Nightsong

  Celia beamed as she spotted me. “Sabyr! Emi is really in one of her moods.”

  “We’ve tried talking her out, but she’s as stubborn as usual,” Kariss added.

  I banged on the door with my fist, “Emi, we do not have time for this!”

  No response.

  “I guess it’s time for a little more force then.”

  With a swift hard kick to the bottom of the door, it swung open, and the three of us stormed into her room. Celia and Kariss made their way to the windows letting the sunlight in the room. Emile hissed in her bed and pulled the covers over her head.

  “Get out, Emile Feros or I will drag you out!” I growled.

  “No! I’m not going!” Emile screamed in return.

  I reached under the covers and grabbed her ankles. Kicking and screaming, I pulled her out from the sheets onto the floor. Emile sat on the carpet, pouting like a child. Pulling Emile to her feet, I began to strip off her nightwear.

  “Stop it!” Emi wailed.

  “If you act like a child, then I will dress you like a child! Celia, pass me her dress.”

  Celia handed me a short-sleeved, sky blue lace dress. My goodness, there was no way Emile picked this gown. With reluctance, Emile began to dress. Kariss passed me a damp cloth, and I began to wipe her face. She looked like she was about to cry.

  “Sabyr, why did you let them do this? Why did you agree with them?” Emile whined.

  Sickness rolled in my stomach. “We’ve been through this, Emi. You need to accept it,” I said.

  “I can’t marry some terrifying monster!” she spat.

  “Just be your usual self, and you’ll scare him off in no time,” Kariss giggled.

  “Kariss!” I hissed.

  Vilya marched in with her hands filled with brushes and blue ribbon.

  “Perfect timing, start on her hair. I’ll take Celia and Kariss over to the grand hall,” I said to her.

  Vilya nodded and started to work, weaving ribbons through Emile’s curls. Celia, Kariss, and, I moved to the door when Emile called.

  “Careful, Kariss, or you’ll fall out of that dress,” she said. Celia stifled a giggle while Kariss huffed and stormed off.

  By eleven, my sisters and I made our way to the great hall. Beneath woven wood arches, we walked through the entry, our footsteps tapping on the rich redwood floor. The great hall was ancient, the very first building in Ahnell. Its design was as unique as its origin. Living trees served as pillars and supports. Thick vines created window frames while flowering creepers ran over most of the walls. Far more beautiful than any painting in the castle. It was a building entwined with nature, much like our people had once been.

  A few of the trees had been decorated for the occasion, most bearing the banners of our house, a budding flower atop curling antlers. Silver and blue ribbons encircled the tree trunks. Bells and stag ornaments hung from their branches. A splendid sight, to be sure, but all paled in comparison to what stood at the back of the hall. Estara the first. She was an oak tree of grand proportions, towering higher than any tree in all of Seranel.

  It was said that Estara was the first tree to ever be planted by Arndell’s hand. Each ruler handpicked by him had their name carved into its boughs. But that honour had vanished lifetimes ago. Our rulers were now a subject of lineage and bureaucracy. Their names had been carved into the tree by human hands, and many were but a stain on Estara. But not Elren.

  Beneath the tree, Elren sat upon the throne carved into the grand oak’s trunk. He wore a fine tunic of silver and midnight blue and, upon his head, the crown of Seranel. It was a delicate weave of silver branches and antlers. He smiled at us as we approached, and despite my current bitterness, I couldn’t help but smile back.

  Elren was a good man, a good king. Just like his father. He cared not for parties, jewels, and other frivolous things. He cared not for the women who flaunted for his attention. All he cared for was the wellbeing of the kingdom and us. Elren had barely spent a moment away from trying to improve our realm. He had managed to convince even the most selfish of Seranel’s highborn to assist with the famine, and much of our resources had gone to the cause. Mother would have been proud.

  Approaching the dais, I ushered my sisters into position on Elren’s left. Wickam, Dion, Kero took their place to his right, and I took mine next to Kero. Within an hour, the hall was filled with men and women of all class, eagerly awaiting the procession. At last, a trumpet sounded, and the great hall doors rolled open.

  Illyd guards began to roll in. Dressed in black, violet, and silver armour, they walked up the aisle in twos, splitting off to stand on either side of the walkway. Already I could see the various unusual forms the Illyd took. Tails like barbed steel, furry ears, scaled wings, and more in all manners of colours. It was said that Circae had not been content in creating a single form. So unlike the rest of the races of Ahmanrah, the Illyd people were made up of multiple sub-races. Some were so different, it was hard to believe that they were made by the same hands.

  At last, our crier began to announce and welcome our visitors. “From the far north, in the land of shadows. We welcome the Circle of the Umbral Moon. Presenting, Lady Ophelia Orlyn. Advisor to King Raest Nightsong.”

  Dressed in a mauve silk gown, possibly the most beautiful woman I had ever seen began gliding towards us. Gasps and chatter sounded as the tall, likely six-foot woman trailed in. Her skin was a pale blue like the ocean, and she had eyes to match. Hair of lavender was curled and tied around her crown. The rest cascaded down her back and shoulders. Curious of all, her ears were webbed like something from the sea. This woman looked like a Maeyr, a Siren from a land far, far away. How could she be part of the Illyd council? Perhaps she was only half Maeyr.

  The woman walked in front of us and bowed deeply. In the corner of my eye, I could see Kero blush. I struggled to stifle a giggle. With a graceful stride, the Maeyr moved to the left and took her place. The crier continued.

  “Lady Verona Atrix. Chief of Intrigue.”

  A woman far shorter and burly swaggered down the aisle dressed in some sort of dark grey combat gear. Strawberry blonde hair contrasted with light brown skin. Her head was shaved partially, leaving one side to hang just below her shoulder. Atop her head sat two fox-like ears, and a bushy tail swayed behind her long grey coat. Her eyes were a colour I had never seen before. Almost maroon. However, the left eye was unmistakably murky, perhaps to blindness. A deep scar ran across her nose. This was someone familiar with combat. Approaching the front, she gave us the briefest of nods, then joined Ophelia at the side.

  “Lord Nyx Astrana. High General of Naedis.”

  Taller than Ophelia by a few inches, a man with dark silver skin entered. He was pretty for a man, and many women in the hall noticed, giggling and whispering as he walked. Dark mail hung over a light shirt, and atop his chest sat a tabard, bearing the Naedis sigil of the umbral moon. His spiked white hair hung messily over his face and beneath the locks, long pointed ears jutted out from the side of his head. They were similar to the ears of an elf, except they were downturned. A small tail of his mane was tied to one side and draped over his shoulder.

  For a general, his appearance was off, to say the least, and he walked with a surprisingly casual gait. It was almost cocky. As I stared and continued to judge, the man tilted his head up and flicked the hair from his face. Eyes of lilac pierced through, utterly mesmerising, and before I realised, his eyes met mine. The Illyd smirked at me, fangs flashing. I blushed madly as I averted my gaze. Kero chuckled next to me, and I clenched my fist, resisting the urge to punch him. Nyx approached the dais and gave a nonchalant bow before taking a spot next to his colleagues.

  “King Raest Nightsong. Ruler of Naedis.”

  At that call, every head in the hall turned to the entry, and a silence ensued. Almost as if he were floating, a man taller than Ophelia, taller than Nyx, stepped into the hall. I couldn’t mask the awe on my face. This man was beautiful, the envy of every woman and ma
n that laid eyes upon him. His skin was like moonlight, and his eyes like ice, both in colour and demeanour. Long, layered robes hung across his lean body. They opened just slightly below the neck, revealing a toned chest. The ebon fabrics shimmered amethyst and silver, like stars on a night sky. Hair, the colour of violet-black, spilled over his shoulders and down his back. A little ran over his face, partially covering the moonsilver diadem that hung above his brow, the mark of his rule.

  With grace and poise, he continued down the aisle, his eyes pinned to Elren. It was so quiet I could hear the gentle clink from his silver earrings as they swayed in his sharp downturned ears. Ears just like Nyx’s. He stopped three feet before my brother and gave a shallow bow. Elren returned the gesture.

  “Welcome to Ahnell, King Raest Nightsong. It is a pleasure,” Elren said.

  A voice like silk slithered out from between fangs and pale lips. “We are soon to be family. There is no need for titles,” Raest smiled.

  Elren smiled back uneasily and turned to us. “This is my chief counsel, Marthas Wickam.”

  Wickam bowed towards Raest, and the Illyd nodded in acknowledgement.

  Elren continued. “These are my three younger siblings and councilmen, Dion, Kero, and Sab,”

  “Sabyr,” Raest interrupted as he showed recognition of my name.

  He began to walk over to me, and I couldn’t stop my heart from beating in fear. Even with that beauty, he gave off this cold and menacing aura. A foot away, he loomed above me. Only five foot ten, I felt so small. Smaller still under his sharp gaze. I brought my eyes to his and fought to keep them there. To my surprise, I found warmth.

  “You must be Ysara’s. I once knew her well. She was a wonderful woman,” Raest said.

  My eyes widened as questions began to flood my mind. How did he know my mother?! No. This wasn’t the time or the place.

  “I am, my Lord. Thank you for saying so,” I said as I went to bow, but my hand was seized.

  Raest’s surprisingly warm hand brought mine to his lips. Red ran across my face, and I gaped speechlessly. Planting a firm kiss on my hand, his eyes returned to mine, and he spoke.

  “Please. Raest will do.”

  We stood there lingering a little too long until Kero coughed.

  I gently took my hand away. “Of course, Lord, I mean, Raest.”

  The name felt strange on my tongue. As I broke eye contact, there was a mixture of surprise and disgust on the faces in the room. No one had treated me, the halfling child, as a Lady before. I guess I wasn’t the only one surprised.

  With a gentle nod, Raest moved to my sisters. Elren announced them one by one, and Raest greeted them the same. Kariss could not stop smiling. Celia was painted red. Even Emile was entranced, showing little resistance to the greeting.

  “Now, you must all be exhausted. We have prepared the guest wing for your entourage, and tonight, we have a feast prepared in your honour,” Elren declared.

  “You are a most gracious host, and I look forward to the festivities. It has been a long time since I enjoyed the company of Seren Kel. But first, let us have a chat before I retire, brother to brother. We have much to discuss,” Raest smiled.

  “Very well,” Elren replied, a little nervously.

  “Wickam and Dion. Will you escort our other guests to the guest wing? Kero, you can start to oversee the preparations for tonight. Sabyr, see to the girls,” Elren ordered.

  We all nodded, murmured our replies, and set off to our tasks. I wanted to go with Elren, but I’d never undermine my brother. The great hall had begun to empty; the three girls were quietly chatting amongst themselves.

  “Come on, time to return to the rooms. I have to get you girls prepared for the ball tonight,” I said.

  “I can’t believe you’re only giving us five hours to prepare!” Kariss exclaimed.

  Celia giggled as I raised an eyebrow at Kariss.

  “What?! Did you see how immaculate Raest and that Ophelia were! I’d need days to compare,” She pouted.

  “I can’t believe you’re going to make me wear two dresses in one day,” Emile scowled.

  I rolled my eyes in response and led the three towards our rooms. The three girls continued to chatter.

  “I’m surprised that Ophelia lady isn’t his wife! She’s so pretty,” Celia laughed.

  “She probably isn’t his type. Not everyone wants a large hipped, swollen chested sea cow,” she muttered.

  “Kariss! For the love of Arndell, will you please be quiet! We don’t need to be insulting his circle,” I snapped.

  “What would Raest think if he heard that?” Emile jeered.

  Kariss grasped at her mouth, red and gobsmacked. I shook my head. Sometimes that girl is talk first, think later.

  “I have to admit he wasn’t what I expected,” Emile continued.

  “He seemed pretty nice, didn’t he, Sabyr?” Celia said.

  My shoulders went rigid as I thought of what to say. I wanted to tell them that we had only just met Raest. I wanted to tell them not to be so trusting. I wanted to tell them to be careful. But I also didn’t want to frighten them.

  “It was a good start, I suppose,” I replied.

  “A good start! He was positively charming and so beautiful. Could you imagine the children from him?” Kariss grinned.

  I almost lurched to a stop.

  “Oh, Sabbie, don’t be a prude,” Kariss smirked.

  “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, shall we?” I scoffed.

  The three girls giggled at me. We were finally at our rooms. Thank fuck for that. This talk was starting to make me feel uneasy and ill. They were all warming up too quickly to this arrangement, and the thought of them being harmed was sickening. Monsters don’t always have ugly faces. It was far too early to trust a powerful stranger.

  “I’m going to rest for twenty, and then I’ll be in to help. Please at least have started your bath by then,” I said.

  The girls nodded and entered their rooms. I pushed open the door, pulled off my vest, and threw myself onto the bed. Only half the day was gone, and it had already been exhausting. My mind drifted back to the encounter at the great hall. I had so many questions. Raest and his circle had not been what I expected. If Raest knew my mother, he was far older than he appeared. A Seren Kel’s lifespan is lucky to reach a hundred. Those with magic in their veins could live into the hundreds. But an Illyd, much like the elves, were ageless. Only wounds and rare diseases could end their life. I groaned. That thought just brought more questions. Why pick a wife that was so… temporary? I pulled a pillow over my head. There had been kindness in his eyes. A part of me wanted to trust him. A part of me wanted things to go as planned.

  Chapter 5

  After rolling out of bed, I helped my sisters prepare as promised. Before the feast, Elren called his council to inform us about the discussion between kings. To the amazement of all, Raest had already delivered on his promise. Guards had been sent to the bordering towns. The first month of supplies had been brought with them. He had even brought in a small group of his military tutors to help train our men. This was more than I had ever dreamed. My uneasiness hadn’t lifted, but I was beginning to wonder if Elren was right.

  The night rolled in, and the feast began. Raest sat next to Elren on his left, the rest of his circle followed. Our family was seated to the right. Raest and Elren seemed to chat merrily, but to my building frustration, I couldn’t make out a word. The hall was so noisy. The chatter and music engulfed everything. I had to be content with the information my eyes delivered. Verona was the furthest away. She sat stabbing a leg of ham with a large knife, looking displeased. I hadn’t seen her speak to anyone yet. I gathered she was as fond of this noise as I was. To her right, Ophelia sat talking to Nyx, who was next to Raest. She smiled and occasionally rolled her eyes at him. They almost spoke as perhaps Kero and I did. Siblings perhaps. I tried to read Ophelia’s lips, but a head bobbed in the way. Sharp fangs grinned at me. I almost spat out my wine. Nyx had fucki
ng caught me again. He gave a little wave as Ophelia smirked at me. I quickly turned to watch my sisters, praying that neither of them came over.

  Emile sat picking at her food while Kariss babbled in her ear. Celia was folding napkins into swans. Kariss had changed into a violet dress, insisting she wear Raest’s colours. Somehow the cleavage on this dress was even deeper. Celia wore a spring green dress to match her eyes, and Emile had been forced into a dark blue organza gown. Three pretty little princesses.

  I turned my attention to the crowd. Eating, drinking, and laughing. Some were already dancing. I couldn’t help but notice some of our people were getting cosy with the Illyd. I grimaced. I was a royal halfling and still treated poorly by some. I dread to think what life someone else might have. But perhaps, this mixing would eventually allow people like myself to be accepted. I shrugged off the thought. The wine was getting to my head, and I needed air.

  Dion and Kero chattered next to me. I waved my hand at them to get their attention.

  “Kero, Dion. I’m going for some air. Please watch the girls,” I mouthed to them.

  They both nodded their heads and returned to their conversation. Wine in hand, I headed to one of the large balconies.

  Relief washed over me as the cool night air kissed my skin, the chatter and music behind me, nothing more than a murmur now. I leaned over the rail and looked down at the gardens below. Even at night, my mother’s roses lay open, their petals shimmering under the moonlight. The sight was breathtaking, but painful. Besides a few paintings, clothes, and jewellery, these roses were all that was left of my mother. The person who made me, raised me, reduced to nothing but memories, flowers, and trinkets. It was like she was barely here at all. Had my mother made it to the Erohk, the afterworld, with the gods missing? Did anyone anymore? My mother’s garden no longer brought me the joy it once had. It filled me with grief and bitterness, sorrow for her passing, and regret for never pursuing answers about my father.