10. Chapter Ten Rhowyn
Chapter Ten: Rhowyn
As my eyes opened, I first saw Baer grinning from ear to ear. Lennox stood next to him, glaring at me. Beside them both was a very large man with a barrel chest grinning broadly, his orange hair trimmed short. It was then that I noticed his ears. Instead of rounded lobes, the tips of his were pointed. I drew closer to Arryn at the sight and remembered I was still holding his hand. I dropped it quickly, not wanting to appear weaker than I already had. Glancing at Arryn, then Baer, and Lennox, I searched them for pointed ears. So, I hadn't missed it; theirs were different from the imposing man before me.
“The mission was a success!” He clapped a large hand on Baer's shoulder in congratulations. “I told you he was the man for the job,” he said to Lennox.
“He did a good job.” Lennox's words made the man beam.
He turned to me again. “Welcome to Kharthas, our outpost in Avalon. It is my honor to welcome a Chosen. I wish you every success in the trials.”
“Thank you?” I stated and glanced up at Arryn .
“Thank you, Sir. Commander Ashford, may I introduce Rhowyn Hunt. Rhowyn, this is Commander Ashford.”
“Nice to meet you, Commander Ashford,” I responded politely, unsure if I should offer my hand to shake or not. I did so anyway, but he eyed my hand questioningly like Arryn and Lennox had before. I pulled my hand back and grabbed my bag strap again, my face heating at my awkwardness.
“The pleasure is all mine, I assure you.” He bowed slightly toward me, one hand pressed against his chest. When he’d straightened, he said, “Please, allow me to offer my quarters and some refreshments after your travels.” He gestured a hand behind him, and I realized that this portal had a tall wooden fence around it with a single gate in and out.
“Thank you, Sir. That would be most welcome.” Arryn replied.
“Of course. This way.” He turned and led us out of the gate. Lennox followed first, and Baer fell in behind him. Arryn's hand found my lower back, prompting me to follow as well and sending heat to my belly at the intimate touch.
As we exited the gate, I noticed other people all around us with several buildings inside another larger fence. It reminded me of the crude forts from the early days of the U.S. that I remembered seeing models of as a kid. Noticing pointed ears on everyone else outside of our group, I allowed Arryn to catch up to me and asked him softly, “Why don't you guys have ears like everyone else?”
“Oh, that's because we're wearing glamors. We'd stick out in the human world without them, so they're a must when we travel there.” He laughed softly and then waved a hand down his face. His features changed slightly, his ears now pointed. But what was most shocking was that he had somehow become noticeably more attractive. He had been gorgeous before, but now, my breath caught in my chest, and I stopped in my tracks suddenly .
He laughed at my reaction, grabbing my hand to pull me along. “Now you see why we must wear glamors.” I wasn’t sure how to respond, so I didn't. I just allowed him to pull me along, even if he didn't have to put much effort into it. We caught up to the others soon, but I couldn't help wondering how Baer and Lennox would look without their glamors. I had wanted to jump them before, but without their glamors, it would be a lot more difficult to restrain myself. Surely, all Fae couldn't be this good looking because if they were, I would be at a distinct disadvantage.
That reminded me of another question I had. “Why don't I look like y'all? If I'm fae, shouldn't I have one of these glamors?” I vaguely remembered asking my mother about this, but it wasn’t until now that I realized she’d deftly avoided answering this part. Why wouldn’t she tell me about this? Why withhold this information from me?
“Of course. Being back here, I can sense it on you. We'll get it removed as soon as we can,” he promised.
“Okay.” I wasn’t certain if I was ready for my appearance to change, but I also didn't want to be the only one that was different. Especially now that I was here. Surely, I could learn how to replace this glamor before I went back to Earth.
We walked up the steps to what appeared to be a small home and followed everyone else inside. I heard the Commander yell out, “Jameson! Please fetch some refreshments for our guests.”
Another fae scurried out of the room as Arryn and I entered. Arryn shut the door as I took in the surroundings. I noticed a couple of desks off the entry and caught sight of an open doorway that revealed a room, with a large table and desk inside it. In front of us, where the Commander now guided us, was what looked like a living room with chairs and a fireplace. Other doors also led into the living room, one of which Jameson hurried through, but they were all closed now. The Commander gestured to the chairs. “Please sit. Jameson will be back shortly.”
I took a seat on a small, cushioned bench, with a tiny table in front of it. Baer plopped down next to me on the bench to my left, while Lennox sat in a chair on his left. The Commander reclined opposite me and Baer, the table between us. As Arryn sat down on my right, Baer spoke to him, “You've already removed your glamor. I guess we should as well.”
“Yes, Rhowyn was asking about that,” Arryn responded as Baer and Lennox made their own gestures, allowing the glamors to fall away.
As soon as they did, my eyes were drawn to them, and the air caught in my chest. Heat gathered in my limbs, running from head to toe and then back up to settle in my center. I crossed my legs to relieve the pressure and tried not to shift in my seat. My assumption had been spot on. Both of them had only managed to increase their attractiveness with that single gesture. And of course, it was just my luck that Lennox became almost impossible to look at, his features now so much more striking than before. It definitely wasn’t fair.
Baer turned to face me, my breaths shallow as his attention settled on me. “You can remove yours now.”
Put on the spot, and not sure how to proceed, I spluttered a little. “Oh...uh...About that, I'm not sure how to do that.” I was completely out of my depth. Toto, we weren’t in Kansas anymore.
“It's fairly simple to remove your own glamor. All you need to do is hold your hand in front of you, feel for the magic itself, and then pull it away like you're pulling down a sheet,” Arryn stated simply and patiently, fully aware of how I was feeling, and I was grateful for it.
“Okay...” I replied, finding myself a little hesitant to remove my glamor, not really wanting to appear too different. I maintained eye contact with Arryn while feeling all the others watching me closely. Deciding to just go for it, like ripping off a band-aid in more than one way, I lifted my hand in front of my face, palm facing me. “Like this?” I asked Arryn.
He nodded encouragingly. “Many find it easier to focus when they close their eyes and allow their senses to open to the sensations around them.”
“Alright.” I did as he advised and closed my eyes, focusing on my breathing. As an athlete, I found it easy to shift my attention, and as I extended my senses outwards, I was shocked to feel a tingle in my fingers. I moved my hand up and down and felt something shift under my touch. I could also sense the same force around each person in the room, but it was varied, almost like a signature.
“I think I feel it. Is this magic?” I asked, still dumbfounded by the thought of magic; though after this, I could no longer deny its existence.
“Yes. It is. Now, see if you can find an edge around you. Once you find the edge, you should be able to grab it and pull it down and away,” Arryn instructed further.
I nodded again, keeping my eyes closed and my breathing even. My hand returned in front of my face, and I searched for the edge. As I sorted the sensations, I felt a spot that seemed to be more concentrated than the rest that surrounded me, like a seam in a shirt. Moving my hand, I tried to grab the seam, but it slipped through my fingers, sliding away from my grasp. I chased the spot and tried again, but it continued to flit away from me.
“I feel what you're talking about, but I can't seem to get a hold of it. It keeps slipping away,” I said as I made another attempt. Opening my eyes, I dropped my hand in frustration. “I don't think I can do it.”
“That's okay. It may just be harder because you've never been in touch with your magic. That should change the longer you're here,” Arryn assured me. I took the excuse he offered, but I was still frustrated by my failure.
Baer spoke up, drawing my attention to him. “Do you mind if I try?”
“Umm...I guess that's okay.” I flicked my eyes to Arryn, unsure of how this would work, but quickly turned back toward Baer. I didn't need Arryn's approval. “Sure. Go ahead.”
We both turned toward each other on the bench, the others remaining quiet as they watched us. Baer held a hand up in front of me for a moment, and I could feel him prodding against the magic that surrounded me, even though he wasn’t making contact with my skin. Instead of the magic falling away, it seemed to only sink further into me, fleeing his touch. Baer's brow furrowed in concentration, and he closed his eyes. His second attempt was more forceful, and while my body reacted to the sensation, my glamor continued to evade him.
He dropped his hand. “I can't get it either.” He turned to Arryn and then Lennox as if for answers. “It's as if it's running away from me on purpose.”
“That can't be right,” Lennox grumbled, getting up from his chair and walking over to me. He stood next to me, towering over my seated form, and reached his hand out. This time as his magic touched mine, it withdrew completely and burrowed under my skin, snapping back like a rubber band.
I gasped at the stinging that accompanied the retreat of my magic. Arryn stood at the sound and grabbed Lennox's shoulder. Lennox growled and shrugged him off before turning to go back to his seat. “I've never felt a glamor like hers. It shouldn't have done that.”
I raised my eyes to Arryn questioningly, who shrugged in response to my unspoken question, then retook his seat. Before he could respond, Jameson entered with a cart of finger foods and drinks. He set them all out on the table before us, our silence continuing to thicken along with my questions.
“Will that be all, Sir?” Jameson asked the Commander.
“Yes, that will be all for now. I'll let you know if we need anything else,” he replied before reaching for a jug and pouring us all drinks, not waiting for a response.
I was handed a drink that was colored a translucent pink, and I sniffed it. It smelled fruity, but for the life of me, I couldn’t identify the scent. “What's this?” I asked no one in particular.
“It's my finest honey wine. Nothing less for the Chosen. Please enjoy,” the Commander replied. Hesitantly, I took a small sip and was pleasantly surprised at the fizz that bubbled on my tongue, followed by a burst of fruity flavors I still couldn't identify. I took a larger sip, enjoying the complicated flavors.
I sat my glass down and faced the others. “Why can't my glamor be removed?” Part of me was concerned, but another was relieved that I didn't have to face this hurdle just yet. I could be me for a little while longer.
“I'm not sure. However, I don't think it wise to try again until we know more. I'm sure Master Jude will have the answers on how to remove yours safely. Until then, we proceed like normal,” Arryn replied.
“Speaking of plans,” Lennox chimed in and turned to the Commander. “We'll need to be on our way as soon as possible.” The Commander nodded, but before he could reply, Lennox asked me, “Can you ride?”
“You mean like a horse?”
“Obviously, I mean a horse. Can you ride?”
“I'm from Texas. Of course I can ride a horse,” I snarked back at his impatient tone.
“Whatever that means.” He turned back to the Commander. “We'll need another horse for the Chosen to ride.”
“Of course. I'll get on that right away.” The Commander stood and exited the room, leaving us alone to enjoy his refreshments.
Lennox was quiet in thought before he looked at Arryn. “Let's get our men together. We'll ride out as soon as the horses are ready. I want to be back at the Capital by tomorrow morning.”
“Are you sure?” Arryn questioned, and then his gaze flicked to me.
“She can keep up, can't you, Princess?” Lennox goaded me.
I gritted my teeth. “Don't worry about me, Arryn. I'll be fine,” I said while glaring at Lennox, but then I turned to Arryn and forced a smile on my face.
“If you insist,” he replied, but he still seemed unsure. Instead of questioning further, he stood to go follow his orders. “I'll also make sure the Commander is aware that Baer will be returning with us.” At Lennox's nod, he also left.
If I thought things were awkward before, then I was proven wrong as I sat in silence with Baer and Lennox, who both continued to eat and drink. I was too nervous to eat, so I took another drink instead. Once the wine hit my tongue, I decided I needed all the courage I could get and drained the rest of my glass.
Baer laughed. “Easy, Killer. That drink is a lot more potent than any human beverage. I'd take it easy if I were you.”
“Noted,” I stated, setting my glass on the table. The silence stretched on as we waited, and my hands started to get clammy, so I rubbed them both on my thighs. After what felt like an hour but couldn't have been more than fifteen or twenty minutes of awkward silence, Arryn entered the room. I took a deep breath at his entrance and realized I’d missed his steady presence with me.
“The men and horses are ready, Sir.” Lennox stood, and Baer followed suit. Both looked down on me, and I slowly stood as well.
“Well, Princess, let 's get a move on. After all, the sooner we reach the Capital, the sooner you can return home.”
“Let's hit the road then. I can't wait,” I replied snappily. “After you.” I gestured for him to lead the way. He smirked at me, seeming genuinely amused, and then headed out the door. I followed after Lennox and exited the Commander's home just behind him.
As we entered the bright sunlight, I shielded my eyes, pausing at the top of the steps to take stock of my surroundings. As my eyes adjusted, I discovered about twenty other fae all, on horses waiting and watching nearby. Four horses were standing at the bottom of the stairs, each with their reins held by one of the Commander's men, their uniforms different from those on the horses.
Arryn stood next to his horse, preparing to mount, Lennox strode quickly to take the reins of his own horse, and Baer waited next to me. “Are you ready, Killer?”
“It's not like I really have a choice,” I replied, not debating which one of the last two horses was meant for me, one was a gorgeous red tone with a dark mane and feet, the other white.
Thankfully, Baer didn't respond, just prompted me into motion with a touch to my back. I descended the stairs slowly and allowed him to pass me. He veered toward one, and I headed toward the last one, the large white mare with gray legs, nose, mane, and tail. She was beautiful but much larger than any of the horses I had ever been on. The power in her coiled muscles was evident as she shifted restlessly, held back only by her choice. She could have easily overpowered the fae holding her reins.
As I approached, I held my hand in front of her nose, allowing her to scent me. I turned to the fae holding the reins. “What's her name?”
He startled, unprepared for me to speak to him. “Um...uh...Her name is Meadow?” I nodded, the name suiting her, and took the reins from him, throwing them over her head.
“Any day now, Princess.” I ignored the asshole and prepared to mount, only to realize the stirrups were much too high for me to reach on my own. I'd need help unless I could find some way to get a running start and leap onto her back. I stood there for a moment, trying to find any other way to mount, but came up empty. Successfully thwarted by the lack of useful equipment around, I turned, about to ask the fae who was holding the reins to help me up, only to find Arryn right behind me.
“Let me help,” he said, allowing me to keep some of my pride.
“Thank you.” I made sure to meet his eyes so he knew how much I meant it. The last thing I wanted was to appear helpless, especially in front of Lennox, and I was grateful to Arryn for noticing. He stepped forward and placed his hands on my hips as I turned back to face Meadow. His grip tightened as he drew close behind me, and I fought the urge to lean into him, heat settling in my core at his proximity.
He inhaled sharply, hesitating only a moment before lifting me easily. I threw one foot into the stirrup and swung the other over, but as I settled into the saddle, I noticed my feet didn't reach the stirrups. Short people problems were a real thing.
Arryn, obviously seeing my predicament, adjusted the first stirrup so my foot could rest easily. “How's that?”
“That's perfect. Thanks.” He went to the other side and quickly adjusted that one as well. When he was done, he met my eyes again briefly before swiveling back to mount his own horse.
“Are you finally ready?” Lennox bit out.
“Ready whenever you are.” I smiled sardonically, but it didn't meet my eyes.
Arryn turned his horse first and rode over to one of the soldiers, giving him instructions. Two of them rode ahead, leading us out of the fort, or outpost, or whatever they called it. I shadowed Baer, deciding to keep close to him, squeezing Meadow's sides gently to start her walking.
The other half of the soldiers fell in behind us as we followed those in the lead through the gates and onto a small dirt road. Once we had all exited, the pace picked up, and I squeezed Meadow's sides to increase her speed, settling into an unsteady trot. As I relaxed in the saddle, I couldn't help but wonder what I'd face at the capital. So far, things really hadn't been too different. They might have been a little outdated from humans, with no technology, but most everything had been comparative otherwise. Well, except for that whole magic thing, but I hadn't seen much of that either.
Maybe if I was lucky, things wouldn't be too hard to adjust to. I wouldn't hold my breath though; a gut feeling was telling me that I hadn't really seen anything yet.