Ever Winter (22 page)

Summer was approaching for a scorching wind and a dry tickle to the throat met them soon enough. Like the ever changing seasons in Faerie, here, the summer was milder than it should’ve been. The wards around the Seelie Court remained intact, but for how long? Rumors were running rampant across the land that Aveta was working with someone to bring them down. Who this partner of hers was, remained a mystery.

The days ticked by. A scorching sun overhead during most of the journey as dust stuck to everything made it uncomfortable for them all. The group chatted every now and then, but for the most part, they were silent. Only the clicks of the horse’s hooves broke the monotony. The others in the group: Benton, Jade, James, Anna and at last minute, to Dylan’s dismay, Nautilus, had joined them on the trek. James was ecstatic to be riding his own horse, a smaller pony runt named Wren. They’d hit it off right away, trotting up and down the line of warriors as if too proud to ride alongside just one person. James avoided Corb though, who pretty much took up the rear.

Shade laughed at her younger brother’s exuberance, it did make for a lighter mood, at least. She’d never traveled Faerie alongside her family, but she’d never felt safer. Jade, Benton and even Anna had spent several months training hard in the elemental witchcraft art. Fire was their affinity, but they were witches none the less, just like Shade. Every day, they surprised Shade, pushing their powers to the limit and being an intricate part of the group.

The sun was setting in the west, making the sparse forest turn into an array of golden colors, vibrant oranges and a touch of violet. They settled at the bottom of a small mountain where the dirt was thick with pine needles and pine cones. It took some time to clear the forest floor of loose rocks embedded in the mix of dirt, but it was well worth it. The horses were tied to one side of the encampment and the center was dominated by a roaring fire. The days may have been scorching, but the nights had a definite chill. It didn’t bother too many of them, but Shade still felt it. If she didn’t use her fire powers, she’d be shivering. James was too young to produce any such heat, so he remained close to the flames of the campfire, happy to roast a marshmallow over it.

Leave it to Mom to bring s’mores,
thought Shade. It made her shake her head but smile as her mom handed her a large, fluffy marshmallow. It was sticky good and elevated the mood in the group with such a small gesture. Everyone except Corb, of course.

“What’s his problem?” Benton plopped down on the ground next to her, sitting Indian style as he reloaded his roasting stick. “Ah, his loss, right?” Blowing out the burning glob, he slapped it in between two graham crackers with chocolate, squeezed it tightly to let the slurry of goo slip out. He licked it off and proceeded to bite off a huge chunk and chew with his mouth smacking as he opened his jaw with every chomp. Shade stared at him, appalled at his brazen manners. At least he’d loosened up quite a bit since she’d last hung out with him.

The days of sitting on the back porch staring at the tree line which led to Faerie, were over. Somehow, it made her sad to think about it. Nothing would ever be the same, would it? They’d all grown into different people−even her mother would never be the overworked soccer mom who’d always forget to pick up Shade from school. No one was left untouched by Faerie. It left its mark tattooed all across one’s skin no matter how much anyone tried to avoid it.

Shade glanced down
at the faded black circle where the darkling had marked her in its death. Rubbing it with her fingers, she felt it heat up and respond in a small pulsating manner. Staring at it, she swore she saw it spread slightly, like a halo and tangle of veins spread out across her skin and up her arm every time it pulsed. Pulling her hoodie sleeve taut over it, she hugged her arms to her chest, afraid someone might’ve seen the abomination living on her skin. She didn’t know what it meant, even though the poison was dormant and wouldn’t kill her now, what had been left behind? What was a darkling anyway? She knew she had to discover everything she could find out about them, for if what Ilarial had told her was true, the darkling’s magic was now part of her, whether she liked it or not.

Watching the fire as it crackled and roared, she let its burning heat embrace her, making her numb in a comforting way. Though she was close to everyone around the camp, except Corb and Nautilus, of course, she felt so out of touch, out of sync in so many ways. She watched her mother prep a tent for her, Anna and James. Jade had figured Shade would want her own tent and hadn’t even asked her to join them. It was just as well, she was right. She hadn’t felt close enough to anyone besides Dylan to share a tent. Even then, she didn’t think it was appropriate, even if they were considered engaged by Teleen standards.

We’re engaged.
Why did it feel so shocking still?

Dylan was busy getting the horses fed and watered, his muscles rippled under the loose, sleeveless tunic he had tucked in at the waist. His leather belt held his sword but he usually wore it across his back. Long black, hair grazed his shoulders and hit to his shoulder blades. It was extremely easy to watch him, he was definite savory eye candy. She couldn’t believe she’d told him that she’d chosen him back at the Teleen caverns.  It was a relief yet it made her insides turn to gelatin. Where do we go from here? What happens now?

Turning back toward the pops of burning wood, she knew that reaching the Scren Palace as the only thing on the agenda right now. Maybe after she took the throne back, things would fall into place. Maybe they could delay an actual marriage bond for a while before the Teleen became suspicious that they would never marry. It wasn’t that she never wanted to−it just wasn’t something she could fathom yet. How did anyone get married at 18? She still felt so far from that but it was closer than she could’ve imagined.

“An audience with you, princess.” Corb’s voice interrupted her thoughts and she threw him a quic
k nod as he proceeded to sit next to her. Benton huffed, springing up from his spot and heading toward where the tents were being set up. He had his own set up to attend to.

“What’s up?” Why did that feel so informal? Being around Corb and his flat stoic ways which leaked of not of this time mannerisms made her feel so young and unschooled.

“When we arrive at the Scren Palace, will you be releasing my bonds?”

“I can’t release you. Faerie binds you to me, not me.” Shade sighed, watching the flames and ashes rising into the night sky. “I would if I could.”

She could see Corb nod slightly in her periphery, his own moonlike eyes taking in the campfire. “Well, I propose that you don’t marry that common Teleen guard. I would marry you myself, if you’re willing. It’d be much more agreeable to the Seelie counsel.”

She stared open mouthed at the Ice King. Was he nuts? “No way. Why the heck would I marry you? You’re Unseelie…”

“I’m actually Seelie. There is only one Unseelie Kingdom.” He pointed out, his blank face never changed as he watched hers morph a thousand times ranging from shock to disgust in mere seconds. “And, I don’t rule there.”

“Still. Um, no thanks. I’d rather marry a ‘lowly guard’ than you. No offense but, you’re not my type.”

Corb sat in silence for what seemed like forever before bursting out laughing. Everyone turned to see what the ruckus was about, but went along their merry way when they saw that it was Corb. To Shade, it was the rarest of sights. She’d never seen him laugh, only grimace and snarl at people.

“What’s so funny?”

“You’re so oblivious to your needs, Shade. I see why so many fall over themselves to be the one to hold your heart. Only one holds it, and he is the biggest fool of all. You think being who you are, so human and vulnerable, you’d realize how important power can be. Now, you remember what it was like without it. Never refuse power. The more you possess, the more you can survive this world.” With that, he stood up and walked toward his tent. He’d been one of the first to set it up, leaving Shade being one of the last.

She sighed, scratching her head and confused at what he’d said. He’s insane.
Certifiable
, she thought. Nothing he said ever made sense to her, not back when he’d trapped her in his castle, not now when he was virtually powerless and an unwanted companion.

“What a year,” Shade muttered before getting up to grab her pack off the forest floor. She yanked out her tent and headed to one of the cleared out spots, near the other tents. Choosing a spot between two scraggly trees, she went to work setting it up. The task quieted her mind and her body let her know that it was time to rest once more. It ached and burned as she moved about; reminding her that she’d have to take a moment to heal before sleeping. Slipping into the flaps, she pulled her pillow out of her pack and blanket. Lying down, she cherished the makeshift bed as her eyes quickly succumbed to sleep.
 

Chapter Twenty
-One

A RUMBLE OF
earth shook her awake. She hated mornings more than anything but the sudden jolt was enough to make her scramble to her feet, pull out her sword and shoot out of her tent. She scanned the encampment and saw that she wasn’t the only one awoken in such a brazen manner.

Surrounding them was a group of warriors on hor
seback. They each had long hair pulled into thick braids hung over slick metal armor with a crest stamped into the front of the breastplates. Shade expected women, but the warriors were all men, all with long, thick, black hair and tanned skin. Almost Native American Indian in appearance, without the intricate feathers and leather moccasins. Shade held her sword up, locating the leader as he made his way toward the front of the group. A ring had formed around the encampment, making it impossible to escape in any direction.

“Name yourselves and your destination.” The leader, marked only by a brazen tattoo carved into one side of his face, looked fierce with the white-lined pattern taking up half his face. Underneath his set stare, his eyes were a brilliant amber-green hazel which stood out against his tanned skin like fire.

“We travel to the Scren Palace, seeking to join the rightful heir, Shade, to the throne. We’re her escorts.” Dylan offered while still not lowering his stance. She glanced toward him, knowing he, of all of them, would know when to back down.

“The Scren Palace is far from where you come, northerners. Not usual to have company heading that way.” He eyed Corb intently, suspicion ever growing in his studious look. “Who is the pale man? He is not from any northern tribes I’ve encountered.”

“Corb. I am the Ancient Ice King of The Great Divide.”

With that, the group burst out laughing, shaking their heads as they murmured their jokes amongst themselves.

“I highly doubt that, the Ancients have never been seen amongst us.”

Corb narrowed his gaze and the air dropped several degrees. Shade felt her insides tickle as she felt him draw off their joined power. She could stop him, the bind let her do so if she so wished, but she didn’t. Let them cower in fear, looked like they needed a wakeup call on who was really boss here. So, she let him use his power, eager to see what he was up to.