The Autumn Fairy of Ages

by Brittany Fichter

  Peter wished he could offer some sort of comfort. There were deep circles beneath Karel’s eyes, and his step lacked its usual swagger. But he knew such sentiments would be rebuffed. He also didn’t miss the way Karel’s voice caught in his throat.

  “I’m sorry.” It was unduly inadequate, but it was all Peter could think to say. Having a father die was bad enough, but having him live and then being forced to oversee his trial would be a thousand times worse. At least Peter’s father had died honorably.

  Karel looked back at the dock and nodded, though to whom, Peter didn’t know. “I have to help my wife board.” His voice was suddenly husky.

  “Is she well after the fight?”

  “She never left the palace,” Karel said, taking a few steps backward. “Why do you think I placed the camp in the valley?”

  “Is that why you took so long to get me?” Peter asked. “You said it was to clear the village of your supporters.”

  A corner of Karel’s mouth turned up. “Couldn’t have the fight near her.”

  Peter raised his own eyebrows. “And the hundreds of families that camped out at your valley?

  “As long as it wasn’t mine.” Karel waved as he headed back up the dock. “I will send an ambassador soon.”

  “But what about—”

  “Good day, Peter.” And with that, Karel turned the corner and didn’t look back.

  “Sire?”

  Peter looked down to find a familiar skinny face a few feet away. His hands were clasped behind his back, and his face was downcast.

  Peter walked toward the boy. When he reached him, he realized the boy was shaking.

  “Malachi,” he said.

  But Malachi refused to look up. “I only came to ask your forgiveness again, Sire.”

  “I’m not sure why. I already gave it.”

  Finally, Malachi looked up. Large tears filled his eyes, and his face was red. “But that was during war. You needed allies. And your sword. I just hoped that when you left, you wouldn’t still hate me. You deserve to. I deserve it.” He sniffled. “I just couldn’t watch my mother and sister die.”

  Peter knelt down and put a hand on Malachi’s shoulder. Then he stared at him until the boy finally met his eyes. “I know what it’s like to lose a father. I can only imagine I would have done the same had I been in your position.” He made his voice gentler. “But let this spur you on to become a man who can do the right thing and care for the ones he loves.”

  “You make it look so easy.”

  Peter let out a shout of a laugh. “Believe me, I still have much to learn as well. Probably more than you. How about next time I come, I’ll set aside some time to work with you on swordplay?”

  Malachi’s eyes grew wide. Then he sighed. “I don’t have a sword.”

  He could always bring him a sword, but then Peter had a better idea. “Actually, how about a staff? It’s far more practical, and you can always make one of your own.”

  To Peter’s relief, Malachi’s face broke into the familiar grin he’d been hoping to see. “I would like that, Sire.”

  “Good then. Go take care of your family. I’ll see you next year.”

  As the boy scampered off, Peter returned to find Katy waiting for him. Firin Reaghan and Tomas were nearby, but they were caught up in their own argument near the ship’s plank. The cloud to his left looked darker and more ominous than ever, but Peter couldn’t help smiling back at her as though nothing in the world was wrong. Despite her pink dress, which was covered in battered pink rose petals, she was a vision.

  “Let’s go home.” Though he wanted nothing more than to scoop her up in his arms and race up the plank, Peter reached down and took her hand instead. He was rewarded with one of her gentle smiles.

  “Let’s,” Katy said, squeezing his hand back. As they approached their ship, however, Katy stopped. “Hold on,” she said, letting go of his hand, much to his chagrin, and scurried around a pile of wooden crates. Peter briefly shut his eyes and muttered an oath before following. If they ever left the isle, it would be a miracle.

  His heart softened, though, when he saw what Katy had been looking for. Nikki stood beside the crates. She was staring out at the ships as they left the harbor. For once, the little fairy wasn’t knitting, nor did she look excited. Instead, she chewed her nails as though she were starving, and hopped from one foot to the other.

  “Are you waiting for your father?” Katy asked, going to her side.

  “Um…” Nikki refused to meet Katy’s eyes as she continued staring after the ships. “Actually, I was wondering if Shauna had gone yet or not.”

  “I think Sebastian’s ship cast off just a few minutes ago,” Katy said. “Why?”

  “Oh. Oh dear.” Nikki’s bouncing doubled, and her eyes were the size of mussels. “What then…What about William?”

  “Just after.” Katy took Nikki by the shoulders and forced her to stand still. “Nikki, where’s your father?”

  “I…” Nikki looked down and fiddled with her belt. “I thought I might visit some friends since my father’s so busy.” She gave a little laugh. “He always says I’m underfoot anyway.”

  Katy studied her friend for a long minute. Before she could say anything, though, another arm slipped itself through Nikki’s.

  “Actually,” Firin Reaghan said, “I believe I will be in need of an assistant from time to time in my new library at home.”

  “You will?” Nikki gaped.

  “You will?” Peter echoed.

  “Oh yes,” the firin continued, his eyes twinkling. “I’m getting a new library in the castle. The fourth room on the left on the third level.” He made eye contact with Peter and gave him an ornery grin. “You know, Prince Peter, that one with the lovely view of the gardens?”

  “What is he talking about?” Katy whispered as they followed Nikki and Firin Reaghan up the plank.

  “I guess Firin Reaghan is getting a new library.” Peter laughed. If a new library meant keeping Nikki amused and leaving Katy all to Peter, the firin could keep the whole castle.

  “Did you ever hear anything from Jagan?” Katy asked as they finally reached the deck.

  Peter cringed inwardly when he heard the missing fairy’s name. It wasn’t right, he supposed, to think ill of the missing. And yet, something about the fairy annoyed him to no end. Possibly how he continued to pop up even when he was gone.

  Or that he had lured Peter to an ambush.

  And poisoned his food.

  Nikki peeked over her shoulder at them. “If he was drunk,” her voice cracked, “there’s no telling what he might have done to himself. He’s never—”

  “I’m sure we’ll find him.” Katy leaned forward and rubbed her friend’s arms. “He’s resilient.” Then she laughed. “You’d have to be to survive Donella.” She took Nikki’s hands. “I’m glad you’re coming with us. Truly.” She leaned over and made a face at the firin. “And when you get bored of organizing the firin’s books, I’ll be in need of a lady-in-waiting.”

  All signs of sadness left Nikki’s face as she squealed and launched herself at Katy, wrapping her in a hug.

  As the girls finished their giggling, Peter turned to watch the sailors load the trunks back on the ship. As awful as the chancels had been, at least the repair yard had been thorough in their work. New beams and sails made it look like a completely new ship. And it was a good thing, too, as the dock air was wet and heavy, and thick clouds were nearly to the edge of the docks.

  In less than an hour, the captain notified Peter that it was time to depart. Much to Peter’s relief, Tomas shot him a meaningful glance and enticed Nikki away with promises of food.

  “I don’t know about you,” Peter said, stretching, then taking Katy’s hand in his once more, “But I am more than ready to go home.”

  Katy sighed. “Likewise. And what I wouldn’t do for a nap right now.”

  “That sounds like the best idea I’ve ever heard,” Peter said, rubbing his face with his hands. Desp
ite his exhaustion from nearly dying, however, his blood suddenly felt as though it had been lit on fire, and it hit him.

  He was a married man. And he was married to Katy. And the thought of a nap made him very nearly giddy. He pulled her close and kissed her forehead in anticipation.

  When they turned, however, Gertrude was there glowering at them over her spectacles, her hands on her hips. She cleared her throat and looked pointedly at Peter’s hand, which was wound behind Katy’s back and wrapped around her hip as he held her close to his side.

  Peter knew better. He truly did. But instead of listening to propriety, he grinned wickedly as he put his other hand on Katy’s waist as well and pulled her in for a deep, passionate kiss. Then, out of the corner of his eye, he watched Gertrude’s reaction as he gave Katy’s rear a subtle but very deliberate swat.

  “Your Highness!” Gertrude’s shriek pierced the air as she turned a strange shade of purple. “You…you…”

  Katy rolled her eyes at him as she pulled away and lifted her skirt just above her ankle to reveal the gold band and its little ruby charm. “We were married on the isle, Gertrude. It’s alright.”

  “Even if you’re…Why did you…” Gertrude closed her eyes and took a long, deep breath. “How long until we’re home?”

  Peter grinned, and Katy slapped his arm, which made him laugh out loud. He pulled her back in and crushed her to his chest once more, thanking Atharo as he did. She was his. There would be no more pretending. No more rules or games or jealousy or hiding. Just he and Katy the way it was always meant to be. Uncomplicated and sweet.

  “Well, Peter, you finally did it.”

  “Really, firin?” Gertrude grasped at her skirts, as though they might offer stability. “Calling the crown prince by name?”

  “Gertrude.” Peter pinched the bridge of his nose. “Firin Reaghan practically helped raise me. He even switched me several times.”

  “Switchings you deserved, might I add,” Firin Reaghan said, clasping his hands behind his back and rocking back on his heels.

  “If anyone is qualified to forget my title, I would say it’s him.” Peter turned back to Gertrude.

  Gertrude made a strange choking sound as she glowered at Firin Reaghan before turning and mumbling to herself about the deterioration of etiquette and propriety.

  “By the way,” Firin Reaghan said, “Erin sent me this.” Peter’s heart leaped when he recognized the book in the firin’s hand.

  “But don’t they need one on the king’s isle?” Despite his weak protest, however, Peter was already taking it and rubbing its leather edges lovingly.

  The firin scrunched up his nose as if he had smelled something odious. “She said she found a second copy while cleaning out a pile of old books her firin had hidden in the basement. And she figured we would get more use out of it than anyone else was while it was in hiding.”

  “Well,” Peter handed it back and gave his firin a wry grin, “I suppose this is all you need then for that new library.”

  At this, Firin Reaghan let out a belly laugh. “So,” he said after regaining control of himself and had tucked the book back in his robe’s wide sleeve. “What next?”

  Peter rubbed his face. He was about to tell him how they needed to build up their defenses once again, create laws concerning fae and humans to keep the peace, and tell the knights of how there was a slight chance—a very slight chance—that he might be High King by this time next year. Not that he expected that to happen at all, but nothing he had expected this year had happened according to plan either. In fact, he never in his wildest dreams could have imagined what had taken place over the last month. He also needed to try to locate Liam, for he suspected the fairy had more than a little information about Donella’s dealings, and he needed to ask the fairies for help with ending the Third Isle’s food shortages. But before he could utter a word, a flash of color caught his eye. He turned to see Katy give him a small smile before going below deck.

  Peter’s stomach flipped and squeezed, and his pulse quickened. “I think,” he told the firin without taking his eyes off of where Katy had disappeared to, “the next thing is to discuss our next steps with my wife.”

  The firin threw his head back and roared with laughter. “You go enjoy your discussion with your wife.” He clapped Peter on the shoulder and shook his head, still laughing. But a few steps away, he stopped and turned once more. He was still smiling, but this time, it was gentle. “Try to relax until we reach port. You’ve been waiting for your best friend to become yours since you met her. Enjoy a few moments of peace.”

  Peter thanked him, then descended into the ship, where he came to a short hall with several doors. He stopped at the closed door at the hall’s end and stared at it.

  Why was he so nervous? On the other side was his best friend. Not a stranger. He knew her nearly as well as he knew himself. He knew which foods she would choose at dinner and what color of dress she would pick if given the choice between two. He even knew she had a scar on her left knee from the time he’d convinced her to climb a tree with her eyes closed, though he hadn’t seen the scar since she’d turned eight and Emma had insisted that she wear longer dresses.

  She was his little Katy, just as she’d always been.

  And yet, the woman on the other side of the door was no longer the child he knew so well. She was just that…a woman. She’d unlocked an ancient power within him and then gone on to bring him back from the cusp of death. And he knew he wasn’t the only one to see her as such, for despite the animosity they’d stirred up at the summit, he hadn’t missed the wandering gazes of many of the men between sessions.

  His breath quickened as he put his hand up to the door. He knocked hesitantly.

  “Yes?”

  “Katy?”

  There was a pause. “Come in.”

  45

  Until We Try

  Katy’s breathing hitched as Peter walked in and closed the door behind him. She hugged her knees to her chest and stared out at the ocean through the large window behind the bed on which she sat. The choppy blue water left in the ship’s wake mirrored how she felt as he crossed the floor behind her. He stopped at the edge of the bed.

  “I’m sorry,” she breathed.

  “For what?”

  She swallowed before finally standing and turning to face him. “I never meant that you weren’t enough for me. I just…I always thought I would be relieved to know what I am. But as soon as I found out that I truly wasn’t human, I felt torn between two worlds.” She turned and walked back to the window. “I thought that going to the King’s Isle would give me some sense of completeness. But the longer I was there, the more I learned that nothing had changed.”

  “What do you mean?” She heard him come a few steps closer, but still, he didn’t touch her.

  “I mean that no matter how much I want to be one or the other, I fail. I’m too human for the fae, and I’m too much a fairy for the humans. I guess…I suppose learning about our children was just more than I could stand. I felt like—” Her voice caught in her throat. “My one chance for bringing the two worlds together had been destroyed. And to make it worse, I was faced with the choice of wiping out an entire army, which I could have done if I hadn't been so—”

  “What? Concerned for innocent life?” He took her face in his hands. “If you had taken out the army, you would also have killed a number of innocents.”

  “It’s not just that,” Katy grumbled. “It’s that every time I see the fear in their eyes, it makes me draw back. As if I’m the monster, and I pause because can't help thinking of their wives and children and friends and how much it would hurt them if I accidentally killed someone. And by the time I have the chance to do what I need to do, I can't.”

  For a minute they were silent. Boards creaked above them as sailors crossed the deck above their ceilings, and the sound of the waves lapping at the boat never ceased.

  “When Antony started my training for knighthood,” Peter finally s
aid in a quiet voice, “he told me that the killing never gets any easier. No matter how despicable your opponent, being the deliverer of death is an excruciating burden to bear. As much as you try to forget, you’ll always see the light in their eyes go out, and it’ll steal some of your light with it. It’s the burden and privilege of those who carry the sword. To save lives is a privilege, but to do so, sometimes we must end others. It’s the burden every soldier must bear.”

  “I don’t want to be a soldier,” she whispered. “I didn’t even want the gift.”

  “Then don’t be a soldier.” Peter leaned forward. “I know exactly why you were given this gift, and it has nothing to do with your ability to wield it properly.”

  Katy twisted a lock of her hair, not sure if she was ready to hear or not.

  “Atharo gave you this gift,” he whispered, “because he knew you would be the last person in the world to use it.” He gently lifted her chin so she would look at him. “I killed that fairy that attacked you because I knew if I didn’t, more would suffer. Life is too sacred for me to just watch as innocent blood is shed.” He smiled softly. “I knew it was my time, and as little as I liked it, I knew it was my responsibility. If the day ever comes when you’re called on to use your power to its full extent, you’ll know.”

  Strong hands took her by the waist and held her still. Not that she would have moved even if she could. The warmth in his fingers was hypnotizing, and she wanted to stay there for the rest of her life. He said nothing, only stared into her eyes. Who did he see when he looked at her? What did he see?

  “Not that I know much about what I am,” he began.

  “Actually,” she gave him a faint smile. “I think I can help with that now.”

  He made a face at her.

  “But go on. I’m listening.”

  Peter rolled her eyes, but his smile returned. “Neither of us is who or what we thought we were. But my…” His voice trailed off, and his eyes glistened. He had to clear his throat several times before he could speak again. “My father always said that marriage was a new beginning. You’re two at the outset, but marriage makes two into one.” He paused and simply held her hands. “It’s as if the Maker takes two imperfect creatures and makes them into something completely other. Then they spend the rest of their lives learning who they were meant to be together.” He laughed a little. “Though I get the feeling we might have more to learn than other couples.”