Shrouded Kingdom

by Rachel Medhurst

  “Something has been disturbed here,” one of the guards called. “Could just be that incident last night.”

  Incident? Was someone else trying to get into the Seelie Court grounds? I still had no idea of the politics of the fae, or how many species of fae there were. Seelie and Unseelie, it was all a lot to take in.

  “That witch was taken back to her hut after we found her here, Sire,” someone else called.

  Sire? Jordeek? Surely, he wasn't with the guard? My breath was loud in the cramped hole as the others held theirs. They'd heard the guard too. If Jordeek found us here, he wouldn't let any one of us survive. He'd slaughter us instantly.

  “Good. We cannot kill any creature living on the outskirts of my lands, as you know. However, I appreciate your rapid response to anyone caught lurking. Any Seelie person who wants to see me knows how to use the main gates.”

  “Yes, Sire,” someone else said. “The witch said she'd been sleepwalking, which is unusual for a nature witch. Still, we kept to our word and took her home safely.”

  “Very well.” Jordeek's voice sounded nearer, even though they couldn't have come over the wall. “I have a reputation to uphold. The people are becoming restless in the villages outside of the Court. We must keep my people under control.”

  The guards muttered between themselves as the jangle of bridles and hooves moved away from us. The others released their breath as I held my hand against my chest. That could have been dire, although they hadn't even caught a whiff of our presence.

  “Queennnnn...” the sound came from the tree and whirled around us like wind.

  “Please,” Sarsia said, placing her hand on the inside of the tree's bark. “Stay silent until they're completely gone. We're trying to bring the lost queen back to Althea.”

  “Heellpppp...”

  “You did help us by disguising our scent.” Sarsia leant forward and kissed the bark gently. “Thank you. We honour you.”

  Before anyone could react, she pushed her way out of the tree, breaking the bark to allow us to get free.

  As the others followed her, I stared up at the centre of the tree, trying to work out if there really was a face in the knots, or whether it was my mind playing tricks on me. One thing was for certain, I had never experienced a talking tree before, let alone one who disguised our scent. The world was expanding moment by moment, and it was getting harder for me to keep up.

  “Queeennnn...” the tree whispered, the word loud in my ears as I touched the inside of the tree.

  “Thank you,” I whispered back.

  A gust of wind flicked my hair into my face as warmth travelled down my arm and into my body. It felt like a fire, licking my insides, but keeping me warm in a pleasant way. Had the tree just given me some of her magic?

  “Let's go,” Larnika shouted from outside.

  Taking one last look at the ancient tree, I forced my way out of the hole, almost ripping my cloak when it caught on a jagged root. My foot grazed on the sharp edge of it as I wretched my way free.

  “Oh,” Sarsia said as I picked up my shirts and grumbled to myself. “I forgot to get you some new boots.”

  Waving her hand, she pointed at my feet. A wink followed when a pair of sturdy leather and fur boots appeared on my feet. String tied the pale brown material tight around my legs, giving me an additional layer of warmth up to my calf. Although, saying that, as I'd emerged from the womb of the tree, I hadn't felt the burst of cold that I'd expected to brush against my skin.

  “Sarsia,” Larnika said, going closer to her. “Shall we attempt it now?”

  Nodding, Sarsia came to me, her arm extended. I stayed where I was, unable to move as she whispered a spell. When the hem of my dress grew less frayed and the itch of my undergarments suddenly rubbed smoothly against my skin, I gave her a smile. She'd just upgraded my clothes, making them fresh and clean. Even my dress felt slightly thicker than it had been, which gave me comfort.

  “Layanna, we're going to see if your power alone can help us cross into the Court.” Taking my hand, Sarsia tugged me towards the wall before I had a chance to protest.

  My snug feet were sturdy on the mulch of leaves and dirt on the ground. I would have to thank her for the comfortable clothes. Although, I was helping her take back her kingdom, so I needed the clean clothing. Once we had achieved our mission, I would buy her a gift for looking after my welfare.

  “What shall I do?”

  Larnika took my other hand. “Try to climb over with us. Intend for us to be by your side when you enter the Seelie Court.”

  Closing my eyes briefly, I pictured myself inside the wall with my companions. Swallowing, I opened my eyes and allowed the others to lift me up onto the wall, using their hands as leverage. Not letting go, I pulled their hands to see if they could come with me. When they reached the barrier, they stopped, their faces almost pressed against an invisible wall. It hadn't worked.

  “It's impossible,” Trenton exclaimed, his hands thrown up in the air.

  Letting go of them, I turned to examine the land in front of me. My land, according to the others. A land with burn marks.

  “The sacrifices,” I said, remembering that they'd distracted me earlier. “What are they for?”

  “Animals are slaughtered, their carcasses burnt after they've bled out. The Seelie are desperate to avoid-”

  “Shush!” Sarsia snapped at Trenton. “Now is not the time. This clearly isn't going to work, so we have to be on our way. Princess, please come back.”

  My warm feet paused as I went to turn away from the place that my so-called parents had called home. A land I had never heard of, and yet, I stood upon its earth. The tingling on the soles of my feet grew stronger as I stepped forward once, twice...

  “Layanna,” Sarsia hissed. “It's too dangerous. Please, come back.”

  Not bothering to look over my shoulder, I closed my eyes and let my head drop back. The hood of my cloak dropped with it, the warmth from the sun caressing my skin. Sun? A moment ago, in the woods, there had been no sun. It had been cloudy and cold, but here... the golden sun shone down, heating me from the inside, just like the tree had. Did that mean that what they said about magic was true?

  A quiet chuckle caught my attention. My eyes flew open and to my left. There was nothing there. Wasn't that where the noise had come from? The chill that crept through me made me take a few steps backwards. Something was in the meadow nearby, watching me, but I couldn't see it.

  “I can't get over.” Larnika's words caught my attention.

  Spinning, I ran for the wall, my heartbeat loud in my ears as I almost dove over it, aided by Larnika. The fae man helped me to our horse before asking any questions. He knew that I'd heard something within the boundaries of the wall.

  “Where are we going?” I asked when we were all mounted.

  Looking over her shoulder, into the land of the Seelie Court, Sarsia shuddered before she looked at me. “We're going to see a witch.”

  Chapter Eight

  The trees made way for a clearing, the dark clouds causing a sinister glow.

  A cottage appeared as the horses traipsed forward, their spirits low. It had been a fast ride for the first hour, but we'd slowed for a while before arriving at our destination. The others had failed to tell me who we were visiting, other than the fact that she was a witch.

  “Not all witches are as kind as me,” Sarsia said, a wry smile on her face. “Be respectful, or you'll learn why witches have a bad reputation.”

  A candle flickered in the window as we dismounted.

  Larnika helped me down, his arm steady around my waist. I had to admit that the assault on my senses over the last few days had started to affect me. My head was dizzy as I followed them to the door. The thatch roof had a chimney, a small line of smoke rising high.

  “Let me speak,” Sarsia said as she knocked hard on the dark strained wooden door.

  It opened before I could reply, a pretty blonde haired woman staring out from behind it. “Wh
at do you want?”

  Her sharp question was met with a steely glare from Sarsia, who held up her hands, her cloak open so that the witch could see her weapon still in its scabbard. “Nice to see you too, Marli.”

  Sighing, the witch, Marli, stepped back to allow us entrance. Her bright blue gaze swept across me as I entered the cottage last. The flames of the fire in the fireplace flared as heat seared my skin, making me rub my arms vigorously.

  “You're a fool!” Marli spat as she spun to Sarsia, her hand raised.

  Sarsia held up her hands in surrender, doing everything she could to show that she wasn't a threat to the other witch. My skin burnt as I watched them stare one another down. Why was I so effected by the witch’s anger?

  Trenton came to me, his small frame reaching up on tiptoes. Placing his hands on my shoulders, he whispered something under his breath. The burning that had swathed me receded, leaving my body shaken.

  “You cannot expect me to house the Lost Queen!” A snarl came from the other witch's chest as she clenched her hand into a fist and recited words that I didn't recognise.

  Sarsia's feet rose from the ground as her face contorted. When her toes left the dirty floor, she started to choke, holding her throat with her own hands.

  “What-?”

  Trenton nudged his elbow into my ribs to quieten me.

  Larnika stepped beside Sarsia, his arms going around her waist to support her. The red blush that had been blossoming on her cheeks started to abate.

  “Please, we need your help,” he pleaded, his voice strained as he supported Sarsia's weight. “Our theory was wrong, which means we need to ask the dragons to aid us.”

  The scoff that left Marli's lips made me step forward. Ignoring Trenton's attempts at keeping me quiet, I stamped my foot. “Excuse me, would you kindly leave my friend alone so we can have a proper conversation?”

  Glancing over her shoulder, the witch, who had been so pretty a moment before, gave me an ugly snarl. Twisting her other hand, she threw it out to the side. My belly dropped when I was lifted into the air and thrown across the room. Crashing into the dining table, I screamed as the solid oak caught me. It wasn't flimsy enough to break when I landed, which meant my skin and bones rattled when I collapsed onto the floor next to it.

  “Marli!” Sarsia shouted.

  My cloak had covered my head, blocking my view of the witch. A high pitched gasp made me shove my hood away as I tried to untangle myself from my skirts. A dull pain pounded in my head as I watched the witch. She approached Sarsia, her blue eyes focused solely on the witch she still held in the air with her magic.

  Larnika's knee suddenly gave out, his groan loud as he dropped Sarsia.

  Trying to get up from my unladylike position, I waved at Trenton to do something as Sarsia started to choke.

  Marli's free hand was pointed towards Larnika, who was frozen in a crouch. She was preventing him from helping Sarsia stay alive.

  Trenton spun around once, his small body twirling automatically before he puffed into a tiny version of himself.

  “Please,” Larnika tried to get Marli to cooperate. “She's the changeling. She's going to help overthrow Jordeek. We need your help. And Laliya’s.”

  Surging to my feet, I took two steps towards the witch, but Trenton got there before me. His little fairy figure flew around Marli's head. Tiny needles shot from him, straight into Marli's face. She swiped at them, crying out in pain. Her spell on both Sarsia and Larnika faltered, causing them both to fall to the hard floor.

  “You little pixie bastard!” Marli stomped across the room and stuck her head into a bucket of water.

  Trenton turned himself back into a fully grown person and smirked in my direction. “Fairy darts, they sting badly.”

  Shaking my head, I went over to Sarsia, who was on her hands and knees, gasping for breath. When my hand touched her back, she jumped, almost knocking me away.

  Larnika got to his feet as he rubbed his jaw. His dark gaze was focused on Marli as she scrubbed her face, her curses almost hurting my ears. Ladies didn't speak like that in Remedia.

  “Are you well?” I asked Sarsia as she coughed.

  Straightening her spine, she stood tall. There was no retaliation as she waited for Marli to finish her wash. I was tempted to march up to her and give her a few curt words, but I resisted, knowing that I had no right.

  “So,” Marli said as she swung away from the bucket of water. “What do you want from me?”

  Putting her hands on her hips, she ignored the swing of her dark red skirts as they brushed around her legs. The pink pockmarks on her face looked fiercely sore. She did her best to ignore the sting that was obviously causing her to twitch slightly. The glare she threw in my direction caused me to hug myself. What did she have against me?

  Sarsia cleared her throat as her shoulders relaxed. “Shall we sit?”

  Stretching her head to the side, Marli rolled her eyes. “Of course. Shall I make some tea while I'm here?”

  “Oh, tea,” I exclaimed.

  Sarsia's fingers wrapped around my wrist, squeezing my skin in warning. Maybe I shouldn't have been too quick to react to Marli's less than genuine offer.

  Waving her hands as she huffed, Marli turned to her cauldron and stirred whatever was inside.

  Larnika and Trenton righted the wooden stools I'd knocked over when I'd been thrown across the room. The reminder made me rub my side where it was bruised from the impact.

  “Who is Laliya?” My question received several glares from my cohorts, but I ignored them when Marli spun to face us.

  Her expression was calmer now, the tightness in her jaw relaxed. “That will be my twin sister. Jordeek kidnapped her.”

  “What?!” Both Sarsia and Larnika stared at the witch.

  Reaching into the bucket by her feet, Marli took out several cups. They were rustic, but they would hold tea perfectly. My tongue stuck to the roof of my mouth at the thought of a hot cup of tea. It had been two days since I'd anything other than water and cold food. I would relish the taste of whatever Marli served me.

  “Marli and Laliya are elemental witches. Laliya is very powerful. Why would Jordeek kidnap her? When did it happen?” Sarsia indicated that I sit at the table with the others.

  Lowering myself onto the stool, I cringed when my hip brushed the offending table. It would be hard to ride in the saddle once the bruising set in. I had never hurt myself badly in the past, so it came as a surprise that pain now ached down my whole side.

  The witch Marli hadn't been too kind to start with. Why did Sarsia think she would help us after such an adverse reaction to our arrival?

  Marli's snort reached us from where she was scooping tea into the cups. “You make it sound like I'm not powerful. They came in the night three days ago. I've gone to the border of the Seelie Court every night since, but I can't gain access. The guard captured me, but he didn't hurt me. I need to find her.”

  Coming over to us, she almost dropped the tray onto the table. Every single one of us scooped up a cup and downed the liquid, thirst overriding our manners.

  Marli wrung her hands in her skirts. It was the first show of vulnerability I had seen from her. Maybe there was a heart inside the witch after all.

  “This is why we need to overthrow Jordeek. Layanna knows that she's the rightful heir.”

  “I do?” I murmured, earning a disapproving glance from Sarsia.

  Marli crossed her arms over her chest as she studied me, her gaze racking across my face. “She's certainly got the look of the Fairlings. Dark hair, almost black eyes. That pale skin is enough to make any fae envious.”

  “I'm not envious,” Trenton piped up as he lifted his over-shirt sleeve and winked at Marli. “Dark skin is just as good as pale.”

  Shrugging, Marli settled on the only spare seat, a small stool that sat in front of the fire. “That is very true, Trenton. Your skin is beautiful too.”

  “So, fairies are Fae?” I asked as the exquisite tea settled in
my stomach, the sweetness giving me a sense of calm.

  The blonde haired witched narrowed her gaze on Sarsia. “I see you've given her a complete run down on how Althea works.”

  “Oh, they have,” I interrupted before Sarsia could reply. “It's all a little overwhelming, so I'm sure I've missed bits.”

  Larnika leant forward on the table, his hair brushing against the surface. “All creatures come under the fae banner, much like humans. Different species and races belong to the fae name, but pure born fae, like you, are the true fae species.”

  “Your rule over the rest of us has been law since creation.” Marli took up the lesson. “And before Pryon and Jordeek, it had worked very well. Some fae are a law unto themselves.”

  “The Unseelie?”

  Nodding, the witch's gaze softened as she stared at me. “It's a grand dream to think of overthrowing Jordeek and the Unseelie, but I'm not so sure we can. Especially not with the shroud spreading.”

  “Shroud?”

  My throat grew dry as the others shrunk in on themselves, their gazes looking in any direction but at me. What had they hidden from me?

  A chuckle left Marli as she met my gaze. It seemed that the witch, who had been immediately defensive, had no cause to lie. The others wanted me to help them, although I still didn't know how I could do that.

  "There is something evil going on at the Seelie Court. The palace has closed its doors to both Seelie and Unseelie. The land around it is dying, the life being sucked right out of it. Fae of all kinds are dying if they do not leave their homes. And, we have no idea what's causing it. I know someone who will know, someone who is probably right now inside the palace."

  "Laliya," I muttered.

  The incline of her head made her hair drop forward. The others watched us in silence, their expressions clear of any emotion. If they trusted me to talk to the witch, I would talk to her.

  "How do you know that the shroud is spreading?"

  Larnika reached across the table and took my hand, forcing me to look into his eyes as he rose from his seat, leant over the table and placed his face right in front of mine. "See for yourself."