A Spy’s Fateful Bond (The Fae King Duology #1)
1. Emilia
Chapter 1
Emilia
T he wind bites against my cheeks, making them raw with every passing breeze. Tugging my cloak tighter closed, I walk through the village’s quiet streets. The days are getting warmer as spring approaches—a welcome relief from the endless snow of winter. Another gust of cold wind pushes past my gathered cloak and into my face, a harsh reminder that winter will not release its hold willingly. ‘That feels fitting,’ I think to myself, trudging on through the street. Mud sticks to my boots and stains the bottom of my cloak, eliciting a silent groan as I think of the cleaning that will be required to conceal my efforts tonight. My heart beats faster as I near my intended location. I never wanted to be a spy. I never wanted to come back to the Human Kingdom either, but my mission requires a heartless violation of my wishes.
When my mother abandoned me with my adopted father, I was terrified. He was terrifying in stature, and my six-year-old self didn’t know what to do. But my perspective changed over time: he went from terrifying and intimidating to an affectionate protector—a true father. Gratitude fills me as I recall that, if my mother hadn’t abandoned me, I wouldn’t have the loving father and brother I have now. I probably would have lived in poverty with my mother somewhere in the Human Kingdom,so I am grateful for where I ended up.
Lights flicker above my head, barely showing the cobblestone path I’m following. Walking around the village late at night always feels so eerie, but I suppose I shouldn’t expect any less from this spy work. I recognize the alleyway on my left, so I quietly turn in and follow the backside of the shops that line the main street. The alleyways are usually quieter and don’t have as much light as the main streets, perfect for trying to keep out of sight. I’m supposed to meet Garrick in the garden just a block away. All the residents use the space to plant vegetables, while the children use it to play. It also happens to be right behind the blacksmith in town, where Garrick works. I suppose it’s not the worst place to meet for clandestine meetings. One time, we met at a travelling fair— all was going well until someone thought Garrick was the next entertainer in the ‘Strong Man’ performance. He was not happy about that, but at least no one discovered our true intentions.
Most people are either asleep or at the tavern at this time of night, so there shouldn’t be too much foot traffic. Every time I need to meet Garrick, I risk getting caught, and as a result, I’m not sure my heart has beat a normal rhythm in over a year. If the Duke were ever to find out that one of his daughter’s lady’s maid was a spy, I would most certainly be tortured and then killed for it—but what am I supposed to do? It was either this or my father would have been killed. Who knows what they’re doing to him while they hold him captive even now? I think that’s what frightens me the most: not knowing how he is being treated or when I’ll see him again. I get snippets of information from Garrick about him, but nothing about how he is really doing or if he is being treated fairly.
I couldn’t let them kill him. Even though he may not have contributed to my existence, he is every bit my true father. He was the one who held me when my teenage crush rejected me, the one to wipe away the tears after the local girls teased me. Being a father is more than just blood—it’s about being present for your children through every season, good or bad.
But now I recall again the two options they offered before they took him away: become a lady’s maid and report what was happening in the Hemmet house or watch my father die at my refusal. The choice was clear. I packed my bags and, over a year ago, became the intolerable Lady Dahlia’s lady’s maid.
I round the corner, and a small garden comes into view. There is no lamp lighting this area, only the lights from the windows above illuminating the space. There is a tree in the center of the space with a swing attached to it, worn and loved by the children in this section of town. Small plots are barren of life in winter’s hold, but the spring will see them overflow with green leaves and vegetables.
As I approach, I notice a large, imposing figure standing in the shadows. I try to keep my footsteps quiet as I fade into the darkness. As a human, I really shouldn’t have extensive training in this kind of deception, but I didn’t have a very conventional upbringing. My father and brother taught me how to defend myself and disappear in most situations. That was their preferred reaction in a time of conflict, and I could not agree more. I’m not incredibly strong, and though I am above-average height for a human (and a woman, at that), I still don’t stand a chance against someone who knows what they’re doing. Self-defense is a last resort, while sneaking away is always my preferred choice. Father always says, ‘It’s better to keep your head than lose it in a senseless fight.’ Easy for him to say—he used to be a warrior and is known for being both strong and brutal during a fight. Nevertheless, I especially appreciate the lessons now.
Garrick steps out from the shadows as he sees me approach. He is a sturdy man, over a head taller than me, and built like a brick wall. His medium-length dark brown hair is haphazardly tied up, with several strands falling around his face. He’s covered in soot from working in the blacksmith all day, though it doesn’t detract from his strikingly pale blue eyes. People often remark that the only way they can tell we are related is by our pale blue eyes.
“Emilia, are you okay? Why was it so urgent to meet?”
“The Duke is preparing for some guests from the capital. The servants are talking about them arriving shortly after we leave for the Day Court. Apparently, they are coming to discuss the upcoming war—the entire house is on edge.”
“Do you think they are going to discuss betraying Gormash? ”
“I don’t know, but it seems possible. All I could find out was that the men coming are some of the King’s top advisors. One is currently in the Northern Clans and will return from there to give a report.”
“Dak.” He curses. “Did you get any names?”
“No. The attendant to the Duke overheard him talking about how these guests would progress the plans to invade the Southern Clans. He also overheard him saying that the King wants an extra regiment called in to invade the Northern Clans simultaneously. I’m unsure if they really know how fortified the Northern Clan is, and unfortunately, I won’t be around when they visit.”
Garrick takes a deep breath as he digests the information. “Good work, Emilia. I’ll send out a hawk to inform our contact. When do you leave for the Day Court?”
“In two weeks.”
“Alright. I have arranged to arrive at the blacksmith in the lower city of Sonas before you arrive. Come to the blacksmith the day you arrive. We will decide where to meet after that.”
“Of course I will.” My hands fidget, revealing how worried I am, but Garrick grabs my arm to stop me from turning away. I look at my brother, a sense of sadness filling my heart: sad for our situation and sad that our life has ended up like this.
“Be careful, the Day Court has its own issues right now. Apparently, there have been some unexplained murders in Sonas, creating a troublesome situation. We must remember that our responsibility is to collect as much information about what the humans are up to, but that’s it. Hopefully, it will soon be enough and we can go home.”
I squeeze his hand and shut my eyes, taking a shaky breath. Tears spring to my closed lids, and I try desperately to control my emotions. Even my lips threaten to betray me as they wobble with emotion.
“Garrick, I just want to go home. I want to see Father.” He pulls me into a hug, and my head hits the middle of his chest. I wrap my arms around his waist, which is so large that my arms barely reach fully around his back. I hold tight and soak up his comfort. One day, I won’t have to serve the Hemmet house. One day, I can wake up in my little room in our little house on the outskirts of our village, where the mountains sit high in the sky, and the sounds of the river pass by my bedroom window. One day, my father will be safe. I dream of the day I can be wrapped up in his comforting arms, protected from this maddening land. But then I remember that’s exactly what he has already done for me the past nineteen years, and it’s my turn now to try to provide that same security. Just a little bit longer. Father will be safe, Garrick will be safe, and we can be a family again.
“I know, Emmy. We’ll be home soon.” He kisses the top of my head as I step away from him.
“I love you, brother.”
“I love you too, Em.” I will the burning in my eyes to stop as I turn away from Garrick and head back to the estate. A single tear falls from my eye, and I quickly wipe it away. Exhaustion has seeped into my bones, and all I want to do is go home—my true home. But until I know my father is safe, there is nothing else to do but return and play my part.
After leaving the village, the walk along the road back to the estate is peaceful. The worn, muddy roads are just wide enough for a horse and carriage if you are lucky enough to have one. The fields that line the road sit empty in the winter chill but will be filled with the breathtaking sight of golden, swaying stalks at the height of fall.
Lady Dahlia, my mistress, is headed to the Day Court for the five-day spring celebration, scheduled to end with the spring ball. It’s rumoured to be the most beautiful event in all the kingdoms, even better than the High King’s ball—though I suspect he would kill someone for even thinking such a thing. This is the first time in over a hundred years that the Day Court has invited the Human Kingdom to such an event. No one knows what changed, just that the Fae King wants to ‘improve relations’ with the Human King. With all that power at play, many speculate that something bigger is going on.
The Day Court Fae live on the islands off the continent and don’t often mix with those of us who live on the mainland. For as long as anyone can remember, they have always had an elitist mindset. The Orc Clans take up the Eastern lands by the mountains while the humans take up the western lands. The Human Kingdom and the Southern Orc Clan border the waters across from the Day Court, and even though it’s an uneventful four-hour boat ride, the Fae don’t like to mingle with us. Not that I blame them—if my being coerced to be a spy isn’t a perfect example of how awful living on the mainland can be, I don’t know what is.
The Northern and Southern Orc Clans are constantly at odds. They raid each other’s villages, burning fields of food, all in the name of more land and authority. It’s a mess. The Human Kingdom is no better. It’s a cesspit for crime and corruption. The Human King is always looking for more ways to gain power, maintain said power and acquire land. Then there is the Night Court. Since their exile to the Shrouded Forest over five hundred years ago, they keep to themselves more than the Day Court does.
Suffice it to say, meriting an invitation to the Day Court capital is a momentous event. Lady Dahlia is constantly talking about catching the King’s eye. A few noble women hope they can marry the very single Fae King, but I’m not so sure. The Fae have a severe superiority complex—it’s one thing to invite the human nobles to their city for the spring festival, but it’s an entirely different thing to marry one. Besides, there hasn’t been a mixed marriage in centuries. All the gossip doesn’t matter to me, though, because all I want is to return to my quiet village to be with my brother and father. The political matters of this place are not my concern. The safety of my family is all I care about, so if I have to go to the Day Court, so be it. We’re one step closer to getting our lives back.
The half-hour walk from the village to the estate where the Hemmets live is quiet, which I am grateful for. Being alone is the only time I feel some semblance of peace. Over the past year, I have become increasingly anxious, startling easily and checking every corner, paranoid that someone is going to catch on. It’s simply not good for any facet of my health.
The estate comes into view, illuminated by the moon’s cold light and a few scant lanterns lighting the windows. The servant’s entrance is beside the stables, so I make my way over there as quietly as possible. The horses snort and whine as I pass by the stables. The Hemmet House has twenty horses, though most are here for the prestige of having them and not actually to ride. The door to the stables opens suddenly, and my heart pounds out of my chest; Ethan, the coach driver, steps out into the night. He turns and notices me walking up to the castle and I can already guess at the questions now forming on his lips. I hate this part of being a spy: lying to good people. Ethan is a good person. I wasn’t built to deceive and sneak around. For most of my childhood, Garrick teased me about how terrible a liar I was, but that’s all changed now. I pick mindlessly at the loose threads on my cloak, a nervous habit that distracts my mind from the conversation ahead.
“Emilia? What are you doing out so late?”
“Oh! Ethan, you scared me! I was just out for a walk. I couldn’t sleep and thought the fresh air might do me some good.”
He takes in my muddy boots and cloak, assessing whether or not I am telling the truth .
“You shouldn’t walk around by yourself, it’s not safe.” He comes up closer to me and folds his hands in front of himself. I’ve heard through the servant gossip that he is interested in me, but the sentiment isn’t mutual. He is a wonderful man, kind, and an animal lover to boot, but I have more important things to worry about right now. I’m not adding falling in love to the list of things I need to do.
“I know, I’m sorry. I’ll walk the halls next time.”
“If you ever want to go for a walk outside, I don’t mind accompanying you.” His soft hazel eyes look at me, and I get the feeling he is trying to offer more to me than a walking companion. I inwardly grimace, but I smile a little despite myself.
“Thank you, Ethan. I’ll keep that in mind for another time, but I think I’ll return to my room. The fresh air accomplished what I hoped it would.”
“Of course. I’m heading in myself. May I escort you?”
“Thank you, that’s very kind of you.” I don’t want to be rude. Ethan walks me to the lady’s maid quarters, where we awkwardly say goodnight.
Lying in my small bed, I mull over what’s to come. If what I heard was true, then maybe after this war, they will release my father and let me go back to our village. Perhaps that’s just wishful thinking. Sigrid snores away in the bed next to me. The morning will be here soon, and I know I need all the rest I can get before tending to Lady Dahlia’s incessant needs. As I drift off, my mind ponders what the Day Court will look like. I heard Sonas, the capital city, is filled with impressive buildings that shine in the sun. At least there is that to look forward to.