Chapter 16
CHAPTER
16
I awoke to the sound of knocks on the carriage door and the rustling noises of the other individual across from me. My eyes stung from the glare of sunlight casting through the windows. My neck and back had horrible cricks, telling me I had likely been seated in a poor position long enough to leave me feeling sore for a few days. I rubbed my forehead, trying to shake the disorientation and slight throbbing headache. Likely from the strange drink that had knocked us out.
I followed behind the blonde female exiting our carriage, only to be greeted with a gust of cool fresh air that sent stray locks of my hair into a tangle. A crisp chill caused my skin to ripple with goosebumps. When I rubbed the sleep from my eyes, I took in the otherworldly sights surrounding me.
We were somewhere nestled in between stunning gray mountains, hidden away from everything. I had never seen mountains this close; I’d never actually been there at all. I had traced many mountain ranges with my fingers along my father’s maps, but I had no way to approximate where I was or what mountain range these belonged to. I was so distracted by the cresting sun over the cliffs, I forgot Trace and my other companions were standing nearby also taking in our surroundings.
Glancing over my shoulder, I silently counted how many of us comprised the Offering. Six…there were only six of us. I don’t know how many I’d expected. With so few Houses and the criteria for being conscripted, it had been impossible to guess. I tried to ignore Trace’s presence from the corner of my eye but noted that he was back in his all-black attire that suited him better than anything else.
“Ahem, may I please have your attention? I am Idris, and I am your good King Aeon’s spymaster. You have been delivered safely to the Elorn Mountains, and this place is called Basdie.” He paused, folding his hands casually in front of himself, before continuing.
“You may have heard of the Elorn Mountains, but you will not have heard of the Basdie stronghold. This place does not exist. Not to anyone who is not meant to know about it. The only reason you are alive, standing within its boundaries, is because my enchantments permit your presence.”
I glanced around anxiously, trying to see if any of the others showed any indication of the same concerns I was feeling. Again, I could feel that faint hum similar to the one I’d first felt in the Bath of the Four Mothers, but I ignored the sensation and tried to focus on Idris’ words.
A spymaster? No wonder he acted aloof; I knew there was something questionable about him the minute I heard his voice. No one spoke, just listened intently.
“The brand you received at the ceremony is the key that allows you to pass into this sacred place—but that very same key is also a lock. Should you choose to leave the perimeter of the grounds without explicit permission, you will find that it will be your first and last attempt. Please do not make me explain this further. There are so few of you, and you are precious to the realm. I would hate to lose even one.”
I caught myself grinding my teeth at the harshness of his warning and the realization of being trapped here against our will. What exactly would happen if we crossed the boundary without permission? Were they even clearly marked?
“Grab your belongings and follow me inside. I know you all are very interested in answers to more of your questions. All will be explained in due time.”
I walked over to the carriage and found my pack among the others sitting on the ground. Before I could bend over to retrieve mine, my carriage mate politely handed it to me. “Thank you,” I said, finally taking in the full view of her.
She was nothing, if not beautiful. A stark contrast to myself. She dripped with femininity. Her long blonde curls framed both sides of her voluptuous breasts. I tried not to appear like I was gaping at her curvaceous body; a tight-fitting dress accentuated her feminine shape. Her eyes were warm, like honey glistening in the sunlight. She looked untouched by the disaster of our recent sleeping quarters. Okay, I was officially staring. I pried away my gaze, trying to reset my expression appropriately.
She held out her palm facing up, waiting for me to return the greeting. I had never been so grateful for that small gesture of normalcy. Customs, etiquette—call it what you like; it was the first moment since arriving I felt okay.
I put my hand palm facing down and placed it atop hers, holding it there briefly.
“I’m Cressida, but please call me Cress.”
The ease with which I omitted my House name saddened me, remembering how that had been taken from me only a short time ago.
As if her beauty wasn’t intriguing enough, her voice was velvety smooth. The slow, raspy cadence was like a lullaby.
“I’m Gianna, but I prefer Gia; and if I decide I like you, then you can call me G,” she said teasingly with a smile. A smile that I was certain could destroy the resolve of even the strongest.
She pulled her palm away from mine and, without any concern for personal space, she ran her fingertips down the long black feather hanging from my ear and gave me a smirk. Wordlessly, she turned to carry her bags and follow the others.
What was that look for? Did she know it was a Nightwing feather? It could have been anything. A raven or a crow—but no, she looked at me like she knew exactly what it was, and I blushed, following closely behind her.
The giant wooden doors to Basdie were built into the side of the mountain. This was not a structure built on top of or adhered to the mountain, no; it was part of it.
Idris waved his hand and the doors opened. I gaped at the casual use of magic. He had already mentioned enchantments; it was clear he had no qualms about wielding magic, but I had a feeling he was just getting started.
With another flick of his wrist, the torches lit up the stone walls of the expansive atrium. The ceiling was jagged and raw, with sharp points jutting out from every angle.
“Don’t worry, the rest of it is only slightly more welcoming,” Idris attempted to joke as we continued to follow him through another smaller set of doors.
When we passed the threshold, there were two sides of a stone staircase wrapping downward, each in a half circle arriving at the same lower level. A handful of us went down the right side. I followed Gia down the left, still lugging my pack over my shoulder while doing everything in my power to avoid looking at Trace where he walked across from me on the opposite staircase.
When we all arrived at the bottom, those lanterns and torches flickered to life as well. It was easy to ignore the coziness of the room, a mix between a library and a lounge. Just beyond the burning fireplace, bookshelves and plush couches scattered throughout the common area, and the ceiling sloped steeply to accommodate the crystal-clear glass window.
A silver decoration outlined the panes, but behind it…Gods what was that? Was that…was that a waterfall…? Inside of a mountain? I walked toward it, my mouth gaping at its impossible beauty. Was this real?
I put my hand up to the glass, feeling the deep vibration of the water pounding down from unimaginable heights. Sunlight from the opening above illuminated the narrow crater containing the falls. Mesmerized by the sight, I jumped in surprise when suddenly Idris appeared by my side.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?”
I turned to him, nodding in silence, unable to come up with the words.
“This glass is very thick, intentionally so; otherwise, it would be very loud in here. But if you put your ear to the glass and listen carefully, you’ll hear a sound that only a few have ever heard.”
I glanced at him as if asking for permission, and he gave me an encouraging dip of his chin.
I leaned in, bracing myself with both hands against the pane, and held my ear directly against the glass. I closed my eyes and began to listen closely, as Idris instructed. The sound was deep and strong, unlike anything I’d ever heard or imagined; like wind, rainstorms, and the earth quaking all in one. The sound was enticing, and I imagined if there were a walkway to the Gods, this is what it would sound like.
All that power; barely contained. Idris smiled at me and, despite his friendly behavior, I did not trust him.
“These falls are sacred, tucked away and hidden by the mountains because the power of their waters contains rare healing properties. You’ll be shown the healing pools later on.”
He had piqued my interest, but before I could indulge my curiosities, he stepped away from me and back toward the group.
I turned around to see the others milling about the room, taking long glances at the waterfall in between inspecting the titles of books on the shelves and trying to discreetly size each other up.
“You may leave your bags here,” Idris instructed. “I have much to tell you, and perhaps I will suffer fewer interruptions if you’re busy with full mouths and raised forks. Follow me, let’s eat.”
To the left of the glass window was a long hallway, which we followed him down. Once more I stuck close to Gia, trailing her like a shadow. On the left side of the wall, we passed a series of closed doors. On the right side, the stunning view of the waterfall continued, though it grew narrower. The glass pane lined the entire wall. The bright blue glow of the crashing water helped light the winding hallway, along with various torches placed outside of every other door.
He finally turned into a small dining hall with a long wooden table at one end and a giant fireplace at the other. I looked at it, trying to understand where the smoke was going, but there simply was none. Just a fire burning, giving off heat but no ash or smoke. Each of us took a seat around the rectangular table. There were more chairs than there were people.
The group spread out awkwardly, clearly uncomfortable with one another. I, however, took a spot directly next to Gia. Trace located himself to the farthest possible seat from me. Idris stood at the head of the table and let out a small, amused laugh. It was odd to see him demonstrate any sort of amusement. Up until that point, he had been mostly buttoned up, almost detached. I gathered that the small smile he had given me earlier was not going to be a frequent occurrence.
“I remember the first time I sat at this table. Like you, scared and untrusting of everyone in the room. But I can assure you, you will come to trust these people with your life.”
A few of us glanced around at one another, absorbing his grave words.
“I’d like each of you to clear your mind, cut out all the noise, and think only of the most delicious breakfast you’ve ever had. Nothing is off-limits. Your favorite food and drink.”
After giving Gia a confused look, I turned away, doing as Idris requested. I thought of Chef’s giant cinnamon rolls and fresh squeezed orange juice from our orchard. I thought of the delicious eggs from the farm nearby and a medley of fresh-cut fruit. The memories alone made my mouth water, and I knew if I continued this any longer, I might have become teary-eyed over food.
A short time later, the table went from barren and empty to completely covered and full. Platter after platter, servings of every imaginable type. Hot steam rose from plates, the overwhelming scents wafting all about the room. Directly in front of me was a place setting with every item I had just imagined. Just how unburdened was Idris’ magic?
Absolutely parched, I reached for the glass of juice and gulped down half of it. How had he done it? The drink tasted just like the very oranges from my home. But that was impossible. Some of us dug right into the food, desperate to satiate the hunger from traveling to the Elorns. Others hesitated, scrutinizing the food. I didn’t blame them; after all, they had drugged us. Idris sat down at the head of the table, absent a place setting.
“Each of you is now a member of the Order. The Order is a faction of his majesty’s kingdom that has existed in secrecy for millennia. We have served the king, and all kings before him. We do not have the same constraints as the king’s military, because we do not exist. As a member of the Order, you are bound to complete anonymity and total secrecy for the remainder of your life in service to the realm.”
Idris paused, looking around the room, acknowledging the weight of his words. I took another large gulp of juice to hide my fearful expression.
“Your familial bonds were severed in the Offering ceremony. The Order is your new family. You do not exist, except to each other. You’ve made a tribute in blood, binding you to your king and this cause. You will remain here in Basdie and be trained in the ways of the Order by those who came before you. When it’s determined that you are ready, you will take the final oath and pledge your commitment to the cause. Only then will you learn how you will serve King Aeon.”
By now, the seriousness of Idris’ diatribe had waned as many of us began shoveling large heaps of food into our mouths and chewing without a care in the world. Like a bunch of people who had just been told they’d lost all freedom and autonomy over their entire lives. No friends, no family, no name.
A nervous giggle almost escaped my mouth at the absurdity of it all. The food was a fantastic distraction from this madness. By now it was pretty clear how important we were and that I needn’t fear them killing all of us. At least we weren’t here to be sacrificed to the Gods. Just to sacrifice something as small and insignificant as our entire identities.
“As I mentioned outside upon your arrival, this place does not exist—but its boundaries are very real. Should you choose to explore beyond them without permission, or should you choose to abandon the Order completely, your life is forfeit. You will come when called upon. No matter where you are, who you are with, or where life may take you, you will come when called upon. Later, you will meet your teachers who know all too well the lifelong commitment of serving the Order.”
So, there were other people here. The place had been silent and absent of anyone but the six of us and Idris. Who were these people? If they were members of the Order, did that mean they were once High Fae like all of us?
“It goes without saying that you may never see or contact your family or anyone you knew ever again. To do so is considered treason, punishable by death. Again, you are rare, few, and important. Please do not make selfish decisions.”
I had managed to rationalize most of what he had said until he reassured us that trying to contact family was explicitly forbidden. Until then, I had convinced myself that someday, no matter how long it took, I would send word to my family. It was the least I could hope for. But at the cost of my own life?
“Your mentors will explain more to you about your training after introductions have been made. Now that we’ve discussed all the heavy unpleasantries of your new life, shall we get to the good stuff?”
I almost choked on a bite of my food. I’d be shocked to discover any upside to this arrangement. Overwhelmed with the thought of never seeing anyone that knew me again, I thought to myself how serendipitous it was that Trace was here. But who was he, really? He’d lied about a lot. Was it a good or bad thing that I knew someone here?
“The king’s demands are severe; he has taken a lot from you, but he has also given. You have each bathed in the waters of Mirtith. The Bath of the Four Mothers is the bath of the Gods, the anointed ones. Each of you, being of Royal or Honored bloodlines, possess a strong potential within yourselves. Many of you have lived under the guise of being less powerful than you are. Call it restraint, etiquette, culture, what-have-you, but you are now free of those constraints that chained you to a life of mediocrity.”
He continued, “Magic, like all things, is finite. Wielding it frivolously means running the risk that it would not come when called upon in true need. Each of you has received a gift from the Gods; a blessing given for what your king has taken.”
I had to give it to Idris, he had my attention. But in between all the fancy words and promises of Gods and gifts, what did it actually mean for us?
As if he had read my mind, Idris spoke once more. “It means your magic has the potential to become more powerful than you ever imagined, and you must learn to control it, master it, shape it into a finely tuned weapon and use it to protect our people. The very same people you left behind. Now is the time to remove the bonds of your previous life and be free. Release yourself from the expectations, rules, and limitations. We answer to no one except the cause.”
Gia and I glanced at one another for the first time since Idris had started speaking. His words were undeniably motivating, and it was now abundantly clear why Idris used magic freely and without consequence. Flicking his wrists and fingers all about the place, lighting torches and fireplaces, presenting us with homemade meals like he had breathed life into the whims of our imaginations.
He was very powerful, and I couldn’t deny the intrigue he had sparked in me. I hungered for that kind of power. I craved to know what it felt like to completely free-fall into the depths of my magic like never before. We were never permitted those dreams before now.
After breakfast, Idris led us all back to the place where we had left our bags and took us down the other hallway to our dormitories. The rooms outnumbered us, which meant he allowed us to choose whether we roomed alone or with others. I considered rooming with Gia, but I didn’t want to impose.
Some rooms were bigger than others. Following an investigation of my options, I settled on a room with two full-sized beds, throwing my bag on the floor. We each entered separate rooms, still unsure of one another and the entire situation. Idris did not look surprised. The room was plain and windowless. Frankly, I didn’t care much about the room. I was far too interested in everything else Idris had told us to put too much thought into the lodging situation. I did take a mental note of which room Trace entered, a few paces away from mine.
Idris instructed us to unpack later and continued his tour into another room that was deemed to be a classroom. Unlike most classrooms where all the seats faced forward toward a teacher presumably standing at the front of a room, this one had a very large round table at its center. Surrounding the table were large high-backed wooden chairs. This meant that for the first time since arriving, we’d all be forced to face one another and get a real good look.
My eyes scanned from left to right. First was Gia, followed by an extremely petite female with short, choppy, bright-red hair. Her tiny nose was upturned and her slim lips made her appear extremely youthful. Her eyes, almost black, were her most intense feature. If it weren’t for those dark eyes, she’d seem entirely harmless, but there was something about those eyes that scared me.
One empty seat down from her was Trace, who continued to do everything in his power to avoid making eye contact with me. The two chairs to his left were also vacant, and the third was taken by another male. Were the ladies the only ones brave enough to sit next to one another? I continued to assess the next person at the table.
Even seated, he was slightly taller than Trace. His hair was pure white and messy curls sat like laurels in a crown around his head. His skin was somehow golden, like the sun was always shining on it even though this place possessed none.
Suddenly, he turned and stared directly at me, his gaze unmoving and fixated on mine. His eyes were the iciest color blue I’d ever seen. When I finally blinked, his sharp jaw flexed and two prominent dimples appeared alongside his cheeks as he tried to conceal the minutest of smiles.
We continued to stare at each other, unsure which of us would turn away first. Before I showed signs of blushing from the intensity of this game he was playing with me, I shifted my gaze to the seat next to him. He turned his head ever so slightly, revealing his profile.
That’s when I saw it. I inhaled sharply at the sight of them. Three tiny lines behind his ear—gills! This male had gills behind his pointed ears. My thoughts grappled to catch up with what my eyes were seeing.
He was a Sea Fae!
But wait, if he was here, that meant he was a member of the High Court. And that meant… He was related to that heathen that had led the rebellion at Erisas Bay!
My momentary infatuation with his looks quickly turned to fury. I wanted to lunge across that table and cause him serious harm for what his line had put my family through, and for all the senseless loss and bloodshed they’d caused. I was seething. He did not turn his attention back to me.
There was only one person left at the table; his hulking frame dwarfed the chair he sat upon. Muscular didn’t even begin to describe his rock-solid body. His tan face and dark eyes were accentuated by his long brown hair, a portion of which was tied back. The rest hung in unkept strands along his cheekbones, barely grazing the top of his shoulders. From what I could tell, his massive hands were bruised and scarred. For all the strength and beauty surrounding this table, he’s the one I would not have messed with.
“Well, I’ll leave you to get acquainted with one another,” Idris said, exiting the room.
We all sat in silence, staring at the walls and avoiding eye contact, when a tall, slender female came strolling through the door. Her long blue dress had a slit running up the side, exposing one leg. The dress was corseted tight, accentuating a thin waist, and her pillowy breasts practically fell out of her top. Her brown hair was tied up ornately in an updo, showing off her beautifully pointed ears and the hollows of her cheekbones.
The males at the table straightened in their seats, especially the hulk at the end, clearly unable to control themselves from gawking. I couldn’t blame them; she was the only one in the room that closely rivaled Gia.
She walked over to the muscular one, swishing and swaying her hips with every step. She leaned into him, angling herself seductively, and grabbed his chin, running her thumb across his lower lip. The sight of their interaction felt inappropriate for us to witness. He angled his head up as if to welcome her in closer. He was powerless to her charms. She released her teasing grip on him and walked away.
Back toward the far side of the round table, she turned her back to us, and when she fully faced us again, what appeared was no longer a seductress. She had transformed into a handsome male with a tightly shaved beard and an eye patch over his left eye. Her once voluptuous figure was now masculine and donning a completely different attire. All black, with a long silver talisman hanging around his neck. It appeared to be the same symbol as our brands. The hulk at the end of the table jerked his chair back in disbelief, seeing the truth of what he had just pined for.
“Your eyes deceive you. All of you. Abandon your misguided senses. Leave such foolishness behind and accept that desire and attraction is a spectrum for which you can learn to control if you’re willing to manipulate it.”
His voice was deep, gravelly, and wise. He leaned inward, resting his body weight against the table, inquiring, “Do any of you know what kind of magic you just bore witness to?”
The little redhead chirped, “You glamoured us, didn’t you!”
The male gave her a disappointed look that broke her confidence.
“You’re a shapeshifter,” Gia stated plainly, and the male snapped his gaze to her and a sly smile crept across his face.
“Yes, exactly! Glamour is easy, boring. A mere shade of what can be accomplished with shapeshifting for those who can master it.”
He eyed all of us slowly.
“Glamour takes creativity and accuracy, but shapeshifting takes all of that plus endurance.”
He sat and folded his hands with a glance toward Gia. “Not all of you will have the talent required for it,” he added nonchalantly.
Suddenly, he clapped his hands together, drawing our attention back to him. “Well let’s get some introductions out of the way. My name is Saryn and I am a member of the Order, of which you all are now inductees, trainees—call yourselves whatever you want, I don’t care. You’re stuck here just like me.” His terse words were far less inspiring than Idris’.
“After years of not having to return to Basdie, I’ve received the fortune of being called back to help reinstate the Order by training you lucky individuals. Congrats, life as you knew it is gone, as is your freedom, and I won’t sit here and romanticize it the way Idris does.”
Maybe I had it wrong and Idris was the warm one after all.
“Idris has spent far too long at the castle, dawdling alongside politicians and sycophants. He’s forgotten what it’s like to be in the trenches. But that’s why I’m here; to make sure you’re prepared for exactly what is ahead of you.”
“Why don’t you just shapeshift or glamour away that patch on your eye?” The audacity of Gia’s interruption had us all gaping.
Saryn smirked back at her. “Because mature ladies find it attractive; it’s not for little girls like you.”
I was nervous that the bitter exchange of words between them would continue. Gia was most certainly not a little girl. She bit her tongue, however, and did not grant him a retort. I didn’t get the feeling she would have won that match anyhow.
“Since you seem keen to speak, why don’t you introduce yourself next?” he prodded her.
“I’m Gianna of House Brynmawr—”
Saryn cut her off, “Tsk, tsk, Gianna, we care not for your House name. Remember, we’re your kin, now.”
Gia gritted her teeth and cocked her head. “I’m Gia, former daughter of High Lord and Lady Brynmawr. I hail from the western territories. Pleased to make your acquaintance.” Each word was sharper than the last.
Saryn eyed me next, implying I was to go. I cleared my throat. “I’m Cressida, but I go by Cress,” I paused, then followed Gia’s lead. “Former daughter of High Lord and Lady Blackthorn, I hail from the southernmost territories.” I eyed Trace while stating my introduction, but he did not look in my direction.
“Nori Evenus,” the small redhead added. Despite her unthreatening size, she was quite brave to state her full name, in spite of Saryn’s harsh warning to Gia. I had to give her credit; it was a bold move. Saryn rolled his eyes at her and turned to Trace. I braced myself to hear his voice for the first time since reuniting under these unexpected circumstances.
His jaw tightened and he finally looked directly at me, hints of apologetic sadness swimming in his eyes. “I’m Trace, and I’m from north of North.” The familiar words taunted me, making my chest stiffen.
The golden figure sitting nearby scoffed in disbelief. “Oh, come on…you’re not going to tell them who you really are? What you really are?”
Trace shot a glare to his left and his features began to roil. I knew Trace well enough to know he was exerting an extreme amount of self-control. I watched as his hands resting on the table before us now curled into tight fists. He remained obstinate and silent.
“Why so shy? Not proud to be Commander Wick’s son?”
Commander… Did that mean his father led Aeon’s military?
Finally, Trace could no longer refrain from engaging. “You really want to get started on the topic of fathers? As if you know anything about me,” he spat back.
Trace had made the same correlation I had.
“I know that for someone who doesn’t want to own up to who they are and what they’ve done, you sure are flaunting those tattoos like a badge of honor, black cloak.”
His words were venomous, and they had hit their intended mark because Trace stood abruptly. His antagonist sat there unmoving and unbothered.
Saryn began to laugh again. “This is fun, truly, watching you all continue to act like anything from your pasts even matters. Perhaps it’s been too long since I was in your shoes. Takes time to adjust to being nobody; each of your histories washed away like silt in a river.”
Trace resolved to take his seat again, unsure of what would result if he acted out against one of us. I made a mental note to find out later what a black cloak was and why it vexed him to be called that. I already knew the meaning of the tattoo, or at least, I thought I did.
“Just when I thought we weren’t going to be graced with anyone mouthier than darling Gia over there, we have you to thank. And who might you be?” he questioned, pointing his finger at the white-haired antagonist.
“Varro.” He paused. “And yes, if it weren’t already obvious, House Corliss. I find the mountain air displeasing, but I suppose I wasn’t asked if seaside accommodations were an option.”
He was about as smug as they came. Exactly what I’d expect from the son of the barbarian who slaughtered an entire bay of innocent people.
Saryn smiled. “I think I’m going to like you. You’ve got humor, and you’re going to need it.” He then turned away from Varro saying, “And last, but certainly not least, who are you?”
“Cairis Tiernan, bastard son of his most ardent Lord Magnus Tiernan and the lucky winner of this ‘lottery of heirs’ we all happen to be a part of.”
Cairis’ words dripped with sarcasm and a hint of an accent I wasn’t familiar with. Who refers to themselves as a bastard when introducing themself? Maybe he just wanted to get it out of the way before anyone else made a point of it, since that was becoming a theme. I guess I could admire the transparency.
“Well, aren’t we just an enthusiastic bunch? I can already tell we’re going to have a lot of fun training together. You all need some time to cool off, let’s call it a day. Tonight, another one of your instructors will arrive at dinner. Until then, explore, relax, and get to know one another. I need to speak with Idris before he departs.”
With that, Saryn made his exit, and we were all left seated and aimless. Never in my life had introductions felt this combative. The air was thick with tension. This wasn’t going to be anything like what I’d experienced at the academy.
We filed out of the room in silence, all of us heading back toward the common area and dormitories. I followed at an inconspicuous distance behind Trace as he made his way back to his room. I wasn’t about to let another minute go by without getting to the bottom of a very long list of questions.