Somewhere New #3
“Oh no, we’ll have to travel from Fallorian by horse. But best not to discuss where we’re heading. Elyndor is more peaceful between mortals and fae than Ashenholt, but you best believe there are some that are purge sympathizers and would prefer their wardens to follow in Fellendral’s footsteps.”
I filed that away in my memory. Something about that felt important to know.
“Save your questions about…operations and plans until we get to base. We can talk openly behind the wards.”
I immediately wanted to ask about wards but caught myself and nodded. She was being intentionally cryptic with her words about the rebellion and its base.
Aerie continued telling me all about the turquoise-blue waters of the ports, the sandy beaches, and the funny-looking, spiky trees that differed vastly from our wintry pines in Ashenholt, throwing things out like rapid fire in her excitement.
The market in Fallorian was larger than even the one in Dolvenar, she’d said, and you could purchase a range of things there that were not found anywhere else in the world.
Fallorian was the buying and trading center for all continents and, therefore, the perfect entry point by water.
As many ships that came and went all day, ours would slip in easily since the crew had lifted the glythyr concealing us once we crossed into Elyndor’s waters.
Aerie eventually left me to get some sleep, and I stayed there on the deck and stared out across the water until I could just make out the land mass ahead that was Fallorian. From this distance, I couldn’t tell much, and the light was fading.
But by the first light of the next day, I slipped out of my room and back to the deck, where I saw the port town properly, and I was already in complete awe.
Small white birds were flying all over, cawing loudly.
The waters indeed had changed from deep icy blue to bright clear turquoise.
I couldn’t count the number of ships that were coming and going, much less the ones docked, and they all had different banners and glythyrs and sail colors.
The vibrancy alone seemed overwhelming, and that was before the shouts of traders and captains and fishermen alike drifted over the water as we approached the bay.
And once the smells reached us, my senses were well and truly overloaded—the smell of seafood, not rotting but cooking in decadent spices, and salt water mixed with perfumes, wafted through the bay, creating a scent I wished I could bottle and smell all day.
I was in love, and I hadn’t even set foot on the land yet. And Aerie had been absolutely correct when she said Elyndor just felt different. It already felt like home.
As we approached an empty section of a dock nearly dead center of the bay, I could finally see the people, and if the vibrancy was shocking before, it was nothing compared to the eclectic mix of people hustling and bustling around the open-air market.
Fae of every shape, size, and color were walking around, and there were even mortals walking around without chains or uniforms. And they were talking to both each other and fae alike.
It nearly brought me to tears to see the contrast between here and Dolvenar, with how mortals were living and existing.
If this were possible here, maybe Ashenholt wasn’t too far gone to save.
If we could get Caedryn off the throne and six feet under…
We docked the boat and descended the narrow gangway to the wooden deck, and as we approached town, the smells and sounds intensified. I felt I could sit here all day and watch the comings and goings without ever getting bored. There was just so much to see.
“We keep moving. No supplies today. And keep those bracelets hidden,” Drayce said, gruff and short.
I pulled the sleeves of my tunic down to cover the cuffs. The “keep moving” was disappointing because I wanted to look around so badly. My heart sank at the realization that I had no coin to buy anything, though, the change from the king’s coin long left behind in the laundry ladies’ bedroom.
Our group turned left off the busy market road to take a less crowded side street that seemed more residential than shop-lined.
We walked on, taking occasional turns, until we arrived at a small cottage. Instead of going to the front door, we went around to a small stable at the back. My heart raced—I’d never ridden a horse before, and they were massive. Their dark eyes saw right into my nervousness, I just knew it.
Bramick was the first to speak since we left the main street. “Can you ride?”
“Um, no…” I hated to admit it, but it was better than making a complete fool of myself.
“We don’t have time for you to learn. You ride with me,” Drayce said.
Gods, please, no. “Can’t I ride with Aerie?”
“Sorry, little lady. I don’t ride, I fly.”
I turned to Bramick, hopeful. He just looked at Drayce and then walked away, hands raised in surrender.
Right. What Drayce says goes.
“Don’t get any ideas,” I grumbled at him.
I couldn’t read the smile he gave me.
What the hell was this male thinking?