Marked (The Coldest Fae Book 3)
Page 21
I crossed the tent and picked up a small hand mirror, one of Mira’s, and saw myself for the first time in possibly weeks. I looked tired and run down, but behind those vibrant, blue eyes I saw the survivor that I was, and the fighter I had become.
I shook my hair loose, tucked it carefully into my hood, and pulled the hood over my head. When I was done, I clapped the mirror shut, went up to the tent flap, and pulled it open, finally emerging from the tent… to find the ground littered with flowers, and wreaths, and candles.
I looked around, trying to figure out what they were all for, but I wasn’t having any luck. All around me, the village was a flutter of movement, voices, people. The moon children were going about their business, cleaning clothes, cooking meals. Most of them offered a slight smile and a curt nod as they walked past, others took the time to bow, place two fingers against their foreheads, then move those same two fingers to their lips, and finally their chests.
I didn’t have a reply to that, but they didn’t need one. Satisfied, they would all move away and keep doing what they were doing once the gesture had been made.
“It’s reverence,” came Toross’ voice.
My uncle was standing across from me. Beside him was a huge white elk eating carrots from his hand. “Ollie!” I said, walking over to them. “I thought he’d been… you know.”
“Eaten? No. Not him. He’s special.”
“Special? Why?”
“Because he brought the white wolf to us.”
I smiled at him. “What was it those people were doing?”
“It’s their way of asking for a blessing.”
“Oh… I don’t know how to give them one.”
He shook his head. “You don’t have to. The moon children have been coming to you and paying their respects ever since…”
I turned my head and looked at the offerings laid out in front of the tent. “Is that what those are?”
“They ask for your blessing, and they give you their blessing in return.”
“I don’t know what to say.”
“It means you have been accepted,” Ashera said, coming around the other side of the massive elk. She had her fingers in its fur, and was rubbing it gently as she approached. “You are one of us,” she said.
“Thank you,” I said, “That… means the world to me.”
“Mira tells me you will be leaving us.”
“She’s already talked to you?”
The Alpha offered a slight grin. “We may have all had a hand in preparing this plan. I am glad you accepted.”
“You don’t think I’m making a mistake? Going back to the castle, I mean?”
“Look around you. Have you noticed how the sky has dimmed?”
I turned my eyes up. I hadn’t noticed, not until she’d pointed it out. The sky was darker, though. The clouds were thicker, and they seemed to churn from inside. There was no lightning, no thunder, no eerie redness, but it was strange all the same.
“What is that?” I asked.
“The Veridian. The storm has quietened, but it has also stretched. Our scouts tell us it gets stronger near Windhelm. It seems the prophecy is in full force… going to the castle is exactly what you must do.”
A cold chill worked its way through me. “I don’t like the sound of that.”
“None of us do, but we have a plan. Mira will tell you on the way.”
I nodded. “Have either of you seen her? Or Mel… or Gullie?”
Ashera gave Toross a quick, playful glance. “Maybe you should go in there,” she said, pointing at one of the nearby tents. “We will get Ollie ready for the trip back to Windhelm.”
I eyed them both suspiciously, then carefully walked over to the tent I had been prompted to head over to. There were voices coming from inside. Mira’s, Melina’s, even Gullie’s. Once again, I felt like an intruder once I reached the flap, like someone who didn’t belong. My heart was racing, for some reason, but I steeled myself and slowly drew it open.
Stepping inside, my eyes widened, and my mouth fell.
“Hey, Dee,” Gullie said.
CHAPTER THIRTY
“Gull?” I asked.
Gullie couldn’t seem to look directly at me. She turned her head to the side, fiddled with strands of her bright green hair, blushed bright red. Her butterfly wings shimmered as the light hit them, fluttered as I looked at them, leaving clouds of glittering green mist to fall to the floor where she stood.
“What do you think?” she asked, twirling slightly.
“You’re… tall… what?”
“Didn’t I tell you the moon children were friends of pixies? They were kind enough to teach me a new trick.”
I stepped closer to her. I was still taller than her, by at least a head—maybe two. She was petite, but she was people sized. I couldn’t process it. “Wait… is this you now?”
She smiled again and shook her head, green pixie dust loosing from her hair and floating around her. Mel and Mira were standing nearby, both looking smug. I took the look on their faces to mean they had known about this for some time and had possibly been looking forward to my reaction.
“No,” she said, “I can’t do this all the time. Maybe just a few times a month, but it should last the whole day when I do it.”
“Gull… this is incredible. I never thought—I mean, I had no idea this was possible.”
“I didn’t either, but it’s kind of neat isn’t it?”
I got close to her, close enough to smell her. The strength of her aura, her scent, was a lot more powerful now. It reminded me of spring, of flowers reaching their prime, of beautiful gardens. Trembling, I hugged her, and she hugged me. Tears fell almost instantly. She was my best friend in the world, and I had never been able to hug her.
“I can’t even begin to tell you how much I needed something like this,” I said.
“I thought you might like it,” she said. “It’s pretty nice not to have to constantly look up at everyone. I mean, I still kind of do, but it’s different, you know? Now I’m just short.”
“It’s cute,” I said, wiping my tears away, “I like this. I liked you before, but this is also… it’s good to be able to hug you.”
Gullie pulled away. She was crying, too—her tears weren’t green, though. I brushed her hair behind her pointed ear. We looked more alike now than ever before, like sisters, really. I couldn’t put into words just how full it made me feel to be this close to her.
“Have you noticed how Mira hasn’t tried to break this up?” Mel asked.
“I’m allowing them a moment,” Mira said, “We have time… even if we are on a schedule.”
“Right,” I said, letting Gullie go. “Yes, impending doom, Veridian, all that stuff. Serious time. Can someone tell me about this plan everybody seems to know about except me?”
Mel and Mira looked at each other, then at me. “Do you know what you have to do?” Mel asked.
“Win the Royal Selection.”
She nodded. “That’s it. That’s your part of the plan. Make sure you don’t lose.”
“Wait, but… that’s not the whole plan, right?”
“It’s not. The moon children are planning an attack on the castle, but it’s heavily fortified. If we were to attack head on, we’d lose half our number before we even made it to the castle itself.”
“That’s why you need to win the Royal Selection and restore the Prince,” Mira said, “We need him on our side.”
“But that’s…” I said, “What if he’s not even in there anymore?”
“We have to hope he is, and that you can bring him back out. He has the power to disable some of the more powerful wards protecting the castle from attack. If he can do that, we stand a much better chance of making it to the palace.”
“And what are we hoping to achieve in the palace?”
Mira paused. “The King has to die.”
My heart sank into the cold pit my stomach had become. “You want to… kill King Yidgam?”
“Radulf, the Veridian—he is the one who set this all in motion. He is the one with aspirations of conquest and domination. He needs the Prince to lead the army, but the idea, the order, was his. We need to remove him from the board.”
“And then we need the frost stone,” Mel put in.
“Why do we need that?” I asked.
“Every story the moon children have been told about the white wolf includes talk of the stone, and how it can purge the Veridian from the land. If the Veridian is tightening its hold around the castle, then the stone is directly under it right now.”
“Making right now the perfect time to strike,” Mira added, “But we have to strike quickly, before the Prince can mobilize the army and set out on his crusade.”
“You think that by using the frost stone we can destroy the storm?” I asked, “And save the Prince?”
“Without the Prince, I’m not sure even you can use the frost stone. You need to save him first.”
“And if I can’t?”
“Then we’re doomed,” Gullie said, “But that’s not the right attitude, is it? So, how about we just think positive, happy thoughts?”
I took a deep breath. “A lot can go wrong,” I said, “But Gull is right… we can do this. I know we can. When do we leave?”
“I’m packed and ready to go,” Mira said, “The moon children found our carriage and have prepared it on the other side of the stones… we can leave whenever you’re ready.”
“Now is a good a time as any,” I said, “Shall we?”
Mira nodded and headed past me, but Mel stood back. “I’m staying,” she said.
I frowned. “Staying?”
She nodded. “Mira is your custodian, so she has to go with you, but someone needs to help the moon children when they hit Windhelm. I know the castle inside and out. They’ll need my help getting in.”
I walked over to her. “Are you sure about this?”
Melina smiled. “They’ve been good to me, Dee. I’ve learned so much from them. I kind of feel like I may have found my tribe, even if we’re probably worlds apart.”
“What about your family? They’re probably worried about you.”
“They knew I was leaving. They didn’t know where—I wasn’t clear with them. But for now, they’re safe. If I was to show up with you, though, that might change.”
“And if the Prince has decided to seize them?”
“If that’s happened, then it’s already happened, but my priority is making sure this attack goes off as smoothly as possible.”
Nodding, I embraced her. “I understand,” I said, “Just, take care of yourself, okay?”
She returned the hug. “We’ll see each other again soon.”
I pulled away slightly. “How will you know when to attack?”
A sly grin spread across her lips. “We’ll know,” she said. “Just get it done, Dee. He’s still in there, and he needs you.”
My throat tightened. “That’s what scares me… but you’re right.” I moved over to the tent’s opening, giving Mel one last look. “Gull?” I asked, “You staying, too?”
“No, I’m coming with. If you’re going back into the selection, you’re gonna need me with you… could you give us a second, though?”
I looked at her, then at Mel, then smiled. “Take your time. We’ll be outside.”
No sooner had I stepped out of the tent that I caught Toross standing in front of Mira, with one hand rested on her cheek, and his thumb on her chin. I watched them both gaze at each other, then press their foreheads together.
Instantly, I realized, any weirdness I felt about it was gone, replaced entirely by a kind of bittersweet warmth. I wanted this to happen. I wanted them to happen. But this whole thing felt like a last goodbye before a war. Come to think of it… I turned around slightly and glanced at the opening of the tent I’d just emerged from. The flap was pulled, but I could still see Gullie and Mel on the other side of it, also holding each other in the exact same way Toross and Mira were.
More tears threatened to spill out of me as my heart soared. Today had started off in a shit way, but this? This had turned it around.
I decided to move away from the tent and get a little closer to Mira and Toross, who broke apart as I approached. “I will see you on the other side,” Toross said.
I hugged him. “You had better be there,” I said, “Otherwise you’re going to miss all the fun.”
“I don’t plan on missing it. Just take care of yourself.”
“Trust me, she’s in good hands,” Mira said. “I also have a few more things to teach her which will give her more of an edge.”
“More of an edge?” I asked.
“You didn’t think we were done training, did you? You have incredible power, but you’re still horribly undisciplined. No offense to your current teacher.”
He cocked an eyebrow. “None taken.”
“Anyway, we should get going.”
“Very well. I will see you both soon.”
Toross offered a slight bow, then left Mira and I alone in the shadow of the great white elk that was going to take us back to the castle. There was a silent moment where neither of us spoke, then we both opened our mouths to speak at the same time.
“You first,” she said. “I insist.”
I looked over at my uncle, who was still walking away. “So… this is a real thing then, huh?”
“Somewhat,” she said, eyeing me suspiciously. “Why? Do you still take issue with it?”
I shook my head. “No. Not at all. I’m actually really happy for you.”
“Good,” she paused, “And Gullie and Mel?”
“Yes! How did I not notice that, and why haven’t we talked about it yet?”
“Some people are more private than others.”
“Think she’ll bring it up?”
“I’m not sure, though we have a two-day trip ahead of us, so there will be plenty of time to talk along the way… and if my nose is right, we have a few things to talk about.”
My eyes narrowed. “Your… nose?”
“Don’t tell me you don’t smell the change, too?”
“I… no. I don’t think I do.”
She gave me a simple “Hmmm,” which I took to mean she hadn’t bought a word I had said. I supposed I had that coming. Mira was incredibly perceptive because she had been trained to be. The truth was, I had sensed a change in me. It was impossible to miss, even if it was easy to ignore. But I wasn’t going to admit to it. Not to her, and not to myself.
Not until there was something to say.
Gullie joined us after a moment, and I found myself double-taking. With her butterfly wings and shocking green hair, she was an absolute outsider to this otherwise white and brown place, sticking out like a green thumb. But she was also Gullie, my best friend, the pixie I who had fallen through my window all that time ago.
Seeing her walking around like that was going to take some getting used to.
“I’m good to go,” she said, taking a deep breath.
“Are you sure?” I asked, “You could stay, you know…”
“And let you get yourself killed? This thing started with the three of us. It’s going to end with the three of us.”
I smiled at her. “Thanks, Gull. I don’t think the shock of seeing you like this is ever going to wear off.”
“You think you have it bad? Try being me. I’m still not used to walking everywhere.”
“Have you tried flying yet?”
She looked across her shoulders and made her wings wiggle. They were large, pearlescent, and beautiful, but they looked like they were made of paper. I didn’t think that mattered, though. “I don’t dare to. Not yet.”
“Alright, then we’re walking up the hill. You ready for this?”
“I’m ready to finish this,” she said. “Are you?”
“I’m ready.”
Ready to win the selection.
Ready to beat the Veridian.
Ready to get my mate b
ack.
Do or die.
… to be continued.
***
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