Page 9 of The Chosen Fae

“A what?”

“It’s when a fae steals an unattended human baby and takes it to our fae world. The person who does this becomes responsible for raising the fae and turning it into a changeling.”

Rune raised her brows. That was something she would never do.

“As to sponsorships, different fae kingdoms will have individuals or royals who will come forth to support their choices to win the challenges, though this isn’t a given. Word will be sent to each of the kingdoms as to who wins which challenges and how.”

“What do sponsorships entail?”

“You’ll receive gifts that you might need in the challenges. Some are small, some are big, but it just depends on who ends up sponsoring you. Some participants never have any sponsorships. But if you falter—they will drop you like will-o’-the-wisps fading off into the darkness. They have riches galore, but no tolerance for losing.”

“I don’t need them.”

“You do.”

Rune figured she wouldn’t have a sponsor. She wasn’t playing for the audience; she was doing what she needed to do so she could return to her glen.

3

Stone couldn’t believe it when his advisor, Kentner, a dark-haired Dark Fae, told him that he was from one of the packs represented there at the games, and that Rune was from the other. He was stunned, really. He hadn’t believed he had any surviving family members, which was why he was living on his own in the glen.

But he didn’t care about the pack politics. He and Rune had never lived with their packs, so nothing had changed between them as far as he was concerned. He wondered if her advisor had told her the same thing.

He was shocked to learn that one of the goddesses of the rune stones had also saved his life. He glanced down at the sword hanging at his waist—a pearl handle with a moon carved in the hilt. It was so beautiful. He wondered if it was from Moon Gazer.

Kentner told him about changelings too, and Stone suspected their competitors already knew. “Once a fae takes a human baby as his or her own, he or she would take them back to the fae world. A changeling would remain there, living as long as the fae do, but without their powers,” Kentner explained. “The baby/changeling would be bound to you forever.”

Stone would never take a human baby to turn into a changeling.

“Another thing I need to mention is some aspects about humans, fae seers, and the fae, since one of the challenges will possibly involve them. You and Rune have never been to the human world. The others have, so Rune’s advisor will explain all this to her also. You know that we have a shimmer around our person when we turn invisible.”

Stone nodded.

“In some cases, a fae can hide their shimmer from others. It’s a neat trick to have if you are gifted with that ability. Humans can’t see us when we’re invisible. But humans who can see the fae when you are invisible are known as fae seers. Some of them will attempt to put the fae in iron and then move them to somewhere that they can dispose of them.”

“If we could fae transport, we wouldn’t have a problem.”

“Correct. Which is why you can push the emergency button and it will whisk you away to somewhere safe. Humans are clueless as to what we are. They believe we’re just like them. When you’re invisible, you can walk right through them, and their body will feel like it has fallen asleep. They won’t know why that strange feeling has come over them. If you’re invisible and sit on someone’s lap, like if you were riding on a bus and you wanted to sit where they are, you will make their lap go numb. They won’t feel you sitting there. When you’re invisible, you’re weightless.”

Stone wondered what they were going to do that required them to interact with humans and possibly fae seers.

Then Kentner explained about sponsors to him. Stone didn’t need any sponsors. He would do what he had to do without their help.

“One other thing, you’ll be provided with clothes or other items to do the activities. Some might be upgraded if you have a sponsor who agrees to do it.”

“Will you tell the others that Rune and I are from the competing packs?”

“No. That’s up to you as to what you want to reveal to any of them.” Kentner glanced at his sword. “Nice weapon.”

Rune wondered if he would need to use the sword.

“Oh, and you can practice swordsmanship since I understand this is the first time you’ve had a sword.”

“Right.”

“The weapons practice room is to the right as you leave my office. There you can practice archery, sword fighting, star throwing, dagger throwing, whatever you need to work on. Also, you and Rune are unusual cases when it comes to making sure you learn some of what goes on in the human world. For instance, you don't know how to drive a car. You have an innate ability to read, so you're good with that. But you've never even met a human."

"Correct."