They glanced at one another. Trenton shuffled his thick leather boots in the leaves, shrugging when Sarsia raised her eyebrows. Larnika shook his head, refusing to answer my question.
“Apparently, I’m the leader of our unusual gang,” Sarsia said, winking at me. “I’ll start at the beginning.”
Sitting forward on her seat, she moved her fingers in a wave three times. The flames in front of me suddenly spluttered before growing bigger. They flicked higher before transforming. A gasp escaped me when figures started to form, a scene playing out right in front of my eyes.
“This is the night that your nursemaid was ordered to exchange you for a human child. Your parents, the King and Queen of the Seelie Court, knew that you were in danger. The king of the Unseelie Court was on his way, a whole army of Unseelie fae beside him.”
“Courts?” I muttered, completely lost already.
“There’s far too much to explain right now. I’ll tell you the basics, and then, when we’re on our way, we’ll fill you in on the rest.”
Holding up my hand, I stopped her from continuing. “I’m not going anywhere. My family are here, which means, I stay.”
Waving away my protest, Sarsia went on. “See, in the fire? You were left with your human parents, who brought you up well. Meanwhile, back in Althea, the human baby that had been stolen was taken to the king and queen. When Pryon Glyneria arrived with his army, he was defeated.”
For some reason, a sense of relief flooded through me. Why was that? Surely I didn’t believe what she was telling me?
The scene played out, an image of a man and woman in grand attire celebrating the defeat of the enemy.
Shifting on the log, Larnika coughed. “That didn’t last. After sixteen years of peaceful reign, your parents were once again faced with Pryon and a new army. This time, he won. The Unseelie were ruthless warriors, killing anyone in their path, including the king and queen of the Seelie Court.”
Swallowing hard, I tried to ignore the pang that fluttered in my heart. No, I wouldn’t be sorry. I didn’t know these people. It was all a story. Wasn’t it?
My eyes squeezed shut as strange looking men and women battled in a field. The flames made the scene orange, but the squirt of blood was imprinted on my mind.
“Pryon took the throne of the Seelie Court, his son Jordeek at his side. Only a year later, the old man died. Jordeek ascended to the throne, taking it for his own. Rumours of your survival started to surface when the old nursemaid died. A journal kept by her was found and the secret was revealed. You, the heir to Althea’s throne, was alive and well, living in the human realm Mediya.”
A shudder shook every part of my body. My dark eyes, my dark hair. Would that explain it? Seeing Larnika’s complexion, a little different, but similar to my own, had given me pause.
“So, I’m like you?” I asked him, astounded that the words formed from my lips.
Seemingly, I was believing their fairy tale. I couldn’t deny that I’d seen their magic with my own eyes. I’d heard what was said between them and Jordeek. There had to be some truth in it. I had always relied on my own ability to discern right from wrong.
“Yes. We’re nobility of the fae. As you saw in Jordeek’s men, we often look like humans, although always fair in face. Most of us have magic-”
“Not me,” I blurted, instantly wishing I could take it back. Letting them know that they had persuaded me of their story wasn’t a good idea.
“That’s because you’re not in Althea. When you go back, your magic will return.” Trenton’s kind smile put me at ease.
Larnika got to his feet and looked down at me. “Most of us have magic. We are in tune with nature, able to manipulate her beauty.”
“But you lost your power?”
The lump in his throat bopped as he swallowed. Nodding, he didn’t answer my question with words.
“All the creatures in our land fall under the Seelie Court. The court has inhabited Althea for many thousands of years. It’s our home.”
“Was…” Trenton muttered. “… It was our home.”
Feeling the heavy emotion that descended on all three of them, I couldn’t help but be sympathetic. I’d seen how cruel Jordeek was. I’d also witnessed the men with him. The way they rode, walked and listened to Jordeek’s command. Except…
“Why did Jordeek’s men stop when I shouted? Was it because they’re not allowed to reveal themselves to humans?”
A snort came from Trenton as Sarsia shook her head. “Have you not listened to anything we’ve said? You’re the princess… well, you’re technically supposed to be queen-”
“Queen!”
I couldn’t sit any longer. Getting to my feet, I strode around the log and stood near Larnika. He watched me, his calculating gaze tracing every movement of my hand as I grasped my cloak around me.
Sarsia suddenly rose to her feet, her head thrown back and her hands clenched tightly by her side. Her eyes were wide open, but the irises had disappeared. White covered the whole eye.
Turning, I almost screamed when a hand grabbed my wrist, forcing me to stop. My cloak flung out around me as I was swung around by Larnika.
Trenton was still sat in his seat, not fazed by the fact that Sarsia had turned into something I had never seen before.
“She’s a seer witch. That means visions suddenly come upon her without warning. We leave her be, allowing her to see what is coming.” Putting a finger to his lips, he indicated that I stay quiet.
My beating heart was loud in my ears as I glanced around the clearing. We were close to the horses. If I could get free, I could run back to the village.
Forcing my muscles to relax, I nodded to Larnika when he asked if I was well. Allowing my wrist to drop, he turned slightly to watch Sarsia.
Ducking around him, I ran towards the horses. His shout went ignored as I pushed all my strength into my legs. My breath rushed in and out of me as fear spurred me on.
“He’s coming for the village,” Sarsia shouted. “He’ll destroy them all.”
I had almost reached the gap in the shrubbery, but my feet scrambled to a halt. My breath was loud as I spun back towards them. I’d seen Jordeek and his anger. If what they’d told me really was true, he would come for me.
“He found you before we did. As heir to the throne of the Unseelie Court and Althea, you’re a great threat to him. If you stay in Remedia, you’ll endanger your whole village.” Sarsia was normal again, her eyes a deep blue.
She slowly came towards me, her energy soft, unhurried. My world had turned upside down in a moment, and she still had more to say.
“We have formed a plan to overthrow Jordeek, but we need you. The dragons in the west-”
“Dragons?” I spun around, a little dazed, or maybe demented. “There are dragons in the world?” My shout made the others flinch.
Larnika put a hand on Sarsia’s arm when she went to charge forward. “Sarsia is being too kind. Layanna, if you don’t leave Remedia, your whole village will be destroyed. Jordeek will not allow you to live. If you come with us to overthrow him, with the help of the dragons…”
“Hopefully,” Trenton added.
Glaring at his little fairy friend, Larnika shook his head before he concentrated on me again. “Our kingdom will be saved and your village will be safe.”
The faces of those who lived in my village came into my mind. I had never believed that I had friends, but as I thought of the bookshop keeper, my teacher Mr Kingsman and even Dorian, the butcher’s son, who always greeted me, I realised that I could not see them come to harm. And my parents. Those who had raised me and loved me, regardless of my differences. I loved them dearly.
“I don’t want to leave the people I love.” Although almost a whisper, they still heard.
Dropping their heads, they watched the ground before Sarsia looked up.
“What if it were temporary?”
The others went to say something, but she waved them silent.
“Your
village will be safe when you’ve left it. We’ll send word that you’re with us, which will draw Jordeek away from your home. When we’ve overthrown him, he will no longer be a threat. Once you’ve played your part, we’ll find another heir to the throne of Althea. You can come back home.”
Trenton coughed at the same time as Larnika turned away, striding over to his horse. A click of Sarsia’s fingers made it impossible for him to complete the manoeuvre he was about to perform to get on his steed. He stood frozen, his grunt alerting us to his discomfort. Why was he suddenly irate?
“What did you just see?” I asked Sarsia, curious about the vision they claimed she’d had.
Coming closer, she kept her hands to her side, her cloak hanging open. The sword on her hip jutted out, reminding me that she was a warrior as well as a witch.
“My visions come in twos. Everyone has a choice, freewill. When we are at a crossroads, I see the consequence of each path taken.”
“Did you see my choice?”
Nodding, she didn’t elaborate, instead waiting for me to ask. Somewhere, deep down inside my soul, I knew the truth. If I doubted them in any way, my gut told me to listen. For a very long time, I knew I was different from the other villagers. There had been no reason for me not to fit in, apart from my dark features, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t be like them.
“If I don’t go with you, the village will be destroyed. If I do… what happens then?”
My head screamed at me to turn and run. If they were that worried about me being harmed, surely, Sarsia could protect the village with me in it somehow? Alas, they wanted something from me.
“I’m given visions in stages. In this particular one, I saw you riding a dragon.”
Laughter fell from my lips at the same time as Larnika gasped. “Impossible,” he spluttered. “Fae haven’t ridden dragons for centuries.”
“I’m sure you’re wrong about me being a changeling fae princess, but say I come with you, what exactly am I going to do? I have no powers. I’m still wary of your story. I must have your word to be allowed to come home once Jordeek is overthrown.”
A smile spread on Sarsia’s face at the same time as Trenton and Larnika glanced at one another. Whatever went unsaid between them made me shiver. They had communicated something in that look, and yet, I glanced to Sarsia for the answer.
“Everything will become clear when you’re in Althea. Your powers will come back, your heritage will be remembered in your bones. You’ll be able to stay in the place you call home.”
Releasing Larnika from her spell, she gestured for me to come closer. My footsteps were hesitant as I did, my gaze watching the others. What was I doing? I hadn’t had any time to understand what was happening, why was I so quick to want to ride off with them?
“We, The Lost Queen’s Protectors, swear allegiance to Layanna Fairling, Princess of Althea, from this day forth. Do you accept our escort to Althea?” Sarsia took out her sword, got to her knee and held it up in the palms of her hands.
Kneeling on the ground next to her, Larnika and Trenton also took out their weapons and offered them. Trenton’s blade was long and thin, the sword suiting him perfectly. Larnika’s was made of a silver so bright, it almost blinded me when the sun reflected against it. Tiny symbols were engraved onto the hilt, the patterns unfamiliar to my eyes.
“You’ll have your own one day soon,” Larnika said.
Swallowing, I waved them up. “Yes, I accept… whatever you said. Let’s… let’s go and stop that hideous man.”
As they rose, a blossoming of warmth unfolded in my chest. It was completely unbidden, but it came nonetheless. A feeling of purpose, of knowing. Something I had never experienced before. As I was hoisted into Larnika’s saddle, I closed my eyes and pictured home. My father would be bent over the town’s finances, making sure everyone was comfortable and safe. My poor mother would still be wrapped up in bed, trying to starve off her fever. How could I not be there to comfort her?
“They’re safe,” Sarsia said as Larnika joined me on the back of his horse. “I’ve sent word that you’re safe too.”
They would never forgive me for leaving without saying goodbye, but if that meant that the village would be protected, I would have to trust her. An absurd notion considering I’d only just met her. And yet, my heart knew that I was doing the right thing.
As the witch guided us, Larnika hummed a tune on our slow meander towards the realm boundary. A place that I had no idea existed.
“Don’t worry, Father,” I whispered as I watched Trenton’s back. “I’ll be back soon.”
Chapter Six
“So, you see,” Trenton said after twenty minutes of talking. “All creatures who enter the human realm have lesser magic. If they deplete their magic while here, they can easily die.”
“The border is coming up,” Sarsia announced.
Larnika had been silent for the whole two hours we had ridden. Trenton had asked me about my life, taking great interest in my studies. I’d tried to get more information from them, but other than the snippet about fae having less magic in the human realm, he’d managed to turn the conversation back to me.
Fatigue dragged at my muscles, my behind sore from the same riding position. Larnika had only allowed us one break on the journey. The whole time we’d been riding, the information they’d given me reeled around in my mind. Me? A princess? It couldn’t be true. They probably had me confused with someone else, but if it meant that they would leave the village unharmed, I would go with them.
“How do we get through the border?” I asked.
The trees opened up in front of us, the landscape changing to long flowing meadows. I’d never been as far out as this, but those who travelled had often told me of the lands that stretched for miles. The kingdom of Mediya bordered the kingdom of Sariah to the west. Above us, the Northern lands were unnamed, too treacherous for anyone to inhabit.
“Althea is just over that wall.” Trenton pointed to the field in front of us.
“Wall?” No matter how much I searched with my gaze, I couldn’t see what Trenton meant.
Larnika shifted me as he climbed off the horse. I went to get down, but he stopped me with a hand on my knee, quickly retracting his arm when I batted it away.
“Who goes there?” The voice was distant, echoing across the land.
“Sarsia Blyan,” the witch called. “We make a request to travel into Althea.”
Larnika started forward, leading the horse with a slight tug of its rein. Trenton was beside him, moving in his saddle as he tucked in his over-shirt. Sarsia was in front, her back stiff, her fingers fluffing her skirts.
“What is the secret phrase?”
I still couldn’t see who spoke. My insides quivered as Sarsia jumped off her mount and moved forward a few steps. The land was empty, the green grass rolling away from us. In the distance, trees rose from the earth, forming clusters of woods. Who was speaking? Why couldn’t I see them?
“Honour to King Jordeek, ruler of Althea, father to the Fae.”
Trenton coughed as Larnika threw him a look of distain. Distaste laced my tongue at the idea of having to mutter such an extraordinary phrase.
“Welcome to Althea,” the voice echoed.
Nodding her thanks, Sarsia got back on her horse and indicated that we follow her. As we passed the point where she’d spoken to the voice, I clenched my hands into fists. A sharp pain entered the pit of my belly and grew outwards. The scenery in front of me changed, the flat earth turning into a bustling village.
“What?” I gasped, unable to keep my gaze from the tall grey-stoned wall that cut the previous field in half.
As we passed through the gate with huge double wooden doors much higher than any of us, I had to hold onto the saddle to stop myself from falling. Magic was real. It had to be. How else could I suddenly see stone buildings with thatched roofs?
“This is Dylion, the third border village that separates Mediya from Althea,” Larnika offer
ed. “When your family ruled, there was a lot more freedom of movement.”
My eyes traced the guards who stood by the gate, their tired expressions telling a story of their own. What a way to spend the day.
“But, they didn’t even question who I was? Do they allow humans to enter?”
Glancing up at me, Larnika raised his eyebrows. The others hadn’t heard me, or at least pretended not to as we entered the main square of the village. Being a town where many people passed through made it very busy indeed.
The square was lined with merchants selling their wears on carts. A few children played in the dirt, their tiny feet bare as they kicked mud at their friends. A woman called out in a high pitched voice, offering readings to all who passed by. Her little table was adored with a crystal ball and tarot cards. I’d never seen those items in my life, but I recognised them from my witchcraft lessons.
“I can’t believe she’s practicing witchcraft out in the open,” I told Trenton as he brought his horse closer to mine.
The quirk of his lip made me frown. What was so amusing? Not only had I found out that witchcraft existed, witches were being open about what they were doing. It was alarming.
“This is Althea, magic is what keeps it alive.”
We came to a stop in the square. My gaze searched those around us, trying to absorb the different way of life. A tall handsome man was arguing with a cloth seller, the bartering becoming heated. Stepping right into the seller’s face, the one that looked a little like Larnika and Jordeek, dropped his voice and stared into the other man’s eyes. Holding up a silver coin, the man flicked it before handing it to the seller. Smiling broadly, the seller happily gave the fabric to what I assumed was a fae man.
“The fae can glamour others. That coin is obviously a silver one to us, but the seller saw a gold coin. Later on, when he tallies his takings for the day, he’ll know he’s been duped.”
A warmth travelled over my muscles, a funny vibration in my mind making me feel tired. I had to get down from the horse, before I fell. Clambering, I almost did exactly that. Luckily, Larnika was there to catch me when my legs gave way.
Shrouded Kingdom Page 4
