One such morning I am squatting in the coop collecting eggs when I hear a horse gallop nearby and a man calling out, “fetch me Nerius!” As the horse comes to a halt.
I hear the crunch of boots on gravel as he dismounts. Through a little wire window in the coop I can see the back of a man that has shoulder-length, wavy red hair. He is broad shouldered and has a beautiful sword strapped diagonally along his back over his brown vest. His white sleeves are rolled up to show his muscled forearms that I notice tense as he grips the reins as he looks to where another set of boots are now crunching in the gravel.
I lean into the window in an attempt to get a closer look but I accidentally trip on a chicken and stomp on its foot, causing it to let out a big squawk.
I quickly duck down so the man can’t see me. Thankfully, when I peek back through the window he is facing away from me again, stroking his horse. Nerius is striding over to where they are standing, his face scrunched in agitation. I duck back down so he doesn’t catch me spying. Although he saved me from the vargs’ abuses when they were hauling me to the estate, I still fear him and do not wish to get on his bad side.
Nerius stops a healthy distance away from the massive horse and crinkles his nose at the fresh droppings it just let loose. “Where have you been, young Master? We had expected you back weeks ago when we sent word out thatshehad been captured,” Nerius says.
“I thought I caught wind of my sister’s whereabouts. There were reports of a rebel group being seen in the forest not an hour's ride south-west of here. I trusted you had everything under control here and I had only received word of the girl being taken from our men when I stopped at Inverdell last night. I rode home as soon as I could when I heard we apprehended hersister instead,” the man explains, sounding annoyed. I recognize his voice but do not know where I would have heard it before.
His sister… Does Oleander have a brother?I tuck that question away, the piece of information that sparks my interest is of Oleander’s rebel group possibly being nearby. It must be the Sylvans, how many rebel groups could there be? I hold onto this information with dear life as my mission is sparked within me once again.How could I have sat here not doing anything for so long? This is a sign, this is my chance.
“Ah yes, the sister… There is a development on that but I will let your father fill you in. Regardless, it is good you are home now, Master, as Lord Galeheart and Lord Clayborn are arriving this afternoon and will be staying for the next few days to discuss the recent climate events and how trade has been affected. You are needed by your father’s side to tell us of your discoveries on your travels and what reports you have from the Palace. There will be a formal dinner tomorrow evening in which they will be making plans regarding these issues,” Nerius informs as he grabs the reins of the man’s horse and directs them around the corner and out of my earshot.
He’s been to the Palace, is that where The King is? Has he come to take me there?
I run out of the coop with a quick glance to the kitchen doors to check if Lorn is around but I find I am alone. I hurry to the side of the building so I can better hear, being careful to not crack the eggs I have held in my bunched up apron.
“Where is the girl? Did the vargs harm her?” the man questions with what sounds like concern in his tone as they walk in the direction of the stables.
At that moment the recognition strikes me like lightning. I know where I recognize his voice from and confirm it as he turns to Nerius, sweeping his hair behind his ear and exposing his profile to me.
The man from my visions.
Embrys… Is Oleander’s brother?I feel a physical tug to chase after him but before my body can betray me the kitchen door creaks open.
“Nuria! What are you doing? Get back here or we are both going to get in trouble!” I whip around to see Lorn’s big, green head sticking out of the kitchen door and frantically waving me back inside, in my surprise I nearly drop all of the eggs, hissing as I right myself.
I glance at the spot where Embrys had just been before shaking off the shock of being so close to the man who has been with me since childhood. Sudden doubt sours my gut when the thought enters my mind that perhaps he does not actually know me and everything has been a figment of my imagination. It should not matter to me, as escape is at the forefront of my mind, but it does.
All I just heard has sparked the beginnings of a plot for my escape and hope blooms within me once again. An hour’s ride to the south west should be doable if I time it right.
I’m coming for you Marissa!
Chapter Eleven
Later that evening, while I am in the bath, mulling over my plan, I hear a littletap tap tapat the door.
“Come in, it’s open!” I call out, recognizing the knock even after weeks of not seeing her.
“Nuria! I am so sorry I haven’t been around. Mistress Colette caught wind of me traipsing around the house and put me on strict servant quarters duties for weeks! It was so boring! I am in her good books again so I came straight here,” Lillian giggles as she races over to the tub and starts flicking water at me.
“Pretty necklace, where did you get it?” She pulls the pendant out of the water and examines it like a crow playing with something shiny.
“It was my mother’s,” I say and she makes anohshape with her mouth before carefully placing it back against my chest. “Do you think it is wise to be once againtraipsingthrough the house Lil?” I laugh, splashing her back.
“Lil… I like it. No one has given me a nickname before,” she giggles and sticks out her tongue. “Perhaps it’s not so wise to be up here, but most of the servants are in bed by now anyway, they won’t notice I am gone,” she says, a mischievous grin spreadingon her face but then the corners of her lips turn down into a scowl.
“Nuria, why did you lie to me? There has been gossip in the servant quarters that there is a fae girl working in the kitchens. I thought you were human?” she questions with a little frown and a pout tugging down her bottom lip as she rests her chin on the edge of the tub.
“How did they know I am fae? I mean… I grew up in the human realm and I just assumed everyone thought me to be human,” I ask, wondering what gave it away and if that means Pyralis has known who I am this whole time.What’s his game?
“Juniper is a deer Metamorph and she says you smell funny. Like a fae wearing human perfume. I’m human though so I can’t smell you. ” Lillian replies, taking a big sniff in my direction.
So he must know what I am. Why has he led me to believe otherwise?Panic starts to rise when I think this may affect my plans of escape.
“It’s ok, I forgive you.” Lillian gives my hand a little pat. “What kind of fae are you anyway?” She blatantly scans my naked body in the water, probably searching for some sort of animal part.
