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I climb the stairs to our room in a daze, chewing on the old man’s words. When I enter our room, Levi’s awake and dressed, sitting in a chair and reading a book beside the oil lamp. The world outside is still gray with the early morning light. He looks up.
“Good morning.” I close the door and lift my pack to the bed to organize it. “Did you sleep well?”
Signing, he says, “Surprisingly well. How about you?”
“Fine.” I remove a sweater to throw over my tunic. There’s a chill in the air. “What do you know about the Northern Duke?”
His eyes widen. “Where did you hear about him?”
“At breakfast.” I don’t want to reveal how I know the duke. A lot of emotions swirl through me regarding my father and abandonment. “An older man mentioned the faction of the Redeemed who work with Supes.”
“Supes… wayward Miscretes.” Levi sets his book on the table beside the oil lamp. “The guy’s missing a few screws in the head.”
Though I want to know more about my father, I drop it for now. As soon as the first rays of the sun hit, I want to be on the road so we can get back to Rumsford before dark. “Sounds like a real piece of work. Are you ready to head downstairs?”
He stuffs his book in his pack, shrugs on his coat, and throws his bag on his shoulder. “Are you sure you want to go to Mafekadi? That’s where that fairy’s headed. What happened last night made me nervous, and I’m part fae.”
“You said most of the fae in the town are harmless, right?”
“Yes,” he says.
I remove a dagger from my cloak. “And you said this is made of iron, correct?”
“Yes… but…”
“Then I have confidence in our ability to defend ourselves if needed.” I throw on my cloak and open the door. “You coming?”
Nestled in a valley between the sloping foothills of the massive mountain, about a two-hour hike from Rumsford is the settlement of Mafekadi. Along the way, Levi and I discuss the prophecy and Avo, his closest friend among the fae.
When we finally crest the hillside, the air is thick with enchantment, tingling my skin. Looking down at the village, I see it holds a blend of organic architecture and natural formations. Giant mushroom caps serve as rooftops, while intricate carvings depicting scenes from fae folklore, cover the walls of the homes. Elaborate treehouses constructed from intertwined branches and vines sway gently in the breeze, creating a seamless connection between the structures and the surrounding forest. Wind chimes hanging from the same trees emit haunting tunes throughout the valley.
A brook meanders through the center of the village, providing a mirrored surface to reflect the deep greens and vibrant colors of the surrounding foliage. Stone bridges arch over the water, connecting different parts of the village and leading to communal gathering spaces.
My mouth hangs open. Never in my life have I witnessed the antithesis of Avren. The city is the pinnacle of human innovation and progress, creating imitations of the natural world with metal, stone, and plastics. Mafekadi embodies what it looks like when creatures and the natural world work together. “I’m speechless.”
“It’s pretty amazing, right?” Levi loops his arm in mine and drags me along the moss-covered path.
As much as I want to delve into the intricacies of the village’s beauty, standing on the hillside and admiring it from afar is almost as tempting. It’s a dream. At any moment, someone will pinch me, and I’ll wake up. “How does it make you feel to be here?”
“Like I’m home.” The corner of Levi’s mouth tilts upward. “As much as the four of you are my family, Mafekadi stirs the part of me I try to hide.”
“I like that part of you.” I adjust my hold on his arm, drawing him in closer so he knows I’m here for him no matter what happens. “Don’t hide it.”
In the heart of the village, there’s a communal square I assume is used for celebrations and gatherings. I can only imagine the breathtaking nature of a fae wedding. Ancient standing stones, each engraved with symbols, surround the square.
Many eyes are on us as we walk through the village. Although Levi is part fae and visits Mafekadi, he is still clearly human. The looks are more curious than menacing, and the overall calming magic in the air makes me feel at ease.
“Avo lives about two blocks from here.” He leads me between two homes, through a garden, and into another patch of dwellings. Bright swatches of flowers adorn the cobblestone walkways to the homes.
While I want to visit Levi’s friend, I haven’t forgotten about the material I hope to purchase for the new clothes. But looking at Mafekadi, I don’t see a single store. I might find a tailor in Rumsford on the way back.
Levi knocks on the door of a home with thousands of daisies growing up to our waists beside the front walk. The smell of the entire valley is intoxicating, and I’m not sure if it’s the scent of the flowers or the magical nature making me want to find a patch of grass to take a nap in.
Standing outside the door, my eyes start to close before I’m startled awake by its opening. A man, about a head taller than Levi with long, golden hair, stands on the threshold for a second before embracing my friend.
“Levi Crassus! It’s been months.” He sways back and forth with his arms still wrapped tightly around the smaller man. There’s no smile on his face. “I almost thought you’d joined the First City.”
Levi pats him on the back, probably not hearing a word he’s saying. He moves away from his friend and holds a hand out to me before signing, “This is Maribel Windsong. The woman I told you about in the letter I sent with Wix.”
