Jay looked at Avery and handed her another apple slice. Dandelion nudged Avery greedily. “Is there a name for a magical person on Earth?” he asked.
“Yes, a witch is a magical woman, and a wizard is a magical man. Another term would be a magician. But it’s all fiction. There’s no such thing as magic on Earth. Not really,” Avery said.
Kyla’s face was drawn in thought. Her eyebrows narrowed together. “Perhaps, like the legends of humans here, the legends of magic in your realm have truth to it. We have stories of magical humans. They were called witches, too. According to legend, a group of powerful witches separated our two realms, leaving the human realm without magic. They did this to save humans from the cruelty of certain fae.”
“Even if it’s true, I don’t know how to practice magic. I wasn’t born with it like you,” Avery argued. As she said this, she thought of the twitchy itchies, but that was intuition, not magic.
Jay took Dandelion’s reins from Avery. “It may come to you when you least expect it. But for now, how do you feel about riding Dandelion?”
“I like her, and she seems sweet enough. I’ll try it.” A tinge of excitement stirred within her when she thought about riding Dandelion.
“Then let’s get you on her back.” He smiled as he took Dandelion’sreins.
Jay led them to a tack room. Within moments, he was putting a leather saddle encrusted with silver pine cone decorations on Dandelion’s back.
“Can I help you up?” Jay asked. He bent over to help lift Avery onto the saddle.
Avery felt apprehensive. She didn’t know if she wanted to be riding on an elk, but what choice did she have?
“Okay. Sure. Give me a boost.”
With that, Avery found herself lifted up and onto Dandelion’s back. Kyla was beside her on a speckled gray and red female elk while Jay walked in front of Dandelion. Despite holding the reins, Avery had no control over where the elk walked. Dandelion followed Jay like a dog on a leash.
Jay tried to encourage Avery to take control, but she couldn’t seem to do it. No matter what she did, the elk didn’t respond to her.
“Let her feel you take control. Use the reins and steer her away from me,” Jay said, stepping out of the way to give Avery more space. “No offense, but your insecurities float around you like clouds on a mountain. She can smell it and will never follow you. We all can smell it in the air.”
Avery’s cheeks blushed crimson. “Are you telling me I stink?”
Kyla replied, “It’s not necessarily a stink. Not like the stench of some of the dark fae’s death. It’s a salty scent mixed with the cloying sweet scent of your doubt.”
“That does not make me feel any better,” Avery said to Kyla.
She told herself to be confident. She could do this. Despite trying, Avery couldn’t get Dandelion to turn away from Jay’s confident presence. Finally, she gave up. She hopped off the gentle elk and walked toward Kyla. Jay took Dandelion’s reins and walked her back to the corral with the other female elk.
“Can I just ride in the carriage? I doubt either of you has time to teach me to ride right now.”
“We have few carriages, but Savine planned to let you ride with him on Jari while you became more comfortable riding,” Kyla said.
“Of course he did. That damn man can’t give me any peace!”
Kyla gave Avery a concerned look. “My brother does not trust many in this world. He hates being touched and hates people arguing with him. When he allows you these kinds of protections, he does it because he wants what is best for you. He’s putting aside his desire for space and privacy to help you. I hope you realize that.”
Avery walked with Kyla back to Savine’s tent. “Maybe I don’t want his protection. Maybe I’d rather be left alone in my fear of this cruel place.”
Kyla turned to Avery and took her hands in hers. “You are as strong as you let yourself be. Do not let your fear cause your death here.”
Chapter seventeen
Savine
Savine walked back to his tent after eating dinner with his council. He’d invited Avery to join them after what sounded like an unsuccessful first attempt at riding an elk, but she’d refused and chose to eat alone. Weston stood guard outside his tent, keeping watch over Avery, who should be inside.
“Weston, thank you. Go get your own supper, and I’ll see you in the morning. Kersi’s on the night shift, correct?”
“Yes, sir,” Weston replied before turning and walking into the dusky evening light.
Savine’s tent seemed eerily quiet for containing the emotional and screechy human woman. He had volunteered to keep her in his personal space, and even her silence was bothering him. How was he supposed to relax in his home with her presence here?
