Woven Shadows

Chapter 7

We walked in silence for a while, the only sound between us the soft crunch of our footsteps on the dusty road. The sun climbed higher, casting its warm glow across the land, and the scent of pine and wildflowers drifted on the breeze. Lottie's dress fluttered around her legs, catching my eye as we moved. Finally, unable to hold back my curiosity any longer, I turned to her.

"Why are you wearing a dress for traveling?" I asked, raising an eyebrow at her attire. "It doesn't exactly scream practicality."

Lottie shot me a grin, the kind that said she'd been waiting for me to ask. "You'd be surprised," she said, twirling a lock of her golden hair around her finger. "Dresses can be quite practical, actually. They allow for plenty of movement, and I can hide things under the skirt—daggers, pouches, even small supplies. Plus, they're light, and in this heat, it's better than being all wrapped up in heavy layers."

She paused for a moment, smoothing out the fabric of her dress with an almost casual grace. "But let's be honest," she added with a smirk, "I look too good in it not to wear it. And people tend to treat me better when I look like this. Like that breakfast this morning? We both know it was a better spread than what you had, and that's not just luck. People see a well-dressed fae woman, and they think twice before offering her anything less than the best."

I couldn't help but huff out a small laugh despite myself, shaking my head. "You're not wrong," I admitted. "So it's a weapon and a charm all in one."

"Exactly!" Lottie said, her grin widening. "I call it tactical dressing. I get to look fabulous and stay ready for anything."

I rolled my eyes, but there was a flicker of amusement behind my serious expression. "You're something else, Lottie."

She gave me a wink. "You'll get used to it. Trust me."

We continued walking, and the road beneath our feet gradually shifted from packed dirt to a rocky trail winding its way through the landscape. The terrain was changing, giving way to denser patches of forest. Shadows of tall pines stretched across our path, their dark needles dappling the ground with a dance of light and shade. The deeper we went, the cooler the air became, tinged with the earthy scent of moss and fallen leaves.

After a while, my curiosity got the better of me. I turned to Lottie, who was walking a few paces ahead, her steps light and bouncy as always. "Lottie," I said, my tone casual yet probing, "last night you used your posse during that card game. How does your posse work, exactly? I haven't seen many fae before."

Lottie's lips curled into a knowing smile, her eyes glancing sideways at me. "Ah, finally, some interest," she teased, a twinkle of amusement lighting up her face. "I was starting to think you'd never ask."

I rolled my eyes but couldn't suppress the small smile tugging at my lips. "I'm asking now, aren't I?"

"Yes, you are," Lottie said, her grin widening. "And I suppose I don't mind explaining a bit about it. See, posse is deeply tied to who we are at our core, to the essence of our true selves. It's not just about how much you feel; it's about how well you understand yourself—your strengths, your limits, your deepest truths. The more in tune you are with that understanding, the more you can unlock your full potential. Some fae have a greater well of power to draw from, but if you try to use it all at once without building up your strength, you'll burn out."

She paused, her gaze turning thoughtful as she continued. "There's a place inside you—a theoretical space that only you can see—where your posse is derived from. It's different for everyone. That's where you find the balance, where you learn how to control it, to know when to cut it off and when to unleash it. If you can't see that place clearly or don't understand your own limits, the power can consume you."