To the Shadowsinger | Azriel

Chapter 34: The Lovers

Raisa was just another cloaked figure moving through the marketplace. No one even glanced her way— believing the Queen was just another fae trying to pick up food and supplies on a busy evening. She kept her head down once she came to a display of fabrics in front of a tall brick building. Her hair was pulled into two braids and she had wired glasses. A green female fae sitting next to the entrance didn't even look up from the quilt she was stitching.

    "Is the fae who made this fabric here?" Raisa's hand smoothed over a dark material that reminded her of spilled oil.

    The green fae looked up at Raisa and narrowed her eyes, "we don't get many high faes in this part of town."

    Raisa narrowed her eyes back, "what makes you think I'm a high fae?"

    The green fae's eyes went to Raisa's pointed ears, slender legs, and sharp canines. She blinked, not knowing how to respond, and shook her head. "The maker of that fabric isn't here today."

    "Where can I find her?"

    "Why do you want to know?" The green fae shot back instantly. She stood up from her stool and that's when Raisa realized how tall the lesser fae was. Raisa was tall herself, nearly 175 cm, but the green fae towered over her with a smile full of razor sharp teeth.

In the blink of an eye, Raisa was pinning the fae to the wall with a knife pressed against her throat.

"I don't have time for games," Raisa hissed. "You'll tell me where the Lovers are before I spill blood all over your pretty dress."

The green fae didn't struggle, not that she had much strength against Raisa, her arms were like twigs. "Go ahead," the fae hissed.

"Nona," a small child's voice called out.

Raisa turned to see a fae girl had cracked open the front door and watched them with terrified eyes.

"Get back inside Emi!" The green fae hissed through her teeth.

Raisa felt something tickling her leg, she looked down to see daises had sprouted out of the concrete and were growing up her leg. They turned to ash as Raisa lit a flame around her ankle.

The little girl should have listened. In a flash of light, Raisa was pulling the girl outside and lifting her onto her hip. "Were those your flowers?"

"Emi!" The green fae screamed. She looked caught between keeping her distance and charging Raisa. Seeing the knife in the Queen's hand, she kept her back against the wall.

Raisa spun the knife around with a cruel smile, "You want to take me to the Lovers now?"

"You want to see the Lovers?" The green fae laughed bitterly, "You're looking at one half of a pair. Now let her go."

Raisa's smile fell. She had never met the Lovers in person, they were like an urban tale, but hearing this green fae was one of them caught her off guard. Raisa gently set the girl on her feet, watching as she bolted away and slammed into the green faes' arms.

"I want a meeting," Raisa tried to say with command in her voice but the way the green fae looked at her made her feel small. Raisa had seen many beautiful faes in her life but this one was the embodiment of a field of grass on a sunny spring day.

"Why?"

Raisa stood up straighter, not even reaching the other fae's chest-level, "Have you ever wondered why the Queen of Vallahan spends enough money to buy a ship on your fabric each month? It's lovely material and all, but some would say it's ridiculously overpriced."

Her green skin paled, "The Queen enjoys our fabric. We had suggested lower prices but she—"

"I am the Queen, let's make that clear," Raisa gave her a genuine smile. "And I'm not here to scold you for unfair prices. I want to pay more."