Blood of Half Gods: Kallen's Tale

by Bonnie Lamer

  Dagda walks around the front of the carriage towards us. Walking next to him is a tall, stocky Fairy woman whom I have the displeasure of knowing. What the hell is she doing here? The last time she and I met, it was not under pleasant circumstances and I can guarantee she and Xandra are not going to get along. The closer she gets, the angrier I feel. I set my face in a blank mask, refusing to give the Fairy any indication she gets under my skin.

  Coming to a stop in front of us, Dagda says, “Xandra, this is Radella. She is head of my security team and she will be taking lead on the journey in regards to necessary use of force.” What the hell is he thinking? He has just drawn a line in the sand between the two women. My teeth start to grind of their own accord. This is definitely not going to go well.

  Impressing us all, Xandra ignores the comment that was obviously directed towards her and holds her hand out to Radella. “Nice to meet you.”

  Radella hesitates for a moment, and then takes her hand limply in a clear show of disdain. “Likewise,” she says with insincerity dripping from her mouth.

  Xandra raises her brows in Dagda’s direction. He seems to have caught Radella’s lackluster response to meeting Xandra as well. “Radella, is there a problem?” he asks. Giving Xandra a dirty look before turning to face my uncle, she says, “Of course not.” She is a terrible liar.

  “I hope not,” Dagda says with a definite threat in his voice. Any support he showed to her in his introduction is gone. “Come, we will discuss the route again with the drivers.” I am sure they will be discussing more than that. I cannot stop the simpering grin I send in her direction. Radella’s green eyes flash in anger and she turns on her heel to follow her employer.

  Xandra turns to Alita when Dagda and Radella are out of hearing range. “She seems nice,” she says facetiously.

  “She is not. I find her to be rather scary,” Alita says, completely missing the fact that Xandra was being sarcastic. “I try to avoid her as much as possible when I am at the palace.”

  Xandra scrunches her brow. “You only started working there three days ago. She’s really that bad?”

  Alita nods. Kegan, who has been quiet until now, asks, “Has she done something to make you so afraid of her?” His face is set in a hard line and he looks to be ready to follow Radella to discuss the matter rather violently with her. In other words, he is reacting like a Fairy in love.

  Alita shakes her head and says shyly, “No, she has not.” Alita is obviously sorry she brought it up.

  Kissing Xandra on the cheek, I say, “We should get inside. I am sure Dagda is ready to go.” It would not take him long to upbraid Radella for her foul behavior. Xandra nods, but it is with great reluctance that she trudges up the stairs of the carriage.

  Chapter 4

  I have always loved Dagda’s carriage. It is equivalent to a floating home. Its two stories of luxury ensure that we will have a very comfortable trip, at least physically anyway. Walking into the living room area, I ask, “Want a tour?”

  “Sure,” Xandra replies, already taking in the details of the carriage.

  “Please, allow me,” a voice drawls from behind us. Radella, who must have come in right behinds us, walks around Kegan and Alita to take the lead. Xandra makes a face at her back as she starts to walk ahead of us and I cannot help a chuckle.

  “That door back there,” Radella says, pointing behind her without turning around, “is the kitchen and where the drivers and overseers are. They should not be disturbed as it takes a great deal of concentration to keep this thing afloat and steady.” Her tone is nothing less than abrasive. Opening the door in front of her, she brings us into the narrow hallway that butts up against the left side of the carriage.

  Pointing at the first door we pass, she says, “That is my office where I brief the security detail, take reports and see to the protection of the King.” She gives Xandra a nasty look over her shoulder. “There is absolutely no reason for you to be in there.” She turns back around and keeps walking. Xandra looks up at me with a ‘what did I do to her?’ look. I try to give her an ‘I do not know’ shrug, but I know exactly what Radella’s problem is.

  The hallway is only about ten feet long. It ends with a door and the bottom of a spiral staircase. “That,” Radella says, pointing at the door, “is the King’s office and his private quarters. He is not to be disturbed under any circumstances if the door is closed.” Another nasty look for Xandra. Does she not realize she is speaking to the King’s daughter? I roll my eyes and shake my head. She is digging her own grave here.

  Walking up the narrow spiral staircase, we follow Radella into another hallway. This time on the right side of the carriage. Several doors line this hallway that extends from one end of the carriage to the other.

  Pointing at the first door, Radella says, “That is the staff quarters. Alita, you will be bunking in here with the other employees.”

  The hairs on the back of my neck rise and I feel Xandra tense next to me. Radella has just gone too far. First of all, I know for a fact that Radella and Alita are the only two staff members who are female on this trip, so it is completely inappropriate for Alita to bunk in there. Secondly, Radella must know that Alita is traveling with us as a friend as well as an employee. She should be treated as such.

  Before I can point any of this out, Xandra asks calmly, “Who else will she be bunking with?”

  With a smug expression, Radella says, “That is not really your concern. While we are on this trip, all personnel matters will be handled by me.”

  The Fairy has a death wish; it is as simple as that. I give Xandra a warning look that she should keep calm, but of course it is unheeded. The amount of magic she is pulling from the earth is growing rapidly. Radella feels this as well. Pulling herself up to her full height, she pretends to have no fear. The list of stupid Fairies on this trip is growing. She opens her mouth to say something, but Xandra has rendered her magically silent.

  Xandra, however, is not silent. “Listen, I don’t know why you don’t like me, and frankly, I don’t care. At all. Not even as much as the tiniest little iota on a fleck of flea poop. If you stay out of my way, I’ll stay out of yours; but, you will not treat my friend in any way besides respectfully.”

  “Xandra,” Alita says softly, her voice ringing with embarrassment. “This is not necessary.”

  Xandra frowns at her. “Yes, it is.”

  Radella is now trembling with unguarded fury and she begins to draw her own magic. I almost feel sorry for her. Almost. She has brought this on herself. Xandra sighs and shakes her head. “It has to be like this, huh?”

  Radella prepares to use her magic. When she sends it towards Xandra, it is met by an impregnable wall. Her magic is no match for Xandra’s, as she is finding out. I cannot help cringing as Xandra pushes both of their magic inside of Radella. The Fairy drops to her knees in shock and pain as it burns through her. A feeling I know all too well.

  Xandra continues her side of the conversation. “As I was saying, iota, fleck, flea poop, I don’t care what you think. But, you will treat my friend respectfully. Do you understand that? Or do I have to send you flying through the carriage wall?”

  Xandra lets her magic go in a show of good faith. I am impressed; her patience is growing. Unfortunately, Radella is less impressed. With her voice back, the Fairy stands up and growls, “You speak of disrespect? You, who is an abomination to all that we stand for; a creature who should never have seen the light of day. You speak to me of respect? You know nothing of our ways, our customs, nor do you care. You flaunt your sexual relationship with him,” she practically spits as she nods towards me. “You befriend the weakest link in our race, and you trap us in this realm like wild animals. You are not worth the amount of time it takes me to say respect, let alone deserving the meaning behind the word.”

  Xandra is unimpressed. “Do you have a point?”

  Proving yet again how incredibly unintelligent she is, Radella says, “My point is,” she moves towards Xandra
, her finger about to push into her chest, “you will not tell me how to do my job. I am in charge on this trip, and that,” she points at Alita, “is just a short step ahead of you on the food chain, and I will use it as a punching bag, if I see fit. You have nothing to say about it.”

  Xandra sighs. I know that sigh. It is the one she exhales right before she proves just how powerful she is. This is not going to go well for Radella. As for me, I take a step back so I am not included in the carnage. Kegan follows suit. I believe Alita is too stunned to do anything so Kegan takes her arm and moves her behind him.

  A smile creeps onto Xandra’s lips. No, smile is not quite the word. Evil sneer is more like it. “What on earth makes you think that you outrank me in this little power play you’re trying to have here? You seem to have forgotten that I am Princess of this realm and you are a servant to the crown. That includes my crown.” It does not seem like the time to point out that she has never been given a physical crown. “But, that is nothing compared to the fact that you dared to talk about my best friend as if she is an object, worthy only of contempt. That was where you really went wrong.”

  Mustering as much bravado as she can, Radella says, “I am not afraid of you.” Her words are belied by the fact that she backs up until she is flat against the wall.

  Xandra shakes her head. “Did your parents raise you to be so stupid, or did you strive for it all on your own?” I chuckle at that. I have met Radella’s parents. I believe it is a little of both.

  Xandra has now pulled a dangerous amount of magic. It will not be long before she loses control of it. I move a little closer to her again in case I need to be of assistance with that. I really hope I do not need to be of assistance, I am not in the mood for debilitating pain. Not that I ever am.

  It turns out she finds an outlet herself and it is not me this time. It is in the form of a large hole in the wall. The hole that just sucked Radella through the servants quarters and out of the carriage where she falls to the ground below. An audible thump lets us know when she lands. She is lucky. Charred insides are much more painful than a two story drop.

  Sound of clapping makes us turn towards the stairs. Dagda is standing there with a grin on his face. “You may deny our mixed blood, but you do become more like me every day. I would have reacted the same way had she dared to confront me in such a manner.” Looking smug, he says, “Now that you have acknowledged you are a princess, would you prefer a crown, as you mentioned, or a tiara?”

  Xandra does not say anything, only blushes, so Dagda continues. “I did warn her.” He nods his head towards the hole in the wall. “Radella can be quite stubborn, though. It is lucky for her that I like her parents, and that she is good at her job. As for you, I must say, reminding her that you are a princess and above her did warm my heart.” Xandra’s face falls. She does not think it a compliment to be told her actions are like Dagda’s. Turning to me, he says, “I am assuming you can restore the carriage to its former state so we can be on our way?” I nod, but my relief that I did not have to push against Xandra’s magic dampens. Restorative magic takes a lot out of me.

  “Good,” Dagda says, “then I will leave the four of you to your tour. I will be working until dinner. I expect for you all to be dressed and ready to dine in my private quarters at seven sharp.” Without waiting for a reply, he disappears down the steps.

  Kegan shakes his head and laughs. “You are one crazy Witch Fairy.” I prefer to think of her as impulsive rather than crazy. Most of the time.

  Leaning down and kissing her cheek, I say, “You go on ahead. Kegan knows which room is what. I am going to clean up your little mess.” I give her a wink so she knows I am not truly put out by it.

  Xandra nods and hooks her arm through Alita’s and says to Kegan, “Lead the way.” Alita still looks embarrassed and miserable. Poor thing.

  Concentrating now, I pull a great deal of magic and begin the repairs. Putting the walls back together only takes a few minutes though I feel like it has been hours considering the energy I have exerted. Exhausted, I walk to the back of the carriage and I get to Xandra’s and my room just in time to hear the tail end of a conversation. Xandra is offering Alita a job as her assistant or something of the sort.

  “Hey, what is the job description? I may want to apply myself,” Kegan says with a sly grin and a glance in my direction.

  “The position includes you flying out a hole in the wall just as Radella did,” I say dryly from the doorway, leaning against the jamb.

  Xandra ignores us and says to Alita, “Since I don’t know what a lady in waiting does, I guess you could do whatever you want.”

  She laughs. “You would make a terrible boss. You would never have me work.” She is correct. Xandra is more of a ‘do it herself’ type.

  “Is that such a bad thing?” Xandra asks her.

  “No, but I like what I do for the King now. I feel like I am doing something for the realm, not just hanging out with my friends.”

  Xandra shakes her head. “You and your ethics. I can’t believe we’re friends, sometimes.”

  Walking into the room, I sit down on the bed and lean back against the pillows. “I got the gist of what you were talking about. I think Alita is right; she will do more good in her current position. It will also garner her more respect over time.”

  Xandra throws a pillow at me, making me chuckle. “But, what are we going to do about Alita sleeping in the servants’ quarters?” she asks. I shrug. It is not Xandra or me who should rectify this situation. The person who should is just across the room from us.

  “I guess she could stay in here with me and you could go bunk with Kegan,” Xandra says. Over my dead body. I use the same pillow I was hit with and lightly toss at her head. “Hey!” she exclaims.

  Considering the pillow barely tapped her, I do not feel badly. “I will not be kicked out of my room.”

  Narrowing her eyes, she says, “You’re awfully confident that I even want you in here with me.”

  With a chuckle, I grasp her right arm and tug until she is on top of me. “Yes, I am.” I tilt my head up and kiss her until I am sure she has no more argument left in her.

  “Okay, you can stay,” she purrs against my lips.

  “You do realize we are still here, right?” Kegan asks dryly.

  Xandra looks at him sheepishly. “Sorry.” He just rolls his eyes.

  “Xandra, really, I will be alright in the servant’s quarters.”

  “No, you will not,” Kegan says. It is about damn time he spoke up. I was ready to throw something a lot harder than a pillow at him if he did not. “You will sleep in my room. I shall sleep elsewhere in my bird form.”

  A full blush spreads over Alita’s face at his chivalry. But she does not object. I know I have a smug smile on my face when Xandra looks up at me. She understands my objections now.

  “Okay, it’s decided then,” Xandra says. Switching topics, she asks, “What are we supposed to do to entertain ourselves?” I start to say something, but she cuts me off. “Other than that.” Now, she is blushing.

  “We could play cards,” Kegan says, pulling a deck out of his pocket.

  A sudden jarring movement lets us know that we are departing. The large carriage sways with the movement. Sitting up, Xandra holds her hand over her mouth.

  “You look a little green. You are not going to throw up on us, right? Do you need to move to the bathroom?” Kegan asks, more disgust than sympathy in his voice.

  She sticks her tongue out at him. “Thanks for your concern.”

  “You are several shades paler,” Alita says.

  “I’ll be fine in a minute. I just have to get used to it. I didn’t travel much in my realm.” No, she was hidden away in the mountains with no life whatsoever. It is a wonder that she does not resent her parents for that.

  Alita stands up. “I believe there are mint leaves in the kitchen. I will make you some mint tea. That should help.”

  “Thank you,” Xandra says and she lays bac
k against the pillows next to me. “Is it going to sway like this the whole trip?” she asks.

  I slip an arm under her and pull her close, hoping she will not be ill all over me. “I am afraid that it is quite difficult to keep a carriage this size off the ground. Dagda employs some very powerful Fairies, but I do not know that even your magic could completely remove the swaying.”

  “Maybe I should try,” she says, her hand going back over her mouth.

  “And blow us all up? I do not think so,” I say, only half joking. “It takes a great deal of training to perform this type of magic. And patience. Something that always seems to be in short supply for you.”

  In a snarky tone, she asks, “Should I start listing your faults?”

  Kegan snorts. “The trip is not that long.”