Chapter 4 Audryn
AUDRYN
Iquickly changed into a simple linen dress and tied my hair back into a braid.
I preferred pants while working in the garden, but the male patrons at the tavern tipped better when I wore a dress.
Running a damp rag over my face, I cleared the dirt flecks from my skin.
They could’ve easily passed for freckles from working in the sun.
"So," my father asked behind the closed door of my room, "will you be going? It might be an interesting opportunity.”
I pulled the door open and returned to the small mirror. “No, the entire idea is preposterous.” I picked up my mother’s necklace from the small cedar table and clasped it around my neck, just as I had done daily for the last six months.
I’d made the dangling glass pendant while working under Torin; it was the first piece I’d been proud enough of to send home.
Creating it proved that I’d chosen the right path—a different one than the family business.
While growing and selling produce wasn’t a dishonorable job, creating jewelry was something that ignited my soul.
The small, bright blue forget-me-not flowers were perfect for the design.
I worked for months, perfecting the drying and pressing process, before I placed them between the two pieces of glass and soldered the pendant closed.
Nearly five years had passed since I’d sent it home, and the petals had kept their vivid color.
With my mother’s care, it was still in brilliant condition, despite that she’d worn it daily since the moment it arrived.
“Maybe you should consider it,” my father said as he stepped back from the doorway. “You really shouldn’t pass it up.”
I shot him a look like he’d gone mad and made my way to the kitchen. “Really? You’d want me in that castle? With that king?”
I grabbed a small drinking glass from the cabinet, the base dragging over the decorative paper lining the shelf.
Water sputtered from the faucet—I’d need to get the pipe repaired, but I had not yet saved enough money.
I moved to pour water into the flower box sitting on the kitchen windowsill, but hesitated.
A plump bee moved over the salmon-colored petals of a blooming peony.
“Hey, Kamden,” I whispered to the furry little creature. My finger ghosted through the air above its transparent wings, yearning to touch the bumbling critter.
“I’m not saying you need to go, but—” My father ran a hand through his hair. “I wish your mother were here to tell you what you should do, I’m not good at this.”
“Yeah, well, she’s not. She left.” I swallowed hard. “She left both of us.” I gulped down the remaining water from the cup, letting the liquid line my scratchy throat.
My father limped to the sofa, his cane pressing into the creaking wood floor.
His condition hadn’t gotten worse, but it hadn’t improved either.
Even if I’d found a healer, which was rare in our area, we’d be punished if magic was used to right him.
They inflicted the injury publicly, and we couldn’t risk making things worse for ourselves if others noticed his injury improving.
“I need to get to the tavern.” I watched as he settled in with a book. “Do you want me to bring some food home for you tonight?”
He shook his head, not looking up. Maybe I’d gone too far, my words striking an innocent bystander of my mother’s decision. But just because he forgave her, didn’t mean I needed to.
I leaned over the sofa and placed a gentle kiss on his head of thick, silver locks. “Don’t stay up too late. I love you.”
He grumbled under his breath, clearly immersed in whatever sea adventure he was reading. I’d need to visit the community library and gather some new books to keep him occupied.
It didn’t take long to get to the Hidden Tavern, an old rundown structure that stuck out like a sore thumb on the corner.
Since returning home, I knew I'd be the only source of income, and we would need more money than produce sales could offer.
I worked hard to stash away extra coins, but our savings took a hit every time it began to grow.
Repairs and other necessities depleted the stash.
The bell chimed overhead as I walked through the door. The area was bustling with fae as the day drew to a close. Of the few options in our neighborhood, our tavern was the busiest.
I walked around the bar and tucked my bag away, smiling at the familiar male on the stool. Most of our patrons were locals, everyone tended to stay; my leaving was an exception to the rule.
“What are you drinking?” I asked Bran.
He smiled and let his eyes roam over me. “Just here to drink you in tonight, Honey.”
“Lies don’t flatter me.” I rolled my eyes and bent down to hide the blush making its way across my face. “Whiskey?”
I pulled a bottle from below the counter and poured a small amount into two glasses. Zander, the owner, didn’t care if I drank a bit while working. Alcohol helped me deal with the variety of customers, especially the unruly ones.
Bran tilted his head. “What’re you doing later?”
More men and women flooded into the large dining room. Several walked past the bar and through a small, discreet door behind the end of the counter. To outsiders, it was access to a storage closet, but most knew better.
“Hopefully, you.” I pushed the glass to him and raised my own to clink his before taking a sip. The amber liquid rolled over my tongue and heated my mouth in the most glorious way.
“I’d like that.” He took a sip from his glass. “I’ll just need to run home and grab a change of clothes.”
My nose scrunched at his words.
“Gotta be up early for work, I can leave from your place in the morning.” He took another sip, no doubt keeping his mouth distracted from the garbage he spewed.
“I don’t recall asking you to stay the night.” I paused. “You’ve never stayed before, what made you assume tonight would be any different?”
“Don’t you think it’s time? We've been doing this for a month,” he scoffed.
I waved a dismissive hand. “Forget it—don’t come over. It’s nothing I can’t take care of myself anyhow. Better even.” I poured myself another—there was no amount of alcohol that would help with his whining, but it was worth a try.
The bell chimed again, and my attention caught on the red-haired male strutting in with several people in tow.
Jaspar wasn’t my type, though he wasn’t necessarily not my type either.
I wasn’t sure I’d ever met someone who couldn’t sway me with a good personality, regardless of their looks.
An occasional female even made her way into my bed from time to time.
Everyone watched as he made his way across the room to the small door that led to the back room. Customers turned, distracted by either his rugged exterior or high status. I chuckled to myself at the crowd lusting after him.
“All because I wanted to stay the night?” Bran protested, still hoping to turn the night around. “Most women wish for that, yet you turn me down because of it!”
I turned to lecture him about the boundaries I’d set since we started spending time together, but was interrupted.
“Still turning me down, Audryn?” Jaspar smirked as he approached the bar. He ran a hand through his hair, the ruby jewel on the cuff of his shirt glistening against the light.
I whirled and shot back, “Still don’t have a name for me, Jas?”
His jovial expression dropped, and he hesitated for only a moment before moving nearer. The closeness made me uncomfortable. Though Jaspar was like a brother to Kamden, I could never quite untangle my own feelings about him.
“We’ve exhausted all our sources." Jaspar lowered his voice. "It's like the man never existed. If I knew who he was, I’d kill him myself.”
“You’ll do no such thing,” I growled. “Kam might’ve been your friend, but he was my brother. The revenge is mine.” I scanned Jaspar’s face, waiting for him to challenge me, but he didn’t push.
“As soon as I know anything, you’ll be the first to know.” He draped a hand over mine. “I promise.”
I yanked my hand out from under his. “It was your cause that got him killed in the first place. Funny that your group has no issue sacrificing members, but gladly falls short when holding their killers responsible.”
He hesitated, but walked away and reached for the small door. “What if I don’t ask to stay afterward? Would it be a no for me, too?”
I moved to his side, placing my hand on the thick stalk of the potted plant nearby. “Get me what I asked for and I’ll let you stay the night, regardless of how disappointing the sex is.”
His eyes flared and locked on mine. Desire flooded from both of us, but our motivations were different.
The bell chimed and I turned. Two Rivale guards strode in, engaged in quiet conversation.
I pushed magic from my hand, sending the potted plant's vines sprawling over the door leading to the back. I forced the leaves to bloom quickly—it wouldn’t cover the entrance entirely, but I hoped it would camouflage it enough.
I worked fast to finish the task before the guards noticed the burst of power. And though I felt my magic buzz through the air, I hoped they were too distracted to recognize it.
I pushed Jaspar against the vine-covered door, and pressed my body into his, disguising my work with a passionate kiss.
I pulled away, leaving his back covering the small gap between the door and the wall.
He inhaled deep and looked down at me, enjoying the small moment he’d been requesting for so long.
His eyes fluttered over my face just before he looked over my shoulder at the approaching guards, realization sinking in. “Thank you,” he whispered.
I shook my head and muttered, “That was for Zander, not for your group of degenerates.”
He threw his hands up. “Whatever you need to tell yourself.” His eyes flared, and he grabbed my shoulders, whipping me around so he could stand between me and the approaching guards.
I took a moment to close my eyes and attempted to slow my breathing. Otherwise, they would sense my nervousness and see that I was hiding something.
“You!” a guard shouted. “Come with us.”
They motioned at the green-eyed woman who’d come with Jaspar. She straightened her back and lifted her chin, hands balling into fists and preparing for a fight. Most in the capital hated the Guard, but only the richest fae had the privilege of ignoring the uniformed tyrants.
“What’s this about?” Jaspar asked. “What business do you have with her? And what do you claim she’s done?”
“We don’t answer to you, boy.” The guard grabbed the woman and, in one swift motion, had her hands hobbled with a coarse rope. A few patrons gasped before quickly covering their mouths to avoid drawing attention. Nobody dared to make any move out of fear that they too might be hauled away.
“You’re required to announce the accusation prior to detainment,” Jaspar protested, but didn’t leave his position in front of me.
The foul-smelling guard chimed in, “She was seen using Divine magic earlier, in violation of King Sutton’s ban.”
Nearly all from Rivale were given Divine magic—a birthright bestowed upon us by the land.
The magic was elemental: wind, water, fire, or land.
Depending on one's strength, some could wield freely while others needed a source to draw from.
However, some were found to be so unworthy they inherited no magic at all.
Not only had the king banned us from using our magic, but prohibited us from leaving Rivale altogether.
Jaspar’s eyes shot to the woman, but she didn't look back. There was validity in her charge. How could she have been so careless to use magic where someone could witness?
“How much did the accusers receive for their report?” My words shot out before I could stop myself. I stepped to Jaspar’s side. “How much did you pay them for their treachery?”
Jaspar put a hand out, quietly urging me to back down. There was nothing any of us could do. Another person would be imprisoned and eventually killed, especially once the stay on executions was lifted.
The shorter guard threw a large gust of wind my way, knocking me against the door. The vines swayed and I wished I'd had more time to thicken the foliage. Behind me, the door shuddered, and thank the land it didn’t cave in.
The guards left with the female as quickly as they’d arrived, leaving the room stunned in the aftermath.
It wasn’t unusual for the Rivale Guard to conduct periodic sweeps, but they rarely amounted to much.
We were lucky they hadn't discovered the resistance meetings held in the back nearly every night.
Hours later, I left work disheartened. I replayed the scenario through my mind dozens of times, trying to think of the ways I could’ve—should’ve stepped in to help. But each time any of us used our magic, we risked imprisonment.
Our kingdom declared long ago that Divine Magic was the purest in existence, all other magic paling in comparison.
Yet, King Sutton criminalized the act of using our gifts.
Over the last twenty years, we accepted the hypocrisy.
Some never learned how to use their magic well or even at all; the consequences of being caught rarely outweighed the benefit of wielding it.
“Let me help tonight,” Benton grumbled, standing at the end of the street where our paths parted.
He and Orion lived directly behind me, where the borders of our fields met. Every night, he visited me at work and walked me home at the end of my shift. While his husband preferred to stay home, Benton was social—they complemented each other perfectly.
“I don’t need help, I've got it. I’ll work on your wheat first and then move to my yard.” I gave him a sly smile. “That way, you two don’t have to worry about me being within earshot.”
He rolled his eyes.
Each night I’d spend about an hour on my friend’s crop and then on my own.
Under the night sky was the only time I could pour my magic into the land and inconspicuously replenish the fruit and vegetables I’d sold earlier.
It was a balance not to overproduce and draw suspicion on the continued regrowth, but I’d gotten the hang of it over the last few months.
My mother previously took care of most of the farming, though Kamden and my father assisted too.
Throughout my childhood, she’d let me help her in the evenings, carefully teaching me to use my magic when all others were fast asleep.
I frequently found myself aching for another moment to work next to her.
“I know you don’t need help, but maybe it’d be nice to get some?” He raised an eyebrow.
“Tell Orion I said hi. Go enjoy that beautiful man of yours.”
Benton eyed me. “And you? Are you going to the ball Friday? Maybe you’d find your own person if you did. Perhaps one that looks great in aquamarine and wears a crown on his head?”
I rolled my eyes once more before pushing him toward his home.