by Alison Pensy
***
Faedra was asleep before Faen reached her room. He noticed that Jocelyn's bed was empty and came to the conclusion that his sister must have decided to keep Etyran company until he got back.
That is just fine with me, he thought. She is probably sleeping by now anyway. No sense in waking her.
He laid Faedra on her bed and squeezed himself on to the bed next to her. There wasn't much room but he didn't care. He lay on his back and looked up at the rock ceiling. A little while later, his sleeping Custodian turned over and flung her arm across his chest and nestled her head in the crook of his arm, letting out a sigh as she did. He looked down and pushed the hair away from her face allowing himself to gaze at the serenity there, something that had been missing for a long while now. After a moment, he kissed the top of her head before wrapping his arms around her. “Good night, Princess,” he whispered before his heavy eyelids closed and he drifted off to sleep himself.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Faedra became aware of her head rising and lowering at a calm steady pace. The sound of a strong heartbeat thudded under her ear and warmth surrounded her. She willed her eyes open. They protested, but she won. Her arm was wrapped around her Guardian's waist and his hand was resting on her shoulder.
Sensing that he was awake, she took in a deep, wakening breath and angled her head up to look at him. Sure enough, Faen was watching her, his face relaxed. When their eyes met, his lips curved into a warm smile.
“How long have you been watching me sleep?” she asked on a yawn.
Faen just widened his smile.
“Thought as much,” Faedra said with a smirk. She may be able to look after herself now, but she still enjoyed the fact that Faen was watching over her.
Faedra lifted her head and glanced around at their surroundings, then dropped her head back onto Faen's chest again. “Ugh, I was hoping it was all a dream.”
“Unfortunately, not,” Faen responded. “But, we have the chance to make a family's dreams come true and reunite them.”
Faedra's heart swelled. Faen couldn't have spoken a truer word. It gave her a renewed vigor. Suddenly, energy was coursing through her veins. The thought of seeing the look on Skylar's face when she saw her daddy again would make all of this worth it.
“I guess we better get this show on the road,” Faedra said, pushing herself up from Faen. She stretched her arms above her head, then brought them down and scrubbed the sleep from her face with her hands.
“Someone brought in a pitcher of water this morning,” Faen noted.
Faedra looked over at the pitcher on the small table in the corner and wandered over to it. After pouring water into the bowl, she put her hands in it and let the heat flow through them, warming the cold liquid in seconds, then she proceeded to splash some onto her face. She heard the bed creak as Faen pushed him up.
Faedra dried her face with the soft cloth that was beside the bowl. “That's better.”
Faen was leaning over the bowl splashing his face when Etyran and Jocelyn appeared in the doorway.
“Good morning,” Jocelyn sang as they entered the room.
Faen angled his head to the side, water dripping from his chin, and gave them a crooked smile.
“Is it?” Etyran mumbled.
Jocelyn gave him a quick dig in the ribs with her elbow. “Oh, stop being so grouchy. Everything will be just fine, you'll see.”
“Hurmph,” Etyran groaned as he plonked himself on Faedra's bed and folded his arms across his chest. He gave Faedra an uneasy glance before looking away.
Faedra detected a strange mix of feelings coming from her friend. They were all connected with the guest who was currently under house arrest on the other side of the cave compound. She inwardly sighed. To be honest, she had no idea how to proceed this morning. She knew one thing was certain, it would be hard to keep Etyran away from the other Lightbender for very long, and it wouldn't really be fair to them, either. Etyran had every right to talk to possibly the only other of his kind left in the seven realms.
“Etyran, I promised you could speak to her today, and I won't break that promise, but let me talk to her first, okay? I think she's starting to trust me. I need to find out why she was following us and if she will tell us what Arawn has planned.”
Faedra could feel Etyran's frosty exterior melt a little at her words, and his shoulders relaxed.
Faen grabbed the soft cloth next to the bowl and dried his face. He put his arm around Faedra's shoulders. “First, I believe we should all go and have something to eat, then we can approach what to do with our new guest.”
Faedra looked up at her Guardian. “That sounds like a very good idea.” She turned to their two friends and nodded her head with a smile, as if to say 'do you agree'.
“I think that sounds like a good idea, too. Etyran?” Jocelyn asked.
“I'm not hungry.”
“Well, come with us and try to eat something. I have a feeling this is going to be another long day,” Faedra said.
Faen and Faedra led the way to the main cave. Rows of tables and benches were set out in the opening. The room was abuzz with chatter from the inhabitants who were gathered there tucking into their breakfast.
Carina stood when they entered and beckoned them over to where she and Anwynn were sitting. Four spaces had been saved for them and they joined the two leaders at their table. Bowls of bread rolls, probably freshly baked that morning, and other food that would have been caught or grown in the surrounding forest, filled the middle of the table. Wooden goblets of milk were also placed next to each plate. One thing was obvious, the cave community had become very self-sufficient over the time they had been hiding there.
Faedra, Faen, and Jocelyn tucked into a bread roll. Faedra looked at Etyran who was staring off into space. It wasn't often that he was off his food. Faedra felt a pang of worry for her friend, something she'd never felt the need to concern herself with before.
Faedra turned to Carina, remembering there was something she had to tell her that would hopefully get her off the hook and released from her kidnapping. It took some convincing, but eventually, after Faedra described what happened at Arawn's castle the previous night, Carina conceded that Faedra must be telling the truth. That she didn't, in fact, possess enough control over Savu's power to vanquish Arawn. Faedra explained that she had another idea and also wanted to take Allora and Skylar to Azran so they could be reunited with Todmus as soon as possible.
Her next plan was to try to talk Alyssa around and get her on their side. She had a feeling that the fear the Lightbender exuded was because of Arawn, and Faedra had a much better proposition for her. If she could get her on their side, having two Lightbenders on the team could be very advantageous, indeed. If she could convince Alyssa that Arawn would never be a threat to her again, then maybe she had a chance.
Faedra released a heavy sigh after putting down her empty goblet. She had procrastinated long enough and now it was time to face the task at hand. Hopefully, all the right words would come to her as soon as she stepped into the room where Alyssa was being held. If she didn't come across as at least sounding like she knew what she was doing and had the ability to keep the Lightbender safe from Arawn, Alyssa wouldn't likely join them.
“Well, thank you for breakfast,” Faedra said to Carina and Anwynn as she pushed herself up from the bench. “If you'll excuse me, I need to talk to our guest.”
Faen and Etyran stood as well.
“Etyran, I'll let you know when you can talk to her,” Faedra said giving him a pointed look.
Etyran glared back at her, standing his ground. When Faedra didn't falter, he disparagingly crossed his arms over his chest and plonked himself back down on the bench with a grunt.
Faedra wandered down the corridor, Faen at her side. She was deep in thought, wondering how she was even going to start the conversation let alone ask the girl to come over to their side. When they got to the door, Faedra stared at it for a long moment.
“Would you like me to come in with you?” Faen asked.
Faedra pulled herself from her thoughts with an intake of breath and turned to face her Guardian. “Truth is, I would love for you to come in with me. I would love for you to do this for me, but to be honest, I don't think she will talk to anyone else and I'm the only one who can see her if she decides to stay invisible.”
Faen gave her a questioning look.
“Oh, did I forget to mention that?” Faedra said with a smile. “Last night I discovered yet another interesting thing I can do with Savu's powers.”
“Faedra, they are not Savu's powers anymore. They are yours. How you choose to manipulate them has nothing to do with Savu.”
Faedra sighed. “I wish I could believe that.”
“You should. It is the truth.”
She gave him a weak smile before straightening herself up and making a move for the door handle. “Wish me luck.”
“You do not need luck, but I will wish it for you, all the same.”
Faedra shook her head and gave her Guardian a smile at his turn of phrase. He always had a way of putting things that only Faen could.
“Well, here goes nothing,” Faedra said as she opened the door.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
When Faedra entered the small room, she could sense the occupant's tension rise. A second later, it calmed again. Faedra realized, by that energy alone, that Alyssa already felt at ease with her. This fact would surely make the whole thing much easier. Faedra could only hope.
There was a shuffle on the bed and Faedra's eyes followed the noise. She decided she would give Alyssa a moment to show herself before she looked at her behind closed lids. It was the right thing to do. Alyssa unwrapped the light from herself when she saw Faedra. Her figure came to view. She gave the Custodian a smile and Faedra felt herself relax, also. Up until that moment, Faedra hadn't quite realized just how nervous she was. Good job no one could sense her energy, or she would be discovered as the total fraud she was; trying to act all tough when really she wanted nothing more than to let everyone else make the decisions.
“Hello,” Faedra greeted. “Did someone bring you something to eat?”
“Yes, thank you. A nice lady with dark hair. She was very friendly, too. I don't understand why everyone is being so nice to me, especially after what I have done.”
“You haven't done anything… yet.”
Alyssa lowered her head, shame evident on her face. “No, but I would have if I hadn't been caught.”
“You didn't want to, though, did you?”
“No.” Alyssa replied with a slight shake of her head.
“So what kind of hold does Arawn have over you, anyway, and why are you working for him in the first place? I'm sorry, but you just don't look like the type to be someone’s henchman.”
Fear shot through the air and almost took Faedra in a choke hold. She took an involuntary step backwards to steady herself. “Okay, so you're terrified of him, but why?”
“You can feel my fear?”
Faedra made a gesture down her body with one hand. “Energy manipulator. Fear is one of the strongest energies out there. Hatred is another. Someone here hates me and I'm not sure who or why yet, but, flippin' heck, if that isn't a powerful energy.” The last sentence was musing more to herself than the room at large, but she'd said it before she could catch herself.
Alyssa didn't seem to notice her digression so Faedra brushed it off.
“He has a hold over me. Something he threatens me with all the time. The only way I know he won't follow through with his threat is if I do what he says.”
“What does he hold over you that could possibly make you stay? You can turn invisible, why haven't you tried to escape?” Faedra asked as she sat down on the rickety wooden chair. Faedra was intrigued. As far as she knew, apart from Etyran, Alyssa was the only other Lightbender left. So he wouldn't be holding family members hostage.
“You can see me when I'm invisible.” Alyssa stated.
“Yes, but...”
“You saw with your own eyes how powerful he is. He cast a tracking spell onto my skin. I have no way of getting off this realm; he would have found me. Then he'd make me watch him fulfill his threat, slowly and painfully.”
“What threat?”
“He said he would kill the only other Lightbender left in existence.”
“And you believed him? What made you even think there was another? Etyran was convinced he was the only one.”
“Arawn showed me.”
“He showed you?” Faedra asked, confused. Etyran had never mentioned that he'd been to Drofoz before.
“Yes, he has this pool in the castle. It allows him to see anyone he wants...except the people here, of course. He can't see in here and it drives him crazy. He's sent scouting party after scouting party to scour these woods but they've never found the caves. The ovates must have created some very powerful protection wards. The trees help a lot, too.”
“The trees?”
“Yes, aspens. They grow all around this cave. They hold magical shields of protection. The ovates must draw from the tree's power to hide the cave and protect it from being penetrated, either in person or clairvoyantly.” Alyssa explained.
Faedra was leaning forward now, forearms resting on her thighs, totally engrossed by what Alyssa was divulging. “How do you know all this?”
“Arawn trusts me. He requires my presence at all of the meetings he holds with his soldiers or scouting parties.”
Faedra sat up straight again, her brow furrowed. “Hold on, if he can see anyone he wants, how come he doesn't know where Todmus is?”
“I don't know. Todmus was Lord over the ovates, wasn't he? Maybe he is using the same magic to hide himself as they are.” Alyssa mused.
Faedra remembered coming around in his cottage after he had saved her from Vivianna's mind torture. He said that she would never be able to get to Faedra again after he'd cast the protective spell around her and her friends. “Of, course. That would make sense. Hmm, I have a feeling Todmus is a lot more powerful than anyone in Azran realizes.”
“He's in Azran?” Alyssa asked, her eyes wide with anticipation.
Faedra closed her eyes and puffed out a heavy sigh, realizing she had just given the enemy exactly what they wanted.
“Oh, crap! Subtle as a brick, Faedra. Subtle as a brick,” she cursed herself at her slip up. Now what? She definitely wouldn't be able to let Alyssa go. Not now. There was no way she could risk Arawn finding out where Todmus was. If she was right, Todmus was this realm's only hope of redemption and she virtually just handed him over.
“I know.”
Faedra brought her attention back to the young Lightbender. “Know what?”
“Who it is who hates you.”
“How would you...?”
“Now that I know where the other Lightbender is and that he is safe, I no longer have to worry about Arawn finding him before I can warn him. If you help me escape from Arawn, I'll tell you everything.”
Faedra's eyebrows shot up. She wasn't expecting that coaxing Alyssa over to their side would be that easy. Could she be trusted, though? It was a lot of trust to give to someone who had just sneaked in on the proviso of spying on them all and taking their whereabouts back to Arawn. Faedra closed her eyes for a moment and let her mind relax. Alyssa's energy had changed from fear to hope. She was telling the truth. It was difficult enough to hide your emotions from a normal person, nigh on impossible to hide them from a Manipulator. Faedra's gut told her to trust the girl; her power was telling her the same thing.
“I have to admit, I didn’t expect my first encounter with another of my kind to be grappling with him on the floor,” Alyssa said, pulling Faedra from her thoughts.
Faedra opened her eyes and smiled. “That’s our Etyran for you. Not the most charming of creatures you’re ever likely to meet, but he has his moments.”
“Oh, I don’t know…” Alyssa looked into space with a wistful expression.<
br />
Faedra raised her eyes heavenward. She just hoped Jocelyn’s heart wouldn’t be too broken.
“Okay, spill,” Faedra said, snapping the young Lightbender from her daydream.
Alyssa wrinkled her forehead.
“You said you knew who it was who hated me, so spill the beans.”
***
Faen heard an angry shriek from the other side of the door a second before it flew open of its own accord and the Custodian, who looked like she had murder on her mind, stormed out brandishing two purple orbs. Not a good sign. He shot a concerned look at Etyran who was waiting outside the room with him hoping to talk to the young girl being held prisoner there. The temperature in the corridor soared and sweat beaded on both their foreheads.
“You two with me,” Faedra commanded with a directional nod of her head, as she stomped down the corridor away from the main cave.
“But...” Etyran started.
“Not now, Etyran. After what I've just found out, I feel the need to blow something up.” She saw the concern in the two men's eyes. “I wonder if the ovates could use another room,” Faedra mused to herself.
Faen and Etyran looked at each other again. Faen hastily bolted the cell door and they both took off after the angry Custodian. Her fireballs were lighting up the corridor better than any torches could.
“What's gotten into her?” Etyran whispered to his friend as they stood a safe distance from where Faedra was carving out another room for the cave compound, shouting curses with every ball of mixed energy she threw at the rock face.
“Your guess is as good as mine, but something our prisoner said certainly upset her.” Faen responded as he ducked in time to miss a chunk of rock that came flying past his head.
“Ya think!” Etyran exclaimed, ducking alongside his friend.
“Unfortunately, until she calms down we are not going to find out. The best thing we can do is keep anyone from coming down here until she gets this out of her system.”