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Aeron snickered with Kelvin as she wrapped a cloth tape measure around his upper thigh, mumbling vulgarities, before he turned his attention back to the seamstress. “If you think I’m thick there. You should see my?—”
I scoffed, disgusted. “There’s no need to embarrass yourself. We can all see what you’re working with.”
His nostrils flared, a reply on his tongue when the raven-haired guard stepped between us. “Save it for the trials.” He brushed Aeron to the side and addressed me. “Follow me to the dining hall.”
I did what he asked, and hurried away from Aeron, whose murderous glare had me regretting my impulsive insult. I knew better and did it anyway—it’s how I ended up in this mess.
“You’d do well to remember this is a game of life and death, sweetheart,” Aeron called out after me, straightening his dirty, mustard-colored shirt. “I’d watch that pretty mouth of yours, too, if I were you.”
Six
My eyes widened as I entered the dining hall.
Fae of various hues and species flitted around, ranging from diminutive ones no larger than my hand to others that stooped slightly to prevent their massive, iridescent wings from colliding with the candle chandeliers. It was an eccentric mix—overwhelmingly so—yet I found it oddly welcoming. I didn’t get the same menacing feeling from them as I did from the ones in the throne room. These fae seemed friendly. Warm, like Pipion. And I questioned why they weren’t in the main part of the castle with the rest.
Maybe they were prisoners like us?
The faerie guard left my side to join the rest of the patrol flanking the back wall, swords drawn and ready for violence. With a deep breath, I helped myself to the buffet—although I couldn’t identify anything besides what was possibly chicken.
“They say if you eat anything in Faerway, you can never leave,” a meek voice said from beside me. Her petite frame matched her tone, although her hazel eyes took up half her face. For the life of me, I couldn’t remember her name. It taunted me—on the very tip of my tongue.
I huffed a laugh. “I take it you don’t believe that?”
“Nah, I just don’t care anymore. Being here for almost six moons will do that to a girl.” She adjusted the pile of brown hair on top of her head. “We haven’t officially met. I’m Calandra,” she introduced, extending her hand.
I placed my palm against hers. “Elowyn.”
“When’d you get here? I haven’t seen you around before.”
“Three days ago, maybe? I’m not sure. I think they put me under some sort of sleeping spell.”
“Well, welcome to purgatory.” She spread her arms out in front of her. “Where the food sucks, the baths aren’t guaranteed, and the guards are self-righteous dicks. I won’t lie though—I’m looking forward to the upgraded sleeping arrangements, so I’m glad you showed up when you did. Those bedrolls are awful.”
I arched my brow, loading a plate with a helping of sloppy brown mush. “Why would my arrival influence that?”
“The trials, girl. Keep up.” Calandra scooped a helping of chicken onto her plate. “The king was waiting until we had a tenth human to begin, and voila!” She pointed her utensil at me and then to the tables behind her. “We’ll be sitting back there. Come find us when you’re done, okay?”
I remained where I stood, watching her weave through the dining hall—my eyebrows still knitted together. She was so friendly. I guess I’d assumed with a trial of life and death hanging over our heads, everyone would be cruel and standoffish. Human nature could be a fickle beast; the king was right about that. Still, it was a pleasant surprise, and I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to form allies.
Especially when I already had an enemy.
I didn’t know what I’d done to piss off Aeron. Maybe he was just that type. The ‘I’m better than everyone because my biceps are huge’ type.
Dumping the last dollop of gelatin onto the rustic wooden tray, an unappetizing aroma wafted through the air, assaulting my senses. I hoped it tasted better than it smelled. Then, retrieving a utensil, I set out to locate Calandra and the rest.
The unpleasant scent lingered as I navigated my surroundings. There must’ve been a hundred tables trailing the length of the hall—each one packed with an assortment of fae. The room appeared to breathe with the pulse of each flame burning from the torches on the walls. A soft cadence of conversation enveloped the hall, muffling the sharp clinks and clatters of those who were enjoying their meal.
The atmosphere starkly contrasted with the grandeur of the main castle I’d stepped into earlier. It exuded a darker, grimmer tone, with a pervasive sense of filth hanging in the air. Even the occupants had a slight edge to them. It seemed tailor-made for the likes of us—repulsive prisoners.
“Honestly, I don’t care if I die at this point,” Calandra said between bites as I approached the table. “I’m just happy to be out of that stars-forsaken dungeon.” She scooted over to make room for me.
“Same,” the towheaded boy, Lewis, replied. His large gray eyes were dull and tone somber. “If my mother knew this was where I was, she’d wish me dead.” He sighed, eyes appearing haunted. “I don’t remember what flowers look like anymore.”
His omission was like a knife to my chest. “Oh, they’re beautiful,” I chimed in and sat beside Calandra. “Colorful, vibrant petals in all different shapes and sizes. Some with long, vine-like stems, others short and stubby, with thick leaves. And their smell? Fresh, like a clear summer’s night. However, some are pungent, like my late Aunt Violet’s perfume.” I scrunched my nose for emphasis, and he giggled.
“You look familiar,” he said. “Did you use to sell jewelry at the outdoor market in Wellington?”
I nodded. “A long time ago for extra cash. My mother refused to buy me any more books until I read the ones I had. So, I beat her at her own game.”
