“Foolish girl,” the healer snarled.
My friend’s attention whipped to her, but before she had a chance to snap back, I held my hand out to separate them. “It’s alright, Raena. Please trust me on this. I won’t take any risks without knowing what I’m getting into… Which is why I’m here.” My gaze returned to the hooded woman. “Please can you tell me more about the prince? Do you think he would be willing to helpmy kingdom?”
I saw it then. That slight grin that slithered over her cheeks like a thin snake. And then I felt it too, in the pit of my stomach. It was like something deep inside me was trying to say this was a very bad idea.
“I’ve never met him in person,” Seraphina began, moving over to the tall, looming bookshelves. “But from what I’ve read of both your families’ histories, I’d be very surprised if he didn’t want to help you.” She reached up to retrieve that same violet giggling book that she’d found before. “Your parents were good friends with the Faery King and Queen, you know. Many of the healing powders we use today originated from the crystals found by your parents who searched the faery caverns. And the fae were able to learn more about the origins of their own magic with your kingdom’s advanced medical knowledge. Together, they achieved so much.”
She carried the book over, letting it land with a soft thud on the table in front of us. Its pages resumed their quiet laughter as Seraphina leafed through.
“But I don’t understand,” I wondered out loud. “If what you’re saying is true, and my parents formed such strong relations with the fae, why is there so much distrust towards them now? What changed after the fire?”
The healer just shook her head as she continued leafing through the book. “Many things changed after the fire, dear princess… Although I suppose the reason why there are no faeries wandering around the Steel Palace, is mostly down to jealousy. Maybe even fear too.” She paused her reading to glance up at us. “I’m sure you’ve been told before that with magic, one faery could easily overpower several humans. It wouldn’t be hard to believe that the only reason the entire realm is not ruled by fae is because humans outnumber faeries tenfold. Apparently, there were an awful lot of people who didn’tappreciate how much power Corlixir was giving to the fae – many of those, were the rulers of our great kingdoms.”
“But what about my teachers and the village elders?” I persisted, moving closer. “They would’ve lived in Corlixir with the fae. Some of them were even researchers who I know worked alongside my parents, and yet they always insisted that we stay away from the faeries. Why?”
“You grew up with your fellow Corlixins in Honeymeade, correct?”
I nodded.
“Honeymeade belongs to Drothmore. Therefore, the King can impose whatever sort of curriculum he likes upon the young and highly impressionable children of Corlixir. Even if what he’s insisting you learn is completely incorrect.”
“That can’t be true,” Raena cut in. “King Ikelos would never do that. He’s a good king!”
“Is he?” Seraphina shot back with a frown. “Good king or not, never underestimate how far a man would go to keep away a potential threat to his throne, or his family.” Her last few words were heavy, as though there was a lot more to this story than she was willing to share right now. But I didn’t press, I already had so much else to think about. After hearing all of this my mind was such a mess. Next to me, Raena remained silent, and I wondered if the inside of her head was equally as scrambled. No doubt whatever happened here next, she would still spend the next hour scolding me when we returned to the tower. And I wouldn’t blame her. Talks like this within the walls of Drothmore’s palace were bordering on treasonous. If only the King knew about this conversation happening in his hidden library…
“I must say though.” Seraphina’s chiming voice interrupted my thoughts. “You came to me at the perfect time.” Her finger hovered over one of the book’s pages. “It says here that in only afew weeks, the faery royal family are hosting a grand ball where the crown prince will choose his bride. Didn’t you tell me you were looking for another prince?”
“How convenient…” Raena huffed. “We should go, Naria. I don’t trust any of this.”
“Wait,” I said quietly, causing both Seraphina’s and Raena’s attention to snap to me. “How certain are you that they would help me rebuild my kingdom?”
“I would bet my life on it,” Seraphina answered, and for some strange reason, I couldn’t help but feel she was telling the truth. “Even if the prince already has a bride in mind, for the greater good of both of your kingdoms, it would be such a wasted opportunity for you to not at least form some kind of alliance.”
Raena’s mouth fell open. “Naria, please don’t actually consider this.”
“I don’t know if I have a choice,” I said back to her. “If Lukas is not interested in helping me and there are no other options for me here, then speaking with the faeries may be the only way for Corlixir to ever be restored to what it once was.”
“But there are other options,” Raena snapped back. “There has to be. We just haven’t found them yet. And there’s still a chance that Lukas might change his mind about helping you with your kingdom. You’ve known each other for barely a week. Just give it more time.”
Across the table, Seraphina chuckled. “Maybe, might, a chance… Tell me, Naria, would you happily leave the fate of your kingdom up to chance? Would you marry the Prince of Drothmore because maybe he will help your people… someday?”
She was right. My people needed certainty, and if Lukas couldn’t provide that, then maybe the fae would? But could I really trust Seraphina? Raena had a fair point when she said this was all very convenient. What if this was all some horrid trap and, like a fool, I was walking right into it?
My head was spinning.
“I just – I don’t know,” I replied honestly.
The healer’s finger lazily traced the page she was reading before asking in a cool tone, “How about this then… Do you know where to find the faery kingdom?”
Both Raena and I said nothing, staring blankly.
“This library has taught me a lot about the fae,” Seraphina started. “Apparently, many of their magic rituals require crystals that can only be found in cave systems hidden deep underground. Which means that for centuries now, the faeries have resided in the ground beneath us. They call their kingdom Faelenna, and it is said to be so vast that it spans from the mountains to the coasts.”
“They live underground?” I remarked. “How is that even possible?”
“They must be terribly filthy all the time,” Raena added, wrinkling her nose in disgust.
Seraphina eyed her with another harsh frown. “I would suspect that considering they have a court and a royal family, that they do not just dig around in the dirt all day like beasts.” She then turned to me. “I’ve heard there is an entrance to it, hidden away in Drothmore’s forests, about an hour’s ride from here. If you’re convinced that I am lying about all this, I suggest you try talking to them yourselves.”
