“Why are you doing business with the Fae?” James made a face. “That’s not very smart.”
“James,” Steven hissed, then turned back to Vix and Jeff. “Could you please start from the beginning so I can understand what is happening and assist Noli?”
“Of course.” Vix and Jeff told them about their business dealings with the Fae. “I’m still not exactly sure what this artifact is that Brogan wanted the pieces for, but both Noli and Kevighn Silver insisted allowing him to have it could be disastrous … ”
“Kevighn’s involved in this, too?” Steven’s hand went to his forehead. The whole idea of the Fae hiring mortals to steal things made him uneasy, especially when it involved his uncle. And Kevighn … anything involving him was bound to be disingenuous.
Vix helped herself to one of the tiny cookies Ellen had brought with the tea. “He took a position on the ship. I don’t trust him. Noli
does
. However, he
did
bring us the money.”
Jeff and Vix explained the business transaction. “Brogan was very angry we didn’t sell the pieces to him,” Jeff told them. “He stormed onto the ship and that’s when he and Noli had their … encounter. She’s been ill ever since.”
“Who’d you sell the pieces to?” James asked. “Kevighn?”
“Kevighn was supposed to re-scatter the pieces. They’re apparently in the mortal realm for a reason,” Jeff replied. “I believe the money came from someone named Kyran.”
“Kyran?” Steven looked to James, not ever having heard the name.
James shrugged. “I have no idea who that is. I’m not sure I believe Kevighn, though.”
“Me neither.” Vix took another cookie. “But it’s not our problem.”
That brusque attitude rankled. They shouldn’t be stealing for the Fae to begin with—and some article banished from the Otherworld? His uncle wanting something like that didn’t bode well. But the business dealings of air pirates weren’t the reason for his presence.
“Could we see Noli? Please?” The idea of anything happening to her made his stomach churn. Their kind didn’t usually fall ill.
“She thinks you broke up with her because your mother, the queen, made you. Noli’s very trusting—too trusting.” Vix gave him a menacing stare, as if Noli’s innocent nature was somehow his fault.
The idea of Noli’s family knowing about his kind was just … surreal.
“Yes, yes, her assumption is correct.” He focused on his cup, not them, part of him glad she’d held on to that belief and not abandoned him—especially with Kevighn lurking around. “I can’t disobey an order from the high queen. I wasn’t allowed to tell her. I can’t tell you how much it hurt to do that.” Steven continued to stare into the depths of the amber liquid. “I
will
find some way for us to be together, I promise you that.”
“Why?” Jeff asked.
That simple word caused Steven to look up and meet his eyes. “Because I have loved your sister for a very long time. There’s no one else in any realm like her.”
Vix took a sip of tea, giving him a nod of approval.
“She loves you, too,” Jeff replied. “I still don’t understand everything. Noli told us what happened to her between the school and going home. I don’t actually comprehend the part about her not being mortal and a sprite living in her head.” He made a face of confused disbelief. “But I do know that something’s not right about her.”
“It’s odd,” James agreed, shoving a cookie in his mouth.
“I take full responsibility and I’ll find a way to remedy that as well.” Steven bowed his head, he’d made so many mistakes—ones Noli had paid for. He looked at Vix, still not truly understanding what was happening here. “I appreciate you sending for me. There’s a good possibility one of your doctors won’t be able to help her, all things considered.”
Not that he was an expert on Otherworldly illnesses.
“Well, if she’s out of her element, they won’t.” James leaned back in his chair as casual as could be.
“What?” they all said at once.
“You said Uncle Brogan kept telling her she was out of her element, right?” James asked. “You’re
air
pirates. Noli’s an
earth
sprite. It’s obvious.”
They all stared at James.
James made an exasperated noise. “We need to spend time in our elements, especially the lower court folk. Too much time away can make you sick.”
That sounded vaguely familiar. “But we’re earth court, and we’re fine,” Steven tried to work all this out in his head.
“But we’re not sprites. They’re tied closer to their elements than us—and I think she’s been spending more time in the air than we have.”
Jeff’s eyes went alight with recognition. “Noli kept telling me how she wanted to be among trees and dirt— and she loved her little potted plants. She keeps asking for plants to hold when she sleeps, the way a little girl does a doll—and they keep dying.”
“Because she’s absorbing their life force.” Steven began to make sense of what was happening to Noli. “But it shouldn’t happen so fast.”
“Your uncle did something to her, I know he did,” Vix returned, eyes flashing in annoyance. “Why aren’t you listening to me?”
“I’m listening. He’s king of the earth court, he could have done something.” James drummed his fingers on the arm of his chair.
“He could. The idea that he
would
is appalling.” Steven made a noise of distain. “Will you allow us to see her?”
Hope danced in Jeff’s eyes, eyes so much like Noli’s. “Can you help her?”
Steven stood. “I’m no healer, but certainly, I’ll try.”
Anything for Noli.
Jeff and Vix led them up a sweeping staircase and down several hallways. Finally, he pushed open a door.
Steven brushed past them and rushed to her side. “Noli.”
Darling Noli lay in bed in a ruffled nightdress, quilt up to her chin, looking so small and pale, and a withered plant in her arms. It was as if all the life, everything that made her his Noli, had been drained right out of her, leaving her as lifeless as the poor bedraggled plant.
She didn’t stir when he took her hand. Her breath rasped and her face looked drawn, cheekbones protruding.
“I’m not even sure how she’s lasted this long,” Vix whispered from the background as she leaned into Jeff. “We can barely get her to eat or drink anything.”
Steven brushed her cool forehead with his fingertips. “Noli, it’s me, will you open your eyes for me, please?”
What he wanted to do was climb into the bed with her, hold her in his arms, and kiss her—but he wasn’t about to do that with Jeff watching.
All Noli did was sigh. Hope flicked within him. Perhaps it was a happy sigh because she knew he’d arrived.
James joined him at her bedside and looked at the plant, brow furrowing. He put his hand on her cheek and it shimmered slightly.
“James,” he hissed at his brother’s blatant use of magic in public.
James sniffed, his hand continuing to glow green. “Do you want to help her or not?”
“You have magic as well?” Jeff whispered, coming up behind them.
“Yes, but ours is different from Noli’s,” Steven replied. The room looked like a child’s room, with books on a shelf and a box of toys. A few jolly pictures hung on the wall.
Biting his lower lip, James turned to Steven. “She’s very sick, V.”
“Really, James?” Steven didn’t hide his sarcasm as he continued to hold her lifeless hand.
Jeff joined them at Noli’s increasingly crowded bedside, brow creased with worry. “Can you do something about it?”
“I … I don’t know.” James bowed his head. “I’m not good at this sort of magic.”
The best healers came from the water court.
Steven tried to remember everything he knew about someone becoming ill from being out of their element. “If she’s out of her element, we need to get her back into it … in the Otherworld.”
“We can’t bring her on the quest.” James’ shoulders rounded. “If we go back, give Tiana the automaton, then return … what if it’s too late? I already lost Lottie, I don’t want to lose Noli.”
“We’re not losing Noli. I won’t allow it.” Steven wished there was some way to give her some of himself. “We can’t bring her on the quest, but that doesn’t mean we can’t bring her back into the Otherworld. We’ll take her to the big house and then finish the quest.” Hopefully, he and James could do something. He wasn’t sure that they could summon a healer to aid her, since it would mean asking his uncle or Tiana for help.
Jeff sighed. “Must you take her? I suppose I’ll have to concoct a story to tell Mother as to why we permitted Noli to leave with you. After all, we can hardly tell her the truth.”
That was for certain. “It’s the only way I know of,” Steven replied. Even then …
“Noli said there are spies at your house. She recognized one of your uncle’s men.” Vix plopped down in the rocking chair in the corner, the only chair in the room. A sewing basket sat next to it.
A sinking feeling surrounded Steven at Vix’s mention of spies. He’d known Tiana had spies at the big house, but he hadn’t realized Uncle Brogan had. He should have. No, he couldn’t go to either for assistance.
“If I do allow you to take her, who will take care of her while you’re finishing your quest? You can’t simply leave her alone,” Jeff prodded.
Noli was an earth sprite and still had a special connection to trees like when she’d been mortal. He could communicate with trees. An idea formed in his mind, one that would eliminate the need for a healer.
“She won’t be alone. I think I know someone who can heal her.” This could work and hope bubbled inside him. “What if it doesn’t?” Jeff’s eyes narrowed as if he blamed Steven for all this.
In a way it was all his fault. Noli being one of them. His uncle targeting her.
Steven stroked Noli’s hand, gazing at her too-still form. “It’ll work.”
It had to. Or he’d never forgive himself.
Worry increasing with every footfall, Steven approached the large faery tree that hid in the center of the hedge maze at his family’s estate. Once, the giant, gnarled oak filled with wood faeries had been under his father’s care. Now, like the big house itself, it belonged to him. The little wood faeries crept out of knotholes in the tree, watching him curiously. A pink one flew over and gestured to Noli, a worried look on her tiny face.
“She’s very ill,” Steven told them as they gathered, the pink one sitting
on
Noli. A few others perched on him. “I’ve come to ask the tree to heal her. James and I must finish our quest. Will you please watch over her while we’re away? We shouldn’t be gone for long.” He hoped.
Heads bobbed as the wood faeries chattered all at once, offering to watch over and protect her. A few even retrieved tiny wooden swords. A yellow one saluted him and took up a guard stance, sword ready.
“I’d appreciate that.” Steven crouched at the base of the gnarled oak, Noli still in his arms, unmoving, the pink faery perched on her shoulder. Colorful night-blooming flowers covered the tree’s base. Setting her in his lap, he put his hand on the trunk and reached out to the tree’s spirit.
Will you take care of her for me? She’s been out of her element and near death.
He chose this tree specifically for several reasons, the oak liked Noli. This tree had been on these lands as long as his family had possessed them. Hopefully, he would feel compelled to help. The old tree also possessed a great deal of magic. Healing Noli could kill a lesser tree.
I will try, young prince,
the tree whispered back.
I have served the House of Oak for a very long time and will do my best.
The bark of the tree separated, making a Noli-sized knothole.
Steven kissed Noli, heart torn at leaving her alone. “I love you so much, darling. I’ll return soon.”
He placed her inside the knothole, hoping she’d be comfortable, and watched as the bark closed around her, sealing her inside the tree. You’d never know she lay inside, which meant she was safe both from his uncle and his mother. Hopefully, the tree would be able to heal her. He put his hand on the bark.
Thank you
, he told the tree.
Noli means everything to me.
We’ll try our best to aid you, young prince
, the tree replied.
The wood faeries all replied that they’d protect her. A few more had joined the miniature guard at the tree’s base, marching around, or sitting on the star blooms.
Steven bowed in thanks and sent up a silent prayer.
Please heal her,
he prayed, still crouched in the dirt.
Noli means everything to me. I need her to be well.
And whole. One thing at a time.
A gentle breeze, soft as Noli’s kisses, whispered through the trees as if answering his plea. His fingers brushed the bark one last time, heart wrenching at the thought that even this might not be enough.
He kissed his hand then pressed it to the bark of the tree. “I love you, Noli.”
With a body-shuddering sigh, he stood and made his way back through the hedge maze and across the gardens to his rambling family estate.
James waited for him in the library, which had become the hub of the big house during James and Charlotte’s occupancy. The comfortable room had always been Steven’s favorite, filled with books, well-loved furnishings, a window seat with view of one of the gardens, and memories. The still-wrapped automaton occupied one of the comfortable chairs. Supper sat on the low table.
“Is she going to be all right?” James handed Steven a plate from his place on the settee.
“I hope so.” He didn’t feel like eating.
“I put Noli’s things in her room,” James added, heaping his own plate with food.
Noli’s room had been Elise’s room. His family had lived here once when not busy at the earth court palace. That was back when they’d been a family. When his parents had loved each other, and them, and his mother had been content to be queen of the earth court.
Steven sat next to James and helped himself to some tea. Charlotte had wanted to live here, not at the high palace. Not that he blamed her. James and Charlotte had been content to occupy this wing, the nursery wing where they’d lived as children. A small staff helped make this corner feel like home again.
It felt strange to be here without Charlotte. Without Noli. He kept expecting to hear Charlotte giggling or spy Noli reading a book in the tree outside the window.