by Allison Rose
There was no sign of Jae. Sevelle fought the panic that arose.
No. You can do this.
Breathing deep, she walked forward into the woods.
Where would Jae go to meet someone in secret?
There were plenty of dark pockets nestled into the thick vegetation of the woods directly around the court. It was this way by design, confusing to any unfamiliar with its twists and turns—or so she had heard from the other courtiers.
She glanced back as her view of the court was completely swallowed by green leaves and twisted branches.
“What are you doing out here?”
Startled almost into screaming, Sevelle whipped her head back around, wings twitching nervously. She glanced around, but she saw no one. She frantically turned in a circle. “Who’s there?”
A soft chuckle came from somewhere to her right, and a section of green moved forward to form into a male faerie, his coloring as green as the leaves around him. The cloth he wore matched his skin so perfectly that she could not tell where it ended or began. His brown hair was secured behind his head.
Sevelle backed up another step. Her eyes found the symbol of the sun on his temple.
She swallowed. One of the rebels? Or a harmless commoner?
The faerie’s gaze did not show any menace, but there was definitely mischief there. He was unarmed, but that meant nothing.
Panic swirled faster and faster within her.
What have I done?
“Well?” he crossed his arms and waited.
She stared blankly, having forgotten the question. “Wh—what?”
“What are you doing out here?” he asked slowly. When she did not reply again, he added, “You are not very good at sneaking.”
“My friend came this way. I came to find her,” she said, her words shaky.
Well, it is the truth.
“And what are the two of you doing out here in the woods around the court in this dangerous time?” the green faerie asked. “Surely you are smart enough not to try to sneak around without an important purpose?”
Sevelle thought about her answer, and why he wanted to know. If he wanted to attack, he probably would have by now.
“We are looking for a way to peace,” she answered, hoping it was both true and vague enough of an answer that it would get him to leave her alone. Or maybe crazy enough that he would think it was best to walk away.
Surprisingly, he smiled, though it was a sideways twisted one that said he found the answer pleasing yet funny. “Follow me,” he said, heading deeper into the wood.
Sevelle’s feet remained rooted to the spot, a warning echoing through her brain about following strange faeries in the woods.
“And why would I do that?”
He turned quickly and advanced toward her. She immediately regretted her statement. Fear froze her limbs as he got close to her face. He stood a head taller, causing him to lean over her.
“Because I know the best vantage point to spy on your friend,” he whispered like he was telling her a secret. Without another word, he turned and headed back in the same direction.
She stared after him, wavering on whether or not to follow. His attitude annoyed her, but he was offering her something she could not refuse. And he knew more than she did. That much was clear from his last whispered statement.
Or he is leading me to my death.
He should recognize me as the heir, she reminded herself. I am valuable. Of course, capturing me is also a possibility if he is a rebel.
In the end, as he almost disappeared into the trees a little way’s off, her gut told her to follow him.
It took all of her concentration to follow the mysterious faerie as he deftly wove among the vegetation, his body almost disappearing before her eyes. She tried to keep her wings from rustling the leaves as she followed, envious of his stealth. He must have an affinity with the land.
The green faerie suddenly flew upward and landed on a high branch, motioning for her to join. She climbed after him, attempting to move through the branches gracefully, though she was not used to trees this wild. He caught her with one strong arm as she fumbled, stepping onto the branch next to him. She sucked in a breath at the contact, mentally kicking herself for not asking his name. At least if he had a name, she might be more comfortable.
Letting go of her, he pointed one long finger to a spot below. Her eyes followed to a small clearing, where she recognized the silver skin and dark wings of her guardian. Jae’s back was turned—and facing her was the faerie of blue and white from the vision.
Sevelle barely held in a gasp.
He is real.
Their words floated up to Sevelle from below.
Sevelle tore her gaze away for a quick moment to thank the strange faerie and almost fell off the branch when all she faced was empty air. She looked around briefly, but he was not to be seen. She turned back to the scene below.
The blue faerie had stepped forward to take Jae’s hand. Shock ran through Sevelle at the action that seemed rather intimate.
They are familiar, maybe even potential partners. And she has never mentioned this.
“Should Sevelle not be the one deciding that?”
A warmth started in her chest at the sound of her name on his lips. Then an appreciation for this faerie rebel spread through her.
He has not met me, and yet he is already concerned for me.
“Yes,” Jae answered, her tone sounding contrite at least.
“Meet me here with your answer at dusk?” the rebel asked her.
“We will be here,” Jae agreed.
Sevelle was just close enough to see the smile on the faerie rebel’s face.
Suddenly he looked up, straight at the tree she crouched in. They locked eyes. Sevelle’s pulse sped up. It felt like staring into the sky on a clear day and the exhilaration of flying all at once.
Still with the smile on his face, he gave Sevelle a nod, spread his wings, and took off into the trees above.
Chapter 10
Jae whirled around, lifting her head to see what Lex had nodded at, and met Sevelle’s gaze.
She swore internally as Sevelle glided down on pink wings. Jae resisted the urge to step back as she took in the mix of disappointment, confusion, and fear—so much worse than anger.
“You are familiar with him,” Sevelle accused. “Familiar with a rebel. And you never said a word.”
“You were not ready to hear it.”
“Were you even going to come back just now?”
“Yes.”
“Swear it?”
“I swear it is the truth.”
There was a pause as Sevelle searched Jae’s face for any sign of deceit. Jae could not tell what she saw there, for her expression remained a mask of bitterness. She abruptly switched back to questioning. “Who is he really? And what have you been doing with the rebels?”
Jae steeled herself for the more unpleasant part of this conversation. “Lex is the son of the rebel leader. I have given them information about the layout of the court and some of its operations.”
Sevelle nearly vibrated with anger. “Are you a part of the blight?”
“No. I don’t even know how the magic works.”
“Still, you have been spying on the court for the son of the rebel leader? Is he your potential?”
Hearing the word potential caused a bitterness to sweep through Jae, for it was something that could never be at this point. She pushed those thoughts aside.
“Are you going to turn me in then?” Jae asked Sevelle. As much as she had tried to mentally prepare for this moment, the force of her fear surprised her.
“What?” Sevelle’s brows creased in genuine surprise. “No.” She crossed her arms. “But they stole all of the court’s Telk. Why?”
Jae let out a breath she hadn’t known she had been holding. Now how do I explain this to her?
“They give them to those that need them—the commoners,” Jae said simply.
“The co
urt gives them to the commoners.”
“Not nearly enough.”
Sevelle simply stared at her.
“I met Lex a few months ago,” Jae explained. “He sought me out. And I agree with everything he does. We are all on the side of restoring balance. You should give him a chance.”
Sevelle’s shoulders relaxed almost imperceptibly at the mention of peace, though the hurt still showed on her face. “What are we to decide before we meet him here again tonight?”
Jae winced. “He wants you to go with him up to the mountains.”
“For what purpose?”
“To seek a peaceful end to the rebellion.”
Sevelle was silent for a few long moments. “I want a solution, but I never suspected this. I cannot be a part of rebel activity. And why should I trust you when you have kept this from me?”
“If I told you about Lex, what do you think you would have done, Sevelle?” Jae asked quietly.
She did not answer.
“You would have reported me.”
Sevelle’s mouth dropped open. “How dare you assume that—”
“It’s true. I had to wait until I felt you were open to hearing it. I had to protect myself.”
“Were you planning to take down the court?”
Jae grimaced. Of course it looks that way.
“No,” she said aloud. “Only to right the balance.”
Sevelle was quiet again. Then she spoke softly, “Given the choice, would you go?”
The question felt like a stab to the heart as Jae was reminded it was not her that would be leaving. But Jae answered, “I would.”
“How can I trust your judgment of him? He is your potential after all.”
A touch of anger colored Jae’s words, “Have I not guarded you most of your life?”
Sevelle’s face softened, and she turned away upon hearing the last part. A small part of Jae felt better seeing her guilt.
“You think I should go with him?” Sevelle reiterated, agony clear on her face.
Jae contemplated her next words carefully. “I think it is an opportunity you don’t want to let pass you by.”
“You would come with me, right?”
“Lex’s plan is for me to stay behind initially to have inside ears at the court and also so that I will not be punished upon our return.”
Sevelle’s grimace revealed she had not thought of that. “So what would the plan be exactly?”
“Lex, along with others named Verity and Couren, would take you up to the rebel territory in the mountains for the duration of the Winds, thus playing into their plan of weakening the court,” Jae explained. “You can meet Lore there and seek a peaceful end to the rebellion. Lex will swear an oath to keep you safe and bring you back after the Winds.”
“I thought there would be some more I could do…more of a plan.”
“It is not much of a plan yet,” Jae admitted. “It is more of a chance. A chance to see all sides of the conflict. A chance to explore other paths to peace. Possibly a chance for you to discover your true power. And it may be the only chance we have.”
“Lex is safe?” Sevelle spoke slowly.
“Yes.”
Sevelle looked directly into Jae’s eyes. “If I go, I think you should come with me. Forget what Lex says.”
Jae blinked. Is she scared for herself or for me?
“The Glorious will send me after you—”
“You’re so sure of that.”
Jae gave her a pointed look. “You are the heir.”
Sevelle’s lips pressed into a thin line. “And what if she does not send you after me?”
“Lex will bring you back anyway.”
Sevelle shook her head. “Not good enough. We both go with Lex or we both stay.”
“You are forgetting the rebels will be losing their contact on the inside. They want me to stay.”
Sevelle shifted on her feet, glancing up at what was visible of the sky. “I’ll decide later. We should get back. Mother and Father ordered the attack to happen earlier now that the Telk has been stolen. And Mother has noticed you are gone.”
A jolt of panic shot through Jae. “You didn’t think to mention that before?” She turned and led Sevelle out of the clearing and back onto a clearer path.
“I told her I rushed off without informing you I was leaving.”
Jae rolled her eyes. “Like she’ll believe that.” Dread started in the pit of her stomach at the thought of going back to the court.
Lex needs me to stay, she told herself firmly as she trudged forward.
Then she stopped and pivoted to face Sevelle. “How did you find me anyway?”
Sevelle hesitated before admitting, “I asked Morlan.”
Great. He better keep this from The Glorious. Or I don’t even want to contemplate what she’ll do to me.
“I didn’t know what else to do,” Sevelle explained.
“He knows so much more about this than I thought.” Jae gave Sevelle a sideways look. “Be careful around him.”
Her eyes widened, and she nodded.
What must it be like to suddenly find so many against you? Jae wondered as she guided Sevelle through the thicker parts of the woods. Then she winced.
That may be me soon.
Chapter 11
Sevelle stared at the Day Court from the cover of the trees. The impressive stone structure and the greenery around it were now fully illuminated by the sun’s rays. From outside, it looked strangely unfamiliar. Only the trees bursting from the garden in the courtyard—now swaying with the wind—reminded Sevelle it was her home.
“How will we get back in undetected?” she asked Jae.
“Hope everyone is too distracted to notice.”
Fear churned in Sevelle’s gut.
I left the court, saw a rebel with my own eyes, and discovered my own guardian is a part of the rebellion—and that Morlan knows about it. I don’t think I can hold up to Mother’s scrutiny should she find out about any of it.
“Mother ordered me to find you and to work on finding my power. Maybe if we enter through the garden, we can say we were there the whole time,” she suggested.
“Are you sure you want to go back?” Jae asked.
Sevelle gave her a startled look.
I could just leave, couldn’t I? But, no. I am the heir.
“The court is in crisis. I at least need to see the state of the court before I decide the best path.”
Jae studied her for a moment, then nodded. “We will have to be quick. Keep low, climb up the far tower where there are fewer eyes.”
Sevelle took a steadying breath.
“Ready?”
Sevelle nodded.
Jae took off in a rush on foot. Sevelle tried to follow closely behind her. They kept to the bushes and vegetation for a time. Then Jae held up a finger. What pattern of the guard’s actions she was waiting for, Sevelle did not know.
“Now,” Jae hissed.
They darted the small expanse of exposed grass to the tangle of bushes and vines that crawled up the walls beneath the far tower.
They scrambled up the vines without pausing. Sevelle breathed in relief as they ducked into the treetops of the garden, the rush of the wind muffling some. She followed Jae to the familiar leaves of her tree and then started to carefully climb down.
Sevelle placed her foot on the next branch, then froze as she heard her mother’s sharp voice.
“Both of you with me. Now.”
* * *
The eyes of the courtiers bore into Sevelle. Her mother had led her and Jae to just beneath the balcony, then ordered the rest of the courtiers to halt their preparations and gather. Even those from confinement were brought to witness. They were gathered on the balcony, the ground floor, the trees—some standing, and others sitting as if the weight of their condition dragged them down.
Sevelle and Jae stood with their backs to the garden. Sevelle’s mother and father faced them, expressions as dark as she had ever seen them.
“You abandoned your court in their time of need,” her mother started, voice cutting into the silence.
Sevelle had been trying to keep her head up, to focus on a vine creeping up the stone wall directly behind her father and not on all the judging gazes, but she hung her head at the words.
It looks like that is what I did, Sevelle realized. What we did.
“What were you doing, Sevelle?” her mother asked tersely. Her power entered Sevelle’s mind and stayed there, weaving through her thoughts.
Sevelle panicked. What can I possibly say that will get us both out of trouble?
“I thought I could learn something that could help,” she said quietly.
“You thought you could learn something that could help,” her mother repeated in a louder voice. She glanced around at the assembled courtiers before abruptly turning her gaze back to Sevelle.
“And what information did you expect to find in the woods?”
“Anything,” Sevelle answered vaguely, eyes on the soil at her mother’s bare feet.
“Did you meet with the rebels?”
Shocked murmurs and gasps came from the courtiers.
I thought I would be punished for not being able to save my court. This is so much worse.
“No,” she answered. At least that is the truth.
“So you abandoned your court for nothing.”
Nothing. The word echoed in her mind. I did not leave the court for nothing. I have not done nothing. I am not nothing.
A seed of determination grew at her core.
Sevelle lifted her head. “If you will allow me to travel to the mountains, there may be a chance to make peace with the rebels.”
A stunned silence fell over the garden. Her father looked at her mother with wide eyes, while the rest of the court shifted nervously.
The magic that remained in her mind shifted and then stilled again. Sevelle saw her mother’s expression turn from shocked to resolved. The magic left Sevelle’s mind abruptly.
“Go then,” her mother said. “Prove you are worthy of your title.”
Sevelle’s mouth dropped open. That’s it? Just go?
Shock registered on the faces of the courtiers as well. Whispers of suspicion and fear rippled through the crowd. Sevelle sought her father’s gaze as her heart pounded.
