From the Ashes

Chapter 5 ~ Wary Allies

Her next three days were spent ambling westward through the forest. Beyond that, Morana had no knowledge of where she was headed. She looked carefully for signs of the locations of the ancient Fae villages, but if they were there, even in their neglect they were too well hidden to find.

By morning on the fourth day, Morana had given up looking for them. She was just focused on keeping herself alive and getting to the remnants of the old capital. At least she knew those wouldn't be hidden, only derelict. Arcan had been abandoned since the end of the Ash War.

Those who had lived there fled when the old King and Queen died. The legend of the Sleeping Heir claimed that if any remained, they were trapped under the same curse as the Heir and remained in a death-like sleep.

If the curse is real, I'm going to have to figure out a way to break it, Morana thought as she picked her way over a tangle of tree roots that had broken up from the ground.

She gave a small sigh when her stomach rumbled with hunger. She'd eaten very little the past few days and it was catching up to her. The most she'd had was a pair of birds she'd killed with her magic the night prior. She'd finally felt at a safe distance from her village to risk a small fire long enough to roast the meat.

She wouldn't do so tonight though. When she woke that morning, she had found two sets of footprints not far from her campsite, their scents still fresh. She'd been keeping an eye out for the males they belonged to ever since, but there was no trace of them now.

Morana brushed her concerns aside for the time being and perked up as the distant trickle of water reached her ears. A faint grin flickered across her lips and she set off in the direction of the sound.

She reached the stream within the hour. It was small and shallow, only about three feet wide and when she slipped her boots off and stepped into it, the water barely reached her knees. But it was cool and clear, as crystalline as if it had come from the healing well in Oriana's Pavilion.

Her features reflected back at her, frosty gray eyes full of doubt, a dirt streaked face still speckled with blood, and tangled hair that had never done well when left unbrushed. Morana ignored her appearance and cupped her hands together, drinking her fill. Then, she lingered in the water, allowing it to ease the ache in her feet.

At last, she returned to the bank and sat down, still dangling her feet in the water. Morana raised a hand and watched as she delved into her magic. Crimson light reflected from her skin, though she didn't allow the magic to surface. She pursed her lips and pulled down her neckline just enough to bare the mark hidden beneath it.

The same light shone in the center of the blazing sun. Or an eclipsed sun, if she was to believe what Rhidian had said about the day of her birth. The magic diminished and her brow creased thoughtfully.

Undergrowth snapped behind her and Morana whirled to her feet, coming face to face with two unfamiliar males. She raised glowing hands as one took a step closer. "You're not Corrupted Fae," she realized, acquainting herself with the males' features. "Who are you and what do you want?"

The older of the two males raised his hands slowly, his gaze calm and urging her to be likewise. "We were sent to escort you somewhere safe."

"Sent by who?" Morana growled, her magic flaring brighter.

"The Elder of our village. She is blessed with Sight and foresaw your coming. She sent us to meet you." He gestured between himself and his companion. Auburn hair fell over his shoulders as he stooped into a quick bow. "I'm Lonan Renox. This is Arlon."

Arlon mimicked the bow, but the blue of his narrow, hooded eyes was far more wary than Lonan's. He straightened and cast his gaze about the area. A faint breeze ruffled his dark, closely cropped hair and he tensed. "There's Corrupted Fae closing in. They must've just fed somewhere. I can scent the blood."