Fable, page 20
They finally reached the training area and seemed to have it to themselves. Marlifyn was an outstanding teacher, although he wasn’t officially one in the eyes of the palace. He was particularly good at explaining things to beginners, along with enforcing discipline and respect, which all went hand in hand with being a warrior. Serena was about to find out how hard it would be. She was in for a tough day.
Shaylee was quite nervous. She had not had to deal with this sort of thing before as her mother and father were the ones that had met with the Seelie Court. As this was the first one since then, she wanted to make sure that it was done in the best way possible.
She cleared her dry throat, approached the makeshift stone lectern, fluttered the tops of her wings nervously, and began, “Hello, all my special guests and friends. Those that could attend last night, I thank you for your support. It made our young one Serena feel incredibly special.”
As Shaylee finished with her introduction, Gaelenthark jumped up onto his seat and yelled out at the top of his voice, “Aye, we’ve heard about this halfling here, how could ya let a human inta the palace, let alone the realm of the pure Fae, it’s a crime, I tell ya, a crime.”
The red cap sat back down after a series of glares from the guards. Shaylee, and most of the court before her, continued pretending to ignore his ridiculous comments.
“As I was saying, thank you. Serena is far more than a halfling Fae. She saved my life and the lives of many other special Fae. If we had found her as a young child, she would have blended in and gained the magic through her Fae blood, but the sinisters came and took that chance away, along with many of our friends and family. It has been too long since the first attacks and now I fear we are under another.” Shaylee did her best not to give her true ancestral history away.
“We have not seen the sinisters since some perished near the shores of Sheeleymoon from a pooka’s dust; we gained some very precious knowledge that day to use against them if they were to return, but they never did. Now the threat seems to be coming from Xarkynan.” As she said those words, the audience in the court all gasped in unison. They knew something dark was around, but from Xarkynan, well, that was something entirely made of nightmares.
Shaylee continued, “Yes, I am sorry but the information we have received over time leads us to believe that something is definitely stirring in that dark place. The creatures we fought against near Maelenflitt were of the dark realm and they seemed to know what they were looking for. It has come to my attention that Faiay’aar and many cycles before that Felvora have both disappeared. Felvora who was banished but saved us all in the dark war was en route to the edges of the dark forest when she disappeared, and Faiay’aar was not seen again after our recent battle. It seems there is a connection.” And the realization came to her as soon as she’d spoken her last comment. She nearly hit herself across her face for not seeing it straightaway.
Shaylee had just figured out what had been bothering her the most since Serena told her about her last vision with the sinister gray creatures, the green mist, and the voice that said “fell.” She took a moment to reflect on the new revelation as the audience of the court waited in anticipation of what would come next.
Shaylee looked up, and with a horrified look on her face, she explained. “I’m sorry, it … it has just come to light that the dryads are in Xarkynan.”
As she explained about the dream Serena had had and the revelation that Viltzin’un’dandaar had awoken and was raising the dark ones, the realization hit hard that the next stage would be the dark lord himself.
“What do you mean, my queen? Felvora destroyed the dark mage with powerful magic to hold him for eternity, and many witnessed the bones of the dark lord as she destroyed him. No magic could bring any of them back,” the last dryad of Faelynn, Kalandrya, called out.
“Ahh, but there is magic that powerful: the Tuatha Dé Danann treasures. They have the power, and the two dryads have the knowledge,” Faelondar said, as he pushed in next to Shaylee to explain. It was funny a dryad did not know that, he thought.
Kalandrya replied in a harsher tone. “The Tuatha treasures are our power source protected by …” She stopped as she suddenly understood everything. She lowered her head and sat back down with a thud.
Shaylee was at Faelondar’s side as he went on to explain, “Felvora’s original mission was to check on the edges of the dark forest for the treasure there and Faiay’aar helped the sylphs protect the treasure in Maelenflitt, which means the attack on Maelenflitt was a diversion to gain the treasure not to …” Faelondar lowered his head as well. They seemed to all be working it out together, but was it too late? Had they not done enough to protect the treasures? Faelondar continued, “Only a very few of the queen’s trusted know of the exact whereabouts of all the treasures. I believe we have a spy in our midst.”
It sounded like everyone in the room had gasped. Shaylee had her feelings about such a person but did not want to cast any doubts or highlight trust issues just yet. It could be detrimental to finding the truth. “We don’t know for sure. I trust everyone in my palace and all who are here, but we need to be careful. If this is the case and they have two of the treasure pieces, then we are in trouble. Kalandrya, what could two pieces of the Tuatha treasures in the hands of the dark ones mean?”
Kalandrya stood and moved closer to the front of the room. Her long red gown sparkled with intertwining jewels of gold and silver. She was the keeper of the Toozookus palace at the edges of Faelynn past the woodland forest. She had her own small army of half elves from the far lands through the everlasting Misty Isles that she called upon when needed, but she had not been affected by the sinisters. She was also a dryad mage and had a good knowledge of the natural magic that Faelynn offered.
She cleared her throat and gave her knowledge of what she knew of the treasures. “Well, everybody here, especially those closer to Maelenflitt, have been experiencing more storms, wind, lightning, am I correct?” she asked as most of the court nodded. “I thought it was just a coincidence, but knowing that now tells me at least two treasures are missing. Having two would mean the enchanted ones would have increased and decreased magical abilities along with quakes and more severe storms. Three, with the help of the dark mage and a dryad using the treasures, could raise the dark lord, without the dark lord’s power. And four …” Kalandrya took a deep breath before continuing, “Four would mean the dark lord could change good Fae into creatures of the dark, could resurrect dust and bones, bringing back armies of the dead, and could turn the whole of Faelynn into a dry, barren, lifeless desert with one swift directive.”
Some of the court started crying, others were getting angry, and the rest just sat staring blankly as if they had lost all hope. Shaylee even felt sick as she nodded to Kalandrya and faced the court.
“OK, here is what I need from you all. We have to stop this before it gets worse. I need all of your best, mediocre, and amateur warriors. We will build shelters for them here and we will train them all, thousands upon thousands if we can get them. Put a call out to the islands in the mists, off the ports of Sheeleymoon, to the great river folk and all forest dwellers who can wield a sword. I will not state the day of attack. It will be with me and only me, and on that day we will attack Xarkynan and regain our treasures and dryad friends, before we burn it to the ground.
“In the meantime, protecting the remaining two will be paramount and a priority. I will meet with another, who is amid battle, soon to gain some more insight. Then, when I return, I will inform the leaders of the court of the imminent attack. Are there any objections?”
There was only silence, with no one budging. Shaylee felt betrayed and way out of her league, until the entire court shook the room with bellows of cheering and screams of support, shaking the entire palace in an eruption of hope. Shaylee wiped away some sneaky tears and yelled, “Now go, we need to start this immediately!”
When she’d finished, the court began leaving and the start of the next phase was now in place. They had answers and a plan. It was more than anyone had had when they awoke that morning.
Serena had been training with Marlifyn for several full cycles. Her skills had come so far in such a short time that there were whispers she could eventually join the Elvenfae guards. Marlifyn was a fantastic teacher, hard but fair, and saw the potential from the start. But this would be an incredibly sad day for the much-loved halfling Fae. No more would she wield her beloved Long Leaf or train with her mentor. This day she would have to say goodbye to Faelynn.
Shaylee was not in a good mood. The ever-buzzing and positive Elvenfae queen had something on her mind and she was dreading going through with what it was. She had to tell Serena that she was going back home. She paced up and down the hallway, reciting in her mind just how she would inform her younger half-sister that she could no longer stay. Eventually she decided that there was no simple way to do it and that she just needed to get it done.
Shaylee went into Serena’s room and had a look around but could not find her. Shaylee remembered there was only one place that she could be, and that was with Marlifyn. As she descended the stairs and entered the courtyard, making her way to the private training section of the palace, Shaylee’s heart was racing. A faery’s heart beats faster than a human’s normally anyway, because of their light bones and blood composition, but this day hers was beating dangerously high. She took a couple of long breaths, closed her eyes, and walked into the training yard where Serena yelled out in excitement, “Shay, check this move out, I’ve been practicing all week.”
Shaylee put on a forced smile as she watched Serena do a full backflip, pull her sword out of its scabbard, run up to the wall and then a couple of steps along the vertical bricks, to flip again into a parry of thrusts and moves with her sword.
“What do you think, Shay?”
Shaylee was quite impressed. That move usually only worked for those with wings as a few flutters helped, and they could run along the sides of buildings more easily and for longer. Even the flip was hard, and yet Serena could do all that without wings.
“Very impressive, Serena. You have come such a long way in such a short time. I can see you becoming a very able warrior in the future, but for now we need to finish up your training as I have something very important to say.”
Serena looked concerned. Her smile slowly faded into more of a worried look; she knew Shaylee well now, and her tone was not of excitement. She turned and bowed to Marlifyn, sheathed Long Leaf into her scabbard, and walked over to Shaylee while wiping the sweat from her face with a small towel. Shaylee held her hand as they walked from the training yard to a private little room nearby where they could be alone. Shaylee sat opposite Serena, still holding her hand, and began the inevitable conversation.
“Serena, my child, I have loved having you here with me. You have helped me through the ordeal with the Zeytars and saved my life a second time fighting dark goblins. You mean so much to all of us here in the palace and as much as I would like you to stay forever, I need you to understand that Faelynn’s magic is shifting. We are losing some control of it through the loss of the Tuatha treasures that give us our magic. What I’m saying is that if I don’t take you back home soon, I am afraid you will be stuck here forever if we lose our power. The other thing is that I can only hold time back for you for so long. If you stay, by the time you get home all of your family will be old. Lastly, there is turmoil coming and I cannot risk your life.”
Serena was crying. There were no words as she had known this time was coming eventually. Shaylee was waiting for one of her strong objections, but there were none.
Shaylee went on as she wiped her own tears away, “You will have a friend in the future to help with the Zeytars and after we find a way to save my—no, our—people from them, I have set in motion plans for you to return, if we defeat the threats here. Your training has been for a reason.”
Serena looked up at Shaylee’s watery blue eyes, still sobbing as she awaited the last of her devastating speech.
“I’m sorry, Serena, but I will need you to give me back Long Leaf—”
Before Shaylee could finish, Serena shouted out, “No! Please, Shay, not her, please not her.”
Serena, crying uncontrollably, now had both hands over her face, as Shaylee finished, “If they find out who you are, Serena, the Zeytars will kill you. Besides, I have your birthright etched in magic fire on the blade and pommel, so whenever you return it shows you are an Aethelwyne.”
Serena was still crying but slowing down as she looked up at Shaylee again.
“Here, my dear, drink this potion. It will make you feel better.”
Shaylee pulled out a small see-through cylinder filled with orange-colored liquid. Serena didn’t argue as she swallowed the whole amount down in a single gulp. Shaylee had her hand over her head, whispering some words that Serena couldn’t quite hear and the young girl started feeling better.
“Can I say goodbye to my friends, Shay?” Serena whispered in a very childlike tone.
“No, I’m afraid not. With a spy in our midst, I want to keep your departure quiet.”
Serena scowled before chiding, “Not even Van Coinan?”
Shaylee smiled. “OK, Van Coinan can know. Now hand me Long Leaf. She will be looked after, I promise. I will check on you from time to time, but when we get home, I will have to block your mind until you return. It is far too dangerous knowledge to have on your world.”
Serena didn’t argue. This was going easier than Shaylee expected but was still hard. She was losing her sister, and what her sister would have to endure later in life would be tough. Shaylee talked with Wilkes in depth of the upcoming battle in her future and that she was now being watched by the only Zeytar that was good. “Now get your backpack. I have also placed some clothes in the bottom drawer. Then meet me at the entrance. I will have Van Coinan ready.”
Serena reluctantly handed over the sword. She had no idea that the handle was of Vyyuna’s horn and had such power. She also didn’t know that the orange liquid she had just consumed would eventually erase her memories of her birthright.
Eventually Serena made it to the front entrance of the palace. Van Coinan was there and she bent down to hug the cheeky soft pooka tightly, with tears hitting his matted fur.
“Hey, stop dripping snot on me, girly,” Van Coinan muttered.
Serena gave a tiny snort of laughter before standing up and saying, “I’m going to miss you, dirty face. Don’t forget me.”
Van Coinan didn’t speak. In fact, for the first time he showed some emotion. With tears in his blue bulging eyes, he grabbed Serena’s leg tightly, before whispering, “I never will, Serena, I never will.”
Van Coinan let go as he watched Shaylee and Serena walk down the path away from the palace. Serena looked behind her and saw the pooka staring still, waving, before he lowered his head.
Serena turned back and whispered, “This hurts too much.”
Shaylee caught Serena’s words and said quickly, “It will be all over soon, my dear, and you will be back, happy, with your friends and family.”
Serena hoped she was right.
They soon reached the outpost where the stables for the extra horses were. Shaylee hopped onto a small but fast horse, brown with gray tips on her mane, and then reached down and grabbed Serena. They took off in a whirl of dust to the Aurora Forest where the secret portal awaited. It would take a few days on horseback, so they tried to make up as much time as they could.
Camping under the stars, Serena and Shaylee shared stories and plans, spending some quality time together, but by the second night Serena was forgetting key facts and Shaylee was careful not to reeducate her with the lost information. By the time they made it to the Aurora Forest, Serena was not aware at all that she was half Fae or that she was the half-sister to a queen. She could only remember some of her adventures.
As they entered the forest, Serena turned to make sure the horse had been fastened properly, giving it one last check. To her horror, a group of goblins had started tearing at it, and one made eye contact with Serena. She shouted, “Shaylee, run!”
Shaylee grabbed Serena’s hand, and they made a mad dash for the depths of the forest. One goblin was making headway toward the two, gaining distance quickly. Shaylee stopped and waited for it, and cut its head clean off with a surprise attack from Howling Tooth. The goblin let out a shrill cry before convulsing and writhing on the ground. Serena hated the noise they made when they were cut down. She was missing Long Leaf at that moment.
The pair kept running. A few branches caught Serena on her face, so her skin was stinging, and some black tar-like blood had splashed her clothing. She would not be going home in the same condition as when she had first arrived all that time ago.
The two kept up the pace. They could hear yelling from where they left the goblin mess moments before.
They were nearly at the portal when another goblin burst out in front of the pair. Shaylee fluttered up a few feet into the air, startled at first but ready and waiting to strike hard. Down came Howling Tooth, slicing the goblin’s head in two.
By then the other four had caught up and one grabbed Serena with a blade to her throat, yelling with a gurgled cry, “Throw your sword down or I’ll cut her from ear to ear.”
Shaylee did not move. She looked at Serena and nodded ever so slightly. Serena knew exactly what she meant and used a flurry of self-defense moves against the goblin, rendering the creature helpless in only seconds. As she did that, Shaylee had already removed two more heads from the other goblins. Serena struck the creature in the back with its own blade several times. The remaining goblin tried to run away so Shaylee threw Howling Tooth at it, hitting it in the back of the neck. As this last one fell, so too did Serena and Shaylee, exhausted from the ambush and the mad dash.
