Allegiance (19 page)

People were going missing last time I was in Faera
, I said as we flew out and over the lake, the sun sprinkling stars of light on the surface.
I remember you talking about it.

The problem has only worsened. On a good night there is only one loss. Most nights there are more, and my father is no closer to discovering the reason.

I thought you said the Fae were being taken by the Shadow Fae?

I only meant he does not understand why he cannot hear their cries when they go missing,
Leif explained.

Probably has something to do with that Shadow King.

Marla…

Yeah, I know—impossible.

We alighted by a river, winding and rushing through the forest, churning white where it collided with enormous moss-covered boulders. Atop its banks, growing so close their root systems
tangled together like lovers, were some of the most enormous trees I’d ever seen. Leif and I approached one. There was an arched door in the trunk, facing the river. Leif rang a tiny bell and waited. He was just about to try the handle when the door opened.

A woman stood before us, eyes swollen and expression wretched. When she recognised Leif, she fell to her knees and began weeping, her face lifted to him. My betrothed gave her his hand and she brought it to her lips and for once I felt nothing but gratitude that he was able to comfort her.

When she rose to her feet, she told us her name was Solair, that she was the mother of Nyrie, the missing woman. She’d heard the news soon after sunrise and had come immediately with her husband, who was now searching the forest for signs of their daughter.

‘And Nyrie’s husband?’ Leif asked.

‘Brant rests, my prince. He is exhausted. When he woke to find my daughter missing, he spent the night searching for her.’

‘I would speak with him, Solair.’

She curtsied and stepped back from the door.

It was dark inside. Solair scurried around opening the wooden shutters, explaining that she’d been sitting with Brant. Soon sunlight pooled inside and a gentle breeze wafted in, bringing with it the tinkle of chimes and the scent of the forest. The room was the colour of honey whirled with maple and followed the shape of the tree—a tiny kitchen built into this alcove, a table carved into that groove, bright cushions, a pile of firelights, a basket of books. And in the centre, a narrow ladder led to an opening above. Leif didn’t need to be told Brant was up there—there were no other doorways and I’d yet to see a faery home consisting of more than two tiny rooms. I followed him up the ladder, crawling into the bedroom after him—the ceiling was too low for us to stand.

It was difficult to see with only the barest trace of light coming from the sunstone above us. Leif touched it, filling it with his sun, and the room came alive. It was almost wall to wall mattress—a rainbow of soft silk and pillows, and a man curled in on himself, back against the curved wall and face buried in his arms. We sat beside him. He was oblivious—either that or he was already under Leif’s spell. After a moment I knew it was the former, because softly Leif said, ‘Brant,’ and the man moved his arms and opened his eyes.

He lifted his head from the pillow. ‘My prince… Nyrie… she is lost.’ His eyes filled with tears and a sob caught in his throat. I could tell it was only with effort that both came to nothing.

Leif reached to him and lay a palm on his face, pressed a thumb to his mouth. Brant closed his eyes and lowered his head to the pillow.

When Leif removed his hand, I said,
What did you do?

I calmed him, Marla—gave him… hope.

Is there hope?

After a pause he said,
There is always hope.

A moment later, Brant opened his eyes, sat up slowly and inclined his head to Leif as he thanked him.

‘I need you to tell me what you recall of last night, Brant.’

‘I went to sleep, Highness. When I woke, all was dark around me and Nyrie was gone.’

‘Did she lie down for the night with you?’

‘Yes, we always—’ Brant started, then he frowned and fell silent. ‘Only now that I consider, I do not recall… And there was something strange.’ After another long pause, he continued. ‘When I went outside to check the sunstones, I noticed four were without sun—not those protecting my home—but those close to my neighbour Rolan’s house. I wondered why it should be so and was about to go fill them with my sun when I noticed Rolan
standing over a fifth sunstone—barely lit. I assumed he was filling the stone and would do likewise with the others.’

‘Did you speak with him?’

‘Only to say sleep soundly. But it was strange because although he was looking straight at me he made no reply. After a moment he seemed to shake himself, almost as though he were waking. Then he turned and went inside, leaving the sunstones empty.’

‘What then, Brant? Did you fill them?’

He watched Leif. Finally, he let out a long sigh and, frowning, said, ‘I do not remember, my prince.’

‘And your wife? Where was she when you were checking the sunstones?’

‘She was inside, infusing elea tea… That is our routine—I check the sunstones, Nyrie makes our evening drink.’

‘Do you recall drinking it?’

A long moment passed. ‘No, Highness, I do not. I remember watching Rolan go inside and then… nothing.’

After assuring Brant the forest was filled with scouts searching for clues to his wife’s disappearance, we left to interview Rolan. He had no recollection of either the unlit sunstones
or
seeing his neighbour the night before.

It’s so weird,
I said as we flew back to the castle.
Why wouldn’t they remember?

This is how it has been these past months, Marla—my father can make no sense of it.

I watched my betrothed as I said,
Anyone would think they’d been confused.

Yes… they would,
he agreed, before going quiet on the matter.

Jack had stayed with Ameyah at her parents’ invitation while Leif and I went to meet Claudette. They’d decided it would be a good idea for them all to learn something of the human world. But still, I was surprised to see Ameyah sitting at the table with Jack when Leif and I arrived for dinner at the usual time—just before the last of the day’s light slipped away. I looked at my friend and smiled. He was dressed exactly like a faery—even had little twists of vine woven into his hair. ‘Been having fun?’ I asked him.

Jack grinned. ‘I slept in a treehouse last night, went to the markets to discover all this amazing stuff for free and am about to have dinner with the royal family—what do you think?’

‘And look at you—all you need is pointy ears and a pair of wings and you could be Fae.’

‘I wish.’

Leif’s parents arrived, putting an end to the conversation. King Telophy greeted the table with an inclination of his head then looked directly at Ameyah. ‘You received my invitation I see.’

‘Thank you, Majesty,’ she said, with no hint as to whether she was pleased about it or not.

‘Are you enjoying the company of Prince Leif’s human friend?’

‘Yes, Majesty, I am.’ She shot Jack a sideways smile.

‘I am glad,’ King Telophy said, ‘because you know the time is near when you must return to the human world.’

‘I wish to remain in Telophy,’ Ameyah replied, the suggestion of mutiny in her voice.

‘Telophy is not the place for you, child. You belong with your own kind. Has Jack not told you of all Earth has to offer?’

‘I do not
wish
to go there.’ Ameyah was
way
more courageous than me.

‘But you must. I have already permitted you to stay for too lengthy a period. However, there is no need to be alarmed—your
Fae family will have my leave to visit you on Earth. Perhaps, on occasion, you may even be brought to Faera.’

Ameyah made no response, so the king continued. ‘I sense your defiance, Ameyah, and please believe me when I say, I do pity you your predicament, but soon I
will
command the Fae girl Claudette brought home. It is only fair to your human family you be returned to them in her place.’

I could see Ameyah had a whole lot more to say, but she kept it all in. King Telophy noticed too, because next he said, ‘I do not wish to tamper with your memories, Ameyah—for your sake
and
for the sake of Maia and Armand, but be assured, I will if you give me cause.’

‘No!’ she cried. ‘Please no, my king!’ Jack put an arm around her shoulder.

King Telophy picked up his goblet and motioned for the maid to fill it, before turning his attention to Leif. ‘Tell me, my son, how went the meeting with the girl, Claudette?’

Leif glanced in Ameyah’s direction. Jack was murmuring something to her as she scrubbed at her eyes. Leif leaned away from the pair as he answered his father. Voice low, he said, ‘Her human parents are not pleased, of course, but Claudette herself seems eager to be here.’

‘Her Fae parents will be looking forward to her return no doubt,’ King Telophy said, provoking a sob from Ameyah.

I looked at him, wondering if he realised the trauma he was causing.

‘Is it all right if I take her out?’ Jack asked. The king motioned for him to go ahead.

Jack stood and led Ameyah out of the room and King Telophy carried on with the conversation. ‘I will have to give allegiance to the girl. She was taken too young to share my protection with her parents.’

What’s he talking about Leif?

I will explain later,
Leif said, keeping his eyes on his father as he squeezed my hand under the table.

‘I will make my commitment to her at the next ceremony. Have her in Faera by then so she can participate.’

‘It will be done,’ Leif said, then, while keeping half of his attention on his father, silently added,
My father has informed me the ceremony will take place a week after the welcoming. I am to bring Claudette to Telophy that morning, so we will visit with Lysander on that day. When I have a spare moment I will go to inform him when to expect us.

‘You will return Ameyah to Earth the day after the allegiance ceremony,’ King Telophy continued. ‘Your friend Jack may stay in Faera until that time to keep her subdued. He seems to hold some appeal.’

‘I might see if I can get her to come back to the table,’ Atara said as the first course arrived. ‘She needs to eat.’ She looked at her husband for approval. He nodded and Atara left.

‘How well did you fare with my subject Brant today, Leif?’

‘It was the same as always, Father, he recalls little.’

‘What is
the little
he recalls?’

Leif filled King Telophy in on the meetings with Brant and his neighbour Rolan and, while the king was momentarily distracted by Jack and Ameyah returning to the table with Atara, I couldn’t resist saying,
I’m sure Brant’s missing wife has something to do with the Shadow King, Leif.

Marla…

I think he’s responsible for all these missing people. Why else would they be forgetting everything?

The Shadow Fae cannot be confused, nor do they possess the ability to confuse,
Leif said patiently.
It is just not a part of what they are.

But Arelle said she was confused.

Arelle is either covering for a loved one or not thinking clearly. My father is certain.

Well, she sounded pretty convincing. You weren’t there.

‘Did you hear me, Leif?’ King Telophy said.

Leif turned his attention to his father. ‘Sorry, Father, I did not.’

‘You will be working south of the river Senir tonight.’

Leif nodded and told his father he was aware, before adding, ‘Would you mind if I take five minutes, Father? I need to discuss something with Marla.’

King Telophy put down his cutlery. ‘You may speak it here,’ he said, looking around the table. ‘Why not?’

All eyes were on Leif.

I could feel my heart rate increase and knew my betrothed was about to argue. I lay my hand on his thigh.
Just tell him—what does it matter?

My pulse quickly returned to normal. ‘Marla believes there is truth in what Arelle told her—that she and Elad were confused by a shadow creature after he fed freely from them until he reached immortality,’ Leif said.

The king waved a hand dismissively and picked up his knife and fork again. ‘Impossible.’

I took a deep breath and let it out slowly, then keeping my eyes on the plate in front of me, said, ‘But what would she gain by lying to
me
?’

I could feel King Telophy’s eyes piercing me and sensed myself wither under their scrutiny. ‘Look at me,’ he commanded. I obeyed, somehow managing to maintain eye contact with him as he said, ‘What did Arelle tell you exactly?’

‘She said a young Shadow Fae came often to feed from her and Elad. He told her when he reached immortality he would have the
power to confuse.’ Aware of Ameyah listening intently, I decided not to go into the details of the offer he’d made.