Page 9 of Shadows of Air and Earth
I hummed, "Yes, and I'll even wear the blindfold. Deal?"
His auburn eyes gleamed and his tongue licked across his teeth. "Deal."
Rising from the booth, I wrenched the dagger out of the wooden table, handing it over to him, and manifesting a thick strip of cloth from my shadow void. I was most fortunate to have the shadows carry everything for me while traveling and of course, one could never travel anywhere without daggers and blindfolds. "Goddess’ blessings to you then, fire elemental."
Wrapping the blindfold around my head, I picked my way through the tavern full of chairs and barstools, having already memorized the space in my mind. Turning at the appropriate amount of paces.
"Ten second countdown," I cooed, "Ten…nine…eight…seven…six…five…four…three…" A slight shift, a soft whirl, and I spun, dancing to the side, hearing the loud thunk of the blade hitting the wall instead of my body.
A loud curse echoed throughout the room while I unshielded myself from the blindfold only to see fire shooting towards my head. I was ready for it, of course I was, I had already sensedscorching eyes was a sore loser, short tempered but most of all, afraid. Fear made fae do foolish things.
Quickly, I snuffed it out, the shadows hissing. Not enjoying the light they were forced to consume.
"Bad form, Caval. You made a deal with the general, you should honor it!"
Turning, I watched a freshly showered Riley Dragoon stroll forward with his partner Xi following stride for stride, her lips pressed harshly together with disapproval. I cocked my head, wondering if they realized how in sync they were with each other. Air and earth, an unlikely pair, and yet the way they moved, their presence, and bond was the most natural thing I had ever seen.
Part of me ached for a bond like that but that seemed very unlikely. The time of soulmates was far and few, with the slow extinction of our race, there were no new souls to be born. Our curse of infertility set up our impending extinction but also stopped the natural course of fate. A demise that was slow—allowing a long life but not a full one.
That was if we didn't kill each other off first.
The fire elemental’s mouth opened and closed, his eyes wide with fright. "I…I, please forgive—I don’t know what came over me."
I shook my head, "You have a decent throw,Caval," I said, walking towards the wall and grabbing the dagger. "I could use someone like you to join my forces, I am always looking for elementals who can see past their fear to protect the fae they love. You just need a bit more training to truly harness it."
The squeak of the cook stepping into the room had us all looking in her direction. Face blushing deep red, she scurried to the table to drop off a loaded tray of delicious looking fare, and then dashed back out of the room. All of us followed her retreat before turning back to one another.
Smirking, I tossed a silver coin to Caval. His demeanor now one of shock as he flipped it over in the palm of his hand,"If you're interested, take that to the guards at the gates of the City of Light, show them the coin and they will take you to Lieutenant Ruane. He will get you sorted, supplying you with anything you need. Including a full year's pay."
Both Xi and Riley inhaled sharply while the fire elemental stared at the coin in his hand.Purpose, Caval just needed a purpose for this life, and this was the first time he was realizing it.
Striding back towards the table of delicious smelling egg custard tarts and steamed buns with strawberry sauce I had ordered, I winked back at the fire elemental, "I'd get out of here Caval, before I change my mind."
Not bothering to look back, I heard Caval release a faint curse before whispering his goodbyes and apologies to the other two elementals in the room.
Sitting down, I smoothed out my fitted leather vest and used the dagger to distribute the tarts and buns on my plate, slathering them in a massacre of sweet, sticky strawberry sauce. Stabbing a tart with the blade, I stuffed the whole thing in my mouth looking up at the two elemental fae watching me warily. Chewing thoughtfully, I studied them. They weren't afraid or nervous as much as they were worried…and their worry was not for themselves. "So…" I said through a mouthful of custard, "about the item you actuallydidsteal. The Empedolces staff."
Chapter 5
Empedolces Staff.
The words echoed on repeat, clattering around in my brain along with my terror that I refused to show. We had worked too long and too hard to return what was once our court’s most sacred treasure.
Clipped from the roots of the ancient grove by the goddess, the Empedolces was made of the four elemental sources of power. Fire, air, earth, and spirit, combined together into an enchanted wood. A staff that crowned the leader of the elemental court.
The last leader chosen by the staff was Oberon Adranos Unseelie, a powerful earth and fire elemental that fell in battle during the Blood Wars. His loss resonated throughout our people. We mourned, we grieved, and thenshetook the throne. Deirdre Tatianna Maeve Seelie, another powerful elemental that wielded all four elements, never chosen by the Empedolces, and yet still took over the rule. While our war-torn world accepted her as queen, the elementals were not so keen. Split between the ways of old and the queen's bright future promises, our people were on the brink of civil war.
We could no longer stay divided. The fracturing weakened everything that made the elemental court formidable, strong, and thriving. It was time our people were reunited again, under the true leader of our court and not the fake impersonation on the throne. Power wasn't always the markings of a great leader and Deirdre Seelie was anything but—she was anopportunist.
"The staff has not been seen by our people since the Blood Wars," I said with more courage than I felt inside.
"Oh that I very much believe, please sit." Remnant Dark waved to the seat next to her.
Riley grunted, sliding fluidly into the booth, snatching up a plate to pile it high with warm buns and sticky strawberry sauce. The shadow fae general watched him with an amused expression, stuffing another pastry tart in her mouth.
Catching my look, Riley snorted at me. "I am not about to pass up steamed buns, Xi." He winked at me salaciously and I blinked. The image of his own steamed buns in the shower just moments ago still vivid in my mind.
The general snickered and then raised an expectant brow at me.
