“This is so warm and inviting. You have done well here.” A warmth fills me at her words. “I want to talk to the four of you, but since Orrin is missing you will have to fill him in.”
She walks to the chair near the fireplace and sits, her back straight and legs angled to the side. I don’t think I have ever seen her be anything less than perfect in her posture, appearance or actions.
“As you three know, the talents are starting to go missing. Things are changing. I do not know why this is, but I have my suspicions. I am tasking you four with finding out what is going on and stopping it.”
“Us?” I ask. “What can we do? We have no idea why we are this way.”
Ren smiles kindly at me. “Aislin, have you not learned by now that you are more than just a fairy without wings? You have your own skills, you’re a solution finder, but more, you are pure even in the face of bitterness.”
She looks to Warren, “You also are a solution finder, you seek answers, and you’re a peacemaker.”
Finally, she looks to Puck, who’s looking at his feet. “Puck, you’re the homemaker. You want people to be fed, to be comfortable. With the skills that you three have, plus those that Orrin brings” I interrupt her with a snort, and she gives me a withering look. “You can do this. I will give you what information we have. But, it will be up to you to seek out the answers.”
Warren grabs a leafpad I had sitting on my desk and sits down, ready to listen and take notes. Puck and I sit in the other chairs and wait for Ren to begin.
“Once long ago when I was a young fairy, the old queen was dying. She had her ladies around her and was to pick one of us to be her successor. One lady, Loretta, wanted to be queen so badly that she would do anything to make herself look better to the queen. But the queen was smart and saw through her to the darkness in her heart and banished her from the kingdom. As she was being forced out of the kingdom, Loretta swore vengeance on the whole of Elia.”
Ren paused and looked around at us. “I believe that she has found a way to destroy us. Since you were born, Aislin, we have noticed more and more anomalies in the fairies, some as soon as their petals unfurl. I fear that in the next few years, we will see more talentless fairies and eventually our world will die.”
I look at her in shock. More fairies without talents? And what does she mean when she says they see some anomalies as soon as their petals unfurl? Does that mean there are more fairies without wings? Wouldn’t we have heard about them? Or does she mean something else?
“What do you mean by more anomalies? And what can we do about Loretta?”
“As you know, fairies have all had certain physical traits that are passed down from one to another. We have been seen by the other Empyrean races as perfect, beautiful specimens. To the point that in the past we have been captured to be on show in kingdoms. The treaty that the Brownies helped us with, has stopped that practice, along with the fact that if we are captured, then there is no one to help the seasons change, to harvest pollen, etc.
But over the past twenty years, more and more of the young fairies are different. They don’t follow the traditional fairy traits, slender with flawless skin and a beauty that surpasses all other races. More of our fairies appear . . . almost human. With their shapes and sizes varying, needing glasses or have other human characteristics.
While none of these things are bad, in fact it is good that we learn to accept all fairies, no matter their appearance; I am afraid more and more fairies will not have a talent.”
I ponder what Ren has said and something is niggling at me. I slowly talk, almost to myself. “But Ren, if the three of us do not have a talent that is recognized by the fairies, could it be that we have other talents?”
Ren smiles at me and nods. “Yes, Aislin. You are right. There are many more talents than just what we have houses for. And maybe it is time for the fairies to adjust. But we still do need talents to harvest, to paint the spring, to bring in winter. One day, I hope to have all the talents have houses. But for now, we need to stop Loretta.”
Warren speaks up, “How do we stop her? And where can we find her?”
Ren stands up. “All I can tell you is to look in the Dark Briar Forest. And it will be up to you four to figure out how to stop her. Now, I think it is time for you to be on your way. By the time you get back, your homes will be ready.” She walks to the door and turns back to us, “Remember to trust each other and use your skills wisely.”
Chapter 8
“WHAT THE HELL ARE WE supposed to do? Traipse through the woods with no plan?” Warren paces the room, agitation in every step.
“She did tell us to go to the Dark Briar Forest. Maybe there is something there that will help us figure out what is happening.” I say, trying to be an optimist.
“Oh yes, and that is so easy to get to. First we have to cross the sea and then get through the various kingdoms without being caught.” Warren gives me a scathing look.
I want to hit him right in the nose, this defeatist attitude is more typical of Orrin, not the sweet Warren that I have been getting to know.
“Well, we have a boat, so getting to the mainland isn’t a problem. Getting through the kingdoms will be more of an issue, especially as we will have to avoid becoming someone’s play toy.” Being a fairy is wonderful on our island, but once we leave, we face struggles that others don’t. When you are one-fifth the size of the other species, you face obstacles that others don’t even think of. Add in that the other species want to keep you as a glorified pet, to use your talent to their advantage . . . .
“I can deal with our meals as we go,” Puck volunteered. “I can bring some things, and forage the rest. But I won’t be much help otherwise.”
I look over at him and smile. “My stomach will be thankful that you’re providing our meals. Can you get what you will need? We can split it up between all of us”
He nods. “I think there are some packs at the main tree. I’ll flit over and see if I can get four, plus whatever I need.”
After he leaves, I walk over to my desk and rummage through the closet under the stairs. “Where is it? Come on! I know it has to be in here!” I start pulling papers out and throwing them over my shoulder. Finally, at the very bottom of the cupboard I find what I had been looking for. I pull out the yellowed paper and gently unfold it and lay it out on my desk. Once spread out we can see the whole of Empyrean laid out. I stare at the map, even if the borders have changed since this was drawn, the forest hasn’t moved, nor has our island. It’s a long trek between the two with the Dark Briar Forest almost across the whole continent from where we are.
“How long will it take us?” Warren asks, staring at the map, his eyes wide.
“I’m not sure. If you guys fly, it would be faster, but since I can’t fly . . . ”
“What if we could rig a way that we could carry you, all of us? Would it be faster than you walking?”
I ponder his suggestion. It helps that I know he’s not saying anything against my lack of wings, just trying to find a way for us to get through the continent as fast as we can.
“If it won’t tire you guys too much, then I guess it would be faster than just walking. If we had to all walk, then you would tire too quickly as well.” I try to imagine what he has in mind, but can’t come up with anything that three men could carry, everything I think of is for two or four. “What do you have in mind?”
Warren picks up the pen and leafpad and sketches out a carry that the three of them could equally carry some of my weight. Fairies fly more upright than other flying creatures, so the device he has sketched has belts attached to a triangle framework. The points of the triangle has chains that go down to attach to a platform I could sit on. As long as the three of them flew evenly, it would work, but if one flew lower or higher than the others, everything would tilt.
“Do you think it would work?” I ask him. “We don’t really have time to build it, test it, and then modify it. Whatever we do has to be able to work the f
irst time.”
He looks down at his drawing,and I can see him thinking it through. “Maybe the rigid platform and frame isn’t a good idea.”
“May I?” I nod at the pen. He hands it to me, and I sketch a similar design, but this time use rope and pulleys. “This might not be as comfortable for me, but I think it will work better.” What I have sketched is a large triangular sheet with the two holes at each corner. A rope is looped through each corner and attached to a belt that one of the guys would wear. I would sit with my feet at the pointed end of the triangle.
“Yes, I think that would work!” Warren says, excitement in his voice. “And if I remember right, in one of the storerooms is a large sail that would work perfectly. I’ll run and get that along with the belts, clips, and rope we will need.” He gets up to leave and then pauses. The look he gives me is rather sheepish, “ Is-is there anything you need me to grab for you?”
I smile at his thoughtfulness. “No, I will just pack a few things that I might need while you and Puck are on your errands.” He nods and gets to the door before I remember. “Oh, Warren? If you see Orrin, please let him know we leave at first light.” He gulps and nods. I don’t really blame him for not wanting to deliver the message, but Orrin chose not to be here for Ren’s instructions.
Once Warren has gone, I walk around my little house. By the time we get back, I know that the new houses will be finished, and I will no longer stay here. This might be my last time here alone. But the house feels too quiet, too empty. How, in the matter of less than 48 hours, did the guys so fill my house that I now miss their noise, their presence, and, yes, the very guy smells that they had brought in?
I wander up the stairs to my room, the one space that they had not been allowed to enter, well except for when Warren had woken me up. I smile, looking at the space and how it screams me. The bright walls, the window seat looking out over the water, and my comfy bed. I lay down on the bed and pull one of my many pillows behind me and another in front of me so that I am snuggled into a little cocoon. Pulling my blankets over me, I close my eyes and just relax for a little while, enjoying the quiet.
“Sweetie.” A warm hand glides up my leg, and I press into it. “Ah! You like that do you?” The hand glides down my leg and back up, and I push into it again, like a cat stretching to reach the sun. Another set of hands are tentatively set on my breasts, and I arch my back, longing for more.
I hear another voice chuckle, and warm lips settle on the sensitive flesh just under my earlobe. I moan, wanting to feel more. But nothing else happens.
I open my eyes to see a startled Warren and Puck looking down at me. They are frozen in . . . fear? Oh no! Did I dream that? Did they hear me moan? I look down and Puck’s hand is on my shoulder, Warrens’s hand is on my leg. I can feel my face turning red, the heat burning away the arousal I had felt and leaving me embarrassed. I bury my face into my pillow and groan, this time in embarrassment. “Please just go away.”
Puck sits down next to me, “But I want to know what you were dreaming.”
Warren follows Puck’s example and crawls up the bed and sits at my ankle, tracing a pattern over my calf with his finger. “I think I might want to know, too.”
I pick my pillow up and throw it at Warren and then push Puck off the bed. “Go away, you two.” At least, they had taken away most of my embarrassment. “I’ll be down in a minute. Did you get everything?”
“Yeah, we did.” Warren turns to look at me, “Oh, Bray said to tell you she’ll be by tonight, and you are not to leave until she has a chance to talk to you.”
I smile. “Okay. Now go, so I can get up.” Once they’re gone, I put my pillow to my face and scream. Here we are going on a trip together, and they catch me in one of those dreams. I swing my legs over the bed and stand up. I might as well get this over with. I grab my bag and stuff some leggings and shirts into it, as well as some underwear and socks. Pulling my favorite pillow off the bed, I run down the stairs. And I stop dead in my tracks.
My living room looks like the Tree’s pantry has exploded in it, plus the armory, and the odds ‘n’ ends room. “What the heck happened here?” I yell. Three sets of male eyes look up at me with varying degrees of obstinances and embarrassment.
Puck is the first to answer. “Well, once I started going through the pantry and thinking of meals, I started to get more and more food together, then I thought of some of your favorite foods and had to get those . . .,” his voice trails off as he sees me shaking my head.
“Puck, as thoughtful as that is, there’s no way we can carry all this and make good time, especially as you three will be carrying me some of the time. We need to only take the essentials- seasonings, flour, and etc.” He nods his head and starts to rearrange what he had brought into the house.
I turn to the pile of odds ‘n’ ends and know this is Warren’s doing. I look at him and wait for his explanation. “I wasn’t sure what we would need to make the carry seat, or what we would need for tents or for traps and fishing.”
I smile at him, and again shake my head. “At least, most of this will not be coming with us. Once we get the carry seat made, all we will need for tents is some tarps, rope and stakes.”
I turn to the small pile of weapons and Orrin. His sullen expression tells me that this will be a fight. “There is no way we can carry all that.”
“We are going onto the mainland, the one place where almost every kingdom wants us as playthings. We cannot go unarmed or unprepared.” He picks up a bow and arrow, “This will help us catch meat and fight off any who come near us.”
I look at it and see the merit, but I am not skilled in its use. “Can you use it?” I ask him. He shakes his head. I turn to Warren and Puck, who have stopped what they’re doing and are watching Orrin and my interchange. “Can either of you shoot?” They also shake their heads. I look to Orrin, “It stays.”
“Bu—” I grab the bow from his hand and throw it across the room. With my face inches from his, I quietly say, “It stays.” I see his eyes widen and then look down at my lips. He doesn’t look up, but nods his head. I step back, but my lips tingle in unfulfilled anticipation.
“We can only take what we can actually use. We need to move quickly and anything extra will slow us down. Each of us needs to pick one weapon that we can actually use. Also, in each of our packs, we need to have a bowl, utensil, water flask, and bedding.” How is it that I’m the one in charge here? I have never been on a journey, outside of my forays over the island, yet these three seem to look to me. Or maybe I am just taking that role on, afraid to let someone else have control. I kind of want one of them to stand up and take this responsibility from me, but not even Orrin does.
Chapter 9
“LIN, ARE YOU REALLY okay going off with them, all alone?” Bray asks. She had finally come over and we had taken a blanket and gone to sit down near the falls. On the one side of the falls, the water pooled in a large basin, and the sun would warm it throughout the day. By now, it would be nice and toasty, perfect for a swim and some girl talk.
“Yeah, I think I am. I mean, it’s not like I have much choice in it. Ren seems to think that only the four of us can figure out why the talents are missing.” I lay on my stomach on the stone shelf, my legs floating in the water.
“But alone, with three guys? And going onto the continent? I don’t think it has been heard of in our history.”
“I know. I feel like we are the least likely candidates for this. None of us have a talent to help us along. What do we have going for us? Puck cooks, so at least we won’t go hungry. Warren and I can invent things, so hopefully we can figure most situations out. Orrin . . . I don’t know what his skill is.”
“It sounds like you have gotten to know them some.”
“A little. I like Warren and Puck, but Orrin . . . he reminds me of a little boy ready to stomp on an ant.” Bray laughs at my description, but every time I’m around him, that’s how I feel. I’m just waiting for him to stomp on my emotion
s, or worse on me.
“So . . .” Bray pauses and wiggles her eyebrows, “are there any fireworks?”
I feel my cheeks blush, and I splash water over my face. “Fireworks?”
“Oh come on, Lin. You know what I mean. The warm and tinglies, the looks . . .”
“Maybe.” The look she gives me makes me squirm until I give in. “Okay, okay. I might have fallen asleep this afternoon and been dreaming.”
The look she gives me has me laughing. “No, that isn’t the unusual part. The dream was . . . nice. Someone was gliding their hand up my leg, another set of hands were on my breasts, while a third person was kissing my neck. I moaned in my sleep, and that was when I woke up. Warren and Puck were both standing over me, shaking me awake. Warren had his hand on my leg, Puck his hand on my shoulder.”
“NO!” Bray looks aghast and amused at the same time. She finally decides on laughing. “What did you do?”
“I asked them to leave. Instead, they wanted to know what I was dreaming about.”
“Please tell me you told them. NO, tell me you showed them!”
“BRAY! I could never do something like that.” I’m mortified at her suggestion, while at the same time I can feel this molten core deep inside of me turning into a pool of desire.
“Lin, you need to stop being so shy. Guys are interested in you, especially your guys. Have you seen the way they look at you?”
I shake my head. She has to have been hitting the Frost juice again. The potent juice is the only thing that could have given her these crazy ideas. “You’re crazy, Bray, there’s no way that any guy is interested in me. I have too much of everything. The guys can forgive a little too much curve if you have the hourglass figure; too much boob, if the rest of you is skinny; too much booty, if everything else is proportioned. But me, I got it all. No guy will ever want all of this.”
Bray just shakes her head at me. “I will never be able to convince you of this. Just keep an open mind on this trip, to what the guys might be feeling towards you. You are beautiful inside and out. Let them see the real you, and don’t push them away.”
Finding Her Wings Page 4