He closed his eyes and when he opened them again said, ‘The way is decided. I only wait for my son to recover.’ I was about to ask him what that had to do with anything, but he carried on. ‘The wait will not be long. This morning Leif’s injury had completely healed … He will wake at any moment.’
My head spun with emotion, a mixture of sadness at all that had passed and elation that Leif would soon be back. When I’d visited him the night before, only the tiniest thread along the top of his injured wing remained without sun.
I had to see the improvement for myself.
Chapter Nineteen
Leif lay uncovered, his wings draped over the sides of the bed, both perfect and sparkling bright once more. In my mind I called his name, my hand flying to my mouth when, as if in response, he began to stir. Haigen sat beside him, her face buried in the pages of a book, oblivious to me, oblivious to him. I stayed silent, fixed to the spot, heart thundering as I watched his first movements—the flexing of his calves, the curling of his toes, his face shifting against the pillow. And then he was rolling his shoulders, clenching and unclenching his fists—muscles tensing and relaxing all over his body. When he lifted his wings and straightened them out beside him, Haigen finally noticed, the book falling from her hands as she leapt to her feet. She cried out his name and leaned over him, wrapping her arms around him. Grimacing, he turned on to his side, his eyes meeting mine before they closed as he wove his fingers into her hair and brought her lips to his.
The smile dropped from my face as my heart sank into my belly. Quietly I backed out the door. And then I heard him, a whisper in my mind—Marla.
I stopped, recalling the dark magic that had been dripped into my eyes while I was sleeping, wondering if what I’d just seen was true. But true or not, I wasn’t sticking around to see anymore. While I didn’t have the strength to fight the dark magic, I could avoid seeing Leif and Haigen together. Silently I told Leif I was glad he was awake again, and that I would see him soon.
My heart was still pounding when I returned to my room to find Claudette ransacking my wardrobe, a small pile of my clothes on the chair beside her.
‘What are you doing?’ I asked, stopping just inside the door.
‘You always manage to find the nicest clothes.’ She pulled another dress from its hanger and threw it on top.
‘Help yourself, why don’t you?’ She carried on and I crossed the room and sat on the end of my bed, watching her. ‘What are you really doing here?’
‘Ameyah sent me. Their meeting place has changed and the lesson’s starting earlier.’ She held another dress up to get a better look before returning it to the closet. ‘I have to take you to Glyndon in …’ She frowned at the daystone on her finger. ‘Oh, I don’t know.’
I uncrossed my legs and went to her. ‘What colour is the remedies group meeting?’
She took a colour chart from her pocket and pointed to celuria which sat halfway between blue and blue-indigo.
I pointed to her daystone. She returned to frowning at it as though it held the secrets to life’s mysteries. ‘So, the stone’s just past full blue,’ I told her. ‘Don’t ask me the name of the colour because I haven’t learned it yet, but I do know blue is equivalent to about 3pm in the human world.’
‘Uh-huh.’
‘So, indigo is 5pm which makes blue-indigo 4pm.’ I glanced at the chart. ‘So celuria must be 3.30pm. Get it?’
‘So we’re supposed to meet in about twenty minutes?’ She looked at me, unsure.
‘Close enough.’
She let out a frustrated groan.
‘You just have to learn your colours like you would learn to read a clock. Look.’ I pulled the wardrobe door wide so she could see the colour wheel I’d made. ‘I’ve divided the circle into fourteen, starting from pink in the morning all the way through to violet, see?’
‘Why fourteen?’
‘Fourteen is pretty much one colour for every hour of daylight. I can always learn the half-hour colours later, then the quarter after that.’ I pointed to the colour wheel. ‘I’ve written hours around the outside, like a clock. That way I can make sense of the daystone colours in human terms—pink is 6am, red is 7am.’
‘That’s actually a really good idea.’ She picked up the pile of clothes, plonked them on the bed and proceeded to fold them. ‘Could you make one for me?’
‘Sure, but tell me about this change of plans.’ Ameyah had said the remedies group would be meeting at Clary Falls to learn the goodwill blessing. I’d recently joined the group with her and Claudette because it was useful for my work with fading Fae. Today Jack and Lysander had decided to check it out too.
‘Apparently the leaves of the Valendum tree have started to drop, so Daphne says we’re making dreaming mist instead.’ Daphne was the leader, a gifted nature guide and healer.
My head was still spinning from all King Telophy had told me—not to mention the shock of seeing Leif wake up. But a dreaming mist sounded useful, and it would make the time until dinner pass more quickly.
I glanced at the dress Claudette had just folded. ‘We should get going if you’ve got everything you need?’
She ignored my sarcasm and looked towards the door. ‘Just wait a minute.’
I frowned. ‘What for?’
‘I’m hiding.’
‘Not from Lysander? You guys haven’t had a fight, have you?’
‘Not Lysander.’ She blinked a few times. ‘Everything’s fine with Lysander.’
I rolled my eyes. ‘Who then?’
She waved a hand at me. ‘Never mind. Just go brush your hair or something.’
I shook my head and took my pink dress from the pile, hung it back in the wardrobe. She started to complain, but stopped when my brother came into the room and caught her eyes. ‘He’s gone.’
Claudette got up, filled her arms with my clothes, and told me to hurry up already.
The three of us gathered beneath a huge Valendum tree with Jack, Ameyah and the group of would-be healers and other interested faeries. Daphne wove among us handing out cloth bags as she explained the properties of the leaves which dripped from the sprawling branches in every shade of green turning to purple. The fallen lay scattered beneath our feet like an enormous purple rug.
‘Valendum is used to promote pleasant sleep,’ Daphne explained. ‘It is particularly useful for those who have experienced trauma. A short inhalation at bedtime will transform the ugliest nightmare into sweetest dreaming.’
I wondered why no one had ever offered me any of this magical substance until she added, ‘But it must be used with caution. Valendum dreaming is such a pleasant experience that faeries can become quite greedy for it. There have even been instances where users have slept into fading.’ Ignoring the stunned silence, she clapped her hands together and carried on. ‘Half a bag of leaves should be sufficient. The richer the purple the better the result. Any leaf even slightly green will spoil the batch entirely and cause an explosion of nightmares. My advice is take only those which have already fallen. Try to choose those not yet trampled—the juice inside those will be ruined.’
I looked down to see a plethora of bare feet crushing bright purple leaves.
‘So, where were you this morning?’ Lysander said as we began collecting.
I bent to pick up the few uncrushed purple leaves from around my feet. Should I tell him all I learned? King Telophy hadn’t said not to. ‘Um,’ I said, still trying to decide.
‘So you forgot?’ His voice was loaded with accusation.
And then it hit me—my brother’s evadenet game. ‘Oh gosh, I’m sorry, Lysander.’
‘Asher had lunch ready when Faun and I got back. He made that fudge you like.’
‘Argh, I feel terrible.’
‘You should … you let them down.’
And I’d let him down, I could see it in his face. My twin’s new family was everything to him. My decision was made. Telling him what I’d learned about our parents would be too dangerou
s—it would stir my brother up when he finally seemed to be calming down.
Lysander flung a handful of leaves into his bag. I took it from him and plucked out the ruined ones. ‘I’m sorry I forgot your game. I got distracted … Leif woke up.’
My brother’s eyes widened. ‘I suppose that’s a decent excuse.’ At least half the faeries were heading back towards Daphne and I hurried to collect more leaves. ‘But come to Faun and Asher’s after this.’
I agreed and we spent the next hour pounding, boiling and adding this and that, before straining the foggy purple liquid into the bottles we’d brought with us. Daphne told me to take all I wanted for the care teams, and after I’d gathered several bottles into the skirt of my dress, and Lysander had filled his pockets, we flew off to visit our grandparents.
Chapter Twenty
Three months had passed since the terrible night that stole my best friend and almost took Leif as well, and I was all live wires at the thought of seeing him up and about. I put my brush down and watched my reflection in the mirror.
A breeze wafted in from outside, lifting my hair and touching the back of my neck like cold fingers. Goosebumps rose on my skin. Wear the pink dress. He loves that one.
Hilary. I spun around, sure I’d see her standing on my balcony. Instead I saw a sunbeam, shimmering softly as it pushed through a golden-edged cloud. My spirit soared all the way to heaven. ‘Hilary?’ I whispered.
Of course there was no answer. But I could feel her with me.
I took the pink dress from my wardrobe, glad I’d snatched it back from Claudette.
I finished brushing my hair, stepped into the dress, added lip gloss and sparkles and a tiny painted butterfly. That’s when I heard his voice in my mind. Marla, I won’t be at dinner but will you meet me after?
A rush of disappointment. Wouldn’t he want to spend his first night awake with his family? The answer came immediately. No, he’d want to spend it with his wife-to-be. Just tell me where.
I’ll come to your balcony at first starlight.
I saw him flying across the forest as the stars began to pop—a twinkling white light far in the distance, drawing faeries to him like moths to candlelight. An immense feeling built in my chest— love and wanting, excitement and joy, all mixed together and making me tremble and grin. He stopped in the air a few metres away and he was so beautiful and alive I thought I would explode. His heart raced along with mine and his smile was radiant. ‘Marla,’ he said, extending a hand to me. ‘Come.’
I went—barely able to think as I flew off the balcony. He caught my hand and led me into the night, the stars a sprinkling of jewels above and the trees a carpet of sunstones below. Word of Leif’s waking had spread. There were more faeries out than I’d ever seen before—laughing and whirling under the stars. They frolicked in the treetops, danced on the plains, the sounds of pipes and bells and drums floating up to meet us. There was a lightness all around, like spring had come after a long, cold winter—the beloved Prince of Faera recovered at last.
Every faery was excited to see him. ‘My Prince. My Prince,’ they called across the night. They blew kisses and sent well wishes his way. They fluttered around us like confetti. Leif beamed, soaking up the love, sprinkling light from his fingers for anyone close enough to catch it. ‘I’ve missed them,’ he told me as we flew. ‘I don’t think I will ever get enough.’
I couldn’t stop smiling to see him so whole again, so happy. I couldn’t remember why I was ever threatened by the love showered to and from him. It seemed so absurd now.
We approached the rock pools, each linked to the next by winding streams and tumbling waterfalls. They looked different at night—shimmery mist swirled above some, others slightly fluorescent as though the water was infused with light. Sunstones were dotted here and there and the occasional tree stretched its craggy limbs across the water. Faeries were scattered around the pools, some swimming slowly or lolling against a rock ledge, others floating on their backs or reclining under waterfalls.
We alighted by a pool with a golden gleam, the scent of salt and minerals heavy in the air. Leif didn’t send the faeries away as he had before, rather he greeted each, happy to be among them. Swamped with memories of the last time we were here, I looked longingly at the aqua pool a short distance away. A pair of lovers were twisted together in the warm end, the swirling fog turning them hazy. They were in exactly the same spot Leif and I had once driven each other wild. I closed my eyes as I recalled myself wrapped around him, his body solid and strong and holding mine close.
I looked back to Leif to see if he’d noticed them. If he had, he gave no sign, just peeled his pants away, tossing them aside as he strode into the golden water and vanished beneath the surface. When his head popped up again, he was grinning. ‘Aren’t you coming in?’
I lifted my dress over my head like it was no big deal, dumped it with his pants, then went in after him. The moment my feet touched the water all inhibition flew away. Thousands of golden flecks hummed against my skin as though they were electrified. They bumped against my shins as they swirled around me in the over-warm water. ‘Is this safe, Leif?’
‘Perfectly, and it will make you feel like you could fly for days.’ He called me again with a nod of his head. ‘Come on.’
I stepped over the ledge, plunging into the water and squealing at the sensation. It felt as though tiny fish were nibbling at my skin.
Leif laughed and dived beneath the water. He came up again, shaking his head like a wet dog, sending droplets flying and melting my heart. I took a few steps closer, the water deepening, covering my shoulders. The sensation wasn’t unpleasant, just strange. Before I could change my mind, I ducked my head. From every direction I could hear a crackling, fizzing sound. When I opened my eyes, I could see tiny bits of gold zapping past, bouncing against me, transferring their energy to me with little zaps and pings. And beyond them was Leif, thinner than before but every inch of him magnificent. Free to look without him knowing, I drank in the sight of him, his long legs strong as he trod water.
I swam closer and popped up in front of him.
‘Good?’ he asked.
I felt more energised than I had in ages. ‘So good.’ I pushed my legs up and floated, watched the stars twinkle above me, the gentle breeze cool on my front, the water warm on my back.
He dove under me and came up on my other side.
I peered at him out of the corner of my eyes. ‘I’m really happy to see you awake, Leif … I was worried.’
‘I promise I’ll be more careful in future.’
I pushed my legs down and became upright again. ‘None of what happened was your fault.’
‘I know. I was only trying to be … light.’ He shook his head. ‘Stupid of me.’
‘No it isn’t.’
He caught my hand under the water. ‘Come on.’
He led me out of the pool and into a much larger one a short distance away. This time he did send the other faeries away—but only far enough that they couldn’t hear us. The pool was cool and clear as crystal, a sheet of water falling like liquid glass from a ledge above. He led me behind it and we sat on a rock in water to our waists, watching the starlight through the waterfall. ‘I’m sorry about Hilary,’ he said.
I looked up and he locked his warm, dark eyes to mine. ‘She’ll always be remembered. I wanted to tell you so … It’s one of the reasons I brought you here.’
I swallowed. ‘She was amazing.’
‘And loved. I doubt there was a person who knew her not lifted up in some way by her.’
I imagined her hearing him, immediately not so sure I was imagining it. It felt as though she were part of the conversation, only the thinnest veil stopping her from being seen. ‘I miss her, but I feel her with me too … It’s strange.’
‘Comforting I suppose.’
I nodded. ‘I talk to her, and sometimes …’ I paused, suddenly unsure. ‘Don’t think I’m crazy, okay?’
He touched the back of a
finger to my cheek. ‘Never.’
‘Sometimes she talks to me.’ I bit my bottom lip, but it didn’t stop my smile. ‘Tonight she told me to wear the pink dress.’
‘Did she now?’ One corner of his mouth tipped up. ‘Pink is my favourite colour—have I told you so?’
The smile crept further up my cheeks. ‘You said your favourite colour was blue.’
He grinned. ‘A lie I’m afraid.’
‘Well, Hilary did say you loved that pink dress.’ Before I could start worrying about whether or not I’d just given my heart away, I said, ‘Do you feel like Classin’s still with you?’
He watched the water in front of him. ‘Mostly I feel as though he’s gone.’
‘Gone where? To heaven?’
‘I don’t know … just gone. Haigen feels it too. It’s difficult for her.’
I recalled her telling me so, then I recalled other things she’d said—specifically things about me having no place around Leif. ‘I don’t think Haigen would be happy we’re here together.’
He ran his hands back and forth through the water, creating ripples around us. ‘Everything’s different now, Marla.’
A little bit of hope snuck into my heart. Did he mean things were different between him and Haigen?
Leif waded to the waterfall, ducking beneath it. He tipped his head back and shut his eyes. The water collided with his face, cascading over his shoulders, down his arms and chest, smooth and slick. He was so beautiful. And who was I kidding? He was loyal too. Haigen was his Queen-to-be and as if she’d ever let him go. Whatever Leif had been referring to, it had nothing to do with his relationship with Haigen. I dived beneath the water and swam a few laps, returned to him filled with resolve. ‘What was the other reason you wanted to talk to me?’
He ran his hands over his face and hair, flicking the droplets away. ‘Are you ready to hear something unexpected?’
Telophy Page 13