Once

by Alyson Serena Stone

  Honeylashes stopped next to Amberfall. "See, you had nothing to fear."

  Amberfall flapped her wings, heading toward the growing cheers. "It's not over yet!"

  The colours started to get brighter as she flapped herself forward. The wonderful banners of all of the great Houses lined the crowd, beating ever so gently in the calm winds. Up on the arms of adults, the children held balloons the princess's face drawn on them.

  Amberfall pushed her way above the crowd. The great doors were already open and the royal family stood in front, waving at the crowd.

  Amberfall's eyes scanned the crowd as she dug into her magic. The only fairies that she could sense were herself and her sisters. She could not be sure that Nightstone was not able to hide her magic, but she just could not be sure.

  King Rauffe raised his hand as the crowd grew quiet. "Honourable guests! We have gathered here today in honour of my daughter's naming. We thank you for taking time out of your bust schedule to be here with us on this amazing occasion." He paused and smiled warmly at his family. "It is our wish that you will all follow us into the throne room to greet the new princess and to hear the announcement of her name!"

  The crowd roared as it pushed forward.

  Honeylashes put an arm out to stop Amberfall from flying forward. "You must remember that we are also here to give the princess our gifts."

  Amberfall gave her sister a long look. "I know that, but we first must save them!"

  Purpleflash sighed as she followed her sisters into the castle.

  Amberfall flew high above the crowd. The number of guards began to thicken the closer she got to the throne room. However, none of them noticed the three fairies. Amberfall was about to curse at them whenever she caught eye of the cameras following her every movement.

  Good, at least there was some kind of protection besides these useless guards.

  The king and queen were just settling into their seats when Amberfall landed in front of them. "Forgive me," she whispered.

  King Rauffe's eyes widened as the sight of her.

  Queen Iseut smiled kindly at her. "What can we do for you, Queen Amberfall?"

  Amberfall bowed low as she sisters fluttered behind her. "We come here with not only gifts, but a warning." She looked the king and queen in the eye. "Nightstone is coming!"

  The man closest to the king frowned. "King Rauffe, you really aren't going to believe the word of a fairy, are you?"

  "Fairies cannot lie," King Rauffe said, holding his hand up. "She is also a queen and an ally."

  The man who Amberfall now recognized as Duke Metody Honoraxe shook his head. "That may not be true about not being able to lie, but it doesn't stop them for bending the truth. Allies change sides all the time."

  Purpleflash flew forward. "Please, let us show you our loyalty by giving your beautiful daughter our gifts. If you find our gifts fitting, then you will know that we speak the truth." Her voice was so small as she spoke the words.

  The duke rolled his eyes. "Your Majesty, there have been rumours of Nightstone for years and, yet, no one has seen her. She lost the war and knows she's been beaten."

  King Rauffe looked kindly down at the three fairies. "Nevertheless, let them see if they can pass the test."

  "Oh, yes!" Purpleflash exclaimed.

  Ambefall gave her sister a dark look, but Purpleflash just shook it off.

  Honeylashes pulled her out her small wand and waved it over the princess. "To you, my little one, I give you the gift of song. May your beautiful voice bring joy to all of those who live in the kingdom for many, many years." Small green sparks flew out of the wand, landing on the princess, who giggled.

  Purpleflash flew forward, her own pink wand gripped tightly in her hand. "Your Highness, I give you the gift of beauty. May your beauty allow you to see the truth and kindness in everyone." She waved her wand, allowing the sparks the dance over the princess in a wave of wonder.

  King Rauffe and Queen Iseut smiled as they nodded to Amberfall.

  Amberfall flew forward, gripping her blue wand. So far, her sisters had given the princess such wonderful gifts, but she just couldn't think of anything. If she messed this up, there would be no going back. The court had to believe her. They just had too, not only for their sakes, but all of fairy kind. The word of the fairies would be considered nothing more than the human word.

  She looked up at the king and queen. "Can I have her name?" She mentally winced as the shaking of her own voice. "It will make the gift mean more if I could have it."

  Queen Iseut leaned down next to Amberfall. "Her name is Jessimond," she whispered. "I will give you the honour of being the first to publically speak her name."

  Ambefall nodded, staring down at Jessimond as she laid in her mother's arms.

  "Well, well, well, what is this?"

  The entire room turned just as the entry way filled with a shadow that extended out into the main room. Those closest to the shadow, stepped back, knocking into the people behind them.

  "Are we having a party and didn't dare to invite me?" The shadow laughed. "I really am hoping that my invitation was just lost in the post."

  "Nightstone," Duke Metody Honoraxe breathed.

  The guards all pulled their guns, pointing then at Nightstone.

  With one final laugh, the shadow slowly crept back toward the entryway, into the shape of a human. Ambefall's eyes widened as the wingless fairy started creeping toward them. She had heard the legends that Nightstone had lost her wings during a great battle after the Warynian Wars with the dark god, Astus, but did not actually believe it until now. Nightstone slowly walked forward, using a large tree-like staff that pounded on the floor like a death march. Her purple and black gown reminded Amberfall of the darkest time of night. Nightstone's hair was piled up on top of her head in bumps that looked like horns.

  Purpleflash and Honeyflash ducked behind Ambefall as Nightstone stopped in front of the royal families.

  The entire guard moved as one, with their guns pointed at Nightstone, who only laughed. "Really, is this the kind of greeting you give everyone?" She shook her head at the guards. "This is really what Trelia calls its' the finest men?" She looked the closest guard up and down. "They are not men. They are boys and boys can be defeated." She waved her arm, sending those closest to her flying back into the crowd. They did not get up.

  King Rauffe got to his feet. "Be gone, Nightstone!" He pulled a gun out of his robe and pointed it at her. "You are not welcome here!"

  Nightstone's laughter rang out over the screams as little black fairies began to circle the hall. "I am just here to give your daughter a gift!" She pointed her finger at the princess. "Sure, the princess will grow in song and beauty! She will beloved to everyone she meets, but it is time for this kingdom to be punished!"

  A guard moved to Nightstone's side, his finger resting on the trigger.

  "I don't think so!" Nightstone screamed as she forced the guard to turn his gun on himself. The guard's eyes widened as his finger began to apply more pressure. The explosion caused screams as the guard fell to the ground.

  Nightstone shook her head as she turned back to the princess. "Now, where was I?" She paused. "Ah, yes! On the night of her sixteenth birthday, right before the sun sets, the princess will prick her finger on the spindle of a spinning wheel and die!"

  Another guard tried to lunge for Nightstone, but with a clap of her hands, the fairy disappeared.

  Queen Iseut got to her feet, holding Princess Jessimond even closer to her. "Get rid of the spinning wheels!"

  The crowd made a great rush toward the doors.

  "WAIT!" Amberfall screamed.

  Everyone turned to look at the tiny fairy.

  "I have not given my gift to the princess."

  King Rauffe gave Amberfall a small smile. "Please, don't take this the wrong way, but I think we have had enough gifts for today."

  Amberfall tugged on the queen's robe. "Please, it can only help."

  The king and queen exchang
ed looks.

  "Okay," King Rauffe sighed. "Just make it quick."

  Amberfall flew up to Princess Jessimond. "I will not hurt you."

  Princess Jessimond smiled and reached up for Amberfall.

  Amberfall smiled warmly down at the baby. " While I cannot undo the curse that has been placed upon you, I can weaken its effects." She pulled out her blue wand and waved it above Princess Jessimond's head. "The curse will not kill you. You will still prick your finger on the spindle of a spinning wheel before the sun sets on your sixteenth birthday, but you will not die." She tried to control her shaking voice, but failed. "You will fall into a deep sleep until you are awoken by true's love kiss." Amberfall waved her wand and blue sparks hit the princess.

  King Rauffe smiled.

  "It's the best I can do," Amberfall whispered. "I'm sorry that I can't do more."

  Queen Iseut knelt down to Amberfall's level. "I know, but it is still better than death. True love does exist and I have no doubt Jessimond will find true love."

  Amberfall nodded. "I hope you are right for everyone's sake."

  Chapter Two: The Assassin and the Captain

  Once upon a time, there were two kingdoms, Xandria and Trelia; each one just as powerful as the other. For hundreds of years, these kingdoms worked side by side in perfect harmony, fighting wars together and supplying each other with resources. That was until the fairies arrived in Trelia to celebrate the birth of their princess.

  Three of the four fairies gave the princess great gifts, but the last did not. This fairy placed a curse on the land claiming that on her sixteenth birthday, she would pick her finger with a spindle and fall into an eternal sleep. The only way to break the curse would be through true love's kiss. The royal family did everything in their power to prevent the curse from happening, but in the end, they failed.

  A great thorn barrier surrounded Trelia, cutting it off from Xandria. Xandria sent legions to try to break the barrier, but each time, they came back defeated.

  Panic arose in the once peaceful kingdom of Xandria. Differences in class and lifestyle created unfixable holes between the rich, the poor, and the nonhumans. For the first time in the history of Xandria, assassins roamed the streets supported by the rich and backed by the infamous Assassin's Guild. The only problem was that no one knew who was friend and who was foe.

  What made everything worse was the fact that the fairy known as Nightstone is still at large.

  Ryanon Cinderspear closed the book as she got to her feet. The noise outside her window made it next to impossible to focus. Besides, she had read this book so many times that she pretty much had it memorized.

  She peered out the window, watching the street urchins beg some rich merchant for scarps, only to be pushed away. Shaking her head, she let the curtain fall. She had been like those children before-before Karlen had found her and shown her the better life.

  Ryanon tied her brown hair back into a lose braid. Speaking of Karlen, there was still the matter of her payment.

  The Assassin's Guild was not a terribly large place, but it was still plenty big enough that it made keeping track of where everyone was rather difficult. The guild was spread out over three warehouses, each one as old and wretched looking as the next. Karlen tried to keep the buildings looking as proper as necessary while trying not to draw attention to themselves. Besides, it did not do well to have a well put together mansion in the slums of the city.

  As Ryanon rounded the corner of yet another creaking stairwell, voices echoed up from the bottom.

  "Are you saying that the rumours are true then?" Karlen was asking.

  "Yes, my father told the council that he believes all the riches are still there, untouched and rotting away. You know how my father is about his wealth," a male said, lowering his voice.

  Ryanon carefully made her way around the steps that she knew would creak. Sometimes it really pay to live in the same house your entire life. The other assassins did not know the secrets of the guild like she did.

  "Yes," Karlen said. Through the floor's cracks, Ryanon could see her boss run her hand through her thick blond hair. "I'm surprised he hasn't tried to personally rob it himself before." She paused. "So, he believes that Trelia was a wealthy as the Duke bragged about?"

  "Yes, he does. Throughout history, it appears that Trelia did always have more than Xandria." The dark haired assassin stepped into view. His dark hair and heavy features made him stand out in the crowd. His beauty made it even easier for him to get wives to tell him of their husbands business. Being the captain of the guard made him the prefect assassin. He was supposed to be the Crown Prince of Xandria, but due to a reading problem, his father had forced him out of the position in favour of his younger brother. His mother hadn't taken too kindly to her favourite son being ousted and had sent him to train with Karlen.

  Karlen smiled at Dak. "And our cut?"

  Dak smiled a sinister smile. "My mother assures me that we will be paid greatly when my father doesn't return for this mission. She would like more than anything in the world for the man to have some kind of freak accident."

  Karlen pulled Dak closer and whispered something in his ear. Nodding, Dak turned and walked out the front door. Ryanon held her breath until the Leader of the Assassins disappeared into her study.

  Ryanon got to her feet and rushed back up the steps without even bothering to hide the thudding of her boots. She paused at the third floor landing, forcing the window open. With one final glance over her shoulder, she darted out the window, stepping onto a small window sill. She forced the window back shut, before turning to look down at the street.

  It stank far worse out here than she had thought. The winds were driving the fishy smell form the harbours into everything. Pulling her cloak up to her nose, she jumped down off the sill and onto the neighbouring roof.

  Tucking in, she landed as smooth as a cat. Getting to her feet, she peered down over the edge. Dak was making his way slowly through the crowds, in clear line of the cameras. Even though he wasn't in uniform, the people around clearly recognized him. Shaking her head and keeping low, she ran across the building to a fire escape on the other end of the roof.

  Gripping the ladder tightly, she began her short climb down. If she had timed everything correctly, which she knew she had, she would intercept him at the next alley. He really was being downright mental for being out here in the middle of the day. It would do him some good to get roughed up a little bit.

  Ryanon stepped out into the busy streets. People were crazy for thinking there was no life Skalavik's slums. In fact, she thought that the slums had more life to them than the rich sector. Her eyes darted around as she took in the many sights. Treasures from all over Eaken were right in front of her. Most people could never afford the goods, but it did not hurt to dream.

  She was going to have to come shopping as soon as she got her payment from Karlen.

  Dak was still walking in a prefect straight line in front of her. The crowd just seemed to part as he made through them. Knowing that kind of people that worked the street, Ryanon really couldn't blame them for getting out of the captain of the guard's way.

  Ryanon winced as yet another person stepped on her foot. People should be getting out of her way; she was a lady after all. Plus, if this kept up, she was going to lose Dak.

  As soon as she was able too, Ryanon ducked down an alley. While this alley was normally busy after hours, it was empty now. Running, not even bothering to hide her footsteps, she darted around the corner to the connecting alley.

  The cameras in these parts were trained not to look at anyone in the alleys. It was the only way that the elites could get away with their illegal activities.

  Ryanon skidded to a stop at the end of the alley, scanning the thick crowds, wincing as a raw fish went flying right in front of her nose. Dak had to around here someplace.

  She moved further out into the street, wincing once again as fish guts caked her boots. She shook her head. Well, that was anothe
r thing that she was going to have to buy.

  Ah, there he was. Ryanon kept her head down as Dak moved closer to her. His hand was resting on his sword, as he glared at the courtesan who was slowly making her way toward him. The known drug lords disappeared into their holes as he walked past them.

  Ryanon kept walking. Dak still hadn't realized that she was almost right in front of him. Some captain of the guard he was.

  With a jerk of her arm, she reached out and grabbed onto him, slowly pulling him closer to her. He reached for his sword, but stopped once he got a true look at her face. "You," he hissed, as he allowed her to pull him into the alley.

  "Yes, me," Ryanon hissed back.

  Dak twisted his arm around so that his nails digging into her skin. "What do you want?"

  Wincing, Ryanon attempted her best to glare at him. "I want you to tell me what you are doing."

  "And why would I do that?"

  She crossed her arms over her chest. "Because we are supposed to be partners."

  He snorted. "Yeah, right. When have we ever told each other everything?"

  Ryanon eyed him. "I could be of some help to you."

  "Or you could just get in the way. Women are not supposed to be assassins."

  She drew back her foot and brought it back hard between his legs. Yelping, Dak fell to the ground. Raising a foot, she placed on it his back. "Don't ever say anything to me like that," she growling, placing a knife under his chin."You would never think about saying anything like that to Karlen and I expect you to show me the same respect."

  Dak tried to rear up, but her boot was positioned in the just the right place that made it impossible for him to do so. "You bitch," he hissed.

  Ryanon dug her knife down a little harder on him. It would do him some good to lose some blood. "That is not nearly as bad as what you called me earlier. I can do anything better than you can, so you just remember that." She removed her boot and knife, letting him up.

  He got to his feet, rubbing his throat. Ryanon smirked at the sight of blood when he removed his hand. "I don't have to tell you anything. If I turn up dead, people will come looking for you."