A Deal with the Elf King (Married to Magic Book 1)

by Elise Kova

  “All this…belonged to past queens?”

  “By my understanding.”

  It’s like a graveyard. With morbid curiosity, I peel up the first sheet and reveal a chaise covered in supple brown leather. It’s just a piece of furniture, I try and insist to myself. But I can see the outline of where the queen sat.

  I shiver and lower the sheet. The room is suddenly ten times colder.

  “I think I want to pick out my own.”

  “But—”

  I turn back. “Isn’t there a way we could sneak out? I can cover my head, tuck my hair, and—”

  “Your eyes,” Rinni interrupts.

  “What?”

  “Your eyes give you away. Elves have blue eyes.”

  I curse under my breath. “I can’t use any of this…” I shake my head. “It’s a good effort, thank you, but I can’t… It’d be strange. As though I’m living with ghosts.” Rinni gives a sympathetic sigh. At least she seems to understand why her suggestion won’t work. “Are you certain there’s no way I can go into the city to get furniture of my own?”

  She pauses, curling and uncurling her fingers around her sword.

  “Rinni?”

  “Perhaps there could be a way, if we’re very careful.” Rinni’s eyes are shifty, as if she’s doubting herself for saying anything.

  “Oh?” I encourage eagerly.

  “I’ll tell you as we walk.” Rinni motions for me to follow her and I quickly fall into step.

  The plan is fairly simple.

  Rinni takes me back to her room and there I change out of the gown and into some of her clothes. She has a modest apartment—the racks of weapons I expect. The painting supplies I do not. Rinni says nothing about her hobby, so I follow her lead. I don’t know if it’s supposed to be secret that the right hand of the king is also an artist. Either way, I don’t want to risk the peace we’ve found.

  I carefully tuck my hair underneath a cap. Even though no one knows me yet, Rinni says the red is too distinct a shade to have flowing freely. Though a few red-orange sparks float stubbornly around my ears.

  The final bit of my ensemble is a pair of green-tinted glasses. Apparently, elves all having the same eye color has given rise to some thinking it fashionable to wear spectacles of varying tints. It’s like I’m wearing one of the stained glass windows from the Keepers’ temple on my face, but I’ll accept it if this is the way I get out of the castle without issue.

  “I think this’ll work.” Rinni appraises me one final time. She’s changed out of her usual military garb into plain clothes.

  “It’ll be great.” I appraise myself in her tall, skinny mirror. “Shall we?”

  “One last thing.” Rinni looks to Hook. “He has to stay here.”

  I purse my lips. “Hook is—”

  “Hook is going to quickly become identifiable as the queen’s wolf.” Rinni folds her arms over her chest. “If your hair can’t be shown, then neither can Hook.”

  Sighing, I turn to Hook. “You’re going to have to stay here.” He whines. “No, I insist. Rinni is right, there’s no other way.” A bark. “Do not take that tone with me. You are headed back to my quarters, now.”

  He gives a defiant yowl and hops about the room. Before I can stop him, the air shimmers, the shadows lengthen, and the wolf slips between them into the void. Rinni is as startled as I am.

  “What did you do?” she whispers.

  “I… I don’t know.” Panic claws its way up my throat and is let out as a soft, “Hook?” Nothing. “Hook, come back.” I raise my hands to my lips and let out a shrill whistle. The wolf comes bounding back on command and I bury my fingers in his fur. “Good boy. Did you hear my whistle? You really are the best of boys!”

  “Now that’s useful,” Rinni says in awe. “A Fadewalking wolf… I’ve seen everything.”

  “Okay, Hook, go back and play in the Fade. I’ll call you later.”

  He heeds my command and Rinni and I set off through the back halls of the castle. All paths lead back to the main atrium, and the two doors that Rinni unlocks with magic.

  I take a deep breath the moment we enter the city. As if I’m welcoming spring with a big hug, I reach my arms out, over my head, and rise to my toes. The days are becoming undeniably warmer, even if they’re still a little too cold for my taste and frigid at night.

  “You seem happy,” Rinni finally comments as we walk around the great lake in the center of the city.

  The frost has vanished off the statues and their details are clearer. The queen wasn’t merely kneeling…it looks as though she’s burying something. Perhaps? I see a large mound under her hands and maybe a small sapling that almost looks…familiar? I’ve seen those leaves before, haven’t I? But the significance of her burying something, or what she might be burying, is lost on me—something to search for in the journals.

  It’s likely just the queen planting a commemorative tree, or something similar. I quickly shift my focus back to Rinni.

  “It’s nice to get out of the castle.” I keep an eye on her face, looking for any sign that she knows about my escape two nights ago. I see no indication.

  She thinks about her response for several steps. “I can see how it might seem that you’re some kind of hostage, especially before the coronation. But once you’re introduced properly to Midscape, you can explore Quinnar at your leisure. Past queens would even make trips out to the various strongholds and lands throughout the Elf Kingdom…or to the royal cottage. And, of course, you’ll cross the Fade every year to commune with the Natural World.”

  I purse my lips. I can see where she’s coming from—how her logic is set up. I look up toward the long stairway leading into the mountain tunnel that crosses back to the Natural World.

  “Rinni, why did you want to become a knight?” I ask.

  “I… Because my father was a knight and I was his only child,” she says, tension raising her shoulders slightly.

  “So it was always assumed of you?” I reason. She nods. “If you could be anything you want…what would it be?” Based on what I saw in her room, I suspect I already know the answer.

  “A knight, like my father, and his father before him. I come from a long line of knights who have served the Elf Kings for centuries.”

  “No.” I stop walking and Rinni does as well. “What do you want? Forget your family. You’re an orphan for one minute and have no idea who your parents were or what they did. What would you be?”

  Rinni purses her lips. I can tell the question is uncomfortable for her. But she seems to be making an effort nonetheless.

  “A painter,” she says, finally. “But—”

  “No buts,” I interrupt. “You want to be a painter. You’re a knight because it’s what’s expected of you. And that’s fine.” I try not to judge her for it. Willow comes to mind as well, following in the steps of Poppy and Poppy’s grandparents before. Elves seem to enjoy doing things for tradition’s sake. “But you didn’t make that choice for yourself, not really. You made it because it was assumed you would and because, I’d guess, it would create tensions in your family if you hadn’t become a knight.”

  She sighs and starts walking again, as if she can leave this conversation behind. I’m not ready to quit yet. But I do shift the focus.

  “I’m not trying to attack or upset you,” I say.

  “I wouldn’t let you upset me,” she mumbles.

  “Good!” I laugh and smile at her. I see the tiniest smile in return. “I’m just trying to say…we’re not so different. And, maybe, because of that, you can understand how I feel. I had my own dreams, too, Rinni. I had a shop. I wanted to help people with my talents when it came to herbs and potions. The whole town depended on me and invested in me so I could do it. That profession—herbalist—was my painting. But the world wanted me to be something different.

  “So, no, I’m not held hostage in the literal sense. But it can feel that way, especially because the life I planned for myself is out of reach.”
r />   Rinni sighs and runs a hand through her blue-streaked hair. “I suppose, phrased like that, I can understand.”

  “Thank you.” I nudge her and Rinni looks at me in surprise. I flash her a bright smile. “I appreciate the effort.”

  A faint blush crosses her cheeks. Is she shocked by someone paying her a compliment?

  “In any case,” Rinni says hastily. “We’re here.”

  “Here?”

  “The best cabinetmaker in Quinnar.”

  The cabinetmaker’s shop is filled with showpieces and books with diagrams of intricate furniture. Sawdust floats in from the woodworking room in the back, resulting in the cabinetmaker fastidiously dusting his counters. I decide on a few pieces that he already has pre-fabricated, rather than going for anything too custom.

  “I suspect he knows who I am,” I say to Rinni as we leave the shop.

  “Maybe, likely, especially after seeing me with you, but he’s from a long line of cabinetmakers,” she says. Why am I not surprised? “They’ve been working with the castle for generations, so I trust his discretion. I wouldn’t have brought you there if I didn’t.”

  We’re halfway back to the castle when she pauses. “Oh, here, there’s something I want you to try.”

  We navigate through the flow of people out on the street. In the daylight, Quinnar is a completely different city. Elves bustle about, carts line up in front of shops: people selling everything from food, to jewels, to suspect potions that have me curling my nose.

  Rinni leads me to a cart where a woman is grilling dough on a flat griddle. Rinni orders two and the woman takes the small cake, slices it in half, and fills it with cheese. After another minute on the grill, the melted concoction is handed over to Rinni.

  “Here. They’re one of my favorites to grab whenever I’m out patrolling the city in spring,” Rinni explains as we head over to the lakeside, sitting on a bench. “They start making them leading up to springtime rites.”

  “What are springtime rites?” Harrow mentioned them before.

  “A large festival of the arts to welcome back spring to the world. Usually the borders of the kingdom are opened…likely why the delegation from the fae is here. There will be music, and dancing, performances, singing and poetry.” Rinni sighs wistfully. “You’ll love it. And then, on fire night, the sky itself is the canvas and the Elf King paints blazing colors across it.”

  “Literally?” I can’t help but ask.

  “Of course.” Rinni laughs. “Eldas is the closest to the Veil and the strongest among us. There’s almost nothing he can’t do.”

  I try and imagine Eldas painting with fire in the sky, his nimble hands commanding magic with the skill of a weaver on their loom. Rinni looks up, as if she can already see the glowing strokes. There’s admiration in her eyes. It makes my stomach twist, a sensation I promptly ignore.

  “When does it happen?”

  “Usually a week or two after the coronation.”

  “Oh.” I stare at the food in my hands and suppress any glumness. I don’t need to see Eldas make fire sky paintings. I need to go home. I need to tend my patients. In fact, I don’t want to see the springtime rites. Because, if I do, I’ve stayed in Midscape too long and I can never really return to my world again.

  “Is something wrong with it?” Rinni asks, pointing to the fried dough and misreading my expression. “I promise it’s good.”

  “Oh, I’m sure.” I quickly take a bite. The cake is crisp on the outside but soft and fluffy on the inside. The charring on it adds a nice bite to what tastes like the corn base of the dough. The cheese strings between my mouth and the cake as I try and tear off a bite, prompting laughter from both Rinni and I.

  For a moment, I forget who and where I am.

  By the time I realize I’ve forgotten, the cheesy griddle cake is gone and the carefree moment with it. But, briefly, things weren’t so bad. They weren’t bad at all. I was eating delicious food and laughing with a friend. We were enjoying the weather and the quiet bustle of the city around us.

  It was accidental happiness. A brief glimpse of what my life could’ve been like…maybe should have been like, if I had been prepared for this all along. If I had come here ready to be the queen, I wouldn’t be spending my time looking for a way to break the cycle. Instead I would be finding ways to explore and enjoy my new circumstances.

  I sigh as my gaze drifts back to the opening in the mountain that leads through the Fade.

  “We should get back to the castle,” I say.

  “Yes, before someone sees you.”

  We start heading back in earnest. Until something catches my eye, stopping me in my tracks.

  There, in the back of an alley between two buildings, is Aria. She talks with shifting gazes and nervous glances to a lithe creature that has two deer antlers sprouting from the top of his head and dragonfly wings. I see the horned man hand over a small pouch to Aria.

  Then, her eyes meet mine. She freezes and I quickly turn away to take several quick steps and catch up with Rinni.

  “Are you all right?”

  “Yes, fine.” I lightly pat the brim of my hat, feeling for any stray strands of hair. There’s no way she noticed me in this getup, right? “I thought I saw something strange. But there are many strange things here, for me.” I force a smile and Rinni grins.

  “We’ll be back in the castle soon.” She nods at the looming castle ahead of us and takes two eager steps ahead. “That’s at least a little familiar—”

  A blur in the corner of my eye solidifies into the weight of a shape behind me. A hand clamps a wet cloth over my mouth before I can say anything. The scent of something sharp and tangy fills my nose and I quickly hold my breath on instinct.

  But it’s too late.

  I don’t know what concoction the rag has been soaked in but it’s not good. My muscles begin to go limp and my vision blurs. My lungs are already burning from holding my breath. But I can’t take another gulp of air. If I inhale any more, I’ll slip out of consciousness.

  I lose sight of Rinni as I’m dragged between two buildings.

  I’m not even able to scream.

  Chapter 19

  Farther and farther, I’m dragged off the city streets. The bright sunlight of the day is dimmed. A silhouette appears before me—horns and sharp angles, gossamer wings that stretch unnaturally out from his back.

  That creature I saw with Aria.

  “Keep holding, she’s still awake,” a man snarls.

  I blink slowly and fight every instinct to inhale gulps of air. My lungs are revolting. I’ll have to breathe soon. Hopefully, if they think I’ve passed out, they’ll remove the rag.

  As naturally as I can manage, I finally shut my eyes and allow my body to go heavy. Eldas had said there were enemies. Why didn’t I listen? Why didn’t I take it more seriously?

  The movement stops as I hear shouting in the distance. It’s garbled, frantic words. The darkness behind my eyelids is quickly becoming more than pretend. I will pass out soon.

  Yet, right when I think I’m about to lose my battle for consciousness, the rag is removed. I fight every urge to gasp in fresh air, instead inhaling slowly so I don’t alert my assailants.

  “Go and throw them off the trail.” My eyes are still closed, but I can recognize the horned man by voice alone. “I’ll hide her.”

  “You don’t have any ritumancy prepared,” another voice hisses, so low that I can barely hear the words. Ritumancy was the wild magic of the…fae?

  Is it Aria? I think the speaker is a woman…but I can’t be sure. There’s more movement. Are there three, or four people here now?

  My heart thunders in my chest. I want to call for help—for Eldas. He walked through the Fade itself and found me when I had tried to run away. I don’t know how the Fade works, but he’ll come if I call, right? I doubt it…there’s no way he’d hear me. He thinks I’m still safely tucked away in his castle.

  Yet the thought sparks an idea.

 
Rinni has to have looked back and noticed I’m gone. The commotion I hear rising in the distance must be her leading knights to me. I just have to hold on and put up enough of a fight that they can’t take me too far away.

  I can do that much, can’t I?

  Two hands grab me, hoisting me up. I hear the buzzing of mighty wings. My stomach sinks as I’m suddenly weightless.

  Are we flying?

  I crack open my eyes and see the blurred flapping of the horned man’s dragonfly wings. He’s going to fly away with me, I realize. I take a deep breath and think of the square in Capton. I used my magic to turn what human hands made back into the natural world. I turned iron into trees. I turned stone into moss. I can do something to save myself.

  It’s now or never. I open my eyes wide and look up at the face of the horned man. He has yet to notice I’m not as incapacitated as he thought. I’m surprised at how human his face looks, despite his wings and horns. But I don’t allow myself to get distracted.

  I reach for the beaded necklace around his neck and curl my fist in it. He looks down, nearly dropping me. A hiss and a curse escape him.

  Transform, I command, change into vines, tree branches, anything! The beads shudder, nearly coming alive. He jostles me in his arms, straining his neck away. I try and focus on my magic, but I slip from his grasp.

  The necklace breaks and I fall back to the ground, landing with a hard thud. Luckily, I wasn’t too high up yet. But I was high enough that the impact steals the wind from me.

  He lands next to me, stalking over with a snarl. “How dare you, human.”

  I don’t even waste my breath on engaging. My magic might still be too ineloquent for me to command at whim. But I know something else that will heed me.

  Bringing my fingers to my lips, I let out a shrill whistle. “Hook, come!” I shout. The horned man lunges for me as I see the air beside him shimmer. Hook bounds from between the shadows. “Hook!”

  My wolf lets out what sounds almost like a roar rather than a growl and charges toward the horned man. My attacker barely has a chance to react before Hook is upon him. Hook sinks his teeth into the man’s wings and he lets out a scream of agony.