Fae of the North (Court of Crown and Compass Book 1)

by E Hall

  The man turns slowly, removes his hood, and says, “I’ve been waiting for you.” He studies me for a long moment and then his gaze lands on Kiki before returning to me.

  Bumps crawl across my skin and I feel all-over itchy and clammy.

  “You’ve been waiting for us?” Kiki asks.

  “For a long time.” The man’s lips carry the memory of a smile.

  In the center of the cave, where the ceiling is the highest, a low fire on the stone floor gives off modest light. The man lifts his hand over it and the flames rise, licking his palm. “Sit and warm yourselves.”

  Kiki and I lower onto a crude bench as he glides around in the shadows before producing two silver trays and goblets.

  “Eat, drink.” It’s more of a command than an invitation.

  Kiki studies the man as he sits down opposite. We both watch him as carefully as he watches us. His black hair is almost iridescent. The food remains untouched.

  The creases of concern on his forehead smooth out. “You’re uncertain. That’s understandable. It isn’t every day you come across an old man living in a cave. I am Vespertine.”

  “My mother told me to seek you. Do you keep the ravens?” Kiki asks as though to confirm that we came to the right place and have the correct Vespertine—as if there could be others.

  “No, the ravens keep me. Along with the kings and battle arms. You’ve heard the stories, Hjaggson?” He’s looking at me. When I don’t answer, he tries again. “You go by Soren?”

  “How did know my name?” I ask.

  “I know everything worth knowing. The ravens are my eyes, just as they were for the golden king. They are loyal to few and wary of most, including your enemy.” The firelight dances on the cave walls as he speaks.

  “Then why doesn’t anyone from you to the kings, battle arms, and bearmen do anything to help the people of Raven’s Landing?”

  “I am not in a position to do so.”

  His reply stokes my inner ire. “Aren’t you a mage? A high mage by the color of your robes. I saw you raise fire.” I point. “Can’t you—?”

  “Soren, I’ve been waiting for you.”

  My brow furrows.

  “Haven’t you wondered about the call you feel inside? Like there’s something missing? Why you repeatedly rebel when you know it’ll stain your skin?” Vespertine asks.

  “The call? Yeah, freedom. Something missing? Oh, where to start?” Sarcasm drips from my voice. “A home, food, work, my family.”

  Kiki shifts abruptly, apparently as annoyed as I am. “Have you been to Raven’s Landing lately? I’ve only just visited and it’s clear something needs to be done.”

  “What about the restlessness, Soren? The urge to take flight?”

  I scowl, feeling as though he’s purposely trying to get under my skin. “It’s pretty obvious.”

  “Is it?” Vespertine steeples his fingers.

  I shake my head because that’s the simple truth.

  “Why do you feel compelled to take it upon yourself to do something about the state of things in Raven’s Landing?” he asks me.

  Kiki gets to her feet. “If not us then who?”

  “Exactly,” Vespertine says.

  “This is a bunch of woo-woo new age stuff,” Kiki says. “I think we wasted our time coming here.”

  The word charlatan comes to mind. I scrub my hand down my face, annoyed by Vespertine’s riddles.

  “It’s up to you to seize the crown,” Vespertine says.

  “Take the crown?” Kiki stills and then turns slowly in the mage’s direction. “Does this mean anything to you?” She reads him the message of a piece of paper she had in her pocket. “Demons shadow thieve, while the fae court grieve. Four sisters to find. One compass to bind. Four crowns to take. One curse to break. Before twelve moons turn, else the realm will burn.”

  Up until this moment, Vespertine’s expression has been impassive, like looking at a blank canvas, but after Kiki recites the message, something flickers in his eyes. However, he remains silent.

  “We’ve come, hoping you can help, please,” Kiki says as though straining to keep the plea out of her voice.

  Vespertine gazes into the fire. “Where do you get your powers, Kiki?”

  She throws her hands in the air. “My powers? Uh, never mind. This is ridiculous. I’m just an ordinary girl, who got bumped from the Police Force and am on the Peace Force. Usually, I process demons and stamp papers all day. Then on my birthday, I got home to find my mother dead, read a strange note, and poof. I’m here. Maybe I have some fae blood in me, but I don’t know anything about powers.”

  “What about your wings?”

  She groans in exasperation and paces away from the fire.

  “Fair enough. I suppose you can’t ask for what you don’t know you have,” Vespertine says mildly.

  “What I do know is that we’re leaving,” Kiki says.

  Vespertine lifts a finger. “You’ll make better time if you summon your wings.”

  Her eyes widen. “Are you for real?”

  “Go ahead.” Vespertine smiles. “Your magic is there, just below the surface.”

  She grumbles and looks at me.

  I shrug. “I don’t think he’s necessarily wrong. It’s possible.”

  This seems to irritate her more and her gaze sharpens, staring daggers at both of us.

  “Could you explain?” I ask before Kiki explodes.

  “Why didn’t you just say so? My specialty is the elements. I can keep things from freezing or thawing. I can raise and lower the tide. All of existence seeks balance. Nature seeks it. The sun and moon seek it. We seek it. It’s elemental. Whether you realize it or not, Kiki and Soren, you seek it.”

  “Yeah, finding your balance is definitely a buzzword,” Kiki says.

  “What happens when you fall out of balance?” Vespertine asks.

  I catch on. “Envy, green, Leith.”

  Vespertine pops his finger in the air. “Exactly. Have you considered the possibility that Leith traded something whole within himself for his powers? Or at least some of them?”

  “No,” I say plainly.

  “It’s my understanding that Leith, the silver king, as he’s often called, offered himself to a vampire in exchange for immortality. However, the vampire, Nikolai, was cursed by fae. When he bit Leith, he didn’t yet realize that he’d been locked into insatiable immortality. Nikolai could no longer drink blood or turn others—another desire vampires must fulfill. He was always thirsty, empty, and wanting more. He tried feeding off three more people before he realized he couldn’t. However, in doing so, he transferred some aspects of his curse to Leith.”

  Kiki remains as still as a statue and I’m unsure what she thinks of all this.

  “What aspects?” I ask, feeling hopeful now that we’re getting some solid information.

  “The hunger and insatiable need, for sure. Nikolai leads Leith and three other false kings as they create the Shadow Army to destroy the fae in an act of revenge. I believe the vampire also plays a role in the blotch on the sun.” Vespertine’s expression is grave.

  Kiki comes back to life and lifts her hands. “Hold on. Back up. So vampires really are real? All along, I was hoping this was some kind of joke or—”

  I wrinkle my nose. “Nope. No joke.”

  “They’re as real as fae and shifters...you and me.” Vespertine shrugs like this is all commonplace.

  “You’re shocked that vampires are real but not that you’re a fae or have powers?” I ask.

  She shifts uncomfortably. “They just really freak me out. Always have. Not the ones that sparkle. The other ones. Still, I’m more of a Team Jacob girl anyway.”

  I have no idea what she’s talking about. “What about demons? They don’t bother you?” I ask her.

  “I was taught how to destroy them.” She quickly tells us about her training back home.

  “Glad to have you on my team then,” I say.

  “It sounds like you will
be well prepared to master your magic,” Vespertine says.

  She cuts him a scowl. “Let me get this straight. The vampire is ticked at the fae for cursing him, desires revenge, and that’s why he’s hired the demons to be shadow thieves,” Kiki says.

  “Precisely.” Vespertine nods.

  “So he’s going to use the fae shadows against them.” I rake my hand through my hair.

  “And rid the world of their magic.”

  Kiki leans back and as though astounded, she mutters, “That’s the curse we need to break.” Then more loudly she says, “So where is this so-called vampire?”

  Vespertine shakes his head. “No one knows.”

  “Not even you with your ravens?”

  “It’s not up to use to find him.”

  “That’s a major cop-out.” Kiki scowls.

  “Kiki you have magic, but it was suppressed until your eighteenth birthday. And you’re sure to soon come of age, Soren. You could take the throne.”

  My laughter is a loud whoop, and I slap my leg harder than I mean to. “Take the throne. Yeah, right. How would that go? Hey, King Leith, I’ll take that crown now, thanks.”

  Vespertine doesn’t smile or join in on the amusement. “False King, Soren,” he corrects.

  “If we were to follow your suggestion, how do we get from point a—my supposed powers—to point b—Soren taking the throne and kicking out the king?” I detect sarcasm in Kiki’s voice as if the entire notion is ridiculous.

  Vespertine says, “That’s for you to determine.”

  “But Nadya said you can help us.” Kiki leans in as though hoping for a favorable answer.

  “Can’t you summon the kings to help us or something?” I ask.

  “I cannot wake the kings and battle arms. The ravens are loyal to them until the rightful king comes into power and the shield fae are loyal to them all. It’s my job to watch over them as they rest.”

  “But you can do magic.” Kiki plants her hands on her hips.

  “I can do spells. And as I said, you can too if you want to. By suppressing your power, your mother meant to protect you, Kiki. But your magic is there.” He extinguishes the flames. The light on the walls of the cave goes dark before brightening moments later. He holds up a crystal that’s as red as red blood. “Stones like these amplify power.” He gazes into the fire for a long moment as though watching or reading something in the flames. “What I can say for certain is this you each play a role.”

  Kiki and I glance at each other. Meaning and something more ripples between us.

  I’ve come too close to dying too many times to be overly curious about what’s waiting on the other side of freedom for me. But a hot truth burns inside; I’m crazy about her. I love her—the most dangerous thing of all. There’s so much to lose. I want to keep her safe and I will do anything to make that so...even sacrificing myself if I have to.

  Chapter 19

  Ineke

  I should be sleeping. Instead, I’m processing what we’ve learned. Soren and I stand together by the mouth of the cave. The wind howls, battering the mountain and snow drifts inside forming little swirls on the stone floor.

  “Do we stand a chance?” I ask Soren.

  “I have to believe we do,” Soren says. “Otherwise, I’d just stay here.”

  “With the old man in the mountain?” I ask. Hopefully, whatever powers he has don’t include listening in on private conversations. “He kind of reminds me of Mr. Miyagi.”

  “Mr. who?” Soren asks.

  “He’s a character from this classic movie I’ve seen a few times. I think they did a remake. But there’s this mysterious karate sensei who teaches this kid who’s bullied how to defend himself by doing things like washing cars and painting fences. It was my favorite—actually the reason why I started taking karate. Plus, my mother thought it would be a good way to channel my energy,” I say using air quotes.

  “Always a feisty one, then, huh?” Soren asks.

  “I made it to red belt so far.”

  “Is that like mage robes?”

  “If you mean it signifies achievement then yes. Look, I can even do the crane just like in the movie.” I’m mostly joking around as I try to demonstrate the crane move and slip on the ice underfoot.

  Soren grabs my arm and doesn’t let go. I lift my gaze to meet his.

  The skin around his eyes colors dark with fatigue, but his eyes shine bright, hopeful as he watches the snow dancing from the sky. That’s what he offers, and maybe that’s what I need.

  I grip the charm around my neck. “My mother always used to tell me that each snowflake is unique. I would argue, claiming that some of them had to be the same. After all, there were so many. But she insisted that they weren’t. But if each snowflake is different, you realize that once it melts, it’s gone, lost forever.”

  “Not forever,” Soren whispers. “Nothing of value is ever truly lost.” He swallows and his jawline tenses.

  “When I was little, I used to play a game, catching snowflakes in my hands and comparing them, seeing if they were the same and then watching how long they’d last before melting.” I hold out my bare palms, demonstrating. Cold bumps rise on my skin as the silver-white flakes continue to land.

  He takes my hand in his, holding tight. I take it as a promise that whatever comes, he won’t let go. “You’re so cold,” he says with a shiver.

  But he is too. “We can keep each other warm.”

  His arms wrap around me and he pulls me close. I loop my arms around him in return. His breath whispers across my neck. Then his lips brush against my cheek.

  The sensation sends a crackling through me and I curl into him. I want to return the gentle kiss, but Vespertine’s dark shape flows into the entrance.

  He moves like liquid in the cloak surrounding his lean figure. “There’s an ill wind blowing. We should go inside,” he says, beckoning we follow. “You should rest.”

  I can’t. Whether it’s because of wonder, curiosity, or frustration, my mind won’t stop.

  Soren’s eyes flit to me. “I have a question. Can you tell us more about Kiki’s fae powers and her dreams?”

  “That’s two questions with many answers,” Vespertine replies.

  “Try to simplify it for us. We came all this way with the intention of helping the people of Raven’s Landing, but all you’ve given us are cryptic answers that lead to more questions,” Soren says, tossing his hands in the air and mimicking the way I feel.

  Vespertine sighs. “I intended to do so after you’d slept and were refreshed. It’s a lot to take in, but you’re both too stubborn for your own good.”

  Soren and I exchange a glance.

  “Come and sit.”

  Soren paces over and thumps down on the bench by the fire, resting his elbows on his knees, and wringing his hands.

  “Yes, Kiki you are fae, at least in part.”

  “If that’s the case, when we return to Raven’s Landing we can’t let you near the king,” Soren says, sliding closer to me. “He’ll try to kill you or worse.”

  “I’m not afraid. I’ve handled plenty of demons. This king doesn’t scare me.”

  “Then I’ll be afraid for you.” Soren’s tone is grave. “I’ve seen what he does.”

  Vespertine interrupts. “The Court of the Fae go back to the beginning. They’re the original bearers of magic.”

  “Is that different than a mage’s magic?” I ask.

  “Indeed. Mages don’t inherently have magic; we have to come by it. We learn spells and can make potions. I’m tapped into the elements and can sense their power, thereby influencing it, but fae have innate, sometimes called natural, power or magic. And there are many types of fae both Seelie who’re honest above all else and the Unseelie who lean toward trickery and hostility. All have practical magic, can do charms, and many are gifted with additional powers. We commonly see healers, those with second sight, and many more.” He nods at me. “And dreamweavers, they’re the rarest of all.” He draws
a long breath, letting calm settle over us before going on. “That which we do not understand, we often fear. As is the case with the king.”

  Realization dawns.

  “The king is afraid of the fae?” Soren asks, shocked. “I thought it was more of a senseless hatred.”

  Vespertine says, “Leith is fae.”

  Soren’s mouth drops open. “Unseelie?”

  The mage nods.

  “And a dreamweaver?” I add.

  “I believe so.”

  “And you’re saying he’s afraid of himself,” Soren says with a tone of dismay.

  “Afraid? Ashamed? Something like that.” Vespertine’s lips form a thin line as though he’s searching for the words. “He’s averse to himself.” He raises a finger as though to make a point. “Remember balance must exist in the universe, but also in the individual. As I understand it, being fae simply means a person has access to the universal energies as well as their own ordinary ones. Like all energy, they must exist in harmony.”

  “How does it work? If I’m fae and have innate fae magic, well, why don’t I have it?” I ask.

  “I mentioned that your mother suppressed it until your eighteenth birthday.”

  “Why would she do that?” I ask.

  If I ever wake up from this very weird dream life that I’m experiencing, I’ll have to go to therapy to process a lot of stuff, but in the meantime, it’s easier to accept it, move on, and try to get answers.

  “That is not my story to tell,” Vespertine answers. “But back to magic. It’s merely an exchange of energy and it’s most readily accessed through the intuition. We have our senses: taste, sight, hearing, smell, and touch. But fae have the capacity to tap into the fields of energy within and surrounding them. But exactly how you do that is more difficult to explain. You can think of it this way, it’s the same as you know how to breathe without having to tell yourself to breathe.”

  “So I have to, like, take a deep breath and find it?” I ask.