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SERA
Iheld up the map to the light of a bright spring morning, looking for a hint of the fountain. The map was minimalist, hand drawn with just a series of lines, landmarks, and labels. It marked my current location with a ‘you are here’ X at the bottom of the page and the fountain colored in deep blue at the top. As Taneisha had said, it was past the borders of Summer Court and into the deep wilderness of the fae world beyond. There were no marked roads in the rural terrain, only vague paths, so finding my way wouldn’t be easy. Still, I was confident that I could manage it.
I set off across the open field in the direction Taneisha had pointed, map in hand, my mind racing with all the possibilities of what could happen if I failed. I walked cautiously, my stomach twisting in anticipation. I felt like I was on the verge of some fantastic adventure, but then shook my head at my folly. Had I really become so accustomed to the fae’s quests that I yearned for more?
I imagined sharing this situation with my mates, and an almost homesick feeling crept through my belly over their absence. Caden would laugh along with me, encouraging me to embrace the adventure. Liam would shake his head ruefully, but have my back. Marcos would make sure I had the best gear and plan out the route. Franc would demand to speak to Taneisha and renegotiate terms, but then he’d strategize the quickest way through faery with me. Emrys would heal my sore feet and then exude such a confident, magnetic presence that I’d have to crack a joke just to knock him out of it.
I knew each of them loved me despite my broken magic and living outside of the supe society. Each of them accepted me as I am, as I did them. All of them would support my decision to do this one last quest, each in their own way. I also knew if they realized I wasn’t at home, they’d hunt me down.
If only I had a way of contacting them, but all I had were the clothes on my back, my ever-filling canteen from the last adventure, and this chicken-scratch map. Surely, as soon as they realized I was missing, they would start looking for me. But how could they locate me in faery, a realm only the fae had access to?
I trusted they would come if they were able, but most likely, I was on my own for this adventure.
I looked for any landmarks that would help me find my way. The land was eerily quiet, and the only sound was the crunch of leaves beneath my feet. The afternoon sun beat harshly on the back of my neck, and the air smelled of dirt baked by the sun. I’d been walking for an hour, maybe two. I was beginning to worry if I had read the map wrong, especially since I had seen nothing yet that looked familiar. A warm breeze blew through the dark green trees, shaking loose dead leaves that crunched underfoot. A murder of crows passed overhead, cawing to each other. I didn’t want to be alone here all night.
Suddenly, a blast of sweet, blooming flower petals filled the surrounding air, coating me in a fragrant sheen. My anxiety at being in this foreign land diminished, and I breathed deeply with contentment. A soft breeze picked up and rustled through the trees ahead, beckoning me forward. As if guided by magic, I knew exactly which way to go.
The trail up into the mountainside was rough, but I pushed onward, my heart pounding, panting as if I had just run a marathon. But as I came around the corner of a large boulder, I saw a cobblestone road, recognizing it as my path forward from the map. The road vanished into a forest where something giggled and laughed just out of sight. I pulled the map out of my pocket and looked in the direction the road was heading.
I noted I was nearing the Summer Court, and it appeared when the road ahead split, that I needed to take the right-hand path around the city proper as the fastest path to the fountain. That was fine by me. It's not like I needed to meet and get delayed by the locals. I stuffed the map back into my pocket, took a chance and started down the trail, eager to see where it would lead next.
As I walked, the sunlight filtering down through the trees cast long shadows on the path ahead, but I pushed forward. A figure appeared up ahead, dressed in a billowing white cloak and crowned with a dainty silver circlet. She moved gracefully, skirts billowing about her, revealing a sparkling gossamer gown. Two guards with helmed heads flank one side, their arms stiffly at their sides, as if afraid to move. Their hands gripped their swords, ready to draw at a moment’s notice.
They each wore a billowing white cloak, the fine fabric glittering as it moved in the light breeze. The two guards were tall and broad-shouldered, their helms covering their faces. The cloaks and helms were silver, gleaming in the sun. The bottom edge of their cloaks were stained mud brown as if they had traveled upon the road for some time.
“Crap,” I muttered, my momentum faltering. I supposed it was too much to ask to have this quest be a simple walk through the park. Why did quests always have to have side quests? Sure, it made for a more entertaining tale later, but after all I’d been through because of Taneisha, I just wanted to get to the point, wrap up this last journey, and get home to my mates.
Of course, these fae might not be interested in me. Perhaps they were just out for a pleasant evening stroll, but I knew I wasn’t that lucky.
“Who goes there?” the guard on the left demanded, his voice as gruff as his chiseled face.
I put my hands up. “I am a traveler, and I mean you no harm.”
“Name yourself,” the other demanded, his voice ringing with authority.
“I am Sera Lowe,” I said, hoping my luck would hold. If not, perhaps they’d kick me out, sending me back to the mortal realm and my mates.
The lady held up a hand, imperiously silencing all of us. “A human, traveling alone in the lands of the Summer Court in the full flush of summer?” The lady shook her head, her lips pursed in a grim line. “That speaks to a bit of foolishness, especially at this time of the year. Tell me, what are you doing in our lands?” she asked, her voice filled with skepticism.
I hesitated. How honest should I be? I didn’t know Taneisha’s reputation amongst her kind. Would dropping her name help or hinder me? A second of consideration revealed my doubts. “I’m just passing through, and I’m afraid I don’t know the local customs. Have I mis-stepped?”
The other guard studied me with dark eyes. “You dare walk here unescorted? These forests are full of danger, even for fae. You are bold for a mortal.”
I bit my lip, resisting the urge to blurt that I didn’t want to be bold, or reckless, or a lot of other words.
“You walk with recklessness,” the lady said. “Such a lovely land we have here, meant to be enjoyed by those chosen few.”
I inferred I was not among that elite list.
“You may address me as Lady Alia. Although I admit I do not recognize your family name, there’s something familiar about you.”
Alia let the question hang in the air, and I was cautious to respond. Had she interacted with my family before? I couldn’t think of many reasons mages and fae might work together or socialize, at least not amicably. I’d already shared my family name, and didn’t want to give her any reason to dig more deeply into her memories.
“I’d remember meeting someone as prominent as yourself, Lady Alia, but I’m afraid I haven’t had the pleasure.”
Alia’s eyes narrowed ever so slightly, enough that I could tell she would not let this go. “I’ll get to the heart of it, in due time. I always do. For now, come,” she said, gesturing to the path behind her. “We’ll escort you to Court where we can discuss further.”
I understood her invitation to be a demand, but I knew if I went with her, I might be stuck in faery much longer than even Taneisha had intended. But what could I do?
