The Crystal Mines

57 Nik

Trife sat in the chandelier of my room dangling by his tail upside down with my necklace in his hand. He blew a raspberry, spit flying in my face. The sprite was upset with me for not spending a lot of time with him. He picked tonight of all nights to throw a fit about it. I had already heard some of the others make their way down to the Banquet.

"Trife. Give me the necklace. Please. I'm going to be late," I whined at him, bouncing on my toes uselessly.

"Nissa will take Trife," he pouted.

"I can't little guy. Not tonight. Maybe tomorrow we can do something together."

Trife considered for a second, eyes roaming as he thought. "With the troll?"

"I still don't know what a Troll is!" I fought shouting at him.

"I found a book!"

I sighed. Of course, he did. And of course, I had to open my big mouth about it right fecking now. Trife left my necklace dangling off the chandelier, smartly holding me hostage because of it and flew to the canopy of the bed, disappearing. I was about to call for him when he appeared again holding a dusty book. He dropped it into my open hands and flipped it open near the middle. In bold scrawling letters, the page was titled, "Trolls". Below was a picture of a grotesque creature that towered at least seven or eight feet tall. The species was built with muscles like a bull and skin like cracking tree bark. On the creature's face were large tusks cuffed with chains for decoration and pointed ears with similar jewelry. They were a warring people, leaving their women and young at home. There were no drawings of their women or children.

"Okay." I made a face at the sprite. "This doesn't explain why you call all males trolls."

Trife snatched the book and tossed it back into his perch on the canopy. "Because. They are grumpy and have bad attitudes." He shrugged.

I roared with laughter and clenched my belly from the pain. I ruffled his hair earning a big grin.

"Trife, I really need that necklace back." I couldn't hold the laugher from my voice. Making my attempts to be stern to fall flat.

He crossed his arms with an attitude. "I get to fly with you then." I smiled. I had told him the girls promised to help me learn.

"Deal." The silver bond I had with him flared in response.

In moments, I had my necklace on and was running down the quiet hall to the stairs leading to the entrance. I hadn't had time to check my hair again before I skipped down the steps. Surely everyone had already started without me.

At the landing, I flipped my hair out of my face. "I'm sorry I'm so late. I–"

The room was silent and full of Fae looking only at me. I didn't understand why. I was a wreck right now, especially after Trife's mischiefs. Searching the room, I found couples paired off and nobles standing in the back near the dining room doors. Panic began to set in at the number of eyes turned towards me and I itched my naked arm.

Before I could spiral any more, Ameer was in front of me offering me his elbow. He was beautiful in his solid black finery. I took his elbow, and he kissed my cheek. The roomed seemed to move again, people flocking in for the Banquet. As Ameer led me, I saw him. Callion leaning against a column, his eyes raging with blue fire. I looked away as my face heated from his flame. The arm I held suddenly felt cold. What the Hells was wrong with me?

I felt Callion's stare at my back as we entered the Banquet to a massive table. Ameer smiled at me sweetly and I returned it with joy as we followed everyone in. The males sat on the outer side of the table and the females the inner. The magic of The Bestowing was stifling and my friends all squirmed under its pressure.