Away with the Faeries

Chapter Twenty-six

 "Where is Marcel Lana," I snapped, teeth grinding at each word.

The tiny Nuea sat calmly on the vines, watching me with careful eyes; "For the hundredth time," she began again, toying with the dark petals; "they moved him days ago and no one knows where."

I sank defeated into the thick vines, tears burning against my eyes. Marcel could be dead for all I knew. I turned to the Nuea; "Before they moved him," I began, "did anyone tell him I died?"

Lana was silent a moment, chewing thoughtfully at her lower lip. "Yes," she admitted, "he thinks you're dead."

If you can no longer fight for Erde then fight for me, please. Idiot, idiot. Silently I cursed myself. I had asked him to stay and fight for me, but now I was no longer here. What would he fight for? Would he even fight at all? I had to know if he was alive, I needed to know that he was okay. Relentlessly straining against the dense vegetation I fell back into its unyielding embrace, breathless.

"If it makes you feel better," Lana said, "he looked heartbroken when I told him you were dead."

Shooting daggers at the Nuea I felt my eyes grow hot with tears once more; "Why the hell would that make me feel better?"

She met my eye then; "It should," she insisted, "because Marcel is ancient, like older than the Runaway Queen herself, older than this very war ancient," she said, "he doesn't bat an eye at death, it's the entire foundation of his core. You should feel pretty freaking special right now."

Well, I didn't. "Why do you know so much about Marcel," I asked, "it's creepy."

She shot me a look before drifting back onto a patch of flora; "Everyone knows about him, who he is, what he was. He's of legend and myth. He's the stories we use to scare younglings right with. Most don't even believe he's real," she paused, thinking a moment, "for a long time I didn't believe he was either. I grew up hearing tales about how he rescued my Clan when I was only a baby.

But I also grew up hearing tales of him ravaging Erde till all that remained was ash. I can't tell you why he's done the things he's done; I don't know the reason. There's more to that Faerie than you or I have been privy to Rayne," she said, "he's been here a long time."

Briefly, I wondered how old that made Mrs. Benett. Her callused hands, her knowing eyes. Swallowing the lump in my throat I nodded as if I understood. I didn't, but I wanted to. I just hoped it wasn't too late.

"Rayne," Jinny called, bursting from around the corner, "I've you brought Mr.Wilts."

Leary followed close behind, his bottle-green eyes flying wide as he took in the scene before him. Almost on reflex, he raised his hands towards the thick vines, an incoherent incantation falling from his lips A wave of heat poured over me, sliding heavy fingers down my spine as the vines vanished. The bathroom was as it once was and I was free. Free and completely naked in a room full of people.

"Um Jinny," I mumbled, color rushing my face as I fell slowly back into the murky water. I threw a glance to Leary who still seemed dazed from all the commotion; "I'm naked."

Lana snorted from the rim of the tub as she watched Jinny hurry to secure me every last towel the bathroom was stocked with. Leary's eyes widened, dark locks bouncing across his face as he promptly turned tail and fled from the room.

"Aw," Lana cooed, "I think you embarrassed him."

"How inconsiderate of me," I said rolling my eyes as I wrung out my soaked hair. "Now Jinny," I called over to the young princess where she gathered colorful gowns from the floor, "I need you to tell me everything you know about what your father is planning."

———

It wasn't until many hours later that Jinny began to speak, waiting until the moon drifted high. The halls grew quiet as the night faded long into the dead hours. Still, she fidgeted nervously on the floor before me, worried that someone might overhear. We sat on a plush fur carpet before the dying hearth in her room, trays of sweets messily scattered across the floor. Jinny picked at a piece of sweet bread, mindlessly nibbling away as she stared into the swaying flames.

Lana dipped her fingers into the jug of ink that sat beside me, waiting to be used. Smearing the ink across her cheeks like warriors paint she gave me a cheesy grin; "How do I look?" She flashed a pose.

"Like I can't trust you around ink."

"You're only jealous because I look fabulous," she grumbled, wiping her hands and face off on the thin nightgown I wore.

Flipping the quill in my hand I stared expectantly at the blank sheet of parchment before me. I looked then to Jinny, she was betraying her family, it was a heavy decision to make. And a lot to ask of someone so young.

Jinny slumped to the floor, rolling onto her back with a defeated sigh; "I can tell you only what I know."

"Take your time," I said, dipping the quill in the thick, ebony liquid.

"It's not much," Jinny began, toying with the hem of her gown, "I only know what I hear. Which isn't much at all since I am not allowed into meetings and such."

"That's okay," I said, quill hovering over the parchment, "I don't need much, I just need something."

Jinny glanced at me before nodding; "My brother, Prince Silas, and father plan to soon visit the Queen of Bana. They hope of gaining an alliance with her. I don't know why they would think Queen Visha would ever ally with us, she loathes my father," she paused, voice growing quiet, "in truth, she loathes us all."

"Why would Bloed need to make a sudden alliance with Bana," Lana questioned, "they are allied to one of the most powerful kingdoms in the land already, Ignis. Together Bloed and Ignis are unstoppable."

Scratching the words into paper, thoughts ran ramped through my head; "Unless," I said, "they're no longer as unstoppable as we thought."

Lana turned to me; "You think Otis is seeking an alliance with Bana as a way to strengthen his kingdom?"

I nodded, "I think it's possible."

"Why would he need to strengthen Bloed," Lana mumbled to herself.

I wish I knew the answer. If we knew all of Otis's weak spots we would've been hitting them a long time ago.

"Why settle for less when you can have it all," Jinny said from the blue, "That's what my father always says. He doesn't really care about Queen Visha or her kingdom, only for the power she wields. For the power he could wield should he take her kingdom. He doesn't need to strengthen Bloed," Jinny clarified, "he wants to. It's all a game to him."

The room grew quiet, a heavy air settling over us. After staring for an eternity at the setting ink I spoke; "Is that all?"

Jinny thought a moment, "I've heard mentions of a standstill on the frontlines," she puckered her lips, "I believe that is for the upcoming games. Morale and all that. Silas had also mentioned a decline of troops on the western front one morning at breakfast. A pox of some sort had the men dropping like flies," she said, "that is all I know, they don't speak to me."

Nodding I wrote down the words before gently blowing on the wet ink. If this got into the hands of Erde it would greatly aid the war efforts. Erde needed all the help it could get, that's the reason I was here. Carefully rolling the paper I used the ivory silk ribbon from my hair to bind it closed. I handed it off to Lana.

She shot me a confused look; "What am I supposed to do with this," she asked, holding the paper that stood just taller than her.

"Take it to King Rowan of Erde," I answered, shooing her off to the window, "And tell him I can't leave, not until I find Marcel."

Lana watched me with bewildered eyes; "Do I look like the damn mailman to you." Her eyes roved over to the paper, "This thing is bigger than I am!"

Ignoring her I continued on; "Remember Lana, King Rowan," I urged, not trusting the Queen and her cold gaze; "bring it to the King."