Chapter 15
Chapter
Fifteen
Senara
The shimmering curtain of light before us looked exactly like the Veil of Death, the marker between the human and fae lands. The faint purples, blues, and greens that swirled over the surface were a haunting reminder of my last encounter with one of the Veils. I stood frozen, my feet refusing to take me any closer.
"I thought it would be different somehow," I murmured, eyeing the Veil of Life warily. "More...lively? Brighter, maybe?"
Thorn's deep chuckle resonated beside me. "They're two sides of the same coin, Senara. The veils are connected, forming a sort of bubble around the fae lands."
I shuddered, remembering the searing pain that had engulfed me when we crossed the Veil of Death. "So it'll feel the same? Like I'm being burned alive?"
"It’s certainly possible," Thorn replied, his voice tinged with sympathy. "I honestly don’t know if this will feel any different since it’s all part of the same bubble. Either way, you've done it before. You're stronger now."
Am I really? I wondered, doubt creeping into my mind. The memory of that excruciating passage made my skin crawl. It didn’t help that it was tied so closely to him pushing me into it and me thinking he was trying to kill me.
"I suppose I'm getting used to the feeling of immolation," I said with a weak laugh. "Though I'm not sure that's a good thing."
Thorn's hand found mine, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "We'll face it together this time."
I met his steady gaze, drawing strength from his unwavering confidence. "You might have to push me again," I joked, though part of me was deadly serious. "Like last time."
"I hope it doesn't come to that," Thorn said softly. "But I'll be right here if you need me."
Taking a deep breath, I steeled myself for what was to come. The Veil of Life pulsed before us, both alluring and terrifying. It was our gateway to the elven lands, to potential allies in our fight against the corruption spreading through our home. We had no choice but to cross.
He gave me another minute to prepare before he asked, "Ready?" Thorn’s voice was gentle but firm, and I knew it wasn’t really a question, more like a reminder that we couldn’t dawdle.
I nodded, my heart racing. "As I'll ever be."
My hand was wrapped tightly around Thorn's as we approached the shimmering barrier. "Don't let go," I insisted, memories of losing Wyn during our last crossing flooding my mind. "We can't get separated."
Thorn's fingers, which were still interlaced with mine, squeezed my own in reassurance. "I won't," he promised.
With one last shared look of determination, we stepped into the Veil of Life together, and I braced for the searing agony I'd experienced before. But this time, the transition was over in the blink of an eye. Instead of pain, I felt a warm, comforting embrace envelop me. The presence of the moon goddess surrounded me, her approval washing over me, the gentle, calming moonlight I’d come to associate with her.
I could almost swear I’d heard her melodic voice in my mind as she intoned, I told you, you’d find your sun.
As we emerged on the other side, I let out the breath I’d taken as we were about to enter the Veil. Honestly, I couldn’t remember what breathing had been like last time, all I’d been aware of for a long time when I crossed the Veil of Death was the pain.
"That was...different," I murmured, still processing the unexpected ease of our passage.
Thorn turned to me, his brow furrowed. "Are you alright?" he asked, studying my face intently.
I nodded, wondering at his concerned expression. "Better than alright, actually. Did you feel...anything unusual?"
Before Thorn could respond, a prickling sensation at the back of my neck made me freeze. We were being watched. By the way Thorn froze at the same time, he felt the same thing.
The only question was whether we were about to have to fight or not.
"Identify yourselves and state your business," a disembodied voice called from the trees, making me jump.
I scanned our surroundings, but saw no one. The voice seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at once. "Where are they?" I whispered to Thorn, unnerved by our invisible observers.
Thorn squeezed my hand reassuringly before addressing the hidden speaker. "We come from the fae lands," he called out, his voice steady and diplomatic as he spread his hands wide in a peaceful gesture while stepping slightly in front of me. "We seek an audience with the High Lord of the Elves on a matter of great urgency."
As we waited for a response, I couldn't shake the feeling that we'd stepped into a world far more alien and dangerous than I'd imagined.
Nothing looked different in terms of the plants and trees, other than the fact it was all alive, but there was something different in the air, a scent I couldn’t place. One that reminded me of something from long ago. The memory of whatever the scent had triggered was just out of reach in my mind.
Silence stretched between us and the unseen elves, the entire forest holding its breath. There weren’t even birds chirping or bugs buzzing. Everything was just silent.
Just as the tension became unbearable, movement caught my eye. Three figures descended from the treetops with impossible grace, landing softly on the forest floor.
My heart raced as one of them approached us, while the other two hung back, arrows nocked and aimed in our direction. I fought the urge to step further behind Thorn, instead forcing myself to step up and stand tall beside him.
"I am Thorn of the Sun Court," my companion said, his voice steady. "And this is Senara of the Moon Court." He gestured to me, and I managed a small nod.
The elf before us tilted his head, studying us intently. His eyes, a startling shade of green, seemed to look right through me. "You speak," he said, surprise evident in his musical voice. "We have learned that the corrupted fae are non-verbal, so that at least is a point in your favor, even if you do reek of blood, death, and...sex." He sneered slightly, his lip curling in disgust.
Suddenly I felt self conscious. We hadn’t exactly had the ability to clean ourselves or change our clothes since we had abandoned our packs at the watchtower.
Thorn stiffened beside me, completely unperturbed by the insult. "The corrupted fae can cross the barrier?" he asked, his tone carefully controlled, but I could hear the undercurrent of alarm.
The elf's expression remained impassive. "I will send word to the High Lord, requesting instructions on how to proceed with you," he said, neatly sidestepping Thorn's question.
As he turned to confer with his companions, I found myself captivated by their appearance. They wore little in the way of clothing or armor, but their bodies were living works of art. Intricate tattoos swirled across their skin, telling stories I longed to decipher.
Their hair was either shaved at the sides or pulled back tightly, proudly displaying long, delicately pointed ears. Some ears bore exquisite piercings that caught the dappled sunlight.
Each of them had varying shades of brown hair, which combined with their tawny skin made them look very earthy.
"Thorn," I whispered, unable to tear my eyes away, "they're beautiful."
He nodded, but his expression remained guarded. "Remember, Senara," he murmured, "beauty can be as dangerous as it is alluring in the realm of the fae...or the elves."
I swallowed hard, trying to heed his warning. But as I watched the elves move with fluid, otherworldly grace, I couldn't help the curiosity that bubbled up inside me. What other wonders–and dangers–awaited us in this strange new land.
The lead elf disappeared into the trees and came back a few minutes later stating simply, “We are to escort you to the High Lord.”
Thorn nodded and said simply, “Thank you.”
Without any warning a portal opened up in front of us. It was like a rip in the fabric of reality, a swirling vortex of glittering colors and otherworldly energy, beckoning us forward with a mysterious and undeniable pull. The three elves that had descended from the trees escorted us toward it, and though I didn’t want to go through it, I knew I had no other choice.
Thorn reached behind him and stretched his hand toward me, I took it, grateful for the reassurance, but just like last time, there was no burning, no being stuck in magic and having my body rebuilt from the bones up. Instead I just found myself following Thorn along a walkway, high in the trees of a forest.
The elvish capital was a marvel of organic architecture, with structures that seemed to grow from the very trees themselves. They were even more entwined with nature than the fae were, which made me wonder what would happen to them if the blight came through the barrier.
As we were led through winding pathways of living wood, I couldn't help but gape at the shimmering, iridescent leaves that formed canopies overhead. They were like nothing I’d ever seen before. The pale glow that seemed to emanate from them helped light up the forest under the heavy canopy of the trees.
The elves moved effortlessly through this living city, their feet barely touching the wood walkways as they glided along. They seemed to be a part of this place, connected to it in a way that I couldn't fully comprehend.
As we passed by bustling market stalls and elegant gardens, I found myself watching them with a mix of awe and envy. Their beauty was incomparable, and their grace was something I could only dream of attaining. But there was also a hint of danger in their perfection, a reminder that these were not beings to be trifled with.
They all looked at us like we were rats though, which irked me. Most of them suddenly changed direction as we approached or even doubled back so they could do so. Did we really stink that badly?
Before I could worry about it any further, our escort brought us to a large rock wall where what looked like a palace had been carved into the stone itself. Grand columns and curved sections made the building look decadent, even though it was all the same gray of the rock wall that surrounded it.
Inside we were led to a grand hall, where the High Lord of the Elves sat upon a throne that appeared to be made of intertwined, silver-barked branches, sprinkled here and there with blood red leaves. His piercing gaze fell upon us, and I felt a chill run down my spine.
There was nothing warm or welcoming in his pale green eyes. They were as cold as the stone that surrounded him. His hair was pale yellow, streaked through with white and gray and pulled back in a series of intricate braids to reveal one mangled ear and one that was longer than any I had seen thus far.
Thorn stepped forward, his voice steady as he began to explain. "My Lord, thank you for meeting with us. We come without permission from our courts, but seeking aid nonetheless. The fae lands are being consumed by a blight, and corrupted fae threaten to overrun--"
"Silence!" the High Lord's voice cracked like thunder. "You dare come here, without permission from your superiors, bringing tales of this corruption to our very doorstep?"
I flinched at his harsh tone, my heart racing. This wasn't going as planned. The scent of a thunderstorm filled the hall and my chest tightened with nerves.
"We didn't create the blight," I blurted out, unable to contain myself. "We're trying to stop it!"
The High Lord's eyes narrowed. "And why should I believe you? For all I know, you could be carriers of this...disease."
Thorn placed a calming hand on my arm. "My Lord, please. We understand your caution, but we speak the truth. Our realm is in grave danger, and we fear that danger may spread if left unchecked."
"You speak of fears," the High Lord scoffed, "yet you bring those very fears to my people. How convenient."
I could feel frustration building within me. Why wouldn't he listen? Didn't he understand the gravity of the situation?
"We're not your enemies," I pleaded, taking a step forward. "We're asking for help to save both our realms."
The High Lord's expression hardened. "Enough! First you ask for help and then you threaten us? I've heard quite enough of your tales and pleas." He waved a hand dismissively. "Guards, take them to the dungeons. I need time to...consider their request."
As the rough hands of the High Lord’s guards gripped my arms, I caught Thorn's eye. His face was a mask of calm, but I could see the worry in his gaze. What had we gotten ourselves into? Why hadn’t the High Lord listened? He hadn’t even tried to understand. Now I was being thrown into yet another dungeon, worse yet, Thorn was going to be in the dungeon with me and no one knew where we were, so there was no hope of being rescued.