Fly Free (Light of Faerie Book 1) Page 3

  Something isn’t right.

  Courtiers scattered as they rushed to obey her mother’s order. Jae’s attention was focused on Morlan.

  I have time.

  Abruptly, she took to the air directly over the court and landed in the branches of the garden. Folding her wings close to her back, she climbed through the maze of leaves with ease. So far, she only heard the rustle of her own movements, but she knew Jae would not be far behind. When she got to the brilliant green leaves of her tree, she dropped down to the ground.

  A simple swirl, the mark of a spirit-user, adorned the bark at eye level. It pulsed with power—much more than any spirit mark she had ever seen—giving off a faint purple glow.

  Sevelle brought up a hand, hovering for a split second as she hesitated.

  It feels like a trap…but it could give me information that could save us.

  A crash through the branches indicated Jae’s arrival, and with a sharp intake of breath, Sevelle pressed her fingertips to the mark. As the spirit magic took hold, she had the urge to pull away, but before she could, her vision blurred.

  As it suddenly came back into focus, she viewed a rocky place. She flinched as several halkyr, their huge brown-feathered wings spread and talons on their feet visible, flew in and out of view. As she stumbled back, she turned slightly to see a strange male faerie with pearly blue skin and long white hair tamed into a mess of braids. He looked wild and captivating all at once. His gaze was trained out over mountains in the distance.

  Sevelle’s heart pounded.

  Where am I?

  As if he heard, the vision faerie turned, locking eyes with whomever planted the vision there, but Sevelle felt as if he looked right through her. The blue faerie smiled just as the vision began to fade.

  Swaying, Sevelle stumbled back before she steadied herself by opening her wings slightly.

  She stared at where the spirit mark had been on the tree and desperately tried to make sense of it.

  The mark had clearly been put there by a spirit-user, but for what purpose? And why show her the blue-skinned faerie?

  “What did you see?” Jae asked.

  Sevelle turned to her guardian. “You saw the spirit mark?”

  Jae nodded, expression tight. “What did you see?”

  She looks so…desperate.

  “The mountains and the halkyr,” Sevelle admitted. “Now we must go. If we are late, Mother will not be happy.”

  She took to the air without waiting for an answer.

  “Sevelle!” Jae called after her, but Sevelle paid her no mind, ducking and weaving through the branches, then flying through the halls to the Throne Room. Sevelle could almost feel the anxiety from her guardian, but she kept her focus on the problem at hand: what her mother was going to do about the attack.

  The chatter from the courtiers rose to a crescendo as they flew out into the Throne Room. They spoke nervously in small groups, or stared vacantly ahead; others cried. Fear with an undertone of rot permeated the room.

  Many of them looked up at Sevelle, and those below her moved aside so that she could land. She saw looks of relief on many faces as she moved toward the dais.

  Her mother and father stood in front of the thrones. Her mother threw her an annoyed glance. Her father only regarded her worriedly. Sevelle nodded to them before moving to stand to the side of the dais, Jae beside her.

  “Silence!” her mother commanded.

  The courtiers immediately cut off their conversations and faced forward.

  “The threat of the rebels has reached its peak.” Her mother’s words rang out through the room. “They have weakened us. And now they dare to outright attack us.”

  She paused as the courtiers looked up at her, expressions ranging from fearful to angry to shocked.

  “Mera,” her mother called upon the Singer of Court, head of the Message Tower, with the affinity to speak with the beasts of Faerie.

  The purple-skinned faerie stepped forward, a look of trepidation on her face though she stood tall. Mera saluted Sevelle’s mother with a gentle hand over her chest.

  Silence reigned. Sevelle held her breath as she waited for her mother to inspect Mera for treachery, to send her truth-sensing power into every corner of her mind.

  “A true heart stands before me,” her mother finally announced.

  A wave of relief went through Sevelle. The crowd collectively let out a sigh.

  “Though this should never have happened in the first place, Singer,” her mother continued sharply. “The Light of the Day was nearly ripped to shreds because of your hesitation in driving it away.”

  She wasn’t even there, Sevelle thought with a frown.

  Mera bowed her head. “Yes, Glorious.”

  “You and those of the Message Tower will be examined.”

  Dread grew within Sevelle as she pictured the gentle beast-users of the Message Tower facing such scrutiny and probing magic.

  This has nothing to do with them.

  “They will be needed in the coming conflict,” Sevelle blurted.

  All heads turned to Sevelle.

  Her mother openly glared at her. Her father’s eyes widened almost imperceptibly, warning her not to continue.

  “I mean, they will play a critical part in collecting knowledge about the rebels,” Sevelle elaborated. “Should they not be focusing on that? I shouldn’t have been so exposed anyway—”

  “Enough,” her mother said sharply. Then she turned to the gathered faeries. “The Light speaks the truth.” She focused on Mera. “Be glad the Light spared you. It will not happen again.”

  Mera bowed her head again and stepped back into the crowd.

  “Violence is not our way, but the rebels have attacked with such,” her mother continued, addressing the room. “Striking back is the only way to defend our court. We know they are close now. We will seek them out from our woods and remove them. Prepare to attack at dusk.”

  Remove them.

  A shiver went through Sevelle as she imagined what those words would mean.

  Then her mother turned on her heel and strode around the thrones to the meeting room.

  Clearly dismissed, the courtiers turned to leave, an anxious buzz starting up. Sevelle’s father followed her mother, his shoulders tense.

  Sevelle waited a moment, though she knew she should follow, anxiety and guilt churning in her stomach.

  They attacked me. And sent me a vision. Why me? What does it mean? They had to know such an attack would incite violence.

  “Sevelle,” Jae said in a low voice.

  Sevelle turned to her with raised brows.

  “What did you see?” Jae asked again.

  “Why do you need to know so bad?” Sevelle whispered back.

  Jae hesitated. “Can you just trust me?”

  She knows something. Sevelle glanced at the courtiers still exiting the room, or milling about and talking to each other. But this is not the time or place to discuss such things.

  “We will speak later,” Sevelle said and turned to head off to the meeting room.

  And I need to try to stop this.

  Chapter 6

  Jae glared at Sevelle’s pink wings as she walked away, her fists clenched against the urge to reach forward and grab her arm.

  The knowledge she has could save lives, but there are too many eyes here. And they’re already suspicious.

  Jae kept a steady stream of air weaving among the courtiers still in the room or in the hallways, seeking out what they saw of the attack earlier and their reactions.

  “That came so close.”

  “Why didn’t she kill it?”

  “Wasting away may be a kinder fate than that…”

  “We don’t have enough Telk prepared for a large attack.”

  “The Light stood up for us.”

  Jae shifted on her feet.

  What did they think would happen when they pulled off this stunt? she ranted internally. Now I need to warn them that they’ve angered the cou
rt to violence. Soon.

  She glanced around at the almost empty room.

  I could just slip away. Sevelle is safe, tucked away with her parents.

  She felt a hand close around her arm then. With irritation, she looked up into Morlan’s dark gaze.

  “Training. Now.”

  This can’t be happening.

  “I need to watch until the Light returns,” she tried to reason.

  “You will be back before the Light emerges.” He forcefully took her arm then and dragged her a few steps before she shook him off and accompanied him.

  All right. I’ll soothe his suspicions, then figure out what to do.

  As they entered the training room adjacent to the Throne Room, a large green leaf borne from Morlan’s magical air currents teased Jae, just out of reach. The wind scattered the many leaves on the stone floor and set loose some attached to the vines covering the walls.

  Morlan went to stand at the wall, turning critical eyes on her.

  This is so pointless.

  But Jae took out her spear. Familiar with this exercise, she stabbed at the leaf as it swirled around the room faster and faster, requiring all of her focus to aim her spear. As the leaf flew close again, she thrust the weapon forward, careful to disturb the air around her as little as possible. The sharp tip of stone just grazed the edge of the leaf, and it spun away once more. Jae’s frustration rose, and she narrowed her eyes as she tracked it.

  Others of the guard rushed in and out of the room, grabbing weapons and preparing as The Glorious had ordered, and Morlan drove her endlessly on. Some of the guard tried not to stare. Others gave her judging looks.

  The Light was not harmed, Jae seethed inwardly. I did nothing wrong.

  “Is there a point to this?” she asked Morlan.

  Morlan’s stony expression didn’t change. “Focus,” was all he said in his deep voice before sending the leaf straight into Jae’s face and then flying off again.

  Jae blew out a frustrated breath. Whipping around, she sought the leaf again. This time, in a streak of rebellion, she reached for the magic within her and used the air currents to just slightly tip the leaf to one side, hoping Morlan would be too distracted to notice. A small smile spread across her face as she successfully pierced the delicate leaf with a soft crunch.

  A second later, she found herself pinned to the ground. Jabbing back with her elbow, she twisted her body around to try and throw him off. It did not work out as she had planned, the larger faerie remaining on her back with his knee in the sensitive spot between her wings. Snickers and jeers came from the members of the guard in the room.

  Jae grunted in frustration and went limp. “Given the chance, an attacker will always go for the wings,” Morlan had taught her. “Never turn your back.”

  When his knee relaxed slightly, she threw her body back and pulled her knees under her, trying to throw him off so that she could turn around.

  Jae’s maneuver seemed as if it would work for one elating second. Then she felt his hand on the ridge of the rounded top section of her right wing. She stilled instantly, knowing if he tightened his grip he could easily break the outer ridge and shred the delicate membrane, leaving her wing crippled for weeks.

  “Your clever tricks will only get you so far,” he said in a deadly even tone. “That is the whole point of this exercise.” Strong arms flipped her over, careful not to crush her wings. “You may find yourself in a situation where your magic alone will not save you. Like the one you were just in.”

  He eased off and stood.

  Jae rose to her feet. “I saved the Light,” she ground out.

  Morlan pinned her with his intense gaze. “You hesitated.”

  “It would have been a shame to strike the great beast.”

  The air directly around them suddenly stilled. The other voices in the room muffled.

  Her breath caught as he leaned closer. “I know you have dealings with the rebels. What was the point of that stunt?”

  Jae’s heart beat as if it wanted out of the cage of her chest.

  How? How long has he known?

  “Well?” Morlan prodded, breath hot on her cheek.

  “I do not know,” she answered in a low voice.

  “Then what do they want? What is the point of the blight?”

  Jae hesitated. What can I tell him that will not hurt them?

  “Only to right the balance in the Day territory,” Jae answered vaguely. “You know it is needed.”

  “I know no such thing,” he said.

  So that’s how it’s going to be.

  She inhaled, fear almost a living thing within her now. “Will you report me then?”

  He blinked and then shook his head. “But you will be more careful.” His eyes held a warning.

  Before she could say anything, he dropped the air currents obscuring their conversation. As the voices of the room rushed back with startling clarity, Jae tried to calm her racing heart.

  He is willing to keep this secret for me. Why? Because we are potentials? And what exactly does he know?

  Morlan stepped away from her as if nothing happened.

  It seems no one will give me answers today.

  “Again,” he said sharply.

  This time a dozen leaves flew up into the air. Without looking away from Morlan, Jae speared one with deadly accuracy.

  “Now may I leave?” she asked darkly.

  He studied her for a moment, then nodded.

  She turned and rushed from the room.

  Now we all may be in danger. I need to warn them.

  Chapter 7

  Sevelle’s attention wandered as her parents reached yet another impasse in their argument.

  Does the blue faerie mean something to me? Should he? Or was it supposed to convey some other message entirely?

  “Shayna, we might run out of Telk if we send all of the Nym out,” her father argued.

  “Telk are not helping the blight,” Shayna shot back. “This will address the bigger problem. Take out the rebels. Solve the blight.”

  He was in the mountains. A rebel. But what would he want? To meet me? How would I even find him?

  Sevelle eyed her parents. They were turned toward each other, scowling in a rare show of dissonance.

  How would I find him without them knowing?

  “It was one halkyr,” her father said.

  “And it could’ve killed Sevelle. Mera didn’t even drive it away fast enough.”

  Sevelle sat up straighter.

  Mera. She wasn’t there, but she would’ve been close. If she succeeded in touching its mind, she might know something about the rebels.

  “Sevelle,” her mother’s voice startled her out of her thoughts.

  “Yes?” Sevelle realized with a start her mother was looking at her with an odd scrutiny.

  “Stay off the outer balconies and out of the open sky,” her mother warned after a slight pause.

  That is something I can agree to. Sevelle nodded.

  “Now go.” Her mother waved her away with one hand.

  Sevelle bristled at the dismissal and the clear implication that she would be of no use anyway. “You have not given me a task.”

  “Your task has not changed, Light of the Day,” her mother shot back.

  Sevelle stared at her for a moment, desperately trying to come up with an argument that would keep her in the know.

  I may actually have helpful information. The words came to the tip of her tongue, but she kept her lips sealed.

  I will solve this before the violence, and then they will regret treating me as if I am completely useless.

  “I will leave then.” She stood. “Mother. Father.” She placed a hand to her chest.

  When they both nodded distractedly, she forced herself to walk at a normal pace as she left the room.

  Now to face Jae.

  But as she closed the door, Sevelle stared at the spot where her guardian should have been with unease.

  Did I anger her so m
uch that she is avoiding her duty?

  She glanced around the room, in the corners of the ceiling. Nothing.

  Sevelle shook her head.

  Well, I can do what I need to without commentary.

  She spread her wings and flew upward, then down the path of halls that would take her up to the Message Tower. She climbed the steps on foot so as to be less of a target to the open sky, anxiety and excitement spurning her forward.

  Though Mera scurried back and forth between her assistants, she still managed to look at home among the flock of runa, the small and sleek gray-feathered creatures with two wings, taloned feet, and small beaks covering every surface and perch in the large circular room completely surrounded by large semicircular openings. Sevelle watched her and her assistants direct the runa with their arms and frowning in concentration as they spoke to them with their minds; some runa took flight and others dove in. They carried messages from the surrounding villages, possibly news of other rebel activities.

  Sevelle used to love the excitement of this place. The other courtiers would wave away the curious youth that she was, but Mera had let her observe as long as she did not interfere. Though the threat of violence and the knowledge of the messages the runa carried ruined the air of awe and discovery she had once felt in this room.

  “Mera,” Sevelle called. “I need to speak with you.”

  Mera looked up with a startled expression. Then it smoothed into the one of kindness Sevelle was used to. Weaving deftly through the creatures and other faeries, Mera made her way over and motioned them into a small room used for organizing the papers brought in by the runa.

  Mera said nothing, regarding Sevelle with raised brows.

  She swallowed.

  You are already here. Just do it.

  “I want to know if you saw anything in that halkyr’s mind.”

  A shadow passed over Mera’s face. “Why?” she asked curiously.

  A little surprised by her hesitation, Sevelle looked Mera in the eye. “I want to know where they are.”

  Mera studied Sevelle for a long moment. Her eyes were still kind, but a warning glittered in them. “I will tell you this,” she said. “They are close, but I do not know an exact location.”