The Obsidian Arrow

by Craig A. Price Jr.

  Here lies:

  Victoria & Kellen

  Beloved Wife & Son

  She could smell smoke in the distance as it filled the air from a nearby village. The smell held more than wood—flesh mixed with it as well. She continued to stare at the grave.

  “Excellent,” Arria whispered, smiling.

  Chapter 39

  Everything surrounding Starlyn flashed in a series of blurs. She didn’t know how far they had traveled or in which direction. She had confidence in Charlotte and Snowflake to bring her to her destination. Long ago, she confided in Snowflake where she wanted to go, where she needed to go. Her chance of survival was slim, but if she could figure out exactly what was going on with her, then perhaps there would be a chance. However slim it might be, it was all she had to hang on to. Her mother had given up. Her only hope had been that a cure would be found before the illness affected any other kheshlars.

  Charlotte had been such an immense help to her throughout the journey. Starlyn wasn’t sure how many days they had been traveling, but Charlotte had made sure Starlyn was fed and had something to drink. Starlyn didn’t know how she could ever thank the child for the hospitality she gave.

  Starlyn’s eyes focused as a village came into view. She tried to adjust herself on Snowflake so she didn’t appear as sick as she felt. Charlotte held Starlyn straight as best as the little girl could as they reached the gates. The village wasn’t well guarded, but the wooden gates appeared sturdy. The guards flashed suspicious glances to her and Charlotte as they slid off the tiger. Starlyn assumed it would not be easy to explain to humans about Snowflake.

  “Welcome to Tiermerra, my ladies,” a guard wearing studded leather armor said.

  “May we enter to gain some rest? My mistress grows weary from the travels, and if we are to catch the rest of our act for the grand finale of our show, we will require some rest,” Charlotte said.

  The guard nodded in understanding, but he still kept a careful eye on the tiger. “Of course, there is a fine inn called the Exotic Beast down the main road on the right. I’m sure they will get a kick out of your presence.”

  “Thank you,” Charlotte said as she led Snowflake past him.

  Starlyn secured her hood before walking slowly behind Charlotte, stepping lightly to avoid being viewed as weak, especially around human men, who seemed to have a reputation for taking advantage of weak women. She tried to appear as if her slow posture was because of her lack of sleep from the journey rather than her illness. She kept her head downcast, hoping to hide her skin hue.

  They walked the streets toward the inn. Starlyn couldn’t help but notice traces of burned buildings. A lot of the buildings appeared new, rebuilt in recent years. It was as if much of the original village had been destroyed, but rebuilt by those who refused to abandon it. Many homes and shops had new boards or stones in place of those that had been destroyed, giving the village a patchy feel, and another form of comfort Starlyn didn’t quite understand.

  Inside the inn, they found a middle-aged round man with a thick curling mustache cleaning the bar with a rag as he muttered under his breath. His eyes grew wide as he looked from Starlyn to the tiger, nervously backing away a pace.

  “Wh-what can I do for you, milady?”

  “One of your finest rooms,” Starlyn said, slapping two golden coins on the bar with her gloved hand.

  “Of course,” he said, tossing out a key with the number thirty-seven engraved on the front.

  Starlyn nodded before walking away with Charlotte close by her side. She watched the serving maids as they brought drinks to the patrons, many of the maids jumping at the pinch of a bottom, but most unconcerned with the act.

  She carefully climbed the stairs with Charlotte close beside her and Snowflake at her rear. Once she stepped inside the room, she began to feel dizzy. Charlotte helped her to the bed. Everything around Starlyn spun in circles.

  “Please, Starlyn, get some rest,” Charlotte begged.

  Starlyn considered it for a moment, but realized she had too much to accomplish. Her stomach turned and her mouth felt dry. The past few days she had scarcely eaten anything, and she had grown weak. She wanted food, but it seemed everything she tried to swallow only came back out, making her always starving. The illness seemed to be getting worse each passing day, and she knew her time was limited. She didn’t want to bring Charlotte along her path when the little girl deserved so much better. Charlotte had taken excellent care of her, but she was close enough now, and Charlotte deserved a real family. Starlyn had no idea how to take care of a young human girl.

  “Stay here, Charlotte.” Starlyn gulped. “Please. There are a few things I must take care of.”

  “You are too weak. Please let me help you,” Charlotte pleaded.

  “This is not something for a child. Stay here. I will not be long.”

  Charlotte huffed, folding her arms. She bit her lip, almost appearing as if steam came from her ears and nostrils. Starlyn regretted leaving the child, but she didn’t want Charlotte to find out what she planned to do. If she’d learned anything about the child, it was that she was stubborn and would not agree to stay. Starlyn felt responsible for the child’s welfare. She cared for her deeply. Starlyn didn’t understand her feelings completely, but knew she wanted what was best for the child. Coming with Starlyn wouldn’t be best, as she didn’t know how much longer she could go before giving up, and she didn’t want the young girl stranded. Her feelings for the child were too deep. A bond had formed where she wanted to nurture Charlotte, but Starlyn knew she grew way too weak to do it.

  She used all of her energy to keep herself steady so it didn’t look as though she was weak. Her body felt numb and ached all over, but she contained herself, even as her stomach turned, wanting to release its contents, despite the fact nothing sat in her stomach. The sadness on Charlotte’s face was enough to break Starlyn’s heart, but she continued toward the door.

  “Be safe,” Charlotte whispered.

  Chapter 40

  Anaela sat quietly in the nearly empty room, staring at her hands. They seemed smaller than normal, yet she knew in reality they were in proportion with her body. Still, she was unable to move her eyes away from observing her hands. It seemed if she looked hard enough, she might be able to spot magic sparkling across them. There was no magic, or at least no magic she could observe.

  She glanced over to see Searon doing the same thing as he stared at his hands in disbelief. He seemed content poking one of his hands with the other, as if searching for a spark of magic. The room where they sat was small, much smaller than it appeared. They sat at a blue-stained oak table with only two chairs across from each other. Neither spoke. They’d barely spoken a word after the faeries invited them into the room.

  The room had been set with bright blues and greens scattered about in mismatched patterns. Nothing seemed to match except the consistency of odd bright colors. Faeries seemed to like the vast brightness of colors more than anybody she had ever known. The high kheshlars in the city of Sudegam seemed fond of green and gold. Most of the more elegant things in Sudegam were made of gold, and green was only popular because of its resemblance to nature. All kheshlars loved nature, even if they weren’t one with nature as the wood kheshlars were. Anaela, however, was the only wood kheshlar the others knew. She wished she could remember the rest of her kind, or at least where they resided.

  Paintings of various faeries with bright orange, red, blue, or green hair were scattered on the walls. They seemed strange in appearance. Anaela wasn’t accustomed to anything but black, gold, blond, brunette, and orange hair. The room was small, without windows, and only one bed sat in the corner, just large enough for the two of them. She kept glancing from the single bed to Searon, but he seemed oblivious of the predicament. He seemed more concerned with studying his hands.

  “They aren’t going to grow back to their normal size by staring at them.”

  He looked back at her with a twinkle in his green eyes. A s
mile lit his face that melted her heart. “I just can’t believe we’re no larger than a dragonfly.”

  “How else would you expect these faeries to house us?”

  “In all honesty, I didn’t think about it. I figured we could come and ask for help and return with an army.”

  “I told you before that faeries are all about games. We are lucky they even chose to appoint the council to hear us out.”

  “Luck? I don’t need luck. Besides, there’s no such thing, unless bad luck is what you’re referring to.”

  “Ah yes, the mighty Searon. Part faerie. You knew this whole time they would let you in because of who you are, didn’t you?”

  He smiled. “I had an idea, although I’m not sure I’m truly part faerie.”

  “You lied to them?”

  “No, what I believe is that my mother was sick and so she asked for help. She became enchanted with faerie blood, but since she was human, she couldn’t have a full amount. I believe it changed her to part faerie. It gave her strength enough live several more years—enough time to bear me and my brother. But I think, ultimately, the blood didn’t mix with her well and she died.”

  “Aren’t you afraid of the same fate?”

  “No, she wasn’t born with it. Instead it was forced into her to save her life. The blood is magic and doesn’t mix well with one who doesn’t hold magic. She was already with child when it happened, me, which is why I think she did it. By doing so, she saved my life. It mixed into me, and so the magic was a part of me while I was in the womb. That is why I don’t think it will kill me as it did her. Since it came to me over time as I was still inside of her, I believe it’s now a part of me. It also explains why my brother has more magic than I do. He can control it as if he were born with the gift, as Karceoles calls it. Only a little bit of it touched me, only enough to heighten my senses. The only powers I know I have are my senses: sight, touch, smell, hearing, and taste. Each of these five senses have saved my life on numerous occasions.”

  Anaela studied him for a moment with her heart pounding. He was magic, every ounce of him was magic. It was a miracle he was still alive. “When did your mother die?”

  “A few years after my brother was born.”

  “Your father raised you?”

  “Yes, well he did until I turned fifteen and he died while raiding another city. After that, I took care of my brother.”

  “I’m sorry you’ve lived such a hard life.”

  He smiled. “A long time ago I thought my life was over. Many times I thought I wouldn’t be able to continue, but I pushed forward. Through thick and thin I was able to find a light at the end of the tunnel. Sometimes I embraced death as if I were seeking it. Then I woke up one day and saw you. Everything I knew before vanished, and a new light sparkled within me. It almost felt as if I were born again, as if the creator gave me another chance for life.”

  Her heart pounded even faster. She stared deep into his eyes. They seemed to penetrate into her soul. His face held sturdy and rough, although he kept his beard neatly trimmed since he traveled with her. He didn’t flinch as his hands fell to his sides while he watched her. She gulped, clenching her eyes closed for a minute, trying to process her thoughts. Despite herself, only one thing stayed on her mind. She knew falling for a human was wrong, but it was a law of the high kheshlars. What if the wood kheshlars had different laws? Perhaps they didn’t have such strict rules about staying away from humans. Anaela didn’t know what it was about the man in front of her that drove her crazy, but she knew her knees felt weak. Inhaling deeply, she wished she could remember anything about her home with the wood kheshlars, but like every other time, her memory came out blank. She knew she had to ask the question that had been tormenting her mind ever since she found out magic ran through his veins.

  “Faeries live forever, like kheshlars.”

  Searon nodded, continuing to stare at her.

  She shivered as she watched him. Could he be so dense that he didn’t understand what her thoughts were? Of course, she should know better. He was a human, or more specifically, a man. While he seemed to be intelligent beyond some kheshlars she knew, he was still a man. All men were thick-skulled imbeciles when it came to common sense, and even worse when deciphering what seemed plain in a woman’s eyes. Even some of the male kheshlars from Sudegam couldn’t take Anaela’s hints that she didn’t wish to be pursued. On some occasions, they followed her even more with flowers and gifts, constantly kissing her hand. She hated having to scrub off the horrible smell of high kheshlars from her hand when she stayed in Sudegam.

  “Do you think you have as long of a life as they?” she asked, shivering.

  “I do not know. In some ways I’ve felt I have aged slower than some. I’ve especially noticed it in my little brother. He still can’t grow a beard to save his life.”

  “I’m glad you can,” she whispered.

  “What was that?”

  Her eyes widened. “Nothing.”

  She avoided his eyes and inviting smile as she stared at some of the bright blue fixtures on the wall. His facial hair was more than simply appealing to her, but she didn’t want to let him know that. Sometimes, she would imagine her hands stroking the thin lines falling from his hairline to his jaw. It tickled her sometimes with how stiff the hairs were, but it didn’t change the fact that they were attractive, especially on him.

  “All right.” He laughed. “So tell me about your family.”

  She glanced over to him with widened eyes. “My family?”

  “Yes, I think I’ve divulged enough about the events of my life to you. I think it’s about time that I’ve learned some of yours. I know you’re a wood kheshlar and different from those of the high kheshlars. The only appearance difference I can tell is your pale green skin rather than pale blue. And your ears seem to have a sharper edge to them. Are there any more unique traits about the wood kheshlars?”

  “I … don’t know.”

  “How don’t you know? Have you lived in Sudegam your whole life?”

  “I’m told wood kheshlars are expert archers, well beyond any of the high kheshlars. For all I know, I could only be an average wood kheshlar archer, yet I surpass any of the high kheshlars.”

  “How don’t you know?” he repeated.

  “I’m also told wood kheshlars have vast cities and villages deep in the jungles and forests that are hidden to the naked eye by any who do not know where they are.”

  “Anaela?”

  “They’ve told me the wood kheshlars disbanded the order of kheshlars and fled into hiding in the forest. They betrayed the king.”

  She stared at the hands in her lap as her eyes began to water. Searon got to his feet, sliding his chair close to her so he could sit directly in front of her. He slid his hands on hers, holding them tight. The warmth shot through her body, sending a sniffle to her face. A lone tear fell from her eye, slowly gliding down until it splashed on Searon’s wrist.

  “Anaela, I am here for you. You can talk to me. I am not a kheshlar and am not here to judge you. I have met the king, and if I were under his rule I would have left too. I’m sure the wood kheshlars had every reason to go into hiding.”

  Anaela gazed into his concerned eyes. She smiled. She stroked his face, feeling his prickly sideburns. More tears fell, but her heart felt warm with his hands over hers.

  “Starlyn is the only one I’ve been able to talk to. The others look down on me because of what I am. Because my kind has abandoned them.”

  Tears continued to fall along her face in steady streams until she could barely see through the thick water. Kheshlars weren’t supposed to show emotion, but it flooded out now. Everything came back to her as she remembered the names some of the high kheshlars called her and the way all of them looked at her. For so many years, she had kept her head held high. She had been able to confide in Starlyn for help and courage. Since Starlyn had left, she felt so alone. The kheshlars trusted her to lead the archers because of her skill, but it didn
’t prevent the looks she received from those under her command. Sometimes she felt she wasn’t good enough to be in the presence of high kheshlars. More than anything, she wished she could remember her kin and know why they left the high kheshlars in shadow.

  Searon pulled her to him in a hug. She cried on his shoulder. Anaela felt good, almost complete in his arms. With Starlyn gone to who knows where, she had nobody to talk to anymore. Nobody who understood, yet here sat this human in front of her who wanted to understand. She hadn’t let him; she’d pushed him away for so long. Would it be all right to let him in? If she let him in, would she be trapped? She realized she had no other choice after crying in front of him. Not even Starlyn had seen her cry, despite all they had been through together. And here she sat like a little girl crying in the arms of her father.

  “It’s all right, Anaela, I’m here. You can talk to me.”

  He stroked her hair gently, the motion soothing her ache away. His hands were rough, but strong and gentle in her hair. She clasped her arms around his neck, holding him tight. The tears began to slow and her mind could process what she was putting him through. It wasn’t fair to him for her to act like a child in front of him. She sniffled her sobs away, rubbing the tears from her eyes.

  Anaela let go of her death grip around his neck, removing her head from his chest to gaze deep into his eyes. They seemed watery, the same as hers, as if he had been saddened as well. Concern filled the deep pools of green as he stared at her in wonder. She stroked his face, feeling his warmth spread into her. Her fingers lingered on his firm lips, heat filling her body, making her hips thrust forward. Before she realized what she was doing, her lips fell upon his.

  She kissed him with passion she had never known before. It felt as if she melted into him as her hands found their way into his hair. He seemed as intense as her with his hands tangled in her hair. The entire world around them seemed to cease to exist in a swirl of exotic colors, until it was only him and her. Nothing else mattered except his hands in her hair and her lips upon his.