“It is. Your name means ‘child’ because that is what you give to us.”
Ho. This floored her for several seconds and she remained quiet as they continued walking, thinking the matter over. “That is…outside of my expectations.”
“Yes, it is because you did not expect anything from us that we knew you to be a friend. You bring joy to us and yet take nothing away.” Pausing, he added carefully, “We have become fond of you.”
A startled laugh erupted from her mouth, more out of happiness than surprise. “Fond, is it? Well. That’s quite the compliment to hand a girl.”
Veassen shot her a quick glance over his shoulder. She had the impression that on some level he was beaming but his expression on the outside was simply softer than usual. “We will protect you, as long as you live. You need not fear anything in these woods. They will not harm you.”
They wouldn’t dare, in other words, as the Fae would come down on them like an axe. “It’s a relief to know that,” she admitted. “Thank you.”
Satisfied, he continued guiding her home. Sevana had of course never been this way so she took careful note of the trail and found several different landmarks that she could use to guide herself the next time she came this way.
Even though they crossed through Curupria territory, they didn’t see even a hint of one of the strange creatures. They were known to attack hunters or travelers, but apparently they were shy where the Fae were concerned. Veassen assured her that they had already spoken to them earlier and that the whole race understood that Sevana was special and to leave her be. None of them dared a confrontation like Muma Padurii had, and Sevana was just as glad of it, as she had enough to mentally process as it was.
Veassen escorted her properly all the way to her back door and saw her inside before bidding her a good night and going back home. Sevana took the first proper breath she’d had since that morning and leaned against Big’s cool walls for a long moment.
Baby? Big prompted. Grydon?
“They are still playing with the Fae. They were invited to stay and did.”
She could feel the mountain do the equivalent of a startled blink.
“Believe me, I was just as surprised, but that’s not even the half of it.” Pushing herself upright, she went hunting for Master and found him, predictably, in the kitchen.
He looked up as she came in, relieved to see her intact. “I take it the meeting went well?”
“Master.” Sevana dropped into a chair, exhausted. “You won’t believe this. They named me.”
“Named? Who did, sweetling?”
“The Fae.”
Master dropped the tea cup in his hand, sending it rattling on the saucer. “What?! The Fae have only done that twice in known human history!”
“I am now Sellion to them, recorded in their books as such. And that’s only the start.”
“Back up, tell me from the beginning,” Master begged her.
Stealing his tea, she dropped another spoonful in it before draining it in one long pull. With her thirst eased, she started from the beginning, and spun him the full tale.
Master heard her out without even trying to interrupt. When she wound down, he poured her another cup of tea, which she promptly gulped down. “Sweetling, we are beyond blessed that you have laid such good foundations with them. If you hadn’t brought them so many children, or tried to be a good neighbor, they might not have even heard you out.”
“Much less insisted on helping,” she concurred. “You did say that good relations with the Fae would pay off eventually, but I didn’t expect anything like this. I just wanted to be on their good side, nothing more, as they make terrible enemies.”
“But just as amazing friends, it seems. So, Sellion, what do you plan to do?”
“A man named Arandur is supposed to come meet me here in the morning and take me to wherever they think the ink was taken from. When I left, all they knew was that there was nothing missing from their own territory. Aranhil was contacting the other territories and telling them what had happened, asking them to check their own stores. I gathered the impression that they’d get the answer fairly quickly.”
“I imagine with something this important, they’d get a response very quickly.” Master stroked his chin, deep in thought for a moment. “I bet he’s also asking permission from his fellow kings to share the secret of the ink with you, though. He wouldn’t answer you immediately even though they have more or less adopted you, which means he didn’t have the authority to immediately disclose all secrets.”
“I think the only reason why he could promise to tell me the ingredients is because of my status with them.” It hadn’t made sense at the time but now it certainly did. “So maybe he’s doing just that. I hope he gets permission as I’m not sure we’ll know enough to reverse this otherwise.”
“Truly.”
Daring to ask, she gave him a hopeful smile. “How much did you discover while I was gone?”
“I basically caught up with your research and tried a few things.” Master looked irritated admitting this. “But I also confirmed your feeling that we’ve seen this man’s work before. It’s not just with Aran and Bellomi’s curses, I’ve encountered him as well over the past three decades.”
“Three decades?!” Sevana spluttered, nearly choking on her own tea. She had to beat a palm against her chest to get her breath back. “He’s been active that long?”
“Hmm, he certainly has. I have this feeling though that I’m missing something, or forgetting something that deals with him.” Master raised a hand in the air as if he were trying to grasp what he was missing. “It’s right on the edge of my mind, but I can’t quite recall it.”
“You’ll remember at some ungodly hour of the morning. That’s when things hit me, at least.” She hoped he did remember. Master had forgotten more than all of his students had ever known. It might be important, whatever it was. “While I’m packing, tell me where else you’ve stumbled onto his trail.”
Sevana got up with the dawn as she hadn’t done much packing the night before. She’d spent more time listening to Master and asking questions than thinking of what she needed to bring. With him safely snoring away, she had the spare brain power to put together a mental list of what she needed to pack. This was not a case where she could step through a clock portal and fetch whatever she had forgotten, so she had to choose what she brought with care. Besides that, she had limited space so she couldn’t just shove everything that might be handy in her pack either. She couldn’t find any of her neverending bags. They had disappeared on her completely in her storeroom. She really was going to have to organize, one of these days.
Not knowing even which area of the country they were headed to, she packed clothes she could layer if it was cold, and one thick coat. But it was still summer in most of the world, so the clothes were light enough to be worn in heat too. Pulling on her most comfortable boots, she double checked her packs, running through a mental checklist and hoping she wasn’t forgetting anything important.
Strapping everything down, she lugged both of them to the front entrance before doubling back for her sword and hat. Sevana had this feeling that the man who would come for her wouldn’t be comfortable on any of her flying devices. She’d be forced to ride around on horseback, which meant traveling under strong sunlight. The hat would be a welcome block from the sun.
Fae at door, Big informed her.
Already? It had barely turned seven. Good thing she’d gotten up when she had. Stepping outside, she automatically greeted, “Good morning, I believe I’m ready—” but her words died as she got her first look at him.
Most of the Fae, for whatever reason, had light hair. But this man’s was a dark brunette, cut short, with brilliant green eyes, skin toned by many hours in the sun. He looked so radically different from the usual ethereal beauty of the Fae, more masculine and human, that she fumbled to a stop. He was definitely Fae—no mistaking his radiated power and those ears—but why did he lo
ok so different than most of them?
“I am Arandur,” he greeted, giving her a half-bow from the waist. “Aranhil has tasked me with helping you, Sellion.”
“I thank you for the help,” she responded, her mouth automatically moving without any real thought on her part. “I learned yesterday that Fae names all have a meaning. If you don’t mind my asking, what does your mean?”
“Caretaker.” His formality dropped a notch and he unbent enough to kick his mouth up on one side. “In human terms, I am the tracker and informant for my people.”
Sort of like how Morgan was for her? Now it made sense, why he seemed more human to her eyes. It was likely because he spent half of his time outside of Fae territory. “Ah, I see. Now it makes sense why Aranhil gave you the task.”
“I am pleased he did.” Arandur sounded as if he truly meant that. Looking down at her feet, he gestured to the packs. “That is all you will bring?”
“I’ve packed the essentials, except food.” To her dread, she realized he had two horses saddled and waiting behind them. So he did expect her to ride? “Um, Arandur, I hate to be a wet blanket, but I’m not the best rider.”
He seemed genuinely surprised by this. “Why not?”
“Horses don’t like me. I don’t like them. It’s a mutual sort of thing. So, if it’s all the same to you, can we put all the packs on one horse and have me ride with you?” Sevana gave the horses a nervous look. She really, really didn’t want to ride by herself. Bad things happened when she tried it.
“If you wish. I do not see why we cannot.” A funny expression was on his face but he amiably grabbed her packs before going to the dappled grey horse and strapped her bags on.
While he did so, she turned and put a hand on Big’s wall. “Big. Tell Master that I’ve taken off. I’ll try to keep him updated as I go. Ask him to coordinate with Morgan for me. I told him to last night, but he was too tired, I’m not sure if he’ll remember.”
Will.
“And don’t, whatever you do, let him reorganize my storerooms. He’ll make a hash of it.”
Big made a rumbling, chuckling sound. Can’t hurt.
“It can too, you rat fink, don’t give me that. I can find things in there just fine.” Maybe not on the first or third try, but she always found what she was looking for. Master could not make the same claim.
Big just laughed at her and didn’t even try to rebut that. Frowning, she hoped he really wouldn’t let Master into her storerooms. Sevana gave him a last pat before strapping her sword on her back and pulled the hat snuggly on her head. Feeling more or less ready, she turned to Arandur.
He was patiently waiting for her, having already shifted all of the packs to one horse. Arandur extended a hand to her, which she gingerly took, and he helped to boost her aboard. The saddle was wide enough that two people could sit comfortably on it although Sevana felt it a little discomforting as there were no reins on the horse or a bridle. The saddle was there just to help the people stay on, but clearly a Fae needed no external device to guide the horse. Arandur put a foot in the stirrup and swung around behind her, his arms coming around to rest comfortably on the saddle ridge. Not knowing where else to put her hands, she gripped the horn. It helped her feel more balanced to do so.
With a click of the tongue, Arandur started them off, and the horses obediently followed his direction and started heading north-west.
“Where are we going?” Sevana asked, realizing she hadn’t asked that question yet.
“Aranhil was informed last night that the North Forest have reported a break into their storerooms. They are the only ones to have found a problem.”
North Forest? “And they are located…?”
“The human name for it is Brennan Woods.”
Ah, that made more sense. She was aware there were Fae living in that section of the world. So it was another group of woodland Fae that they were going to? It would certainly be easier to steal from them than one of the ocean Fae. Even a magician couldn’t hold his breath long enough to reach the sea floor.
They left the forest area surrounding Big and reached the main road. It was at that point that Sevana realized she had jumped to an assumption she shouldn’t have. She had mistakenly thought the steed under her was a regular horse. When he put the first hoof on the road, he broke out into a run, and the speed at which he moved was almost breathtaking. No regular horse could even try to keep up with him. That was her first hint, but the second was how silently his hoofs touched the ground. It was nothing more than a muted rumble. Big made more noise talking to her.
Swallowing hard, she stared down at the bay stallion. “By chance, is this a chellomi?”
“His sire was,” Arandur answered, a smile in his voice. “I don’t blame you for making the mistake, most do.”
A chellomi looked remarkably like a horse, but they were mythical beasts that could outrun the wind. Their name literally meant that they could cross a thousand miles in one step. It was an exaggeration of course, but not by much. She blinked and they passed Milby, leaving it in the dust.
Well no wonder he didn’t need any control over either beast. His Fae abilities aside, the chellomi were incredibly intelligent. She herself could probably talk to them and be able to ride them just fine. Not that she was willing to put that to the test.
It also now made sense why he had put her in front of him. Insecure rider that she was, she would have been bouncing all over the place after the stallion had picked up speed. It was Arandur’s solid seat that was helping her to keep her own.
“By human devices, it would normally take me almost three days to reach Brennan Woods. How long will it take on a chellomi’s back?”
“Three days.” Arandur paused before asking, “Just what sort of device allows you to travel as fast as a chellomi?”
“I have various flying devices I’ve built,” she explained. “They’re faster and less hassle than horses.”
“I believe I have seen them in the sky before. So that was you?” Arandur sounded intrigued. “Tell me more about them.”
Oh? The interest he was expressing made her think that she might have talked him into traveling by that method after all. It was rather too late now, though. Resigned, she gave him a broad outline of her various devices, then went into more detail as he peppered her with questions.
Arandur was well suited to his job. He was curious about human magic, quick to understand new concepts, and very adaptable to the foreign. It wasn’t just the portraits that he wanted an explanation of, it was anything magical she used on a regular basis or had brought with her. Sevana found that by asking questions like, “Don’t you have something similar?” she could draw him out and learn more about the Fae in turn. The conversation was enjoyable and intellectually satisfying, a rare combination. They spent the whole day talking, only pausing when they stopped for the night at the foot of the Standor Mountains.
“There’s a spot up ahead I use often,” Arandur stated as the stallion under them slowed to a more normal walk. “It has a small brook and good shelter from the wind.”
“Sounds ideal.” Sevana had expected they’d have to camp out and brought along a few things to make the experience more tolerable. “Did you pack food, though? I wasn’t sure what to bring.” Mostly because she had no idea what a Fae diet consisted of.
“I did,” he assured her.
They pulled off the road without him elaborating and went off into a small clearing surrounded by pine trees. Their pack horse went straight to the brook and started drinking. The stallion stood stock still while Arandur slid off his back and landed lightly on his feet.
Sevana threw a leg over the saddle, preparing to just hop off, but he caught her about the waist and lifted her down. “Whoa!” she exclaimed, startled, instinctively gripping his shoulders to find her balance.
He seemed to find her reaction amusing, although it was hard to read his expression in the failing light. Arandur set her on her feet but did not let go of her. “
Give yourself a moment,” he counseled. “If you are not used to being on a horse, then an all-day ride like this will task your muscles.”
Grimacing, she muttered, “You don’t have to tell me.” It felt like her legs were rubber, painful rubber that had been stretched the wrong way for too long. Without his support, she would be staggering.
An arm around her waist, he walked her slowly around the clearing, forcing her cramping muscles to loosen. By the time they made a full circuit, she felt better. She stopped him with a raised hand. “I’m fine now. Let’s set up camp.”
“Would you like something hot or cold for dinner?”
Sevana tried to imagine a Fae burning something, even fallen deadwood, and failed. “Hot?” she responded, just to see what he would do next.
He didn’t say anything, just headed for the pack horse and started unloading the bundles.
Deciding she couldn’t let him do all the work, she approached the horse/chellomi they had ridden on. “Um, I’ll unsaddle you?” she offered.
The stallion stared back with interest at her. When she said nothing else, he shifted so that he stood perpendicular to her, giving her full access. Taking that as a yes, she threw the stirrup over to see the straps and unbuckled everything. The stallion was taller than usual, so she had to stand on tiptoes to get a good grip on the horn and drag it free of his back. A fallen log nearby served as a good place to put the saddle.
“Perhaps you are not good with horses,” Arandur noted, offering her a curry brush. “But you are with chellomi.”
“Horses are not known for their intelligence. I have a hard time with anything that’s an idiot.” She accepted the brush gingerly. Brushing with the grain would work, right? Hoping that was the case, she started in on the stallion’s coat.
“Which is why you fly.”
“Partially. But flying is just safer all around,” she answered as she brushed, never looking up. “There’s no bandits, no territories to run afoul of, no flies or pests to contend with. Unless there’s a storm, it’s a more convenient way to travel.”
The Scofflaw Magician (The Artifactor Book 3) Page 12
