28.

  Faelwen

  The morning arrived sooner than expected, its honey coloured light spilling into the room. Sunbeams danced on the walls, and outside, birds sang a melody so vibrant it chased away the remnants of sleep.

  Slowly, I opened my eyes, blinking as the world came into focus. Turning my head, I couldn’t help but smile at the sight before me.

  Ash and Spook lay tangled in an unlikely tableau of peace. Ash, the larger of the two, had curled himself around Spook, while Spook rested snugly against his chest. They looked so serene, so sweetly at ease, that it was almost impossible to reconcile this moment with the tension of the night before, when they had been at each other’s throats in their seemingly endless challenge.

  They look surprisingly harmonious like this, I sent the thought to Artemis, my ever-watchful companion. His deep chuckle echoed in my mind.

  Perhaps they’re learning to tolerate each other faster than you think, Wen.

  I hope so, I replied, my gaze softening. We’re in for a long journey still, and they’ll need to tolerate each other if we’re going to survive it.

  You do have a knack for attracting strong-willed, stubborn men, Artemis teased, his tone laced with amusement. Still, one thing is certain, they both care for you deeply in their own way. They’d walk through fire if it meant keeping you safe. I’m glad they are part of our pack, Wen.

  I nodded in response, warmth blooming in my chest and carefully slipped out of bed. The wooden floor was cool beneath my feet as I moved across the room, searching for fresh clothes.

  My old garments, smeared with the grime of travel, lay discarded in a corner. I made a mental note to wash them later and turned my attention to the drawers.

  Inside, I found a treasure trove of finely crafted attire: soft velvet dresses, intricately embroidered shirts, and trousers tailored from fabrics that felt so soft against my fingers.

  Eventually, I chose a long moss-green skirt paired with a white blouse adorned with delicate green leaf patterns at the cuffs and neckline. Securing my worn brown belt and dagger at my waist, I slid on my scuffed boots. Pulling my hair into a loose ponytail, I felt a fleeting sense of normalcy as I stepped into the sitting area.

  A soft knock at the door interrupted my thoughts.

  “Come in,” I called, and the door creaked open to reveal two elven women, their movements as silent as a breeze.

  They were dressed in simple white robes, each carrying a tray laden with an array of food. One of them approached me and handed me a note, inclining her head respectfully before they both departed. I thanked them and unfolded the parchment, its elegant script catching the morning light:

  Dear Faelwen and Spook,

  I hope you had a restful night and a warm reunion with your companion. We invite you to join our council meeting this afternoon. My daughter, Elora, will be your guide today. She’ll help you become acquainted with the palace and the city to ensure you don’t lose your way.

  Kind regards,

  Elandor and Amisra Reyzana

  “What’s that, little fox?” Spook’s voice startled me from behind, his tone laced with curiosity. I turned to find him rubbing the sleep from his eyes, his hair dishevelled but somehow endearing.

  “An invitation to a party,” I replied with a teasing grin, waving the note in front of his face. Before I could blink, he snatched it from my hand, his speed as infuriating as ever.

  As he read, Ash appeared in the doorway, fully dressed in his black robes that gave him an air of quiet menace. His presence was magnetic, and he crossed the room with a predatory grace before pressing a warm kiss to my temple.

  “You two looked cozy this morning,” I teased, glancing between them with a sly smirk. Spook froze, his cheeks flushing crimson. In an attempt to hide his embarrassment, he yanked his hood over his head and muttered something incomprehensible, shuffling toward the tray of food. Ash chuckled, his hand gently brushing my hair back and tugging it slightly to force my gaze upward.

  “Jealous, are we?” he purred, his voice a low rumble.

  “Is it that obvious?” I shot back, grinning as he pulled me into a tight embrace, nibbling playfully at my ear. My laughter turned to a squeal, breaking the tension, though I caught Spook’s soft sigh in the background.

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  Guilt pricked at me as I glanced at him. There was something unspoken in the way Spook looked at me, fleeting, but unmistakable.

  I noticed it from the moment we found each other again on the beach. I didn’t know the depths of his feelings, but the pain in his eyes when Ash and I were close spoke volumes.

  I slipped from Ash’s embrace and crossed the room, filling a plate from the trays of food. I sat down across from Spook, who was casually picking at his breakfast, sitting cross-legged on the big comfortable chair.

  “Did you sleep well?” I asked, hoping to bridge the silence. I heard Ash silently filling his plate as well and taking a seat.

  “Yeah…” Spook’s answer was brief, his gaze fixed on his plate. I decided to leave it alone for now. He didn’t seem eager to talk about whatever was going on inside his mind.

  A moment later, the door opened again. A striking young elf stepped into the room, her amber coloured hair swept into a messy bun that framed her delicate face. Her almond-shaped eyes, warm and brown, studied us with quiet intensity.

  A faint tattoo marked her forehead, a hexagon with a crescent moon suspended below it, and her ears shimmered with several piercings.

  Her gaze lingered warily on Ash and Spook, who both returned her scrutiny with dark, unreadable expressions.

  “Don’t mind the two brooding shadows over there,” I said lightly, gesturing toward the two men. “Their names are Spook and Ash. You’ll get used to them.” Smiling, I added, “I’m Faelwen, and this is Artemis.” I glanced at the wolf at my feet, his golden eyes gleaming. “And you are?”

  The elf’s lips curved into a soft smile.

  “I’m Elora. I’ll be your guide today.” Her tone was pleasant and she seemed fluent in the common tongue, but her gaze sharpened as it flicked back to the men.

  “And don’t worry. I’m perfectly capable of handling two brooding boys.”

  “Boys?” Spook scoffed, his tone incredulous. Elora raised an eyebrow, her grin turning playful.

  “Are you not?”

  Ash laughed under his breath as Spook straightened, his familiar wolfish grin spreading across his face. Here we go. But even though he smiled, I could still see the tension in his shoulders. The emotions he probably tried to hide.

  “I’m older than I look. You may guess if you want,” he challenged, leaning back to reveal more of his face beneath the hood. Elora tilted her head, her eyes narrowing in thought.

  “Thirty-five?”

  “What?” Spook’s voice cracked, his indignation palpable. Ash snorted, and I had to stifle a laugh behind my hand.

  “You told me to guess,” Elora said, her expression both amused and apologetic.

  “Yes, but you could’ve guessed younger!” Spook shot back, exasperated. Elora shrugged.

  “You said you weren’t a boy, so I guessed accordingly. Besides, we elves stop bothering with age at a certain point.”

  Ash burst into full laughter, and even I couldn’t keep a straight face.

  “How old are you then, young man?” Elora pressed, her tone teasing. Spook sighed dramatically, pulling back his hood.

  “I’m twenty-five,” he admitted with a sheepish grin. Elora’s eyes widened.

  “In elven years, you’d still be a child,” she teased. “How was I supposed to know you’d see yourself as a man with twenty-five years of age.”

  “That scar does make him look a little older,” Ash grinned.

  “Thanks mate,” Spook grumbled.

  I chuckled.

  “Elora, humans consider themselves adults at eighteen. Their lives are short but full.”

  Her gaze softened as she studied us, though a hint of sadness lingered in her expression.

  “I forgot how short of a lifespan humans have. You two,” she said nodding toward me and Ash, “Your fae ancestry gives you longer lives. Half-elves are rare these days… and not always welcome in our neighbouring countries.”

  Ash’s expression darkened, and I placed a hand on his arm, feeling his old wounds stir beneath his surface. Hoping to shift the mood, I turned back to Elora.

  “So, what can you tell us about Caradsher?n? What’s worth exploring for a group of young adventurers before we attend the meeting?”

  Elora’s smile returned, bright and inviting.

  “Follow me,” she said, motioning for us to join her. “I’ll show you everything this city has to offer.”

  ? ? ?

  The sun hung high in the sky as we journeyed through Caradsher?n, its sun-warm rays glinting off the intricate spires of the palace that stretched heavenward like crystalline trees. We’ve only had a few hours to explore this magnificent place. The city shimmered with an ethereal glow, as though the very stones were embedded with ancient magic.

  Elora guided us with a quiet reverence, her soft voice weaving tales of a world long past, painting the air with history as we moved.

  “Caradsher?n was old when the stars were young,” she began, her words carrying the weight of countless ages. “Built before the time of men, it was a crown jewel of the elves, one of many great cities that graced the lands before the humans came.”

  Her hazel eyes flickered with light, a spark of passion ignited by her love for these stories. She spoke of the elves’ intricate trading routes that once connected this city to Armenelos.

  Though she had walked the Mid Realm for only 120 years, a fleeting moment to her kind, her voice carried the authority of one who truly lived through the echoes of the past.

  Spook seemed captivated, his sky-blue gaze never straying from her as she spoke. He leaned forward, hungry for every word, peppering her with questions about the elves and their magnificent cities.

  His curiosity was a fire, and Elora gladly fed it, her smile blooming like a morning flower with every answer she gave.

  As we wandered deeper into Caradsher?n, the city unfolded like a living tapestry. Elora led us through narrow streets where local shops sold rich-smelling herbs and shimmering trinkets on their weathered counters.

  Around every corner lay hidden wonders, ancient carvings, crystalline waterfalls that cascaded down mossy cliffs, their melody soft and beautiful. The air was alive with the songs of nature, for Caradsher?n was as much a haven for animals as it was for elves.

  Small foxes darted playfully through the streets, while shimmering birds with jewel-bright feathers fluttered overhead like falling stars.

  It was then that I heard it; a piercing cry, sharp and wild. My gaze shot skyward, and there it was; an eagle. No, not any eagle. A big one, its vast wings slicing through the heavens with a power that shook the soul. Its wingspan was bigger than I’d ever seen. Easily the length of three men standing shoulder to shoulder.

  As it soared, the sunlight caught the silver streaks in its feathers, casting shimmering patterns across the streets below. For a moment, time seemed to still, and I felt as though I were standing in the presence of something timeless, something beyond comprehension.

  Elora paused, watching it too, her expression one of quiet awe.

  “They call him Eryndor,” she murmured, her voice barely louder than the rustling leaves. “He’s been guarding these skies for centuries. A reminder of what this place once was, and perhaps, what it can still be.”

  At that moment, Caradsher?n didn’t feel like a city. It felt like a dream. A living, breathing testament to an age of wonder that still lingered in the corners of the world, waiting to be rediscovered.