A Dark Faerie Tale Series Omnibus Edition (9 page)

This was not the same territory. Shade wondered if this was the start of Teleen territory or maybe even something else.

“Keep together, everyone. We’re near the borders of the Teleen’s property. It’s guarded well by the dead, along with soldiers that were banished fey and ghosts alike. Welcome to the Haunted Forest.” Ewan snickered, obviously thinking that everyone enjoyed his humor. No one was laughing. Shade hurried up to him as the group tightened. She was curious about the place, figuring he would be the one to ask about the name of the place.

“Ewan!” She slowed her breathing as she neared him; he had been a lot farther ahead of the group than she’d thought. She hunched over, holding her knees as her breath returned to her.

Ewan paused and looked at Shade. Even without the sun breaking through the canopy, the irises of his eyes shone like small flashlights glinting back at her.  He was big; he had to be at least six-eleven. He hovered over her like he was one of the trees himself. His broad shoulders were wide, and strong muscular arms followed. He looked like a tall, husky human male with stubble almost long enough for a beard; it was dark and shadowed his jawline. A long, black as night ponytail was tied near the base of his neckline. He had a rounded nose and full pink lips. Although his height and bulk made him scary, he wasn’t that bad looking. Ewan never bothered with any glamour.

“Well, little one, what heeds you?” Smiling brought out deep wrinkles around his eyes and laugh lines that creased at his mouth. This man had a smile that showed he enjoyed living and had experienced many wondrous things. He started walking again when she had caught up, moving together in stride.

“I was just wondering why they call this the Haunted Forest. What do you mean it has ghosts? Will we see any? Will they hurt anyone?” She fired her questions at him all at once.

Ewan’s deep booming laugh echoed around them. The forest made no reply. “Slow down, miss, wouldn’t want to wake the dead, would we? Nothing to fear now. Yes, there are ghosts and spirits aplenty here, hence the name. But since we will leave this forest for the Great Teleen caves before nightfall, we will mostly miss them. They can harm you, but only if you let your fear overwhelm your mind. They’ll sense that and focus on you. So just ignore them; show no fear and stay calm. They will pretty much leave you alone.” He grinned down at her.

Shade liked him instantly. He was like a large teddy bear. At least he was nice; he made her feel warm and safe. “Do we have a long way to go to the caves?”

“I’d say two to three hours’ journey. We will hit the hills first and then the incline to the mountains of the Teleen. They live in massive caves that run for miles underground. You’ll be most impressed.” Ewan’s face stilled. He glanced at her, and his eyes intensified. “Miss Shade, may I ask a question?” He continued the trek forward, glancing frequently to assess each step.

“Yes, of course Ewan, feel free.”

“Are you all right with this, being the chosen one and all? Do you want to turn back yet?”

Shade’s eyes widened as she stared at him. She
was
scared. She didn’t want to go, but how could she say no? Her voice failed to answer.

“I thought so,” Ewan nodded, keeping in step with her, dodging the large tree trunks in their path. It was much easier to walk on the packed earth. It was dark and rich in color and remained smooth over the small hills of the forest floor. The previous shrubs and plants they’d had to cut down had been such a bother. The trees seemed to grow larger here, too, flat out gigantic.

“Ewan, I can’t say no. Something just tells me I should be here. I don’t even know how to explain it. It’s as if I’m being pulled involuntarily along for a ride I didn’t sign up for. I can’t unwrap myself from it. Besides, maybe I might find out who my real father is and more about myself, too. I do want to learn my faery powers, if I have any. That would be pretty cool. I have so many questions about things now and no answers yet, and I’m guessing this is the best way to find out.” She stared at the ground. She felt weary already and they hadn’t even gone very far.

“Understandable.” He winked and continued on.

Shade stopped in her tracks. The hair on her neck stood on end and a sense of being watched crept up her spine. Her eyes widened as they darted, glancing around them.

“What’s wrong, Shade, feel something?” Ewan stopped also, listening hard and signaling a full stop with his hand. Everyone crouched by the trees looked around, studying the woods as they stilled. Not one sound, not even the birds chirping, could be heard; the silence felt deafening, heavy and forlorn.

Shade still felt a twinge of fear. Her head shook, and the sweat began to bead along her forehead.
What’s going on?
It felt as if something hot was being poured over her, sticky as it clung like thick syrup. Her panic boiled up inside, tumbling out of control.
What is this? What’s happening?

Ewan called out to the trees, “That’s enough of that now. The girl is harmless. She’s with us. We’re Guildrin Clan, en route to Teleen. Bring down your guard. We’re invited.”

Shade looked about, seeing nothing but tree bark and dirt. The wind gusts picked up and swooshed around her, bringing her hair to float about her like an aura. Shade’s breath failed her, and her heart jumped. The group unsheathed their swords, bows, arrows and daggers. They were readied and pointed.

Pointed at what
? Shade felt something was near but couldn’t see anyone or anything.

“Back down, or we will fight.”

“You dare defy me,
the
Mistress of these woods? You should have asked
me,
not the Teleen, to pass. You insult my authority. Queen Zinara grows careless of her lands, and she forgets me. Forgotten, I shall never be.” The wind swirled around the group, sending everyone to their knees. “Beg forgiveness of your Queen, Lady Blythe, Dryad Queen of the Haunted Forest!”

Ewan slowly bowed his head, kneeled on the ground and signaled to the others to do the same. “Forgive us, dear Lady Blythe, Queen of the Dryads of Haunted Forest. We meant no disrespect. We ask to pass through your territory to the Teleen Caves. We had no knowledge of your return to these parts; afraid we were, as was your sister, that you had abandoned the Guildrin clan. We beg mercy of Your Majesty.” Shade looked up through her lashes to see if anything appeared. The wind made her blink constantly; her eyes watered from the whipping air.

Suddenly, the wind stopped. The change in the air felt even denser than it had before. Everyone looked up and gazed upon the Queen of the Dryads. She was perched on a large branch just above them. Her skin was pale and glassy white, as if she was made of porcelain. Her dark green eyes were large, so large in fact, that the whites of her eyes disappeared, and yet somehow they had a slit-like appearance. Her long dark blond hair draped around her carelessly in soft wisps down to her legs. It was like a cape, flying in some self-contained breeze. A crown of twisted twigs and angel’s breath lay on her head, spilling down like entrails in her hair. The sheer dress she wore was more like torn worn silk, swaying around her in the breeze and tied together by a belt of roped vines.

She looked just as a faery would, ethereal and almost unreal. Her skin glowed like moonlight reflecting on the surface of a pool of water. Shade gasped with amazement. She thought, at first, that it was glamour the dryad wore, but, she felt no such magic floating around Lady Blythe. Her magic was the woods, the trees, earth, plants and creatures. All were flowing with energy that was tumbling toward her.

The faery snickered. She tilted her head, studying the group and narrowing her large insect-like eyes. They filled Shade with dread. Her face morphed from angelic to a morbid malice. “You are pathetic. Forget me not; I won’t soon forget you, either. Give me the Halfling girl, and the rest of you can go.”

Shade’s eyes widened as she stood up and stepped back. She froze mid-step, as she couldn’t move and could barely breathe. A sticky, thick magic clung to her again, paralyzing her into place. Lady Blythe cackled wickedly above her and shook her head. “Yes, Shade, that means you. Either you stay or they die.”

“But why? What did I do? I don’t even know you. What do you want from me? I have no magic.” Shade felt frozen. Her legs didn’t work; nothing worked. She felt as if she were in suspended animation, trapped in the stillness, as one would be in ice.

“Your Majesty, Shade can’t stay here; she was sent by Queen Zinara herself on a quest.” Ewan spoke, not raising his head to the faery queen, as though doing so might offend her.

“Silence, giant. I don’t need your blubbering statements. I know quite well what Queen Zinara means to do. I don’t agree with her strange decisions, but I know this Halfling serves more than just one purpose.” She gazed at Shade, her lips thin and tense. Shade felt light headed from the intensity of it.

Trick her. Trick her into thinking you are only a mortal without powers. Trick her at her own game, Shade. Quickly!
One inner voice yelled with urgency
.

Shade came back to herself, still frozen but more clear-headed. The warmth of her guides and their voices swam in her head, helping her breath in her frozen body.

How do I trick her? She’d know if I’m lying; don’t they all? How?

Offer her yourself fully,
they suggested.
But trick her into giving you a riddle. We can answer any question. If you answer right, she must let you go.

Shade swallowed hard and peered up at the Dryad Queen, feeling her evil swirling around in the air.

“Lady Blythe, Your Majesty. Please, I’ll come to you freely. But, I was thinking, don’t you like riddles? You look like you might like them. How about a deal? If I answer it right, we
all
go free with safe passage through your land. If not, I’m yours with no fight. At least we can make it fun, you know?” Shade chuckled nervously and gasped while the air felt tighter and thinner, as if she were drowning.

Lady Blythe glared at her, contemplating her words. She drilled her sharp eyes into Shade. Shade’s offer had obviously caught her fancy. A moment later, a creepy, growing smile spread across her face.

“Why how quaint. How did you know about my love of riddles? How delightful! Very well then, I accept.” Lady Blythe paused for a moment, looking pensive and scratching her chin. Her eyes danced with excitement as she cleared her throat. “I have one for you.” She jumped up and down as she filled with anticipation. “What can walk the earth at dawn, dances in the noon sun and then never again at dusk.” Her wicked smile snarled at Shade.

What sort of riddle is that?

A vampire,
the voices offered.

What?
Shade hissed back in her mind at the voices
. A vampire? Really? This is ridiculous, I….

Trust us, Shade, please.

“Okay. Uh, I know that one. It’s a, uh, vampire. The answer is a vampire.” Shade’s breath whispered from her lips as the thick magic surrounding her squeezed the last bit out. The queen would have to let up on the air prison if she was to inhale once more. Nothing but silence came from the Dryad Queen. She’d fallen into anger, and her eyes flashed a luminous green fire. She was steaming and furious.

“How dare you trick me? You defiant fool! You’re pathetic to think you’ve seen the last of me. I have to let you pass now, but make sure you stay out of my way. I cannot be tricked twice. We
shall
meet again. I promise you that!”

Shade was hurled to the ground, coughing and gulping down precious air. Lady Blythe was gone as quickly as she had appeared. Nothing else was around, nothing but the dark woods.

“Is she gone?” Shade whispered. Her breath had still not caught up. “What did she want with me? And what the hell is she?” She brought her knees to her chest and sat rocking back and forth, willing her heart to stop racing and slowing her breath.

Jack knelt down, his hand giving her shoulder a firm squeeze. “Lady Blythe is who she said, Queen of the Dryads of the Haunted Forest. I really don’t know what she wanted from you.” He glanced up to where the dryad had sat not a moment before. “It’s quite strange; she disappeared decades ago and has not been seen until now. Queen Zinara had assumed she was dead.” He looked up at the surrounding warriors. No one seemed to have a clue as to what was going on.

“Unless the Unseelie have been working overtime and attempting to sabotage or stop us in our tracks. This feels like Unseelie treachery. How did you know, Shade?” He stood up, offering Shade his hand. She looked up at the handsome Teleen warrior, taking his hand as she pulled herself onto her shaky legs. Tears streaked down her face. The Dryad queen had scared her more than she’d realized.

“Know what?”

Jack looked at her intently, searching her face for something not known to Shade.

“That she liked riddles; you saved yourself—and us—with such a quick wit.”

“It wasn’t me,” Shade said, shaking her head. “My spirit guides are speaking to me, helping me. They gave me the idea and then told me the answer.” She coughed again and breathed in deeply.

“Well, quite a handy trick there. I hope they come in handy more often than not. Shall we continue?” Shade nodded, taking his hand and pulling herself up off the ground. “Everyone, make sure wards are up; we will not be caught so unaware again. Count us lucky she didn’t have an appetite for meat today.”