14. Chapter 14
CHAPTER 14
Dynalya
“ A re you sure it is around here, Lord Norrlen?” Dyna asked. She drew out the rolled-up page from her cloak and opened it, revealing the blank page, and quietly murmured, “ Tellūs, lūnam, sōlis.”
A spark of purple and green light rippled across the page. Black ink swirled on the surface next as the enchanted map took form. It glowed faint purple, outlining the entire country of Urn. She tapped on the crop of trees outside of Troll Bride and the enchanted ink spiraled until a forest called the Wyspwood filled the page. But it did not reveal the location of the Morphos court.
“My only knowledge is that they reside in these woods,” Rawn said beside her. He frowned thoughtfully, studying Azeran’s enchanted map. I’m afraid I have not had the pleasure of visiting it yet.”
“Nor did Azeran by the looks of it.” Otherwise, it would have been marked. Dyna sighed and rolled up the map.
“We have been searching for Morphos in these woods for the past two days.” She observed their surroundings and the mystical forest. There wasn’t a sense of danger, but she did sense magic here. “Why do I get the feeling we are going in circles?”
“Why are you searching for the Morphos Court?” Klyde asked suddenly behind them.
Dyna jumped and discreetly hid the map behind her back as they turned, passing it to Rawn.
Klyde held on to Onyx’s and Fair’s reins. They had asked him to take the horses to a nearby creek to drink with Lucenna and Zev while they filled their waterskins.
The captain’s brow pinched. “Are we not headed to Dwarf Shoe?”
“We are, of course,” Rawn replied. “There is someone we must see first.”
“And I imagine you can’t find it on your map,” Klyde guessed, and she stiffened. “Nor would it be on any other. Most fae courts keep their territories hidden, as they prefer it that way, the Morphos Court most of all.”
She discreetly released her held breath, and the others eased.
Klyde continued. “These the Wyspwoods are enchanted to keep uninvited guests out of their territory.”
“Then we have been walking in circles.” Dyna groaned, pressing on her left side, just beneath her chest. She always felt sore there now.
“Makes sense. I have not been able to pick up their scent,” Zev added. “I thought it was due to the rain.”
“They keep their court hidden because of their wealth?” Dyna asked the captain.
“Because of their flowers.”
“Flowers?” Lucenna’s brow furrowed. Zev shrugged when she glanced at him questioningly.
“That is the source of their wealth,” Klyde said. “And much more.”
“How do we find them?” Dyna asked.
“They find you.” Klyde handed Fair’s reins back to Rawn. “There are several ways to draw out the fae. Filling your pockets with posies, rolling in a patch of four-leaf clovers, stepping into a ring of toadstools, drinking fresh rainwater from a tree hollow. Even requesting to make a deal with them, which I do not recommend, or…”
“Or?” Dyna pressed, all of them keenly listening.
“Or I can simply take you there.”
She gaped. “You know where the Morphos Court is?”
Klyde grinned. “Aye.”
Why didn’t you say so before?” Zev growled.
“You didn’t ask.”
Lucenna reached out as if to strangle him and stifled a scream of frustration. She spun away and started jamming her belongings into her satchel. “He has a death wish, this man. One of these days, I will grant it. Mark my words.”
“I look forward to it, lass.” She gave him a foul gesture with her hand, making Klyde laugh. He turned to Dyna. “I didn’t offer my assistance since it seemed you didn’t want me privy to your plans?” At her wary expression, he shrugged. “Well, it’s no business of mine. I don’t care which path we take as long as it eventually leads to Tarn.” Klyde strode ahead, walking his horse beside him. “I will take you to Morphos but keep close. The deeper we go into their territory, the stronger the magic works to lure you. Once we find the path, do not leave it. For there is no telling where the woods will take you. It’s called the Wyspwood for a reason.”
A shudder crept down Dyna’s spine and they followed behind the captain quietly. When had he come across the Morphos Court?
Zev murmured under his breath. “He’s human. The least of us likely to resist enchantments. How do we know he won’t get us lost in here?”
“He descends from Skellings,” Dyna reminded them. “He has fae blood in him, albeit distant.”
“And that coat of his reveals spells,” Lucenna added. “He has seen through my glamour before.”
Rawn shook his head as he studied Klyde confidently walk through the woods. “It is not his coat that reveals them, my lady. The captain may have the Sight, and if so, he will know the way.”
“The Sight?” Dyna whispered questioningly.
“He is referring to unveiled eyes.” Lucenna’s own eyes widened with realization. “The ability to see spells. It’s a rare thing to find among the fae, nearly unheard of in humans.”
Well, it seemed the captain wasn’t finished surprising them. Keena had that ability too if Dyna recalled.
Rawn nodded. “Look there.”
They stared at the dirt trail Klyde had been taking that none of them noticed until now. It widened into a path with every step they took.
A faint flutter of wings passed overhead, and the shadow of figure passed through the faint daylight streaming through the branches. Dyna stifled a gasp. Don’t look. She kept going, but then Zev whipped his head to the right, his eyes shining bright yellow.
“Hold onto him,” Rawn told her, and Dyna quickly took his hand.
Lucenna halted, staring into the dark trees in the left.
“Do not look at the trees, my lady,” Rawn warned, taking her arm. “The forest easily deceives.”
Klyde paused on the path, looking over his shoulder. “He’s right. Don’t listen to it, lass.”
Lucenna’s eyes welled. “But that’s my mother.”
“No, it’s not.”
“I hear her …” She tugged out of Rawn’s hold.
“Lady Lucenna, don’t leave the path.” He released Fair’s reins to grab her.
“Let me go! She needs me!”
Klyde swiftly yanked Lucenna backward into his arms before her foot landed outside of the path.
Dyna clung onto Zev’s arm, but he made no move to follow whatever called him. She stared in the direction he did, seeing nothing but still trees. “What do you see?”
His reflective eyes were pained and glassy. “Only dreams of things that once were and never will be again…”
Perhaps he saw his father, or the early part of his life when he had been truly happy. She squeezed his arm tighter.
Shaking himself out of it, Zev patted her hand. “I’m all right.”
Klyde had managed to calm Lucenna down, but she continued staring at the trees, shaking her head. “Oi, look at me.” He cupped her teary face, his bright blue eyes held hers earnestly. “The forest will show you anything to lure you off the path. It’s not real, but I am.” He put her hand on his cheek. “Feel that? Pure pompous mercenary. Come back to us, Lucenna.”
Zev and Rawn gathered on either side of them, making sure she didn’t try to escape again.
In the distance, Dyna heard the soft trilling of a flute. The gentle melody made her breath catch. She knew that song.
This damn forest.
It only played tricks.
But then a laughing young woman with dark hair ran past, holding onto the hem of her gown. A male with white wings chased after her, laughing too. Dyna’s pulse drummed. What was a Celestial doing here? She followed, watching him corner the woman in a gondola made of white stone. She squealed with laughter as he nuzzled her neck.
But then the young woman noticed her there and her green eyes met Dyna’s. They stared at one another, both too frozen to move or say anything because she was looking at a woman with her face.
A perfect mirror reflection.
Then the male turned around. Dyna stumbled backward with a sharp gasp. No, no, no. She ran away only to find herself alone in the forest. The path had disappeared. When had she left it?
“Dyna, where are you!” Zev’s faint call echoed in the far distance.
“Zev, I’m here!”
“Lady Dyna!” Rawn called out in the opposite direction. The others called for her, and their voices came from everywhere all at once.
Dyna’s breath was loud in her ears as she ran towards the closest voice, but the trees seemed to stretch beyond her. Everything looked the same. She whimpered at the sharp pain stabbing her side and she continued to run into the fog. Lost before she ever knew what was happening.
No.
Dyna refused to let the forest take her. She stopped and stilled her heart, listening to the voices.
Find me. Find me. Cassiel…
The world snapped into focus and a strong hand clamped around her arm. It hauled her out of the spell, and she collapsed on ground, heaving for air wildly.
“Thank you,” she said breathlessly.
But the quiet only stirred with a passing breeze. Her murky vision cleared, and she saw no one.
“Hello?” Dyna called.
The bushes rattled loudly as her Guardians burst out, running to her.
“Gods, Dyna.” Zev hauled her up. “Are you all right? One second you were behind me and then you vanished.”
“The forest.” She stared at the trees. The mystical haze that had hovered over it before was gone. “It … tried to take me away.” Dyna then studied them, finding the spell had left their eyes, too. “What happened? How did you manage to leave the path?”
“We had some help.”
“Oh dear,” a voice said with a soft, bell-like laugh. A glowing yellow butterfly fluttered around Rawn’s head. “Thank the Gods, I found you in time.”
With a burst of glittering gold dust, a dark-haired girl in a dress made of pale pink petals appeared before her. Dyna stared at the beautiful pointy-eared girl with dusky skin and a diadem on her brow. Translucent yellow wings fluttered behind her, dispelling golden dust into the air.
“Princess Keenali…”
The fairy gave her a bright smile, her hazel eyes glittering. “I was wondering when I would see you again.”