AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"Out with it," I said, grabbing a pitchfork and striding into Balefire's stall to clean up while he was distracted with his treat. Pooka were trouble-loving terrors who required a firm hand and a master who was constantly on the lookout for their games. But they were also easy to bribe with food once you earned their trust. Still, it was best to get this stall cleaned before Bale ran out of food and decided he needed other entertainment. I was not feeling like a midnight ride through the swamp affixed to the back of a demon horse who would only let me down when he was done playing terrorize-the-fae-person.
Amaryllis was right. Northbower estate employed people to do this job. The stable master was probably out taking their lunch at the moment, and I knew that this was the day they liked to treat the rest of the barn staff. They'd be back eventually, and they'd be more than happy to take care of Balefire. But I actually enjoyed caring for my mount myself. My stepmother had instilled in me from a young age that the best employers were the ones who expected nothing from their workers that they wouldn't do themselves. It was what had made her so capable of running the estate, and our distant corner of Elfhaven. And she had learned from the best, from the king and queen.
Amaryllis's parents ruled by a similar principle. It was why they encouraged their children to make friends throughout the kingdom, and not stick to studying government or socializing only in their highborn circles.
"Don't kill the messenger," Amaryllis said firmly. "You know I love you, Kat. Mom and dad do too. Which is why they sent me instead of a bird carrying a fancy royal decree."
I leaned the pitchfork against the outer wall and closed up Bale's stall, leaning back against the sturdy plank door and crossing my arms over my chest. "Royal decree?"
She nodded, then took a deep breath. Squaring her shoulders, she lifted her chin and used her serious princess voice. "The construction on the mountain pass is beginning. You know that will bring more traffic into Larkwood."
I nodded. The letter I received recently from the royal secretary informed me that the plans were moving forward. My stepmother and the rulers of Elfhaven had been discussing the construction of a mountain pass through the Old Scourge mountains for as long as I could remember. Larkwood and its largest city, Mistvale, were cut off from the rest of Elfhaven and the seaports by the mountain range that encircled our territory on the east and west. And to the north, the mountains separated us from the rocky, barren country of Trollheim and Dwarfhall. As it was now, we had to travel south, then detour out around the end of the mountain range to get to the capital city of Brightfall. And the closest seaport was through the territory of Trireme to the southwest.
This mountain pass would give the territory of Larkwood a direct route to the capital and the ocean ports. Trade and travel would increase, and the territory I had stewardship over would likely see substantial growth. This wasn't news to me. It didn't warrant sending Amaryllis to soften me up. I narrowed my eyes at her. "This is about the mines."
She sighed and ran a hand over the gossamer fabric of her skirt. "In large part, yes. The pass was enough to change everything, but this newest development will magnify those changes tenfold."
I ground my teeth together. I grew up here, in this quiet, thriving, but sheltered town in the middle of a nearly inaccessible mountain valley. I was the steward of the land. I governed and cared for this territory on behalf of the king and queen. It was an enormous responsibility, but one I loved. One I felt well-trained for and able to handle. But a few weeks ago, a strong vein of mage dust and star crystal was discovered in the mountain range in the northwestern part of Larkwood. And now…now my small, quiet corner of Elfhaven was poised to become a wealthy trade city, the new jewel of the kingdom.
Mage dust was used to enhance magic. It let fae cast stronger spells with less effort. It could even grant some lucky humans the ability to perform small magics. And the solid form, star crystals, powered our lights and mechanical devices without the need for other fuels or power sources. Both items were relatively rare, highly sought after, highly regulated, highly valuable assets.
Amaryllis straightened her back and met my eyes, and I saw both my best friend and a royal looking back at me. "As far as I'm aware, you still have no serious lover, Kat. No mate—or mates—chosen, no one of interest who you might take as a bonded. The king and queen wish for you to remedy that as soon as possible."
I scoffed. Of all the things I had expected my best friend to say her royal parents wanted to talk to me about, my love life hadn't even occurred to me. "You know I've not exactly been star-favored when it comes to lovers," I said dryly.
For starters, I hadn't been interested in more than the occasional fun here and there. But there was also the matter of my mixed heritage. I tried not to let my gaze linger on Amaryllis's slender, willowy stature, her tall, pointed ears or her beautiful, iridescent wings. They were features that every highborn fae female possessed. I was unfashionably short and plump, my ears were rounded, and my back was bare, thanks to my lowborn heritage.
Highborn fae were those whose ancestors were some mix of elven and other high fae like jinn, sylph, or undine. They had high magic with an affinity for one or more elemental magics, depending on their specific heritage. Lowborn fae were those born of "lesser" fae like brownies, sprites, and gnomes. The lowest of lowborn, like me, also had human blood in the mix. We didn't have powerful magic, or control of the elements. Our magic was simpler, usually centered around one very specific practical skill. My mother had been a highborn, but my father was part brownie and part human. My own limited power was similar to the home and hearth magic of brownies. I could light a hearth fire, patch up minor scrapes and burns, and other useful—but mostly unimpressive—things like that.
It wasn't like my lack of wings and my impure blood were a deal breaker for most potential suitors. Nevertheless, it came up often enough to make me self-conscious. And when you added in my formal duties, my stubborn personality, my penchant for doing things in the most unconventional way possible, and my less than courtly ways, well…it wasn't like I was wading through eager suitors just lining up to bond with me for life. And if they were interested, there was always a part of me that wondered if it was only because I was a steward with my own estate and a say over how things were done.
Ama sighed. "Your previous lovers have all been complete morons," she said dryly, losing some of her royal highborn airs of class and poise. "It's not your fault you've been cursed to suffer idiots." She waved a graceful hand. "But that's beside the point. Kat, the king and queen and their advisors have decided it is in your best interest—and in the best interests of the kingdom—for you to take partners now, before the pass is completed. And before the discovery in the mines becomes common knowledge."
I narrowed my eyes at her, anger rising inside me, overshadowing the embarrassment at my abysmal romantic prospects. "I have been the steward of Larkwood territory for five years now. I have overseen every aspect of the territory's wellbeing during that time. And I assisted Rose for years before that. If the king and queen doubt my abilities or my loyalty, then they should have chosen another steward long before now."
Amaryllis held up a placating hand, perched on a bale of straw as if she was sitting on a throne holding court. "This is why they sent me. We all knew you'd be angry and defensive. No one is questioning your abilities, Kat. But you can't run a territory as large and important as Larkwood is soon to become without help. No one could. If it was anyone but you, if you weren't like a family member to them, the king and queen would have already chosen who you would marry. They would pick several mates for you from good families with strong political advantages and be done with it.”
She gave me an apologetic look. "Soon you'll have increased trade. People will flock here for your resources. Kat, you need to establish a strong House. And you need to do it now."
Chapter 2
I ran a hand through my hair and spun away to brace my hands on the top of the half-wall of Balefire's stall. Bowing my head, I stared at the loose straw scattered across the floor, considering Amaryllis's words. "I understand," I finally bit out.
It was only common sense for the king and queen to make this request. The other stewards of the other territories of Elfhaven had strong, established Houses with capable, impressive families who shared their responsibilities. Larkwood had just never been of much concern. We were beneath notice compared to the richer, more populated seaside territories to the south.
Fae marriages were rarely single pairings. A good match would bring in a whole group of powerful partners to help with the running of the territory—kind of like one’s own personal council of advisors. And it was only good sense to choose spouses who would have strong connections that would further ensure the success of the growing city. But simply assigning spouses based on politics was an outdated, ancient, backward way of doing things. One that spared no concern for the feelings of those involved. I knew the king and queen would hate doing that to me—to anyone—as much as I hated the idea myself.
But I saw the sense in it. I saw all too well, and sudden panic started clawing at my chest. No matter how close my ties to them, the king and queen would do what was best for the territory, and the kingdom. Even if it meant shackling me to a stranger—multiple strangers, probably, since Larkwood was poised to become such a valuable territory.
Amaryllis sighed. "There's really no one, Kat? If you have a preference, you know my parents will honor your wishes." She wrinkled her fine nose in distaste. “Just don’t tell me you’ve suddenly become starry-eyed over the baker. My parents would laugh themselves right off their thrones.”
I glared. Ama and Gambol didn’t get along well on the best of days. I had no clue why, really. But they rubbed each other the wrong way. However, Ama wasn’t the first person to wrongly assume that Gambol and I were anything other than good friends. “I’m not interested in Gambol,” I ground out. “Not that there would be anything wrong with it if I was.”
But we both knew that was a lie. Gambol was a good man. A very capable baker. But he would make a terrible co-steward. He just didn’t have the skills or the…personality, I suppose, for lack of a better way to explain it. I loved my friend. But I wouldn’t elect him as my co-steward, even platonically. It would be a disaster.
And Ama’s parents were right. Larkwood needed strong people to govern the territory. I knew full well how much the mountain pass and the discoveries in the mines would both elevate and destroy Mistvale. The mage dust and star crystals were priceless resources. And once the pass was finished, the kingdom would also have access to our rich forests and the spring-fed Lake of Whispers, with its healing waters. Larkwood would become one of the most valuable territories in Elfhaven. Until now, our relatively inaccessible location kept Mistvale small and quiet. We were never hurting financially, but we weren't the richest city in Elfhaven. For the most part, the rest of the kingdom forgot all about us. And we liked it that way. I liked it that way. I already mourned that intangible bit of my home—that quietness and independent solitude—that would be lost. And I was going to have to navigate a whole new set of challenges.
Before my stepmother died, she spoke with the king and queen for years about opening up the mountain pass so the rest of Elfhaven could experience the beauty and wealth of our homeland. It would be good for trade. Our people would prosper, and the land would flourish. Mistvale would grow. It was an excellent step. I knew it was. Our territory and our towns and villages would thrive. People on both sides of the mountain pass would benefit and everyone would be happy.
