe.

  “I’m sorry we weren’t able to find you yesterday,” she said.

  He waved her off. “I was quite productive, as you can see.” He gestured to his robe. “I’ve never had one that fit quite so nicely. I’ve always had to make my own. This alone makes this entire trip worth it.” His smile grew as Katy leaned back and rubbed her eyes. “You’re up early.”

  “Not by choice.”

  He laughed. “I didn’t suspect. Now, where’s that prince of yours?”

  “I’m not sure.” Katy would have told him everything that had transpired the day before if Nikki hadn’t been there. But as they were not alone, and Katy wasn’t sure her new friend needed to hear the particulars of her relationship with Peter, she simply introduced Nikki and the firin and listened as Firin Reaghan took up the appropriate politenesses. She could feel his curious eyes, however, as she stared out the window and Nikki chattered away.

  “So, your father is on the Lower Chancel,” he said when she finally stopped talking ten minutes later. “What sort of leadership qualities does one need to possess to have such a title?”

  “Oh, none, really.” Nikki shrugged as the carriage jolted. “Well, not to say my father doesn’t have any leadership skills. He does. But to be chosen you have to be called by your fae clan, and then other clans and humans come together to choose three representatives per isle. We’re from the Fifth Isle. The Higher Chancel fae are chosen by rank from the most powerful clan on the isle. One from each isle. Well, except for the First Isle. Before this year, they always sent two to make up for the Third Isle.” She paused and tapped her chin with one of her needles. “I just realized, they still sent a substitute for Peter this year, but not you. I wonder why.” Then she shrugged. “Either way, the high fae sit on the Higher Chancel with the rhins. The Lower Chancel is chosen by the common people and fae. There are three Lower Chancel members from each isle.”

  “Three is an uneven number,” Firin Reaghan said. “How do they ensure a fair vote since there’s no way to guarantee the same from each isle?”

  Nikki frowned and played with her dark silky hair. “There isn’t. That’s one of the contentions. Humans reproduce faster than the fae. The fae are worried one day they’ll be outnumbered.” She looked up at Firin Reaghan. “No offense, of course.”

  “Not at all. I’m thoroughly enjoying myself.”

  If she were in a better mood, Katy would have told Nikki all the ways Firin Reaghan had protected her when she was the only fairy on the isle. But now she simply let his unassuming nature speak for itself. And it was, for Nikki was already smiling.

  “What are you knitting?” The firin gestured down at her lap, where she held a ball of blue yarn and the same knitting needles Katy had seen the day before. To Katy’s surprise, however, Nikki’s face turned red.

  “Oh, nothing. Well, not nothing. I mean, I always just sort of begin and something new comes out.”

  Firin Reaghan leaned forward. “Your work is marvelous. I’ve never seen such neat rows.”

  Nikki sat up straighter. “Really?”

  “It is lovely,” Katy added with a smile.

  The little fairy beamed. “I’ve done it for years. Ja— A friend suggested it when I had a hard time sitting still during the sessions. My father said if he heard anything else from my seat while they were meeting, he was going to send me home. So my friend said doing something with my hands might help my mine pay attention. And he was right!”

  “Your friend must be very wise,” Firin Reaghan said kindly.

  “Oh, he is! And smart, too. And handsome.” She blushed and her eyes grew big. “What I meant to say is that—”

  Firin Reaghan put a hand on her knitting, which had just grown frantic. “I’m sure he wouldn’t mind being called handsome, whomever he is,” he said in a gentle voice.

  From the look Nikki gave him, Katy was rather sure the firin had just made himself a friend for life.

  Eventually, the talk elapsed as they moved deeper into the countryside. Though they traveled the road they’d taken the day before, it soon split off. And despite her angst over Peter’s disappearance and Karel’s instructions the day before, as they turned off the main road onto one that led toward the distant summer hills, Katy found herself wishing it was already light so she could see more than the mere contours of the land around her.

  After riding for nearly half an hour, they pulled off the road onto a flat field just outside the hills, which were taller than Katy had first guessed. In the gray light of early morn, she could just make out the long line of coaches, carriages, and horses that stretched out from the foot of the nearest hill. Their driver quickly jumped down from his box and helped them out.

  “Oh!” Nikki exclaimed, pointing to a group of fairies flying above them. “I’ve been looking for her! I’ll find you soon!” Then she took off into the sky. As Katy watched her, she felt a brief wave of shame.

  She couldn’t fly. Left alone, she could sometimes get her wings to fit properly through her clothes. That was success enough for any day at home.

  Shaking her head, she pulled up her hood against the morning’s damp chill and joined the humans in walking up the hill in silence. She could hear Firin Reaghan fall into step beside her.

  After a long climb, they finally crested the top of the hill only to discover a veil of leafless branches. Katy paused and glanced at those around her before tentatively following their examples and pushing through the shroud. The naked branches parted and swung behind her as easily as ribbons.

  When she had passed through, she was so surprised she nearly tripped.

  There was no pinnacle, but a little valley inside then hill, much like a bowl. A low murmur was created by the voices of those around her, but no one spoke above a whisper. Katy placed herself at the back, near the top of the hill she’d walked over, and Firin Reaghan stopped beside her. Down in the center of the valley was a circle of what looked like a mosaic of…Katy squinted in the low light.

  “Are those diamonds?” she whispered.

  For once, Firin Reaghan seemed out of words. He only nodded.

  But most impressive by far, at the center of the round mosaic, was an ancient sentinel, a weeping willow. But unlike the weeping willows that had surrounded Peter’s little escape the night before, this tree was at least twice the height of the ballroom at home. Maybe more. And it was completely bare, not a leaf in sight. Katy craned her neck, trying to see its top. It was magnificent, its arms stretching out, draped over everyone standing in the wide bowl of a valley, creating the veil of thin white branches she had just passed through.

  Katy looked around for Peter, but he was nowhere to be seen. She spotted Nikki all the way across the dais at the fringes of a cluster of
female fairies.

  “Katy,” the firin said, his eyes on the tree below. “What’s in that tree?” Katy squinted down at the tree’s incredible trunk where it was rooted deeply in the diamond mosaic. But just as she began to make out a strange shadow, a hand firmly grasped her wrist and squeezed. She nearly yelped as she whirled around, then froze, her hand an inch from his arm, power making her fingers hot.

  There, grinning at her from beneath his cloak’s hood, was Peter.

  “What is wrong with you?” she hissed. “I nearly hurt you!”

  “Good morning to you, too.”

  She scowled at him, despite the immense relief that he was at least in a good enough mood to tease. “Did you find anything or were you just waiting to do that all morning?”

  “Both.” He looked at Firin Reaghan. “Glad you found us again.”

  She tugged on his arm. “What are those strange shadows on the trunk?”

  Peter put his fingers to his lips and glanced around. “Those are crowns stuck in the tree. And not so loud. Ethemu was angry enough when he found me poking around.” He paused. “And I didn't even tell him about the wind.”

  Katy blinked at him. “What?”

  He watched her carefully. “The wind talked to me while I was exploring the dais this morning.”

  “You're going to eventually get yourself into trouble you can't talk your way out of.” She shook her head. “This is by far the strangest part of this journey yet.”

  “Well, I think we’re about to see it get stranger,” Peter said, nodding at the dais.

  A hush moved across the crowd as Ethemu and Donella stepped out onto the mosaic. Seventeen other figures in hoods and sashes ringed the dais. Katy couldn't see them well, but she supposed they were the rest of the Higher and Lower Chancels. These were finally followed by Prince Karel and a woman of average height. They both wore black cloaks that were so long they dragged on the diamond floor as the prince and princess kneeled before the tree. Donella stepped forward.

  “For centuries, the five Lairis isles have met annually to resolve differences, offer aid to those in need, and to remind ourselves of who we are and where we have been.” She paused, seeming to search the hundreds of faces surrounding her. “But most importantly, we have met to watch for the return of Atharo. For when a rhin and his wife are prepared and blessed by the chancels, we wait with great anticipation to see if this will be the time he returns and blesses us once again.” She turned back and gestured to the tree. “The Tree of Diadems has not bloomed since the day our great High King died, and we wait for the day when it blooms again and blesses our isles with life anew. Now let us draw close and watch the tree to see whether or not the crowns will be released. Let us see if the tree once again blossoms.”

  “I don’t remember the chancels’ approval of the rhins in any of the stories your father told us,” Katy whispered.

  “That’s because there weren’t any,” Firin Reaghan added quietly as they watched Donella and Ethemu stand beside the kneeling couple. “Unless they’re in the pieces our isle is missing.”

  Katy didn’t answer as she watched the couple intertwine their fingers before placing their joined hands upon the tree’s trunk. And though she knew little about King Ethemu’s son, Prince Karel, or his wife, Princess Nova, she found her own heart beating fast.

  They had only just begun to understand this world. What would change if this couple was the new High King and High Queen? Would the other kings and queens cease to be such? Or would the new king simply get to place his own favorites on the thrones? She could see a little better as the sun was about to crest at any moment, and from what she could tell of the young couple, they looked reasonably capable, though looks could be deceiving, Katy knew.

  Prince Karel was powerfully built. Slightly shorter than Peter, his arms and chest were quite thick, his strength obvious even through the cloak. Princess Nova was an attractive full-figured woman, and she held herself with dignity, even in the humble kneeling position before the tree.

  Were they both as confident as they appeared?

  “As the dawn arises upon us, we are gathered, oh great Atharo!” Ethemu’s voice boomed, echoing across the valley. Katy wondered how much Prince Karel’s relation to his father aided in the older king’s sudden enthusiasm.

  “Favor us now, we ask you! Return your blessings to us and this land and to the isles as we unite before you in humble hopes of a new High King. Take pleasure in this rhin and his beloved. We have examined and tried them. Pure are their hearts, and noble are their ways. May they be the ones to lead your people. For they are worthy!” Ethemu’s face was turned up toward the sky, or rather, the top branches of the bare tree above them. His eyes were now closed, and the muscles in his face were tensed.

  Katy suddenly began to understand his impatience with Peter and herself the day before. If Atharo didn’t choose his son…

  The sun’s brilliant light broke across the top of the hills surrounding them, setting the top of the verdant hill ablaze with its light. As the light moved down, the tree’s bare branches swayed in the slight breeze that began to encircle the valley, and Katy could feel the entire throng holding its breath. So did she.

  Slowly, slowly, the light began to creep down the trunk of the tree. Many of the fairies and humans in the crowd bowed their heads. Others, like Peter, had their eyes welded to the scene below. The sunlight fell slowly, so slowly. No one moved as the it finally touched the couple’s hooded forms.

  Nausea filled Katy’s stomach as the light continued to inch its way down their bodies. No leaves or buds formed on the tree, and the crowns looked as firmly embedded in the bark as before. Finally, just before the light hit the diamond floor, Donella spoke again.

  “It is time.”

  Sunlight hit the ground as the prince and princess moved their hands to the crowns, but Katy couldn’t see what happened for the blinding light of the diamond floor when they touched them. She heard the crowd around them gasp.

  But when the light had moved on enough that she could squint down at the diamond mosaic once more, she could see that nothing had changed.

  The couple stood and turned to face the crowd, crowns still sticking out from the tree behind them. Ethemu’s jaw worked back and forth. Donella was the one to address the crowd.

  “It appears Atharo has chosen to wait for yet another.” Somehow, she met Katy’s eyes even from afar. “Let us hope the choice will be made within our lifetimes.”

  Only then did it truly dawn on Katy that she and Peter would be the next ones to kneel. Though she knew it was unlikely, for how many couples had tried and failed before them for nearly a thousand years, Peter had the slight possibility of one day being High King. Katy reached out and squeezed his hand. Her breath hitched and her stomach did a little flop.

  That Peter could carry such a responsibility, she had no doubt. He was more just and good and honorable than any man she had ever met.

  That she was ready for such a possibility, as unlikely as it was, however, was not a question. For without a doubt, she was not.

  ***

  “Well, that was educational,” Firin Reaghan said as they turned to follow the crowds back up and over the hill. Peter said nothing, but he held Katy’s hand tightly. This made Katy glad. Maybe she hadn’t injured him too badly with her words the night before.

  “Peter. Katy.”

  They turned to see Donella land just behind them as they reached the top, just before they made their way through the veil of branches. She didn’t look happy.

  “Firin Reaghan,” she said, turning to him. “I apologize for the intrusion, but may I have a word with our young friends?” Her speech was formed as though she were making a request, but Katy got the feeling it was anything but optional.

  “Of course.” The firin gave Peter and Katy a little bow and then one to Donella. “I had a few more questions for Nikki anyway. I will see you both later.” He gave them a smile, but Katy caught the slight hint of warning in
the look he gave Peter. As soon as he was gone and the inside of the hill was mostly clear, Donella turned to Katy and Peter.

  “Would you care to explain your absence last night?” Her voice was quiet. Far too quiet.

  Katy flushed and looked at the ground, but Peter only lifted his chin higher.

  “Katy was tired. I thought it best that she rest.”

  “I see. And you thought missing the most important meal of the summit was the most appropriate time to do that?”

  “I don’t see why not. I’m obviously not considered part of the Higher Chancel yet, and neither is Katy.”

  “That feast was supposed to be a welcome gathering,” Donella cried, “for both of you! We prepared everything to the utmost to find out that our two guests of honor hadn’t even deigned to come!”

  Katy wanted to melt. Perhaps being a puddle would be less miserable than she felt right now.

  “I intended no disrespect,” Peter said slowly, “but I thought her health was more important than rubbing shoulders with politicians.” On the contrary, Katy could tell that he did indeed mean disrespect. Every word was dripping with sarcasm.

  “You blind stump!” Donella snapped. “Have you no honor? Are you determined to chase off every potential ally you have? Because if you are, this is the perfect way to do it!”

  “What he means to say is that I was rather anxious last night,” Katy said before Peter could get himself in more trouble. She forced herself to look up. “He only wanted to let me relax. Truly, we’re very sorry. It won’t happen again.”

  Peter looked as though he greatly desired to disagree, but when he met her eye, Katy promised him as many consequences as a single glance could convey should he choose to protest. His jaw clenched, but after a moment of gathering himself, he took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

  “You’re right,” he said in a low voice. “We should have come.”

  Donella stared at them a moment longer before shaking her head. “I cannot fault you for not caring,” she finally said. “At least you care more about your fairy than many humans care about the entire race. But please…” She met both their eyes, her expression both commanding and pleading. “Please do not keep flaunting the rules like this. Not again. I am trying to placate the chancels, but I cannot do so if you refuse to abide by the same rules everyone is bound to.”