by Dyan Chick
I wondered if they both led to bedrooms or if whoever lived there had upgraded the cabin enough to have an inside bathroom. As I was staring at them, one of the doors opened and a tall, slender Fae female with dark brown hair emerged. She was indeed wearing a dress with a very low neckline and looked like she had very long legs. My brow furrowed as I realized she looked exactly as I imagined she would.
The woman glided across the floor, her light brown dress grazing the wood as she walked toward one of the plush chairs. "Well, are you going to sit or you going to make me wait all day?" She settled into one of the chairs.
Cormac took the seat next to her and I took the chair across from her. She looked up at me and I realized that her eyes were milky white. I let out a gasp before I could stop myself then covered my mouth feeling bad for my rudeness.
"Yes, I'm blind," she said. "Traded one kind of sight for another. Funny how the fates work."
In the village I'd grown up in, one of the children I used to play with had a blind grandfather. It was amazing the things the man could do without the gift of sight, yet I always felt unsure of how to act around him. Even after years of spending time around him, I still hesitated every time I saw him.
"It's okay, I don't bite," Angela said.
"I apologize for my rudeness," I said.
"I get it. What I'm more interested in is the fact that you knew what I looked like before you even met me. Is that a typical occurrence for you?" she asked.
I could feel Cormac's gaze on me, but I didn't turn toward him for fear of what I would see on his face. Angela's words were so accusatory I was worried I had done something wrong. My pulse rose and a trickle of fear slid down my back. "I don't know how I did that. I've never done it before."
"Why did you bring her here today, Cormac?" Angela asked.
"She's a changeling. We found her being attacked by a Sodalis in the mortal world. And the creatures seem to be drawn to her," he said.
"Changeling. Well, that explains the human smell of you," she said.
"Human smell?" I asked.
"If you ever make it back to the human world, you'll notice. I'm sure you feel much more comfortable now that you're here. More at peace, am I correct?" she asked.
Yesterday I would have answered that question differently, but something seemed to have changed for me today. "Yes."
"Do you know where you came from?" she asked. "Sometimes changeling children are left with trinkets or mementos, something we can use to trace them back to their family. Were you left with any such thing?"
"If I was, it's long gone," I said.
"You do realize that if you have seer blood it could mean one of your parents was from the Winter Court," she said.
"I didn't realize that. In fact, I don't know anything about any of this. It's all brand-new to me."
"You really think a family from the Winter Court would have risked hiding a child in the human world?" Cormac asked.
"I thought we weren't supposed to talk about the Winter Court," I said.
"Aye, so it is that you know some things," Angela said.
"I suppose I am picking up a few things here and there," I said.
"I'm not here about her lineage," Cormac said.
I was curious about my lineage and very curious about where I belonged. So far, it seemed I could belong anywhere. I wondered if that meant that I belonged nowhere. It was bad enough that I'd been hidden away by parents who either didn't want me or felt I was in such great danger they had to hide me. I already felt confused enough about who I was without adding in the element of which court I hailed from. "Does it matter where I came from?"
"It does if you want to learn how to use your magic. But that will come in time," Angela said. "So if you're not here about finding her family, you're here because of the Sodalis."
"I was hoping maybe she could stay with you while we hunted them. They seem to be especially drawn to her and I'm not sure why," Cormac said.
I looked over at Cormac, unable to hide the shock in my expression. I didn't know we were here so he could dump me off on someone else.
"She can't stay here," Angela said.
Relief flooded through me. Angela seemed nice enough, but I wasn't particularly keen on the idea of staying for an unknown amount of time in a stranger's tiny cabin. Plus, there was something unsettling about Angela that had nothing to do with her eyes. Something about her made me uncomfortable.
"Those creatures are going to keep coming after her until you seal the opening they broke free from," Angela said. "And if you leave her here, they'll all start tracking her here. You may even find they make more tears in the Under. That will make your job much more difficult."
I frowned. The way she spoke was so logical and detached. She didn't seem to mind that the creatures might harm me.
"Have you seen something?" Cormac asked.
"I've seen lots of things. But there is something that greatly concerns me. As you know, my visions are constantly shifting, we never know if they'll actually come to pass. However, there's been a reoccurring vision lately and I worry that if you don't get these bat beasts under control, this vision will become reality."
"What did you see?" Cormac asked.
"I see all four courts falling at the hands of monsters that have not been in our lands since before the time of the Queens. I see so many tears between our realm and that of the Under that they cannot possibly ever be contained. I see monsters flooding out of Faerie and into the human realm en masse. I see darkness and death and decay."
Icy cold fear spread down my chest into my fingertips and down to my toes. Her words were terrifying and as the wheels spun in my mind, I connected the dots. If magic was real, there was no reason to doubt that this woman could see the future. "I don't understand what this has to do with me."
"You have something the beasts want. Something attracting them. And they're not going to stop until they get it."
"Is sealing the tear enough? Is there anything else we have to do?" Cormac asked.
"With this vision, I don't know what the cause is. But I do know if those creatures are hunting her, they will continue to do so until they have her. You have to seal the tear or more are going to come out. The word is out about your girl and more will come until she's gone."
She looked over at me and it sent a shiver down my spine. Her lifeless eyes seemed to stare a hole into my soul, as if she could read all of my thoughts, my dreams, and my fears.
"I suppose you could sacrifice her now. That might be the easiest and most efficient way to prevent an infestation." Angela shrugged.
"I'm not taking an innocent life," Cormac said. "Give me something else. Something that will help."
I held my breath and gritted my teeth as I tried to swallow back the anger and disgust that had risen into my throat at Angela's cavalier suggestion that Cormac sacrifice me for the greater good. I had no intention of dying. Especially now that I finally found a place where I felt like I belonged. I needed to explore this realm more; find out all of the things that made me unique; find out how my magic worked. And maybe even find out where I came from.
"If you take her with you, it will make the tracking easier. And if she lives through this, I'd say the gods will it."
Angela stood, then Cormac stood as well. I pushed myself to standing and followed Cormac's lead.
"There's no other way?" Cormac asked.
I frowned. Cormac didn't want to kill me, which was a good thing. But he still saw me as an inconvenience. I needed to change that. "I can help. You know I know how to ride and I can help you track these things."
Angela smirked. "Aye, that she can. I can sense that in her. With a little guidance, I daresay she could match your skill level."
Now Angela had gone from suggesting Cormac kill me to suggesting Cormac teach me. While I still hadn't forgiven her for the original suggestion, her new idea was a major improvement. "See? I'm a fast learner."
Cormac grumbled under his breath, but I co
uldn't make out the words. Then he turned toward the door and in two large steps he was at the doorknob. He pulled it open, and turned back to Angela. "It's always a pleasure, Angela."
"Likewise, love." Angela turned and walked away from us without even waiting for us to leave.
I wondered if this was customary of how the Fae behaved or if this was just Angela.
"Cassia." Cormac lifted his chin toward the door.
I followed the silent instruction, relieved to be leaving the cabin. Now I understood why Dane and Ethan wanted to wait outside.
Aside from the way she spoke about me as if I were nothing of importance, Angela left you feeling a bit empty and confused. I couldn't have imagined staying in her house by myself for any amount of time.
As we walked back toward the horses I couldn't help but feel that flip of jealousy again at the idea of Cormac ever being in relationship with that woman. "You and Angela?"
"It was a long time ago," Cormac said. Then he busied himself preparing the horses, clearly not willing to engage in further conversation.
"So I take it that means Cassia is not staying with Angela?" Ethan asked.
"She's going to ride with us. We'll teach her to track, maybe even teach her to hunt or fight." Cormac mounted his horse and looked down at the rest of us. "Are you coming?"
I pulled myself up into my saddle wanting to show that I could do this without help. Cormac lifted his eyebrow and I swore I saw the faintest hint of a smile on his lips. Without another word from him, he took off, and the rest of us followed behind him.
Chapter Fifteen
Cormac stayed just ahead of us as we continued to ride down what seemed to be the only road in the Autumn Court. As we rode, I wondered how much longer we'd have to go before we ran into any other signs of life. We were going too fast for me to notice the details in the trees, but even if I could just catch a glimpse of a chipmunk or a deer or a squirrel, I would feel much better.
I was surprised the horses could sustain this pace for so long. I was starting to get sore from the ride, but I would never admit that to Cormac. Finally, after what felt like hours in the saddle, he slowed and I caught up to him. Ahead, was the first fork in the road we’d encountered since we began this journey. To the right, I saw signs of life and made a happy choking sound as I subconsciously turned my mount toward civilization.
"Wait here," Cormac said, halting his progress.
I stopped next to him and turned to look for Dane and Ethan. They were surprisingly far behind us and I wondered if it was a strategy they planned for or if Cormac and I were riding that much faster than them. When they joined us at the fork in the road, they slowed to a stop.
"This is the last town we'll pass through today so we might as well stop at the Inn," Cormac said.
"Perfect," said Dane. "We should make it just in time for supper."
"Always thinking with your stomach," Ethan said.
"Better than thinking with something else," said Cormac.
I turned to look at him. "Was that a joke?"
"An inappropriate one at that," said Dane.
"Let's go," Cormac said.
I stifled a giggle before pulling back on the reins to follow him. It seemed the more time we spent together, the more glimpses of each male's personality came through. They were all so different and I couldn't help but want to get to know each of them better.
In a way, maybe it was a good thing I was stuck on this trip with them. After all, once they sent me to wherever it was I was going to have to go, I wasn't sure how quickly I'd find companionship. Nobody knew me here and the idea of being alone wasn't as appealing as it had been in the beginning. I was in such a rush to get away from my father and the marriage that was being paid for by someone I didn't know, that I hadn't stopped to think about how sad it might be to be by myself, starting over in a new place.
We rode slowly through town, single file down the road. It wasn't much of a town, but it was civilization, which made me happy. Small buildings with storefronts lined the road and as we continued on I saw a crowd gathered ahead of us in what appeared to be a town square.
Cormac stopped his horse and dismounted as we approached the group. I wasn't sure if the tangle of emotions I was feeling was excitement or fear. This was going to be the first time I saw the Fae who lived in Faerie aside from my three male escorts and their servants. I wondered if they looked just like Cormac, Dane, and Ethan. Was everyone who lived here absurdly attractive? Would I see women and children and short Fae and fat Fae and Fae with varying skin colors like I saw at home?
I dismounted and cautiously followed Cormac who wasn't slowing as we approached the group. Clearly, he wasn't concerned about the Fae ahead of us. That helped me ease the emotions inside me away from fear and more toward excitement.
Music filled the air as we drew nearer and I could hear the din of the crowd punctuated with laughter and cheering. Someone noticed our approach and left the gathering to walk toward us. He was in a hunter green tunic and gray leggings, wearing a wide smile with very flushed cheeks. He swayed a little as he walked, a sign that he had been drinking far too much.
As he drew nearer, I noticed the same pointed ears as the other Fae males, though this male didn't have the same chiseled features and good looks that my companions had. He was softer, his face was round and his body was round to match. This was a man who liked his luxury items. He clearly liked to drink and I was sure he liked to eat. He was comfortable and well cared for, likely a man of means who never had to struggle to worry about where his next meal came from.
He stopped when he reached Cormac and the silly grin on his face melted into a more serious expression. He swept his arms wide, bowing low and pausing for a moment before righting himself again. "Your grace, we didn't expect to see you here. We are honored by your presence."
"We're passing through and hoping to stay for the night," Cormac said. "We did not mean to intrude."
"I'm afraid all the rooms are booked at the inn, your grace," the man said. "But if you would be willing to do me the honor, you're welcome to stay at my estate. I'm Nikolai, the mayor of this town. And today is my daughter's wedding."
I tensed, not eager to be participating or witnessing anything that had to do with a wedding anytime soon.
"There are four of us, sir. Do you have room for us all?" Cormac asked.
"Yes," Nikolai said. "You and your lady can take my chambers for the evening and we have guest rooms for your friends."
I coughed as I tried to cover the laugh at the idea of being Cormac's lady. It wasn't that I didn't find him attractive, the opposite was true in fact. I found him incredibly attractive and at the mention of sharing a room with him I found myself picturing what he might look like without his clothes on. The notion frightened me, especially after how accurate the vision of Angela had been prior to seeing her. I squeezed my eyes shut and tried to change my focus, moving away from what I was sure was a very accurate representation of a chiseled chest, washboard abs and a perfectly shaped rear end.
"That's very kind of you, but unnecessary. The four of us can stay in your visitor's quarters."
"And would you gentlemen and lady care to join us in the festivities?" Nikolai asked.
The last thing I wanted to do was sit at someone else's wedding. But before I could object, Cormac nodded. "That would be very agreeable. Thank you for the invitation."
"It is our honor to have you here."
Nikolai clapped his hands and from out of nowhere appeared two smaller Fae males with the same small build as the maids at Cormac's house. Despite the fact that Nikolai was only barely taller than me, these two only came to his shoulders. If it weren't for the look in their eyes and their hardened expressions I would have mistaken them for children. They were dressed in matching blue tunics with tan leggings. The blue of their tunic was the same color as the blue of the dresses worn by the maids. It seemed in the Autumn Court, servants had a dress code. The two smaller males bowed in greeting whe
n they approached us.
"Please see to these horses, you can get them settled in my personal stables," Nikolai said.
The two servants walked forward and took hold of the reins from Cormac and waited for me to hand over mine. I hesitated for a moment, not quite ready to part with the horse that represented my freedom. On foot in a strange land, I couldn't get very far. With a horse I had possibilities.
"It's all right, they'll care for her," Cormac said.
I let go of the reins, but I still didn't feel good about it. I gently stroked the side of the horse and leaned into her. I almost felt as close to her as I had to my horse growing up. "See you soon," I whispered.
Feeling sheepish, I backed away as one of the servants led our horses away.
"I know how you feel," Cormac said. "She is a special horse."
"I never got her name," I said.
"We call her Starlight. The night she was born there was a meteor shower."
"It's a beautiful name. And she's a beautiful horse," I said.
"She's really taking a liking to you," Cormac said. "You can take her with you when you go your own way."
"That's far too generous," I said even as my heart swelled at the thought of having my very own horse again.
"Think nothing of it." Cormac turned away from me, his signal that our conversation was over.
I turned away from him and stared out at the festivities in front of us. People were dancing and passing around giant goblets which I had to assume were full of wine.
The music was cheerful, played by a group of musicians near the center of the crowd. I recognized the sound of the flute and the sound of a fiddle, but some of the other instruments were foreign to me.
Cormac took a few steps away from me then turned back. "You should go and find something to entertain yourself." Then he turned away again and disappeared into the crowd.
"We'll probably be hauling him back to the place drunk off his ass tonight," Dane said. "He's never been good at weddings."