Ever Fire (10 page)

Shaking the thought out of her head, she decided against asking Camulus for a quick teleport ride back home. She was not sober at all, and did not want her mother or siblings to see her intoxicated. James and Alice; the two youngest, were impressionable, and Benton; who was one year younger than her, was not so easily fooled. He had questioned her to death when she had returned from the last trip through Faerie relentlessly until she made a point to avoid him completely. Dylan’s presence had only heightened his endless suspicion.

Shade wondered if her brother knew anything about Faerie and her abilities. She didn’t really like to confide in him. They were not close in any sense of the word. Sometimes she wondered if that was her fault. She had always busied herself with school and hanging out with her friend Brisa so much, she hardly noticed what Benton was up to. Even more so now that Dylan had joined the picture.

Benton had been particularly suspicious of Dylan from the get go. Benton had eyed Dylan from head to toe without discretion when she had introduced him to her family. Benton’s frown had made it obvious that he did not like competition as man of the house, and disapproved of the arrangement immensely. He then proceeded to avoid Dylan like the plague, and mostly retreated to his room, blasting the music as loud as he could get away with.

Now Shade wished she were back at home with Benton’s familiar gloominess to look forward to. She sighed, stretching her arms and legs as she lay back on the bed. She needed to talk to someone who wasn’t Fey. Like Brisa, who would know something about guys. Maybe Benton might have some male insight on what she should do about Dylan and Soap. She wondered if Benton would like Soap any better. Squeezing her eyes shut and rubbing her face, she really didn’t think so. Benton was very protective of the family, and any outside male threat to them was anything but welcomed.

Shade shifted on the bed again, feeling the restlessness crawling under her skin. She nodded to herself, finally making up her mind.
I’ll go home once I sober up
. Only then could she sort things out and think straight. But first, she still had to find Draden and get him to talk more about her father. She suspected Draden knew far more than he let on, and now was a good of time as any to start following her intuition.

She quickly stood up but immediately sank back down onto the fluffy bed as she groaned. The room was still tilting from her over eagerness with the alcohol. She flung herself back onto the pillows. She would have to wait out the ill effects of the sweet Faery drink before attempting to walk out of the Palace. Shade curled up on the silken cloud of pillows and sheets, letting herself drift off into sleep.

Chapter Ten

THE MORNING HAD
Shade wide-awake with the sunrise. She lingered in the main entryway staircase of the Palace where everyone had to eventually pass through to get to the dining hall. She was sitting on the bottom step of the grand staircase where she was impatiently tapping her foot over and over. She watched as guards, servants, and decorated warriors treaded past her, never giving her a second’s glance. None of them were Draden or his brother Andraste, and the twin’s failure to appear made Shade want to pull her hair out. How could they have been so close, and she had failed to ask them the most important question she had. After about an hour, she felt like throwing in the towel and retreated to the dining hall to get breakfast.

Her stomach was much better this morning. The world no longer swayed, tilted, or made her stomach lurch. She was relieved to avoid a hangover, especially since she had decided to travel back home today. Spotting Sary, she slumped into the empty chair next to her. Stephen occupied the chair on the other side of Sary. He leaned forward, giving her a questioning eyebrow lift.

“What?” Shade’s dark mood had yet to go away.

Stephen grinned and shrugged. “Nothing, Shade. How are we this fine and beautiful day? Going somewhere?” He eyed her pack as she pulled it off and tucked it under the table.

“Yes, I’m going home after we eat. Has anyone seen Draden? I have to ask him something.” She loaded her plate up with fruits, pancakes, and syrup. She was famished after missing almost a whole day of nourishment due to her overwhelming, self-imposed depression.

“Home? But we aren’t scheduled to return until tomorrow,” Sary responded. “Today, Stephen and Than will finish organizing the troops to take with us to Guildrin that Prince Lotinar has so generously provided for Queen Zinara’s disposal. What’s going on?” Sary said as her eyes narrowed in on Shade, waiting for an answer. “Does this have anything to do with Dylan’s departure?”

Shade dropped her fork suddenly, its clang ringing against the floor as she pressed her lips together tightly. She glared back at Sary, for once not appreciating her friend’s inquisition.

“No, I just need to go home. I can’t stand it here in Faerie anymore. I really don’t think this is the place for me. I’m not a Queen. I’m not anything like that. I just want to ask Draden if my father had any other family I can contact and be done with it.” She grabbed a fork from the empty setting beside hers and shoved a piece of pancake into her mouth.

Sary and Stephen glanced at each other before they resumed eating their breakfast. Shade had grown weary of anyone’s company, and itched to get out of the Palace as soon as possible. If she couldn’t find Draden then she would just go home without speaking to him. She was feeling suffocated in Faerie.

Shade glanced around to find Ursad heading her way. He tapped her shoulder as he passed, motioning her to follow. Shade scooped her pack up and scurried behind him, glad to have an excuse to leave the table. She followed quietly behind him until they had reached the other side of the great staircase. He waved her towards a room down another hall and clicked the door behind them after entering. Slowly he turned and smiled at her, his eyes gleaming.

“I had to get you in private to give you this. Draden told me to give it to you and only you alone.” Ursad pulled out a letter from his pocket. It was sealed with a wax imprint and rolled up just like something from ancient times. Shade plucked it from his hand and stared at it. She ran her finger under the edge of paper, breaking the seal, and unrolled the thin tissue-like paper.

Shade,

I feel our words were too brief yesterday, and I still have much more to tell you about your father. The battles are growing more intense as we speak, so I’ve had to leave to tend to such matters. I do however wish to let you know that your grandmother, your father’s mother, and the old ruler of the Southern Realm are indeed still alive. She was imprisoned and exiled by Aveta when the Queen found out just how difficult it would be to kill her. I have sent Andraste to find the exact location of exile for you. When he finds it, he has instructions to come get you at your human dwelling with Camulus and some of your friends, for protection, and to take you to there. Her name is Lana. I hope you have a good journey.

-Draden

Shade reread the note several times before looking up at Ursad, who patiently waited to see if she would let on what it said. She gulped and folded the note, stuffing it into her jeans pocket. She was feeling elated. She was going to see her grandmother! Excitement burst in her chest and made her want to twirl and dance around the room. She smiled at Ursad and laughed out loud.

“Draden is helping me find my grandmother, Ursad! I can’t believe it! I’m actually going to meet a Fey relative! I have so much to ask her, I don’t even know what to say to her. What should I say to her? What if she doesn’t like me? What if..” Ursad interrupted her sudden outburst.

“Shade, hold on. Don’t start having a panic attack. I’m sure she will be thrilled to meet you too. I’m really happy for you.” He hugged her and smiled back.

Shade felt like she was going to jump out of her skin. She had to head back home now to wait for Andraste and Camulus to return with her grandmother’s location. She suddenly had the urge to leave immediately.

“I have to go, Ursad. I have to go home first, and then wait for them. Can Camulus take me back right now? Where is he?”

Ursad’s grin wavered. He was so happy for her at the discovery of her relative, but his face fell and betrayed the sadness he felt at her words.

“Leave already? But you just got here, Shade. I really wanted to spend some more time with you before you had to go. Can’t you stay a bit longer? I doubt Andraste has found her yet.” He studied her face as it changed from excited to slightly annoyed.

“Ursad, I
have
to go. I can’t stay here and wait. I’m sorry if you wanted to hang out a bit longer, but I just can’t. I feel like the land of Faerie is pressing down on me and I can’t breathe. You do understand that, right?” She watched him slowly nod, his face remaining glum. She sighed and grabbed the doorknob to open the door, waiting for the answer to her question.

“Of course I do, Shade.”

“Do you know where Camulus might be?” Ursad nodded and waved her towards the door. They exited and walked silently down the hall. She followed him through the Palace until they reached a large conference room with the doors standing wide open. Inside, several guards and warriors stood around a large wooden table occupied by dozens of maps. Camulus, who was staring down at one map, looked up at them as they entered the room. Ursad motioned to him quickly and Camulus nodded, straightened, and walked towards them.

“Your Majesty. Hello, Shade.” He bowed before the Prince and nodded to Shade. “Ready to go home?” He looked at her pensively, narrowing his fiery orange eyes, trying to read her thoughts.

“More than ready. Thanks for the ride, Camulus.” She smiled, feeling optimistic for the first time in so long.

He nodded, smiling as he held out his hand towards her. Shade reached out, but before she could envelope her hand in his, a loud boom rang through the castle, followed by another and another.

“What was that?” Shade asked, swinging around and watching the others gather around the grand windows to peer outside.

“Your Majesty! A group of Aveta’s soldiers are attacking the East Gate! They have already shattered the wall and infiltrated the grounds!”

Ursad nodded at the guard, giving him quick directions for countering. Shade stood bewildered and wondered what she should do. She gulped as she glanced out the windows; which happen to face the East Gate, watching the smoke and dirt puff up into a cloud around it.

“Shade stay here. Sary and Stephen said they were going to round with the guards on that side of the castle grounds. I will go and make sure they are fine.” Camulus nodded towards her, but before he could leave, Shade grabbed his arm.

“I’m coming with you. No ifs ands or buts about it. They’re my friends, and they might need me.”

Camulus shook his head, frowning at her persistence. “Very well, Shade, but do try to stay out of the way. They aren’t here to play.” He grasped her hand from his arm as the air around them swirled and shivered. A moment later, they stood staring at the chaos in the East yard.

Guards had just managed to filter in, and were clanging their swords and shields against Aveta’s Lonares soldiers. They whipped around as if dancing with Ursad’s defending fighters. Shields flashed as they struggled, slamming into each other’s ranks with such a force to send some flying onto their backs.

Shade’s eyes widened in terror, but she quickly composed herself, scanning the crowd for her friends. She spotted Sary’s fiery, red, mane, of hair and dashed towards her, yanking her sword from her pack as she readied herself.

“Sary!” Shade jumped at a soldier who was barreling towards her friend with a huge axe, swinging his arm back to widen his momentum. Shade gripped her sword, propelling it forward in a sideswiping arch, slicing the soldier’s abdomen before he could rebound. He dropped the axe in a howl of pain and turned towards her. He grinned under the oxidized metal helmet that framed his face. His teeth flashing at her as she stepped forward again, swinging another blow.

Dodging her aim, he laughed, spitting on the floor before her and pulling out a long dagger from his belt. “That wasn’t very ladylike,
girl
.” His hissed at her. His eyes wild and crazed behind the nose bridge of the helmet.
How he can possibly see well with that hunk of junk on his head is beyond me,
thought Shade. She sucked in a breath before plunging forward, faking a left swing in favor of a forward jab. Her blade met its mark, sinking into his upper abdomen, making him spew red blood out of his mouth.

Gurgling, he dropped his dagger, obviously underestimating her from the surprised look in his eyes. She stepped in front of him as he sank to his knees, giving him a push with her foot. He fell to the ground as his breath escaped him.

Shade turned towards Sary, hoping the distraction had not taken too long to help her.

“Stephen!” Sary’s voice echoed in the mass of grunts and screams, making Shade rush towards her wailing. Other soldiers blocked her path, and she took them down with less difficulty than the first, finally reaching Sary as more of Ursad’s soldiers filled the area, beating back the last few Lonares soldiers. She heard Sary’s whimper as she came upon her, finding her bent over Stephen’s splayed out body

“Sary, oh no, what happened?” Shade knelt down to see Stephen’s wounds on his chest gurgling from a stab wound to the left of his chest. It spewed like a fountain. Crimson blood was staining his clothes along with Sary’s hands and arms as she pressed down on the wound. His mouth dripped with trails of red as he choked on the fluid.