Clash of Wills

by Rogers, S. G.

  “Don’t let him touch her!”

  Wills’ exclamation was adamant but his body wouldn’t listen. He could do nothing more than glare when Julian rushed forward to grab the knife. As Nick held Samantha around her waist, Julian quickly severed the feathered shaft and pulled his sister free. He laid her gently on the ground and then turned to Wills.

  “Now you.”

  A shake of the head. “Leave me alone.”

  “You’ve got an arrow protruding from your body.”

  Nick leaned against the tree for support. “You look like a freakish porcupine, Wills. You won’t get far like that.”

  A wave of dizziness swept over him. He must have passed out because the next thing he knew, he was arching away from a horrendous lancing pain in his hip. He couldn’t suppress a scream.

  “Hold still!” Julian exclaimed.

  The pressure finally eased. “What did you do to me?”

  “I cut the arrowhead out.” Julian tossed the bloodied arrow to the ground. “Luckily it hadn’t penetrated the muscle too deep.”

  “Somehow I don’t feel lucky,” Wills muttered.

  “At least you weren’t skewered by a bayonet,” Nick replied.

  “No, I was shot in my backside!”

  Julian sighed. “The three of you are a mess. I’ve put spells on your injuries to keep them from bleeding, but I’ve got to get help.”

  “Over my dead body,” Wills said.

  “If Aurora finds you, it will be over your dead body. Make no mistake, she’s been thwarted temporarily, but this is her domain.” Julian gestured toward the trees lining the clearing. The evergreens were rapidly turning winter white. “Even now the frost is close at hand. Stay here. I’ll return soon.”

  The wizard stepped into a ring of toadstools growing nearby and vanished from view. Wills exchanged a startled glance with Nick. “Where did he go?”

  “I am guessing the Fae kingdom has a backdoor. Let me check.”

  Nick pulled himself to his feet and staggered toward the toadstools. After he stepped into the ring, he disappeared the same way Julian had. Samantha and Wills were left alone. Dark clouds gathered overhead and snow flurries began to float down from the sky. The temperature was falling rapidly, and Wills’ breath formed clouds when he exhaled.

  Samantha moaned, and Wills crawled over to check her wound. When he saw the amount of blood staining her shirt, he felt light-headed again. She was shivering, so he nestled his body next to hers. It’s my turn to keep you warm, Princess. And if your brother betrays us, I swear his life will be forfeit.

  When he opened his eyes next, he was surrounded by beautiful, tall, winged beings in a cloud of white. He thought perhaps he was dead, until Julian came into view.

  “My sister has lost a great deal of blood, as you can see. Please be careful with her. And the lad, although not as gravely injured, cannot walk.”

  The tallest man, in possession of an elfin face, shook his head. “I refuse to bring a demon into the Kingdom of the Fae.”

  Fairies, then, and not angels. I had not realized the Fae were dimwitted. In the chill brought by the heavy snowfall, Wills could not stop his teeth from chattering.

  “I’m the Prince of Insolitia, and my father will be happy to compensate you for your aid. I’m not a demon, I can assure you.”

  The man’s nostrils flared in distaste. “Not you. Her.”

  What?

  “She’s my sister, Blair.” Julian shot the man a stern look. “The Fae have accepted me in the past.”

  “Not every faery welcomes your presence, wizard.”

  “Blair, can you not see the girl has a good heart?” A slender female faery knelt next to Samantha and gave Wills a smile. “This pretty human male is protecting her of his own free will. No evil demon could inspire such true devotion.”

  “What are you talking about? The princess is no demon!” Wills exclaimed.

  “He doesn’t know, Mara,” Julian said.

  “I know she’s human,” Wills shot back.

  “Sleep now, Your Highness,” Mara said. “When you wake, you’ll feel much better, I promise.” She waved her hand, as if casting a spell.

  “But she’s not…” Wills felt himself drifting off, despite his need to argue with the fairies. Samantha a demon? Nothing could be more ridiculous.

  Thirst drove Samantha from the depths of unconsciousness. She awoke in a charming cottage, resting on a warm, soft featherbed mattress. Julian had not managed to kill her, that much was obvious. A pitcher of water and a glass were on the bedside table, so she drank until the pitcher was nearly empty. After that pressing need was met, she assessed her situation. A thick bandage covered her shoulder. Although it was sore, she was able to move without too much trouble. Her blood-stained tunic was gone, and in its place was a loose gauze shirt in a rosy apricot color.

  The murmur of voices drew her to the open doorway of the cottage. A warm breeze—so different from Aurora’s frost—caressed her skin. Many cottages were situated nearby, and in the center was an open space for gatherings. Several people seemed to be in the midst of a discussion there, but as she stumbled toward them she noticed large wings folded across their backs. I must be in the Kingdom of the Fae.

  When she recognized her brother, Samantha gasped. “Julian?”

  “Samantha!”

  Relief was evident on his face, but as he hastened toward her, she couldn’t help but be wary. He held out his hands in supplication. “It’s just me, Sam. Thanks to you, Aurora lost her hold on my soul.”

  She embraced him then, gulping back tears. “Oh, Julian, you had me so worried.”

  Nick appeared at Julian’s side. He too had been given new clothes—breeches of soft fawn and a clean white shirt. “It’s good to see you looking well again, Samantha.” He took her hand and bent low to kiss it.

  “And you, Nicholas.”

  “The Fae have done a magnificent job healing our wounds,” he said.

  A glance at Julian, however, revealed the haunted look in his eyes. Perhaps the Fae can only heal the most obvious injuries. In Julian’s case, his wounds are hidden.

  “And Wills? Is he fit?”

  “Yes.” Julian exchanged a brief glance with Nick before he cocked his thumb toward the crowd. “He’s over there.”

  Samantha’s gaze slid past Julian and latched onto Wills. To her dismay, her smile of welcome was not returned. When he turned to walk off, her chest grew tight. “He knows I’m part demon, then.”

  “He’ll come around, Sam,” Julian said. “Wills just needs a little time.”

  “No he won’t ever forgive me.” She bit her lip to keep it from trembling. “You don’t know him like I do.”

  Inside the Tavern of Fae, Wills drained his third tankard of ale. Unfortunately, the brew’s light, bubbly flavor, failed to lift his mood. Blair joined him. “You really had no idea about Princess Samantha?”

  Wills shook his head.

  “Women.” Blair sounded disgusted. “They’re deceitful and fickle, the whole lot of them.” He raised his own tankard.

  “Exactly. And to think I almost got myself killed for her.”

  “With a snow demon for a grandmother, the apple didn’t fall far from the tree.”

  Although Wills thought Blair’s characterization of Samantha was unfair, he was in no mood to defend her. His temper had never been quite so foul before. He’d awakened in the Fae village largely healed physically, but when Julian admitted his and Samantha’s demon heritage, the realization had shocked him to his core. It was inconceivable the girl hadn’t known or at least suspected she wasn’t entirely human. Despite her promises, she’d failed to be honest with him. I feel like a stupid, love-sick schoolboy, as easily led as a newborn colt. Aurora’s spell over Julian was no less powerful than Samantha’s influence on me. I’ve been a fool, but my eyes are open now. Nick can have the girl…if he can stomach the notion.

  “You’re well rid of her,” Blair said. “Although I can certainly u
nderstand how you were misled.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “With a face like hers, few men could resist her charms.”

  “You seem to be immune.”

  “I’m not. Not entirely, at any rate. But my affections belong to another heartless wench who doesn’t know I’m alive.”

  “Mara?”

  “Don’t speak her name. I can’t stand to hear it.”

  They drained another tankard of ale.

  “Truth be told, I’m not good enough for her,” Blair said. “She thinks it’s a secret, but she’s actually a member of the royal family. I don’t know why she insists on living amongst commoners, except perhaps to laugh at us.”

  Wills shrugged. “I myself spend most of my time with commoners. If I’m to rule one day, I’d like to know my people.”

  His mildly chiding tone was not lost on Blair. “You’re right. I’m probably just bitter.”

  Bitterness was something Wills understood completely “Now that I’m well, I’ll be leaving for Insolitia.”

  “So soon? We’re really not that far from the Fae capital. Wouldn’t you like to pay an official visit to the king and queen?”

  “To be truthful, I’m not in the mood for pomp and circumstance. Why don’t you come with me to Insolitia as my guide? I’ll pay you for your services, and perhaps you can stay on awhile.”

  “There’s a notion. I can always pass for a human whenever I want to.”

  Wills blinked in surprise when Blair’s wings disappeared.

  “A handy trick, but many beautiful Insolitian ladies would find your faery blood quite…exotic.”

  The wings reappeared. “Ha! I fancy the idea of being exotic. In fact, that’s just what the healer ordered.” Blair shook Wills’ hand.

  “We’ll set out at first light,” Wills said. “I can’t leave the Uncharted Region fast enough.”

  “Excellent.” Blair beckoned to the barkeep to bring food.

  Chapter Eight

  Fire versus Ice

  MARA INVITED SAMANTHA to her cottage for dinner. “I’ve asked your brother and friends to eat with us too,” she said. “They should be along directly.”

  “Thank you, Mara. You’ve been very kind. You know, I saw a tiny faery before, but everyone here is full-sized.”

  “We can shift shapes. As a practical matter, it takes less effort to fly when we’re small.”

  Nick and Julian entered the cottage and joined Samantha at the table. She glanced over her shoulder at the doorway. “Wills isn’t with you?”

  “Er…he’s dining with Blair,” Nick murmured.

  Samantha’s appetite suddenly disappeared. It’s exactly as I feared. He can’t even stand to look at me. When dinner was served, she reluctantly picked up her fork and forced herself to eat. Her brother’s presence, at least, was some solace.

  “Julian, what really happened before you left Paloran all those years ago?” she asked. “You said back then there were things you wanted to tell me.”

  “I began to question what I’d heard about our grandmother. The secrecy surrounding her death didn’t make any sense, so I became suspicious. I opened Aurora’s sarcophagus and discovered it contained only a medallion necklace.”

  “The one with the peculiar symbol?”

  “That’s the one. It’s a pentagram with a phoenix in the center. I believe in hindsight that in order to pass as a human, Aurora poured her demonic energy inside that medallion.”

  “Now the inscription makes sense,” Samantha said. “‘Beyond death’s stony curtain is life everlasting.’ The medallion was hidden inside the stone sarcophagus.”

  Julian sighed. “I had some sort of idyllic notion about Aurora—I didn’t know she was a demon. I stole the medallion and wore it when I fled to the Uncharted Region.”

  “We went together,” Nick said. “Your brother and I were footloose and fancy free…until Aurora showed up a few months ago.”

  “She must have sensed the medallion’s power,” Samantha said.

  “Aurora was an old crone when she found Julian and took hold of the medallion,” Nick said. “The thing probably should have been destroyed.”

  “It’s not as easy as that,” Mara said. “An object of demonic power cannot be destroyed by ordinary means.”

  “I wonder how Father discovered Aurora was a demon?” Samantha asked. “What gave her away?”

  “I expect it had something to do with her summoning winter,” Julian said. “She was killing the crops with her brutal cold and Palorans were dying of hunger.”

  “Only the worst sorts of demons thrive on the pain and suffering of others,” Mara murmured.

  “How did Father expel her from Paloran?” Samantha asked. “I doubt she went willingly.”

  “She must have allowed herself to be separated from that medallion at some point,” Mara said. “A fatal mistake on her part, but it allowed King Tomas to fling her out of the kingdom. He must be a powerful wizard.”

  Julian and Samantha gasped.

  “Yes, of course! I hadn’t thought of that, but you must be right,” Julian said. “Father is a wizard.”

  “A wizard?” Samantha murmured. “I can’t quite believe it…but it explains why the weather in Paloran is so mild year ’round.”

  “I still don’t agree with Father’s ban on magic,” Julian said. “If he’s a wizard, it doesn’t make sense.”

  “Given the fact that one of his parents was a demon, I understand him better at least,” Samantha said. “He probably wanted to keep you and me from magic in case we’d inherited Aurora’s wickedness.”

  “What Aurora will do now that her plans to provoke war between Paloran and Insolitia have been thwarted?” Nick asked.

  “She’ll proceed anyway,” Julian said. “Winter will spread throughout her kingdom, and then south. Wherever there is snow, Aurora can summon an army. She intends to retake Paloran.”

  “We must warn your father,” Nick said. “Perhaps he can stop her at the border.”

  “Father should be warned, I agree,” Samantha said. “But this isn’t just about Paloran. Untold numbers of people will be slain if Aurora is allowed to leave the Uncharted Region.”

  “What do you propose?” Julian asked.

  “Mara, you said the medallion couldn’t be destroyed by ordinary means.” Samantha gulped. “Do you suppose it could be melted with demon fire?”

  “No, Samantha. It’s too dangerous!” Julian exclaimed. “If you return to the ice castle, Aurora will kill you or turn you the same way she turned me.”

  “Much of Aurora’s power can be blunted by the protection of a faery kiss,” Mara said.

  Samantha peered at her. “It was you, wasn’t it? You’re the faery who kissed my cheek before.”

  Mara smiled. “I could sense you needed my help.”

  “It made all the difference.” Samantha thought for a moment. “Julian, turn me over to Aurora. You can pretend you’re still enthralled.”

  “I-I don’t know if I can withstand her influence,” he said. “I barely managed to shake it off at a distance. What if she turns me again?”

  “With Mara’s help, you’ll be stronger this time. It’s the only way I can get close enough to destroy that medallion with demon fire. After that, she should be easier to kill.”

  “It’s a very risky plan,” Julian said. “I’ve already endangered your life more than once, Sam. Please don’t ask me to do it again.”

  “We’ve no choice.”

  “I created this mess.” Guilt was written on his features. “I just wish I could clean it up by myself.”

  “I’ll come with you,” Nick said. “I’ll sneak into the throne room with a crossbow. Once you’ve destroyed the medallion, I’ll finish Aurora off. A silver-tipped dart or two should do it.”

  Samantha reached out to squeeze her cousin’s hand. “I knew you’d help.”

  Julian frowned. “There’s just one condition, Nick. If Sam fails and it looks like Aurora has truly p
ossessed me again, you must kill me.”

  Nick fell silent for several seconds. At last, he nodded. “If it comes to that.”

  “It won’t,” Samantha said.

  Mara bent down to give Julian a lingering, tender kiss on the cheek. “Your sister is right. It won’t.”

  Samantha’s eyebrows lifted as a deep red blush stained her brother’s face. Her gaze flickered to Nick, who seemed equally surprised. He cleared his throat. “And where does Wills fit into this plan?”

  A lump began to swell in Samantha’s throat, threatening to cut off her very breath.

  “He doesn’t.”

  Uncertainty over the coming battle left Samantha unable to sleep that night. The loss of Wills’ regard, however, made her possible death easier to bear. The dislike for her in his eyes—possibly even revulsion—had driven something akin to Aurora’s ice dagger into her heart. The best part of me is already dead. I might as well spend my last few minutes in this world destroying evil. And if she should survive the encounter, what then? Am I even fit to live amongst humans any longer?

  When a soft tapping came on the cottage door at dawn, Samantha was awake to answer it. Wills stood there with a borrowed knapsack over his shoulder. She felt suddenly tongue-tied.

  “Blair and I are taking the Stairs of Tears to Elturon this morning.” Wills’ manner was distant. “Now that your brother has come to his senses, I feel my duty to deliver you safely has been discharged.”

  “Yes, of course. You’ve acted more than honorably, and I thank you.”

  He edged backward. “You’ll be returning to Paloran with Nick and Julian, I imagine?”

  “We’ll stay with the Fae for another day or so before we set out.” The lie rolled easily off her tongue, but she felt no guilt this time. He’s more than fulfilled any bargain we had, and I don’t want to thrust him into another dangerous situation.

  Awkward silence.

  “Good-bye, then,” he said finally.

  “Wills?”

  He paused.

  “Take Nan to Insolitia with you. She’ll be happier there, with Joe.”