Allegiance (30 page)

Leif was already at the table with his mother and father when I arrived at breakfast. I’d had to take the stairs after another failed attempt at flying. Though Leif had assured me I would be spreading my wings again soon, I was starting to stress. I couldn’t bear the thought of losing my wings so soon after finding them.

Leif stood and pulled a chair out for me. ‘How are you feeling?’ he asked.

‘Awesome.’

Liar
, he said silently.

I
was
lying, I felt like I could fall over at any moment.

Halfway through breakfast King Telophy left the table and didn’t return. I was surprised as he’d never left mid-meal before. Leif watched him go.

‘Where’d your father go?’ I asked as we got up from the table a few minutes later.

‘I have no idea.’ I knew he’d been wondering about it, but he said no more, just lifted me into his arms and flew with me to the same market he’d taken me to the first time I’d come to Faera, weaving his way down through branches strung with sunstones. After alighting on the forest floor, he took my hand and we strolled amongst the stalls, faeries flitting down from the trees and appearing from all around us to catch a glimpse of him. They watched him with adoring eyes, but unlike his friends, kept a respectful distance, bowing and curtsying or falling to their knees as he passed, hands clasped tight to their chests as though they could hardly stand not to touch him. Leif smiled and nodded but kept his focus on me and our task—choosing Christmas presents for my friends and family. For Dad I chose a goblet, the rich dark wood carved to resemble a tree, its branches dancing with faeries and dotted with emeralds. A little further along, I selected a bracelet for Mum, an unusual combination of jewels combined with tiny nut-coloured seedpods. I couldn’t go
past the firelights for Ashleigh, choosing two from each of the baskets hanging from the low branches of a tree. I recalled my amazement when Leif had first shown them to me, the way the little coloured light inside burst to life at the tap of a finger, before rising into the air. I couldn’t wait to see my sister’s reaction to them. For Hilary, I chose hair ornaments—strings of gemstones with crimson feathers woven amongst them. They would look amazing in her thick mahogany hair. And for Jack, a mask shaped like a dragonfly—cerulean blue with golden swirls. I wished he would hurry up and come back so I could give it to him.

A little further along, I was excited to find Asher, sitting cross-legged on a throw on the forest floor, an assortment of jewel boxes before him. He was deep in concentration as he combined liquids and powders and oils, creating colours in tiny pots. Leif left me with him after telling me he was going to choose a gift for me.

I went behind my grandfather and, bending low, wrapped my arms around his shoulders and said hello. He turned, a wide smile on his face, which quickly vanished at the sight of me. I knew he saw a gaunt face and shadowy eyes.

‘So
this
is the reason you have not been to visit us in so long!’

‘It hasn’t been
that
long,’ I said, sitting down beside him. I started to tell him I was fine.

‘When did the attack occur?’ he asked over the top of me.

‘Two and a half weeks ago,’ I said giving up my attempts to reassure him.

‘Where was Leif?’ My grandfather’s voice was laced with accusation.

‘It wasn’t his fault.’ I dropped my cheek to his shoulder. He moved the tray of colours from his lap and wound an arm around me.

‘Tell me,’ he said.

And so I told him the whole story—starting from my inability to cope with the stupid faeries hanging all over Leif. It was kind of a relief to admit all my shortcomings to him.

‘Ah, my granddaughter, you cannot let your emotions dictate to you like that—you might have died!’

‘I’m sorry.’

He squeezed my shoulder. ‘Don’t apologise—just listen and hear.’ He watched me closely to make sure he had my full attention. I wondered again how such an adorable face could look so serious.

‘You must find a way to come to terms with your reality. Your betrothed is no ordinary male—he is Faera’s next king! You have no more power to stop our kind from being in awe of him than you do to prevent the petals of a flower opening to embrace the morning sun.’

‘You’re not really helping, Granddad.’

‘But I am speaking truth, Granddaughter. It is truth also that our prince chose
you—
long before you were even born. I cannot comprehend why this does not seem to be enough for you. Perhaps you are scarred from your time in the human world. But, Marla, for your peace of mind—and his—let his love for you be the truth that overcomes your insecurity.’

I didn’t know what to say. All I knew was that what he was suggesting was a lot easier said than done. I told him I’d try my hardest and then changed the subject. ‘Will you and Faun come to Earth for Christmas?’

He held my eyes for a long moment, but eventually decided to let the subject of Leif go.

‘Of course we would come.’

‘Will you invite Leander and Melody for me?’

‘Of course.’

Leif returned and my grandfather leapt to his feet and bowed low and long before him. ‘My prince,’ he said, his tone reverent.

‘Asher, please—it is not necessary,’ Leif told him. But I knew my grandfather was simply making a point.

I smiled and stood on my toes to whisper in Asher’s ear. ‘I’ll try, Granddad. I really will.’ I heard him sigh as he hugged me hard.

‘There’s a surprise in your room,’ Leif announced when we returned from the markets. He set me down on his balcony and strode through the door, putting my bag of Christmas presents on the bed.

‘What is it?’ I asked, following him inside.

He tilted his head in the direction of the hallway, his expression giving nothing away. ‘Go now and see.’

‘Aren’t you coming?’

He smiled—just a flicker—like he couldn’t help it. ‘It’s
your
surprise. Besides, my father calls.’

‘He never leaves you alone.’

Leif just gave me a nudge towards the door.

I padded down the hall to my room, opened my door and squealed, all thoughts of the king evaporating. Jack was on my bed reading a book and looking like he’d never been away. I ran to him—well, stumbled really—and fell into his waiting hug. He was laughing and smelt of the forest. And when I kissed him, his shoulder left salt on my lips.

‘Glad to see me?’

‘Oh,
so
glad!’ I leaned back to get a good look at him. He chuckled as I squeezed up and down his arms. Examination over, I looked back to his face. ‘I was so worried about you, and here you are in one whole piece! God knows how—the king went psycho when you left.’

‘It’s all good, he’s happy now.’ He touched a finger to what remained of the wound on my neck. ‘But what have you been up to?’

I told him the story, playing down the attack, instead putting all the emphasis on the reason for it. He pretty much repeated everything my grandfather had said about Leif and girls and my need for self-confidence. I agreed completely, swallowing my argument that it was much easier said than done. After a pause, he said, ‘They’re brutal bastards those Shadow Fae, but that only makes me more determined.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘I told the king that
if
he allowed me and Ameyah to make Faera home, I would work for him—be his humble servant and all that.’

I could hardly breathe. The thought of Jack staying was tantalising. It would be like having a piece of home right here with me. But I couldn’t help suspecting his motives. ‘Is that what
you
want, Jack?’

‘To be his servant? Not really, but…’

I rolled my eyes. ‘It’s not just for
me
is it—or… Ameyah?’

He smiled. ‘Both good reasons, Marla, but no. From the moment I arrived here, I’ve felt like this is where I belong… It’s weird really.’

Warmth seeped into my body like sun. ‘So what did King Telophy say?’

He touched a finger to my nose. ‘He said yes.’

I gasped and grinned and hugged him all at the same time, then, realising the king wouldn’t let him make his visit permanent unless he had a good reason, pulled back and said, ‘Why?’

‘Because I have a power you Fae do not.’

He paused for effect so I poked him in the ribs. ‘Tell me.’

He made a prisoner of my hand against his chest. ‘What’s the one major problem the Fae have with the Shadow Fae?’

‘They steal our sun and our blood right along with it, resulting in what you see before you.’

‘Yes, but that wouldn’t be such a problem if they didn’t have this other thing.’

‘They’re really good at hiding.’

‘Well, yeah, but that’s not it.’

‘Just tell me!’

‘Think!’ He tapped my temple with his fingers. ‘There’s something that makes it almost impossible for King Telophy’s guard to catch the Shadow Fae.’

‘They’re too fast.’

‘They’re no faster than your lot. The problem is they have the ability to
sense
the Fae. They could sense
you
all alone in the forest the other night and they could sense King Telophy when he came to your rescue—they just weren’t quick enough to get away from him. But—and here’s my talent—they can’t sense me.’ I’d never seen him look more pleased with himself.

‘So?’ I said.

‘
So,
Marla, I can get close to them. I can stand behind a tree or a rock or even a giant fern and they don’t know I’m there!’

Before I had time to consider how this might be valuable to the king, Jack was hurrying on. ‘I realised this during our first night in the forest. We saw heaps of Shadow Fae prowling around. A group of them dragged this guy from the trees. They pinned him to the ground and tore at him with fingernails sharpened into daggers. Some used blades that looked like they were made from diamonds.’ Shivers rolled across my skin as I recalled my own encounter with the creatures, but Jack can’t have noticed because he carried on. ‘We were trying to come up with a plan to help the guy but then their heads shot up like meerkats and they vanished
into the forest, all these knives and arrows chasing them. One only just missed, flew right past the creature’s ear. Then the guards were there, wearing these really bright sunstones around their necks. They picked the injured dude up and carried him away.

‘On the third night the Shadow Fae saw us. One minute it was bright, then our firelights went out and it was pitch black except for a bunch of crazy eyes.’

‘What happened?’ I whispered.

‘They watched us from the trees for a while. Then one came towards us with a bunch of others following. They didn’t speak. Maybe they communicate in some other way, because they were like liquid—all gliding behind the first one. It was
unbelievably
creepy. And then they attacked. It was
so
fast. I only just had time to push Ameyah behind me. She tried to pull me away from them, but there were too many. I felt a pain on the inside of my elbow—so savage, like I was being ripped open. And then one of them fastened his mouth around the wound and began to suck. It was like one simultaneous movement—that’s how quick it was.’

I shuddered, recalling my own experience.

‘And then he stopped sucking and screamed. The others shrank back into the trees but the one who attacked me was writhing on the ground. His screams were deafening—I had to cover my ears—and he was shrinking before my eyes, his body folding and wrinkling before it vanished into tiny pieces that drifted away like ash. All that was left was a pile of black dust.’

I sat staring at him, one hand covering my mouth.

‘When I got up, I noticed the other Shadow Fae watching—from a distance—like they were too scared to come close, but too scared to retreat.’

‘Then what happened?’

‘Well you know me, Marla, slicker than slick, I told them we meant them no harm, that we’d been sent from above to learn
the ways of this world. You should have seen me. I was brilliant. I did this—’ Jack raised his arms, turning his palms to the ceiling. ‘They all looked up like something was about to materialise in the sky. And then I told them whoever dared spill a drop of our blood would die the same death they’d just witnessed.’

I could almost see him, sinking himself into the role; just like he was in one of the many plays he’d taken part in over the years. ‘What did they do, Jack?’

‘They backed up a bit more.’ He chuckled. ‘But then I told them not to fear, that they were to leave us in peace so we could complete our observations. Then the largest of them came forward and knelt before me. Knelt before me, Marla! Like I was royalty! He bowed so low his forehead touched the ground.’

‘They think you’re a god, Jack!’

‘Well, who wouldn’t?’ he said with a smirk. ‘And that’s why the king gave me a job—to find out if there really is a Shadow King.’

Something twisted in my stomach. ‘That sounds dangerous.’

‘You worry too much. It’s just a matter of having the right contacts, asking the right questions.’

‘What questions?’

‘How should I know? Geez, Marla, I need time to think!’

‘I don’t like it, Jack. You’re just one person.’

‘Ah, but to the Shadow Fae, I’m a god. You said so yourself.’

I shuddered but knew Jack well enough to realise arguing would be pointless. So I changed the subject to something happier. ‘You coming home for Christmas?’

‘Of course.’ He grinned. ‘Ameyah’s coming with me.’

I wasn’t surprised. Jack could be pretty convincing and her interest in him had been obvious. ‘So… are you two a thing now?’ I asked, unsure how I felt about the idea.

He smiled and said, ‘When we’re a thing, Marla, you’ll know about it.’

We left Faera at sunrise on Christmas morning. I flew in Leif’s arms as helpless as a human, and Jack and Ameyah were transported by four guards apiece. From the moment we arrived the air was suffocating. It reminded me of the time I’d visited my grandfather in hospital just before he died. I was given a mask to wear, but it was so hard to breathe I’d had to keep pulling it away from my face. But there wasn’t anything to pull away from my face now. I heaved another long breath, glad Leif had insisted we return to Faera by sunset. After arranging to meet at the beach later, we left Jack and Ameyah and flew on to my place.