Page 38 of Straw and Gold
“He can’t tell you anything, my queen,” Fedir continued and I nodded for him to explain. “You see, when King Killian was young, he was a powerful Forestfae. He could shift through the trees just as any other, yes, but he could also…change them.”
“Change them how?” she insisted, squeezing my arm.
“Our young Killian here could change the trees into sentient beings. A new kind of fae he called Dryads.”
“But that’s…” she glanced back at me.
“A fae Goddess trait, yes,” I finished. “Keep listening.”
Fedir continued, pushing his plate and mug aside. “When the Forestfae Goddess Fiola found out, she went straight to Céad who had been searching for an heir to take her place. Killian’s power of such enormous change might interest her.”
“And did it?”
Fedir nodded. “It angered Céad as well. The line of a Goddess’s power does not often fall to men, so why would one have so much of it? And one who had no Changelingfae lineage?”
I shifted uncomfortably, rolling my shoulders. Her fingers pressed lightly to my arm and I took a deep breath.
Fedir sighed and continued. “The truth is, Queen Morella, no one knows how or why Killian had such power. But he was clever. He knew upon meeting Céad that she wouldn’t think twice about ending his life and any chance of continuing this power of his on to children of his own. So he offered her a bargain. She would crown him as king of her people. He would rule all of the Citrine Cliffs and the Changelingfae and he would never create another Dryad again. He would offer his life not as her heir, but as the guiding ruler of her people, and a benevolent one at that.”
Morella turned her head, giving me a dreamy grin.
“But that wasn’t enough for her,” Fedir continued, drawing her attention. “He would become king, yes, but none would know his true name and Céad would take his power of changefrom him. He would forever be known as someone else, and if he could find someone to discover his true name, all of his power would return. Only then would he be truly known throughout the kingdom.”
Morella bit her lip. “So when I figure out his name, I have to stand before the Citrine Cliffs and speak it?”
“Yes,” he confirmed, catching my eye. “At dawn as the sun glints off the crystals and lines the canyon in golden light.”
Morella’s eyes widened as she turned to me. “Why didn’t you tell me that essential detail?”
“He cannot,” Fedir explained. “For part of the bargain is that he could tell only one single soul any important details on the bargain’s fulfillment.”
“And that’s…you?”
He hummed his confirmation. “I am allowed to tell whomever I wish.”
She slipped her hand from my arm, folding them in her lap with a weighted pause. A frown slowly spread across her lips and she stared at the table in front of her. Finally, she asked, “How many, Fedir?”
“Sorry?” he mumbled.
I felt the calm cold coming from her as she clarified. “How many Changelingfae have taken this bargain and tried to discover his name?”
My captain huffed a laugh, attempting to brush off the question. “I don’t see how that’s?—”
“How many?”
I folded my arms at my chest, answering for him. “Three.”
She nodded without looking my way. “And where are these Changelingfae now?” she whispered.
“Dead,” I finished.
“Why?” she snapped, finally looking my way in a blaze of ire.
“My Queen,” Fedir interrupted, “perhaps that’s a story for another ti?—”
“They entered the bargain with me,” I answered.
“Killian, do you think it’s wise to?—”
