Chapter 14

“You look lovely, darling. If a bit morose.” Queen Regan looped her arm through Brea’s as they made their way down to the banquet hall for the big Iskalt send off.

“Griff left without saying goodbye.” Brea had decided to play the part of a lovesick teen. She’d seen enough of the girls’ theatrics back home to pull it off here.

“Don’t worry yourself, dear. I sent him on an important errand that just couldn’t wait. He had little time to prepare, much less make time for a romantic farewell. He’ll be back soon, and we can talk about wedding plans. I’m so pleased you’ve agreed to his proposal.”

She made it all sound so normal and romantic, like he’d actually gotten down on one knee and popped the question. In the back of Brea’s mind all she heard was what would Myles say about all of this? First, he would be stoked to find the fae realm exists, and he’d want to explore it with her. Second, he would do that side-splitting laugh thing he did at the news of her impending betrothal. Just the thought of his laughter brought a smile to her face.

“That’s better.” Regan smiled as they approached the banquet hall. “Smile for the delegates, dear. They’ll be on their way back to their frozen tundra by morning, and we’ll have the place to ourselves for a while.”

By then, Brea would be neck deep in the marshes, if she even made it that far. She wasn’t looking forward to the next few hours.

“Do you entertain often, Aunt Regan?” Brea needed to play the part of the dutiful niece.

“One of the many perks of being queen. You get to throw parties as often as you like. Don’t worry, we have your betrothal and wedding celebrations to look forward to. There will be plenty more parties where you’ll be the guest of honor. We’ll have to start planning your wardrobe right away.”

This woman didn’t know Brea at all if she thought more parties and uncomfortable dresses was the way to cheer her up.

Brea followed her aunt into the banquet hall after the herald announced her and a footman guided her to the high table where she sat beside the queen. She smiled and nodded and engaged in the conversation as best she could, but her mind was elsewhere.

“None for me, thank you,” Brea murmured, covering her goblet with her hand. The servers had been plying her and the queen with wine all night.

“Are you feeling well, dear?” The queen asked, eyeing her plate.

Brea had done a good job making it look like she’d eaten, but she didn’t want to accidentally eat one of her aunt’s magic-stifling sauces by accident.

“Actually, I am feeling a little under the weather,” Brea admitted with feigned reluctance. “Just tired and a bit off from too much wine lately. I’m not used to it.”

“And missing a certain handsome young man?” her aunt teased.

Anger caused her face to flush, and Brea hoped the queen would take it for a lover’s blush.

“Very much,” she murmured.

“Very well, dear, you may retire. Come to my rooms for a late brunch tomorrow morning and we’ll get started on wedding plans.”

“Thank you, Aunt Regan.” Brea rose from her chair, intending to rush from the room, but every delegate at the table rose with her.

“Er, um. Excuse me, ladies and gentlemen.” She bobbed her head.

“My niece is a bit tired this evening,” the queen explained. “And missing a certain gentleman,” she whisper-shouted behind her enormous peacock-feathered fan. Her laughter sent the Iskalt delegates into a tittering fit.

Stumbling over her train, Brea made for the door as quickly as she could and still look like the refined lady she was supposed to be. Once she hit the empty grand hallway, Brea hiked up her skirts and ran up the stairs to the queen’s quarters.

“Psst, my Lady,” Neeve’s voice drifted down the hallway leading to Brea’s rooms. “In here.”

Brea turned toward the sound of her voice and found her waiting in a small servant’s room. “Is this yours?” Brea looked around at the tidy room. It was nice. Nothing like her luxurious suite, but it was homey and comfortable in a way Brea’s wasn’t.

“The queen likes to keep me close, so I don’t sleep in the servants’ quarters like most palace maids. It will be safer for you to change in here. No one bothers to spy on me.”

“You thought of everything.” Brea kicked off her heels and turned her back so Neeve could help her out of the fancy dress. Neeve was already dressed for their trip to the Vatlands. Brea just hoped her friend wouldn’t get caught helping her escape the palace.

“Relax, I’ve done this before. We won’t get caught.”

“You a mind reader?” Brea wiggled out of her bodice and tossed it on the floor with a none too gentle kick. She hoped she never had to wear such stifling clothes again.

“You’re a kind young woman, Brea. In another time and place we might have been the best of friends. You care about the people around you. It doesn’t take a mind reader to see that.” She glanced at Brea’s reflection in the mirror above her dresser. “In this world, that’s a rare commodity. It would be a shame to see you lose it.”

Brea dressed quickly in the sturdy travel clothes Neeve had acquired for her. Dark leather leggings, a linen tunic layered under a leather vest and jacket and a belt with a knife she didn’t know how to use. Tying her long ebony hair back into a messy bun, Brea retrieved her pack.

“There’s a change of clothes, food, and water in there for you. In a moment, we’ll take the servants’ stairs down to the kitchens. If anyone stops us, you’re a new house maid. I’m giving you a tour of the palace before I take you to your new quarters.”

“Got it.” Brea hefted the pack up on her shoulder. “So, we’ll just slip across the bridge to the stables then?”

Neeve shook her head. “The queen has eyes everywhere, Brea. We have to be smart about this. I need you to stay close and keep moving no matter what happens to me. Trust no one.”

“Okay, serious faces on.” Neeve’s grave look shook Brea. “This is a big deal, escaping.”

“A very big deal.” Neeve hefted a pack onto her shoulder. “I don’t know if the queen simply wants you to give Lord Griffin legitimacy through his marriage to you, or if she has something far worse up her sleeve. I only know it’s important to get you out of here as soon as possible. Once we get to the kitchens, there’s another stairway we’ll take down to the dungeon.”

“Dungeon? This place has a dungeon?”

“It will lead us out to the riverbed behind the falls where we’ll make our way into the forest. A friend will meet us there with horses. From there we’ll head south toward the Vatlands marshes. If we get separated, you’re to head southeast and keep going until you find the Eldur camp just over the border. There’s a map in your pack in case you need it.”

“Thank you, Neeve. I’ll never be able to repay your kindness.”

Neeve peeked into the hallway, waving for Brea to follow.

Sneaking down the stairwell, they arrived in the kitchens unhindered.

“What are you doing, Neeve?” The head cook bellowed. “Shouldn’t you be prepping the nobles’ rooms for the evening?”

“Mistress O’Sullivan.” Neeve rounded on the woman. “Just showing the new maid around. She starts in the queen’s quarters tomorrow.”

“What’s your name, girl?”

“Ygritte,” Brea blurted. “Of the Free Folk. North of the wall.”

“Well, Ygritte, we don’t know nothing about no free folk here. Best you finish your tour and get to bed early with you. Big day tomorrow cleaning up this mess of a palace.”

“Yes ma’am.” Brea and Neeve bobbed their heads and turned for the dreary halls leading to the servants’ quarters.

“North of the wall?” Neeve rolled her eyes. “What human nonsense was that?”

“It just came out. I don’t actually think about these things before I say them.”

“If you want to survive in this world, you’d better start thinking ten steps ahead of everyone else, Brea.”

“You’re right.” Brea followed her down the long hall but was unprepared when Neeve took a sharp left behind a bookcase in the wall. “Secret passages?” Brea stepped through the opening. Darkness engulfed them as the bookshelf slid back into place.

“This palace is a labyrinth of secrets and lies.”

Neeve whispered a few unintelligible words before a fire blazed, lighting a torch she’d procured from her pack.

“Was that magic? Like a spell? Griff said our magic didn’t work like that.”

“Lord Griffin has been liberal with his lies, I’m afraid. He is a good man… deep down. But the queen has had him in her clutches far too long. This way.”

Brea followed silently, taking the slimy stone steps carefully. They seemed to wind down into the depths of the earth with no end in sight.

“Those born of Fargelsi draw our power from nature,” Neeve explained. “But we do rely on spoken spells and words of power for much of what we do. It is different in the other realms.”

“So, Griff lied about that too?” Brea frowned. Was there no end to the lies? The musty smells and constant dripping grated on her nerves.

“I do not know his motives.”

Brea followed in silence, her thoughts a tumble of chaos. It didn’t matter if Griff cared for her. He’d told her Myles was dead when that might not be true. That was unforgivable.

White noise rushed to fill Brea’s ears.

“The waterfalls,” Neeve called over the roaring din. “We’re nearly to the river.” Neeve’s skirts dragged across the damp stones and muck as they began to climb.

Finally, moonlight illuminated their path as they crossed under the falls. Brea carefully followed Neeve’s footsteps to avoid the deluge. Hopping from stone to boulder, they made their way past the waterfall to the river’s edge just below the great palace. Sounds of the party—in full swing now—floated down to them.

“They won’t notice you’re gone until late morning.” Neeve spoke a few odd words, and the flame of her torch died.

“You have to teach me that trick someday.” Brea rushed to keep up with her friend’s pace. “But something tells me it’s a little more complicated than Lumos and Nox.”

“There you go with your silly words.” Neeve chuckled. “I will miss that.”

“Then come with me,” Brea begged. Truth be told she was terrified of traveling a strange land alone—through miles of swamp no less.

“I can do more good here than I can out there, Brea. I’m nobody here. The small things I do to fight the injustices in Gelsi matter to my people. In some ways, I’m all they have.”

“I want to be you when I grow up.” Brea huffed and puffed behind the small woman. Weeks of rich foods, wine, and too little exercise had sapped Brea’s stamina.

“Hurry, we’re nearly to the meeting place.”

“This friend of yours is trustworthy?” Brea jogged along the rocky riverbank to catch up.”

“Moira? I trust her with my life.”

“Is she your girlfriend?”

“My intended you mean?”

“Why can’t a woman just have a passing flirtation with a pretty girl or a cute guy and it not end in a walk down the aisle?” Brea muttered under her breath.

“Moira might be my wife someday. When we are free.”

“Neeve?” a feminine voice called from the darkness.

“Here, Moira.” She picked up her skirts and ran to the woman who’d risked a great deal to meet them in the dead of night.

Brea held back to give the two lovers a moment of reunion. She imagined they didn’t get to see each other often.

“Come, Brea. We must hurry,” Neeve called a moment later.

“My Lady.” Moira gave a curt bow and offered her a dark cloak. “This will help shield your face and keep you warm. It can get cold in the swamps.”

“Thank you, and please call me Brea.” She slipped the cloak over her shoulders and lifted the hood over her head. “Thank you for the horses. I know you took a great risk in coming here.”

“Anything for Neeve.” Moira gave her intended a devilish wink. “She’s a tough one, my girl. You’re safe with her, and you’d do well to follow her instructions to the letter. She’s always right. It’s frustrating.” She grinned, dipping into an awkward curtsy for Brea.

Brea watched them. The way they respected each other it was clear this couple was on an even footing in their relationship. Moira didn’t coddle Neeve or insist she needed protecting. She was confident in her ability to help Brea flee Fargelsi.

I want that kind of relationship someday. She lifted herself into the saddle, grateful for the cloak.

“Keep to the back southern roads. Travel well, and may you return to me quickly, my love.” Moira waved as Neeve and Brea charged into the night.

~~~

They rode hard for several silent hours before Neeve took the east road toward the marshes. Brea could smell a hint of brine in the air. It reminded her of the ocean she’d once visited with her family. In the years before her sanity issues became a big problem, her family used to take a rare vacation every few years. Some of her fondest memories with her family were from that vacation to the beach.

Neeve slowed to a stop when the road ran out. “This is where I leave you.” She slipped down from her horse. “I have to get back to the palace before sunrise, so I must hurry.”

Brea stared into the darkness ahead. Fear gripped her as she dismounted her horse. She would have to travel the rest of the way on foot. The marsh was too dangerous for a horse.

“I’m afraid, Neeve,” Brea whispered.

Neeve took both of her hands in hers. “Look at me.”

Brea lifted her chin, meeting Neeve’s cool gaze.

“You are strong, Brea Robinson. You haven’t come of age yet, so I don’t think you realize how strong you really are. Regan fears that kind of inner strength. She wanted to stifle it. To put you in a position with no power. As her heir’s wife, you would be nothing more than a pretty face. Just another prisoner. You can do this, Brea. You have to.”

“What if I get lost?”

“You won’t.” Neeve searched through her pack, coming up with a bottle of oil. “Keep heading east, and if you should lose your compass, look for the brightest star in the sky and keep it directly overhead.” Neeve flicked the contents of the bottle, spritzing Brea from head to toe in the foul-smelling stuff.

“Ugh, what is that awful smell?”

“It will keep the creatures at bay.”

“Creatures?”

“Go, Brea.” She pressed a lantern into her hands, speaking the words of power to light it and gave her a gentle shove. “Head east until you reach the Eldur camps. Don’t stop. Don’t sleep. Keep going. You should make it there by morning.”

Brea nodded, taking a deep breath before she flung herself into Neeve’s arms. “Thank you. I’ve never had many friends, but you are one of them. I hope to see you again someday.”

With that, Brea lifted her lantern and headed into the grim forest of creepy cypress trees, hanging moss, and lots of mud. It squelched under her feet as she walked. Glancing back over her shoulder, Neeve had already gone.

“It’s just me and the marsh.” Brea checked her compass and set her path for east.

The first mile was easy. The second mile was pretty bad, but the third mile was the stuff of nightmares. Brea stood in mud up to her knees, searching for semi-solid ground in the dim glow of the lantern. Her arm ached from holding it in front of her, but she was terrified of the dark.

Mosquito-like creatures buzzed around her face. They continued to dive-bomb her, drinking her blood until she slapped them against her skin, crushing their vile little bodies, covering her in mushed bug goo and blood.

“Oh my gosh.” Brea stumbled back, putting as much distance between herself and the slithering creature she’d just encountered. “I hate snakes!” She shouted into the darkness. “Fairy land should have no snakes. That’s like a rule somewhere.”

Lifting her foot out of the squelching mud, she took a step forward, her knees screaming in protest from the push and pull on her joints. Her left foot found firmer ground, and she nearly sobbed in relief.

Brea pulled herself up onto the mossy bit of ground, tempted to take a rest, but she’d promised Neeve she’d keep moving, and she’d barely begun. Taking just a moment to rub some life back into her knees, Brea stood, her body protesting.

“Maybe I could sit here long enough to eat something.” She reached for her pack, taking a sip of water from her canteen. Something moved in the deep water near her somewhat-dry perch. Something large. Brea fumbled to put her canteen back in her pack and searched her surroundings for the quickest path.

A snapping turtle struggled out of the water, and she sighed, slumping against the tree at her back.

“That was—“ Brea’s heart stopped as a pair of massive jaws appeared out of the water and closed around the turtle.

The second creature chomped on its crunchy meal and slithered out of the water. It looked like a huge lizard and an alligator had a really ugly dragon-baby. Brea stood rooted to the spot as the creature’s tail stretched out behind it. It had to be twenty feet long. She almost peed herself when it lifted its head toward her, flicking its long tongue as if to taste the air around her.

“Please be full from your turtle snack,” she whispered, unable to move. She had nowhere to go anyway. She eyed the trees around her, wondering if she could climb if it came to that. Not a tree branch in sight low enough for her to reach.

The creature hissed a warning, showing its massive razor sharp teeth before it ambled away. She swore it wrinkled its nose in disgust.

“Thank you, Neeve, for making me stink.” Brea wasn’t sure her heartbeat would ever return to normal. She stared at the creature until she couldn’t see it anymore. “Get it together, Robinson.” She reached for the lantern at her feet. Her hands shaking as she wondered how many of those things were out there.

Her body said, “I live here now,” but her mind disagreed. Taking a careful step off the mossy perch, the tension in Brea’s shoulders eased some. Solid ground.

With her compass guiding her way east, Brea moved as quickly as her feet would allow her, ever mindful of what she might step on. Nocturnal creatures were out and about, making a ruckus all around her. Insects and small furry creatures she could handle. Even the orange salamanders that scurried about didn’t bother her.

Owls hooted and fish splashed in the ponds. She even heard the distant growl of a very large cat she hoped she wouldn’t encounter. As the ground grew soft again, Brea searched for an alternate path. She didn’t want to end up in mud up to her knees again.

Her stomach growled, and she thought of the food Neeve packed for her. Setting her lamp down, Brea rushed to retrieve the bacon sandwiches from her pack. Just a quick bite, and she’d be on her way again. Resting against a cypress tree, she ate quickly. Feeling better with something in her stomach, Brea leaned her head back against the tree, sipping from her canteen.

“No crazy swamp dragons here.” She shoved off the tree and hauled her pack up on her shoulder. Leaning down for her lantern, something heavy and scaly landed on her back.

Brea screamed, throwing the huge snake across the swamp. The slithering, hissing black snake landed with a thud. It was huge and angry. Brea took a step back and stumbled over her lantern. Darkness fell all around her as her only light source went out.

“No!” Brea nearly wept.

Hissing sounded nearby, and she wasn’t waiting around for the snake to find her or call his buddies in for a group attack. Clutching her compass, Brea followed the path of semi-solid ground until it ran out.

Within moments, the mud reached her calves, but she kept moving East. Without the lantern, the bugs had finally left her alone.

Thunder rumbled in the distance, and Brea laughed. “Of course it’s going to rain.” She threw her hands up toward the sky. “It’s certainly not wet enough around here.”

She trudged forward, avoiding the nocturnal growls that sounded far too close for comfort. The larger creatures seemed to want to check her out until they got close enough to smell Neeve’s concoction on her, and then they probably decided she didn’t smell like food.

“Thank you, Neeve. I smell so bad not even the dragon monsters want anything to do with me.”

To make the time pass and to keep her mind off the creepy crawlies, Brea kept her eyes glued to a grove of trees in the distance. When she reached it, she found a long branch to use as a walking stick. Checking her compass to ensure she was heading in the right direction, she selected a new landmark to focus on. This time it was an outcropping of rocks rising from the swamp.

She was on her fifth landmark when it started to rain. Her seventh when it started to pour. By the tenth landmark, Brea was in mud up to her thighs with no solid ground in sight.

She was exhausted and scared out of her wits. The area around her was more water than mud, and Brea’s heart raced with the fear of what monsters might lurk nearby. She clutched her walking stick, using it to keep her balance in the swamp.

The magic she didn’t understand thundered through her body. She had no knowledge of how to control it, only that it responded to her emotions. Griff claimed he was going to teach her how to harness her emotions so she wouldn’t lose control, but that had never happened. The evidence against him continued to mount, and Brea wondered why it had taken her so long to see it.

She could feel it sizzling under her skin, begging for release. The longer she struggled to move through the swampy waters, the more the magic gathered inside her, latching on to her fear and anger like a blazing fire consuming oxygen.

Brea took another step forward, and she was up to her chest in muddy water as the rain continued to beat down on her. Lightning flashed, and something slithered against her thigh

Struggling to move faster, Brea’s exhaustion overwhelmed her. Her tears mixed with the rain. “I just want to go home.”

She’d gladly face the assault charges that awaited her back in the human world if it meant she could put this nightmare behind her. If she could see Myles again. Even her parents would be a welcome sight right now.

Splashing through the water, the ground began to rise, and Brea lurched forward until her knees were above water for the first time in hours. Checking her compass, she was still on the right path and the land ahead of her seemed rather solid in the moonlight.

As she moved forward, the magic pooling just under her skin seemed to reach a critical point. Stumbling, Brea’s heart rattled in her chest, and her lungs seized. She clutched her walking stick like a lifeline, but she couldn’t stay upright. She could feel the magic like a welling pressure in her body. With a scream of anguish, Brea tumbled forward, and a yellow light rushed from her open mouth, clashing with the lightning overhead. Sparks rained down around her illuminating the expanse of marshlands she still had to traverse.

Brea fell headfirst into the putrid mud. Rolling to her side, she tried to stand, but her vision went blurry.

I’m going to die out here all alone, and no one will even care.

~~~