Faery Tales: Six Novellas of Magic and Adventure (Faery Worlds Book 3)

by Phaedra Weldon

  “Wait, what? How do you know?” Marny had to raise her voice over the sound of roaring lions, and quickly muted the vid. A little too much excitement going on without the addition of the brutal soundtrack.

  Korrigan looked affronted. “I am a creature of the Realm. I am aware of what transpires there, even from my entrapment here in the human world.”

  “Then tell me what’s happening,” she said. “The beta team can’t have gotten there already.”

  “Time moves differently in the Realm,” he said. “Your mortal friends are approaching the Dark Court.”

  “I want you to tell me everything you can. What exactly they’re doing in there, how the battle is going, all of it.”

  Korrigan screwed up his face and grunted. Was this the prelude to a changeling tantrum?

  “Look,” he said, waving at the vidscreen.

  The image was blurry, and strobing light/dark/light, but Marny could make out a group of characters gathered at a crossroads. On the hill above them rose a circle of standing stones, illuminated with eerie purple light.

  “Is that the beta team?” she asked, squinting to see the figures.

  “Aye.” Korrigan sounded a little breathless. “And see, the Faerie Rade approaches.”

  They looked like an army—elfin knights in shining silver armor, redcap goblins capering behind, brandishing their wickedly sharp blades. Rank after rank of faerie folk, and in the center a woman astride a tall horse, with a crown of stars blazing upon her brow.

  It was like watching some epic fantasy movie—except that this was really happening, to people she cared about.

  The odds didn’t look good. Marny crossed her arms, trying to breathe out her anxiety. Worry wouldn’t help her friends, and would only tweak her out.

  The image wavered, then disappeared. She was staring at lions again, now hunting a zebra.

  “Hey!” She turned to Korrigan.

  “The connection is difficult to sustain,” he said. “As I told you before, time is not parallel between our worlds. I am doing my best.”

  It was true the changeling seemed tired, his brow furrowed and his skin even paler than usual.

  “Okay,” Marny said. “Don’t hurt yourself. But if you can get the picture back at some point, that would be great.”

  He nodded. “Another moment of rest, and I will try once more.”

  “Have a protein bar.” She handed him the last one in her pocket.

  Judging by how quickly he ripped the wrapper off and devoured it, channeling the Realm of Faerie was hungry work.

  When he was finished, he narrowed his eyes and stared at the vidscreen.

  The African plains dissolved and the Realm came back, a little distorted. Marny leaned forward, worry crashing through her. The beta-team members had been taken captive, and were tied to different standing stones at the top of the hill. They were all in a state of bad to even worse. Marny sucked in her breath at the sight of one slumped figure who looked almost dead.

  “Is that Mr. Carter’s character?”

  “Aye.”

  Uncle Zeg was tied to the next stone, and Marny breathed a prayer of thanks that he was upright. He glared at the two figures standing in the center of the circle—the Dark Queen and what must certainly be the Bright King. Red and blue flames coruscated between them—

  The image shivered, shifted, and now Marny saw Tam’s little brother being held by the king. The fey monarch lifted a needle-sharp blade. Both Zeg and Tam rushed forward, and behind them, Jennet sliced her own radiant sword down—

  A huge black dragon hovered in the sky above the standing stones. It lifted its head, its gaze piercing, and Marny swore those centuries-deep eyes looked directly at her and Korrigan. She shivered. The dragon brought its ebony wings together in a thunderclap—

  The vidscreen went dark, and Korrigan crumpled to his knees.

  “Korr!” Marny went to her own knees at his side, and gently lifted him.

  He felt nearly hollow, all knobbles and bone in her arms. His pale, bulging eyes blinked up at her, and he gave her a crooked smile.

  “Mistress Marny, do not fear for me,” he croaked.

  “Is Tam’s brother dying? Are you? What’s happening?” She wanted to shake him for answers, but he seemed suddenly so breakable.

  “The guardians between the worlds have been called,” he said. “I am being pulled back to the Realm.”

  “Are you sure it won’t kill you?” Her heart was pounding, but there was nothing she could do.

  “The transition is… difficult. But I will survive.”

  “Does that mean the Bug is coming back to the real world?” A whoosh of relief temporarily displaced her fear, and her eyes stung with hope. With dismay.

  “He will arrive here shortly,” Korrigan said. “And now I must bid you farewell.”

  Unexpected sadness pierced her heart. “Will I ever see you again?”

  Who knew that she’d become so fond of this weird, aggravating little creature? She was glad he’d managed to beat her in their last kart race. A small victory to leave the human world with.

  “Our paths have tangled and twined,” he said. “And the Elder has gazed into your eyes. The mark of the fey folk will be upon you now, and who knows where that might lead?”

  Probably no place good.

  But certainly guaranteed not to be boring.

  “Take care of yourself,” she said, blinking to clear her vision of tears.

  “And you, mortal girl. I am happy to have called you my companion.”

  He grimaced, even as his body started to fade. He grew lighter and lighter in her arms, until at last she was holding only empty air.

  “Goodbye, Korr,” she whispered, bowing her head.

  A flash of light, and something heavy landed on her, knocking her nearly off balance. She ducked a wild kick, and grabbed at the arm flailing around in front of her face. The Bug had arrived back in the real world.

  “Hey, hey,” she said, doing her best to channel Uncle Zeg’s super-zen manner. “Calm down. It’s okay—you’re back.”

  The Bug looked up at her, eyes like Tam’s in a younger, more mischievous face. He froze for a second, then bent over and started crying.

  Marny hoisted him up and took him to the couch where Lara sat. Or had been sitting. She was standing now, her eyes looking more awake, her arms outstretched.

  “Is that my boy?” she said, her voice strained. “Peter?”

  “Mom?” The Bug lifted his wet, snotty face. “Mom!”

  Before Marny could tighten her grip, he’d launched himself from her arms and tackled his mom. Luckily the plush sofa was right behind them, catching them as they went down. Tam’s mom was crying too, and rubbing her son’s hair.

  “I’ll grab some tissues,” Marny said, retreating to the bathroom to give them some privacy.

  She couldn’t guess how aware Lara had been of Korrigan’s presence. Weren’t changelings glamoured so everyone believed they were the replaced child? Yet clearly Tam’s mom could see the fey folk. Maybe her shutting down had more to do with an inability to believe the enchantment trying to tell her Korrigan was her own son, when he was obviously a hideous-looking fey creature.

  Marny might do the same, if half her brain wanted her to believe an ugly, foul-tempered alien creature was actually her beloved kid. She’d been taken in by glamour before, and frankly, it was impressive that Lara had managed to sidestep it. Even if it had made her practically a vegetable.

  “Where’s Tam?” The Bug’s high-pitched voice carried into the bathroom.

  Marny came out with a handful of tissues and handed them to Lara. She took them, then started wiping her son’s face.

  “Tam should be here soon,” Marny said, though she wasn’t at all certain of the fact.

  Sure, Korrigan had returned to the Realm and the Bug had made it home to the human world. But that didn’t necessarily mean everyone on the beta team was all right. Or even alive.

  She swallowed, ref
using to entertain the idea for more than a second. Whatever that big dragon had been, she didn’t think it would let any of her friends die.

  She hoped.

  “I’ll get the staff to bring up some hot tea,” Marny said.

  “And cookies?” Tam’s little brother lifted his head hopefully.

  “If they have any.”

  For a kid who had just spent two weeks in the Dark Court, the Bug was bouncing back remarkably well.

  She stepped into the hall to summon one of Spark’s security guys, but paused at the sound of voices in the foyer.

  “Bug?” It was Tam’s voice, echoing down the hall.

  Quick as a thought, Tam’s little brother pushed past Marny and pelted toward the front door, footsteps slapping against the marble floor.

  “Tam!” he cried.

  Marny smiled as the Bug ran into Tam’s arms, then smiled even wider as his mom ran forward. Lara paused in front of her boys, and placed her hand on Tam’s shoulder. Without looking up, he pulled her into the embrace.

  Beyond them, Marny saw Jennet watching, a look of such tenderness and joy on her face that Marny’s heart stung. Tam seemed to feel Jennet’s gaze on him, and lifted his head. Their gazes met, and Marny could practically see the light moving between them.

  Maybe one day she would have that. She didn’t know how, or when, or if Korrigan had been right that there were more fey adventures in her future.

  Only way to find out was to keep moving ahead one moment, one day at a time.

  Meanwhile, there was Uncle Zeg, and the bulwark of his embrace. She leaned into him and let the tight string of worry wrapping around her go.

  “You won?” she asked, though she knew the answer.

  “Yes.” He smiled down at her, teeth white behind his fuzzy beard. “We won.”

  That was all anyone could ask for. It was enough to keep the world turning—and the faeries at bay for another day.

  ~*~

  Find all of Anthea’s books at AMAZON

  Ready for more Marny? Coming Summer 2015! Join Anthea’s mailing list for announcements of new releases and sales – and get a free story for signing up! http://eepurl.com/1qtFb

  Dive into the Feyland trilogy now!

  FEYLAND: THE COMPLETE TRILOGY – Buy now at AMAZON

  Faeries. Computer games. A boy from the wrong side of the tracks, and the girl he's afraid to love...

  What if a high-tech computer game was a gateway to the treacherous Realm of Faerie?

  "Ms. Sharp is a master storyteller... The Feyland books have found a prized place on my all-time favorite books list." - Rebecca McKinnon, The Crooked Word

  "This is a great series that deserves more attention. The books are quick and exciting reads, and if you like stories based on fairy tales, or if you enjoyed both the portrayal of the fae in Mercy Thompson and October Daye and the virtual world of Ready Player One, you will love this series." - Kate, Epic Chocolate Fantasy

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS & THANKS:

  Thank you to my team: Laurie Temple, editor extraordinaire, Clare Follmann, fabulous assistant, and Ginger for the usual great catches.

  Resources used include: Katharine M. Briggs, An encyclopedia of fairies: Hobgoblins, brownies, bogies, and other supernatural creatures and Faeries by Froud, Larkin, and Lee

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

  Growing up, Anthea Sharp spent most of her summers raiding the library shelves and reading, especially fantasy. She now makes her home in the Pacific Northwest, where she writes, plays the fiddle, and spends time with her small-but-good family. Contact her at antheasharp@hotmail.com, visit her website, friend her on Facebook, and be the first to know about new releases and reader perks by subscribing to Anthea’s new release newsletter, Sharp Tales, at http://eepurl.com/1qtFb

  ~FAERY TALES CONTENTS~

  THE MORRIGAN

  THE SWAY

  FAELEAHN

  ARRANGED

  WITHOUT ARMOR

  Want more multi-author bundles filled with fae magic, romance, and adventure? Scoop these enchanting collections up for only .99 cents!

  FAERY WORLDS

  FAERY REALMS

  FAELEAHN

  A Novella of the Otherworld

  *NOTE* The events in this novella take place after the conclusion of Luathara, the third book in the Otherworld Trilogy. If you wish to avoid spoilers, you might want to read the first three Otherworld books (Faelorehn, Dolmarehn and Luathara) before continuing.

  Copyrighted Material

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination. All material in connection with Celtic myth has been borrowed and interpreted for use in the plot of the story only. Cover image is the sole property of the author. The Faelorehn font on the cover image and interior of this book was created by P.A. Vannucci (www.alphabetype.it) to be used in the Otherworld Series. Any resemblance to actual persons is entirely coincidental.

  Faeleahn

  Copyright © 2015 by Jenna Elizabeth Johnson

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book or its cover may be reproduced in any manner without written permission from its creator.

  For more information and to contact the author, visit:

  www.jennaelizabethjohnson.com

  Contents

  One

  Luathara

  Two

  Arroyo Grande

  Three

  Weald

  Four

  Carnogh

  Five

  Erintara

  Epilogue

  Wedding

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  Other Books by this Author

  Connect with me Online

  Sneak Peek at Faelorehn, Book One of the Otherworld Trilogy

  Faeleahn

  Chapter One

  Luathara

  MEGHAN

  I woke to the sound of spring birds chirping outside the window, their boisterous songs filling the air with joy and promise. Although I was no longer asleep, I kept my eyes shut, not yet willing to let in the brightness of the morning sunshine. I could feel it pouring in through the tall windows. I knew instinctively, without even reaching across the wide mattress, that Cade was already up. Ever since the ordeal with the Morrigan - his warmongering, glamour-hungry hag of a mother - came to its climactic closure, I had noticed a change in the both of us. It wasn’t so much a physical change, or, more precisely, it wasn’t a physical change at all. It was something different, an awareness just beneath my skin. I imagined this alteration had a lot to do with our glamour. Perhaps all the time we spent together had trained my magic to recognize his on a level far deeper than I had previously realized. It was as if my magic could reach out and connect with Cade’s without my even being aware of it. Then again, it could simply be a side effect of my being completely and unquestionably in love.

  Grinning like a fool, I stretched and reached out across the mattress. As I had expected, Cade wasn’t there. I tried not to feel disappointed. I knew he wasn’t far. Probably out on the patio or walking through the garden. He might have already dressed and gone down to his study, but he wouldn’t be riding the acreage with Speirling today or venturing into Kellston to address any concerns the townspeople might have. Today, we were leaving Luathara for a time, and we planned on heading out long before noon.

  Taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly, I allowed my eyes to flutter open. The room was indeed bathed in golden light, the rich color bringing life to the hues in the tapestries, rugs and drapes hanging around our four poster bed. For a few moments, I simply lay there, cocooned in the soft sheets, tracing the embroidered design in the comforter. Even after all I had been through in the past few years, I still woke sometimes, sucking in my breath at the absurdity of it all. Three years ago, I had been one of the awkward nerds at my high school. I had started out my junior year the same way I approached the previous two: keeping my head down and focusing on getting good
grades, so I might get into a reputable college someday. I had lived a typical teenage life, and other than my moments of insanity when I thought I saw monsters and imagined I heard weird voices, I thought I was pretty normal. How wrong I had been.

  Rolling over in bed, I crooked my elbow and rested my cheek against my hand. I was facing the glass doors that opened out onto the terrace just outside the room Cade and I shared. The doors were open, the cool breeze of early spring flowing in and making the gossamer drapes dance like cheerful specters. The air smelled of lingering frost and the sweet flowers that dared to open this early in Eile. And beneath it all, I could smell the faint, unique scent of wild glamour. I breathed it all in as I stretched once again.

  A small movement out of the corner of my eye distracted me for a second. I shot my gaze toward the balcony once more, just making out the shape of a tall figure. The corners of my mouth curved up, and I felt my body flush with joy. Cade. Even after having known him for three years, and having survived everything we’d been through since, I still got chills when I looked at him. Well over six feet tall and built like a Celtic god, Caedehn MacRoich was the image of any young woman’s fantasies. I thought back to the first time I had seen him, wondering how I had kept my cool long enough to string more than two coherent thoughts together. Alright, if I was being honest with myself, I had fallen for his charms quite quickly. In fact, the sensible Meghan Elam would have smacked the love-struck version of myself upside the head. Before seeing Cade in all his Otherworldly glory, I would never have gone for a guy like him. He was too beautiful, too large, too frightening. Yet, I had kept going back for more. I had agreed to meet him and listen as he slowly peeled back the wool from my eyes. And I had fallen fast and hard. Yet, I didn’t regret any of the decisions that had brought me to this point in my life. True, Cade and I had been through trials and tribulations, many of them so horrifying I don’t wish to reminisce on them. But because of those tests, we had grown closer than ever.