by Zora Marie
“You wanted to talk?” Arlen asked as he slid into the seat beside Jaren.
“How’s the girl?”
“Struggling,” his voice sounded strangled even to his own ears. “She has her mother’s projection abilities, we all woke up to her blind terror. Gods, I don’t know what to do for her. She was a shaking, screaming mess when we woke her and couldn’t stop apologizing.”
“Arlen, breathe. Start from the beginning. I take it she is Lyra’s daughter?”
Arlen blinked and did as his a cousin commanded. The waitress approached with a steaming cup of tea and he made himself nod his thanks. He sorted out his thoughts as the girl walked away. They would need Jaren and Lord Sadoran’s help by the end of this.
“Yes, she is Rye and Lyra’s daughter. Rina didn’t even know she was fae until we met in the forest south of the wall. She damn near shot me in my wolf form with a half broken bow and arrow that I’m not sure I could have shot with any kind of accuracy.” He stared into his cup, willing the milky liquid to answer all his problems.
“What of Lyra?”
“Dead, along with her son.”
“Twins?” Jaren asked with a hint of surprise.
“No. A halfblood. I was too late for both of them. Tomilin was killed a week ago by the bastard that should have been caring for them both.”
“Oh. Oh.” Jaren sat up a little straighter as he put the same pieces together Arlen had. “Did she—”
“Yes.” Arlen swallowed past the tightness in his chest and poured his heart out on the table. He told Jared everything that had happened the last few days. When he was finished, Arlen couldn’t help but think about how close he had been to losing Rina, how close he still was to losing her. “Do you think Sadoren would help us with Trazar?”
“You think Lord Trazar will trigger her?”
Arlen nodded.
“Then I’ll do my best to keep the few guards that caught her scent from talking. I told them last night not to say a word, to let me find out what was going on first. But you realize that he’ll sense that she’s here, that she’s passed the wall. He’s always been more perceptive than most of the other lords.”
“I know. I’m just hoping that he won’t think too much of it since she’s not Lyra.” He rubbed a hand over his face, hoping to wipe away the exhaustion gnawing at him.
“Did you ever sleep?”
“A little, but after the night terror we ended up staying up for a while.”
“Sounds like Dorn has his work cut out for him.”
“We both do. Farin has put us in charge of teaching her, of catching her up on decades of training as quickly as possible. That’s assuming I manage to teach her to shift first.”
“I’m sure you’ll do fine. Lord Sadoren asked me to let you know that if you need anything, all you need to do is ask.”
“Did you tell him or…?”
“He noticed her scent in the palace hall. When Sundra and I ate dinner with him, he asked. You know I can’t lie to him. Even if he didn’t know me that well, Sundra would’ve called me out for lying, especially to her father.”
“Will you—”
“Yes, I’ll let him know that you would like some time before Lord Trazar comes knocking. I’ll see if we can play interference for a little while. That’s actually why I came this morning.” Jaren hummed to himself for a long moment. “Actually, there was a second reason. There are rumors that Lord Xen has found a boy with the gift of light, an heir to the throne. I doubt it’s true, but be prepared for it to take over the next council meeting.”
“Maybe it’ll help us. With any luck Trazar will be busy trying to find this boy and leave us alone for a bit.”
Jaren nodded. “Well, I’d best head back before his dogs come around asking questions.”
“Thank you, Jaren. I owe you one.”
“You do, but not for this. This one’s for Rye.” Standing, Jaren dropped a few coins on the bar for the waitress and left.
As he watched his cousin go, Arlen waited for the ache in his chest to ease. When it didn’t, he drank his tea in hollow silence.
12
Rina
Red hair gleaming in the morning light, Dorn and Ash led the way to town. The forest creeping in on either side of the stone path set Rina at ease. It wasn’t her forest, but there were still bugs and birds chirping just out of sight. She was willing to bet that if she ventured into the forest she’d find rabbits and deer too. It wasn’t the human lands she’d grown up in, yet it still called for her to wander into its welcoming embrace.
An arm draped across her shoulders and Rina stiffened. Amber’s happiness banked at her reaction. Rina couldn’t help but feel guilty, even if Amber didn’t say anything. She wasn’t even sure why she had stiffened, perhaps it was just because she wasn’t used to having others around her all the time.
“So what type of clothes do you like? I’m sure Arlen will have you training soon enough, so you’ll need some practical clothes, but you can have some cute stuff too.”
“Cute stuff?” Rina glanced down at Amber’s outfit of black on black. Even the hilts of her knives were black. She had been wearing a similar outfit at dinner the night before.
“Trust me, this isn’t cute. I just got done working and playing messenger.”
“And you could get lost in her closet,” Dorn said.
Amber glared at Dorn. “Ash has more clothes than me.”
“I have more armor than you, not clothes.”
“So you keep telling me, but we shop together, remember?” Amber said. “Either way, what type of stuff do you like? That’ll help us decide where to go first.”
“I’ve never had much, so I don’t really know.”
“Have you ever seen something that you wished you had?”
“Yes, but nothing like clothes.” She could feel Amber’s questioning gaze, so she continued, “I wasn’t allowed to go into the village. What you saw last night is pretty much all I’ve ever had.”
“What did you wish for that wasn’t a necessity?” Ash asked, turning her head over her shoulder.
“A real bow, something better than the one I made myself. It would have made hunting easier.”
“So you’re an archer?”
Rina shrugged. “I did what I had to. How about you guys?”
“Dorn is more of an archer, but Ash and I are definitely blade people—primarily daggers,” Amber said. “So would you rather get some dresses or more stuff like what you have on?”
“I don’t recall ever having a dress, so…”
“If that’s not a crime, I don’t know what is,” Amber said in mock horror.
“We’ll be fixing that first,” Ash said.
Rina felt Dorn’s emotional block go up around her as they neared the edge of town. Her perception of their emotions narrowed until all she got was a faint wisp of them with Dorn’s being the strongest. It was a big unnerving not being able to feel people so close beside her. Especially as the stone path widened and buildings grew up around her, the structures towering over them.
“Sorry,” Dorn said, clearly still reading her emotions. “I should have warned you before doing that. I’ve been blocking your projections since last night, but not your ability to feel others. You’ll get used to it in time.” He slowed until he walked beside her. “Most fae are taught to tune others out within days of beginning to sense people. Actually, do you know when you first began feeling the emotions of others?”
“I don’t. I’ve been able to feel emotions for as long as I remember. Wait, shouldn’t I have not been able to while on that side of the wall?”
Dorn shrugged. “The wall does strange things to empathic abilities. That may be why you developed the ability to sense others so early.”
Rina couldn’t help but stare at the vast amount of clothes around her. She stood rooted in place, unable to move past the first few steps into the store. Ash and Amber flitted around the floor, occasionally holding clothes out toward her as tho
ugh judging if they would fit. There was too much stuff in so little space, making what should have been a grand room feel like it was closing in around her. Dorn stood next to her, a steady sense of calm emanating from him. He waited until the girls had wandered further into the store before leaning closer to her.
“This can wait,” he said, offering her an out as she stood frozen in place, unable to make herself move as the room threatened to come crashing down around her.
Forcing herself to take a deep breath, she shook her head. This was just a clothes shop and there were only a few people inside. “It’s fine. I’m fine.” She forced herself to take a step forward.
Returning with a few articles of clothes draped over her arm, Ash pursed her lips. “Remember that this is for you, so we can call it a day anytime you want,” she said. “But if you’re ready, I have a few things for you to try on so we can figure out your sizes. Then we’ll figure out what you like.” At her nod, Ash flashed a smile and held out a hand. “Come on. I’ll show you where the changing room is.”
Forcing herself to push her worry and fear away, Rina took her hand. “Lead the way.”
She felt rather than saw Dorn halt in front of Amber as they passed. “Modest things only.”
“Who said I was thinking of this for Rina? Am I not allowed to shop for myself, too?”
At Dorn’s exasperated sigh, Rina glanced back to see Amber holding up... a dress? Because it didn’t look like any shirt she’d ever seen before. The black and green fabric had so many holes in it that Rina couldn’t fathom how the thing went on.
“Ignore her,” Ash whispered. “She started wearing stuff like that to rebel against her father. Then she discovered it was great for distracting men while she spies.”
“Amber’s a spy?”
“Spymaster nowadays, but yes.”
“What about you?” Ash wore pretty much the same thing as Amber.
“I lead Farin’s army.”
“Really?”
Ash laughed softly as she opened the door to a small room. “Yes, really. Though there are many who certainly disapprove of my position.”
“Because of you being a female?”
“Exactly. Well, I chose things that should be easy for you to put on. You can change into this set, then open the door to let me have a look and see how it fits you.” Taking a few articles of clothing from those draped across her arm, she held them out.
Glad Ash hadn’t chosen to start with the dress, Rina took the top and pants into the little room. After shutting the door, she changed into the new clothes. The pants were a little too snug for her liking, hugging her every almost nonexistent curve, and the material of the top was so silky and light that she still felt bare. Nervously, she opened the door to show Ash.
“What? Don’t like it?”
Rina shook her head.
“Oh, but that’s so cute on you!” Amber exclaimed.
Rolling her eyes, Ash leaned closer to Rina. “We’ll try other things. At least that seems to be a good size for you, other than the pants. Go ahead and take that off. I’ll toss something else over the door for you.”
“What sizes are those?” Dorn asked as he began walking back toward the front.
As Ash called out a set of numbers, Rina started to strip again. The next thing to make it over the door was a long green dress with white laces. The high front and long sleeves looked like they’d cover most of her scars. The fabric was thicker than the shirt she’d just tried on, yet still light.
“The laces tie around the back. I’ll help you with them once you have it on,” Ash said.
“Well, if you two have her covered, I’ll just try these on,” Amber said, moving into the stall beside her.
Stepping into the dress, Rina pulled it up over her shoulders. While the top half felt better than the shirt she’d just tried on, she hated how bare her legs were beneath the skirt. She opened the door and Ash frowned as she looked her up and down.
“What is it about this one?”
“So… turns out that I hate dresses.”
Ash smiled. “Right there with you. If we didn’t have to wear them to formal occasions, I wouldn’t own a single one. Though some are better than others.”
“Please tell me this isn’t one you would consider better than others.”
“Well…” Ash trailed off as Amber stepped out in a dress that revealed more of her than it covered with its back and forth pattern of open slits. White scars show through the gaps, yet Amber seemed to wear them with pride.
“How’s this one?”
“I think that’s the exact reason you have problems with males,” Ash muttered, but amusement bled through her tone.
“Hm. So plenty distracting?”
“I think that’s your worst one yet,” Dorn said, shaking his head.
“So it is perfect.” Amber practically purred the words before looking Rina up and down. “That one looks good on you, Rina.” Then Amber turned and went back into the changing room.
“Is she… serious?”
“Unfortunately,” Dorn groaned.
“Well, at least you’ll never catch me wearing something like that.”
“Thank the gods for that.” Dorn smiled and Ash handed her a different set of clothes to try on. Playfully, she shooed her back into the changing room.
Soon, Ash and Amber carried a couple of bags each, some clothes for her and some for each of them. Rina had a feeling that they would have spent all day shopping, had Dorn not reminded them that her sizes would change once she learned how to shift into her fae form. If she learned how to shift.
Gesturing toward Ash with a nod of his head, Dorn said, “Don’t forget what Farin asked you to do.”
Rina thought back to breakfast that morning, to the realization they’d all had about her being some lord’s heir. “Lord Trazar?” she asked, unsure if she’d said his name correctly.
Dorn nodded. “Ash, Rina has something she needs to ask.”
“Yes?” Ash asked, stopping and turning to look over her shoulder at them.
When Amber mimicked her cousin, Dorn ushered her to carry on walking with him. Rina wanted to tell them to stop. She wasn’t ready to hear about her grandparents, people everyone seemed to hate. Were they like Jake? Worse? Would they have the power to take her from them?
“What is it?”
“Farin wanted me to ask you about Lord Trazar.”
Ash sighed. “Of course, he did.”
“Why do they all hate him so much?”
“Trazar is not the nicest Lord. He follows the old ways.”
“The old ways?”
“He believes all humans should be slaves. That women should be quiet and submissive…” Ash rolled her eyes and began walking again, this time slower than before. “But that’s not why Farin asked you to talk to me. Lord Trazar has his faults, but he is loyal to his own, so long as they are loyal to him. He does not approve of the new way of thinking, which, from what I understand, is part of why he had such a big fit about Lyra falling in love with Rye. Even though he’d disowned her because of who she chose to be with, he was still furious that Lyra fled rather than let us protect her.” Ash let out a long shaky breath. “We weren’t ready for a war and Lyra knew it, so she ran.”
“War?” Rina asked. She knew things had been bad but hadn’t realized it had been that bad. And Arlen had made it sound like mother had been sent away, not that she’d fled.
“Yes. We didn’t want it to come to that, but tensions were high, still are actually. We haven’t had a proper ruler to keep the peace between the lords in a few centuries and it’s starting to show.”
“Who’s ruling now?”
“The council, which each lord has a seat on, but all they ever accomplish is arguing. There are not enough lords like Farin to bring about the change we need. Thankfully, the older lords haven’t been able to come to an agreement on who should rule, or we would have a problem. I swear they spend more time bickering about the prophecy tha
n actually doing anything.”
“What prophecy?”
“Eh. It’s just a few cryptic lines about how the royal line would be reborn after the royal line died out.”
“Who used to rule?”
“There was a royal bloodline, but the last rulers weren’t able to have children. The council is required to approve any royal adoptions, but that never happened.” Ash paused, shaking her head. “That’s not what we are supposed to be discussing.”
“Maybe, but there’s so much I need to learn.”
“Why exactly did Farin want you to ask about Trazar anyway?”
“Apparently, I might be his heir.” She knew what an heir was because Jake had once complained about some human lord’s heir, but she didn’t understand why it was such a big deal to be one.
“What does Farin want you to do?” Ash asked with leeriness in her tone.
“Decide if I want him to keep Lord Trazar away or not. He wants it to be my decision, but I don’t know enough to make a decision.”
“Well, let me ask you this.” Ash slowed to a stop and turned to face her. “Do you feel safe here with us? With Dorn and Arlen?”
“Of course, but I…” She trailed off, no longer able to meet Ash’s piercing gaze. She knew taking Farin up on his offer meant putting others in danger. She had let Tomilin protect her from some of what Jake did and it had cost him his life.
“But what?”
“Nothing. I…” She forced herself to take a shaky breath. As they continued down the road, she whispered, “Thank you.”
Ash’s calloused hand wrapped around her forearm. Rina flinched, but a blow never came. Telling herself the gesture wasn’t made in anger, she stood still as a statue as she tried to sooth her racing heart.
Ash glanced down at her own hand, as though questioning if her grip was too tight, but her hand was feather light against Rina’s arm. “You know none of us would do anything to hurt you, right?”
Rina nodded, fearing that her voice would be shaky if she voiced her answer.
