by Leder, Nissa
Sage swallowed the potato in her mouth. She’d missed the delicious food the brownies prepared. Food in the forest didn’t even come close to comparing. “I’ve left the isolation of our court and seen things you’ve only dreamed of, far beyond the protection of the castle walls. I’ve earned the trust of other rulers and learned to fight with the fiercest warriors.”
Ajax interrupted, “A bunch of women, you mean.”
“Women who could slice your throat.”
“Please. Our court has gotten along just fine without you here, sister. Run back to your friends and let us be.” Ajax grabbed the knife and flung it at Sage’s face.
She caught it by the hilt, its blade an inch from her face. “Are you trying to kill me?”
“Thought we should put the skills you so openly boast about to the test. If father’s going to trust you to protect him, you best be worthy.”
“Father doesn’t need protection.”
Ajax picked up a potato and popped it into his mouth.
“Everything all right in here?” The Autumn Queen walked through the doorway. Her long auburn hair was braided and pulled in front and a silver leaf crown sat atop her head.
“Of course, mother,” Ajax said. “Enjoying a nice breakfast with my sister.”
Sage still held the knife in her hand. With a flick of the wrist, she could throw it right into Ajax’s chest. Maybe he’d stop it. Or maybe he wouldn’t. She didn’t much care either way.
But she didn’t want to upset her mother.
“I’ll see you later, mother.” Ajax stood. He nodded at Sage and said, “Sister,” before evanescing away.
Sage set the knife on the table. It wasn’t as if she’d really have flung it at him, not with her mother in the room. If she had, she would have made sure to hit him somewhere it hurt.
“He just needs time,” her mother said, still hovering in the doorway.
Sage’s appetite had vanished. “I think Ajax hates me more than father.”
“Your father doesn’t hate you,” the Autumn Queen said. “Our court has never been open-minded when it comes to the role of women, but I saw the regret in his eyes when I told him you’d left all those years ago. He’s stubborn, and, when you visited us, he wasn’t yet ready to admit he’d been wrong to not accept you for who you are. But he’ll be better with time. Taking you with him to the Unseelie Ball was the first step.”
“One Ajax resents. I have no intention of coming in and ruining his relationship with father. I only want to keep my family and my court safe.”
The Autumn Queen walked to Sage and kissed her forehand. “My daughter has become so strong.”
Tears welled in Sage’s eyes. Leaving had been her only choice. But she’d missed her family and being back inside of the Autumn Castle felt like the place she needed to be.
* * *
After another meeting with Vida and the other council members, Scarlett spent her afternoon outside in the gardens.
The area was huge, with thick-trunked trees scattered about. Their long, leaf-covered branches offered plenty of shade. In between the trees were an assortment of deep-colored bushes. The fuchsia, cherry, and violet colored flowers stood brightly out from the green grass.
She was fond of the Unseelie Court gardens, but this area put that one to shame. After making her way deep into the garden, Scarlett found a bench to sit on. A coral-colored butterfly flew toward her. She reached her arm out and it perched itself on her hand.
Since taking in the tree’s power, Scarlett felt more attuned to the nature around her. Each type of flower had a distinct buzz. The differences were slight, but Scarlett passed many hours learning each one.
The first few days Scarlett had spent outside, Rowen had checked on her. But lately, she’d allowed Scarlett to sit in nature alone.
Her mother would have loved all the botanical life in this realm. Scarlett thought of all the hours her mom had spent pruning her garden in their backyard. How many pricks from rosebushes she’d gotten. Even when her mom was in one of her worst episodes, the flowers had calmed her.
Now, it had the same effect on Scarlett.
After the butterfly flew away, Scarlett stood and continued her walk. She stopped at a bush and picked a pink rose and twirled it in her hand. She lifted it to her nose and inhaled. A tear dripped from her cheek. It seemed only yesterday her biggest fear was facing her mother’s grave. At times, she felt she’d never gain the courage. Now, everything was so much bigger, leaving her feeling paralyzed just as she had then.
Her skin absorbed the sunshine. A warm sensation tingled her tattoos.
She longed for one more moment to spend with her mom. She’d never gotten to say goodbye and it tore her up inside. What had her mother’s last thoughts been? What had driven her to end it all without even a note?
Scarlett pulled her mind to happier times. She remembered when they’d all gone on a road trip together, blasting the car radio and singing at the tops of their lungs. They’d spent the weekend in a nice hotel on the beach. Ashleigh had spent most of her time lying on a towel, but Scarlett and her mom took off their shoes and walked along the shoreline, sand sticking to their toes.
Her mother would have made a good queen. When her mind was right, that was.
A while later, Scarlett headed back into the castle, rose in hand.
She found a vase and, along with some water, put the flower inside.
The vision she’d seen had her anxious. Could she use the information it contained to get to the Darkland? If she had the element of surprise, could she defeat the Fates? And what about their father, Ankou? What kind of threat was he?
Today’s meeting had proven pointless. Vida and her tribe still had no idea how to get into the Darkland. Scarlett had considered sharing her vision with the council but worried they’d disapprove of the book she’d found.
Plus, they if they knew, they wouldn’t let Scarlett go with them. She was too “important,” whatever that meant. Even with the supposed power she now possessed, people would rather protect her than see her put in danger. It was illogical. What good was having such mighty magic if she never used it for anything more than heating her bath water?
Scarlett ran her fingers along the outside of her dress where Raith’s hands had touched her. He didn’t deserve to be used by the Fates. Who knew what else he’d been doing to appease them? She’d rather die than be controlled by someone else the way they were controlling him. How could Scarlett sit back and do nothing?
Her heartbeat sped. Why was she waiting? No one would stop her if they didn’t know what she was doing. She closed her eyes and searched her memory for the path the vision had shown her.
If she hurried, she could take it unnoticed. Scarlett took her chance. She walked to the entryway, careful to make sure no one was around. She slipped through the door beneath the staircase and made her way to the underground level. Just as had happened in the vision, the candles in the sconces lit on their own as she walked by.
When she arrived, she hesitated. This was dangerous. Rash. Stupid. A million reasons why she shouldn’t do it raced through her mind, but she repeated the words the woman had said and waited.
Nothing happened.
She held her hands up then hovered them over the stone wall.
Life must have balance,
darkness needs light.
As time turns,
the day brings night.
Still nothing.
She couldn’t do it. Her shoulders hunched as she sighed.
Maybe there was more to it.
If she returned to the book, it might give her another vision.
A rush of adrenaline hit Scarlett. There was still hope.
The book held the answer she needed.
It had to.
Chapter Thirteen
After her breakfast encounter with her brother, Sage fought the urge to leave the castle and head back into the forest. Running was her instinct. It always had been. She’d run from the ca
stle, run from the Woodland Tribe. She didn’t want to run anymore.
Her heart wanted to stay there with her family. With time, she could convince her father not to side with Nevina. And, until returning, she hadn’t realized how much she’d missed her mother and sister.
But her brother infuriated her. His smugness displayed everything about the Autumn Court that had made Sage leave in the first place. As the eldest, he was heir to the throne. Sage had no desire to challenge him for it. And even if she did, her father held the right to deny her request. A rule made to protect the integrity of the royal line. In other words, to keep it male dominated. Even thinking about it brought her anger to the surface.
Sage still hated the traditions, but she didn’t have the energy to fight them anymore.
Instead of following her instinct to run, Sage found herself standing in front of her sister’s door. She knocked and as she waited, considered bolting.
Willow opened the door. “Sage. I didn’t expect you.”
After Sage entered the room, she said, “I haven’t seen you much since my return. I thought you might want to spend some time together.”
Her room was perfectly tidy, as it always had been. A book lay open on her bed. Crowns of different flowers sat on a shelf above her desk.
“Do you still enjoy writing?” Sage asked, remembering all the stories Willow would create as a child.
“Yes, I’m working on a novel now. Ajax thinks I’m ridiculous. He caught me writing out in the courtyard one day. He’s such a dream-killer.” Willow groaned.
“I think your imagination is wonderful. Would you like to go outdoors for a while?” Sage lived life firmly in reality and never spent her time daydreaming, but she’d always admired her sister’s ability to see the world in shades of gray.
“Sure. Anything special in mind?” Willow slid a leaf into the book on her bed, shut it, and put it on her nightstand.
“How about taking the horses for a trot?” It was so long ago, Sage wasn’t sure if her sister still enjoyed riding.
Willow stared at Sage for a moment before answering. “I’d love to.”
After Willow changed out of her dress, they headed to the stables.
The crisp Autumn air felt cool on Sage’s cheeks as she hurled a saddle onto a black mare. Sage tightened it around the horse’s stomach and gave her a pat on the side.
When she went to see if her sister needed any help, Willow had already saddled her horse and was sitting on its saddle.
“You’re quick.” Sage smiled.
“Or you’re just slow.”
When Sage had found Willow in her room, she was in a long teal dress with a crown atop her head. Now, she wore a riding suit, her crown was gone, and her wavy, light copper locks had been braided into a long braid.
Sage stuck her foot in the stirrup, grabbed the horn and pulled herself up.
“Her name is Equinox,” Willow said. “And this fine boy is Silver.”
Sage adjusted herself in the seat. “Where should we ride?”
“Follow me.” Willow gave Silver a little kick and guided him around Sage and Equinox.
Willow rode fast and led Sage out of the stable and toward the forest. When they reached the edge of the castle grounds, the hedges parted, shifting into an archway just big enough for them to ride through.
Outside the protection of the castle wards.
After they’d ridden a couple of miles into the Autumn forest, Willow slowed her horse.
Sage rode next to her. “Does father know you leave the castle grounds?”
“He doesn’t need to know everything.”
“It can be dangerous, Willow.”
Willow rolled her eyes. “Says the girl who ran away into these very woods for years.”
Sage remembered her first nights away. If the Woodland Tribe hadn’t found her, she might not have made it much longer. “It was reckless of me to do that. I lucked out.”
“I might enjoy dresses and reading more than you, but I don’t like being a princess locked in a tower any more than you did. The forest calls to me. And there’s something I want to show you.”
Sage glanced back toward the castle. They could turn around and head back now. It would be the smart choice. But Sage couldn’t expect her sister to follow all the rules of their father, especially if she didn’t. “Fine.”
“Follow me.” Willow gave Silver a kick and the horse galloped forward.
Sage had expected a short ride deeper into the forest, but Willow kept going farther and farther, straight toward the center.
They rode through the Autumn trees, full of falling golden and crimson leaves which emanated an essence of Autumn magic. Sage could feel the energy building inside her so deep into the woods.
Every time Sage asked how much longer, Willow would reply, “A bit more.”
After they’d ridden for an hour, Willow finally slowed.
The Autumn trees had thinned until none remained. Different trees now filled the forest around them. Taller trees with thick, moss-covered trunks, rose high into the sky. Green leaves filled their branches.
The buzz of Autumn energy was replaced with a hum of something else.
Something shuffled behind a tree. Sage snapped her gaze toward the sound. Another crunch to her left. Then another to her right.
They were in the Faerie forest now, no longer in the Autumn wood. Each season had a section of the large forest that sat in the middle of Faerie. The very center belonged to Faerie itself.
Sage had been here before during her training with the Woodland Tribe. She’d had five of her other sisters with her then, all trained in combat.
Another sound hissed above her.
She remembered the first thing Vienna had told her: the forest will play tricks on the mind. The forest’s magic was strongest there.
Sage closed her eyes and took a deep breath. The noises stopped. “We shouldn’t be here.”
Willow hopped off her horse and grabbed his reigns. “Is my big sister scared?”
“It’s dangerous. Our Autumn magic isn’t as effective out here.”
“We don’t have much farther to go. Trust me. Please.”
Sage groaned but dismounted Equinox. “If you get me killed out here, I’ll never forgive you.”
Willow guided them through a patch of thick trees.
The trickling of water sounded ahead. An opening appeared. Next to a creek was a small cabin.
Willow whistled three times, paused, then whistled twice more.
The cabin door swung open and out walked a male fae. He had dark skin and wavy, hazel hair. When he saw Willow, he grinned, but when he saw Sage, he tensed.
“It’s okay,” Willow said. “She’s with me.”
The young man stepped slowly toward them, hand on the hilt of the blade at his waist.
Sage grabbed the dagger from her boot.
“Calm down, you two,” Willow said. “Declan, I’d like you to meet my sister, Sage. Sage, meet my boyfriend, Declan.”
Boyfriend. Her little sister had a boyfriend who lived in the middle of the Faerie forest? How many times had she ridden out here, alone? How had no one noticed?
Sage bent down and returned her dagger to her boot and stood, straightening her posture. If he made a wrong move, she didn’t need a weapon to overpower him.
“Nice to meet you,” she grumbled.
Declan released his grip on the blade and bowed. “The honor is mine, princess.”
Sage’s shoulders relaxed. “I’m not a princess.”
He looked at Willow, confused.
“Yes, she is, just a runaway one.”
Sage couldn’t resist a smile. Her baby sister had grown up while she was gone. She shouldn’t have expected anything else. And although Willow had always been more suited to being a princess than Sage had, she wasn’t any less stubborn or fearless than Sage.
Declan invited them inside the cabin. “Can I offer you ladies something to drink?”
“Tea,
please.” Willow plopped onto the couch beneath the window.
Sage sat next to her sister. “Same.”
The cabin was small. The room they were in made up the kitchen, dining, and living room. An open door behind the table showed a tiny bedroom. On the opposite side was a closed door, which Sage guessed was another bedroom.
After heating up a kettle, Declan grabbed two teabags from a drawer, put them in mugs, and poured in steaming water. He handed them each a cup and pulled a dining chair next to Willow’s side of the couch and took a seat.
“How old are you?” Sage asked.
“Sage! You don’t have to be so rude,” Willow said.
“It’s okay.” Declan looked at Sage. “I’m eighteen. I live here alone. ”
“What happened to your family?”
“I don’t know.” Declan winced. “I went out hunting one afternoon, and when I got home, the cabin had been ransacked and my parents and younger sister were gone.” He stared blankly into the fire.
Willow reached out and stroked his arm. “He looked for them for over two years. They disappeared without a trace.”
“I’m sorry,” Sage said.
She wanted to hate the boy who had her sister risking her life by riding through the forest, but she couldn’t. After she’d questioned him, Willow changed the subject and told him about her latest story idea. As she rambled on, Sage zoned out, but Declan seemed genuinely interested. He asked her questions and gave her ideas of his own.
Declan told her about his latest hunting trip and how he nearly got lost after he stumbled upon a goblin. “The pointy-nosed bastard tried to shoot me with an arrow. Thankfully, he had horrible aim. I wanted to shoot him back, but, being at least twice his size, I would have felt like an ass.”
Willow took her last sip of tea. “We better leave. I usually tell mother I’m studying when I sneak here so she won’t bother me. No need for her to realize where I really go.”
Declan took Willow’s hand into his own as he escorted them back outside. “It was a pleasure to meet you, Sage.”
