by K.N. Lee
“Uh, pardon me, Kem,” Azur said, stuttering as he approached from the cavern corridor that led to the main cave where the other crows communed each evening.
I ignored him, sipping my wine from a fine jeweled chalice.
Gazing down at the rubies along the rim, I swished the bitter liquid around my mouth and swallowed before paying the boy any mind. He knew better than to interrupt me.
How should I punish him?
“Your brother is here,” he said, and I lifted a brow.
Perhaps he had a good excuse after all.
“Send him back,” I said, standing from my seat. I drank another sip of the wine and stood at the edge of the cliff that overlooked the underground lake. The waterfall trickled into it, through three holes that resembled two eyes and a mouth.
What was Ford doing here? In search of more gifts to woo his lady friend, no doubt.
I waited for the sound of his boots on the slick, wet stone, and closed my eyes. He smelled of home. Though foul, it brought back the best memories. Family, pretty girls, the crowded taverns.
“Kem?” Ford called. His voice was timid—almost as if he was afraid of me.
Did he know what I’d done?
I poured the rest of the wine downward into the darkness at my feet. An expensive waste.
Turning to face my brother, I put on my jovial face. He deserved to see me as the boy from his memory. Not the man I’d become.
“What brings you here, dear Grifford?” I asked, setting my chalice onto a small wooden crate at the side of my throne. Clasping my hands before me, I took a step toward him. “Come to ask Ludwig for fresh flowers? Or, is it a bag of coins to buy your little love food and mead?”
Whomever the special girl my brother had fallen for was, must have been special, for Ford certainly lived to please her.
I smiled as he stepped into the dim light of the large cavern. Torches and candles cast a glow onto his pale face, paler than mine even though he stood on The Wall facing the sun every day.
He didn’t return my smile, but wrung his hands.
My shoulders slumped, but I didn’t waver.
He was afraid of me.
It was true that I’d made a name for myself. I’d become ruler of the underground rebels, and had united the lads of the west with those of the east. United them against the elves who kept our people oppressed.
“No,” he said, barely able to look at me without trembling.
I tilted my head, and closed my eyes. It was hard to watch; my brother shivering at the sight of me.
“What then?”
For the first time since he stepped into my domain, he lifted his gaze to meet mine.
He stood before me, and exhaled. “I need your help.”
Chapter Sixteen
Ava
A week went by, and Moira and I spent our days knitting whatever we could for a bit of extra coins. I’d finished up a pair of woolen socks for the market, and began drawing with chalk on the wall when a knock came on the door.
“Who could that be?” Moira asked, her blue eyes wide as we exchanged glances.
Fear gripped us both. Visitors weren’t common for my family, and usually meant bad news. After the visit from the sun elf soldiers, the entire neighborhood had stayed quiet.
Solemn.
“No idea.”
Shaking my head, I stood from the ground. Wiping my chalky fingers on my frock, I headed to see.
I opened it to see Ford. He was hooded, and dressed in all black.
He walked inside before I could protest, and threw a cap and pair of trousers to me. “Put them on. Quickly,” he said, closing the shutters of the window.
I stared at him for a moment, confused. “What?”
He exhaled. “I arranged a meeting. Do you want it or not?”
Eyes widened, I sprang into action, pulling the trousers on under my frock. I tucked the skirt inside and put the cap on.
He stepped forward and tucked my hair under the cap. He smelled of The Wall, a smell I missed.
Then, he smudged coal onto my face, pressing his cold fingers into my skin.
I frowned, but realization hit me. He was making me look like a boy—a miner to be exact. Once I was ready, we hurried out the back door and into the alley.
“Let's go,” he said, taking me by the arm.
Excitement rose in my throat, but it was quickly followed by anxiety once I glanced at Ford's face and saw how serious he was.
“Kem has agreed to meet with you in the tunnel,” he said, under his breath. “
“Thank you,” I whispered, sliding my hand down to catch his. I gave it a squeeze and he finally gave me a quick smile, and then turned to face forward.
Hooded, and dressed like a boy, I let go of his hand and tucked mine into the pockets of my trousers. A smile overtook my face, and I kept my head down to hide it.
It was finally happening. My chances for a real job that would change my life, and that of my family’s, was upon me. I couldn't mess this up, so, as we walked the streets as the sun began to set, I began going over what I would say inside my head.
We headed to the tunnel, avoiding the gaze of the guards posted at the corner of every street. Dressed like a boy, I elicited less attention. It was liberating, like a shield. I'd grown so used to everyone staring at me that it was nice to walk by as if invisible.
As the rain picked up, we trudged through the accumulating rain. By the time we reached the tunnel, I was soaked, and shivering, but that didn't take away the hope that stirred within my belly. Just inside, we stopped, and crowds of people continued to walk down toward the East End from the Upper End.
A grunt escaped my lips as someone pushed me. It wasn’t a mistake. It was aggressive, and deliberate, and my mind couldn’t make sense of what was happening.
I was lifted from the ground, and before I could utter a cry or protest, a rough hand was clasped over my mouth. In the midst of the crowd, it all went unseen, and as my heart leaped into my throat and my pulse quickened, I found myself taken into a secret doorway in the darkness of the tunnel.
The sounds of the outside were shut out as the door closed behind us. We were now in an inner corridor of the tunnel, where the workers entered and exited. I was set down, and gasped as someone lit a torch right before my eyes.
Ford stood beside me, and at our sides were several young and older men standing with their backs against the stone of the narrow alley.
"Kem," I said, stunned as he emerged from the darkness. Dressed in a black cloak and leather pants. He looked the same as when I'd last seen him.
Every muscle tensed as he stepped forward and and stood before me. For a moment, he didn’t seem to recognize me. Then, he brushed the smudged coal from my cheek, and took off my cap, letting my golden hair fall across my shoulders. A smile came to his face.
“There she is,” he said, stepping back to take me in.
I blushed under his gaze, and tucked my hair behind my ears. He looked the same, except a bit older, rougher. His hair was long, and brushed his shoulders.
"Hello, Kem," I said in a whisper. The roar of the noise from inside the tunnel was almost deafening as the water from the ocean beat against the walls and ceiling.
He took me into his arms then and lifted me from the ground. "Been a long time, Sprout," he said, and I blushed again at the nickname he'd given me as a child.
"What's this I hear about you wanting to get into the palace?" Kem asked as he set me back on my feet. "You do know the Royals are a finicky lot. Why would you want to work for them?"
"I need a job," I said. "Something stable and good enough to take care of Ma and Moira."
The other lads stared at me as Kem stroked his chin. Deep in thought, he paced before me. "Right," he said. "You've been dealt a tough one, having to do the work for two people. But, it isn't easy getting someone into the palace. Especially now that they've cracked down on things since the riots last year."
My shoulders slumped. It was
worth a shot, but I knew all along it probably wouldn't work out.
"Why don't you get a job on The Wall with Ford."
I lifted a brow and Ford and I shared a look. "I fell," I said. "A few days ago. They fired me after that."
Kem stopped pacing, and spun on me with a look of shock on his face. "What do you mean...you fell?"
I shrugged. "That's it, really. I fell from the top, and the whip was the only thing that saved my life."
Ford met Kem's eyes. "She bashed her head pretty good," he said, and Kem's eyes widened. "Not sure how she survived it, honestly."
"It can't be," Kem said, stepping closer. He placed his hands on my shoulders and searched my eyes. "Can it?"
Everyone turned their gazes to me, and for the first time, I began to wonder if I hadn't been brought here for something more than my request.
Chapter Seventeen
I followed Kem and his gang back to their secret hideout found in the depths of the underbelly of Veruth. We traveled down secret corridors and climbed down a rigid hole that led into a dark world I couldn’t believe existed.
Most of the lads who made up The Crows stayed at home with their families, and slipped out when they could to meet up and conspire.
Kem, however, lived in the shadows. This was not a game to him. He was determined to see the humans set free, and I had so much respect for him for that.
I never realized how deep my admiration for him was until that day. Freedom would be brilliant, but I didn't see a group of young men being strong or powerful enough to storm the castle and fight against the king's armies. I'd seen what could happen to boys like them.
The massacre in the square stuck in my mind. The blood and carnage haunted my dreams and clung to my memory even during the day.
As I bathed Moira and prepared her meals, images of the chaos, and the howling screams vibrated within my head.
Excitement continued to build within me as we climbed our way to the top of the subterranean mountain. An entire world beneath our city had never crossed my mind. My imagination couldn’t conjure such a wondrous place.
What if the humans could live underground, away from the elves, where we’d be safe?
A world the sun elves couldn't reach due to their desperate need for sunlight to recharge their power. A sun elf without the sun was a gruesome creature, too weak to live for an extended period of time.
What an idea.
"This is brilliant," I said, breathing in the humid air that smelled of fresh rain.
“Yes,” Kem said. “It is.”
I glanced at him, curious about how he and the Crows managed to stay hidden underground for so long.
“Tell me something,” Kem said, giving me a grin that only made him more attractive. “Are you afraid of the Dark?”
I turned to him, lifting my brows in consternation. “What do you mean?”
He gazed upward. “You know, the creature our parents told us about as tales. The force the sun elves warn about to keep us locked away within their stone wall.”
My face softened, and I thought of all of the times I’d stood at the top of The Wall, desperately seeking a glimpse of the Dark.
I shook my head then. “No,” I said. “I’m not.”
That seemed to please him, and he nodded. “Good. Something told me you’d say that. You’re a brave girl. Braver than any I’ve ever met.”
“What makes me brave?” I asked. No one had ever called me such a thing.
“You’re willing to risk your life to care for those you love. There’s nothing braver. Brave and beautiful,” he replied, and my cheeks flushed. “We would make an excellent team.”
Team? I’d wondered if The Crows would allow a girl to join once before. But, my sights were still set on an honest living…even if I needed to be a bit dishonest to get there.
“What do you need me to do?” I asked. “In exchange for my papers.”
Kem folded his arms and stood before me.
“Catch a pixie,” he said, simply. “I know you’re good at climbing, and you’re fast from what I remember. Just catch a pixie and bring it to me.”
“Why?” I had no idea what he would want with a pixie.
He grinned then. “My reasons are my own. Can you do it or not?”
Without hesitation, I balled my hands into fists and gave a single nod.
“It’ll do it.”
Chapter Eighteen
Under the cloak of darkness, I stood crouched on top of the roof, peering down at the lower East End.
The scent of coal and smoke wafted upward to me, and I covered my nose with my sleeve. Dressed like a boy in trousers, a black cloak, and wool shirt, I was prepared to do whatever it took to fulfill my end of the bargain.
A highly coveted position on the palace was on the table, and I would stop at nothing to secure that spot for myself. Even a scullery maid made more coins than any job I could find in the city.
I'd proudly work myself to the bone, all day long to make sure my family was taken care of—to make sure my sister had the medicine she needed to survive even another more year.
A glow caught my attention, and my heart began to thump in my chest.
A pixie, one of the tiny fairies that inhabited our realm.
I just needed one to give to Kem. Just one magical life source to change my entire world.
Racing through the streets, I did my best to stay within the shadows. The pixie darted through the alleys. It was as if it knew I was coming after it, and took my hunt as a game of chase.
Remembering Kem’s training, I used my climbing skill to scale the side of a building. From the roof, I scanned the darkness for the pixie. My breaths were quickened, but the adrenaline pumping through my veins was exhilarating.
The quiet amplified the pulsing of my heartbeat, and it filled my ears as droplets of rain trickled from the black sky.
A song of night.
I held my breath and narrowed my eyes as a brief pop of color caught my attention. The burst of a rainbow appeared and dissipated and left me vexed as I wondered if I had been seeing things.
It wasn't the same blue glow I'd been chasing, but something brighter, more vivid. It left behind a thick heat that warmed my entire body.
Crouched low, I waited for it to reappear.
“Who are you?” A voice whispered, and I nearly yelped with terror as I came to my feet and spun around in search for the stranger who called to me.
When I saw no one, I truly did wonder if I was going mad—or if I had already fully descended into insanity.
All I wanted was to go home, so I turned to scale down the side of the building to try again another night.
Something gave me pause.
“Will you not tell me who you are?”
The air had gone thick, and tiny red sparks floated in the dark before me.
I froze, eyes widened as gray mist rose from around my feet and lifted my cape like a heavy wind.
“You smell nice.”
“Who is there?” I asked, and swallowed the sharp lump in my throat.
“I asked first.”
Risking a glance, I peered over my shoulder.
Gasping, I nearly fell from the edge of the building. The glowing figure caught me with the mist, as if it was an extension of itself, a rope of some sort. It wrapped around me, pinning my arms to the sides of my body, and lifted me into the air.
Before me wasn’t a pixie. It was a wisp—like the one I’d seen in my dreams. It was golden and had what resembled a face. Two, hollow eyes of darkness pierced its golden head. With a wavering tail, and two arms that reminded me of flames, it swam through the darkness with glittering specks of gold wafting through the air like dust.
It's hollow mouth formed the shape of a circle, and it howled at me. The sound was like that of a chime, soft and metallic. Once it came closer, I tried to break free from the grasp of the mist, and it stopped right before my face.
“Go on,” it said to me, curiosity in its soft v
oice.
“I've not seen you before. Your presence reminds me of something. Can't quite place it. Something very old. From another time. Another place. Name, please.”
“Ava,” I gasped, and resumed holding my breath.
“Ava?” It frowned and before I could protest, it shot through my body.
The sensation of a million flames left me frozen with terror, but it was brief and once it passed, I'd forgotten the pain and was left cold.
Shivering, I tried to crane my neck for a look at the wisp.
“Not an Ava,” it said. “Ava is too plain. Too common. A vessel like you deserves a proper name.”
Vessel?
“The Dark,” it whispered. “It calls for you. Will you answer?”
I licked my lips, wetting them as my mouth and throat had gone dry. “What do you mean?”
My question went unanswered, and I fell to the roof in a thud as the mist and wisp vanished.
When I looked up from my spot on the ground, I knew why.
Two sun elf guards rode through the night on the backs of silver wyverns—right to me.
As their whips caught me by the waist and neck, my heart sank into my gut.
When was luck ever going to be on my side?
Chapter Nineteen
Dirty, and solemn, I was led to the warden, my hands bound before me.
When he ripped off my cap, and let my hair fly free. My lips trembled as his scowl faded.
"A sparrow disguised as a crow," he said, grabbing me by the chin. He tilted my head upward and gazed into my eyes. The glow within his shook me, and made me tense and clench my jaw.
“Take her to the washroom, and scrub off the filth,” he said. “I know someone who will want to meet her.”
They dragged me along the stone floor, without a care about the rough bits that cut into my skin. The darkness smothered me, and the stench of blood and urine affronted my senses so much so that I was certain I'd vomit if I couldn't escape the stench.
A gasp escaped my lips as the guard pressed me against the wall and removed my clothing.