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I don’t know where this unicorn is taking me or how he found me, but I trust him, even if I’m still holding tight to the saddle strap. I just hope he’s not putting himself in danger for me. Perhaps the darkness of the moonless night will provide cover for our flight.
We’re still high above the forest when a scream reaches us from down below. And another, the sheer terror of it penetrating my skin and clawing at my bones. I don’t know who’s there, but I know they’re in danger. I don’t know if I can do anything, but I have to at least try.
I tap softly on Cherry Cake’s neck, unsure if he’ll understand me.
“Down,” I whisper, because I don’t know what else to do.
He jerks sideways, enough for me to shut my eyes and regret all the decisions that led me to this point. Then we descend. From up here, I see some kind of stone walls, like ruins, and some fire from beneath trees, as if someone is moving a torch. There’s a lightstone too, its bluish soft glow contrasting with the orange of the fire.
Cherry Cake then floats close to the treetops. After a few seconds, I understand. He can’t go down there—but he’s brought me close enough. I can jump from here, but I hesitate. Then another scream pierces the stillness of night, and I decide to check if it’s safe from above, and do what I can.
There may be a reason I heard the scream, a reason I could sense that fear in my own skin, and it’s not right to ignore it.
I jump, cursing the noise I make as I crash over thin leaves, horrified that I’m actually falling between branches, until I’m able to hold on to one of them—then fall again, until my feet hit a solid branch. I slip, but I’m able to stop my fall by holding onto other branches, and then I steady myself to look below.
Two fae girls are down there. Teenagers, by human standards. One of them has blue skin and hair, and the other has wavy black hair and brown skin. The blue-skinned fae is the one creating blasts of fire, while a swarm of large flying creatures surround them.
Death bees. Shit. They’re not attacking just the village. I see a few of them flying up towards me. Light. Light is the answer, but if I’m going to use it, I might as well help the fae girls below.
With that thought, I jump. My fall is not that graceful, but I land behind the fae with fire. Light. I focus on light and create a flash, and the creatures slow down, disoriented.
The black-haired fae stares at me as if I were a ghost, while the other fae is busy producing a blast of fire that burns a few of the insects.
“I’m here to help,” I mutter.
I think about light again, considering a shield, but then I realize that the flash was more effective, and do it again.
The insects are disoriented, and the blue girl burns a few more of them. I see another flash of light then, much weaker than mine. An illusion. The other girl’s magic.
That gives me time to concentrate, imagine nothing but light, bright and strong and powerful. So powerful.
“Close your eyes,” I warn the girls, then close mine as well, as I create a blast so bright that I can see it through my eyelids.
And then it’s dark, and the bees are fallen. The blue fae sends a blast of fire to the ground, and burns the insects easily. I exhale in relief, and the girls hug.
“Who are you?” the dark-haired fae asks.
“I was at the coronation. I’m Astra, Prince Marlak’s wife.”
“Prince?” The girl chuckles. “Fine. I’m Melina,” she points at the blue girl. “And you never saw her with me. Promise you won’t tell anyone.”
I wasn’t expecting lifetime servitude, but a thank-you could have been nice. Still, I shrug and say, “Sure. I was just trying to help you and your nonexistent friend.”
The blue girl chuckles. “I’m happy you’re here. But please forget you saw me.”
“Who am I even going to tell?” That’s when I notice Melina’s dress. It’s bright blue, with a deep v cut, and her pearl necklace reminds me… Reminds me of the queen of the Court of Bees. The girl is someone important in that court, and she might fear I’ll tell the queen about this meeting. I try to assuage her. “I’ll keep your secret, don’t worry.”
“Promise,” Melina says. Demands, actually.
I don’t like her tone, and I don’t think she’ll believe my word anyway, so I say, “In exchange for what?”
She bites her lip, then the blue girl says, “We won’t tell anyone about your magic.”
I almost shrug like it means nothing or as if people wouldn’t believe them, but they are fae; their words are always believed. I can’t see how this light would cause me problems, but it all depends on the intention of the person telling it. But they are just afraid I’ll spill their secret.
I smile. “Deal. And I wasn’t going to tell?—”
Sensing a movement to my right, I pull my dagger, then I see a tall fae, wearing plain black pants and a vest, holding a sword. From the corner of my eye, I see more movement, then realize three newcomers are holding the fae girls and have daggers on their necks. My stomach drops.
