A Feytal Encounter

Chapter 2

After the massacre sixteen years ago, Adanma emerged from the roots of the Golden Tree holding a seed in the palm of her hand. Her home was decimated. Nothing remained standing, just a bunch of trampled gardens and crumbled stone. Even the Golden Tree oozed black sap like it was crying. She placed a hand on the tree's trunk.

"I'm sorry. But I promise, I'll bring you back. I'll bring all of this back." She paid no heed to the horror and destruction around her. She didn't try to rummage through the mess for anything to take with her. She knew everyone and everything she loved was gone. She didn't cry. She clutched the seed in her fist and walked out of her ruined life, keeping her eyes on the ground right in front of her.

By the time they reached base, it was dark, but the sapling in the center of the grove gave off a soft light that only the Fey could see by.

"Take them to the cage," Adanma waved at the captives. Elton tugged a rope off the side of a tree and a platform with railing lowered down. He placed the still-unconscious bodies on before stepping on himself and tugging the rope again. The platform rose silently up the tree. Adanma turned to face the rest of her crew. They looked worn, but happy. This was their first real success in a long time.

"Good job, warriors! You all did very well today and I am proud of how far we've come. Get some rest, you deserve it. Take the next two days to celebrate, I think we can spare a keg of cider."

The young ones giddily hugged each other and slapped each other playful as they all headed off to their bunks. Adanma climbed a rope ladder to her own flat. It had certainly improved since she first came to the area. For the first year and a half she had lived in a hammock made from sheets she stole from human towns. Eventually, as she gathered Fey outlaws and learned some skills, she began building in the trees. Elton was one of the first she had found. He was four years older than her, but treated her like his elder. It was Elton who figured out how to build above ground.

Now, Adanma had a simple but elegant tree house to herself. It was in the center of their network, so anyone could find her if they needed her. She kicked off her boots and collapsed on her bed. It was the main luxury she allowed herself, and it was mostly because Elton insisted on it. They had made it together one week, stuffing thick wool with down collected over the course of a year. Her mattress was topped in several layers of fur blankets and a few quilts stolen from villages. It was truly the warmest and most comfortable place in the camp. She ran her hand across the furs, feeling the comforting texture against her skin.

"A princess deserves something to set her apart from others," Elton had told her as they made the mattress.

Adanma let out a harsh breath as Cahira jumped onto her torso and began kneading her paws. "Ouch." Cahira blinked slowly. Adanma had found the margay when she was seventeen. Cahira had been a kitten, lost on the forest floor. It hurt Adanma's heart when she remembered how she had been much the same. So she took the cat back home with her, named it Cahira, and fed it from her own plate. Cahira was family just as much as the rest of the Fey were. Cahira was the one who knew all Adanma's secrets.

"I think we did good today, Cahira," Adanma scritched the top of the margay's head. "We captured two wolves and killed eight. I know it's not a lot, but at least it helps morale."

Bronwyn woke up with their entire body tight with pain.

"The fuuuck," they groaned.

"Good. You're awake." Andrea looked horrible. She was bound arms and legs, blood was matted her white hair to her face, and her expression was mutinous. Bronwyn, too, was bound arms and legs, but they seemed to be otherwise unharmed.

"What? Where are we? What happened? You look horrible."

"I should be asking you that," Andrea snapped. "You're the only one who got out unscathed. Everyone else is dead."

Bronwyn blinked. Dead? How? From what? All they were doing was chasing a single Fey.

"You...you didn't know?" Andrea looked almost as confused as Bronwyn. "We were ambushed. You disappeared."

"I disappeared? No, no. I was right there with you, I was..."

Two Fey faces appeared outside the bars of the cage. The wolves were contained in what looked like a giant birdcage, suspended high above the ground. Fuck. Even if they broke out, how would they get down? The Fey shoved some raw meat onto the floor. It was oddly wet, but not with blood.

"Eat."

Andrea spat at them. "The fuck is this? What do you take us for? How dare you treat the high-born–" Bronwyn kicked Andrea in the ribs, cutting her off with a warning look in their eye. Andrea growled, but fell silent.

"It's squirrel," one of the Fey said. She looked young, too young. Her short black hair was falling out of the ribbon at the back of her neck and her brown, almond shaped eyes were worried. "It's fresh."

Bronwyn didn't understand. Their body still buzzed and ached, despite not being in battle. The Fey girl seemed genuinely concerned. Why was she so young?

"How old are you?"

The girl perked up. "Fourteen! I'm Mae. This is my brother Yosef," she pointed beside her to a sullen Fey who looked just like her. "What's your name?"

"Uh...Alex," Bronwyn lied. "Why are we here?"

"Well, the princess thought we could maybe torture you and get some information!"

Bronwyn's face wrinkled in perplexity. Why was this fourteen-year-old girl so helpful and chatty? Why did she seemed so unbothered by the concept of torture? There was a princess?"

"What the fuck is going on," Andrea gave voice to both their thoughts. Mae looked at her brother and shrugged.

"Oh! Here's some, uh, water, too!" She pushed a pitcher through the bars before

bounding off, Yosef following. She apparently forgot or didn't realize that either wolf could actually drink the water with bound hands. Andrea slammed her head against the bars and groaned.