Glow: The Revelations of Oriceran (The Fairhaven Chronicles Book 1)

by S. M. Boyce

  “Good job, Victoria,” Fyrn said with a nod, tapping his staff twice on the rocky ground. It seemed to be his version of applause—at least the closest thing to it she would ever get from him.

  “Again,” she said, bracing herself.

  “It's important to rest, Victoria.”

  She dug her heel into the rocky floor, eyes focused on him as she prepared for another attack. “Again!”

  ***

  Audrey jogged to where Bertha and Edgar waited on the sidelines, shoulders heaving as she caught her breath. “How’d I do?”

  Edgar blinked rapidly, his mouth gaping. “How... how did you...”

  Bertha laughed, the hearty sound carrying across the field. “I told you she would be a good fit!”

  “She even caught the green ones!”

  Audrey grinned. Those had been tough at first until she realized the gold irises of their eyes peeking through the grass gave them away. After that, it was cake.

  “You’re just a small human! How did you catch all twelve of those fidgets?”

  She shrugged. “You said those were the rules.”

  Edgar chuckled. “Astounding. Yes, obviously you’re on my team. Don’t dream of going to another one, do you hear? I’ll never win again if you do.”

  Audrey beamed, grateful for the compliment. “What’s our team’s name? The Snarxes? The Trevor Beetles? What’s our mascot?”

  “The Plits!” Bertha clapped her hands together, laughing almost too hard to speak.

  Audrey hesitated, glancing between the ogre siblings as she tried to figure out if it was a joke. “Like the fruit?”

  Edgar rolled his eyes. “I lost a bet.”

  With a chuckle, Audrey shrugged. “The Plits it is.”

  Chapter 22

  Back from her afternoon at the playing field, Audrey effortlessly sliced a melon in half with her new sword, a congratulations gift from Bertha. She smiled, pleased with her progress in weapons training. She had started to turn her chores into training exercises, and it was paying off.

  She wiped the blade on her pants and laid the sword on the table. Gathering the melon slices in her hands, she poured them onto the paper wrapper Bertha had laid out for the customer waiting outside the shop. A few folds later, Audrey hefted the heavy packages of sliced melon in her hands and walked outside.

  A regal elf in an ornate red gown stood with her hands folded in front of her, a warm smile on her lips as Bertha spoke about a recent trip to another city.

  “It was a beautiful kemana, but not nearly as wonderful as our Fairhaven,” Bertha said with a wink.

  “Not much can compete with our fair home,” the elf said, her voice as lovely as her face.

  Audrey smiled and offered the wrapped melon. “Here you go.”

  “Thank you, sweet soul,” the elf said, taking the package.

  “Until next time, Merida,” Bertha said with a wave.

  “Farewell,” Merida said, joining the crowd. She stood out like a sore thumb, a stunning crimson beacon in a sea of green, gray, and brown.

  “Who is she?” Audrey asked.

  “An old friend from my home kemana.”

  “Where’s that?”

  Bertha’s shoulders drooped, and she sighed wistfully. “That’s a story for another time, but I can say I’ll never return. It was overrun, and the ogres were forced to flee. Elves like Merida ensured we could travel safely.”

  “Whoa, heavy. What happened?” Audrey tentatively patted Bertha’s shoulder, but the ability to comfort others didn’t come naturally.

  “We’ll discuss it another day, little one. For now, be grateful for what we have here. Kemanas like Fairhaven are coveted by the powerful. There are those who want what we have, who want to control the city and those who live in it.”

  Audrey watched the crowd as strangers passed, still too many types of creatures to name even though she was getting used to it here. It had never occurred to her that there might be unrest here, or occupation and war. It was such a beautiful, peaceful place.

  “Are you okay, Bertha?”

  The ogre nodded, smiling. “Thank you. I’m fine. You take your break. I’ll watch the front of the store for a bit.”

  “Okay, I will...” Audrey lost her train of thought as a familiar face bobbed through the crowd, and it took her a second to recognize him as the thief Victoria had tackled not long ago. His shifty eyes scanned the crowd and settled on something she couldn’t see. Quick as lightning, he snatched a pouch off a goblin’s waist, fingers apparently light enough that the goblin didn’t even notice. The thief darted through the crowd and slid down an alley.

  “I'll be right back, Bertha,” Audrey said. Before the ogre could protest, Audrey ran into the crowd, chasing him as fast as she could without bumping into anyone on her way. She entered the alley he had taken, a dark place with no foot traffic, just as he turned down another alley not far off.

  Careful to measure her breathing and keep her pace steady, she raced after him, slowing only to carefully look around each corner before she followed. She was gaining on him, only about twenty feet off now, when he paused and jogged up some stairs onto a back porch.

  She slowed, keeping to the building’s wall as she neared.

  “...and the girl?” a familiar voice asked.

  Dread shot clear to her toes as she recognized the voice, and Audrey stopped dead in her tracks. Before she could help herself, fear hit her like a cold wave as she relived her last run-in with the elf she had shot in the bank parking lot.

  Luak.

  “Her name is Victoria Brie. The friend is Audrey, but I haven't figured out her last name.”

  “Where do they go?”

  “Mainly the ogre's shop. Victoria goes off in the mornings, but I can't keep up with her.”

  “And the incident in the gang district?”

  “Yeah, it was definitely her. I saw her myself. She’s a host. I knew she was unnatural.”

  “Tell no one.”

  “But—”

  “No one.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  The familiar clink of crystals reminded Audrey of all the times customers had handed over a small collection of them to pay for the week's groceries. It seemed the thief was being well compensated for his information.

  “What are you going to do with them?” the thief asked.

  Around the corner and thankfully out of sight, Luak chuckled darkly. “They’ll get what they deserve.”

  Audrey tensed. As much as she wanted to kill this guy, she couldn’t face Luak alone, armed with only her sword and a couple days’ training. Footsteps thudded on the stoop, and she pressed herself as close to the alley wall as she could to hide as they left.

  The footsteps faded, but she waited a good five minutes before she headed back to the shop.

  Luak had found them. She had to warn Victoria.

  ***

  Back at home, Audrey aimlessly polished her sword’s blade as she replayed the day in her mind. What a rollercoaster.

  The door swung open and smacked against the wall. Audrey jumped, caught off-guard. Victoria ambled in like a zombie and crashed face-first on the bed.

  “Hello there, buttercup,” Audrey said dryly.

  “My everything hurts,” Victoria mumbled through the comforter.

  “You didn’t think revenge would be a cakewalk, did you?”

  Vitoria pushed herself upright and leaned against the headboard. “Thanks for the sympathy.”

  Audrey blew her a kiss and set her sword aside.

  “What’s that for?” Victoria nodded toward the blade.

  “Bertha’s training me to fight.”

  Victoria quirked an eyebrow. “Bertha can fight?”

  “I know, right? And she’s really good.”

  “That’s awesome. Are you enjoying it?”

  Audrey nodded, smile wide as she relived her first day in the training room. “I swear she has every weapon in existence. It’s like walking into a museum of death.
”

  Victoria grinned. “Sweet.”

  “Bertha also introduced me to a game they play here called Berserk. It’s really fun. She got me onto a team and everything. Since we don’t have our kickboxing classes anymore, I think you should join.”

  “Ha, right. Fyrn would love that.”

  “Who knows? Maybe you could spin it as a training exercise. You’re clever.”

  Victoria chuckled. “If you say it’s fun, I’ll give it a try. What do you do?”

  “Catch little round creatures that look like balls while ogres and elves tackle each other around you.”

  In the stunned silence that followed, Victoria grimaced a bit and stared at Audrey. “This place is so weird.”

  “I know. It’s awesome.”

  Victoria yawned deeply, stretching her arms as she fell back onto the bed. “I’m beat. I think I’ll hit the hay.”

  Audrey’s smile faded. She didn’t really want to share the news about Luak, but Victoria would fall asleep any second, and this couldn’t wait another day. “Wait, I have to tell you something first. It’s bad. Really bad.”

  Victoria sat up, her eyelids drooping. “What is it?”

  “Luak found us. He knows you’re here, and they’re watching Bertha’s place.”

  “Shit.” Victoria rubbed her eyes.

  “Pretty much. What do we do?”

  Victoria’s jaw tightened, and she stared out the window for several minutes without saying a word. Audrey waited, not wanting to interrupt the train of thought puffing down the tracks in Victoria’s brain.

  “We wait,” Victoria finally said.

  “Are you crazy? He knows where we live! Again!”

  She gritted her teeth. “I know, okay? I know. Don’t you think I want to hunt him down more than anything? But let’s be real—he knows where we are, and we have no idea where he is except that he’s close. He must have followed us, which means he can do it again. Our next move should be strategic, and running out of here in the middle of the night would raise flags. I’m not ready to face him yet, and he hasn’t done anything here I can nail him for. He’s likely planning an attack, so we’ll plan our own. We got lucky with this info, but let’s not rely on luck anymore. Deal?”

  “Deal.”

  “I’ll talk to Fyrn in the morning and see if he has more ideas. For now, get some rest.”

  “If you say so, boss.”

  Victoria smirked and threw a pillow at her. Audrey deflected it and sat back on her bed, staring at the dimly glowing crystals that served as her stars.

  Wait for the murderer to plan his attack. What could possibly go wrong?

  ***

  “You want to do what?”

  Victoria cleared her throat and jogged to catch up with Fyrn as he entered the tunnel that would take them to the training cave. “I want to play Berserk. It sounds fun.”

  “You have a painfully skewed idea of what constitutes ‘fun.’”

  “C’mon, you know I’m much better already. I can control the sword and shield. I don’t summon them anymore when startled. It would be good to practice in a public setting so I can get used to being around people again.”

  “I see right through you. You’re trying to sell me on this.”

  She blew a raspberry. “Look, I could just go play without permission, Grandpa Grump. I asked first not to get your blessing but to get your honest opinion. Do you think I’m ready to be around people?”

  He hummed a bit to himself, stroking his beard as his staff tapped the rocky ground with every step. “I think you are, yes.”

  She grinned, grateful she hadn’t overestimated her progress thus far. She jogged ahead, even more excited for today’s sparring.

  ***

  Victoria huffed, chasing after a little golden fidget as it careened across the field. Eyes on her prize, she dove for it and grabbed the little critter in her hands. Hoisting it over her head, she grinned triumphantly. Bertha and Audrey cheered on the sidelines.

  “That’s your third fidget in five minutes!” Edgar shouted, hands on his head in apparent disbelief.

  She bowed. “Shall I keep going?”

  “No, I’ve seen enough. You two are definitely on my team. Who knew humans were so talented?”

  In unison, Victoria and Audrey snorted in annoyance.

  Ogres.

  Chapter 23

  In the dark and twisting tunnels beneath Fairhaven, Victoria followed Fyrn’s lead as he lit the way back to the city. Weeks had passed, and she grew stronger every day. She trained with Fyrn during the day and played Berserk with her fellow Plits at night.

  She shook her head at their stupid team name, but she loved those jocks anyway.

  Styx sat on her shoulder, humming to himself as he kicked his legs and enjoyed the free ride. Victoria, however, wasn’t enjoying herself quite as much. She stared at the back of Fyrn’s head, debating how to word what she considered to be a very important question, the answer to which she didn’t think she would like.

  “Why are you staring at me?” he asked without turning around.

  Freaky. It was like this guy had eyes in the back of his head. “You’re not going to like it.”

  “I’m sure I’ve encountered worse.”

  So be it, then. “What did my parents catch you doing? You said they badgered you, but I know them. They would only have done that if you deserved it. What did you do?”

  He sighed, stopping in his tracks and resting his full weight against his staff. “I suspect you'll hear about it eventually.”

  “Tell me. Please.” She waited, arms crossed as she studied him. He moved slowly, as if he had suddenly donned a great weight, but he never once turned around.

  “Various governments in the human world used to recruit me occasionally to take care of magical creatures and the odd rogue wizard who made it their way. Most of the human world knows nothing about Fairhaven or magic, and the Order of the Silver Griffins prefers it that way. But some, those in power, have just enough of the knowledge to protect the humans from the true dangers magic can bring.”

  “And you helped them?”

  He nodded, looking just a bit over his shoulder at her. “I was called to your capital in D.C. to exterminate a swarm of trevor beetles that had nested under the Capitol building. They’re attracted to lies, after all. They’re nasty, flesh-eating bugs that travel in swarms and eat people alive. If I didn’t do something, hundreds would die bite by bite, alive and screaming the whole time.”

  Victoria whistled. “Wow, that bad?”

  Fyrn nodded. “This nest was massive, easily a hundred or more, and something had to be done. I was called in, but about a dozen escaped. They made it to the surface and caused enough trouble that it was deemed a terrorist attack. Biological warfare.”

  “Yikes.”

  “Yikes, indeed. It was horrible. In the end, forty people died and hundreds were injured. To stop the creatures from killing anymore innocent people, I had to perform magic in front of humans. That's punishable by death.”

  She sucked in a sharp breath. “How did you—”

  He silenced her with a wave of his hand. “I erased their memories and made them think it was terrorism—the alternative was to expose mankind to magic, and that would be far worse. Because of my experience, my history in the kemanas, and my knowledge of magic, I was granted a one-time pardon but was stripped of both my rank and title. I survived, sure, but the guilt weighs on me. I have never in my life failed so completely at any task. And your parents…” He gritted his teeth, grip tightening on his staff.

  “What?” she asked softly, almost afraid of the answer.

  “They filmed the entire ordeal. There, on camera, was irrefutable evidence of magic. They threatened to expose me if I didn't tell them what they wanted to know. I tried to erase their memories and destroy the tape, but they made copies. I couldn’t find all of the evidence, and they set up failsafes to expose me if something happened to them. My hands were tied.”

>   Heart heavy with the guilt of what her parents had done, Victoria couldn’t look him in eye. She studied the ground as if it were interesting, ashamed of her parents’ choice even while understanding that as journalists they often felt they didn't have the luxury to choose. They did what they needed to do to expose the truth, even if it meant putting themselves in harm's way or making demands that others felt were unreasonable.

  “They never would have actually done it,” she said softly.

  He shrugged. “I know that now, and that's why I dismissed them in the end. For a time there, however, I told them far more than I should have. I felt as though I was without a choice. You can understand why I wasn't excited to see you.”

  She nodded. “I'm sorry.”

  He shook his head. “Water under the—”

  “No,” she interrupted. “I'm sorry for what they did. It was wrong. I loved them dearly, and I miss them with all my heart, but I can admit when something is wrong. They strong-armed you, and that was not fair, especially considering that the act they were blackmailing you for was so—”

  “Shameful,” he said softly, his grip tightening on his staff.

  A knot formed in Victoria's throat, and she ran her thumb over the Rhazdon Artifact in her arm to distract herself. “Did you help my dad get this?”

  Fyrn shook his head. “I don't know where he got it, and most of me doesn't want to find out.”

  Fyrn resumed their trek back to Fairhaven, and for a moment Victoria stayed put and watched him walk away. Styx flitted overhead and settled into her hair, chattering softly.

  He was shaking.

  “Hush, you’re okay,” she said, running a finger over his back to help calm him. For the first time, that technique didn't help at all. He trembled harder, staring at something over her shoulder.

  She followed his gaze, a flicker of anxiety igniting in her chest. The hair on the back of her neck stood on end, and the sensation of being watched grew stronger with every second that passed.

  In the shadows, deep within the tunnel they had just walked down, something slithered.

  “I saw it too,” Shiloh said, suddenly beside her.

  She cursed and jumped a good foot in the air, hand on her heart as she pressed herself against the rock wall. “For Christ's sake, stop doing that!”