Of Ancient Knowledge

“Don’t let any of them escape!” A man rode upon a white horse, dressed with a crimson cape that flowed through the wind behind him. His armor held the crest of the crimson guard. They rushed into a small city of huts within the forest, it rest upon the edge of a great river. It was the settlement of Daly. This was one of the oldest cities of the fae kind. It held a temple to worship their gods. Something that the humans never quite seemed to understand. The city was overrun by the Crimson Guard. With their swords and axes, they slashed and hacked through the bodies of the fae as they scattered away.

The fae were not aggressive people. They did not bring war to the humans. Their mistake was simply being different. The fae of Daly were the most human of the ancients. They did not have discolored skin, nor did they hold wings. The only defining feature was that of their tipped ears. Aside from their ability to cast magic. The fae of Daly were burned, beaten...tortured. It was a gruesome scene.

A young fae cowered beneath the edge of her home. “Mother...” She cried softly as tears rolled down her cheeks. “Mother please...” She pulled at the woman that lay on the ground, gently tugging at her in hopes that she would move. Blood covered the hands of the young fae as she leaned forward and sobbed over the body. Her mother was gone. Murdered in cold blood by the Crimson Guard. Suddenly one of the guard spotted the young fae and grasped her from beneath the hut. She screamed as she fought against him, her legs kicked against his armored body, which only caused him to chuckle.

The ground began to crawl as the young child cried out for help. Roots ripped up from the ground and wrapped around the soldier’s legs, crawling up his body and squeezing at him. The young fae was dropped from his grasp, she shuffled back as tears continued to rush down her cheeks as the roots crushed the life from the man.

“Reyrie!” A male elf came rushing forward as another guard ran toward the child. He slammed his shoulder against the guard and grasped onto the child to bring her to her feet. “Run! Run like you’ve never run before Rey! Go! Call upon the ancients to guide you!” A blade was thrust through the man’s chest and blood splattered forward onto the pale blonde hair of the child.

She took a few staggered steps back. “F-father...” She choked out, her eyes looked to the Crimson Guard whom chuckled.

“That’s it. Tremble with fear demon.” He grasped forward at her.

Reyrie stumbled back and turned. Markings formed upon her jawline, that of vines. It was a beautiful marking that gave away her kind to humans. “Help!” She cried as she ran through the village. From the ground beneath her rocks were pushed aside as a black wolf with glowing blue eyes rose from the earth. The rock and dirt fell from the fur of the creature. It howled and knelt down for Ryllae to come upon. Her small hands grasped into the thick fur of the creature as it dodged through the chaos. She buried her face into the wolf as she sobbed.

This was only one city. Only one settlement of Fae that was destroyed by the Crimson Guard…

**

Some years later…

“Reyrie. Gods you had us worried sick.” An elf with silvery long hair rushed forward and wrapped her arms around a young elf that held long blond locks. Her eyes were as beautiful as the feathers of a blue jay. “Where have you been?” The woman stepped back, her emerald eyes looked over the young woman.

Reyrie stood in brown leather armor that was carefully crafted each individual piece looked like a scale that lined her chest and abdomen. At the top of her chest the leather appeared to be leaves, intricately attached to one another to form the chest piece with similar style upon her shoulders. Green material came from beneath the chest piece, a hood hung down upon her shoulders. Hung diagonally over her back was that of a beautifully decorated elven sword. She wore tight pants that had leather armor along the outside of her thighs. Brown leather boots reached up to her knees. She wore a quiver over her back with a simple elven bow. She was one of the best archers around Faelyn. “Amra...I did not mean to worry you...”

The older elf let out a sigh as she looked to Reyrie, “Where did you go?” She asked again her eyes searched the young elf’s eyes.

“The ruins of Daly….” Her eyes lowered slightly. She knew it was dangerous to leave the enchanted forest that Faelyn lay within. But she wanted to see her home. The place that she barely remembered. Though, she had heard whispers of secrets buried within the temple of Daly. Secrets that were snuffed out by the Crimson Guard with their attack. So many died that day.

“What….child...” Amra’s brows quivered. She pulled Reyrie into another tight embrace. “The gods protected you child. It is dangerous to leave the forest. The humans cannot bother us here. Please just be happy with that.” She stepped back, her hands still upon Ryllae’s shoulders.

“I found something, Amra.” She turned and gripped her satchel that she’d packed lightly with supplies. “There is a way to stop this war. To stop them from hunting us. To stop all of this.” She pulled a scroll from her satchel and looked to the elf before her.

Amra pulled the scroll from her fingertips and gazed over it a moment. “Come, Rey.” She spoke as she turned and walked into one of the homes that was built into the base of a large tree. The forest was ancient. The trees seemed to be alive. The plants glowed to the touch. Amra sat down at the table and unraveled the scroll to look it over. She drew in a long breath. “This is a far fetch, Reyrie.” She lifted her eyes to her. “A tea, would you?” She gave a gentle smile. The woman then focused back in on the scroll. “The book that this scroll speaks of...our ancients destroyed it years ago, before even my lifetime. It is but a fairytale, dear.” She lifted her emerald eyes to Reyrie.

Reyrie drew water from the air into a pot. The green of the vines of her magic crawled along her jawline as she brought the water to a boil within the pot and she poured it into a mug. “I don’t believe they destroyed it.” She looked to Amra with her striking royal eyes. “I found something...something that I could not explain. When I was in the temple of Daly. The body of an elf lay holding tightly to a sword.” She pulled the sword from her back and set it upon the table before her. “Read the inscriptions, Amra...there is no way that the book was destroyed. It still exists. It is only hidden from the humans. For they became corrupt with its power so our ancients stowed it away.”

Amra turned the blade over looking to the sheath. The story was written out in old fae upon the old leather of the blade. “It could just be a story….Rey...there is nothing to say that this book will stop the war...that king...and his Crimson Guard...our kind are nearly wiped from existence….there are only a few cities that remain and each day his guard presses closer to each….Faelyn will be the only settlement to remain...until the king finds us and figures out a way passed our enchanted forest.” She sighed softly.

“That is why something must be done. Amra we can’t just wait to die...we do not deserve to live our life hidden.” She sighed softly. “The ancients have guided me this far...I cannot just sit back idly while more of our kind are killed. Not if I can stop it.”

Amra drew in a breath, “Child...you may end up dead...if they so much as see you...”

“They won’t.” Reyrie gave a gentle smile. “I found an etching in the wall at the temple...to begin my hunt in Valin. It stated that the Lord of the city held information locked away on our kind...” She submerged a metal ball of tea leaves into the cup and set it upon the table before Amra. “I’m going tomorrow.”

**

The travel to Valin wasn’t easy. Reyrie had to hide beneath her hood for most of it. She lied to many and stated that her name was Evelyn. She stuck to herself and traveled during the night. It seemed to be the safest. The Crimson Guard was busy drinking their sins away at local taverns and having their way with the folk of the cities. The guard claimed to be following the orders of not only their king but their god. It made them despicable in any eyes of anyone with morals. Reyrie made it to the city of Valin after nearly two weeks of travel. She scouted Valinthore Castle carefully. She spent two more days planning her entry into the castle.

Reyrie made her way to the south wall of the castle. The guard would be back in nearly two minutes. She didn’t have much time. She held her hand forward, the vines crawled over her skin as vines came from the ground and scaled up the wall. Reyrie glanced around quickly before she climbed the vines as they continued to climb up the castle wall. She moved quickly and silently with the cover of the night. Only the silvery light of the moon illuminated her hooded figure against the castle wall. Once she’d scaled the wall she found herself upon a balcony. Reyrie crouched carefully and she sat in wait. She counted the seconds and moved when she could. From shadow to shadow she moved within the castle like a ghost. She made her way to the library where she quickly found the room that was guarded heavily. She grit her teeth slightly as she slipped onto the balcony to catch a glimpse of a small window that would allow her access into the room.

Reyrie used her magic once again to get to the window. She slipped in and landed silently. She let out a long breath as she gazed over the old fae artifacts. She began to thumb through the books quickly. She had to find it. It had to be here. That was when she heard the female voice from the other side of the door, dismissing the guards. Seconds later a key turned within the door. Reyrie’s eyes widened slightly as she slipped behind one of the bookshelves. She could feel her heart pound within her ears as the woman stepped into the room. She pressed back slightly to put herself more in the shadows and as she did so one of the books that she’d nudged from its place fell from the bookshelf onto the floor with a deafening thud. Reyrie winced, she held her breath as she stared through the spacing of the bookcase to the woman.

“Lady Valinthore.” Two guards rushed into the room. “We have reason to believe there is a fae that has broken into the castle. Vines grew out of nowhere on the castle walls. There are vines on the balcony just outside the library.” One of the guards spoke. Reyrie pressed her back against the bookshelf, her breath was frozen in her chest. She’d come all this way to get caught. “We need to search this room to ensure your safety.”

Reyrie’s heart pounded within her ears as she watched from the shadows. To her surprise the woman dismissed the two guards without a second thought it seemed. As the woman moved about the bookcases Reyrie countered her movements. She stayed within the shadows, her movements were completely silent. This, was easy for her to do. Her royal blue eyes stared to the woman, focused. She spoke of sparing her. Right. Like any human would spare the life of a Fae. They considered them to be demons. Why would this woman spare her? Much less...why would she offer her the knowledge of this room...knowledge that could in fact save her people. The woman knew it.

Reyrie was caught by surprise as the owl burst through the glass. Her eyes moved up to the creature that spied upon her as she drew in a quick gasp. Just as she lowered her eyes the woman had slammed her against the wall harshly. She could feel the cool steel of the blade against her neck. Reyrie stared to the woman, vines moved along her jawline as she stood perfectly still. That was the trouble of being a Fae, fear induced the magic to swell within, and thus it brought the visual of the magic that she held to the surface. She analyzed the grip that the woman held on her, it was a hold on nothing more than the clasp of her cloak, that was a benefit of her build of armor. She was hard to keep a hold of. The woman commanded her to submit, as if she were a puppet. Reyrie drew in quick breaths as she stared at the woman, the hood of the cloak filtered her face into the shadows.

For now, she’d offer the false sense of security. A sense that the woman had won. Though Reyrie had questions. How had this woman commanded a woodland creature? That was a rare use of magic that even many Fae could not perform. Reyrie had control over the spiritual realm of creatures, her chosen creature was a wolf, the very wolf that saved her life in Daly at a young age. “I mean no harm to Lord Valinthore.” She spoke, her elven accent was thick. She knew how to cover it, but she chose not to. “I am in search of a book that belongs to my people. That is all.” She’d moved her hand to her dagger that rest upon the small of her back. Reyrie drew in a breath, her leg kicked forward to sweep the woman off balance. She moved swiftly and slipped from the woman’s grasp. Her cloak was ripped from her shoulders to reveal her beautiful blonde hair that her tipped ears cut through. She held her dagger in her grasp her eyes trained on the woman. “I don’t want to hurt you, but I cannot trust you.” She spoke as she held her hand up. Vines grew over the door, the only exit to the room. She backed away carefully, keeping her eyes trained on the woman. “Why would you offer me such knowledge? Hm? Just to bait me out? Then kill me?” She questioned quickly. “All the humankind knows is destruction...” Her voice was soft as she spoke this. The blade of her dagger had glowing blue inscriptions upon it as if the blade drew from her magic. One slice from it could easily be the death of the woman that stood before her.

Reyrie stood in a defensive stance, her brows pulled together. She watched as the woman got to her feet and lowered her blade. She wouldn’t fall for such a trick. That was her own trickery that this woman before her had fallen for. As the woman spoke a curious look came over her eyes. She glanced to the blade as it clattered to the ground, confusion in her expression now. The next words that came from the woman caused Reyrie’s brows to raise. “The dawn will bring us together yet.” She spoke the second part of the phrase. It was something that only the Fae spoke to one another. Even the beginning of the phrase she’d never heard a human use it.

This woman that stood before her was Fae? She didn’t look it. Where were her tipped ears? She did not hold the subtle differences in her cheekbones that Reyrie held. But it did give some light as to how the woman controlled a woodland creature, how her eyes had glowed with magic. She had been looking for a spell to create ears...to offer in place of real ears of the Fae. Reyrie lifted her hand up to her own ear as she thought of this. She’d heard from other Fae that came to Faelyn that the king demanded ears as proof of a Fae’s death. Some Fae had even feigned their own death and lost an ear in the process. But they were still alive.

Reyrie took in a breath as the woman spoke of the prophecy. Her mother spoke of it as well. When she was a young child. The temple of Daly held the symbol that was upon her forehead. It was said to be the cure to their future. It was the same reason that her father had lost his life to save his child. She had to survive. If not the prophecy would not come true. Even other Fae that came to Faelyn were in awe of her marking. She looked to the book that the woman held within her hands. The image of the symbol.

As the woman leaned down to grasp her blade Reyrie gripped her dagger a bit more tightly. She glanced up to the owl as it made its exit. She had a decision to make. She drew in a breath as she stared to the woman. She was Fae. Another Fae would not work for the Crimson Guard. At least...she hoped. Reyrie nodded slightly. “You know of the prophecy...” She spoke her eyes didn’t leave the woman. “I only wish to save my people from the harm of the king. We do not deserve to be treated like demons. When the king’s people seek magic as well...” She slipped her dagger behind her back and closed her eyes for a moment. She took a few steps to her cloak that lay upon the floor she stooped down and grasped it and carefully clasped it back around her shoulders. She didn’t pull her hood back up though. Reyrie searched the woman’s eyes a long moment before she lifted her hand and the roots retracted from the door. She could hear the footsteps of the guards as they approached. “I hope my trust is not misled.” She spoke as she kept her eyes on the woman.

Reyrie watched the woman as the footsteps drew nearer. The words that Lenne spoke hadn’t even fully come over her lips before Reyrie had disappeared into the shadows. She watched from the safety of the shadows as the guards stepped into the room. Her blue eyes looked over the bookshelves filled with knowledge. It was then that she finally caught the title. Hiding in the Light It was written in old Fae, the swirls of the literature seemed as though it called to her. Though the woman spoke to her to tell her to follow. Reyrie glanced over the relic room once again as she pulled her hood up to shield herself from any onlooking eyes. This woman was much more important that she’d once realized. Reyrie listened as she spoke of her lineage. “You...are the daughter of the lord…” Her voice was soft. She’d heard rumblings from Fae that had been saved in this area of a lord that saved the Fae. One that showed mercy and with the help of his own daughter they ran a caravan that would help get the Fae to Faylyn.

Reyrie moved swiftly with the woman, her eyes glanced about, but she kept her head down in the event that a guard passed. She noticed the red of the Crimson Guard more than once before they ducked into the kitchen. This was madness. If the Crimson Guard did not notice her they were blind. Her armor was so different. The intricate leather work that only the Fae seemed to know. She was quiet as the woman called forth a Fae. Her brows tucked together as she looked to the carefully cropped ears. She’d seen it so many times. The things that the Fae would do to hide among the humans. She moved and sat on a stool as she was ordered to. “Reyrie...” She spoke as she looked to the box. “I’ve heard the stories, but none of the refugees in Faelyn ever spoke the name of the Lord that helped them...” She whispered softly. Her eyes looked about the kitchen as the woman covered up her mark.

Reyrie watched the interaction between the two. Her own expression fell slightly as she pulled her hood back up to hide her ears. She was silent as they moved through the castle as well. This was more of a mess than Amra had thought it would be. The old elf had tried to talk Reyrie out of it. But in the end, the prophecy won. Amra could not argue with the prophecy that Reyrie would bring peace to the land. As they came to the door that was heavily guarded Reyrie could feel her pulse in her chest, she could feel the eyes that pried on the shadows of her hood. But without any fuss the guards allowed her to pass with the woman. They walked down the stairs and into a room that looked much like a war room. Her eyes looked about to the guards. Her hands clasped in front of her as she lowered her head slightly once again. As the Lord called her forward she reached up and lowered her hood to reveal her beautiful blonde hair and her robin blue eyes.

She stood before him as he spoke of the situation and of the Crimson Guard. Not only had she brought the Crimson Guard into the castle, she had endangered the lives of all of the refugees. She glanced to the woman as the Lord questioned her about conjuring ears. Her brows tucked together slightly. One would have to have control over the earth elements in order to pull off such a trick. She looked back to the woman as she spoke of rising up against the king and his army. A soft smile curved up her lips. To hear someone else speak of the future and of peace was calming in a way. She’d spent her entire life speaking of such to Amra whom told her that they were safe in the forest, that they had nothing to worry about. Until they had something to worry about that is.

“I would need the moss of an oak sapling, the oil of a snake, ground turmeric, and I saw a bottle of crystalline dust in the relic room. I would only need a pinch of that. I have repaired the ears of Fae that had come to Faelyn...with such a remedy. I should be able to conjure an ear for your king...” She seemed to think deeply for a moment. There was a pounding at the door then.

“Lord Valinthore.” A man called from the other side of the door. “We have reason to believe that the Fae is hiding amongst your servants. We must search this entire castle.”

The vines began to crawl along Reyrie’s jaw and along her hands. Her breaths shook slightly. “They will not stop until they have a life upon their hands.” She whispered. “Mythrien Sarath...Edraith enni.” Her eyes glowed slightly as she took in quick breaths. The name she spoke was that of the archfey of protection magic. One of the ancients. Of all the Fae that Reyrie had encountered she seemed to be the only Fae that could willingly call upon the gods and receive and answer. The phrase that she spoke was a plea, a simple plea for help from the archfey. The Fae shook slightly as the archfey offered her guidance. There was a pulse of power that Lenne would have been able to feel. Suddenly chains clasped around Reyrie’s wrists as the door burst open. She knelt to her knees before the lord. Her ear was cut from her head and lay upon the table next to a bloody knife. Blood ran down the side of her face and neck.

“So you’ve caught the Fae.” A general from the Crimson Guard stepped forward. “And here our king thought you to be weak.” He chuckled as he stepped around and gripped onto Reyrie’s chin to look into her eyes. “What a shame such beauty is wasted on this demon.” He scoffed. “I’ll take her from here.” He chuckled, “I’ll even call off the search of the castle.” He grasped the bloody ear from the table and harshly grabbed the chain between her wrists. “I’ll be sure to burn this one. Perhaps that will set her soul free of the devil. It will also set an example for any other Fae that believe you to be too weak, Lord.” The guard chuckled wickedly then as he looked to the elf. Reyrie let out a cry as he pulled her over onto her back and dragged her toward the stairs. She screamed as he tugged her up the spiral stair case like a sack of potatoes.

The door closed then, as if of it’s own will. Suddenly from thin air Reyrie appeared, she fell to her knees as her hand still held against the door. She coughed slightly, the magic that the archfey had offered her was something that she had yet to experience. Her world spun in circles around her. She slowly staggered to her feet and leaned heavily against the door. She was not injured, her ears were intact. “I will help you survive the king.” She spoke as she looked to the Lord. “As your daughter speaks, I am the one of prophecy. The ancients have protected me since I was a child. Since the massacre of Daly. I have survived worse than what that guard offered.” She caught her breath quickly and stepped from the door. “He shall believe that he has taken my life, but it is only a vessel offered forth by Mythrien.” Though she could feel the pain that was inflicted on the vessel. She winced slightly and closed her eyes. She could see the Guard as he pulled her along toward the center of town. Other guards yelled as they carried torches. The city began to wake. Citizens came from their homes to see what all the commotion was.

Reyrie had both of her hands upon the table now, tears welled in her eyes. She closed her eyes once again, tears rolled over her cheeks as she watched the guard tie the vessel to a stake in the center of town. They began to douce the vessel in oil. The guard chuckled as he stepped up to her. “You’ll burn for the sins you’ve committed.” He spoke with a snicker as he stepped back. Reyrie let out a cry and fell to her knees within the safe room as the vessel began to burn. The pain raced through her body as she gripped onto the table. Reyrie grit her teeth and forced herself to stand. “We must….stop them...” She looked to the Lord. “I only ask for one book. It has the key to bring peace to our world. To put an end to the King’s reign...” It was clear that she was fighting the pain as her voice trembled. Within her pupil flames flickered. “I will protect this city...all I ask for is the book, Hiding in the Light.” It looked like a simple text from the outside, but the entire book was written in the ancient tongue. Secret hidden messages were laced within the book. The Temple of Daly noted that the book held the secrets to finding the book of power. Reyrie could only hope that the words of the temple were true.

Reyrie grit her teeth as she settled into the chair that Ryton offered. As the trio spoke over the situation her eyes began to flutter. The use of such power drained her body. She lifted her eyes to look to the lord as he settled his eyes upon her. She glanced to Lenne, the half-ling daughter of the lord. “I will take her.” She spoke with a nod. “She is a part of the prophecy, the texts of old that the Temple is Daly held hidden from human hands spoke of a half-ling girl...if only I knew sooner that it was you.” She glanced to Lenne with a soft smile.

As Ryton helped Reyrie to her feet she leaned against him heavily. She reached up and pulled her hood over her head to hide her ears from any prying eyes. She held a hand to her chest as they made their way up to the guest room. “Thank you.” She breathed as she sat down on the plush bed. She sat there a long moment as the room settled in silence. She closed her eyes to see the crowd of onlookers that stared over the vessel. The muffled words of the Crimson Guard as he walked back and forth. Threatening any of the citizens that held Fae in their homes or protected the Fae kind. They were such hateful people. She lay back on the bed, her legs still hung over the edge as her world faded. Her hands clasped over her abdomen as she lay unconscious.

**

Reyrie woke with a jolt what seemed like hours later. It must have only been minutes. “Reyrie.” A woman spoke, she had subtle Fae like features, a twig as some would call them. Though she was missing the horns from her skull it seemed. “The guard is sweeping every room. Lady Valinthore has requested that I guide you to safety. She could not break away.”

In a drunken like stupor Reyrie sat up, her world was a haze. “The guard...returned…?” She questioned her words sounded far away.

“Yes, they want more blood.” The fae spoke, “Come. Move swiftly. I’ll get you to the servant corridors. It will be safer there.”

Reyrie stood and followed the woman. Her world pushed in and out as she staggered toward the exit of the room. She reached out to steady herself and was caught by the Fae woman. They moved through the hallways swiftly and slipped into the shadows as Crimson Guard passed by. Reyrie leaned heavily against the woman. “Where...did her brother go…?” She questioned in a sleepy manner.

“He was called away...the general returned. The blood thirsty bastard wants Lord Valinthore to offer up more ears. He says he will find the Fae himself if he has to.” She spoke in a hushed tone as they rounded another corner.

Reyrie followed along with the woman’s help as they entered the back corridors of the castle. She let out a breath as they slipped down a set of stairs and found their way into the servant quarters. Reyrie sat on the edge of a bed and held her hand to her head. “Could you make me an elixir?” She asked softly.

“Of course. What do you need?” The woman questioned as she searched her eyes.

“Taron Snips, rye, lemon, lily, and chamomile.” She spoke as she lay back on the bed to slow the spinning of the world. Her body needed to recover, this elixir would do just that. She didn’t have time to recover naturally.

The woman shuffled away and gathered the ingredients and boiled water. Soon enough she returned with a tea that smelled almost heavenly in nature. “Here you are.” She spoke with a soft smile.

Reyrie sat up with the woman’s help and inhaled the smell of the drink. “Perfect.” She spoke as she lifted it to her lips and took a long drink. She closed her eyes and exhaled slowly. The vines crawled along her jaw and hands as she drink, a sign that her magic was mending her body. As she finished the last drop of the elixir she stood and gave a soft smile. “Lady Valinthore and I must leave the castle at once. Before the guards grow in numbers and it becomes impossible.” She spoke as she looked to the woman. “Thank you.” She looked about the servant quarters. The castle had offered refuge to many of the Fae kind. “If you follow the Longtree river south for about two weeks, you will find yourself at an enchanted forest. Enter the forest and no human may follow. Faelyn lay within that forest, the symbols will call to you. The creatures of the forest will not harm you. Tell the rest of your people. You can be safe there.” She nodded and gave a gentle smile.

“I thought that Faelyn was only a myth.” The woman said with a soft smile. “Good to know that it truly exists.” She smiled more then. “Lady Valinthore should arrive shortly. She was fetching a book for you when the Crimson Guard returned to the castle...there is no telling where she is now.”

Reyrie nodded as she stepped up to a pot of tea and poured herself a mug. “We need that book, one way or another.” She whispered softly. “Without it, the king will surely win.”

Spirit Dragon

Reyrie moved about the servant quarters. She offered help to those that were packing in a hurry. Her robin blue eyes seemed to calm those around her. Eventually she found herself sitting upon her bed in wait for Lenne to return. She took in a breath as she thought of how to get the Crimson Guard to leave. She bit at her lip slightly and when Lenne finally walked into the room she was deep in thought. Her eyes snapped up to the woman and she gave a soft smile. “Safe, yes. Depending upon who you ask.” She stood and stepped forward to take the book from Lenne’s hands. She drew in a breath, she took felt the magic that was held within the leather bounds of the book. “The gods shall show me what to do with it.” She smiled as she moved and sat upon the bed. She glanced to Lenne as she lay next to her.

Reyrie flipped through the pages. “This is all in the ancient tongue, so well hidden among human society.” She let out a soft laugh. “To think, you are among the few that might be able to make out a few of its words.” She gave a soft smile to Lenne before she began reading through the pages once again. It was nearly an hour, possibly a bit more before Reyrie stood. “I’ve got it.” She spoke as she looked to Lenne. “I know how to make them leave without questioning your father. We must ensure the safety of the Fae here...if not...then what does the peace of the world mean if we are all dead?” She sounded like a wise old elf even though she was very young in elven years. “I want you to go to the captain of the Crimson Guard.” She looked to Lenne, “I want you to tell him that you’ve a dragon problem. That’s why you haven’t gotten the ears.” A smirk curved up her lips. “That you wish to do better, and will work harder, to flush the Fae from the surrounding area. Tell him that you believe the Fae have brought this upon the region as a way of protecting their lives.”

Other Fae had seemed to gather as Reyrie spoke. They seemed in awe of the woman. She drew in a breath, “I only hope that I can pull this off.” She spoke and pulled her hood up. “Get him to a balcony.” She nodded, “I want him to see this. After...meet me at the docks...” She turned and left the room with the book within her hand. She shoved it into her satchel and rushed through the castle. She slipped through the shadows, narrowly escaping the eyes of the guard. Reyrie made her way into the city streets, she had mapped out nearly the entire city in her two days that she studied the area. She knew the paths to take. She found her way to the tavern and burst through the doors. “Help!” She cried. “A Fae demon has brought hell’s fire upon us!”

The drunken soldiers turned and clamored toward her. At least they were drunk. She rushed out of the tavern. “This way! This way! Hurry!” She cried to them. She had around 15 or so behind her, running after her drunkenly. Reyrie took the guards to the edge of the city. “Here! I saw her over here!” She pointed as they ran into the valley outside of the city. The soldiers could barely keep up with her nimble feet. She stopped and turned.

One of the soldiers caught up to her and grasped her by her collar. “Where is it? Where is the Fae? Huh? Are you tricking us?” His breath smelled thick of alcohol.

“She’s here.” Reyrie spoke as she looked up to him, a slight smirk upon her lips. Her hood fell from its place, revealing her face to him.

The guard dropped his hold on her and staggered back. “The….the fae...the one we burned!” He pointed at her.

Reyrie stood before them with a wicked smile upon her lips. “Did you not think that your God would seek atonement for your own sins?” She chuckled as the guards surrounded her, some drunkenly pulled their swords. “I’ll show you what your God has in store for you.” She lifted her hands and roots slithered up around the ankles of the guard. They tried to pull away, some slashed at the roots. “Aerdrie Faenya….tolo anin naur...” She looked to the men as they fought against her power. The sky filled with clouds. From the dark thundering clouds came a beast with a spiritual blue glow. Bones wrapped around the blue fire that burned within the belly of the beast. The spirit of a dragon. The beast swooped down over the top of the Crimson Guard and let out a mighty roar as it flew directly toward the city. It flew right up to the castle and made a narrow pass as another roar came from within its chest. The dragon then made a turn back toward the valley where the drunken guard stood helplessly. It swooped down and scooped one of the men into its mouth before it crunched upon his bones and spit the dead body back out. The dragon blew blue flames at others until one final guard remained. The beast took to the skies and disappeared within the dark threatening clouds.

Reyrie stepped forward to the last guard whom shook in his boots. “This has only just begun. The more you kill...the punishment becomes worse.” She spoke as she cupped his cheek. Her eyes were glowing the same blue as the fire of the dragon. The roots released from his boots which caused the soldier to turn and run. Reyrie watched as he sprinted toward the village with fear in his bones.

She walked after him, she looked to the bodies of the fallen guard. Did she fell guilt? Possibly. She never wanted to harm anyone. But how many Fae had they killed? So terribly. Burned alive. She walked through the streets of the city where the citizens stared up to the rumbling clouds above.

“Did you see that? The dragon?”

“It was a spirit...all bones...”

“It must have been one of the gods.” A fae spoke in a hushed tone to another Fae. “Angry over the way they burned that poor Fae girl...”

Reyrie watched as Crimson Guard mounted their steeds and rushed from the city. A smirk curved up her lips as she made her way through the city. She stopped just outside the tavern and looked up to the castle. She could only hope that the conversation that Lenne had with the captain would cause him to run away like the rest of his soldiers. She glanced into the tavern to find it completely empty. She made her way through the streets of the city. She pulled her hood up a bit more to shield her face as she made her way to the docks. When she arrived she found it to be nearly abandoned with the exception of a few sailors. She made her way to the end of one of the docks and sat down, she looked over the water as the lightning flashed within the sky.

Reyrie had leaned against the post of the dock. Her eyes watched the lightning storm in the sky, her body felt heavy and tired. When she heard the sound of the boots click over the wood of the dock she lifted her eyes to look to Lenne. The smile of the woman caused Reyrie to smile as well. “The book gave me an idea. But since I was young the ancients have given me a gift of summoning.” She gave a gentle smile then as she looked back out toward the ocean. “The Crimson Guard will lighten their hold upon the castle for now, for fear of the dragon. I may have placed a target on my back, but...to me it was worth it to save the lives of the many Fae that are sprinkled throughout your city. I could not allow them to die. But, we must move them to the safety of Faelyn...if they want to go. It is their choice.”

She watched the flashes above the sea as she slowly stood. “I will make the ears for your father to offer to the king when the Crimson Guard comes around again. He may offer as many as he likes. But I would keep the amount low, to ensure that the guard still believes that the dragon is still a problem.” Reyrie pulled the book from her satchel and ran her fingertips over the leather of the case. “I found the next step to finding the book of power. We will need to travel to the west. There is an old Fae city that was destroyed long ago by the Crimson Guard. It lies deep within the forest of Traliae. It is the city of Seldwyn. The first city of Fae.” She flipped through the pages of the book and opened it to a page that was nearly at the end. The swirls upon the page were glowing slightly to her touch. “Seldwyn holds the next key to finding our ancients.” She spoke and lifted her eyes to look to Lenne. “It will not be an easy journey…”

Reyrie stood slowly and closed the book, she placed it back in her satchel. “From the Fae that have traveled to Faelyn from the west I have heard horror stories of the Traliae forest. The creatures that live within it now are dangerous, unkind to the Fae...distorted from the lack of our influence...” She drew in a breath and thought for a long moment. “Amra spoke of the world without our kind...it would be harsh and unforgiving...we...are connected to the world in a way that humans will never be.” Her eyes were sad as she spoke. “The forests feed into our magic...just as we feed into it...the enchanted forests are from the presence of Fae kind. Without us...the creatures that would spawn and roam this world would be much more the demons that humans make us out to be...”

Reyrie fell quiet for a moment as she seemed to think, she took in a breath and then gave a soft smile. “From there...I am not certain where we will be led next...all I know is that the ancient long ago...even before Amra’s time hid away the book of power because of the corruption that it brought to the humans...it was...supposed to be a gift from the Fae...” She lowered her eyes slightly. “We have only ever tried to give to the humans...in fact the first humans that I have killed was just moments ago with the summoning of the dragon...” She had a hint of sadness in her voice. “But...they bring war to us...and they do not understand anything but the act of war...so at first...it must be war that we bring back upon them...” She seemed to think deeply for a moment, her brows furrowed. “Your father...your brother...they do not treat the Fae as demons...even you as a half-ling...” She gave a gentle smile. “When all of this is over...I will be counting on one of you three to take over the throne...our world must be led by a human that does not believe in the destruction of our kind.” Reyrie spoke with wise words. Though her years of reading ancient texts she’d learned many things of the ancients. Things that even Amra had not heard of. It wasn’t until she returned to Daly that she got any chance of moving forward with the prophecy. Now, everything seemed to be set in motion, she couldn’t stop it if she tried.