Chapter 21 #2
At the center of the tiny village, just a short walk from Mei’s house, sits a larger cabin, which turns out to be the common space. I squint to allow my eyes to adjust to the sudden dimness as we step inside. When they do, I’m met with the stares of dozens of solemn faces.
As we stand in silence by the door, Mei quietly slips in before taking a seat at one of the long tables. She keeps her head down, but Arc watches her intently.
Arc steps forward, his face hard. “Villagers, I know it has been some time since I have ventured here. But I came today with special guests.”
“New travelers?” a soft voice asks in the crowd.
A hint of a smile crosses Arc’s lips. “Yes, and no.” He gestures toward Camryn and me. “These women are indeed travelers who crossed through the veil and are currently guests at my palace.”
Camryn scoffs, which renders an audible gasp from the crowd. Arc continues on as if he doesn’t hear it, but I catch the subtle twitch of his lips. “They arrived in Silverveil at the same time, yet in different locations.”
“Two at one time?” another person questions.
“Yes. And even more intriguing is that they know each other. Friends.”
More shocked villagers and curious eyes glance between Camryn and me.
“While Caelum retrieved Camryn, Aurora fell into the arms of a Silverveil sentinel.” I don’t appreciate the mocking glance Arc gives me. “She found herself on quite the adventure as she and the sentinel attempted to flee through an open portal to return her to her world.”
The crowd grows silent, and the weight of their emotions falls upon me. Hope. Envy. Longing.
“As you can see, she is still here, so they were unsuccessful. And in the process, she killed my top commander, Isolde. Most interesting is how she could murder one of the most powerful fae I have ever known.”
All eyes turn to me, and I stare into gaping mouths. My cheeks heat from the unwanted attention.
“It seems Miss Aurora has gained fae powers, allowing her to turn my shadow weaver into ash.” Arc’s icy eyes pierce mine.
“She had it coming,” Camryn whispers under her breath beside me.
Arc’s gaze slides to her. “Perhaps. Even so, Aurora and her keepers in Silverveil have stumbled across a fable of epic proportions. Would you like to tell them what you believe about travelers?” He gestures to the crowd, opening the floor for me to speak.
Anger burns in my chest about how he spoke of Soren and the others. I glare at him as the villagers watch me eagerly. I swallow my anxiety and step forward, giving the crowd a faint smile. “Hello. I’m Aurora.”
I launch into the story of how I came to be in Silverveil and everything that has happened since.
The words spill out of me so fast, I barely take a breath.
The room hangs in silence. After I speak of the prophecy Thorn found buried in his library, I nervously share our thoughts on the travelers and how we believe them to be descendants of the half-blood fae who escaped nearly half a millennium ago.
I eye Mei, unsure of how it all will play out. She keeps her face indifferent, but her eyes lock on me.
“I know it’s unbelievable and scary to think you hold dormant fae powers.
But I have to believe it’s for a greater purpose.
We were called here to end King Caledor once and for all.
We have a choice now to fight for good. To do something remarkable.
To make coming here and never seeing our friends and family again worth it.
We can’t go back.” My voice cracks and I swallow the lump in my throat.
“I am begging you. If you have fae powers, please step forward. We need you. The fate of the realm rests on our shoulders, and we need everyone we can get.”
I scan the crowd, which is so silent I only hear my rapid breathing. Faces, young and old, glance at each other but make no movement or effort to speak.
I stand waiting, wringing my hands. Behind me, Arc’s voice splits the silence. “Is there no one to indulge in Aurora's story? Any hidden fae powers?”
I don’t need to see him to imagine the condescending look on his face. His icy magic traces up my spine as he steps beside me. I fight back the urge to slap him or drop my eyes to the floor in defeat. I keep my gaze soft and pleading on the crowd of villagers.
As people shift on their feet, avoiding Arc’s gaze and the awkwardness of the situation, the crowd parts, and a pair of small feet in brown leather slippers shuffle forward.
My eyes travel up the heavy wool skirt that dances around her ankles to land on a face that can’t be older than ten years. Warm brown eyes are set into her porcelain face, framed by mousy brown hair pulled back in a low bun.
I gasp at the innocence before me. The young traveler who was torn from her world to live in captivity in this one.
She smiles softly at me as she moves closer. No one speaks as the young girl reaches her small hand out to me. I stand captivated. She places her palm on my forearm, and I startle at its coolness. I look into her eyes just in time to see them shift to pitch black.
Audible gasps erupt from the crowd while Arc stiffens beside me. The room buzzes with the threat of his magic, and everyone quiets, anxiously waiting to see what will happen.
My arm tingles, and I am hypnotized by the look of concentration on the young girl’s face, dotted with her demonic eyes. Flashes of light flicker within their darkness and before I can take another breath, her eyes return to their warm brown and rosiness colors her cheeks.
“I’m Maeve.” Her voice is soft and melodic. “I am ready to help you. But right now, your sentinel needs you.”
My heart drops and my vision narrows. My frantic eyes scan her face. “What? Soren? Is he in trouble?”
She nods. “He’s trapped in the mirrored forest, being hunted by the basilisk.”
The air rushes from my lungs.
No. I need to get to him. Now.