Page 23 of A Bolt of Magic

I watch her walk away, her dress sweeping in the mud.

I want to give chase. To talk her out of it, but I think it would be a useless endeavor. Perhaps it is better if we split up.

I need to find the others. I have no idea where to begin, but I have to try. I look back at the Emptyfae territory. At the Court in the distance, a mere speck on the horizon.

My people.

My home.

MyCourt.

For now, I have to leave so that I may free them from Snow. From her evil clutches. I need to run, and I need to hide. I must find somewhere safe for the night. I wish McColl had given me a chance. I think we would have been good as a team, but I understand why she feels the way she does. I am, indeed, her enemy, even if I don’t see her as such. There has never been much love between the magical community and the fae. Especially the witches. It’s so much worse now under Snow’s rule. They hate us, and I can’t blame them for it.

I look down at my hands, turning them over and examining both sides. I can’t use this newfound power buzzing through my veins. I have no idea how I am able to access the magic inside me. I’m an emptyfae. I shouldn’t have a well, but I do. It makes no sense.

No matter. It’s clear that the fae can track me if I attempt to use it. Thatshecan track me. I give one final glance at McColl and force my gaze away from her. I force myself to start walking.

It’s a pity. I think we would have been better together. Safer, stronger. No matter. The witch wouldn’t listen to reason.

After a short while, I pick up the pace, starting to jog and making good time despite the muddy terrain. There is the odd tuft of dead or dying grass and the very rare tree. They are either dead or very nearly there. They’re all covered in lichen and moss. The sky is murky and covered in thick clouds. It looks like it might rain before long. I wish I had my oilskin jacket, but it’s tied to my horse, along with the rest of my supplies.

I trudge on, mile after mile, keeping a close eye on my surroundings, looking for hiding places should I require them.

It doesn’t take long before I do. I hear the thundering of the hooves first. I dash to a rocky outcrop, just managing to squeeze myself between one of the tight spaces, where I hunker down.

It’s cold and wet. Mud seeps into my breeches, sticking to my leather boots, but I sit tight until they are gone. Then I get moving again. I repeat this pattern several times; each time the fae guards get close, I hide until they move off. I’m careful to leave as few tracks for them to follow as possible. It’s tough in this type of terrain. I almost wish it would start raining to wash away any sign I was here. I keep walking at a steady clip until I am faced with a large open plain.

It would be foolish to attempt to cross with the guards out searching for me. If the search party came this way, it would be easy to spot me and to capture me. There is a big, deep cave inone of the rocky outcrops. I’m tempted to use it for shelter for the night, but I’m sure they’ll check it if they come this way. I know I would since it’s the obvious choice.

There is still some light, even though the clouds are getting darker by the second. There is a small cluster of dead trees that offer no shelter at all. In the end, I settle on a small hollow underneath an outcropping of rocks just up the way from the cave. If I pull myself into a tight ball, they shouldn’t be able to spot me once inside. It’s not ideal, but it will have to do. I squeeze into the tight space, my breath misting in the cool air. The ground is damp, but it’s better than being out in the open.

My stomach growls, reminding me that I haven’t eaten since this morning. There is nothing I can do about that right now. One thing is for sure: it’s going to be a very long night.

McColl

I made the right choice.

I did.

I’m not going to feel bad about it. About him. Alaric – or whatever his name is – is a big, strong, powerful fae. He’ll be just fine on his own. He doesn’t need to be babied by a witch.

I need to get back to my own. I can’t team up with the likes of him. I won’t! Take him with me to the Regana Mountains? I don’t think so.

I keep walking. It’s going to take me a very long time to get home on foot.

I look in the direction of the mountain range that makes up my home. It’s too hazy to be able to see it. At least I know whereI’m going. More importantly, I have my magic to keep me safe. I’ll use it to find food. To fight and to hide.

I can do this. There is a tight bundle of nerves inside of me, nonetheless. I keep my eyes open for signs of the fae.

Fae.

I think once again of Alaric. I’m tempted to look in the direction he took, but I don’t. By now, we’ve both walked too far to be able to see each other, so there is no point. It’s better this way. Besides, my grandmother always told me that it is always better to look ahead than backward. Less chance of tripping. More chance of getting to where you want to go.

I keep going, willing myself to walk faster.

I’m not surprised when I hear multiple horses’ hooves and a snort of the approaching beasts. All I need is a simple masking spell to keep me hidden, so I hold up my hands and close my eyes, pulling up my magic, but nothing happens. There’s no buzzing. No glowing. No rush as my power runs through me and out of me.

Nothing.

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