The following is an original work of fiction. Unless otherwise indicated, all the names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents in this book/story are either the product of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. The following is intended for mature audiences only.
Chapter 18
Rubbing his temples, Finneck sighed. “They are merely staying for the one night to rest on their way back to Terrunnum. Nasbith is one stop among many.” Exasperated that this was at least the tenth time he explained that in the last hour.
“But why? Why not stay in Eitiris?” Kaylub asked, making it clear she still didn’t think with politics in mind.
“They are only being polite,” Finneck said.
“Aren’t we still at war with them?” Finneck nodded once, crossing his arms over his chest. “Since when do enemies bother with such civility?” Her pout was dropping. Kaylub knew she was being irrational and dramatic. The determination to stand her ground was stronger.
That was how it had been the past week. Ever since correspondence from her father arrived from Eitiris. Without having read it himself, he was certain it stated the girl’s time in Nasbith was now limited.
Even though she was under intense restriction here, it was still quite an escape from the pressures of her position elsewhere. While he felt a good deal of empathy for her, he couldn’t hold back a chuckle. To be that young again.
“Because they are the royal family of the enemy race and neither race wants to spark more turmoil. Especially since the Caedum has seen a twenty-year loll. You are still young yet, one day you will be able to fully understand.”
He hoped that wasn’t entirely true. Certain she would learn the jaded views of the world, no matter how sheltered she was being kept. If only Kaylub would retain some of the innocuous logic that came with youth.
“I’m not a child anymore, Finneck,” she reminded him with all the attitude of a feisty toddler.
“A babe, really,” he teased with an unamused expression.
“Just because I’m not five thousand years old like some people, doesn’t mean I’m naïve,” she shot back hands on her hips.
Running his fingers through the stubble growing along his jaw, Finneck hummed thoughtfully. “Here I thought I didn’t look a day over twenty-five hundred.”
Kaylub rolled her eyes hard enough to make a sound. Her new favorite gesture. One he was eager for her to outgrow.
“Either ready yourself to greet your guests or hide yourself away completely so that I may offer the appropriate excuses. Just be grateful you have a choice while your father is absent. Were he here, your attendance would not only be expected, but it would also be an obligation,” he reminded her before leaving to ready himself. Wishing he had the same luxury of options.
It wasn’t the Fae’s visit he opposed. Their Nasbith stop was in part this doing. Not that anyone knew that little gem. One perk of being a highly ranked pawn. It was just that Eitiris was not as secure as this small town.
Despite convenience, Finneck could do without exposure to Fae magic. Disappointed there wasn’t a way, that he knew of, to nullify it. There was never a time, outside a battlefield, Fae used their magic in his presence that was not justified. Simply being around them caused his own power to react. Forcing him to use great effort to remain in control.
Gods, he hated magic.
Stationed in the dining hall of the small fortress of Nasbith, Finneck watched as Angor entertained the Fae King and Queen. Only the older prince was in attendance with his parents this night. The rest of the royal family and their attendants remained in their chambers feigning exhaustion from their travels. At least that was the official story.
The night’s quaint gathering was intimate. Usually receiving royalty included so much pomp and circumstance Finneck dreaded them with a ferocity that he often considered inflicting a near fatal injury to himself just to have an excuse. But tonight was almost informal by traditional standards.
True, the fortress could only do so much with its smaller stature and limited resources, compared to Eitiris. With King Aesiri remaining in Eitiris, many stifling customs were not being observed tonight. King Basileus was more than understanding. As much as Finneck tried, he could never really dislike the man. Gods knew he tried.
Chovek, the Chancellor of Nasbith, and the local nobility fawned over King Basileus as the captain tried to keep his distance. He was here to do a job, not spew false applaud.
After all her protest, Finneck thought Kaylub would still make an appearance. He knew the influence her curiosity had over her. After taking dinner up to her personal chambers, Altrixi stormed down, cheeks red with annoyance. “That girl is too stubborn to meet with any royal tonight without giving the Caedum new fervor.”
Puberty in humans was one thing. Puberty in immortal girls was torturous and seemed to never end. And Finneck was only privy to a fraction of it. No wonder Altrixi came down looking as if she was ready to help the kitchen slaughter more guinea fowl with her bare hands for the formal dinner.
Conducting his rounds, checking in with his guards stationed around the room, Finneck slowly made his way out of the dining hall.
Taking in a lungful of air as he emerged out onto a balcony on the second floor. Close enough to hear the guests dining below if anything unsavory were to happen, but far enough away to enjoy a moment of solace. From there he could also visually check the guards he stationed sparsely along the outer wall.
Only the faintest shades of blue remained from the sliver of sun still hanging on the horizon. A small smattering of stars began to make themselves known. A handful of hours remained until this soiree would come to an end and the real work could begin, while most were asleep.
Draping his arms over the stone railing, Finneck allowed the cresting night to soak into his skin, rejuvenating him. The dining hall had become stifling. The Roburs had traveled with minimal attendants and guards. Seeing Vonik, King Basileus’ Captain, was always a pleasure no matter the circumstances. From battlefield to royal function and everything in between. Vonik was one of the few people outside the Dreche he respected and trusted. It also helped that he wasn’t particularly gifted in magic. Relying on good ol’ fashioned skill, intellect, and blades.
A figure entering the small garden below caught his attention. A young Fae casually sauntered toward one of the stone benches along the path. Sitting, he ran his hands through waves of blond hair and sighed. He looked to be somewhere in his early twenties. Which meant he was closer to a century. But to be that young and don that particular guard uniform, the one that stated he was assigned to the royal family, was a feat. The jeweled baldric at his waist signified he was specifically assigned to one of the princes. Since Prince Nostrec was still in the dining hall, it wasn’t hard to determine which prince he was to protect. After a quick glance around, Finneck knew this guard wasn’t following his charge.
Light footsteps pulled the captain’s attention to the left, away from the young guard and the hall. The Fae guard stood, hand automatically inching toward the hilt at his side. To Finneck’s horror and surprise, a familiar face peered around the shrubs. Leather groaned as the captain’s gloved hands gripped the edge of the railing as Kaylub came into full view.
“Oh,” she exclaimed quietly. Hair loosely cascading down her back hiding the scar, dressed in a long-sleeved gown that was not nearly formal enough for a royal affair. Clearly she had no intention of making her presence known tonight. Other than the fabric of her dress, she wore nothing to give away her position. Deliberate or not, Finneck was relieved nonetheless.
“I didn’t think anyone would be out here tonight.”
“That was exactly my thoughts,” admitted the guard, hand falling loosely to his side.
“I will leave you to your thoughts then,” Kaylub said as she turned to leave.
Finneck stood and turned his back to the railing, knowing he had to return to the dining hall to show his face before slipping out again to ensure the girl returned to her room for the night at stayed there. Even if he had to padlock the gods damned door himself.
“Wait.”
Every muscle in his body froze at the boy’s voice as if the command was meant for him. Returning to the edge of the balcony, he watched.
Without turning back around, Kaylub paused.
“You don’t have to leave,” he said gently.
Silently, Kaylub turned and took a few steps toward the Fae. Her eyes watching him closely
“Why aren’t you in there?” she asked gesturing toward the hall with her chin.
Before answering he looked over his shoulder, through the windows at the royals, nobility, courtiers, and servants. The sides of his mouth ticked up before turning his attention back to Kaylub.
“To be honest, I don’t really enjoy these types of things,” he admitted leaning toward her slightly as if divulging sacred information.
“What, pretending every joke is the funniest you’ve ever heard not amusing? Forcing yourself to act
as if every conversation is the wittiest and every jewel the most impressive not enjoyable? Blasphemous,” chided the girl.
“Our experiences during these functions seem to be at quite apposing levels. I just have to stand there and try not to laugh at all those ridiculous things. Sound like you actually have to interact with it,” he said with a smile. “Is that why you’re not in there?”
“One of the reasons,” she admitted.
Nodding his head, understanding, blond waves fell over his brow. Shading his eyes from Finneck’s view. He could see Kaylub’s just fine as she watched the Fae tuck his hair behind his ear. Hers fixated on the slight point of his ear.
“You’re Fae,” she breathed out.
“I thought the uniform would have given it away.” Pausing a breath before continuing. “You’re Eildun,” he stated trying to ease the tension that read in her eyes.
Kaylub nodded before speaking again. “Haven’t met too many,” she admitted with a small shrug playing down her reaction. She was an intelligent girl. Finneck had no doubt she recognized the uniform and knew what he was. Seeing his ears so nonchalantly must have made it real for her. The girl, that just hours ago, was complaining about their presence.
“Wouldn’t imagine you would have living here,” he said gesturing to their surroundings.
Thank the gods she remained quiet. Finneck didn’t need her admitting to which Fae she had specifically come into contact with over her limited years or that this wasn’t her true home. The guard didn’t know who she was and it seemed Kaylub didn’t know who he guarded. Interesting they hadn’t seen each other before.
“Would you like to sit?” he offered, gesturing toward the stone bench behind him.
“I shouldn’t. I just wanted to get a peak at dinner.”
“Then I will leave you to your spying,” he said with a bow and parting smile.
“Wait,” she said.
Finneck groaned from his perch. Couldn’t these two hate each other like they had been brainwashed to? Why was youth so enamored by their own curiosity?
“What’s your name?”
God save him, Finneck was going to have to jump over this railing and abruptly stop this conversation.
The boy’s hesitation made Finneck pause as well.
“Falach,” he finally said. “Yours?”
Gripping the railing once more, preparing himself to act depending on her answer. He was only one level up. At most, it would result in a few aching joints for the remainder of the night. After landing he would only need to take a few long strides before he was close enough to adequately conjure a shield between the two. He prayed to any god that would listen that it didn’t come to that. Especially since he had no idea how powerful that kid was. How easily he might detect Finneck’s power.
“Kaylub,” she answered after her own pause.
Slowly releasing his breath and the cracking railing, Finneck had to admit she still had some sense left in her. Clearly she was still naïve and young. Also very contradictory.
“Very nice to meet you, Kaylub,” he proclaimed as he sat back on the bench.
Cautiously, she joined him. Sitting close enough for the fabric of her skirts to rest firmly against his thigh. Clasping her hands in her lap, focusing on the scene just to their right, on the other side of the windows.
“Sometimes I’ll look at something like this and wonder if this was what it could have been like,” Falach said softly.
“What what would have looked like?”
“If the Caedum had been resolved quickly or hadn’t happened at all,” admitted the guard.
Kaylub watched. “Maybe this was what it was like before,” she speculated barely above a whisper.
Finneck could only imagine how she saw things in that imagination of hers. Fae royalty easily mingling with Eildun nobility. Courtiers no doubt flocking around the Fae princes. Guards stationed around the hall. Of course they would still would have been armed but their attention would be focused outward, not searching within for threats. To ones so young, it must have seemed so simple. To men like Finneck, who had been around for a few centuries before this war broke out, it was always a series of complex maneuvers to maintain appearances.
Immortals were assured two things in their lives: long memories and time. With that came a patience that mortal and the young could not fathom. There was peace in that hall tonight. Finneck often thought it worked purely out of nostalgia. Those who were old enough reliving the harmonious moments of the past.
Tomorrow those same people could be lifting swords against one another simply because of their race.
Finneck was aware of the future’s possibilities. Before him sat one of the greatest. A young Eildun female chatting companionably next to a young Fae guard. Part of him wanted to stomp down there and rip him away from her. Another part longed for that type of serenity. Turning his back on them, the Captain of the Eildun Guard left them to their stolen moment.
Sitting on the bench next to a Fae in silence was odd. This was only the second time I had had an encounter with Fae. I was too young to really think anything of it the first time I had met the Fae in person. The only difference between the guard beside me and an Eildun, that I could decipher, was the low hum of magic that flowed beneath his skin. Other than feeling my own small spurts of power, I was not accustomed to feeling magic such as his. It was different but not entirely unfamiliar.
“May I ask you something?” I voiced boldly before I could talk myself out of it. Clearly this guard had no idea who I was and I was hoping he didn’t figure it out. It wasn’t like my face was too recognizable outside of court.
“You may ask whatever you please,” Falach said with a smile in his tone.
That was a challenge I didn’t have time to accept and test out. It took effort swallowing down all the wayward and borderline inappropriate things I could have asked. “You seem awfully young to be appointed to the royal family,” I said instead of something far more interesting and scandalous.
“That wasn’t a question” he teased.
“I suppose the question was implied,” I answered. I knew I couldn’t tell Finneck about this encounter, but I thought he would be proud that I was able to recognize he wasn’t a regular guard.
“Well,” Falach began, rubbing his hands down his thighs. “I grew up in the castle at Terrunnum. Giving me the opportunity to train at a much earlier age than it would have otherwise.”
“So you’re saying you’re just that good,” I said mirroring his teasing tone from earlier.
“I suppose I am,” Falach agreed, showing very little emotion, after a silent moment of reflection. He wasn’t bragging, he was stating a fact as much as saying the moons rose in the sky nightly. I appreciated that. Honesty. I had come to expect that type of honesty from Finneck but few others.
Turning to study the Fae at my side, I couldn’t help but stare. He was very handsome and young. Which only meant he was going to grow into his looks even more. No doubt he would be stunning. His face was just beginning to show strong lines along his jaw and cheekbones. Most of his features still held that youthful softness I had seen some of the older courtiers begin to lose. Being part of the royal family’s detail, I wondered if I would ever see him again and see for myself how he matured. If I did, he wouldn’t recognize me. According to my father’s latest letter, in a few years, no one would.
“What would you be doing if you were in there right now?” I asked trying to distract myself from my own bitter thoughts. Besides, I was genuinely curious. Other than my own personal guards, I’ve never really been able to truly converse with guards. Sterk or any of the other Dreche didn’t count. They were more criminal than blindly loyal soldiers.
“I would be standing near the prince listening to Eildun courtiers throw themselves at him before turning their backs to gossip about the Fae in general.” Again with that very honest tone that lacked cynical judgement.
“Do you think Eildun courtiers are much different than Fae?”
Falach considered the question before giving his answer. “Their ears are not as pointy and their skin is more pallid.”
Unable to contain my laughter, I covered my mouth trying to muffle the sound. Falach turned to me and smiled. Showing off his elongated canines.
“What about the fangs?” I asked before thinking about my word choice. I was told fangs was not a polite term. I clenched my hands together anticipating for his response at my possible blunder.
Tilting his head to the side, Falach ran his tongue along one in an exaggerated sweep. Widening his smile, it gave me some relief and permission to return it with one of my own. “Eildun courtiers may not have these, but I’m sure they all have claws.”
To that I had no argument. I dreaded the time I spent with those vultures. They would just as easily praise your existence as gouge out your eyes.
“And you?” Falach asked. “What would you be doing if you were in there?”
The smile fell from my face. Was this the time to reveal myself to a stranger? If I had attended the night’s festivities, he would have known. It wasn’t like my identity was a secret, per se. It was questionable that I was out here and not in there. And all alone with a Fae guard. I really didn’t want to lie. So I did the most political thing I could. Cryptic truth telling.
“I would be sitting there letting my mind wander to any place that was not that dining hall.”
“You’d make a fine guard,” laughed Falach. “I would bet all the jewels in Terrunnum that not one guard, Fae or Eildun, is actually thinking about anything happening in that room.”
“So they are all useless?”
“Not at all. Their eyes are actively watching. But a part of their brains has meandered to their happy place. Multitasking; the only way to survive aristocracy.”
A laugh snorted out of my throat as I examined every guard I could see clearly. Their eyes looked attentive. It was the light behind them that tipped me off. Falach was right.
“All except for them maybe.”
Following his point, I saw Finneck standing near another man, Fae. Vonik Soldat, Captain of the Fae Guard. My spine straightened. Praying to the goddess that Finneck did not look out toward us. What would either captain think seeing one of their guards sitting with me on a bench in the dark? Falach may not have known who I was, but I met Captain Soldat earlier in the day.
“I believe it’s time I got back to my rooms,” I announced standing abruptly. Hiding my flustered face by paying extra close attention straightening my dress.
“Slow down,” Falach said his fingers wrapping easily around my wrist as he reached for me.
I had never been touched by Fae before outside of customary greetings. Not that I had expected it to be different. Right? I didn’t know what I expected, not this. Not an extreme warmth that made me want to wrap myself in his arms. There was a sense of safety in him that I didn’t want to think too much upon. Was this the Fae treachery my father would tell me about? Was he making me feel this way?
Forcing my eyes to leave the hand wrapped around my wrist, I allowed them to travel up his arm to meet his eyes. Cornflower blue irises shined in the growing lights of the moons, dripping sincerity. He couldn’t be that great an actor.
“At least allow me to see you safely inside,” he offered.
“I wouldn’t want to get you into any trouble. We have already been out here for a while.” I was too confused and needed to get back to the solitude of my room.
“Then a few more moments won’t matter. Just down the path to ensure no harms comes to you.”
I nodded, deciding that this was justification in feeling the innate safety he offered when we touched. It was just his nature. Talented or not, his personality was likely a large factor in achieving his position as a guard.
He was Fae. My enemy. I could believe him without fully trusting him.
Walking in silence to the closest side door, I stepped into the stone archway.
“It was a pleasure,” Falach said with a bow.
Curtsying, I couldn’t help the smile that graced my lips. Silently praying that if we met again he would never associate me with the girl he knew as Kaylub.
