by Jaime Marks
Tryxia sighed sadly, “It likely would, but the war prevents it from being a problem. Many serve on the fronts keeping them from home for great lengths of time. Many others perish long before their time. Many of the lines have thinned in the last century to the point of near obliteration.”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t really think about that.” She grew silent a moment. “There are rarely any winners in war I guess.” The dangers this new life brought were something she wasn’t really sure she was ready to consider. Especially not with Byryn, Marcus and her Mother all out facing them at the moment.
Tryxia nodded. “That is why I chose to become Gray. I believe this is the change of prophecy and that your Mother, The Princess Reyana a Mythion, will be the savior of the Fae.”
She really didn’t know what to say to that. She supposed she should offer them some reassurance or something as per her ‘status’ but the truth was she probably needed it more than they did. The reality of the situation was she honestly didn’t know what to make of this prophesy and the faith they all placed in it yet. She’d seen enough proof throughout her life to know there was something to it, even if she had only just learned about it, but she had no idea how to address it. With everything she felt and knew, right now she was the last person to give them hope. She wasn’t even sure if she belonged here. Her Father was Shade and right about now her Mother could be too.
Instead she opted to change the subject. “Do your children go to school? College? Do people work?”
“Yes.” Ryo replied. “Our young attend school just as human children do, though they do not have a summer vacation and their day is shorter depending on age. Family life is very important and school is only five hours a day for the youngest of the lines. Studies proceed at each student’s own pace. At roughly ten cycles, or whenever they have mastered their lessons, the day increases to seven hours. The extra hours are needed to begin learning to manage essence. They are taught this from a young age in some ways, but beginning at ten cycles they start being taught to use it in defense, to connect with those they love, and even to complete some tasks.”
“What are cycles? Are they like years?” Star asked confused.
“Yes but we go by the lunar calendar so there are slight variations. It will take some adjustment for you. In fact it may be part of why Byryn went into his awakening early. We went by human years. It would be interesting to calculate his age in terms of the lunar calendar. In fact I will begin work on yours as soon as time allows. It is not good to have surprises with an awakening.”
“Apparently.”
“At age fifteen Fae young may choose to attend what you refer to as college. Though ours are specialized academies. For instance those who wish to become Guardians train at the Guardians’ Academy, while those who wish to become Healers will attend the Academy of Healing, teachers study at Scholars’ Hall. Those born human will often process through their Basics and Advanced in private, generally fairly quickly, and are free to attend the Academies once they had completed their course. It is custom for young to follow in their parents or sire’s footsteps as there is great respect held for one’s sire, but there is no repercussion, or feelings of disappointment if they choose something else. Often it is known from the young’s blessing what their true calling is.”
“Blessing?”
“Like the human Christening. It occurs shortly after they are born.”
“How do they know?” Star asked puzzled.
“The High Priestess Alysse generally will attend the blessings of the young. All lines, save royalty, flow from her and the royal lines flow from Lucerna as does she. In a way we are all of Priestess Alysse’s line. As she is a seer she will often bless the family with what the young’s calling will be.” Ryo explained. “It is of course, the Fae’s choice to follow it or not, but it is often found they are not happy in any other course. Most these days lack faith, it is hard to maintain it when we lose so much. In many ways, I believe the young purposely choose another course in an act of rebellion. As academies are specialized though, they generally find out quickly whether they have chosen wisely or not.”
Star finally found a place she could scale the cliff and began climbing the wall.
“Princess, if I may? What are you doing?” Ryo sounded hesitant.
“I,” she paused before ascending a few inches, “am going to scale this wall.”
“Somehow my lady, I do not believe the King and the Praetor would approve.” He said sternly.
“Perhaps we might find a safer recourse?” Tryxia suggested.
Star studied the slope. It was high but there were adequate foot holds and ledges she could use to rest. “Nope, this is the best spot I’ve seen. This is where we go up.”
“I am sorry, my lady but your safety is our first duty. I must protest.” Ryo stated firmly.
“Is that so, Ryo?” She glanced down at him and he nodded crossing his arms as if to look intimidating, but she ascended a bit higher so she was out of his immediate reach. “Well, I heard Marcus’ orders as well as you did. He stated if danger arose. I don’t see any Shade or Tainted or any other threat for that matter. I only see the three of us. Marcus said I have free reign of the Sanctuary. This is part of the Sanctuary. Now, I’m going to climb to the top of this peak. It’s really not as high as you think. I’ve climbed higher at home. In fact, I order you both to accompany me as I do so.” She smiled continuing to climb. Being royalty so had its perks.
Ryo sighed in defeat as Tryxia began to scale behind her without hesitation. “As you command, Princess. I am bound to follow your orders but I will go on note to say that I do not approve of this and I feel it is a needless risk.”
“So noted,” she replied trying to sound formal, “but seriously Ryo, lighten up and try to have a little fun. This is an adventure, a mystery. Enjoy it." He grunted and began to climb behind them in silence.
The higher she got the stronger she felt the pull. She didn’t understand it. It was as if there was something up there she had to see. It felt like she belonged there for some reason. About half way up she pulled herself onto a ledge that was large enough for the three of them to rest. Ryo sat beside her and offered her something that looked to be a canteen. She drank it expecting water but it was surprisingly sweet and crisp.
“What is this?” She asked taking a few sips before returning it.
“The water of life.” He stated nonchalantly. “It flows from Lucerna’s Well. It is the same as water on Earth by its chemical properties, but the taste may be different to you.”
She shrugged and drank some more as she looked up towards the top of the ridge. “There’s something up there.”
Ryo looked up with a frown then back at her with curiosity and concern. “You’re glowing. Not as strongly as your Mother before her awakening, and your Light is more silver than gold, but it’s there.”
She looked down at herself in disbelief. She was glowing. “What does that mean?”
“How do you feel, my lady?” Tryxia asked in concern. “Is there pain, or discomfort of any kind?”
“No,” She shook her head, “Just this, I don’t know, urgency to reach the top. Like I’m supposed to be there.”
Ryo nodded looking up again. “Then we shall proceed but with caution. I will go first.” He turned and began scaling the wall and Star stood to follow.
“If you feel anything odd, Princess, you must let me know.” Tryxia spoke studying her. “I do not believe that it is the awakening, but there are some who are from strong lines that are known to have their entire form glow in this way as they go through the awakening. It is rare and a sign of strength and power, but it does occur.”
“Really I feel fine. I just have this crazy feeling like there is something up there I need to see.” She began to climb up the wall and Tryxia followed her more closely. She could understand why. This wouldn’t exactly be the greatest place to go into her awakening. She really didn’t think this through completely.
By
the time they reached the top Star felt like a light bulb. If it had been dark she certainly would have lived up to her name. As she pulled herself up she was amazed. They stood atop a large plateau, over to the left was a large opening in the ground that she assumed was the cavern where the cottage was, but it was on the other side of a gate. In front of her was a gigantic castle type thing that looked like it could almost be large enough to house a city. Ryo stood in front of a large plaque reading an inscription written in some odd glyphs.
She walked over to him, “What is this place? Did Marcus know it was here?”
“I do not believe so.” Ryo studied the area. “These inscriptions are very old. In fact, if I hadn’t studied with the Order of Light I would not be able to read them.”
The Fae was in awe as he seemed to be reading the plague again. “One of those rebellious young?” Star quipped.
Ryo smiled sheepishly, “Indeed, I thought I would make a better Priest.” She stayed quiet while he read through it again.
“I cannot be sure of certain symbols, but I believe this here reads as thus, ‘Palace Lunya of the Realm of the Gray. Balance and Peace. Enter not with war in your hearts, but harmony. Here differences find similarities. Imbalance finds stability.’ The bottom portion here is newer, though still at the least a century in age. It states ‘As decreed by the power of the Divine Being, the Palace Lunya is hereby sealed until the return of the ethereal Gray. These gates may only be opened by the power of Lunya or blood of her lines.’” He studied a small silver cup. “I am not sure, but this little cup reads ‘Blood of Lunya’. I think, though I may be wrong, that if a descendant of Lunya were to fill this with their blood then those gates would open. But I am unfamiliar with the name Lunya.”
“Odd that it mentions the Gray.” Tryxia mused, her head tilted as she looked up to the Palace. “No one had ever even heard of it before the Princess Reyana’s return.”
Star held out her hand studying the way her skin glowed and considered the inscriptions. “Can I have your dagger, Ryo?”
His brows rose in realization but he handed her the blade. She winced as she cut her finger deeply letting the blood fill the cup. Ryo took the blade and began bandaging her finger with some cloth he had pulled from his pack. Nothing happened. Star sighed, maybe she didn’t belong here after all. It didn’t make sense. Why was she drawn here?
Suddenly the ground began to tremor and the cup began to glow brightly. The gates slowly began to open. Her Mother was Lunya, it was the only explanation. She knew there had been more to the story. She had admitted it to her, but it was apparently personal history and she hadn’t been ready to discuss it. She’d said that they were descendant from the ethereal lines, but it seemed from the way she said it that she was descendant from Lucerna similarly to how Alysse was. From what Star had learned that made sense. Thing was, her Mom seemed to know way more about things than the other Fae just going by the looks on her face. There were things going through her mind as they had talked that she was refraining from saying.
Also, though she hadn’t let anyone know, from what she could tell, Marcus, Byryn and Star were the only ones that could see the entryway to this place and she was betting her Mom could too. She had seen it before they entered. It had been discussed that Marcus was the only one who could find their way in and out and it was obvious no one else could see it. She only knew Byryn could see it because whenever they had gotten close to one of them and she started to feel the hum of it he had steered her away from it. She had even tested the theory and approached from different directions and going in a circle. Marcus had shared essence with her Mom, she was of her line as they said, and Byryn had shared essence with her.
Ryo studied her, “I believe Princess Staryana, you have found some forgotten piece of our history as well as the answer to many of our problems. Your fath-, my apologies, the Praetor Marcus, will be quite pleased. As will your uncle, the King.”
Star raised a brow at the idea of Marcus being her Father. She wasn’t sure how she felt about that. She had to admit though, she did feel a bit of pride that she had accomplished something that would make both him and her uncle proud.
Stepping through the gates she took in the palace grounds and felt as if this was home. Nowhere had ever really felt like that to her before, but this place did. She didn’t know what that meant, but she knew that whatever truth that prophesy held for her, whatever destiny she was meant to find here, she had just taken her first step down that path.
Chapter 7
Kato lay on the bed with Demytria on his chest. She clung to him as he comforted her. They had spent the eve together and he had taken her with strength, but with love. She did not have a mark on her lovely skin, well besides that one on her neck that would fade before sunfall, but she had rather enjoyed that.
About an hour ago she had broken down weeping. Whatever was coursing through her, between it and his essence, it was healing her, removing the taint of the Shade slowly from her. She began to condemn herself for the horrible acts she had committed and he had held her and comforted her. She had calmed some and clung to him now as though he were the only thing that made her feel secure. As hard as it was to see her go through the pain and self-loathing, her looking to him for security and protection, well that was simply perfect.
“Demytria, love,” Kato tilted her chin so that she looked up at him. “We cannot stay here. You are changing, love. I cannot allow Cymeryn to find you this way, he may well kill us both.”
She closed her eyes shut tight, a single tear rolling down her face.
“Hey, Demytria look at me.” When she met his gaze again he kissed her forehead, “This is Cymeryn’s fault. All of this. You do not deserve to die, love.”
“You don’t understand, Kato. There is a reason I was Cymeryn’s favorite for so long. I was almost as vile as he is.” Her lip quivered again. “I’ve caused so many so much pain. I don’t exactly deserve a second chance.”
“Listen to me, Demytria. Every Fae deserves a second chance. I will not have you talking in such a way about yourself. If you feel you need redemption, that you are unworthy, than help me.” Kato studied her carefully. “Cymeryn means to slay the unawakened. Help me save them, love. Help me free them and free yourself.”
“All those young. There are so many who don’t even know what they are. They are so scared Kato.” Her eyes squeezed shut.
“And you can save them love, help me, please.” Kato pleaded. “Come with me and leave this place. If Cymeryn has Reyana, then I must find Marcus so that he can free her. I must get help to get her out but I cannot leave the young and I cannot do this alone. In truth love, I do not know if I can bring myself to leave you here if you will not join me.”
“How can you still love me, Kato? After all this time, all that I have done. I know my nature was all but legendary in the Shade and I can only imagine how Cymeryn taunted you with it. And the things I did to you over the years? The things you, yourself have seen me do. How can you forgive me so easily?”
“Because I could feel you underneath it all. Last eve I reached through it so easily with the sheer strength of our love. All you did was Cymeryn’s wish, his influence, but the female I mated, the one laying here with me, could never bring herself to commit such acts. It was not your choice, Demytria, you did not have free will.” Kato caressed her wishing he had time to enjoy her once more but he feared their time was running short. The longer they stayed here, the higher the risk of discovery. He could see the changes taken place in her easily, sense them easily. If any of the Shade found her they would kill him and present her to Cymeryn without a second thought.
“You still have Darkness in you, Demytria. It is still quite dominant, but you are here, with me, feeling repentance. I do not know how, but somehow Cymeryn must have blocked off parts of your self, somehow bound you so that he could control you.” He reasoned. “And even if that is not true, you were still held completely by the Darkness. That hold is weakening.”
/> She nodding thoughtfully. “It’s like he brainwashes you in a respect. I can remember now that every time I felt you and allowed my thoughts to turn there, he punished me. After a while I learned to just shut you out. The need to please him, to obey him was really quite strong.” She hesitated, “I’m sorry, you really don’t need to hear all this.”
He sighed grinding his teeth slightly to bite back his rage. “It is fine love, you need to talk about it. I am your mate if you cannot talk to me, then what other? I know there is a lot you need to work through and we will work through it Demytria, together.”
She sat up nodding then grimaced.
“What is it my love?”
“I don’t have anything to wear but those god awful leather dresses and shorts.”
“I can promise you, you will never wear another after today. Though the cut is quite flattering. Perhaps I shall have some silk cuts made for when we share our mated bed once more hmmm?”
She gave him the most ravenous look and he had to suppress the growl that rumbled through his chest. “I will gladly play to your desires any day my bonded mate.” She smiled rising and heading to a dresser.
Her skin was no longer as pale, but almost a soft tan, almost. Her black hair now held some light brown tints to it and her eyes, though they swirled with black, were that beautiful gold that he remembered. Even as she was now she was beautiful to him.
Kato stood dressing quickly. His wounds feeling far more healed and the energy in him more stable. He was not perfectly well, but he was well enough to fight. He could only hope they had not had time to start in on Trina.
“Demytria, the female Fae they are holding, we will need her help.”
“Yes, I had already considered that. Cymeryn has had Trevyn and Crytos busy with the unawakened Shade. They are forcing awakenings of those almost of age. Byryn’s betrayal kind of caused some concern I guess, and they are rushing to prepare for Marcus because Cymeryn is sure he will come for Reyn, I mean Reyana. I think Trina a Natryn was all but forgotten.”
