Page 22 of Forged in Fading

That couldn’t be her…could it?

“Kat?” Alvara said as loud as she dared. “Is that you?”

The bird cocked its head and scratched its talons back and forth on the frozen ground.

“Great, now I’m talking to birds.” This was a new low, even for her.

“I don’t see what’s so strange about that. I do it all the time.”

Alvara yelped, splaying her fingers over her chest. “Damn it! I was just talking to you, and you pretended to be a bird.”

Kat scrunched her face and tucked her dark curls behind her ears. “But I was a bird. What are you doing out here?”

Where to begin? She had attempted to settle back into her old life until she found her father’s murdered corpse. Boden gave her biscuits and tea, buried the body, and helped her escape—or did he?—until the bastard decided she wasn’t worth the trouble and turned her over to the king’s accomplices. Then Alvara had caused the local stable elf a heap of trouble and traipsed about the wilderness like a madwoman.

She decided to go with, “Getting out of Dalvi. If the offer still stands, I want to join.”

Kat beamed. “I hoped you’d say that. I was just doing my rounds when I spotted you out here. You’ll love it in Malva—less people try to kill us there.” Her words bounced with nauseatingly positive energy. “Follow me!” She shifted, flitting in her falcon form between tree branches and leading the way toward what Alvara hoped would be her refuge.

Weathered stones formed the city wall, stacked higher than Alvara could crane her neck, proving that the famous defenses of Ilmanir had not been overstated—they certainly wanted to keep something or someone out. Without the help of Nyrian magic, it had to have taken months or even years to build.

Before them stood a large iron door, which Kat rapped her fist against in a peculiar pattern after shifting back into her elf form.

A small grate opened, and a pair of eyes studied Alvara. “No visitors without authorization. You know that, Kat.”

“Oh, come on, Vel. She was meant to join us a week ago, just ask Aurilena.” Kat pouted her lip, her words sticky and sweet like honey. “Please?”

The guard blew out a long breath and disappeared behind the door to the clicking and unlatching of metal. Kat tossed him a wink on their way in before handing off Alvara’s horse to an elf at the nearby stable and leading her into the sanctuary of the city.

“Welcome to Ilmanir, the city of dark and boring colors.”

The city before them somehow radiated warmth despite the frost sparkling on the reddish-brown roofs of the homes and other timber buildings lining the cobblestone streets. Younglings ran through, waging imaginary warfare with sticks and giggles, while colorful kites danced in the sky, pushed by bursts of air from the magic of the Malvan elves below.

Wind whistled and whispered from every direction, carrying with it the sweet scent of honey and the bright jingles of the elaborate chimes that hung on every porch. Far past the tightly packed houses lay a lake, its surface made impenetrable by dalvi’s frigid nature. Barren trees lined the shores, along with streetlamps and worn benches that wound their way toward the castle standing guard high above the city, nestled on top of a steep hill only accessible by a single route. Its slender copper peaks and simple stone façade spoke of a king who cared more for defense than luxury.

Quite unlike Ela, and not surprising considering the history of sieges to the Malvan capital. Malvan elves born on a full moon in their kingdom’s short season were able to absorb other elves’ magic without laying a finger on them. Such an ability didn’t exactly breed harmony.

Kat dropped a small, wrapped sweet in Alvara’s hand as they wove through the streets and tossed one into her own mouth. “Sap candy, my current obsession.” Her words came out garbled between chews. “They sound terrible, but they’re not so bad if you pretend you’re eating something else. I carry them for when I need energy on long flights.” She crinkled the sweet wrapper between her fingers and slowed her pace. “So…what really happened, Alvara? Why are you here? Not that I’m not happy you’re here, but you seemed sure you wanted to go home.”

Why? The blood. His body. “I found my father…He’s gone.” She took a shaky breath. “I couldn’t stay. And the king’s elves are coming for me⁠—”

Kat laid a hand on her shoulder. “You’re safe here. They wouldn’t make it past the city walls.” She gave a light squeeze before letting her touch fall away. “I’m so sorry, I really am. We’ve all lost someone, and it never gets easier.”

Alvara couldn’t handle the pity in Kat’s voice, so she placed the candy in her mouth and let the mild sweetness melt over her tongue.

“Alvara?” The way Aurilena said her name sounded less than welcoming, and she wasn’t shocked when she found the elf a few paces away, a frown souring her features.

“Isn’t it wonderful? She’s going to join us after all. I was just going to get her a meal, want to come with?” Kat asked.

“Wonderful isn’t the word I would have chosen.” Aurilena placed her hands on her hips, and her short frame suddenly seemed much taller. “You came because you had no other choice.”

“Does it matter?” Alvara said. If only she had more candies to shove into her mouth to escape this confrontation.

Aurilena scoffed. “It does to those of us who have risked everything to be here.”

“And that’s enough of Lena for today,” Kat said, steering Alvara by her shoulders toward a simple building, composed of only thin planks of wood. Voices layered over the toasty air inside, while pale-skinned and dark-haired Malvan elves filled most of the tables, along with elves from every other kingdom. Except Dalvi.

The realization only spoiled her pathetic appetite further, even as her nose picked up the aroma of some kind of gamey meat mixed with the earthiness of vegetables.