Chapter 41
“I bought us here so you could settle yourself while we walk to meet the others.”
She opened her eyes to see they were standing in some kind of fancy garden. Every plant looked like it was meticulously groomed. Even the air smelled different. Not in a bad way, but she was pretty sure they didn’t have pollution problems like the city at home. Home. She was in another realm. Letting go of his hand, she looked around slowly. When she turned to talk to him, she caught sight of her wings over her shoulder. She hadn’t even noticed they’d come out. They were the dark ones and seemed twice as bright as they did the last few times they’d been out. “My true form.”
“Yes.” He smiled at her and then motioned toward a path. “My princess will be getting anxious.” He paused and looked behind her.
Ava turned to see a large castle. It had vines and flowers growing all over it. “It’s like I’m in a fairy tale.” She smiled at him. “There aren’t many castles in the city.” She looked at it again and then noticed someone standing on a balcony in the middle of it.
“We should go.”
She turned to see him look at the castle again and then bow his head. She wanted to look back at the lady, but her gut told her she shouldn’t. “Who is that?” She whispered it as she followed him.
“My queen.” He answered without pausing in step.
“Oh.” Ava did look over her shoulder again, but the queen wasn’t there. She pulled up the skirt so she could keep up with him. A few steps later, a strange feeling moved through her. She stopped and stood there, trying to figure out what it was. “I feel weird.”
Firo stopped and turned around and looked at her. He looked down at her feet. “You’re feeling the earth, probably for the first time in your life.” He tilted his head, an amused expression. “With the pavement, cement, and rubber-souled boots, I doubt you’ve connected with it while in Interealm.”
Ava pulled the skirt up further and looked down at her feet. She could feel a pulse, but it wasn’t her own. “I’m feeling the earth.” She gave him a shocked look. “Like, all of it.”
His smile was genuine. “Yes. I don’t remember what it was like that first time, but I recall it was invigorating.” He looked at the ground. “I always feel it, but when I need the peace it brings me, I will go without anything on my feet and walk.”
Ava looked at the grass around them. “It’s—” She wasn’t used to finding words like the ones she was feeling. “So calm.” She looked back at him and tilted her head. “Is it always like this?”
He shook his head briefly. “No. When I am in Interealm I can feel the cries and pain as she is ripped open and then paved over.”
Ava knew her mouth was hanging open, but she honestly never thought that the earth would have feelings. “That’s going to be hard to get over knowing.”
Firo motioned to the path again. “It is a necessary thing. Interealm must continue, and the humans need to build and progress; it is their nature.”
She started walking again. “Telling me things like that isn’t going to help me like them.” She frowned as she went. Until this moment, she’d considered herself one of them, but she wasn’t, not really. She heard giggles and glanced into the trees to see two young girls watching them. One of them waved, so Ava smiled at her. “We’re being watched.”
Firo didn’t even look. “They’re scattered all along the path. It was meant to be a secret, but it seems everyone knows.”
“Me being here was supposed to be a secret?” She caught up to him so she could see his face when he responded. The face never lied, despite how well someone tried to hide it.
“Yes. The first halfling in Fa Terra in more years than most have existed. It is a wonder.”
Ava gnawed on her lip. “Let’s hope it stays that way and doesn’t turn into something bad.”
He stopped and looked down at her. “You’re worried.”
She scoffed. “Well, yeah, I’m in another realm, my wings are out, and I’m about to go through some test of some kind.” She frowned, debating for a second if she wanted details, and then decided she didn’t. “And I’m wearing this thing that keeps trying to wrap around my legs and trip me, not to mention it’s missing half the top.”
He gave her an amused look. “You look lovely, and while I’ve never tried to wear and walk in a gown, you’re doing just fine.”
She sighed. “Okay, but if I bend and flash everyone, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
He laughed softly. “Warning received, Avalie.” He motioned to continue. “We have to go to Cenyerly Valley because the elders cannot leave it.”
“Why?” She paused and looked at a beautiful orange flower that appeared to be pulsing. Being connected to the earth was a little freaky. Everything around them that was living, she could feel. It was filling her with something she wasn’t sure she understood, but it was like it was building inside her. She clenched the material in tense hands. Just as long as it didn’t build into something she couldn’t control, she would get out of here unscathed. She hoped.
“Most elders are several thousand years old when they go there.” He held some hanging vines out of the way so she could go under them. “Their power and vitality are connected to the earth there; to leave it would render them weak and vulnerable.”
She looked around and spotted a few more faces of people hiding in the thick growth along the path, watching them. Pasting what she hoped was a friendly smile on her face, she glanced at him. “They’ll die if they leave there?”
He nodded. “Yes.”
“That’s harsh.” She snorted. “Especially if you’ve lived that long, then you’re stuck in some area unless you want to die.”
He held out his hand when they reached an uneven area. “When you see it, you won’t feel like they’re suffering. I would like nothing more than to stay whenever I am there.”
“Really? Its something special then?” She put her hand in his and walked carefully beside him.
He nodded.
“Well, good. I’m sure they’ve earned it.”
“They have.” He released her hand as soon as they were back on level ground.
She rubbed her hands together, and the feeling of his touch moved from one hand to the other. She looked at them and blew out a quiet breath. That was weird. Lifting the material again, she followed him.
When he stopped a few minutes later, she looked to see a lot of people standing ahead. In front of them were Princess Aireese and the two others that had been there yesterday and saved her butt from the jerk across the lake. Ava just stood there, taking in the fact that each one of them had wings. They weren’t the same as hers, but in the overall amazing category, it was pretty spectacular that there were so many with wings. She used to be the only one.
The princess smiled at her, Ava lifted her chin, and released the material. She walked slowly toward her.
“Welcome.” Aireese smiled at her. She motioned to her. “I am so shocked.”
Ava looked down. “Yeah, I’m not the graceful gown-wearing type.”
“Oh. No. I didn’t mean that.” She gave her head a slight shake. “You look so much like my sister that it’s a bit to get used to.
Ava didn’t know what to say to that. She remembered the letter. “Um, before we do this—whatever, I have something you need to read.”
Aireese’s expression sobered. “Oh?”
Ava nodded and turned to Firo to see he was already getting the little bag out of his pocket. “It was left for me yesterday.” She was surprised when he handed it to her and not the princess. She nodded to him and then held it out to her.
Aireese took it, glanced at Firo, and then opened the bag. “You have read this?” She looked at him.
“I have.” He stood taller. “It was not my place to share what it says.” He told her quietly.
Ava looked around while she opened it. No one was talking, they were all looking at her. The expressions were anything from fear to amazement. Personally, she thought all of them were an overreaction. She turned to look at the man and woman that had helped her the day before. “Thanks for yesterday.” She shrugged. “I guess I took off pretty quickly afterward.”
The woman smiled. “You’re very welcome.” She inclined her head. “I am Lady Mystral.” She glanced at Aireese. “The princess’s cousin.” She motioned to the man. “This is my guard, Aslac.” He bowed his head to her.
“Cool. I’m Ava.” She rolled her eyes. “But you probably already know that.”
Mystral smiled. “We do.”
“This is—” Aireese looked at Firo and then to Ava. “—changes a lot.”
“That’s what I thought.” Ava wished for pockets so she could put her hands in them. “I thought you should see it.”
“Thank you.” Aireese looked at it again for a moment and then carefully put it back in the envelope before sealing it in the bag again. She held it out to Ava. “The elders should see that.”
Ava took it and then remembered she had no pockets and held it out to Firo. He took it with a small smile. “I thought that too.”
“I wonder—” Aireese glanced over her shoulder. “If I could share it with my mother as well. It may put her heart at peace.”
Ava shrugged. “Sure. If it will help her.” She kept forgetting that her mother was the queen’s daughter. “It helped me.” She looked down at her hands. “To know what happened.”
“Yes. I’m sure it did.” Aireese turned. “We should go. Amyas doesn’t like to be kept waiting.”
Ava nodded and then just stood there as all of them stepped aside, leaving a path ahead of her. She glanced at Firo, he gave her an encouraging look. “Okay.” She lifted the material. “I guess I go first.” She glanced at the row of people standing there. Young and old, all with wings of various colors. She exhaled and started walking. Did she smile at them or just look straight ahead? She didn’t know, but if she didn’t pay attention to where she was walking, she’d trip over the gown as it tried to strangle her legs.
Her heart was beating fast by the time she reached the end of the row of people. She took another step and then stopped. Up ahead, it was like some invisible line had been drawn. On one side were the plants and grass they’d seen on the way here. The other side was more vibrant and colorful. She turned to look for Firo and had to almost turn around completely to see him past her wings. He was only a few feet behind her. Again, he nodded to her with an encouraging look on his face.
Turning back around, she saw two large men standing ten feet over the invisible line. They were old but still looked to be really large, fit men. The way they stood told her they were proud. She could get behind that kind of confidence. She started toward them with slow steps. Would something happen as soon as she crossed the line? Her guts were knotted, and she was starting to tense.
She had to mentally coach herself to take each step. Best case scenario, she was getting all worked up for nothing. A flash of lightning burst across the sky, and she heard the crack of it connecting with one of the trees to her right. The splitting of wood echoed, and then she saw a tiny girl standing there, smiling at her. It was as if every sound around her was silenced. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a large branch falling. Right where the little girl stood.
Ava lunged toward her. Grabbing her, she cradled her against her chest and dropped to her knees. Her wings closed around them as she braced for the branch to land on her. Would she survive it? It didn’t matter, just as long as the child wasn’t hurt.
After a few moments, she opened her eyes and lifted her head. It should have hit them by now. She looked to see one of the large men on the other side of the line holding his hand out in front of him. Turning her head, she saw the large chunk of wood hovering over them. A second later, she was scrambling to her feet and hurrying the little girl far back from that spot.
When she was sure she was far enough away, she dropped to one knee and let her wings relax so she could see the girl. She was clinging to her, but otherwise, fine. “You’re safe now.” She whispered. Big, bold blue eyes looked at her. She set her on her feet and, with a quick look, checked that the top of the gown was still covering everything. It was. Standing slowly, she looked around. A woman came hurrying over and scooped the girl up into her arms. Ava noticed the child had tiny, adorable wings. The little girl looked around her mother’s body and smiled at her. Ava smiled back and then exhaled.
Turning, she saw Firo looking angry and didn’t know why. Aireese was smiling at her. Ava huffed out a breath. “That was tense.” She glanced to see the large man had lowered the branch to the ground and was watching her. “Right. Back to what we were doing.” She mumbled and started walking again.
When she stepped over that line, her breath caught in her throat. The energy from the ground was completely different. As if it was amplified, it made her buzz with euphoria for a minute until she got used to it. If anyone could ever get used to something like this, she doubted it.
She nodded to the man who had stopped her from being hit by the branch. “Thanks for the help.” She shrugged. “I didn’t think that through very well.”
He bowed his head and then turned to his side and motioned for her to keep going.
“Okay.” She said under her breath and started walking. It must have been the adrenaline making the sound stop because there was a lot of it. She could hear birds and other nature sounds, and for one odd moment, she thought it sounded like some kind of song, only with nature instead of instruments. She looked down at the ground. This energy had affected her brain because that was a really out-there thing to think. She smiled and gave her head a slight shake before looking back up to watch where she was going.
A few steps later, a rabbit ran across in front of her. She stopped and watched it disappear into the long grass. Ava smiled. She’d never seen one up close before. They were fast. Before she could take another step, a bird landed in front of her. It was a bright red color. It stood there and looked at her. Ava held her breath because she didn’t want to scare it away. This place was incredible.
She looked over at the big man. “My friend, Fauna, would love this place.” She grinned. “Although she’d have every critter here following her around.” The bird took flight again. Ava accepted that the guy wasn’t going to speak to her and started walking again.
A breeze moved over her wings, and it made her tense. She stopped again and waited to see if it happened again. The last time something had done that to her was at the lake, and if there was someone nearby who wanted to try that again, she wasn’t going to pause this time before she am ped up her—whatever and took them down.
When it moved over her again, she understood that it wasn’t painful or cold. It was warm and welcoming. Turning, she gave Firo a nervous look. He held her look and then nodded. She was to continue, so she did. If she didn’t reach where she was going soon, she might have a meltdown from the tension inside her.
She was just starting to settle her breathing back to something more normal when she saw four women standing up ahead. She hoped one of them was this Amyas she was supposed to be coming to see because, despite her apprehension, she just wanted this test to be done so she could get out of this dress and go home. Ava wanted to look behind her again for Firo but didn’t want to seem like a wimp, so she kept moving forward.
When two of the women lifted their hands in the air, she paused in step. What were they doing? She heard a rustling sound to her left and turned to see the tall growth was parting. She sucked in a breath and held it, not sure what to expect.
The first thing through the green she recognized was fur. Her wings expanded as she braced herself. She missed the city, she thought, and a moment later, a large leopard walked out of the grass. It stopped and looked at her. Ava decided at that moment if she was ever coming here again, she was bringing Fauna with her. The most she’d ever seen in her life prior to this was a cat, maybe a stray dog, and rats, but she wasn’t counting them.
Breathing slowly, she made her wings close so she wouldn’t seem aggressive to the animal. It stood there looking at her, and she wanted to look directly into its eyes but wasn’t sure if that was the thing to do. It could have been the thing not to do with canines, she wasn’t sure. This was not a dog. It was a freaking leopard standing five feet away from her. It started to move toward her, and she flexed her hands. How did you even fight something like that? She didn’t know, but those women watching her weren’t young, so if it went for them, she was going to have to jump on it. Giving her one long look, it walked across in front of her and went back into the grass on the other side of the path.
Ava dropped her head forward and closed her eyes. She’d had about all the nature she could deal with for the day, possibly the next decade. When she opened them and lifted her head, she saw the four women looking very excited and talking to one another. One of them stood there, watching her, and she was smiling. Yeah, Ava thought. She was pretty pleased that she hadn’t gotten eaten or gored too. Taking a deep breath, she started walking toward them again. She just needed to reach them and get this test over with.