Earth Child (Romance Novels of The Fae Realm) (12 page)

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            I had been working for hours.  The Fae wasted no time and as soon as we crossed over I was whisked away, changed into fighting gear and led to a large training room full of weapons of every shape and size.  My attempts at the bow were laughable at best.  I couldn’t lift the mace.  My sword work was passable, but I excelled at the quarter staff.  My stance was solid, I could deflect the downward strike and counter with a strike of my own.  I could spin, strike, thrust, and dominate; my small size and meager strength didn’t deter me.  The only move I continually didn’t see coming was the spinning leg sweep.  By the fifth time I had landed on my back I was ready for a break.

            “You’re doing well Mother Alexa.  Cerus did a good job instructing you” remarked Garreth, the Fae master of arms.

            “I’ll be sure to tell him.  Thank you Garreth.”

            “Get up.  Let’s go again.”

            Groaning I rolled to my stomach and pushed myself to my feet.  Picking up my staff I stood in defense stance and readied for another attack.  Four hours later, barely able to stand, let alone lift my arms I was grateful that Garreth declared we were finished for the day.  The deep tub in my room was calling my name, a long hot soak was just the thing my tired body needed.  So I was less than enthused to see Thorn standing outside my door.

            “Ah, Mother Alexa.  You’re needed in the council chamber.”

            “Can it wait?  I was hoping to bathe first.”

            “I’m afraid it’s a matter of urgency.”

            “Okay” I sighed, “Lead the way” I shooed him onward.

            The scene that greeted me in the council chamber was little more than organized chaos.  Zephyra was shouting angrily at Graupel.  Terrestria was crying uncontrollably, while Root, Blade, and Aquamarine argued amongst themselves.  The only two who were ironically keeping their cool were Blaze and Calefacto.

            “What is going on?!” I shouted above the noise.  They quieted at my presence and in the sudden silence Terrestria’s loud nose blowing was a little comical.

            Zephyra broke the silence.  “There’s been another attack.”  All the humor left me.

            “Tell me what happened.”

            “The Shadow Fae.  They took advantage of the weakness on the eastern perimeter.  Half the Earth Tribe is gone.”

            “Oh no” I whispered turning to Terrestria and hugging her.  “I’m so sorry.”

            “My husband and my sons.  They’re – gone” her words bringing fresh tears to her eyes.

            “What do we do now?” Aquamarine asked.

            “What we always do.  Bury our dead, repair the defenses and go on with our lives” answered Zephyra.

            “That’s it?” I asked angrily.  “Go back to our lives like nothing ever happened?”  Out of the corner of my eye I saw Cerus enter the council chamber and make his way to my side.  “That’s not good enough.  If we want to stop the Shadow Fae we have to stop doing what we always do.”

            “I agree” stated Graupel.

            “And what do you propose we do?” asked Blade.

            “We take the fight to them.”

            The room erupted with shouts and arguments once again.  Terrestria was devastated, but she committed any from the Earth tribe that were willing and able to fight.  “My family won’t have died in vain.”

            “The ceffyl gard are ready” Root announced, Cerus nodding in agreement.  I couldn’t help but remember Grace’s plea to keep her son safe.

            “My people will be there” Calefacto promised.

            “As will mine” Blaze agreed.

            “We have the numbers.  Now we need a plan.  Root, you have the most experience with military strategy.  What do we do?” I asked him.

            “If we meet them in the woods we don’t stand a chance.  Too many opportunities to draw power from the shadows.  We need to meet them in the open, where they have no place to hide.” He began.

            Many ideas were brought up and tossed aside.  After a lot of deliberating the outline of plan was beginning to take shape and I could see the look of determined hope on the faces of the Fae around me.

            “It’s settled then.  In three days’ time we attack the Shadow Fae.”

            Between battle preparations and training I barely had time to myself.  That’s why with great relish I sunk into my deep tub piled high with fragrant bubbles, allowing myself to relax for the first time in days.  Just when I had leaned back and closed my eyes I heard the familiar brief knock of Cassia as she entered my room.

            “Mother Alexa, you’re needed in the council chamber.”  I sunk under the water pretending not to hear her.  “You can stay under there for a while, but eventually you’ll have to breathe.” I heard her muffled scold from under the bubbles.

            Surfacing I met her matronly stare with my frustrated one. “I just wanted 20 minutes.  Just 20 minutes to myself.  Is that too much to ask?”

            “As the Mother, you’re never alone again.  You are needed.  Now get out.  I’ll lay some clothes out on the bed.” And with that she left.

            Pouting, I defiantly stayed in the warm bubbly tub for a few more minutes before hearing the bedroom door close and feeling the full guilty weight of Cassia’s words.  Huffing I pulled myself from the tub, roughly dried myself off and pulled on the awaiting clothes.  Flinging my door open I briskly stalked my way to the council chamber.  Instead of being greeted by the usual faces of the council I was met by the light of hundreds of candles.  A single table sat in the middle of the room, set for two people.  Standing next to it was Cerus.

            “What’s all this?”

            “It is a thank you.  Without you we wouldn’t have a plan to move against the Shadow and this conflict would be far from over.”

            “I don’t need any thanks.  I want this to end as much as the next fae.”

            “Well then think of this as our last chance to spend a romantic evening together.”

            “Now that I can do” I smiled at him.  We sat to dinner, which I was sure was prepared by Grace.

            The evening ended quickly.  Neither of us wanted to talk about the impending battle.  It had so consumed us totally that I wasn’t sure what to talk about.  After dinner Cerus escorted me to my chamber, gave me a chaste kiss on the cheek and wished me pleasant dreams.  Since sleep was unlikely to happen at all tonight I decided to wish that all my new friends stay safe tomorrow.  I dressed for bed and settled myself within the folds of the blankets.

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            I awoke to find Cassia gently shaking me awake.

            “Mother Alexa,” she whispered, “it’s time.”

            She helped me to don my battle gear.  I was beginning to feel more and more comfortable in the soft and supple leather.  In place of my usual vest was a rigid jerkin, its stiff leather meant to help protect me from arrows.  Stiff leather braces adorned my forearms, fortifying my wrists from any glancing blows.  Sitting at my vanity she brushed and braided my hair and placed a simple gold coronet on my crown, signifying my royal status.

            “You’re ready.”

            “Thank you Cassia.”

            “No matter what happens today, I just want you to know that it has been a privilege to serve you.”

            “The privilege is mine” I embraced her, “I will see you afterward.”  Nodding she pulled away and quietly left the room.

            I said a quick prayer to anyone who cared to listen and made my way to the council chamber.  There Cerus and Root would meet me and we would lead the main forces to the designated field.  Two days ago the herald had ridden to the Shadow Fae with our list of terms and demands.  It was simple.  The Shadow Fae would relinquish the use of their powers and be allowed to live out the remainder of their lives in peace.  If they could not agree to this, they could meet us for one final battle, whoever one would be granted the right to rule the Fae realm.

            “Any word from Eolus?” I asked Root.

            “No Mother Alexa.  I fear he is lost to us.”

            “Have faith Root.  There is still time.”  He nodded to me, but I could see his doubt in his eyes.  Eolus’ wouldn’t be the first life lost today.

            “Mother Alexa, it’s time.” Cerus instructed.

            Together the three of us marched to the front of the royal compound to the waiting assembled troops.  I looked over their faces.  Each tribe was present in some form.  The Earth tribe looked about my age, possibly younger, a reminder of the devastation that their tribe had already suffered.  Everyone looked scared.  Except for maybe the ceffyl gard from the Spring tribe.  They looked fierce and anxious for battle.  From my time here I noted that the ceffyl gard were all pale like Cerus.  Their star white skin had been painted with various colors and symbols.  It reminded me of the Native American horse tribes from the Human realm, painting themselves before battle.  I climbed to the top of a small dais that had been erected and turned to the gathered Fae.

            “My brothers and sisters, I know that I haven’t been with you long.  I’m still learning what it means to be Fae.  I’m still learning about myself, and my power.  What I am asking of you is a lot.  But I have to ask.  I ask for my mother, for Cerus’ father, for the Earth tribe and for everyone who’s lost someone to the tyranny of the Shadow Fae.  Today we will come together.  Today we will illuminate the shadow and bring all the Fae into the light.  Today, we will know victory!” a chorus of agreement sounded throughout the crowd and I could see their confidence start to rise.

            “Well done Mother Alexa” Root congratulated me.

            “Tell me that when it’s over” jumping down from dais I took my staff from Cerus and began to lead the procession into battle.  The bravado that was felt after my speech soon gave way to a stoic silence as each step brought us further and further to the battle grounds.

            Cresting a far off hill we paused as we overlooked the field where the destiny of all the Fae would be decided.  Something was wrong.  In the center of the field were four crosses.  Hanging from each cross was a beaten and broken figure.

            “Oh my goodness” Root breathed in disbelief.

            “Alexa no” Cerus grabbed my arm as I took a step out from the protection of the trees to get a better look.

            Hanging in the center of the field were Eolus, Richard, Nancy, and Sam.  “We have to get them down.”

            “It’s most assuredly a trap.  If you go down there they will kill you” Cerus grabbed both my shoulders.

            “We have to get them down!”

            “And we will, but rushing down there and getting yourself killed won’t help anyone.  Look closer.”  So I did.  Moving and darting through the trees on the far side of the clearing were the Shadow Fae.  He was right.  As soon as we made a move for the crosses they would simply cut us down.

            “This changes the plan a bit” noted Root.

            “Change it fast Root.  Change it so that we can get them down safe and wipe out all the Shadow scum who dare to walk the earth” anger didn’t begin to describe what I was feeling now.  Pure abject loathing was more like it.

            Cerus and Root were busy conferring with the other ceffyl gard captains when I felt Garreth step up beside me.  “Remember your training Mother Alexa.  You’re magical powers are strong, but will drain you of physical strength.  You must rely on your physical powers first, then draw on the energy in the earth to sustain you.”

            “Yes Garreth.”

            “Good fight Mother Alexa.”

            “Good fight Garreth.”

            “Ready?” Cerus asked me.

            “Ready” I nodded in return.
            “First wave, on my mark!  Attack!”

            Screaming Fae advanced onto the field.  The Shadow Fae moved forward from the tree line, just enough to loosen a volley of arrows, but not forward enough to be out of the shadows completely.  Fire Fae used their flames to incinerate their barbs before they could land, bathing the field in soot and ashes.  I could see the strongest of the Shadow Fae using their powers to elongate the shadows under the trees, throwing clouds into the sky to obscure the bright sunlight.  In a loud clash I heard the forces collide as Fae attacked Fae.  Swords, and staff crashing together and soon cries of anguish rose above the deafening noise.

            “We have to draw them out further” Root said.

            “You want to draw them out, then go for the crosses” I admonished.

            Second wave, ceffyl gard, on my mark!  Attack!”

            The ceffyl gard took off.  They moved faster than any normal person should.  In the blink of an eye they were no longer people, but had transformed into large white horses.  No, not horses.  Unicorns.  I couldn’t believe my eyes.  They were magnificent.  Trampling Shadow Fae down with their hooves or ripping them apart with their horn.  It was easily three feet in length and sharpened to a deadly point.  Now I understood why Cerus had told me his power was complicated.  For every Shadow Fae that was cut down several more came from the darkness under the trees.  Their numbers were far outweighing ours.

            “Root, do something.”

            “Spring Fae on my mark, take the crosses down, Earth Fae – cut off their retreat.  Fall Fae – the trees!  Attack!”

            Once more the Fae advanced.  Once more the Shadow Fae came out to meet them; still staying within the confines of the shadows and the protection of the trees.  The Spring Fae had reached the crosses and had made a double protective ring around them.  The outer ring were fighting off the Shadow Fae that had spring up out of nowhere while the inner ring was concentrating their powers on the crosses that were suspended in the field.  The tops of the crosses began to grow, sprouting large branches and leaves.  They rumbled and shook and soon the roots were pulling out of the ground.  They had turned the wooden crosses into large oak trees that began a hasty retreat off the field.  The sight of their hostages leaving and no sight of me joining the battle yet infuriated the Shadow Fae who as one left the protection of the shadows to pursue the retreating trees.