When you are summoned to the Fae Court, you know that there is no longer any hope for you. The Fae Court of the Western Fae Kingdom has no mercy for those that have broken the laws put in place by the Elder Council. I had been summoned because….because of an accident that I had caused. My closest friend Taurin had died because of that accident.
And the Elder Council was blaming me.
There is a reason to their madness. I’m not full fae, or fairy in human terms. My father a true fae of the Western Kingdom had fallen in love with a beautiful elven maiden. My mother had died giving birth to me. When I was a young girl, my father had been found guilty of treason by researching the Eastern Fae Kingdom, which was forbidden. His punishment was death.
Because of my mixed blood, I was denied nearly all of the things that most fae children receive when they come of age; their own weapons made specifically for their unique skills, fae armor again crafted for each fae’s unique set of skills, and the runes. The runes are received in a special ceremony upon the completion of fae training. The runes would become a part of each fae’s life and would enhance their skills. This made fae fearsome in battle.
But unlike a lot of the fae I had grown up with, I had a skill that had not been seen for a very long time. I could control the elements of Mother Earth and commune with her animal children. Because of this I was known as Nissa Chantrea.
* * * * * * * *
“What were you doing so close to the borderlands,” Elder Warren asked immediately.
No need for pleasantries with the supposed murderer of an Elder’s child.
“What does it matter why? Either way the two of them should not have been so far from the city. Nissa is to blame. All that is left to decide is her punishment for the crime,” stated Elder Kalen.
Apparently I would not be allowed to defend myself at Court.
“Is there a punishment severe enough for such a crime? This is beyond deplorable,” interjected Elder Kheelan, twin to Elder Kalen.
The elders continued to argue discussing what to do with my fate as if it were a piece of property they had no idea how to handle. I bowed my head in shame. It seemed as if I would be following in the same footsteps as my father; death for the act of treason.
“There is one punishment that is worse than death,” spoke Elder Foster.
He hardly ever spoke, but when he did it was usually wise. He also happened to be my guardian. My actions, accidental or not, reflected badly on him. The rest of the council quieted down and turned their attention towards Foster.
“We have done nothing but execute those we say have broken the laws,” Foster continued. “ And yet the ‘laws’ continue to be broken or disobeyed. What if we set a new example? Banishment is worse than death. While one may still have a life, they no longer have a place to call home. Let Nissa keep her life. But let her lose everything she knows. The Fae Lands that she has called home can longer be a place that she can belong to. Let her fend for herself for the rest of the life she will have.”
The elders looked at each other and started to whisper to themselves. I could not hear what they said. Foster looked at me and I had to look away. I had let him down.
“Nissa Chantrea.”
I looked up, alert and ready for my fate.
Foster spoke next. “From this day on you will no longer be allowed in the Western Fae lands or accepted into any home that is near the border. You will have fifteen minutes to gather what supplies you can carry. But you are no longer a Western Fae.”
At least I was still alive….
I was escorted back to the small hollow I called home in the forest. I grabbed my pack and put in an extra pair of shoes, an extra cloak, and all the food I could carry. I was not allowed to have any weapons when I was traveling by myself and I knew that this would be no exception.
I was then escorted to the eastern border and sent on my way. I had been given two small tokens from Foster in secret. A map of the lands east of my former home, and a small dagger.
It seemed the first place I was to travel through was a land called the Shire….
