If I came home with one request, by reason and probability, I hoped it would be granted. I already foresaw Mother’s anger and possible resistance, maybe I would even receive a punishment from Father, but my hope sprouted from the thought that if Vikram was permitted to renounce offspring, I would in turn be allowed to have them with a human.
That is, if Anwen wanted children. One thing at a time.
I spent the rest of the journey back to the cave planning different possibilities and reactions in my mind while stopping from time to time to check any damage to roots or unnatural markings on leaves, breathing easily when no signs became visible. I was desperate to take a shower and change from the wet pants I had to put back on before I left, but those plans needed to be postponed. Two of the elder skorja waited in the cave, sipping wine at my table.
“What happened?” I asked, terrified to find out their answer. If two eldest of the strongest race of faeries inhabiting the forest decided to pay me a visit, it could not be for a casual chat.
“Your highness looks to have had an eventful morning,” Drodjen, the older of the two replied, his long beard moving along with his jaw to leave strokes along the table that almost mixed with his drink.
“I am fine,” I sat next to them and took the empty glass, pouring myself some wine.
“We wanted to bring a proposal to you,” Karem disclosed as he sipped heavily from his glass, emptying more than half.
“Of course,” I nodded. If they offered wisdom, I would be a fool not to accept.
“We are proposing to force the human to vacate the queen’s mansion,” Drodjen firmly planted the suggestion.
I frowned so hard that I only saw them through long slits, all the muscles in my forehead warped together in a bundle of anger.
“What does Anwen have to do with anything?” I objected.
“It seems that ‘Anwen’,” he pressed, making sure to emphasize that knowing the human’s name meant more than just that, “might be a distraction to some of the faeries.”
A polite way to tell me they knew about my visits and worried that I was not performing my duties well. I understood subtleties, something that they weren’t even trying to do right now, so I decided to drop the politeness and speak my mind.
“How does she affect the faeries to be precise?” I pushed.
“We are concerned that the human’s presence might be more disrupting than helpful, my Prince,” Karem replied, waving his hands defensively in the air. “There is no need to be upset, the last thing we wanted was to cause you any kind of distress.”
Oh, but you did. This is exactly how you wanted me to react.
“I disagree,” I answered curtly and stood, pushing my chair so far back that it slammed into the wall. “If that is all…” I raised my eyebrows and planted myself by the door, a silent invitation for them to step out.
“My Prince, please do not understand our intentions the wrong way, we are merely expressing concern about the effects the human might have on the residents of Evigt,” Karem insisted. “We were informed of your frequent visits to the mansion and the friendship Your Highness has tied with the human….”
“So it’s not the faeries you are concerned about, it’s me.”
“My Prince,” it was Drojen’s turn to intervene, “you have such a wonderful reputation, news of your abstinence for a fuller union with a mate is no news around the kingdoms. We would resent it if a mere human would hinder you from such a remarkable goal.”
“Drojen,” I stepped towards him with rage illuminating my way. By the time I towered over him I observed him shaking with fear, “I am hoping that ameresjorka elder did not just tell the prince of the Earth Kingdom whom he can or can’t join with.”
“No, no, Your Highness, of course not, I wouldn’t dare,” he whimpered under my threatening gaze, his aged composure shivering with the tension.
“Then I would kindly ask you to leave, if this is the only reason for your visit.”
Before they had a chance to step away, I reconsidered. “Send a message into the district. Tell the earthlings that the human discovered what I am.”
They stopped and stared, petrified. “But my Prince, how can it be?”
Drojen’s shaky voice barely muttered.
“Technology...is there anything they can’t do these days?” I huffed, abstaining from showing my pride of Anwen’s achievement. How she discovered it was beyond me.
“Luckily,” I continued, my frown harsh, “she is a friend. With no intention to reveal our location. As a gift for her kindness, she is allowed to visit every part of the district and cross the river into our side. Tell the faeries they might see more of her from now on.”
I didn’t give them a chance to protest and dismissed them. “You are free to go,” I responded with a wave of a hand.
Both of them vanished instantly and I was left alone in the kitchen, realising I had just defied two of the district rulers, some of the oldest faeries in existence, because I felt they could be a potential threat to Anwen.
