11. Chapter Eleven Rhowyn
Chapter Eleven: Rhowyn
I cut off the connection to Brannoc, my heart breaking as I forced the walls down again. It took everything I had not to start crying. I’d been putting on a brave face, but I ached for my guys. Without them, it felt like a vital piece of me was missing. Like learning to breathe again with only one lung. Sure, you could keep going like that, but why would you want to? Not when it meant you couldn’t do anything you used to love, the things that made life worth living?
A soft knock on the door had me rising from my bed here at the church, or abbey, as I found out it was called. After finding the library and Cyerra earlier today, we spent the day going through the many tomes, looking for anything that could help us or tell us what we were supposed to do here. The head priest had found us then, gently offering us a warm meal with the rest of the abbey residents and villagers who couldn’t afford food for themselves. Despite not having much, everyone seemed content with their surroundings, thankful for the warm food filling their bellies.
After dinner, I excused myself, needing to let the guys know I was okay but dreading the conversation. Somehow, I just knew it would be like torturing myself. Logically, I knew I needed to keep them updated?the only thing I could do to lessen their worry?but I dreaded the emotions that choked me in their intensity each time I reached out to them.
I couldn’t communicate with the others, and I found myself missing their voices. That didn’t mean I couldn’t feel their emotions through our bond, calling out to me desperately. Anger, despair, frustration, and loss threatened to have me abandon the mission that Avalonia had sent me on before I could even find out what I was supposed to do.
Before opening the door, I tilted my head toward the ceiling. “What do you want from me? Why am I here?” I asked Avalonia in a whisper, even though I knew she couldn’t answer me. The ascension had taken a lot out of her, and I could feel how weak she was. Every extra bit of magic she’d held had been fed to me, healing me slower than either of us would have liked.
I tamped down my doubts and fears, putting my mask back in place, as I swung the door open to find Cyerra on the other side, with a broad grin on her face as she leaned against the opposite wall, waiting for me. “About time, slow poke.”
She pushed past me and into my room. “What’s up?” I asked her, curious as to what was on her mind this late. The darkness had taken over a while ago.
“Well, I figured you were in here, probably moping…” she started, smiling again at my arched brow. “So, I thought we could head into the village tonight and meet your subjects, take your mind off the fact that your guys aren’t here with you. Who knows, we may even find out the real reason why Avalonia sent us here.”
“Why do I get the feeling that you’re just trying to get me drunk?” I asked her. I was tired, but her idea held merit.
“Who says I’m not?” She retorted. “So, what do ya say?” She held out a hand. “Stay in here and cry over the fact that you miss your guys, or…” She held the palm of her other hand out as if weighing my options, “Go out with me and have a good time, doing research while keeping your mind off those hunks?”
“Gee, when you put it that way.” I smiled at her antics, unable to resist her good mood. Sighing, I gave in, “Fine. Just let me grab my weapons,” I told her, moving over to the bedside table to do just that, throwing on my boots, too. “Ready when you are.”
“Whoop!” she called out, her enthusiasm contagious as I found myself looking forward to getting to know the other fae. Since coming to Avalon, I’d had very little exposure to what it was truly like. All I’d really seen was the dangerous side, the politics, and the ass-kissing. Now, maybe I would finally get the chance to see exactly what I was fighting for.
We exited the abbey, Cyerra’s arm looped through mine as we strolled toward the small pub. We passed by several closed shops, barely more than shacks in the small village. I couldn’t help but notice the disparity between the extravagance of the capital and this tiny village. It seemed that no matter what world you lived in, there would always be the haves and have nots. Something that had always burned my biscuits, even while living on Earth.
How could the High Fae live the way they did without sharing their excess with those who needed it? Sure, I was a big believer in working hard to earn your reward, but so many people worked hard every single day of their lives and still went without. While others were born into the lap of luxury through no effort of their own. Those people simply made demands, entitled brats who loved throwing their weight around.
As we closed in on the entrance to the pub, Cyerra pulled away, throwing the door open wide and letting it thunk loudly against the wall, drawing everyone’s attention. The music halted as everyone turned to see what the commotion was about. Smiling at me mischievously, Cyerra yelled out, “Hear ye, Hear ye! I present your Queen Heir, Rhowyn Hunt!”
Immediately, my face turned bright red, hating the pronouncement of my arrival. I braced myself as Cyerra had a good laugh at my expense, thoroughly pleased with herself. I narrowed my eyes at her. “I will get you back for this,” I hissed as I pushed forward into the pub, knowing there was nothing to be done at this point.
My eyes scanned the crowd, and I approached the barkeep confidently. I spoke to the pudgy man in a stained apron, making sure my voice was loud enough for everyone to hear, “A round for everyone!” Cheers rose at that, the thirty or forty fae clearly happy with my announcement. The barkeep smiled approvingly, pouring a glass for me as everyone swarmed the bar for their free drink. I placed several gold coins on the counter, not even making a dent in the money I had brought with me.
It was the least I could do, knowing that tonight would ease their burdens for a little while. Cyerra grinned as she was handed her own mug, turning to shout, “Let’s hear some music!” The crowd laughed at her gaiety, settling down and returning to their previous activities as we found an open table near the performers. A couple of male fae played instruments similar to guitars, the music reminding me of the old shanties that sailors used to sing on Earth. One of the men started singing, and I found myself enjoying the raunchy song, sipping from my mug.
A female fae, her skin green with a bark-like texture, approached me as my glass emptied. “Another round?” I nodded at her, relaxing for the first time since having left the guys, my eyes roving over all the different types of fae who were gathered here. Laughter sounded out from several of the other tables, clearly enjoying themselves after a long day of toiling in the fields, but underneath, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of desperation and fear in their actions. Their clothes were all well-worn, patched in several places and dirty from a day’s work. Clearly, everyone in the village made very little, yet they seemed so much happier than those who resided in the capital, who had everything they could ever dream of.
The server returned, dropping off a fresh mug of the ale. I thanked her, putting a gold coin in her hand. She blushed but took the coin gratefully. Cyerra smiled at me. “Granted, it’s not honey wine, but it still gets the job done. What do you think?”
“I think I’m glad you dragged me out here. I needed this,” I admitted.
“Figured as much. Besides, there’s no one I’d rather share my first pub experience with, so I’m glad you came along,” she admitted without batting an eye.
“What?” I sputtered, choking slightly on the drink I had just taken.
“Well, we don’t have a pub at the Enclave, but I’d always heard stories about places like this.” She looked around at the small crowd, smiling.
“Is it everything you hoped for?” I asked her.
“Not yet, but I think I know how I can rectify that.” She winked at me and jumped up from her chair. She made a beeline toward a young male fae, who was quite the hunk, even if I didn’t think he measured up to my men. I watched as she spoke to the man, holding out her hand.
He smiled up at her as if awestruck, letting her drag him to the open space in front of the musicians. She started dancing with him, laughing at something he said. Smiling, I couldn’t help but be happy for her. She knew how to grab life by the balls, something I could definitely learn from her.
A middle-aged fae approached me. He bowed his head in deference, and I blushed at the acknowledgment, feeling awkward. “Your Highness, may I have this seat?”
“Sure,” I told him, holding out a hand to indicate Cyerra’s vacated chair. I had a feeling she wouldn’t be needing it for a while, clearly entranced by the young male. “Would you like another drink?”
“Thank you, Your Highness,” he said, ducking his head.
“Please, call me Rhowyn. I’m just a regular girl out for a drink with a good friend. Not too different from you, I’d suspect,” I told him, searching for the server and indicating we could use more drinks.
“I wouldn’t say that Your…Rhowyn.” He corrected himself when I arched a brow, smiling.
“And why’s that?”
“Well, you’re blessed by Avalonia herself, and I’m just a humble farmer who barely makes ends meet,” he admitted, his face reddening at his words.
I laughed. “Not too long ago, I barely had two pennies to rub together. Besides, as I’ve been told, we’re all Avalonia’s children. This disparity is nothing more than societal standards placed by mortals,” I told him gently.
“I guess you’re right,” he said, sitting up straighter, pride returning to his face.
“We all watched you in the trials,” he said, tilting his head to indicate the table close by that held his friends. “We all would come in here and watch on Jemmye’s crystal. For many of us, it was our first time to ever see a trial, and it was the highlight of our days.”
“Oh, and what did you think of it?” I asked, genuinely curious to hear his thoughts.
“We all rooted for you. Especially after you stood up for that servant. Well, all of us ‘cept Rudy. He’s always been a supporter of the Queen, but he’s gotten rich off her, so I can’t blame him.”
“How so?”
“He’s responsible for transporting our goods to the capital. He says he doesn’t get much for the grains, but we all know better. He lives much better than us, but it’s not like we can do much about it. Especially now, what with the crops dying on us,” he told me, his demeanor having shifted at that last statement.
“They’re dying?” I pried, needing to know their hardships, and vowing that once this was all over, I’d make sure they all prospered.
“Have been for quite some time, but those of us left have been able to scrape enough together to survive. I reckon it has something to do with the Queen. Course, this year, I didn’t produce much more than I needed to feed my family. I just can’t seem to leave though. The land has been in my family for generations. It’s all I have.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” I told him, my hand finding his across the table in an attempt to commiserate with him.
“It’s the same with the rest of us. Everyone who could have has already left for greener pastures.”
“Is there anything I can do to help?” I asked, hoping I could assist them somehow until this whole war was over.
He smiled broadly at me, looking over at the crowd. I followed his gaze and watched as everyone laughed and smiled, clearly enjoying themselves despite their hardships. “I figure we got everything we need right here.”
I smiled at him, touched by the sentiment and his honesty. Another man walked up and slapped my companion on the shoulders. “What’s Jeremiah over saying now? Whatever it is, it’s not true!”
We all laughed. The newcomer bowed, and as he was about to address me, I held up a hand to stop him. “Rhowyn, please.”
He smiled broadly, approving of my informality. “Rhowyn, would you like to dance?”
I smiled at him, touched by their hospitality. Placing my hand in his, I allowed him to lead me out onto the dance floor. “You’ll have to forgive me, I’m not a very good dancer,” I told him.
“That’s okay. Neither am I, but I figure we’re all here to have a good time.” I let him lead me around the floor for several songs before I begged off, short of breath and laughing. Heading back to the table, I took another drink of the ale, finishing off the glass. I turned to find the server to request another when a scream broke through the merriment, the music ceased as we all searched for the source.
I turned to the window that took up most of the front wall to find flames flickering in the distance, dirt rising up as guards galloped in on horseback chasing after a couple of fae women, their screams of terror now the only sound in the silence.
Watching in horror, I witnessed one of the women stumble as the leader of the guards slowed to approach her. Dismounting, he grabbed her by the hair and shouted out into the night. “Rhowyn Hunt, turn yourself over now, or we’ll be forced to burn this village to the ground and execute everyone for harboring a fugitive and traitor!”
Oh, hell no! This asshole thinks he can come in here and take what little these people have left? Apparently, he doesn’t know who he’s messing with. I cracked my knuckles as Cyerra ran up to me. She grabbed my arm, trying to drag me out the back. “Come on, let’s go!”
I jerked out of her grip, the same sense that had taken over me after my ascension took over again, and I strode toward the door to rain down Avalonia’s wrath on this bastard.