by E. D. Baker
“Did everyone else know that all the flowers were going to be pink?” she asked Tomas.
“I didn’t,” he said. “But then, I’m not from Morain. Just a minute and I’ll ask.”
Aislin shook her head and was about to tell him not to bother when he turned and whispered to the middle-aged woman on his other side. The woman smiled when she whispered back, and glanced pointedly at Aislin.
“She said that it’s tradition to decorate in pink and not to wear pink when a princess is born in the royal household of Morain,” Tomas told Aislin. “It’s a lot harder to find blue flowers when it’s a boy, so they decorate with blue banners instead. Even then, you don’t wear blue.”
“It would have been nice if someone had told me,” said Aislin.
“From what I’ve seen, there aren’t too many nice people in Morain,” Tomas replied. Even though he was trying to speak quietly, the woman on his other side scowled.
Aislin was still thinking about her dress when the ceremony started. With all the people standing in front of her, she couldn’t see anything. She couldn’t hear anything either, so she didn’t know it was over until people began to whisper and look around the room.
“What happens next?” Aislin asked Tomas.
“Gifts, I think,” he said, looking over the heads of the people around them. “They’re waiting for … Ah, there she is.”
“There who is?” Aislin asked, standing on her tiptoes. When she still couldn’t see anything, she began to get frustrated, especially when the people blocking her view started to get excited.
Suddenly she felt it, the familiar tingle that meant a fairy was nearby. It wasn’t Poppy either, because she was still standing way in the back. Although Aislin was certain that she had to be mistaken, she couldn’t shake the feeling that the person they were all watching was a fairy.
“I need to see this,” she said, but Tomas was watching whatever was going on as eagerly as the other people in the crowd and didn’t seem to hear her.
Aislin looked around. There had to be somewhere she could go. No one was standing beyond the pillar, so maybe … When Aislin spotted the spikes holding up the garlands, she knew what she had to do. Having spent many hours climbing trees and rocks with her friends, climbing a pillar would be easy.
Tomas didn’t seem to notice when Aislin left him to squeeze past the people between her and the pillar. When she reached its base, she grabbed hold of one of the spikes on the side where no one was standing and pulled herself up. Finding hand and foot supports, she climbed up the pillar until she could see what was going on.
Aislin gasped. She was so shocked that she almost lost her footing. It was a fairy, all right, even though that wasn’t supposed to be possible in the human kingdoms. With her blue hair and pointed ears, she was obviously a flower fairy, just like the ones Aislin had often seen at home, although not nearly as well kept or as pretty. The fairy wore a blue gown made of overlapping petals with a green vine belt. Her gown reminded Aislin of morning glories, although the color was a little faded.
Aislin watched as King Tyburr approached the fairy, carrying a small wooden chest. When he handed it to her, she opened it right away, and poked around inside it. Satisfied with what she’d found, she walked past the king and queen to the cradle on the dais, held her hand over the baby inside, and sprinkled sparkling fairy dust on her. The baby sneezed, making everyone laugh. People had begun to applaud when the fairy turned to leave. She stopped suddenly, her eyes narrowing as she looked toward the back of the hall. Aislin guessed she had sensed Poppy.
Aislin pressed herself against the garlands of flowers just as the fairy turned and looked in her direction. This new fairy might not be able to sense that Aislin was part fairy, but she could tell that someone different was on that side of the room. When the fairy’s gaze swept over her and moved on, Aislin was glad that she blended in so well with the decorations. The fairy appeared to be unsettled when she turned and fled the room.
Aislin hurried down off the pillar and pushed between the milling people to reach Tomas. “What just happened?” she asked him.
“The fairy gave the princess her christening gift,” said Tomas, nonchalant. “I assume it will be the gift of beauty, like most princesses get. Don’t they do that in your kingdom?”
Aislin was shocked. “You know about fairies?”
“Of course!” said Tomas. “Doesn’t everyone? I know there aren’t very many, but everyone knows who they are. That was Morning Glory. She’s invited to a lot of christenings.”
Aislin wasn’t sure what to say. There weren’t supposed to be any fairies outside the land between the mountains. Her whole life, she’d been told that they had all left the human kingdoms. How was this even possible?
And there was something else that she didn’t understand. “Did the king pay her?”
Tomas nodded. “That’s how it’s always done. The infant’s father pays the fairy, who bestows one gift. It’s usually beauty for girls, although boys can receive a handsome appearance, bravery, or skill with weapons. My father isn’t a king, but he could still afford a gift for me. He asked a fairy that was passing through at the time. She didn’t give me what he expected, though, and he’s always been sorry he did it.”
“What did the fairy give you?” Aislin asked.
“The gift of truth, of course,” said Tomas. “You didn’t think I wanted to tell the truth whenever I opened my mouth, did you? Sometimes it’s the last thing I want to do. If I didn’t have this gift, Tyburr wouldn’t have had me brought here so he could interrogate me about my father. But there’s something he doesn’t know; I learned long ago to keep my mouth shut when I didn’t want the truth to come out. I talk only when I have something I want to say.”
Chapter 13
Aislin didn’t know what to think. There were fairies in the human world and they were freely interacting with humans! The fact that they were getting paid to do it only made it worse. Fairy history was filled with stories of fairies dealing with humans, but the fairies had always used their magic to help them as a favor or reward, not for payment! It wasn’t even something that most normal fairies would consider!
Aislin drifted at Tomas’s side as the celebration continued, thinking about what it meant to have fairies living among the humans. So much for the humans thinking that fairies were a myth! She wondered for a moment if her parents or grandparents were aware that some fairies had been left behind, but immediately rejected the idea. If they knew, they never would have worked so hard to keep secret their presence in the land between the mountains. And they would surely have sought out the other fairies long ago.
Aislin needed to send word to the fey. Her fairy grandparents would have to decide what to do; Aislin was certain that this knowledge was going to change everything. She’d have to send another message by bird.
Aislin was looking around for Poppy when Craiger entered the hall. He went straight to the king and they stood together deep in conversation. After a few minutes, the king spoke to the queen, who snatched the baby from the cradle and ran from the room. Aislin watched as King Tyburr called for the pages. The young boys dashed up to the dais to receive their instructions, then one boy ran to Selene, and one ran to Rory. Aislin was surprised when a third searched the crowd until he found her and Tomas.
“You’re both to come with me,” he told them, and started for the door.
“Where are we going?” Tomas asked as he and Aislin hurried after the page.
“The courtyard,” the page said. “Don’t ask me anything else, because that’s all I know.”
When Aislin glanced at Tomas, he shrugged and shook his head. Something had happened, but they’d have to wait to find out what it was exactly. Curious, they followed the page as he raced through the corridor. When they finally reached the courtyard, they found two carriages waiting at the bottom of the steps. Mounted soldiers were lined up behind them, and other soldiers were positioned at the door to each carriage.
&n
bsp; “You’re to go in this carriage, Your Highness,” a soldier told Aislin as he pointed at the one in front.
“Where are we going?” she asked, but he just reached for her hand to help her up the step.
When she turned to Tomas, a soldier was already directing him to the other carriage where she could see Rory peering out. Frowning, she climbed into hers. When she stepped inside, she was dismayed to see Selene and four of her ladies-in-waiting already taking up most of the space.
“I told you she was going to ride with us,” said Merrilee. “That’s why Natalie couldn’t come, too.”
The moment the door closed behind Aislin, the carriage began to move. Joselle and Laneece grudgingly moved to make room for her on the seat.
“What’s going on?” asked Aislin as she tried to wedge herself against the side of the vehicle. “Why did we have to leave so suddenly?”
“King Ozwalt’s troops have landed in the port and are advancing on the castle,” Selene announced, eager to share the news. “Father is sending Rory and me to safety at one of his estates.”
Aislin shifted around to look out the window. They had crossed through the gateway and were turning onto a street that headed away from the port. People were running down the street shouting, and more of King Tyburr’s soldiers were already trooping past. The girls looked at each other nervously as they rumbled through the city, not even slowing as they passed through one gate after another. It wasn’t until they had left the city behind them and could see farms and woodland ahead that they began to relax.
Selene was chatting with Merrilee when Aislin asked, “What about the others?”
“What others?” asked Selene. “Queen Tatya and the baby left before we did.”
“I meant the servants,” Aislin told her. “Aren’t they coming, too?”
Laneece and Merrilee laughed. “Are you that worried about finding someone to brush your hair and help you change your clothes?” asked Joselle. “I’m sure we’ll find someone to help you, even if it’s the scullery maid.”
“That isn’t it at all,” Aislin replied. “I just want to make sure that they’re all right.” She hated leaving Poppy and Twinket behind and wouldn’t have if she could have prevented it. She’d just have to hope that her friends would be fine without her.
Aislin glanced at Selene. The girl was beautiful, which made sense if a fairy had given her the gift of beauty as a christening gift. If her appearance had changed drastically, it would explain why she didn’t look like either of her parents.
When Merrilee leaned closer to Selene and whispered something, the princess looked at her sharply and said, “That wasn’t very nice. I told you before that I don’t want to hear you say things like that.”
Merrilee sat back in her seat, looking like a small child who had just been scolded.
Turning toward the window again, Aislin watched the scenery evolve from farmland into forest. At first the trees were well-spaced, evidence that a woodcutter had been busy, but as they continued on, the trees grew closer together and the shadows became deeper.
They rode through the day and into the night, trying to sleep as much as they could in the lurching, bouncing carriage. The sun was just starting to come up when suddenly the carriage stopped with a jolt, sending two of the girls tumbling to the floor. “What was that?” Selene cried as Merrilee and Laneece tried to untangle themselves and return to their seats.
Aislin was peering out the window, hoping to see what might have caused their sudden stop, when she heard shouting and the clash of swords. After a few minutes, soldiers wearing crossed-sword insignia approached the door. She sat back, not sure what to do, when the men yanked the door beside her open. “Get out!” one of them ordered.
“What is the meaning of this?” asked Selene in an imperious tone.
A soldier dressed like an officer appeared in the doorway. “Which one of you is the princess Selene?”
The girls froze and not one of them looked at Selene.
Aislin looked around for the other carriage, but it wasn’t behind them as she’d thought. She hoped Tomas had gotten away.
“Get them out of there so we can talk to them,” the officer told his men.
Aislin was closest to the door and didn’t balk when a soldier gestured to her. As she climbed down, she could hear the girls whispering. More than one of them mentioned her name. Selene was arguing with them in harsh whispers right until she started to get out. When they were standing there, huddled together, the officer asked again, “Which one of you is Princess Selene?”
Aislin gasped when the four ladies-in-waiting turned and pointed at her. “That’s her,” said Merrilee.
“That’s her, all right,” said Laneece. “Don’t believe her if she says she isn’t. She’s a liar.”
“That’s not Princess Selene,” said Selene. “I am.”
“Don’t try to give yourself up for the princess!” said Merrilee. “She doesn’t deserve your sacrifice.”
Aislin glanced at Selene. The princess was willing to betray herself even though the other girls were trying to protect her. Aislin was touched that the princess didn’t want to go along with their lies and endanger her. But, although she had no idea why these men wanted Selene, Aislin knew that she could handle whatever they had planned better than a human girl.
“I’m Selene,” she stated.
The other girls looked surprised. “No, she’s—” Selene began, until Laneece jabbed her with her elbow.
“Put her on the horse and tie her hands,” the officer said, pointing at Aislin.
Aislin followed the men without protest. One of the soldiers led her to a horse and boosted her into the saddle. When he tied her hands, he did it loosely enough that she could still manage the reins.
They left her there with her horse tied to the front of the carriage. The vehicle shifted and she heard the sound of pounding on wood. When it ended, the soldiers came for Aislin and led her horse past the carriage back the way they had come. She could see now what they’d been doing; they had removed a wheel and broken it, tossing the bigger pieces into the forest. When she saw Selene and her ladies-in-waiting sitting on the side of the road, the princess started to stand, but the girls on either side of her pulled her back down again.
Taking all the horses with them, the soldiers escorted Aislin down the road. She had no idea where they were taking her and was surprised to spot the second carriage with Tomas, Rory, and another group of soldiers beside it.
“We can go now,” said the officer who had taken Aislin. “We got the princess Selene.”
“Where?” said Rory, looking behind them. “I don’t see her.”
The soldiers looked at each other, confused.
Tomas shook his head. “This isn’t Selene,” he said, and started to undo Aislin’s hands. “This is my friend, Princess Aislin.”
“I didn’t know why they wanted Selene. I thought I could handle whatever came better than she could, so I told them that I was Selene,” Aislin said as he helped her down from the horse’s back. “Do you know these men?”
“I do,” said Tomas. “They’re my father’s men and I’d trust them with my life, but apparently they aren’t very good at discerning the truth.”
The soldiers looked embarrassed, but it was the officer who said, “We left the real Princess Selene back with the carriage. We can ride back there and fetch her.”
“There isn’t time,” said Tomas. “One of Tyburr’s children will be enough. Take Prince Rory and get going. The other carriages will be coming soon. I want to be long gone before they arrive.”
“What about me?” Rory asked as the soldiers led him to a horse. “I’m your friend, too!”
“You were never my friend, which you made plain every day I was in your castle,” Tomas told him before turning to the officer. “You might want to gag him. He has a very unpleasant personality.”
“What about Princess Aislin?” asked the officer.
“That’s for her to
decide,” said Tomas.
Taking Aislin’s hand, he led her away from the others to a spot where Rory couldn’t hear them. “I couldn’t tell you about my mission before, but I can now,” said Tomas. “The men came for me so that I could do what I need to do. If you go with me, I’ll return you to your own kingdom afterward. I have no idea what dangers we might encounter, so it won’t be an easy trip. However, if you’d prefer, you could go back to Scarmander, which is where the men are taking Rory to hold just as his father held me. If you go with them, you’ll be safe, but it might be some time before I’ll be able to take you home. The choice is yours.”
Aislin needed to know more. “What is this mission?” she asked.
“I’m taking a gift to the fairy Baibre in the wildest part of these very woods,” Tomas told her. “The gift is from Baibre’s twin sister, who is hoping for a reconciliation. If Baibre accepts the gift, the fairies will stay out of the war and the kings will meet to settle their differences. If she doesn’t accept it, we might be in for a long and bloody war. So, which will it be? Do you want to go with me, or Rory?”
“I’m going with you,” said Aislin. “And I’ll help you if I can.”
Tomas laughed. “I’m not sure how much a princess could help me!”
“I’m not just a princess,” Aislin said. “There are things you don’t know about me, but before I tell you, you have to promise not to tell anyone else.”
Tomas looked perplexed. “I promise,” he replied.
“I’m part fairy …,” Aislin told him.
Tomas laughed. “You mean you can make yourself small and fly away?”
Aislin shook her head. “No, I can’t do that.”
“Then you can change people with magic! Why didn’t you turn Selene’s friends into insects or something when you had the chance?”