57. Chapter Fifty-Seven
Chapter Fifty-Seven
Embla
Afternoon sunlight shines through the open window, and the sound of fae milling about on the street below is a dull chatter as I come to. Spending all night in the faerie library is not the best way to spend it. My head pounds from the lack of sleep, but I sit up and dig through what I can remember of my reading. Everything is sluggish, and I decide coffee might be a better first step. Before I can move, Aine climbs up onto my chest. She kneads the plush comforter as she starts to purr.
“Aine, I need coffee,” I say, unable to resist reaching out my hand and petting her.
Shhh, Aine head butts my mouth before rubbing her cheeks on my face, her eyes closed as she enjoys the moment. I pet her for a few minutes, and she settles down before I try again.
“I need coffee still.” With a very harumph-like chirp she gets up, and I stretch before trying to figure out what the heck I’m going to wear today. If I’m going to try to find information about the faeries, I’m going to need pants. As much as I freaking hate them. I seethe slightly at the inevitability of it as I pull on a tight pair of black leggings, and a black sports bra. The leggings are more comfortable than I thought they would be.
I trudge down to the kitchen to find Alhena barking orders at the staff, and I make my way to the coffee machine and stare. Why does everything have to be so complicated? My head pounds as I try to remember how to work the damn thing.
“Good morning, Embla,” Alhena says, stepping up to the coffee maker and starting a cup for me. “I know you said you want to start training yesterday, but when do you want to do that?” she asks handing me the coffee once enough has brewed.
“Do you have time in the evenings? I was never given the opportunity to stay up late and I’ve found I much prefer it."
“That’s fine, we can meet at the training grounds, say at sunset?” she asks and I nod my agreement.
“Do you know anything about the faeries and what they might want with a human?” I ask, my mind turning to the night before, I didn’t read nearly enough.
“Faeries keep their secrets very closely guarded. They don’t even keep any texts in Myrr’s library. They’ve been even more elusive since the gilded faerie disappeared. No one knows where she went, but her loss has left the entire Bjartr Forest in a sort of limbo.” I need more information on the faeries and the beginning of, well I guess it was the beginning of everything. If the faeries in the Bjartr Forest are so limited they can’t have a guard during the night, I bet they don’t have one in the daytime either. If I can avoid the faerie queens and meet Alhena at sunset, I’ll be fine. I leave the tavern while Alhena is still in the kitchen, the streets are a little empty. Aine winds through my legs as we walk down the street, her soft vibrating presence granting me some comfort.
Fear takes over when I reach the bridge and I pause. I stare down the lions before stepping a foot on the bridge. I don't release my breath until I step onto the grass on the other side, glancing around to make sure the coast is clear before darting straight to the castle, Aine on my heels as we stay off the main road. Flowers bloom in the meadow outside of the palace, and I stop behind a tree to watch. No one comes or goes for a few minutes.
Should we just go in? I ask Aine who perches next to me scanning the street around us.
I don’t see why not, there isn’t a single soul out here, Aine meows between licking her paws and cleaning her face. Her wings flutter behind her. I take one more assessing look before darting across the street and into the large doors of the palace. I press my back to the door as I pause, listening for any sign of life. The sound of quiet music comes from the throne room, and I make a bee line to the abandoned library, hoping the pile of books I left behind made it through the last couple of days untouched.
The library is just as empty as the rest of the forest, and I can’t help wonder where everyone went. I make my way to the table I used during my last visit, and I’m elated to find my pile of books right where I left it. A thin sheen of dust already takes up residence on them. I flip through the pages picking up where I left off:
While the fae have monarchies to lead them, the faerie queens rule together, each leading a different sect of faerie with the golden faerie being the one who leads them all. Every century, the golden faerie hibernates, and the forest goes into a sort of sleep with her. Until the golden faerie reawakens, the Bjartr forest will be lost to an eternal rest. For faeries lose their humanity with each year that passes, and for the balance a small kernel of humanity must remain in their hearts. Or risk the world giving in to Hel.
“Okay, well that makes sense,” I say, sitting back and thinking about it. I wouldn’t know what to do with a hundred years. Magicals and their near immortality is daunting with how short the life of a human is. So, the Bjartr Forest is sleeping, that’s why it seems so empty. I glance out the window and notice how the sun has started to dip back towards the earth. Crap, I have to meet with Alhena. I leave the pile of books as I snatch up Aine and sprint out of the Faerie territory.