by Logan Byrne
“Maybe that’s why my flames didn’t come. I thought it was because of the cold, but this place might be protected,” Aidan said.
Tyvin punched forward, his kicks flying from side to side, but no air moved. This mountain was a dead zone for elemental powers, whether it was meant to be for this feat or not.
“We better just start walking, then. It looks like we’re doing it the old-fashioned way,” I said. Even though we could’ve climbed up the jagged rock face, it wasn’t the smartest idea. There was a path, albeit narrow, that seemed to circle around the perimeter of the mountain. It would be long, but it was safer than climbing up, especially since the guys couldn’t use their elemental powers here.
I wore a scarf around the bottom half of my face as I squinted to keep the sun from shining into my eyes. We began to scale the mountain, circling around it like vultures waiting for their prey to die. The air became thinner the higher we climbed, my legs starting to feel like they were weighted down with bricks.
I looked up high, seeing a peak that didn’t appear to be getting any closer, even though a couple hours had passed. “How far have we gone?” I asked.
“Well,” Adam said, looking over the edge, “I’d say a couple thousand feet, maybe.”
“Why is the air so thin?” Aidan asked.
“We were already much higher than sea level. Every foot forward is another foot upwards, and that reduces the oxygen accessible to us,” Tyvin said.
“Would it be foolish to rest for a bit? Maybe we can begin again in an hour?” I asked.
“It’ll be too dark and dangerous. One small misstep and somebody will go tumbling off, especially without elemental powers. Let’s just camp for the night and summit tomorrow,” Aidan said.
“I agree. We need to play the safe game, not the fast one,” Tyvin said.
Feeling winded, I sat down against the mountainside. The strip of path we were on spanned about fifteen feet to the edge. It was larger down here, but looking upwards made me realize it was only going to get narrower.
I’d never scaled a mountain like this, or any mountain, though I felt like it was a good bucket list item. Mortals did it a lot, I knew, and I sort of envied them for the risk-taking adventures they found entertaining.
Aidan started a small fire, knowing how to make it by hand even if he couldn’t start it with his hands. Tyvin began setting up the tents while I rested against the mountain.
“Are you okay?” Adam asked, kneeling beside me.
“Yeah, just catching my breath,” I said, swallowing what felt like sand.
“You’ve been catching it for the past forty minutes, Kira. We can turn around,” Adam said.
“No, I need to finish my feat. It isn’t an option to turn around. That would make this entire day in vain,” I said.
“Guys,” Adam called, motioning the others. “She isn’t looking good.”
“Kira, I think you’re getting altitude sickness,” Tyvin said, placing his hand against my forehead.
“Maybe we should take her down,” Aidan said.
“I’m not leaving! I have to get the flower!” I protested, my heart racing as I glared at them. “I’m fine, see,” I insisted, trying to stand up.
I stumbled, reaching out, before the guys grabbed me and helped me back down. “It’s three against one, you’re going back down the mountain,” Aidan said.
“We can get the flower for you,” Tyvin said.
A couple of pebbles clattered down from the next tier up, and we all looked up to see what the commotion was. A faun was gazing back down at us, smiling, as the four of us looked at him with confusion.
“Does anybody else see a faun?” I asked, unsure how sick the altitude had made me.
“Sure do,” they all said in unison.
“Can you help us, faun?” Tyvin asked.
The faun’s ears perked up and he nodded and disappeared. Fauns were peculiar creatures, with the top half of a human body and the bottom of a goat. I supposed it wasn’t so crazy one would live up here, given we were on the side of a mountain, but I wasn’t sure they inhabited this place.
Rocks tumbled down the side of the hill before the faun came jumping down, hopping from rock to rock like a performance athlete. He didn’t say anything, instead looking me over as I huffed and puffed and tried to keep calm. He opened a satchel he carried and rustled through its contents before pulling out a dried twig with some kind of leaves on it. He pulled some of them off, stacking them on top of one another, before ripping them in half and rubbing the split ends together.
The faun opened my mouth, shoving the leaves between my gums and my lip. “Let it stay, and suck on it. It will combat your sickness,” the faun said, muttering his first words.
“Thank you for your help. How long will it take to work?” Tyvin asked.
“The effects begin immediately, and should be finished by the morning,” the faun said. “You cannot stay here, though. It isn’t safe.”
“What’s wrong?” Aidan asked.
“It looks unassuming to me,” Adam replied.
“There are many unsavory creatures who prowl these cliffs at nightfall. With your elemental fae powers gone, you won’t stand a chance,” the faun said.
“What’s your name?” I asked.
“Pren,” the faun said, smiling. “You should come with me. My home is big enough for you to stay the night, and my wife will make you food.”
The guys looked at me as I sat up on the ground, the leaves already starting to take effect as the fog lifted from my mind. “I trust him,” I said.
“Thank you for opening up your home to us, Pren. We owe you a debt,” Tyvin said.
•••
Pren’s home was built into the mountainside, about a twenty-minute walk from where we were located. It was hidden, the entrance obscured to the point that I didn’t think I could’ve found it even if I were dropped right in front of it. He waved his hand and the stones rearranged, exposing a thick wooden door with a small window near the top.
“Visitors?” a female faun inside asked, as she wiped her hands on a tea towel draped from her apron.
“I found these travelers on the cliff side. The woman is sick, I gave her herbs,” Pren said. “This is my wife, Yiri, and this is our home.”
The home was small, but magical. It was so different from those in our kingdom. The rocky walls were hung with pictures and knickknacks, a small fire burning in a metal fireplace in the corner.
As we all piled inside, the ceiling just tall enough for Tyvin to stand up, Pren waved his hand once again and the rocks piled on top of themselves and obscured the entrance to his home.
“How are you able to cast magic?” Tyvin asked.
“Fauns aren’t bound to the curses of this mountain. It allows us to practice our magic, albeit our limited magic, without problem,” Pren said.
“This mountain is cursed?” Adam asked.
“Your elemental powers not working here isn’t just a consequence of your feats, and it’s definitely not a coincidence. I bet you’re after those beautiful flowers that bloom at the summit,” Pren said.
“Do you know anything about them?” I asked.
“I know they’re rare, but we fauns don’t tend to touch herbs and flowers like those. They’re too powerful,” Pren said.
“I wonder why Telerius wants it so badly, then,” I said.
“Are you hungry? I cannot let a guest stay in my home hungry,” Yiri asked.
“Let me help you, dear,” Pren said, shuffling into the kitchen.
“How are you feeling?” Adam asked softly as he and I sat next to one another on the couch.
“Better. I don’t know what he gave me, but it’s definitely working. I can breathe normally now,” I said. “By the way, thank you for noticing. I know I was trying to be strong and all, but I wasn’t fine.”
“I know you weren’t. I’ll always be here to help and take care of you,” he whispered, and I bit the inside of my lip.
&n
bsp; “Here we are, some biscuits and tea. I will be able to make a more satisfying dinner tonight,” Yiri said, as she and Pren set down some trays on the small coffee tables in front of us.
I looked at Adam as he leaned forward, grabbing a scone from the basket before spreading jam on top. His arms flexed a little, not even on purpose, and I couldn’t help wondering in that quick second what they’d feel like around me.
I’d had a moment with Aidan yesterday, and a moment in the temple with Tyvin earlier, but nothing so far with Adam, at least not a kiss. I wanted that chance, I needed that chance, if not for myself then for him. He deserved my attention just like Tyvin and Aidan did. I just wasn’t sure how to get it while we were in this tiny home.
“Kira,” Tyvin said, startling me, before I looked up at Pren who was staring at me. I must’ve been out of it thinking about Adam.
“You may take out your herbs to eat and drink, but you must put them back in after you are finished. We need to make sure you receive enough healing,” Pren said.
“Okay, thank you,” I said, nodding, a little embarrassed.
I scooped out the wet brown leaves before picking up a scone and sniffing it. Warmth emanated from inside as the fluffy pastry broke apart with ease. I bit the side of my lip, excited, before smothering whipped butter and strawberry jam all over the top. The guys watched me, smiling, as I took my first bite, my eyes closing as I savored the flavors dancing upon my deprived tongue. “Mm,” I moaned, before opening my eyes once again.
“That good?” Aidan asked.
“It’s amazing,” I said, smiling and looking up at a happy Yiri grinning from ear to ear.
“What can you tell us about these creatures you warned us about?” Aidan asked, looking at Pren.
“There are many creatures who prowl the mountains at night. It’s why we faun live where we do. Without our magic guarding our homes, we would be taken before we knew it,” Pren said.
“Are there more of you living within the mountain?” Adam asked.
“There are, yes. The mountain range is scattered with fauns, a few dozen in all,” Yiri said.
“Will the creatures attack us during the rest of our journey?” I asked.
“Possibly, yes. There is something guarding the flowers you seek,” Pren said, looking worriedly at Yiri.
“That’s not a good look,” Tyvin said.
“Something that lives there, a manticore,” Yiri said, as if she didn’t want to speak its name.
“A what?” Aidan asked.
“Body of a lion, tail of a scorpion, massive wings, and the face of a human,” Tyvin said.
“This one is different than others we have known about. His face is fused, like that between a human and a lion, with sharp fangs that could slice through flesh with ease. His wings are huge, like a bat, and green venom drips from his stinger just waiting to strike,” Pren said.
“How do we defeat it?” I asked.
“Nobody has,” Yiri said. “At least not in a way that lets them tell the tale.”
“So Telerius sent us on a suicide mission,” Aidan said, annoyed.
“We don’t need our elemental powers to get the job done. We have these,” Adam said, grabbing his weapons. “These are all we need.”
“It seems like quite a risk,” Tyvin said nervously, and rightfully so. Tyvin wasn’t a fighter, but more of a lover and a scholar, and I loved that about him. A man with a mind as fierce as his, and a gentleness to his hand that wouldn’t hurt a living thing, was a nice change of pace, even if I did have a thing for warriors as well.
“You might just have to let go of your inhibitions for this one. This is more than us, it’s for Kira,” Adam said.
“I revel in your bravery, earth elemental. How is it that you are not afraid of the manticore?” Pren asked, in shock and amazement.
“I’m nervous, sure, but it needs to be done. Sometimes in life you go through trials that are difficult, and even ones you aren’t sure you can handle, but you still get through it anyway. Kira has to complete her feats, and I’ll do whatever it takes, even alone, to make sure it happens,” Adam said.
I felt butterflies, smiling from ear to ear, as I watched him and saw the pure determination in his eyes. Adam didn’t speak to hear himself, and lies didn’t come from his lips. I knew he meant his words with every fiber of his being.
“Is there only one manticore up there?” Tyvin asked.
“Yes, as far as we know. Manticores are only in pairs during the mating season, which this is not,” Pren said.
“What if we sneak up when he’s not looking?” I asked.
“He’s always looking. You won’t be able to stand on the summit for long without him noticing you’re there,” Pren said.
“How are we going to beat something this fierce? We need a plan,” Aidan said, stroking his chin. I could see the military strategist inside him firing on all cylinders as he tried to come up with a plan, any plan, that would give us the upper hand.
“Take off his tail,” Yiri said.
“Right, the venom! If he can’t use his stinger, then that’s at least one advantage we’d have,” I said, smiling.
“Once we get his stinger off, we’d need to target his wings, if possible. Grounding him will be detrimental to his survival,” Adam said.
“This feels so wrong,” Tyvin said, shaking his head.
“It’ll be okay,” I said, giving Tyvin a little smile. “We won’t torture him, but we need to protect our own lives as well. In a perfect world he wouldn’t exist up there, but he does, and he’ll be ready to kill all of us.”
“If it makes you feel any better, he is a killer. He hunts not only for food, but for sport and fun, and has killed at least three fauns that we know of,” Pren said.
“An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind, but I know our mission and that we need to help Kira with her feats. I’m in,” Tyvin said.
“Honey, may I speak with you?” Yiri asked, motioning to me. “In here.”
I got up and walked around the corner into her pantry with her as the guys talked with Pren. “Is something wrong?” I asked.
“No, not at all. I just wanted to talk to you, woman to woman and all. How are things going?” she asked.
“You mean with the guys?” I asked.
“Yes,” she said, laughing a little. “Us faun, we mate for life just like you fae, but we don’t have anything like what you have to go through in our traditions. I just can’t imagine what you’re doing is easy. How do you choose?”
Yiri was sweet, and obviously worried. I would be too, if I met somebody who had to go through what I was currently going through. Having three amazing men in front of you, and being told to pick one and kick the others to the curb, was not a normal or fun thing to do, even if it was our tradition.
“I’m not sure I can,” I said, furling my eyebrows. “They’re all so different.”
“I could see your gaze upon the earth man. You must like him,” she said.
“I do, but I also like Aidan and Tyvin. I’ve kissed them,” I whispered.
“But not the other?” she asked.
“No, not yet. It hasn’t happened. I want it to, though,” I said.
“What about, you know, other things?” she asked.
“Yiri!” I exclaimed, shocked.
“A woman has needs, you know. You do have three handsome men who would gladly help you in that department,” she said.
“Sure, I can’t say I haven’t thought about it, but that’s a big step,” I said.
“Isn’t it one to take before your feats are over? You’re closing in on this one, and how many do you have left afterwards?” she asked.
“Two more,” I said.
“Halfway done and no more than a peck on the lips? There is so much more to spending your life with someone, and choosing a mate, than just how well you can joke with one another. The bonds of carnal enjoyment and ecstasy are just as important as whether he can make you laugh, especially with
how long fae live,” she said, nodding.
“Who do I pick, though?” I asked.
“All of them,” she said.
“What?” I asked, in shock, almost choking on my own spit.
“Well, honey, you can’t just be with one. You need to take them all for a spin,” she said.
“This just got very real,” I said, laughing a little and wiping my brow, both because of the moment and because the rocky home was warm and muggy.
“What are you girls laughing about in there?” Pren called from the other room.
“Just remember what I said, dear. Bonding is a lifetime commitment to one man. Don’t make the wrong choice,” Yiri said, before she walked out of the pantry.
She definitely wasn’t making it any easier.
8
The fire crackled in the wood-burning stove as Pren and Yiri gave us our blankets for the night. “These are all we have, I hope they will do,” Pren said, handing over knitted blankets that looked old.
“They’re perfect. Thank you for your hospitality,” Tyvin said, nodding.
“Goodnight,” they said, before heading off to their bedroom.
“We should get some rest before it gets too late. Tomorrow is going to be a long one,” Aidan said, blowing out the small oil lamp near him.
The room became mostly dark, the only light from the flickering embers of the wood stove. I was on the couch, the boys talking the floor, as I shifted and pulled the blanket over me. I looked at them all, lying there with their eyes closed, as I tried to remember why I was doing this.
Our customs were important to me, and preserving not only our history but also the powers of the elementals was important too. They were what made us fae and separated us from other magical beings. What if that wasn’t my path, though? What if I wanted something else? Was I not allowed to satisfy my desire for life and love just because of tradition?
I liked all three of these guys, not just one of them. I knew one could say that was how it was supposed to be, and the man I picked would be the best, but Aidan, Tyvin, and Adam all brought different things to the table.
I loved how fierce Aidan was, but I also loved how sweet and intelligent Tyvin was. And I loved Adam’s tenacity and his skill with his hands. Picking just one of these guys and letting the others go would be a colossal mistake, and one I wasn’t sure I could handle.
