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Shaye awoke with a start. She was drenched in sweat, and tears were streaming down her face. She had forgotten where she was, for just a moment. Looking around the familiar room, she grounded herself and calmed her breathing. In her dreams she had been somewhere else far away, in that golden snow-fallen palace, where music played, and people laughed. It had been a place that had felt both foreign and familiar to her. It was a dream that visited her often, ever since she was a young girl. In it she had been following a familiar voice.
Bastian had been calling to her. He sounded so close, but she could not see him. It was always the same in these dreams: he always eluded her. Before her, in the candlelit ballroom, people danced, a swirling blur of lace and glitter. They wore beautiful jewels around their necks and on their wrists.
Somewhere beyond the dance floor and the laughter she could hear Bastian’s voice calling to her. People twirled around her; delight filled their voices. But when she looked into their faces, tears of blood streamed from their frightened eyes. One woman looked as if she were screaming, though no sound left her lips. Fear flooded through Shaye as she stood frozen in place.
A hand grabbed her wrist, startling her into motion. It pulled her from the ballroom floor and into a stairwell past bloodied guards. Their throats were slit as they laid slumped on the marble floors. She shut her eyes tight as she allowed herself to be pulled past them. Bastian must have finally found her; she would be safe now. But when the boy turned to look at her, she realized it wasn’t Bastian. Terror clouded his dark, stormy blue eyes. He was not much older than her, though he was much taller. He held a finger to his lips and then she awoke.
“Another nightmare? I thought they had gotten better. Was it the same as before?” Brina was standing over her, coffee in hand, concern written all over her freckled face.
Shaye smoothed down her hair and looked up at her friend through bleary eyes. “They were getting better. I don’t know, maybe coming home was a bad idea.” She cleared her throat, trying to shrug off the feeling of being back in that ballroom. She did not want to worry Brina over things they could not control, especially on their favorite day of the year. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean that I’m not glad to be home with you. I just... listen, I am fine, I promise. Between all the talk last night of gloom and doom, and your dad’s home-brewed mead, I was bound to have a nightmare or two.” Shaye rubbed her temples. It had been an exceptionally strong brew last night.
Brina could see through her. “Shaye, I understand you’re angry. With the past, and with the late king. It is not fair, what you have had to endure. You have been dealt shit cards, but you need to try to heal. Holding onto that anger and hate is only inviting the darkness in. If you cannot forgive them, then you at least need to try to forgive yourself. You did nothing wrong in surviving.”
Shaye looked up at the ceiling, noticing the faded stars she and Brina had painted when Shaye had first come to them. She had missed the northern sky and Brina had wanted to give her a little piece of her former home. Shaye looked at her dear friend, the girl who had become like a sister to her over the years. She appreciated where Brina’s heart was at, but Brina still could not truly understand. Shaye was Magi and with that came a sense of powerlessness in Asterion.
Magi all over Asterion had to live without a piece of themselves; their magic had been as much a part of them as their soul. Not to mention how easily mortal men would turn on them, just like the Mage in the gambling house who had only come in for a drink and left with a bloodied face instead.
Brina must have picked up on Shaye’s shift in mood because she smiled and squeezed Shaye’s arm softly. Shaye pointed to Brina’s dress, which was covered in dog fur. “Did you sleep in the kennels again?” Shaye frowned at her.
Brina’s cheeks turned red. “Only because Missy is about to have a litter of pups. She struggled last time, so I want to be there with her.” Brina cared for her dogs like they were her children. She doted on them and spoiled them, much to Rebecca’s dismay, as she would rather Brina be married with a litter of babies of her own.
“Oh! Coffee.” Brina winked, changing the subject. “Ma has quite the day planned for us. We get to help decorate the square. And you get to see Leif. He’s finally grown into those ears.” The girls laughed and Shaye threw a pillow at her before Brina turned on her heels, and called behind her, “Welcome home, Shaye!”
Welcome home, indeed, Shaye laughed, as she took a long sip of the bitter coffee. She put on a simple dress that she had left behind in the old wardrobe. It had been one of her favorites, comfortable enough, though she would rather wear pants. She glanced at herself in the mirror, trying to smooth down her bedhead. It’ll have to do. She shrugged and ran out of the room.
Downstairs in the dining area patrons sat groggy at the tables, the result of a late night of celebration no doubt. The spring festival was Aramoor’s biggest event of the year. It was a three-day celebration of new life and prosperous crops. But more than that, it was an excuse for music, dancing, and drinking. She smiled at the guests and topped off everyone’s coffee before heading to the kitchen.
To her delight, Rolland had made fresh blueberry muffins. The kitchen smelled divine and happy patrons talked quietly nearby. She popped a plump strawberry in her mouth, enjoying the sweet tartness of it. Then she grabbed a muffin and an apple and bounded out the door headed to her first stop to check on her boy.
Finn had been by her side ever since they found each other in Sagon a few years ago. She had won him in a bet while they were docked in the Padsu harbour. He was the only thing she truly cherished in this life aside from Brina and her family. She had taken him as a sign of good luck and a sign that she should follow her gut and leave the Asterion merchant’s Guild to stay in the East.
She was nearing the stables when a loud crash came from within, and she heard Finn’s panicked whinnies. Before Shaye could reach the door, the largest man she had ever seen stepped out. He was dressed in a rough linen shirt and trousers that were at least one size too small, a sad and obvious attempt at masking who he was. Or what he was, Shaye thought, Soldier. She backed up a step.
“I don’t know what you’re doing here, but I’m guessing it’s not to attend the spring festivities.” Shaye laughed, trying to sound more confident than she felt. If word had somehow gotten out that she had arrived via smuggler’s ship, then no doubt they were here for her. It was an offense that would mean jail time, something she was willing to do just about anything to avoid. It was common knowledge that jailors did not take kindly to Magi in their care.
The stranger barked out a laugh, his brown eyes crinkling at the corners. “You don’t know me very well, or you’d know I would never pass up a good party.” He winked at her, and she considered throwing up a vulgar gesture at him.
Before she had a chance, another man rounded the corner. “What Sir Bronimir is trying to say is that he never passes up the chance to get piss drunk and serenade his closest friends in an embarrassing ballad.”
The man, slightly shorter than the captain but still considerable in height, gave a small bow to Shaye. He was handsome in a charming, clean-cut sort of way. He was the type of man she usually steered clear of. The type of man that was entitled and pampered for most of his life. He was more likely a knight than a common foot soldier, she guessed, and most certainly not someone they would deign to send after a small-time smuggler like her. She relaxed slightly, but eyed them warily.
“Well then he’ll want to stay away from the mead. It’s a lot stronger in these parts than it is up at the palace.” She was stalling until she could figure out how many of them there were. They did not seem particularly tense, but she couldn’t possibly imagine what two Mortal Knights from the Summer Palace would be doing in the stable of the Brass Blossom. Maybe they were just here for the festival. She chided herself, I really need to stop spending time with criminals, it’s making me paranoid.
The second man took a step closer, and Shaye found herself staring at him. He was incredibly handsome, with golden sun-kissed hair grown out of its normal military fashion. His nose was slightly crooked like he had broken it in a fight and had not let it heal right. But he had a strong jaw and carried himself confidently. And his eyes... There was something familiar about them.
She was looking at him so intently that she did not notice the other two men that were now flanking her. She had stalled too long and now she was trapped. She wanted to kick herself for being so careless. Her heart began to pound, and she looked around for something she could use to defend herself should the need arise.
If they knew she was Magi, then they might mean to try their luck in an attack. It was not uncommon for Magi girls to be harassed by the morally tainted men who passed through town. She shifted her gaze between them. Perhaps they had been sent by the palace to question Magi about what was happening in the North and in the Living Sea. She tried to steady her breath; panicking would do nothing to help her out of this.
“I’m sorry milady, we forget our manners. I am Sorin.” He swept a dramatic bow this time, taking another step closer. He was close enough now that he could grab her if he wanted to, but he would have to be quick. Shaye had dealt with worse during her time at sea and she was not one to go down without a fight.
“Ahem. King, Sorin,” Sir Bronimir smiled broadly. Shaye counted the weapons the men had carelessly hidden on them.
“King?” Shaye scoffed. “Sure, and I’m the Princess of Sagon.”
Sorin bowed mockingly, “Well Princess, I’m looking for someone. She was registered here as a Magi orphan after the uprising. I assure you, we’re only here to talk.” He flashed an arrogant smile. Shaye was getting annoyed. For a moment she considered throwing the muffin at him.
“Sure. The knife strapped to the giant’s boot screams polite conversation, and the two, armed men behind me suggest tea and cookies.” Her jaw twitched, she was losing her patience and they were wasting her time. It was midway through the morning and Brina was expecting her in the square.
“Are you offering?” The man claiming to be the King cut through her thoughts.
“Offering what?”
“Tea and cookies.” Sorin winked. He winked at her. Her face flushed at his arrogance.
What is going on here? What did I just stumble into?
“Please, miss...”
“Shaye, just Shaye.”
“Shaye. Please give me just ten minutes; hear me out. We’ve come all this way.” He gestured toward the inn.
“Fine. But you’re making the tea.” Shaye spun on her heel and pushed past the other two men who had been awaiting their orders. They looked at her in shock and confusion as she led them inside the inn.