The Rise of the Dawnstar

by Farah Oomerbhoy

  There had to be a way for me to get a glimpse of that Codex. “But you have seen it?” I remembered what Cade had told me about the dowager. “You were queen of Elfi before my grandmother, weren’t you?”

  The dowager nodded. “Yes, I have seen it, and I can tell you that you should stop asking questions about it. Do not under any circumstance mention this to the other elders.” She got up and gestured for me to walk with her, lowering her voice. “None of the Elder Council will be pleased to know you want to see the Codex.”

  “Why?”

  “There are secrets in the Codex dating back to the Age of Ancients that could prove extremely dangerous to the security of Elfi should it ever fall into the wrong hands.”

  “Then surely there must be something in the Codex that mentions this ancient weapon?”

  The dowager stopped walking and looked at me sharply. “Ancient magic is gone and it will never return. Don’t waste your time on trying to find something that isn’t there—concentrate on mastering your own magic. The Dawnstar doesn’t exist. There is no legendary weapon left behind by the ancients.”

  I hung my head as I walked beside her, my thoughts an absolute mess. How could this be possible? I was counting on this, the mastermage said it was the only way to fight Dragath’s magic—without it I would never be able to free my mother. And although my grandmother promised to help me free her, I was under no illusions she would keep her promise. The fae were known to find loopholes in their oaths, and I knew how sharp my grandmother was. If she had the power to free someone from the Dark Dagger, surely she would have freed the other fire-fae warriors and rebuilt her army.

  Something didn’t feel right. I had to find out more before I gave up this quest for the Dawnstar. But I decided to take the dowager’s advice and keep quiet about what I was looking for.

  * * *

  Whenever I found time to go to the library alone, I searched for anything that mentioned the Dawnstar. Once I got used to the eerie space, I began to feel more comfortable and had a good idea which corridors led where. So I continued searching for any mention of it, day after day, but I never found anything.

  Once the dowager was satisfied I had adequate control over my spirit magic, she wanted to explore my water talent. At first it was hard, separating droplets of water from the rest, letting them float upward, and joining them together to create a ball.

  “Good,” she said, as I stood beside a fountain in the garden and manipulated the water within it. “You can mold the water into any shape you want, like you do with glamour.”

  I fashioned the water into the image of a bird, a sparrow made of liquid, and guided it around the gardens. A noise startled me, and the water sparrow burst into droplets that drizzled down on the head of a gnome busy pulling up weeds at the far side of the terraced gardens.

  “Sorry,” I called out.

  The gnome sputtered and swore at me, but when he saw the dowager standing at my side he bowed his head and got back to work.

  “Good,” said the dowager, “but your concentration is weak. Now I want you to try something different. Move the water from one fountain to another.”

  Extending my magic, I lifted droplets of water and deposited them in the other fountain.

  “Now turn it to ice.”

  “What?” I tried to focus with the water but it splashed out of the fountain, spraying the little gnome gardener again.

  “Sorry, sorry,” I shouted, holding up my hands.

  “Let’s try it once more, shall we?” said the dowager, a smile playing at the corner of her lips.

  I repeated what I had done before, moving the water from one fountain to the other.

  “Now push your magic into it and lower the temperature,” the dowager instructed.

  I willed the water to freeze. To my excitement, it did just that, slowly forming a perfect little ice bridge between the two fountains.

  “That was impressive.” The dowager inspected my work. “Usually fire and water don’t go well together, and the gift of ice less so.”

  She waved her hand and the ice bridge that I had created disappeared, melting back into the fountains.

  “You’re good with water magic too,” I pointed out.

  She gave me a wry chuckle. “Yes, I suppose I am. They didn’t call me the ice-queen for nothing. But I don’t possess fire magic like you do. For a fae to be born with both ice and fire in equal fury is quite remarkable. Your mother didn’t have water magic. You and Izadora are the only ones who have all five powers of the fae. The fire-fae are less than a handful, and the water-fae are nearly extinct.” She paused and lowered her voice. “I have spoken to Izadora about removing your amulet while you train.”

  “And?” I held my breath.

  “She has agreed. But only while training, mind you. She feels it is safer for you to keep it on at other times.”

  I nodded. Finally!

  * * *

  I started using portals all the time after that. I told myself it was practice, but it was also a much quicker way for me to get from the training field and back to the palace for my magical training with the dowager. I was determined to do my best. I had a purpose in life, a goal, and I would not back down or run away as I might have done before.

  Now that I could remove my amulet for longer periods of time, I began to discover depths to my magic I didn’t know I had. I could feel a change within me, not only physically, but mentally as well. As I trained with my fae powers, my hearing heightened, and so did my sight. In the few weeks I had been here, I was more aware of everything around me, I needed less sleep, and I didn’t get so tired anymore. I ran up the stairs to my room, clearing them two at a time. I could have used a portal to get there, but I looked at it as part of my training, only making me stronger. Although I pushed myself to what should have been my limit, I could still do more.

  One night Skye came to see me in my room. That was the first time she had come up to the tower.

  “Nice room,” she said, looking around when I let her in. “I like how you have decorated it; love the reading nook and window seat.” She went over to the windows to glance outside. “What a beautiful view, Aurora. This is amazing!” She stared out over the hidden valley of the fae. “I’ve never seen the city from so high up. Look, you can see the whole valley.”

  I let her talk and sat on my bed, wondering why she had come and was being so friendly all of a sudden.

  “Skye,” I said slowly, “why are you here? Is there something wrong?”

  She whirled around. “No, no,” she smiled and came over to sit beside me. “I thought you might want to come down to the city tonight with us?”

  It was sweet of her to make the effort, but Tristan had made it very clear some time ago that he didn’t want me tagging along on his excursions to the city. “I don’t think Tristan would be so pleased if I joined you.”

  “What! No, of course he doesn’t mind,” said Skye quickly. “Why would you think that?”

  I told her what I had overheard Tristan say the last time she had asked me to come out with her.

  Skye’s face turned the color of a fresh tomato. “I wondered why you never came down that day. And why you never mentioned it or asked to join us again.”

  I looked at my feet. “It’s okay, I don’t want to come where I’m not wanted.”

  Skye laughed. “You’ve got it all wrong,” she said, her eyes twinkling. “It’s not that Tristan doesn’t want you around. The problem is that he does, and he hates that. He’s the one who sent me to get you today.”

  “Why didn’t he ask me himself?”

  Skye smiled. “He didn’t think you would come if he did.”

  I scrunched my eyebrows together. “I don’t understand.”

  “As soon as Tristan got to know you, he became extremely fond of you. I’ve never seen him like this. He talks about you all the time. But you know how he hates mages? Knowing you are half-mage and having you constantly by his side brings back too many bad memori
es, reminding him of a time he would rather forget.”

  “Why does he hate mages so much?” Ever since I had met him, I was curious to know more about Tristan. He never opened up to me about himself, and the only time he would speak at length was if I asked him a question about fae history.

  “When your mother lived in Elfi, Tristan’s mother Selene, the Grand Duchess of the Night Court, was her best friend.”

  “I never knew that. Tristan hasn’t mentioned it.”

  Skye nodded. “They were very close. While Elayna was meeting your father in secret, Selene met and fell in love with one of your father’s courtiers who had accompanied him to Elfi.”

  My eyes widened. “No wonder Tristan wants nothing to do with me. He must blame my family for his mother’s infidelity.”

  “That’s not the half of it,” Skye went on. “Tristan’s father, the Grand Duke, found out about the affair and in a fit of anger exiled his wife from the Night Court. Selene went to the queen to seek refuge, but Izadora accused her of encouraging her daughter to defy her and marry a mage. So she refused to help.”

  I held my breath. I could tell already I wouldn’t like where this story was heading.

  “That’s when Selene decided to leave Elfi and journey to Illiador and seek refuge with your mother, the only friend she had left.”

  “Where was Tristan? Why didn’t he do anything?”

  “Tristan was away at the time at a training camp, deep in the Old Forest, and couldn’t be reached,” said Skye. “My mother says Selene was too ashamed to face him anyway, when he got back and heard what had happened he went after her.”

  “Did he find her?’ My voice was a whisper.

  Skye hung her golden head. “It was so tragic,” she sniffed. “Selene was a kind soul, a healer, she was not equipped to endure such a journey alone. Tristan’s mother managed to almost reach Illiador, but on the way she was set upon by a group of soldiers.”

  My blood went cold.

  “She was raped and murdered, Aurora, by a whole garrison of warrior mages.” Tears formed in Skye’s eyes as she recounted the horrific tale. “Tristan found her, but he was too late.”

  I sat still, barely breathing. “What did he do?”

  “Tristan’s rage knew no bounds. He killed the whole garrison of mages and razed their fortress to the ground.”

  “The mages have a different version of the story,” I said, as I remembered the ruins of the fortress I saw in Eldoren on my way to Calos. Brandon told me about the merciless fae warrior that swooped down from the sky and wreaked havoc on the mages. I knew it was Tristan that had destroyed the fortress; Brandon had said it was the Prince of the Night Court. But until now I never knew why he did it.

  Skye nodded. “I’m sure they do. The mages asked for Tristan’s head; otherwise they would threaten war against the fae. Tristan’s father was willing to give him up, but it was Izadora who made a deal with the mage king of Eldoren. Your grandmother saved his life.”

  “What kind of deal?”

  “To keep Tristan bound to her under oath and control him. If he breaks his oath, his life is forfeit to the mages.”

  I shook my head. I couldn’t imagine the pain he must have had to endure, but at least I was starting to understand him a little better. “It must have been such a difficult time for him.”

  “It was,” Skye nodded. “Tristan had to bring his mother’s broken body back to Elfi to lay at his father’s feet.”

  “What did his father do?”

  “The Grand Duke, Kildaren, knew he had made a mistake, but he couldn’t admit it. Ever since then Tristan’s relationship with his father has been strained. He barely visits the Night Court, and then only on his mother’s death day to put flowers on her grave.”

  I closed my eyes, trying to remove the pictures of Tristan’s mother from my mind. The world was such a gruesome place, and I couldn’t blame Tristan for hating mages after what had happened.

  “I’m not supposed to be telling you this,” said Skye sheepishly. “Tristan doesn’t like to talk about it. If he finds out I told you, he will have my head on a stick.”

  “I won’t say anything. I don’t want Tristan to fight with you.”

  Skye laughed, breaking the somber mood. “Oh, Tristan wouldn’t hurt me,” she flipped her mass of golden hair over her shoulders. “Cade would kill him if he even touched me.”

  She paused. “Well, he would try.”

  I smiled. “So, you and Cade . . .”

  Skye nodded, she was beaming from ear to ear. “Isn’t he the cutest thing you ever laid eyes on?”

  “He’s very sweet.”

  “The winter festival is on in Iris and all the best entertainers and troupes are in town,” said Skye. “The theater is overflowing. But I managed to get us some seats. Best ones in the house,” she winked at me. “Being a princess does have its perks.”

  I laughed at this. It was nice to have friends and a little distraction in the face of everything I was supposed to achieve.

  She got up. “So are you coming with us or not?”

  I grinned. “Wouldn’t miss it.”

  I put on my boots and followed her out the door. Tristan and Cade were waiting at the foot of the stairs when Skye and I came down from my room and the Dark Prince smiled when he saw me.

  The city was spectacular at night as we walked down the hill along small flower-lined paths, over marble bridges and terraces that spanned the cascading waterfalls beneath. Iris was bustling as we traversed the wide roads and turned into smaller alleys. This part of the city was where many of the demi-fae lived: the artisans, the shopkeepers, the merchants and traders, the entertainers.

  Tristan led us to an open area, a beautiful garden surrounded by a wall of trees right in the middle of the city. I had seen this from my room in the tower and always wondered what it was. Now I knew it was the theater.

  Fae-light danced over the open space as couples or groups sat under trees or on mats spread out around the circular stage, which was placed right in the center of the garden. Secluded benches dotted the park, but Skye had got us a place right near the stage. Vendors walked around with trays of delectable snacks, and I couldn’t resist the little lemon tarts and fresh roasted chestnuts. Tristan bought me a few, and Cade picked up two ice-sticks dipped in berry juice for himself and Skye. We settled ourselves on a large mat Skye had kept ready for us.

  The performers were all very good, showcasing an operatic rendition of the War of the Courts. Apparently Elfi had suffered civil war many centuries ago, when the Day and Night Courts were pitted together in a bloody war for power. It was easy to follow the story and the music was beautiful, haunting and full of emotion.

  I didn’t realize how cold it was that night; even with my cloak on I shivered and rubbed my arms.

  “Come here,” said Tristan gruffly, and pulled me closer to him, enveloping me in his strong embrace and wrapping his cloak around my shoulders.

  For a moment I froze, unsure what to do, but he was so surprisingly gentle that I leaned back and snuggled into the warmth of his chest to watch the rest of the play, although I was no longer fully concentrating on it. Heat coursed through me as he held me close. His warm breath grazed my neck as he whispered snippets of fae history, explaining from time to time what was happening on stage.

  I couldn’t understand what I was feeling. I loved being close to Tristan, although I realized that the attraction was purely physical. He was very handsome, there was no doubt, and his body was chiseled and honed into perfection through hundreds of years of being a warrior. I knew it was wrong, but being away from Rafe for so long was difficult, and I had absolutely no idea what he was doing or if he would ever come back for me like he said he would. Still, I felt guilty, but I didn’t want to push Tristan away. I wasn’t sure how he would take it.

  His change of behavior toward me had been gradual, but this was the first time he let his guard down. He was finally treating me like a person and not as an outsider, and
I was glad he was more comfortable around me than when we first met. However, I would have to be more careful to make sure I didn’t lead him on.

  Aiden came over during a break in the performance. Brianna was hanging on his arm, unashamedly falling all over the prince of the Day Court. He looked most uninterested in her but didn’t seem to mind her tagging along.

  “So you brought the half-breed to the theatre,” sneered Aiden, glancing at me but addressing Tristan and Skye. “What a waste.”

  My spine bristled but I held my tongue. I had come here to enjoy myself, not get into a fight with an idiot.

  I caught Brianna sneaking looks at Tristan more than a few times and somehow that didn’t sit well with me. I had noticed before that Brianna had a thing for him, and it was so obvious she was trying to make him jealous by flaunting herself with Aiden. But Tristan didn’t seem to notice or care; he completely ignored her whenever she was around.

  “Oh, go away Aiden,” said Skye. “Aurora’s our friend, and if you don’t like it you don’t have to sit with us.”

  “I don’t sit with half-breeds.” Aiden’s eyes burned a hole through me. “The stench is unbearable.”

  Tristan was up in a flash. “Say that again, Aiden . . .”

  “And you’ll what?” spat Aiden, itching for a fight. “Fight me? Your own brother Elite, for her?” He gave me a disgusted look, as if I weren’t fit to wipe his boots.

  I stood up. “No, he isn’t going to fight you,” I said, willing my voice to stay calm. “But since you obviously want to fight with someone, I’m sure I can oblige.”

  A ball of silver–fire formed in Aiden’s hand.

  I gathered my magic and the water rose up from the fountain behind Aiden. I released it in a well-aimed jet, dousing the fire in his hand. “Grow up!”

  Aiden was startled, but drew his sword. “You’re dead.”

  Tristan stepped in between us, facing Aiden. “Try it,” he snarled, his voice laced with steel. Power rippled out from him as the Dark Prince’s hands started to glow.