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SHORTLY AFTER I HAD risen, Bythane and Moirae returned to inform me all was clear in the village. They confirmed that it was, in fact, a small elven village; not the Thalasians, as they chose to stay hidden in their sacred southern forest, but friends to faeries nonetheless. At least it wasn’t humans; most were terrible creatures who feared magick in all its forms and would be happy to have us eradicated. Some, however, carried magick in themselves, though not by their own doing. No, somewhere in that human’s ancestry, a human had to have mated with one of magick, whether it be an elf or a faery, in order for them to inherit our magick. Even so, it would only be a small portion.
I had spoken with a young female elf I had come across after entering the village borders. It turned out she was the local healer, and she and her husband were more than willing to put me up for as long as I needed. It wasn’t often that they saw visitors come through, and they were excited to have someone new for a change. I hadn’t yet told them who I was, and they hadn’t seen my shadow hounds, who stayed hidden but followed close by. I had no doubt that they would be guarding the perimeter of the hut where I would be staying.
They had a cozy little home with two rooms. One was occupied by their daughter, a cute little thing with brown curls, who toddled around nonstop. She immediately offered up her bed for me, which I politely declined. The adorable girl then pulled out all the spare bedding and pillows to make a bed of her whole floor. Her parents laughed, and I was humbled at how kind and generous this family was. They didn’t even know me, and were welcoming me with open arms.
“I thank you again for your kindness. It is much appreciated,” I said to the young mother.
“Nonsense. We are very happy to have you as our guest,” she said while setting the table for a light repast.
We ate the simple meal in pleasant conversation. After a while, I had excused myself to step out for some fresh air. I wanted to speak to my Shadow Hounds before retiring for the evening and discuss our next course of action.
“Bythane. All is well, as I’m sure you know. I just wanted to go over our plan, now that we’ve had a chance to rest a bit. Have you eaten?” I asked.
“Yes, Majesty. I ate when you did, and Moirae is hunting now. I believe you should rest for a day or two. We have been travelling at such a quick pace for so long. You need to rest, Majesty,” he replied candidly.
“Yes, I suppose you are right. Though I think any longer would be too risky. We need to stay ahead of the king and far enough away that he does not feel the pull of the Stones.”
“I agree. We, of course, shall remain on guard at all times. My scouts are still stationed out across the land, so we will be warned in advance if they spot anything out of the ordinary.”
“Wonderful. Thank you, Bythane. You truly are amazing,” I said as I turned to head inside and sleep indoors for the first time in nearly a month.
“You honor me, my queen.” Bythane bowed his head and waited for me to part. I was truly blessed to have the Cyscáth Bytheiad on my side. Through everything, they had been my protectors, my confidants, and my friends.
Following breakfast in the morning, I helped the Trina, the healer, prepare her basket of ointments and teas for the sickly whom she visited. Her husband left to work the fields, while little Sari, her daughter, danced her way through the gardens, pretending she was a faery with wings like mine. Watching her made me smile again. I pictured Moira as a young faery, dancing in the gardens just like her. It brought me com- fort knowing that she would live and grow up, even if I wouldn’t be there.
A touch of sadness must have crept onto my face, for Trina had a concerned look on hers. I shook the thoughts free from my mind and smiled at her. She was such a lovely woman, slight in figure, with soft features and pale hair that hung straight and low. I wasn’t going to put my sorrows on my new friend. It made me wish that the fae and elves lived together. Maybe one day, all the magickal races could live together in a large community under one ruler, but it would not be during our rule.
The vision! The next ruler of magick, that girl. Maybe she will one day be able to unite all the creatures of the land under her rule. Sure, the races were not at war with each other, but they all lived so separately and had their own royal houses. I could only pray it would be so.
I followed Trina along quietly, greeting the sick and offering a blessing for quicker healing. They were all quite friendly and appreciative. She didn’t ask many things of me, a fact for which I was grateful. I enjoyed having a little peace and quiet to think on my own. It wasn’t often that I got to relax into my own mind these days. Nearly the entire day had come and gone by the time we returned to their hut. Sari was exhausted, and she laid down until supper would be ready.
“I don’t wish to pry. I know everyone is entitled to their own secrets, but who are you? You haven’t even given us your name. How can I keep calling you my friend if I do not even know your name?” She looked at me curiously while she stirred the pot over the fire and I set the table.
“Oh my! Did I forget to introduce myself? How rude of me. I’m so sorry.” I turned towards her. “My name is Ema-” I paused, wondering if she had ever heard of my name in regards to the king, and decided that it would be alright. Surely, there were others with my name across the land. “Emalia. I’m Emalia.”
“It is a pleasure to finally make your acquaintance, Emalia.” She smiled at me and returned to mixing. “I do believe that our supper is ready.”
As soon as we had finished placing the table and serving, her husband Torvin, walked through the front door.
“My, doesn’t that smell divine? Like a feast fit for the gods!” he exclaimed as he wrapped Trina up in an embrace and twirled her around. Sari giggled at her parents, and it made me smile. They were such a wonderful family.
“Ha-ha! Torvin, don’t be ridiculous. It’s only a meat and vegetable broth. The gods deserve much better than that with day old bread.” She swatted at his arm playfully.
“Nonsense. If they had tried your cooking, they wouldn’t care if it were three days old! I love you, wife. Now let’s eat!” he replied as they joined us around the table. I noticed that Trina was blushing slightly. We made eye contact, and she just smiled and shrugged. Her eyes danced with the happiness in her soul.
The broth really was splendid. Trina was too modest. Even the bread tasted like it had been made just that morning. I ended up having two helpings myself. I really couldn’t help it, what with it being the first real meal I had had in ages. I had lost a lot of weight since my journey began. I had to keep up my strength to finish my mission.
We sat around the fire after our meal, Trina and Torvin nestled onto a small but comfortable-looking seat for two, while I lounged on the floor pillows. They told me the story of how they met, stories about the people she helped, and tales of the last visitors they had to town. I yawned lightly into my hand. Trina saw, though, and apologized for keeping me up so late. I assured her that it was fine, and that I was enjoying myself, but she insisted that I go and rest. I didn’t complain, as I was rather tired, so I excused myself.
As I left the room, though, I heard them talking softly. “Has she said anything?” Torvin asked his wife quietly.
“No. Well, her name only. But nothing else,” she replied, sounding dejected.
“Well, she doesn’t know us, darling. Best not to push her. In her own time, perhaps.”
I didn’t wait around in the hall any longer. It was understandable that they were curious. I was a stranger in their home.
WALKING ALONG WITH Trina and Sari to visit her eldest patient, I notice a shimmering light behind one of the huts up ahead. Stopping in the street, I tell Trina to go on ahead, and that I’d catch up with her. Heading towards the strange shimmering that distorts the air itself, it starts to clear. An image of the girl from my vision appears once more.
She’s standing in sand, which stretches as far as the eye could see, a Shadow Hound in its ethereal form by her side. She’s standing across from a hideous creature that barely resembles a human, more reptile than anything, and they are having a conversation.
I walk closer, so I could hear what was being said and end up in the vision myself, standing there amongst the sand, though neither of them takes notice of me. He has a tail, and scales spread across his body in rough patches. His tongue is forked and makes an appearance while he speaks.
“Here it is.” The creature hands her something wrapped in a blue cloth.
Unwrapping it, a golden necklace drops into her lap, and her eyes go wide with wonder. She lifts it, and I can see a place setting for five different stones− all empty.
“You approve? She said what to make.” He beamed at her, clearly proud of his work.
“It’s magnificent. I approve, but I must ask something. Who are you people, why was Emalia here and how did she know it would be me coming? I don’t understand.” The girl wrapped up the necklace, which was apparently the crown currently tied inside my skirts. She knew my name, who I am, and that I go to these people. Who is she to me?
“I tell you.” He pipes up. “Queen came hide with nomads, us. We came here. Knew King would not come desert. She had vision, had us melt crown, remake to necklace. To protect, we stayed in desert. Queen give us magick of long life, but at cost,” he said a little somberly.
“I see. You were all humans that made a deal with a faery to protect the necklace from the mad King, but humans can’t handle faery magick, is that why you’ve all...changed?” She was trying to piece it all together, a fact for which I was grateful, for I was learning my own destiny right along with her.
“Yes. It is price we pay; we pay happily. Magick even transfers to our young. Queen Emalia very good to us. She very beautiful. In fact,” he paused to look over the girl. “you look like her. A lot.”
The vision faded, and I could hear no more. I was once again standing behind the hut where I had walked. The details of what I saw played over and over in my head. Humans help me hide from Gwadei, and I give them magick to live long enough to give the crown, then a necklace, to her. It was a lot to take in. That last part, he said she looked like me. Now that I think on it some, she really did have similar features. The same hair color, the same chin, the same eyes. Oh, my goddess, she is of my bloodline! But that means...Moira! Moira grows to have children. The thought warms my heart.
“Well, hello, Emalia.”
That voice. “No.” I turn to see that my dream had become a nightmare. A vision of Gwadei stood before me in all his costly garb. He looked the part of a king, save for his missing crown.
“Didn’t you miss me? I’ve missed you. I quite nearly thought you had drowned when you went into the river. I looked; you know. Where is my son?” He stalked forward as he spoke. His eyes had blackened, and he looked half crazed.
“My son is with the goddess, you wretched beast. You put him there when you attacked us that day,” I spit out. Just looking at him turned my stomach. Why would I dream of him of all people?
He stood there silently for a moment, glaring at me. “It is you who has killed our child, our heir. If you had only stayed in your rooms, he might still be alive. You selfish woman! You are the reason he has perished, for if you had stayed and thought of him instead of yourself, he would be happy and healthy back home in the castle.” His voice was cold as he spoke, and his words cut through my skin, straight into my heart. He was right.
“I-I didn’t-” I try to stammer out a reply, some sort of defense for myself, but it fell flat. Just like that, he had wounded me. No magick, no force of his hand, just words. If I had stayed at the castle, my children would both be alive and with me. I would get to see them grow up and get their Mark and one day find a mate. I could have been happy knowing that. Instead, my son was dead, and my daughter being raised by someone else. I choked on a sob.
“I will come for you, Emalia. You have taken my crown, you have taken my child, and you have lost them both. You will pay dearly for what you have done. I know where you are, and I am close. I am coming for you, fy stór.”
With those final words, his image faded. That’s when I knew. I didn’t conjure him up in my dream. He had found a way to invade my dreams, much as he had bored his way into my mind before. He was really there with me, and he had warned me. He knew where I was, and he was now hunting me instead of the Stones. I was his target.