Chapter 11
JESSAMINE
Hellamir was not far from Vanglosa. It was the only light fae town on this side of the Bluevale River, the main divide between Northgall and Lumeria. The Borderlands divided the light and dark fae territories, even though both kingdoms were now ruled as one by King Gollaya and his new queen.
Though we had a light fae queen and a dark fae king, that did not unite faekind. Hellamir might have some open-minded merchants willing to trade and do business with the beast clan, but the giant, horned fae would not be welcome in the town.
That, along with the fact that I actually did feel safer with Redvyr, was a big reason I’d wanted to go with them.
Tessa would also be safer if I was with her.
But now, having traveled half a day on the back of Wolf with Redvyr’s broad chest and thick thighs pressing against me, I was rethinking my choices.
Before we’d left the rest of the clan who set out in the opposite direction, Sorka came to me with new boots.
I hadn’t understood why the leather was so long at first. The top of the boots reached my lower thighs.
Then Sorka pointed out that I would need to loosen the side-slit laces of my dress to ride Wolf.
The boots covered my skin for warmth when the slits were open, riding high for comfort.
I’d been uncharacteristically silent on this journey to Hellamir, my gaze dropping to Redvyr’s leather-clad thighs pressed against mine. The temperatures had plummeted, snow dusting the trees and the trail, and yet I was sweating.
Redvyr and I had ridden mostly in silence, while our companions spoke easily in hushed tones to one another.
Bezaliel and Tessa rode behind us, their daughter cradled between them.
The sprite Hallizel who seemed enraptured by Saralyn, never too far from her, was buzzing through the branches over our heads.
Occasionally, she would zip down and ride upon their wolf Mishka’s head. The wolf didn’t seem to mind.
The other two warriors—Dayn and Leifkyn—took up the rear.
They were both tall and lean but well-muscled with the same feline-shaped orange eyes.
Leifkyn wore his long hair in a braided tail, while Dayn let his hang loosely which reached well past his shoulders.
From what I could tell, they seemed to be close friends, whispering and laughing to one another almost the entire time.
Every once in a while, I’d hear the two warriors or Tessa and Bezaliel behind us laugh about something. But Redvyr and I hadn’t spoken much at all.
I jumped when he finally did speak, asking me, “Why didn’t you use your magick against the man who attacked you?”
Back to the conversation of the day before. And that was an excellent question.
“I don’t know. I panicked and was terrified and just reacted, using what self-defense my brother had taught me.”
I didn’t think of it until later, that I must prepare myself to be ready to use my magick at a moment’s notice, to summon the syrenskyn whenever I needed it.
“If your brother is so protective of you, why did he not convince your father not to marry you off to the Mevian lord?” He said the last word with utter disdain.
“He couldn’t.”
“Why? He is afraid of your father?”
“No. He always stood up to him when he was alive. But my brother is dead.”
His fingers at my waist tensed. “When?”
“Last year. Though my father tried to prevent it, Draydyn set out with a small army to fight in the Northgall wars against King Xakiel’s men.”
King Xakiel had been King Gollaya’s father before him. Xakiel was brutal in his attacks on innocent towns and villages.
“Draydyn had heard of the things Xakiel’s army was doing to the wood fae of Myrkovir Forest. He could not stand by and do nothing. And he died for his efforts.”
We wound our way out of the woods, and the sun setting over the rooftops of Hellamir came into view in the distance. Redvyr remained quiet for a while before commenting again.
“Death is part of life. Though it is difficult when it visits us, it is best to grieve then accept it. The gods know best.”
I smiled. Most people tell me they are sorry for my loss, that my brother died too young, and it should never have happened. But not this beast fae. He gave me the harder words I needed to hear. That he was taken from me for a divine purpose I couldn’t understand.
“You believe in the gods?” I asked with some surprise.
“Aye. I do.”
“Which ones?”
“Vix, of course,” he answered with assurance. “He is the mighty one, the forefather of all dark fae.”
“Who else?” I asked.
“Solzkin, the sun god, for he helps with our crops in summer. Gozriel, Vix’s watcher. An omen from Gozriel can warn us of danger. Then there’s Ivenzel, the goddess of the hearth.”
“Sorka mentioned her.”
“Yes. She keeps the home and children safe. We also revere Elska.”
“The Goddess of the Wood? But she’s a light fae goddess.”
“You do not own the gods,” he chastised.
I looked over my shoulder to find a mocking expression on his face.
“No. But I am surprised that you would worship her all the same.”
“We live off the land and the woods and the food it provides. Elska provides all of this for us.”
“Hmm.” I faced forward again, noting that Redvyr steered Wolf toward a copse of trees between us and Hellamir.
“Quiet now,” he rumbled, his hands at my waist tightening. “There could be wood fae from Hellamir up ahead.”
Our entire party was silent as we slipped through the evening shadows and entered the small woodland outside of Hellamir. We had rested along the way more than I thought necessary, but now I realized it was so that we might arrive when the shadows were heavy and we could move covertly.
There was no sound but the wind gusting through the bare trees, their limbs rattling together above us.
Wolf seemed to move with purpose now, trotting through the trees, going deeper into the woods until a small cabin appeared ahead.
It seemed well-made but abandoned, sticks and tree limbs piled across the thatched roof.
Wolf stopped outside and Redvyr dismounted. Without warning, he reached up and gripped me by the waist, hauling me down in front of him. I wobbled, having been on the hound’s back for hours, grabbing hold of Redvyr’s forearms for balance.
“You got your feet now?” Redvyr asked in a low voice, a teasing smile at the corner of his mouth.
“I’m fine.” I pushed out of his arms and turned to cinch the laces of my boots and close the slits of my skirt that had given me the freedom to ride Wolf.
The others had dismounted as well, and Leifkyn, the one who wore his hair in a long tail down his back, entered the cabin with his blade drawn. Bezaliel now cradled his daughter to his chest while Tessa tightened the lacings of her cloak at her throat, lifting the hood to cover her head.
“All clear,” said Leifkyn, exiting the cabin.
“Maybe I should go with them,” said Bezaliel, staring at his wife.
Redvyr grunted in that disagreeing way of his. “Unless you plan to cut off your horns and your tail, then that won’t be happening.”
Bezaliel looked at me. “What Jessamine said has me worried. Perhaps it isn’t safe.”
Tessa put a hand on his shoulder. “I’ll be fine. Plus, I have Jessamine with me this time. She has magick we can use if we need to.”
My stomach rolled over. I had never actually used my magick to defend myself. Not successfully, anyway. The dryad stag was the first time I’d actually tried.
That first time I’d shocked Redvyr had happened subconsciously. I didn’t remember doing it on purpose. Those instances aside, my magick was strong, and I was more confident now than when I’d left Morodon.
Redvyr stared at me, his golden eyes glittering brighter now that night was settling in, like a predator’s does in the darkness when watching its prey.
“Yes,” he said evenly. “She will use her magick to protect the both of them if she must. Won’t you, witch?”
“Of course, I will,” I assured them.
He gave a satisfied nod. “Wolf will follow you through the woods, which opens up on the east side of the town. Tessa knows the way to our trader.”
I glanced back at Dayn who was unloading the many furs packed on his wolf for trading, hauling them into the cabin. Leifkyn was carrying the finely crafted short swords and blades made of black steel that would also be used for the trade.
“We’ll be fine,” said Tessa in a jovial voice, placing a kiss on her babe’s head then pecking the lips of Bezaliel.
Hallizel flew from out of the darkness above us and landed on Bezaliel’s shoulder.
Tessa smiled and turned to offer her arm to me. “It’s good to have a partner this time. The sooner we fetch Flaxon, the sooner we can return.”
I took her arm, and we headed back the way we’d come. I’d only taken a few steps when Redvyr called, “Wait.”
We stopped and turned as he ate up the space between us in a few long strides, holding something in his hand. When he held out both of his hands, he pulled a wicked-looking curved dagger from its sheath before sliding it back home.
“Take this, Jessamine. I know that Tessa has a blade, but it’s better that you both are armed.”
I took the dagger, the blade having some weight as I tucked it into my belt beneath my cloak.
“You don’t trust my magick, Lord Redvyr?”
“It’s always better to be over-prepared rather than not prepared enough.”
I nodded. “Thank you.”
Then Tessa and I continued on together. I glanced over my shoulder to find Redvyr still watching me with his predatory gaze. He didn’t say a word as we hurried back to the main path of the woods, Wolf shadowing our steps.
Once we were nearly out of the treeline, Tessa whispered, “I really am glad to have you with me. I didn’t tell Bezaliel, but the last time we came, on the summer solstice, I could tell there was unrest in the town. Lots of strangers, too.”
“How do you know they were strangers?” I asked.