Through the Fairy Ring

Chapter Eleven

After riding for what seemed like an eternity, we exited the forest, and Breeju paused at the top of a wide valley. Scrubby, squatty bushes dotted the countryside below us, and a long plateau rested in the hazy distance.

"The plains below us are Darag-Menid," Breeju said. "Once we're on level ground we can run the horses and be at the portal in a half-hour, if not sooner."

I nodded and avoided looking at Breeju's exotic beauty by eying the path ahead of us. It dropped unevenly and had large holes which could easily catch and twist Dara's hooves.

"Once we're in Adven, how far is the Pixie Queen's... Where does the Pixie Queen live?" I steeled myself and met Breeju's almond shaped eyes. Her eyelashes were thick and gave her natural eyeliner.

"Her dwelling is very near the portal," she said.

"Dwelling?"

"Yes. They live very naturally, in the woods near Devil's Tower, Wyoming."

"Wouldn't they be easily discovered there? Hardly any location on the Earth hasn't been mapped and identified."

"They have their ways." Breeju chuckled softly, her laugh like chimes on the wind. "Some Fairies, in ancient times, interbred with humans. Those children became the Pixies. Because they are related to humans, they are more kindly disposed to them. They have magic, but their home is in Adven. The Fairies and Pixies grew apart, largely due to the Fairies mistreatment of humans, and the Pixies fought to have the Fairies exiled to the Realm. Arden's predecessors were the lucky ones to end up with the dispersion."

"Why are you so down on Fairies? You're a Fairy, you said, right?"

She leaned back in the saddle and exhaled. "I am. But my father disowned me after I married Arden, so I no longer have a people. Except for Arden, of course. Although it was over forty years ago that we met, it seems like just yesterday. We were both so young...well, comparatively. Fairies don't age like humans do, so I am much older than I look. He was under apprenticeship as Daragward and so innocent. Although Fairy-human relationships are frowned upon, I couldn't help myself. And neither could he."

Heat flared up my neck and into my cheeks. She couldn't be talking about what I thought she was talking about. I racked my brain to figure a way to get her to quit talking without looking like a complete jerk. "Maybe we should get go—"

"It was after I conceived the baby that we got married."

The world jolted sideways, and I practically fell out of the saddle. Too much. It was all too much. My entire world had been ripped apart in the space of eight hours and with Breeju's last revelation I'd officially hit my overload point.

"I think I'm gonna' be sick." I slid off Dara, stumbled into the bushes, and totally lost the contents of my stomach. All the air rushed out of my lungs and I fought against each subsequent dry heave to get back some oxygen. Passing out would be a blessing, though.

Breeju touched my shoulder, and I wanted to rip her hand off at the wrist. Instead, tears welled in my eyes and a sob escaped my throat.

"Hazel?"

I waved her off. "I'm..." My voice caught, and I coughed. "I'm fine. I'll be fine."

I will be okay. I will be.

Arden had never lied to me. He'd always told me he couldn't act on his desires. Even still, I'd kept hidden deep in my heart the hope that we might actually end up together. I was the foolish one. I inhaled deeply, caught the scent of the grasses below on the wind, and used it to steady my mind. Recalling the memory of Garron and Meara small in their beds, I got to my feet. They were my first and most important priority. Arden was just a dream I now understood would never happen.

I gathered Dara's reins. "We just need to hurry. Can we go now?"

A look of compassion flickered over Breeju's face. "Hazel, I'm sure we'll make it, and the kids will be safe."

I climbed into the saddle and started down the pathway. I certainly hoped so.