Chapter 11
CHAPTER ELEVEN
T he Fae approach to food was unlike anything I had ever seen.
They seemed to think of food as if it were art, and the skill and decadence they exhibited enthralled me. The women bustled about as if they were in a dance, and everyone knew their steps and never got in each other's way or lost the rhythm. I couldn’t get enough of it as I watched from the sidelines munching a delicious pastry that seemed to melt in my mouth.
My rumbling stomach had brought the council meeting to a close until after lunch, much to my embarrassment and the Fae’s amusement, and I was deposited on a bench nearby with strict orders not to get up until I had finished my snack.
So, naturally, I ate it as slowly as possible so I could satisfy my curiosity and watch the Fae villagers.
I was fascinated at the differences between the humans I was used to and the Fae. In Bur?l, food was a necessary routine. We cooked and ate individually, but no one took pride in creating delicious and beautiful dishes. It was just another chore that had to be done. In the castle I had occasionally helped my Mutti as she prepared extravagant dishes for the king and his guests, but even those dishes didn’t compare to the artistry of the dishes before me now.
And yet, though there were differences aplenty, there were many similarities, too. I smiled as I listened to the stream of gossip that swirled around me. Women, no matter their race, were brought together by both food and gossip.
My eyes found the men, some huddled around the fire, some chopping wood, some doing the odd chore here and there as they waited nearby for the food to be done. I let the warmth of their laughter and teasing sink in, feeling more at home here in the forest with the Fae than I had ever felt - save with my Mutti.
A pang of homesickness washed over me, and I hunched slightly at the suddenness of it. Something about the peacefulness here made me miss my Mutti like I hadn’t since I was first banished from her side. I sent a quick prayer to Domovik for her safety, and wondered what she was doing at this moment. Maybe she too was making food, preparing to eat. I could only hope.
“Come, Katharina! You’ve been nursing that pastry long enough, and I could use an extra hand!” Guiltily I stuffed the last bite into my mouth as I stood up to help the Fae woman, who I think was called Helmine.
“Here, you stir this. Don’t let the bottom burn! We’re just about ready to eat.” The maternal woman handed me a long handled spoon as it stuck out of a large pot over the fire. Having a job, even one as menial as making sure the food doesn't burn, gave me a purpose I didn’t realize I’d missed.
As I dutifully stirred, a timid young woman leaned towards me. “I heard that you used to live in the King’s castle - is that true?”
I started, surprised that someone would ask about my time in the castle when I had just been thinking of it, too. “Yes, it’s true. My Mutti was a cook in the kitchens, and I used to get underfoot there, too.” I chuckled lightly.
A smattering of chuckles from the ladies surrounded me, and I noticed most of the women looking towards me, intrigued.
I continued, “I remember one time I was pestering my Mutti so bad that the head cook kicked both my Mutti and me out of the kitchen and asked us to get some ingredients from the marketplace. Anything, really, just so that they could get some peace from me.”
The chuckles grew louder, and one woman piped up from the left, “I bet she was thankful for the escape, too. Standing around the fire can be hot work!”
“She probably was,” I smiled, warming to the memory.
“What was the market like?”
“Well,” I thought back to when life was simpler. “I remember the market was filled with all these exotic smells - kinda like here with all the magic in the air, but different. There were the market hawkers shouting about their wares, trying to convince you to buy all these unique items, and the soldiers with their shiney suits along the edges. I always loved the market, because it was exciting and I didn’t have to be as quiet or careful there as I did at the castle.”
“Why would you have to be careful at the castle?” A young girl asked.
“Because magic is forbidden, and my Mutti was afraid for me.”
The rumbling noise was far less upbeat this time. I hesitated, wondering if I’d said too much.
“How was it growing up and not being able to use your magic?”
I shrugged. How could I explain this in a way they would understand and not be offended? “It was difficult, but I was safe and loved, and honestly it was all I knew.”
The silence that followed felt oppressive, and I cast about my mind to find something to cheer the mood back up.
Oh, verdak ! The soup! I spun back towards the pot, to find that one of the ladies had taken over the stirring duties.
“Don’t worry about it.” She laughed, “We’ve all got caught up telling a story and forgotten the food. I made sure it didn’t burn for you.” With a wink, she handed the spoon back to me. I wasn’t sure when I stopped stirring.
As everyone began serving themselves the midday meal, my back stiffened and my scalp prickled as the scent of ozone crossed my nose. Glancing over I saw the Dark Fae casually walk up and begin serving himself. My body filled with rage at the sight of him, my anger seducing my magic to join in as together they danced to the tune of revenge.
Fiach flew down from a nearby tree and landed on my shoulder, but I barely noticed. My sole focus - and my magic - was tuned into the Dark Fae, and I couldn’t see past my fury. This Fae, this beast had caused countless murders and injustices, yet he was allowed to casually eat among us - and was revered!
A small part of me was aware that most of the Fae in the area were now looking at me, but I didn’t care. I had to do something - anything! How dare he be allowed to live with all that blood on his hands? How dare he walk around with that beautiful, deceitful face and not pay for his crimes?
I gave in to my magic.
Like a dam suddenly opened, my magic burst out of me. I let it, relishing in the power that was flooding my veins, flowing out of me in an endless torrent. I would crush the Dark Fae. I would give him what he deserved. What his victims deserved.
I would be his vengeance.
No! I screamed my frustration as he blocked my strike. I struck out again, determined to see this through.
This time my strike drew closer before he managed to intercept it, and I gritted my teeth. He threw his magic back at me, and I ducked, hearing a faint crackle as it barely missed my head.
We traded blows, neither of us giving any quarter. His magic grazed me, and I hissed in pain, but pushed the sensation away. If I focused on my pain, that would be it.
He wasn't going to get the satisfaction.
Planting my feet, I dug deep into my magic and pulled. I pulled until it felt like I had reached down into my soul, and then I pulled some more. My body grew warm, so warm - even my eyes seemed to heat up, but still I pulled. I was making my stand. There was no backing down from here on out.
Just before I felt like I would explode, I let go.
The release was almost euphoric, and I sagged at the loss of so much power at once. My knees shook, and it was an effort to stay upright. My body was struggling to adjust to the amount of power I was wielding. Squinting through the fatigue, I observed the Dark Fae laboring under the weight of my magic, and I smiled.
I followed up with two quick but small strikes, satisfaction filling me as they made their target, the Dark Fae falling under the onslaught. Finally, I would see him get what he deserved.
He would realize that I was his ending. The need to see the understanding as it crossed his face was undeniable. I walked closer, and my magic crackled at my fingertips, the sound as angry as I felt. I knelt down and rested my hand on his chest, his life force beating beneath my fingertips. I gave my magic free reign, let it again take over as my emotions soared.
Dark eyes met mine, and they flashed. Danger! My mind screamed at me, but it was too late. Before I could pull away, steel bands wrapped around my wrist and the ground fell from beneath my feet.
There was a split second where I saw the bright sky above me before pain exploded in my entire body.
The Dark Fae knelt over me, pressing my body into the ground, his magic holding me still.
I couldn’t move.
A scream built in my chest, and I let it loose, aiming it at him. I tried to reach for my magic, but there was an emptiness where I normally felt it. Panic clawed at my ribcage, and my impotence filled me with fear.
So this is how it would end.
I met his eyes in defiance, refusing to give him any satisfaction. If this was how I would die, then I would do so on my terms. Not his.
His eyes widened a fraction as he read my face, and his hands grabbed my face.
His lips moved, but no sound could reach my ears. There was just the sound of rushing water, the sound I associated with my magic. He began shaking me, but I barely felt it.
He might have blocked me from wielding my magic, but it was still a part of me. Still in me.
I still controlled it.
Something black flashed behind his head, and I looked over his shoulder. Fiach, eyes larger than I had ever seen them, landed on the Dark Fae’s shoulder, and the wave of jealousy surprised me.
It was wrong.
Fiach belonged with me , not with him.
I opened my mouth to say just that, when the scent of something - something indescribable filled my nose. It was sweet, overwhelmingly sweet, and I gagged.
It was like a bubble popped.
The sounds of screaming filled my ears as sound came rushing back into them.
“Fight it, Katharina!” Fiach’s voice was deafening as he screamed at me, the Dark Fae’s smooth voice yelled for me to “snap out of it!”
My eyes flicked around me, cataloging the sounds that were smarting in my ears.
No longer was the Fae village peaceful. People were screaming, running away from the Dark Fae now.
No - no, they were running from me .
Chagrined, I watched as the few young children there were grabbed in frantic arms. Being carried away from me and my turbulent magic. Magic that no longer felt powerful, but sharp and angry. Hungry for pain.
“You have to control it!” the Dark Fae seethed. My eyes turned to him, burning with unshed tears. “You have to be its master, make it bend to you. Bind it to your will.”
I turned to my magic. It roiled and bristled within me, malcontent. Hungry for more devastation, uncaring who it hurt. Scalding tears slipped down my face as I focused on it, pushing it to obey, to yield.
The face of a sobbing Fae child filled my gaze as she was rushed away from me, taken to safety, her tears making tracks through the blood that was splattered across her face.
I had done that.
I redoubled my effort, putting all my strength behind controlling my magic. Lightning gently licked up my arms, lending me its strength. Slowly, my magic began to settle, soothed by the flickering sensation. It continued to tease, and I could feel myself become more centered, more in control.
Panting, I refused to let up until I was sure that my magic was no longer a danger - to me or to anyone else.
With a wary glance at me, the Dark Fae eased off of me, his calculating eyes never leaving my face.
Shame filled me, and I refused to meet his eyes, instead looking over at the damage I had caused.
There were scorch marks everywhere. Deep gashes scored the ground and nearby trees, and the destruction that I saw cut me to the quick. A distressed sound escaped my lips, and silently, Fiach nestled under my chin, the motion soothing to my raw nerves.
“I couldn’t reach you,” Fiach said, his voice somber.
“I - I’m sorry. I don’t - I don’t know what happened. My magic felt like it came out of nowhere…” I started, scrambling to make sense of the past little while.
“You allowed your emotions to take over,” the Dark Fae explained, a distinctive edge to his words. I felt the incrimination in them, and I accepted it.
After what I had just done, had just tried to do, I deserved it.