Here, there are no sounds of water, nor the faint rustling of critters. The air is hot and acidic and the sands shift underfoot, instead of compact, wet mud that sucks my boots in with every step.
In so many ways, this territory is foreign to me and my heart yearns for the familiarity of the deep woods, and of the salty air. Even if that was not my true home, I still miss it.
The gardens of the palace are deserted. There are forlorn, gothic plants popping up from red sands with black rocks acting as a border. In the far back, is an ebony forest of decrepit trees.
Surrounding the gardens is a tall, black granite wall, that makes the land feel suffocating. I wonder what’s beyond it. What are they protecting the inhabitants of this castle from?
Fee leads me to a far corner, further away from the castle than I’ve been in weeks, to a large boulder. It’s surrounded by translucent flowers, parrot tulips, with feathered petals the deepest shade of blue.
Holding the gem at my neck, I notice the same color reflected back to me.
“This was my mother’s favorite spot,” she tells me, sitting on the boulder. “She used this place to think. To escape. Kaden and I would often follow her out here and just enjoy the silence.”
Sitting beside her, the heat of the day dampens my brow and the back of my neck.
“Escape from what?”
Fee shifts. “Life.”
I can relate.
“I can see you and Kaden as children,” I prod, hands folded over my lap. “Running in the sand.”
“Kaden still does.” She snorts, rolling her eyes. “He uses this area as his training grounds.”
That would explain the sand all over his clothing the other night.I’m foolish for the surge of jealousy, thinking his unkept appearance was due to another Fae and not from training. It should have been obvious, but again, I know very little about Kaden, other than what he’s shown me.
“It’s beautiful, but you didn’t bring me here to talk about the gardens.” Fee never does anything without reason, even when Kaden instructs her.
Smirking, the princess looks at me, keen eyes glinting with humor.
“Tomorrow, we begin training.” She gestures to the palace. “Your footwork is lacking and you can barely handle a sword.” When I try to defend myself, she holds up her hand. “I saw it in the forest, blood summoner. In order to survive, in order for my brother to survive, you need to learn to fight. Better, anyway.”
I roll my eyes. “Or yourbrother could stop drugging me.” My magic is a decent defense. It’d be easier than learning to use a weapon, something I’ve tried for years and the skills still lack.
She leans back on her hands.
“There is so much you don’t understand,” she huffs. “Things in play that concern you, me, this entire world. Things that if you knew, would put you in more danger.”
I shift, uncomfortable, body slick with sweat. I don’t like knowing there are people out there, risking things for me, but I hate it more that I’m being kept from it. I should know, to help, to be prepared.
“And you can’t tell me,” I guess.
She nods. “Not yet. Not until we know it’s safe.”
Safe. The only way I’ll be truly safe, is if I’m out of this palace. Away from enemies and hidden secrets. On my own where Zelos can’t use me, and where Kaden can’t lock me away.
My eyes fall to the trees again, a makeshift plan forming, slowly, in my mind.
“Where does that lead to?”
Fee tilts her head, brows furrowed. “I wouldn’t.”
“Wouldn’t, what?”
Giving me a suffering look, she points to the dark hole between the thick branches. “That forest is so dense, no light exists within. Not many people are brave enough to go in there.”
“And that concerns me, how?”
