Chapter Twenty-Four
“ S o, does this mean you have wings?” I can hear the humor in Gryphon’s voice as we gaze up into the night’s sky. The sounds louder out here close to the woods.
“You know, I didn’t even think to ask Thaliya before she was called away.” That’s why I knew I could tell Gryphon. He didn’t even miss a beat. Just asked about wings after the whole messy tale spills out. “Do all Fae have wings?” I ask, realizing I know little about the race, my race.
“I think their power manifests in different ways. My mother used to tell me stories about all the races. Some Fae could fly, some could heal, change sizes, influence others—the list goes on. But those weren’t my favorite stories.”
“Oh? What could be better than that?”
“Shifters. You know there used to be dragon shifters? They’ve all died out of course, hunted from every corner of the kingdom, but how cool would that be to actually meet one?” I can feel him shift beside me, sliding his arms behind himself to find a more comfortable position on the hard rock below us.
“And I suppose she also spoke of all the Conjur and their spells and Elementals and Ancients as well? I’m afraid those days are just about over, at least for Everguard. If Hadeon has anything to do with it.” I sigh, realizing that his goal of eradicating magic from the land is not only harmful to so many of the people and families who’ve lived here for so much longer than us, but now I’m directly involved. He means to eradicate me too, even if he doesn’t realize it yet.
“Even them. And I don’t know. I think Hadeon’s picked a bigger battle than he thinks. I wouldn’t be surprised if fairies have been hiding under rocks and Ancients have been holed up north in the snow-crested peaks of Freathia, this whole time, just biding their time.”
“Thaddeus did say Ombretta was up north. I wonder if she's with the Ancients.” I feel better now that I’ve shared this weight with Gryphon, but there’s still so much I don’t understand. Every question seems to create five bigger ones.
“Will you go to her?” Gryphon asks, his voice carrying a lightness to it that the question does not.
I weigh the question before answering. Of course I want to meet her, see what she’s like, if she looks like me or our parents. But I’m way past my adventuring age, how could I possibly travel that far? Although I’d like to think I’d get there easily enough in one piece, I know what goes on while traveling those dirt roads, what types of people and creatures lurk in the Dread Forest. I know I’m not the invincible teenager I once was, untouchable from danger and harm. “I’d like to.” I offer up to the stars.
“Then let’s go,” Gryphon replies as if I mentioned I’d like to have fresh tomatoes and cucumbers for dinner this evening and it only requires a quick trip to the gardens.
But as soon as he says it, the thought takes root and begins to bloom within my mind.
“I’m glad to hear it,” a voice comes from the darkness surrounding us and both Gryphon and I jump at the sudden intrusion. Realizing it’s Thaddeus, my heart races at the same time my anger rises, but he presses on, “Because she needs you.”
Gryphon looks between Thaddeus and me. “Should I—” He makes a motion with his thumbs that maybe he should leave us alone. I lace my fingers into his and pull him back down to the ground.
“I’m sorry,” Thaddeus says, searching my face. He remains standing as if waiting for forgiveness—or an invitation.
His pause reminds me of that night in my bedroom. Again, he’s waiting for me to decide. My heart aches looking at him. I miss what we had. The simplicity of it all. But his other words, when you know nothing, you stand to gain so much , remind me there’s more here to learn. And perhaps more here to do. Maybe we won’t ride off into the sunset together, singing to villages and healing others. But maybe I don’t have to settle for an arranged marriage either. Maybe there’s more. I don’t forgive him completely, but I do want to hear what he has to say—the rest will take some time.
“What do you mean? How could I possibly be any help?” I make a motion for him to sit beside us, making space for one more. I settle back onto the thick blanket Gryphon and I’ve been sharing to cushion the rocks below us because whatever Thaddeus is about to say, it’ll take some time.
Thaddeus sits as well, placing his dagger in the grass before facing both Gryphon and me. His eyes narrow as he takes in our hands clasped and for a brief moment, I want to smile at the thought of him being jealous. Of Gryphon. But as soon as Thaddeus begins, I forget all silly thoughts immediately.
“I’m assuming you’ve spoken to Thaliya. And she’s confirmed everything? ”
I nod and inwardly shudder at the few things I’ve managed to stomach. It’s all too much and not enough at the same time.
“Your sister, Ombretta, was taken north at birth.” He waits for my acknowledgement before he goes on.
“She was taken north to be kept safe until an age to return to the crown. Her and I were to rule the realm together,” I repeat Thaliya’s words.
“Yes, that was the understanding. However, some of the Ancients realized by drinking her blood—not only Fae, but royalty—makes them stronger in more ways than one.”
I know that the Ancients rely on blood to live, just as humans do food and water, but it takes a moment to connect this with what Thaddeus is saying.
Thankfully, Gryphon is quicker on the uptake. “You mean they’re using her as some kind of blood cask?”
I shoot him a look. His crass words always get him into trouble, and just the image that his words paint, I gag at the thought. He catches my gaze and shrugs, agreeing in the brashness of it.
“Ah. Yes.” Thaddeus wrinkles his nose at Gryphon’s comment, but continues. “But it’s been going on too long. She’s not long for this world.”
“She’s dying? I thought Fae were immortal.” I look up at Thaddeus, my eyes filling with tears for someone I’ve never even met. The idea that I have a sister and she’ll be taken away just as quickly as I found out about her, hurts too much. “But what can I do?” I don’t see how I’d be able to help from the opposite side of the continent all the while I’m getting ready to be shipped across the sea.
“Everyone thinks you’re dead. You—the Fae heir apparent—If you show up demanding her and your rightful crown, they’d have to acquiesce. ”
“And how do you know all of this?” I ask the bard before us.
He shifts in his seat as if making space for the truth before us.
“You’re not a bard,” I say, looking at him. His fine clothes and the way he sits like he’s never spent a moment on the ground in all his life. I don’t know why I didn’t see it before.
“I am not a bard. I’m the Duke of Freathia.” One of his shoulders shrugs as if just hit with a physical blow.
“You’re one of them,” Gryphon says beside me; his voice equal parts awe and fear.
I look between Gryphon and Thaddeus, ready to laugh off the outrageous accusation, but the way Thaddeus’ other shoulder drops tells me there's truth to Gryphon’s words. He takes a deep breath, waiting for my judgment to fall.
“I am what he says I am,” he says, his gaze dropping to the blanket before us. Ready for me to land the final blow.
If he’s one of the Ancients… my mind races with all this means.
Silence fills the space around us, the air thick with uncertainty and expectation.
I lace my fingers through Thaddeus’ with my free hand.
“Okay.” Resolve growing as I look between Gryphon and Thaddeus.
“Okay?” Thaddeus raises his head, hope alight in his eyes.
“Okay?” Gryphon says, disbelief and excitement written across his features.
“You said it yourself, Gryphon, we’ll go to her. And she needs us more than ever if she’s dying. We must save her. There’s no other option.”
“Okay. We’ll leave soon, I’ve been gone too long, and I haven’t had any updates as of late.” Thaddeus stands and brushes off his knees, as if it’s all decided. And I suppose it is.