ELO

  "As you imagine, this angered my father and his friend. My grandmother threatened to leave and no longer be their midwife if they forced the boy or me to marry. The contract was dissolved, but my parents disowned me. As did my closest siblings." Bree took a moment, composing herself so that Tharin understood her. She went on signing, "My brother and I used to be inseparable. He taught me how to use the bow, he encouraged me to be the way I am. I like to wear men's clothes, I like to read. When he entered his own arranged marriage, he changed; he suddenly believed in our people's ways. That honor was more important than our own dreams. After I was disowned, it was many years before I saw him again. When I was out hunting, he came to visit my grandmother. He sat and asked her to tell her one of her stories. He brewed her a pot of tea." Bree's face crumpled she forced herself to keep explaining," Grandmother told him her story, but she did not drink the tea. They must have sat talking for hours. I came home when he was still there." Bree could remember as clear as daylight.

  She recalled, her walk through her forest, her kills on her shoulder. It was late afternoon, and she was returning from the hunt. She spotted Derren from the door threshold. Her brother had finally come to visit her after years of not speaking to her. She ran to him, hugging him. She thought that maybe Derren had forgiven her, that all the years apart, he had softened and gone back to his old ways. Perhaps that's why he acted so surprised when she hugged him. Bree had seen his face soften, and he behaved affectionately towards her. She was sure she had her brother back; him visiting had to be a sign of acceptance. As she chatted with her brother, her grandmother was rewarming the cold tea. Bree had seen her grandmother untouched teacup still full. She had been dying of thirst from her hunt and reached for the cup chugging it quickly. Her brother bragged to their grandmother, talking about how exotic and expensive the tea had been. Then he turned and saw Bree drinking from her grandmother's cup. Turning as pale as a sheet, he scrambled to slap the teacup out of her hands. Bree was about the scold him, but then she felt it. The burning in her throat, black veins spreading down her neck to her hands. She couldn't breathe, and the pain had been terrible. She fainted; the last thing she had seen was her brother and grandmother leaning over her. When she had awoken, she was alone with her grandmother. The woman must have rubbed her with twenty different herbal salves. She forced Bree to drink one concoction after another. It was to no avail. The curse was old magic, one that couldn't be treated with herbal remedies. Bree signed this all to Tharin. Tears streamed down her face she signed, "The tea my brother had given me...it had been enchanted by a sorcerer. It was an attempt to silence my grandmother. So that she would stop encouraging me to be disobedient. He wanted me to return to the family to change who I was. He thought that grandmother stories were twisting my mind. I lost my voice because of what he did. My grandmother though a healer, couldn't heal my voice. I could no longer sing or talk. My grandmother started saving money so that we could travel far and find someone who could remove the curse..." Bree wiped her eyes, stopping to sign, "then one early morning, when she was selling her remedies, and the meat I had culled… they came. Slavers, they destroyed the village. They took the women and children, killed the men. A few got away in boats. I saw my niece being pulled into the belly of a machine. I ran, pushed her out of the way, I distracted the monster into following me. It was alive; it moved like an animal. It even looked like an animal." Bree signed, not stopping Tharin, watching the dance of her fingers. His face was stoic, but tears spilled from the corner of his eyes. "I lead it from the burning village. I ran into the forest, it followed me. I could hear the screams of the people trapped inside."

  Bree breathing was tight. "The machine hunted me like an animal, I couldn't shake it, It eventually caught me." Bree was pasty; she couldn't say what the slavers had done to her. She was covered with sweat, she tried to stop her teeth from chattering. The adrenaline from the fear that her memories brought made it impossible to stop shaking. The elf's face was dark. Tharin was still for a moment, eyes closed. He looked up, his facial expression was unreadable.

  He muttered, "That is a terrible story, Bree. I'm so sorry." Bree breathing was hard; shakily, she sipped her tea in silence.

  He asked, "No, herbal remedies worked not even a little?"

  Bree shook her head. Tharin said,"Well, we know to eliminate earthly remedies for the time being." The elf ran his fingers through his hair, shaken by the violence of Bree's story. He said, "the spring returned life to you but didn't heal your throat, yet it healed your shattered arm." Bree asked, "How did you know about my arm?

  Tharin said sipping his tea, " Joltrun told me he was concerned about the abnormality of your case. I even inspected your half-dead body. I suspected dark magic the second I laid eyes on you, but I couldn't be sure until you awoke. Magic tends to go dormant when it's user or host is unconscious." Bree asked, signing, "How did you see it? It's not visible." Tharin said, "I can see curses, it's one of my rare abilities." The elf finished his cake then said, "I need to think about this and research based on what you've told me. I want you to return to the spring. It one of the safest places for you." Rubbing his temples, taking a deep breath, he continued. "Don't tell Joltrun or Faelorn. Don't attempt to use your magic outside of this castle. We will start working on removing the curse."

  Bree asked, signing, "Why shouldn't I tell my friends?"

  Tharin said, "They already have a lot to carry Bree, more than you can imagine. They are fighting bereaved every night at the edges of the forest. If we really want to help them, you'll tell them when it's right: when you can control your powers. The last thing they need is a distraction for their fight against the miasma." Bree asked, "Do you think I could cure the miasma?"

  Tharin shook his head. "It's a possibility. I'm hesitant to trust new magic. When you come for our next session, I will be observing your magic. Already since you arrived, I can see that it's growing. I need to research human saints." Bree wrung her hands, she signed. "Actually, they're something that I've been thinking about." Tharin looked down at her. His antlers shown silver in the observatory lights. "what is it, Bree?" Bree looked at her empty teacup, examining the beautiful pink flowers decorating the rim. She signed, meeting his silver eyes."When the witches attacked me, the one leading them said I was a descendant of Bridgette the saint. I'm not sure if that's true. My grandmother had records of her family tree, but there's no way to know if the records still exist. They might have burned up in the village fire."

  Tharin looked out the window towards the forest. "I need to research. I have records of the ancient human sages. I may have records of that very person. What would a witch be doing with that knowledge, and why would she be so careless to tell you that?"

  Bree shrugged, signing, "I don't know. She seemed to know about me; she knew my father's name. I haven't told anyone the names of my parents." Tharin took notes. "I must make haste, promise me that you won't tell anyone anything until I say that it's the right time."

  "Alright," she signed, "I promise, and this magic is it permanent?" The elf shrugged, he said, "I'm not sure yet. The forest affects humans in strange ways. I must start investigating immediately."

  Bree bit her lip. Tharin continued scribbling more notes quickly. "Are we at an agreement, Bree?" He looked up, Bree nodded. He said, "Good, I will tell Joltrun to start sending you for lessons at my library. You will see me a few times a week. I will send you by phoenix, and Feanu will escort you back and forth. "

  Bree slipped an extra teacake in her bag for Cael. Tharin stood up; he extended his hand. Bree shook it tentatively. The elf attempted to smile, which only looked awkward. It was as if he hadn't smiled in over four hundred years. He said, "I look forward to doing business with you."

  Bree signed uncomfortable, "thank you…" He escorted her to the door, "I think we're done for now, and don't forget not a word about my condition to Faelorn or Joltrun. I trust you understand. Good, I will send for you soon." Tharin escorted her down the maze of halls and in
to the front room. He departed quickly, and Bree found herself at the entrance to the library alone. Wondering if she was doing the right thing. Bree gave herself a moment to breathe. Shakily she left the elvish ruins and headed for the forest.

  Chapter 21

  Bree walked up the steep hill that divided Tharin's "world" from the forest. She pushed past the invisible barrier. When she crossed, she was shocked by how warm the forest felt. Tharin's territory still had traces of springs chilly breezes. She looked for Bakura but was surprised that Faelorn was waiting in her place instead. Bree stared for a moment, blushing and mortified, not knowing what to do. She made her face blank, as cold as she could. She pushed aside her emotions and approached him nervously. She signed, "Where is Bakura?" Faelorn signed his hands shaking. "She left, the herd needed her, so she asked me to wait." Bree hid her disappointment; she had hoped that Faelorn had come to see her; it was nothing more than an errand. He was nervous, tense, and she didn't blame him. He spoke, his stutter returning, "H-H-H-How, are you, Bree?" Bree shrugged and signed, "I'm okay, just returning from my lesson with Tharin." Faelorn didn't question it. They walked side by side, entering the forest. "Did you have f-f-fun?" Bree nodded silently, staring at her feet. She couldn't look at Faelorn after kissing him. She felt as if she had violated him somehow. Silence sank between them. Faelorn looked around at the trees and at the fae that waved at him as he passed. He asked, "Bree, would you like to ride on my shoulders?"

  Bree signed, "If you don't mind, I'm okay with walking."

  "Oh..." he responded awkwardly. They walked deep into the thicket. Now that the fae were used to her presence, they didn't hide nearly as much. Fairies hovered overhead, some acknowledged Faelorn, others gathered nectar for the queen. Bree saw all kinds of strange fae greeting the lord of the forest. Animals with bright furs of blue, green, and fuchsia could be seen in a flash of light and color as they bounded around Faelorn's feet in quick greeting. Woodlings raised their leaf hats in respect.

  Faelorn greeted as many as he could as he passed, but eventually, Bree felt his eyes on her. Bree looked up; they were surrounded by flowering trees.

  The pink blossoms were beautiful. Bree paused, appreciating the view. She asked Faelorn if they could stop and eat since there was still a few hours before nightfall. He agreed, not meeting her eyes nervously. She took out the jerky she had packed and quietly began to eat. A few faes watched her, some were disgusted by the meat, and others ignored her completely. A strange fae came right up to her; this new fae was brown and red. He was square with a body like a brick. His limbs looked like tree roots, and his tiny black eyes gleamed with intelligence. He waddled over to her on four limbs. He was the size of an infant, and the creature had no neck. Faelorn said, "That is a cedrus, it's harmless. They are one of the few faes that eat meat. He's begging." Bree broke off a jerky piece and watched the cedrus fascinated. A fanged mouth appeared on the creature's body. The mouth opened and folded on to the meat. The creature's eyes teared up as it ate, staring at Bree. Bree pet the fae's scalp, and it began purring. This cedrus had one distinct brown spot on his body, and Bree made sure to take notes. She pulled out her journal from her bag and wrote down a description. Faelorn said, "their strict scavengers, they don't hunt. They usually hang about fae graveyards." Bree shivered, "The fae have graveyards?"

  Faelorn nodded bleakly, "yes, there's one not too far, but its taboo to go there without a blessing from the queen." Faelorn cleared his throat, and Bree looked at him. He was red-faced, almost beet red. He held out her old sketchbook. He muttered, "I-um-f-f-f-found your sketchbook."

  Bree felt her eyes go moist. Joltrun had given her a spare scroll to take notes on, but he could not provide a new sketchbook. Bree had hidden her depression about it and had resorted to taking note describing the fae instead. Bree flipped threw the pages; other than some minor cover damage, the sketchbook was in remarkable condition. She blinked back tears, she signed "thank you." Bree returned to the jerky, offering the cedrus her last piece before packing up to leave. The cedrus let out a strange wail of excitement and tore the jerky apart. It spoke in the language of the fae. Faelorn translated, "He thanks you, he never gets fresh meat. This is the best thing he had tasted in his 1000 years in the forest." Bree giggled; the cedrus was both cute and hideous at the same time. Bree left him, slipping her pack onto her shoulder. Faelorn stood up, he quickly said. "Maybe we should wait before we continue,"

  Bree looked up at him. Faelorn was flustered, nervous he couldn't look at her. Horns sprouted, moss grew on his back. He attempted to push his horns back in. Bree started wondering what on earth was going on. Concerned, Bree signed, "Faelorn, are you alright?" Faelorn took a deep breath, ignoring his spontaneous transformation. "B-B-B" He took deep breathing, embarrassed red at his pointed ears. "Bree, I w-w-wanted to t-t-talk to you about what happened in the fairy spring." Bree dreaded this moment; she was hoping that they would never speak of it, that she could pretend that it had never happened. She signed, "Faelorn, I'm sorry I shouldn't have kissed you... it was wrong."

  Faelorn practically shouted, "No-No-It wasn't."

  Bree started going red. He was shaking. He blushed, saying, "Bree, I like you."

  Bree felt like she was going to pass out. He continued nervously, "You're different, like me. You're different from other humans." He stumbled through his words. Bree blinked, still shocked. Faelorn continued, "I'm happy you kissed me" He signed the last sentence. Bree stared, not believing her eyes. She realized just how close he had gotten. She signed back, shaking, "well, then I don't mind kissing you again." Faelorn stared at her, blinked a few times, then nervously leaned in and kissed her. Bree felt electricity running through her veins. Her heart raced, she was lightheaded. He kissed her clumsily. He pulled away; he was entirely human except for a pair of redwood antlers. They stared at each other wide-eyed nervous. "Have you ever kissed anybody before?" He asked. Bree signed, "No, nobody." Faelorn looked away, "Me neither, but...you're the only person I've ever met from the outside that wasn't part of the herd." Bree looked at the sun, signing, "maybe we could sit and talk under the tree."

  Bree sat huddled close to Faelorn. They held each other. At first, it was awkward, but then Bree felt her body relax. Bree signed, looking up at Faelorn. "Can you tell me about yourself. Who were you before you met the fae..." Faelorn looked out at all the fae that surrounded them.

  "B-B-Bree, I don't have good stories to tell. I understand if you don't want to be with me, but If you want me. I-I-I need to be honest. I am broken, Bree. That's why I prefer to be a beast rather than a man." Bree looked up at Faelorn. She signed, "I'd rather we both be honest about how broken we both are. I still want to know about you and how you ended up in this forest."

  He cleared his throat. "I came here when I was a boy of eight. I was just a child when I was taken from my real mother. I think I was four years old. I can't remember her. She was wild like me; she lived in the forest of her world. I know that I loved her more than anything, and I felt safe. She told me to run and hide. I ran and ran. All I remember is running. I ran into the forest. Men came, they killed her..."

  Bree sat listening sober, Faelorn went on. "that's when I found the witch and her son. I found them in a house outside my mother's woods. The witch...became my new mother." Faelorn was uneasy. "They took me in, at first they seemed nice. Then at night, they would leave into the forest."

  Faelorn took a deep breath. "I was trapped in her care for so long. She made me do terrible things. All of these things were to gain power so that she could break into this forest. She believed that her dark god dwelt in these woods and that she would bring him back." Bree shivered, signing, "is it true that something like that lives here?" Faelorn shook his head. "I don't know, Joltrun and even Tharin has not answered that. If the stories that other fae have told me are true, then there is likely a creature like that here." He paused, Bree held his hand, and he continued. "My adopted mother, her obsession, did not die. She used dark magic to tran
sform herself into a ghoul when she died, and she haunted this forest for a long time. Eventually, Joltrun killed her." Faelorn was shivering, and Bree empathizing held him closer. He turned to her and buried his face in her short boyish hair. Bree softly signed her hands, trembling, "Do you have any other living family?" Faelorn spoke softly. " I had a brother, he's dead." Bree's stomach lurched, "My mother....my adopted one. She murdered him. We were close. His name was Anon. He wasnt my blood brother but I still loved him." Bree felt chills when she heard that name; she tensed. Faelorn went on, " We helped each other survive. Sneaking each other food. Playing games together. We would tell each other our dreams." Faelorn trembled tears sliding down his face. "She turned him against me; eventually, he gave his life to her dark god willingly. Then she tried to sacrifice me as well." Bree wiped her face on her sleeve, Faelorn held her hand. "I didn't die when she held that dagger over me; there was a blinding light. Then Joltrun was there. He stopped her and saved me." Bree signed, "why would your brother give himself willingly?" Faelorn looked away. "My brother and I were close, but he always wanted his mother to love him. He was actually her son, I believe she manipulated him in the end. I don't think he had a chance to escape the evil that raised him." Faelorn was quiet for a long while, watching flying gray fairies sway on the breeze. "Joltrun raised me after that. Everything I know, I owe to him. First, I came to join the herd, but after a long time. Joltrun thought it was better to train me to replace him."

  Bree looked at Faelorn. She had no idea that Joltrun and Faelorn had been close. They always seemed to be bickering. Faelorn, as if reading her mind, said, "I love Joltrun. He is and always will be my father. One day I will show him that I can be a worthy successor. Then he can travel home to the king's land and finally rest. He is angry with me now because I have killed, I know that he is afraid that the hate in my heart will turn me into a bereaved." Faelorn looked at her. "I've been in trouble with him since I killed all those slavers. When I realized that I could find the men that murdered my real mother. I went insane and started hunting slavers." Faelorn shamefaced, spoke, "I'm dangerous, Bree, the forest's spirit inside me is supposed to be peaceful. If I become tainted with bereavement, it too can suffer and change into something terrible. I don't think you should be with someone like me." He looked at her, his eyes emerald green. He wiped his face; redwood horns had sprouted on his forehead. Bree stared up at him, calculative.