Faes enlightenment, p.6
Fae's Enlightenment, page 6
part #4 of Call of the Elements Series
I thought I heard him chuckle as he followed me. Maybe he was capable of smiling. I’d file that away for later.
It wasn’t hard to find Coral. The wandering path ended at a small clearing with an old-fashioned well, like I’d seen in old western movies. It even had a bucket hanging from a pole with one of those turning cranks. I barely stifled my squeal of delight and struggled to resist the urge to drop the bucket into the well, then crank away to bring it back up.
The sound of children’s laughter drew my attention from the new toy. A young boy and girl chased each other around several squat trees bearing large peach-colored fruit. Coral stood facing the kids, her arms crossed. She was pissed. I could tell by her tapping foot and furrowed brow. My foster mom used to give me the exact same look when I took my time getting ready for school and made her late to work. Like I was ever in a hurry to endure the insults of my classmates.
Ronquil cleared his throat, and the kids skidded to a stop, the little girl plowing into the boy with a grin. Anyone with eyes could see she did it on purpose, but it didn’t stop her from sticking out her bottom lip and looking demurely at her shoes. The picture of innocence.
The boy jumped to his feet and gave her a scowl that rivaled Ronquil’s. Not only did his furrowed brow resemble the prince’s, but so did his high cheek bones and square chin. His small rounded nose still held onto the childlike softness of his age, but I suspected he’d grow into the mirror image of Ronquil. Was this his son?
I glanced at Coral, who shook her head ever so slightly. Interesting.
“Good afternoon, Prince Ronquil.” The little manipulator gently grasped both sides of her pale-yellow dress, flaring them out with her curtsy. Her long dark curls curtained around her round face but didn’t hide her grin.
The boy was already bowed at the waist by the time I turned to him. “Uncle, it’s good to see you.”
So, Ron was an uncle, not a father.
“Have you disobeyed your teacher?” Ronquil asked. Both children blushed and suddenly found their black leather boots very interesting. “Help Princess Coral prepare your lunch and don’t let me find out you’ve misbehaved.”
Ronquil set the basket on the ground by his feet and turned to me. I found myself blushing under his scrutiny, and I hadn’t even done anything wrong. Two small hands wrapped around the basket’s handle before it disappeared from my peripheral vision.
“Enjoy your afternoon,” Ronquil grumbled. “I’ll meet you at Sage’s in the morning.”
He didn’t even wait for my reply before he stormed off and disappeared among the raised gardens. What the hell made him so damn grumpy? I was about to ask Coral when I saw the kids tossing glances my way as they arranged our lunch. It wasn’t a conversation to have in front of them.
I brushed my hands down my baggy shirt and scoffed, remembering Ronquil’s critical gaze. Whatever.
“How can I help?” I asked, closing the small distance between myself and Coral.
“It’s not necessary,” she replied. “The children have it well in hand.”
I followed her gaze to the kids, who already had a blanket laid out on the ground. Several covered, ceramic dishes centered the fabric, and four place settings anchored each corner.
“Well done,” Coral commended. “Let’s eat.”
I stood at the corner she indicated, wondering the whole time if this was some sort of lesson for the kids. It seemed a little weird considering at least one of them was part of the royal family. Shouldn’t they have servants to do those things?
After we all stood at our places, Coral looked at me from across our quaint little square. “Introductions before we eat, if that’s acceptable?”
“Of course,” I replied, like I’d deny her. I had no idea what the proper etiquette was, especially with the kids. I forced my hands not to twist the edge of my shirt. They were children. I shouldn’t be nervous.
“I’m Raef, the Second Crown Prince of the Oceanic Fae,” the Ronquil look-a-like stated, bowing at his waist.
“I’m Kalindra, daughter of the best cook on the island,” the little girl boasted with another curtsy. I smiled.
“My name is Alisandra.” I paused, not sure how to introduce myself. Magister? No, not anymore. Princess of the Woodland Fae? Not really. Half-breed? Definitely. “I’m not sure what I want to be when I grow up, but hopefully I’ll figure it out soon.”
Kalindra giggled, and I caught Raef biting his lip to hide his grin.
“Alisandra is the Princess of the Woodland Fae,” Coral corrected, “and should be treated as such. Let’s see what the best cook on the island made us for lunch, shall we?”
Lunch consisted of grilled chicken and vegetables with the most amazing sauce ever. Fresh cut fruit smothered in sweet cream filled in as dessert, and that wonderful juice from breakfast washed it all down.
Coral tossed questions at the kids as we ate, which they answered easily. I suspect it was for my benefit because they all centered around the island and her people. I learned the island supported three villages, each one providing different items required for their survival. Each was named after one of the elements, which I thought was really cool.
Gaia, meaning earth, was on the eastern shore of the triangle-shaped island. Raef explained in painstaking detail that they raised all the animals providing our food. While I wasn’t opposed to eating meat of any kind, I wasn’t really interested in finding out where they came from. I was perfectly content to act like an ostrich and bury my head in the sand, poking it out for a juicy burger every once in a while.
Anemio, meaning wind, rested on the top of the island’s mountain. I suspected the mountain couldn’t actually be that tall, but Kalindra insisted. I didn’t argue. The king and his family lived there, along with their healers and those with powerful magic.
Kalindra spread her arms apart, her eyes wide. “Very few fae have powerful magic today,” she whispered dramatically. I suspected she mimicked the person who told her. “And those who do have a special place in the king’s palace.”
I had no doubts. Probably the dungeons, but I wasn’t about to say it out loud. I also needed to keep that in mind for my own safety. I’d be considered for one of the ‘special’ places if they learned of my true power.
“And this village? What’s its name?” I asked.
“This is Vesta,” Raef replied. “It means fire. The people here produce our crops and provide our homes with warmth and stability.” His staccato phrases gave the impression he’d recited the same thing dozens of times.
I tapped my chin and gave him my full attention. “That seems weird to me. I would’ve assumed earth provided the home with warmth and stability. Fire normally makes me feel volatile and aggressive, while earth pulls me into its strong embrace and helps me feel grounded.”
Raef raised his eyebrows and looked at Coral, but she didn’t offer any help.
“Fire correlates with the hearth and home,” he explained, clearly repeating what he’d been told. He looked to Coral for approval, and she nodded. “Earth gives us life through the plants and animals. It’s also somewhat related to hearth and home, but not as…” he paused, apparently struggling for the words.
“Not as deeply as fire,” Coral finished for him with a smile. “Well done, Raef.”
“Thank you, Aunt Coral.” He blushed and focused on his empty plate.
I hesitated to argue my point. They clearly believed what he said. It wasn’t my place to contradict it. I bit my lip, then grabbed my half-empty cup of juice to cover the act.
“You don’t agree?” Coral asked.
I sighed, knowing I should keep my mouth shut.
“It’s not my place to disagree, especially in front of the kids,” I replied. There. Filter firmly in place.
“It’s okay,” she insisted. “We’d like to hear your perspective.”
“Really? Because I’m trying hard not to offend anyone while I’m here.”
“I insist.” She smiled and leaned back on her elbows.
I sighed again, racking my brain for the best way to explain without sounding condescending. Technically, there was nothing wrong with what they said.
“I’m going off the one fire elemental I’ve had the pleasure of working with,” I started. “And I know there are many of them, not just the one I know. So, he might be an exception.”
“You’ve met an elemental?” Kalindra asked, her dark eyes widening.
“Yes, I’ve actually met five,” I explained. “But we’ll stick to fire for now. He’s…um…” How was I supposed to explain Aviur’s sexy, spicy, and completely volatile attitude? Like a damn hot tamale. “Fire is challenging, sometimes stubborn, and totally spontaneous.”
The kids’ eyes grew even bigger, but Coral’s narrowed and a frown worthy of Ronquil emerged.
“He’s also fiercely loyal and even though he isn’t officially my elemental, he still treats me like I’m his.” As the words fell from my mouth, I realized their truth. Aviur may have tortured me with his sexy dreams, but I could always feel his friendship and loyalty.
“What do you mean your elemental?” Raef asked, crossing his legs and resting his elbows on his knees.
“Well, I assume you’ve learned about elemental mages, correct?” I asked, glancing at Coral.
“Yes,” the kids chimed together.
“So, you know the elementals choose their mage partner, right?” They nodded in unison, and I tried not to smile. “Two elementals chose me: air and water. I call them mine, but I really belong to them. The fire elemental I met is my par…my friend’s elemental, along with earth.”
From habit, I nearly called Kellen my partner. Aviur and Qeb had mentioned they found a suitable new partner for him. I hoped the introductions were going well.
“We thought the mages didn’t talk to their elementals,” Kalindra huffed. “They only get to use part of the elements power.”
“That’s true,” I said, thinking of my own false belief that everyone was like me. “Very few mages are given that gift. I’m grateful every day that I’m one of them. My elementals are my best friends.”
“We’re straying off topic,” Coral interrupted. “What makes you believe that fire cannot be the element of hearth and home?”
“Home to me is calm and safe. A place I can go to escape from the chaos of my life.” I grinned with the memories of Aviur’s mischief. “The fire I know is anything but calm, and he enjoys chaos.” My smile faded. “But he does help me feel safe and grounded.”
“So maybe we’re both right?” Coral offered.
“Sounds good to me.”
She smiled, and I returned it with my own.
“Children, pack up our basket while I talk with Alisandra,” the princess said.
“Yes, ma’am,” the kids chimed together.
Coral rose and I followed her to the old-fashioned well. “Thank you for not contradicting our teachings,” she said, leaning against the well-worn wood.
“It was the truth,” I stated, searching her face for any expression that would explain her comment. “They are absolutely my best friends and for a while were my only friends. I couldn’t imagine my life without them.”
She frowned and ran her fingers down the thick rope tied to the bucket. “I remember them differently.” She pushed away from the well and went back to help the children.
I didn’t move. Had she not seen the elements since the fae refused to help all those years ago? Was Coral around back then? Did she know about the elder vampires? Hopefully at some point I’d be able to get answers from her.
Chapter 6
“Oh my God! That’s what that phrase means?” I asked, eliciting giggles from both kids.
It was something I remembered my father telling me, after he gave back all my memories. He would whisper it in my ear each time before he left. I always thought it was a term of endearment, like ‘I love you’ or ‘See you soon.’ It was nothing of the sort. ‘Until the darkness takes you, be safe.’ I knew all about the darkness.
“It’s the same as ‘Break a leg,’” Coral explained. “I believe your people use that frequently, though I can’t imagine why.”
I rubbed my temples, trying not to read too much into his endearment. “I guess the original meaning for both phrases was lost over time,” I mumbled. “I always thought English was hard, but the fae language is ten times more difficult.”
We’d spent the last few hours going over the most basic words of the fae language. The children were thoroughly entertained by my inability to enunciate their long-worded-phrases with way too many vowels. We threaded our way through the gardens, using the numerous vegetables and fruits as examples. The verbs and adverbs were the hardest. Trying to describe something seemed almost impossible.
“It’s just different,” Coral patronized. “Not really harder. You can’t expect to be speaking fluently after one day.”
“Whatever you say.” I waved a hand at her. “I’ll stick with it because I want to learn how to do more than just kill people while I’m here.”
She raised her eyebrows at me but didn’t respond. “Let’s take the children back to the village. Raef’s mother will be waiting for us.”
She picked up our basket on the way out and locked the gate as we left. Kalindra stayed by my side while Raef walked ahead of us with Coral. I didn’t miss the symbolism, even if they didn’t mean to imply anything. Coral and Raef were royalty, while me and Kalindra were just mutts. Well, I guess I wasn’t, but I couldn’t see myself as royalty.
“Will we get to meet your elementals?” Kalindra asked in a loud whisper, tugging at my shirt.
I looked down at her round childish face, already too beautiful for the outside world. Her dark eyes twinkled with the curiosity only a child could have.
“That’s up to my elementals,” I replied. “I can ask them.” I glanced over at Coral a few yards in front of us. “I probably need to okay it with your teacher, too.”
“Then we’ll never get to meet them,” she mumbled. Her crestfallen expression tugged at my heart.
I wasn’t sure if Coral could hear us or not, so I hesitated, but it didn’t stop me from wondering why the princess disliked the elementals. I placed my hand on Kalindra’s shoulder and slowed down. She caught on quick, and we put a few more yards between us and Coral.
“I’ll see what I can do,” I whispered, winking at her.
“Thank you.”
Her broad smile brightened her entire face, reminding me why I wanted to have children. But I couldn’t, could I? Would I really be able to live here in this small village and raise my kids? It didn’t really matter. Braden was shooting blanks, and I couldn’t see myself having sex with anyone else, even if he were just a sperm donor.
Kalindra skipped ahead of me when we reached Sage’s restaurant, disappearing through the curtain of flowering vines on the doorway. Maybe I could just be a godmother, getting my fill of the little ones when I could.
Coral stopped in the door, blocking my way. Her furrowed brow gave away her mood.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea to introduce your elementals to the children,” she stated, resting a hand on Raef’s shoulder. “Our history lessons don’t portray them in the same light.”
I bit back my retort and gripped the edges of my smock to keep from lashing out. I wouldn’t allow her narrow-minded view to taint my feelings for Niyol and Göksu. “Then I’ll introduce them to you first. Or maybe you should just ask Ronquil what he thinks. He’s already met them.”
Her gaze darted to Raef, who looked on with unconcealed interest. “My brother refuses to tell me his opinion,” she muttered.
“Then we’ll allow you to create your own,” I suggested. “Let me find out when it’s convenient for them, then I’ll get back with you.”
She nodded, her lips set in a thin line. “I’ll meet you after dinner.”
I held on to my sarcastic remark about having nothing else to do this evening and stepped past her. I should’ve stayed to meet Raef’s mom, but I doubted I could be civilized. It looked like I wasn’t winning the friendship award with Coral any more than I had with Ronquil. I didn’t think I was that hard to get along with, but maybe I was wrong. It happened occasionally.
“Princess Alisandra!” Kalindra’s high-pitched squeal greeted me before I could cross the dining room. She bounced enthusiastically near the counter where her mother stacked clean glasses. “Over here!”
Two other people occupied a table in the corner, a man and woman. I noticed them watching me as I approached one of the empty chairs at the counter. I smiled, and they actually smiled back.
“Kali, settle down,” Sage scolded, drawing my attention.
“But Mama!”
I chuckled at the all too familiar phrase. “Is there anything I can help with?”
“No, we’re actually on break,” Sage replied, setting another glass on the shelf behind her. “We’ll be starting dinner soon, though.” She nodded at the couple across the room. “My cooks have to have some time off.”
“Do you guys feed the entire village?” I asked, my gaze following Kalindra as she climbed into the chair next to me. Her infectious smile lit her face.
“Mostly,” Sage responded. “Kali, don’t be rude.”
“She’s fine,” I said, looking down at the little girl. Her eyes and dark hair were the only resemblance to her mother. All her other features must have come from her father. “I enjoyed the kids’ company this afternoon. They made me realize how very little I know about the fae.”
“She grew up on Earth, Mama!”
“Yes, I know.” Sage leaned against the counter and swept loose strands of hair from her face, giving me a sympathetic look.
“If it’s okay with you, I’d like to practice the fae language with Kalindra,” I said. “I’m more on her level of learning than Coral’s level of teaching.”
Sage laughed. “I don’t mind at all.”
“Does that mean I don’t have to do dishes tonight?” Kalindra asked. “I mean, if I’m helping the princess, I can’t be in the kitchen, right?”
