“I’m surprised you’re coming along,” I said as I took a seat on the other side of her.
“Well, it is difficult for me to get around,” Vara confessed. “But Miroslava said a change of scenery would do me some good, and I am completely bored of sitting in that room she has me trapped in.”
Her cheeks were rosy, and her voice in good spirits. She seemed well today. I grabbed her hand, which felt very warm, and gave a squeeze as I said, “I’m glad you’re here. Maybe this is a turn-around for the both of us.”
“I’m hopeful. I think things will be very different after today.” She smiled.
Ethan knew how to be polite and diplomatic, so I was grateful that he hid his true feelings as he moved around Vara to take the seat on the other side of me. I just wanted to have a good day out with my friends and my family. He would respect that.
Arthur cast an illusion to disguise our faces. I checked myself in a hand mirror I had— I’d become a curly-haired girl with a round face. Everyone else in the carriage looked the same to me, but when I passed the mirror to Ethan, his reflection mirrored back a man with higher cheekbones and longer hair. We could identify each other, but anyone who didn’t know us would see a completely different person.
I let out a sigh of relief. No one would recognize us, at least.
Babcia and Bapa bickered as they embarked the carriage. Bapa took the reins, and we began the trip down the winding country road.
The sound of the horse’s hooves clopping against the dirt was soothing, but I didn’t like that the carriage wasn’t covered. I pressed closer into Ethan, and he put his arm around me for comfort.
The carriage rolled into town, and the gravel beneath the horse’s hooves turned to cobblestone. We passed thatch-roof cottages painted white, and stone houses covered in ivy. As we headed into the merchant district, we observed sorceresses pushing carts, who were selling things like cheeses and vegetables straight from the farm.
The businesses here were tiny, and packed together in two-hundred year old buildings that were three stories tall. We crossed a street that was full of nothing but pubs, and I smelled the faint remnants of fish and chips that had been cooked the night before.
The celebration for Vosna-En was in full swing. Rose garlands hung across the streets, and there were flower wreaths on every door. Children tossed petals everywhere from wicker baskets, while sorceresses handed out flowers to everyone who passed by.
The whole world seemed to be reborn after a very dark winter. It brought a little light into my heart.
I didn’t know what I had expected, but I figured the Unseelie would look… different. I don’t know why, but I figured their features would be more prominent— perhaps differently toned in hair or skin color. I’d been taught that there were so many differences between the Seelie and Unseelie fae that I was expecting them to be a separate group entirely.
It was silly to think. The fae here looked like any other fae back in Dolinska. The conflict between the Seelie and Unseelie fae seemed even more ridiculous.
“There are so few of them,” I commented. Trua Gleann was much smaller than I expected.
“Yes,” Babcia said. “The conflict with the Seelie certainly depleted our numbers.”
“Are there any full-blooded Unseelie here?” I asked.
“No. Some have more Unseelie in them than others, but all of us have mixed blood. It is the way it went, after the war happened.”
My emotions became mixed. It was nice to see this community for the first time, but itshouldn’thave been the first time. I should’ve grown up here with Arthur. Babcia and Bapa had done an amazing job of hiding me from Droga— they could’ve hidden me and my mother from the Black Claw, too. If Mom had just gotten over her bullshit with my grandparents, the life I could’ve had would be so different.
I pushed that out of my mind, because there was no use in regretting the past now, especially choices that I’d had no control over.
“Do the Unseelie here attend— I mean.” I swallowed. “Didthey attend Arcanea University?”
“Yes, but under Seelie disguise, of course,” Arthur replied. “Just as I did.”
Bapa stopped the carriage in front of a crooked restaurant with an old wooden sign half-hanging off the building. He tied the horse, and we went inside.
The County Clarewas packed with people. It was one of those restaurants that was full of natural light, but was sparsely decorated. The wooden tables were adorned with potted flowers, but not much else. The loud clinking of glasses and conversation filled the room as waitresses wearing aprons served heaping plates of potato pancakes.
We took a table by the window, and I was served a traditional Irish breakfast of eggs, bacon, sausage, beans, mushrooms, halved tomatoes, and fried potatoes.
I was so excited that I could actually eat everything on my plate. The restaurant served food that was safe for my gluten allergy. It was so annoying— and embarrassing— making everyone accommodate my dietary issues all the time. I knew it was a hassle and hated making things difficult for others… not to mention the fact I sometimes went hungry, because there wasn’t a lot for me to choose from when we went to most restaurants. ThatThe County Clarecould accommodate my illness and make things easier for everyone, alongside ensuring that I had a full stomach, absolutely made my day.
Every bite tasted more amazing than the last. Before, I would’ve cleaned my plate, but I wasn’t able to eat more than half. I finished what I could and gave the rest to Ethan. He’d finished his food, and the rest of mine, and still looked like he wanted more.
“I haven’t had meals at the palace that were this incredible,” Ethan said as he put down his fork. “My compliments to the chef.”
I nodded. It was good, what little I’d been able to take down.
