Chapter 7 #2
Everyone remained silent while a ripple of magick hummed in the air, radiating from Lorelyn.
She was the only one in our clan who held gods-given magick.
And that was assuredly because she wasn’t pure beast fae.
Her grandmother had been a wraith fae. Though she showed no outward ancestry other than her four smooth, elegant horns—not patterned with the thick ridged spirals like ours—she appeared only as a beast fae female.
“Hmm,” said Lorelyn, her eyes closed and her head bent over their hands, “the winter holds danger.” Her voice echoed with the vibration of magick. “But not because of the light fae female. On the contrary, her presence will bring about…a salvation.”
Lorelyn opened her eyes, glowing bright with the ethereal energy flowing through her. She curled Jessamine’s fingers into her own palm and looked up at the council. At Wyzel.
“I do not simply recommend that we offer Jessamine protection for her own sake. But for ours as well.”
“Can you see any more?” asked Bowden. “Any details?”
“Is it from these Mevian guards that she saves us?” interjected Wyzel.
“No.” Lorelyn shook her head. “She is not the cause of the trouble I foresee. Her blood will not show me more. Only that we need her as much as she needs us. Perhaps more so.”
I frowned at this premonition. Lorelyn was never wrong, but how could this light fae save us from an unseen danger? Me and my warriors could outfight any monsters, feral or otherwise, in the foothills of the Solgavia Mountains.
Wyzel turned her gaze to me. “Then it is decided, in my opinion. But the council always casts a vote. Heeding Lorelyn’s vision, Jessamine will come with us to our winter camp.
When we return to Vanglosa after the winter, surely the threat of these Mevians will be gone from our lands.
She can journey and seek shelter with some of her own kind then. ”
My tail twitched, my body restless, agitated.
“Does the council concur with my decree?” asked Wyzel.
“Aye,” said Bowden.
“Aye,” added Lorelyn.
The others followed suit then I added, “Aye” last, since the lord of the clan must also agree with the council on any decisions.
“Then this kella’mir has concluded,” declared Wyzel, standing from her stool with her walking stick in one hand, the beads of glass and silver in her braids clacking together as she moved.
“I suggest you assist her with some warmer clothing, Lord Redvyr. That won’t be satisfactory for our journey to Ghasta Vale. ”
I merely nodded as the council stood and ambled toward the steps, each taking a moment to shake Jessamine’s hand. Even the older and more distrustful of those outside our clan took a moment to greet her properly. The clan dispersed, slowly meandering away to their work for the day.
I stood and met her at the center of the dais where she had remained, wide-eyed but seemingly relieved.
“Thank you,” she said. “For helping me in the woods. Even if it was only to fulfill your clan’s oath.”
“I always honor my oaths.”
“And I owe you more thanks for supporting me here. For voting to shelter me a bit longer.”
She seemed suddenly shy, her voice brittle in a way I didn’t like. She didn’t sound like the willful woman I’d met in the woods and had traveled with these past two days.
“Why do you sound like that?” I demanded.
“Like what?”
“Defeated. Weak.”
She scoffed. “Perhaps because I had to admit a shameful secret to your entire clan.”
“Well, I don’t like it. Get that sound out of your voice.”
“You can’t tell me what to feel and how to sound, whether you’re the king of this clan or not, Lord Redvyr,” she snapped.
“That’s better.”
She rolled her eyes, muttering, “Insufferable, idiotic male.”
I smiled.
“Will you just bring me to someone who will help me with the clothing I need?”
“Right this way.”
I led her down the steps and through the village toward Sorka’s work tent. Everyone stared as we passed, but Jessamine kept her gaze forward, seemingly undisturbed. I liked that. She may be a light fae but there was obvious strength in her.
“Why didn’t you tell me about the Mevian guards?” I asked as we rounded a corner toward where Sorka worked.
“I didn’t want to.”
“You just told the council. The entire village.”
“Because I had no choice. If I didn’t tell the truth, they wouldn’t agree to help me.”
“I helped you.”
“Because of your oath or whatever.” She exhaled a heavy sigh. “Don’t worry. After winter, they will certainly be gone from these parts. Then I can find another place. Somewhere.”
I grunted, not liking that same sadness leaking back into her voice.
Sorka’s workers were scraping the hides clean of flesh that were stretched taut on wooden frames next to her work tent. The females glanced toward Jessamine curiously but kept scraping their combs over the hide.
Leading her through the open flap of Sorka’s tent, I saw her in the back assisting her young daughter who stitched the lining of a skirt with the wool fabric we’d gotten in Hellamir on our last trade visit.
“Sorka,” I called to the tall female who led the tailoring guild for our clan.
She looked up, her hair plaited neatly around her dainty horns and down her back. She smiled, at both me and Jessamine.
“I heard you’d be coming to me with our new guest.”
“You did not attend the kella’mir?” I asked.
The clan wasn’t required to attend and witness council meetings, but I assumed every beast fae in camp would be there today. It was rare to have strangers in the village, especially light fae.
“There is too much work to be done before we leave for Ghasta Vale. Besides,” she smiled, nodding to other females pretending to be working on their tailoring while obviously staring at us, “my gossipmongers keep me informed.”
One of them hissed in protest. Velga, I believe, in the corner.
Sorka’s young daughter, only thirteen if I recalled correctly, was at her side tugging on her mother’s white-hide skirt. There were no animals with white hides, but Sorka was a talented tailor. She’d devised ways to dye the hides without compromising the strength of the material.
“Introduce me,” young Beska whispered loudly.
“I haven’t been introduced myself, Bes.”
“I apologize,” I added. “Jessamine, this is Sorka. She is the guildmaster of tailoring for all of the clan. And this is her daughter, Beska.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” said Jessamine.
“For us as well,” said Sorka sincerely, examining her dress. “Your clothing is made well, though it isn’t sufficient for winter here in Northgall.”
“That’s what I’ve been told.” Jessamine pulled out a white pelt from a pocket in her apron tied at her waist. “Would you be able to help me create gloves from this?”
“Oh, my.” Sorka took it and ran her long fingers over the silky pelt. “This is very fine indeed. An elkmine otter pelt. Those are rare.”
“Where did you get it?” I asked.
“An old wraith fae trapper gave it to me, right before I left the Borderlands.”
“You mean ran away, don’t you?” Velga insinuated, barely glancing up from her embroidery work.
“Yes,” agreed Jessamine. “The trapper actually tripped one of the guards for me.” She smiled, and it made me proud that she seemed stronger in spirit since the kella’mir, despite her circumstances.
“I can make the gloves, Mama,” said Bes. “If you would allow me to.”
Sorka smiled at her daughter. “Bes is very skillful. She can do the work for you.”
“I don’t know how to repay you,” said Jessamine.
Sorka frowned. “We do not pay each other for work in the clan. We all work and give in some way to keep the clan fed and sheltered.”
“I suppose I must find a way to do my part as well.”
The females in the corner whispered and giggled together, but I gave them a sharp look that silenced them quickly enough.
“Please supply her with what she needs,” I said, changing the subject, my gut sour from the tension in the room.
Jessamine wasn’t a member of our clan and she wouldn’t be staying beyond winter, so she wouldn’t be expected to take on a role here.
If she did, that would give her permanence among the clan.
That was why the females laughed, mocking Jessamine for thinking she had a place here.
And though she was merely a guest, I wouldn’t have her be ridiculed for wanting to help.
“Yes, Lord Redvyr. You may go.”
I frowned, wondering why I was being dismissed. Then Sorka clarified. “I will need to get her measurements, then she will try on some dresses to see which one fits.”
Heat crawled up my chest and neck as I imagined Jessamine disrobing. I turned and called over my shoulder. “Bes, bring her to my tent when you are done.”
“Yes, my lord.”
Then I was gone, needing some fresh air and to see Bezaliel. We needed to plan to move the camp.