Legend of the Fae: A Highland Fantasy (The Dark Fae Saga Book 1) (12 page)

~ Chapter 18 ~

In the wee hours of the morning Ella gazed upon the fortress of Greylyn. Built into the rock face of the vast mountain range of Mor na Beinn, the fortress was as tall as fifty men standing one on the shoulder of another. Its massive height towered over the valley below. With little sleep and only a few frozen berries in her stomach, she felt weary and sluggish as she wavered in the saddle. ‘Twas almost a blessing she arrived when she had. She was unsure if she could survive another night out in the cold.

Perched on her horse, Ella could hear the drumming of hooves approaching, and the ground shook beneath her. The rhythm of the vibration beat in her chest. Dressed in armor, their weapons drawn, six armed Greylyn warriors rode in circles around her; assessing her. Ella’s eyes met theirs as she waited for one of them to address her or take her into custody.

“It’s the Princess”, she heard one of them whisper. Their acknowledgement caused her to inwardly smile. Ella could feel their tension in the air. They feared her. It was a gratifying sensation.

“I am Ella of Andor. I am here to speak to Queen Talara.”

“Lady Talara sees no one,” one of them spoke.

Ella lowered her gaze in anger.
Insolent fool
!

“If you do not allow me to pass, Alaris, Queen of Darkness, will strike fear into the hearts of your children and blood will be shed. You will bear witness to a world of destruction and terror far greater than you ever dreamed imaginable. War is coming, and you have no way to stop it. Not even the Gods can save you. If you wish to save your lives and the lives of your families, I implore you to let me pass.”

The six guards looked to each other in horror. They knew she spoke the truth. One of the armed guards nodded to the others, and for several moments they stood in silence. It appeared to Ella that these men were gifted with a telepathic ability, but it did not appear they could read
her
mind. But, of course, how could they? She was not like them. She was not a Fae. At first, it was hard to accept the reality of it and believe that her whole life had been a lie, but she’d had time aplenty to think during her journey here and could no longer deny the truth. Everything she had learned made sense. She was, in fact, human.

The decorated guard rode to her side and forcefully grabbed the reins from her hands.

“We have agreed to allow you safe passage,” he said in a grave tone.

The guards escorted Ella to the great hall of the fortress, where she waited alone behind a closed door. Much like Dunquest Castle, the room had high decorated ceilings and portraits from the ancient past. Over the past several days thoughts of Dunquest and Galen had been pushed out of her mind to keep focus on her mission, but not without struggle. Had she allowed them to invade her thoughts, she would not have been in the state of mind to see out this plan and stop the war. Though she had discovered the truth about her past, it did not change her future. After everything had come to light, Ella finally understood why the stones led her to the mortal world. She was meant to stop this war.

Behind her, Ella heard footsteps approaching. She turned and saw the most amazing sight descending the stairs. The long train of her dress trailing behind, Talara came to stand before Ella. Ella could feel the intensity of her powers by her mere presence. A pale blue aura of light radiated around her, like the glowing halo that circled the moon.

Talara’s flawless beauty was striking compared to Alaris’s aging features, but the likeness was remarkable. Though Alaris’s hair was black as coal, Talara’s hair was as white as snow. Talara’s long hair draped down her back in waves and wild curls. She shared her sister’s tall yet slim figure, like a flower that has not yet bloomed. Even their eyes have the same crystal blue color, which made Ella feel a bit apprehensive. Had she not known better, she would have believed they were one and the same.    

“My lady, I have come here to tell you that you are in grave danger.”

“Danger? My sister has lured us before. How do I know that she did not send you as a ruse to fool us once again? Though I am surprised she sent you.”

“I will not lie to you. I did not come here to ask for peace among our kind. I am here to stop the war. Had I completed the mission on which I was sent, it would have helped Alaris seize this fortress and gain great power over this land. But by doing so, I would have put my own people at risk as well. We may have our differences, but there is one thing that still remains. We both have a common enemy. Alaris!”

“Why the change of heart? As Princess of the dark world, and head of the Order, what will you gain from this?”

Ella narrowed her brows.

“Yes, I know exactly who you are. I know a great many things,” Talara added.

“I gain nothing. But you will gain a great ally.”

Talara turned away from Ella and headed toward a table on the far side of the room. Picking up a golden urn, she filled a glass with red wine and took a sip.

“War is inevitable,” she said before turning back to face Ella. “I believe that was the message you sent on the body of a dead man.”

Ella shamefully looked down. It was true. Had she not crossed into the mortal world to learn the truth, she would not be here having this conversation with her enemy. She would have kidnapped the child and successfully completed her mission.

Raising her head high, Ella looked into Talara’s dazzling blue eyes.

“War is inevitable, but it’s the outcome that matters. The Order is powerful; together, more powerful than Alaris. They follow my command. There is truth hidden behind a sea of lies that, once revealed, will change everything. But we must act with great urgency. Alaris’s army will soon breach the gates of this fortress. I must be allowed to return to the Order. But I cannot do this without you. So I ask, will you help me defeat Alaris once and for all?”

Talara’s skeptical look faded.

“What is it you want from me?”

“The night of the babe’s celebration is when Alaris will strike. She believes the babe is a threat. She plans to kill the child. I have come to stop her, but I cannot do it alone. I ask you to fight with us. I wish to join our forces and restore the balance of our world. If we succeed, Andor will be yours once again.”

“If what you say is true, Ella of Andor, I will offer you my assistance.”

Ella felt relief sink into her bones.

Talara offered her a warm meal and a room in which to rest before she needed to head back to the Order. Now that she had the support of Talara’s army behind her, she needed to convince the Order as well, which was not going to be easy. They were as devoted to Alaris as she was. But once they learned the truth, she expected they would rebel as well. At least, she hoped.

~ Chapter 19 ~

“Peter, are ye going to see Laird Graham?” Moira asked, holding onto a tray of roasted beef and potatoes.

“Aye. I have a message fer him.”

“Bring this to him, will ye? Poor lad has no’ left that library fer days. Been working himself to the bone, I tell ye. I have ne’er seen him like this, no’ e’en when his own mother died. If ye ask me, he’s like a walking dead mon. He barely eats, barely sleeps. He keeps his focus on work, but I know the real reason he keeps himself so distracted as of late,” Moira said, before handing Peter the tray.

“Aye, I know. Losing the lass has been hard on him. Hard on us, as well. We’ve been havin’ to train day and night. I dinna even think real battle would be this tiring. Since the lass came to Dunquest, Laird Graham has been a changed man. But now that she has gone, he seems to have become harsher than he was before.”

“I do hope things will change soon.”

“Aye, me too,” Peter said as he knocked on the door.           
        

Sitting at his desk, Galen tallied the coin he needed for the King’s taxes. Discovering his taxes were two months overdue, he was grateful the tax collector was a kind man. Building up his campaign was beginning to cost them, and so far he still waited for Neville Campbell to respond to the inquiry he had sent days ago about funding. The past several days he had kept busy laying out plans for more crop growth along the southern portion of his land, near the village that was currently unoccupied. The increase in crops in the summer would help bring in more profit to the clan as well as more food. Digging himself out of the financial debt his uncle had created had not been easy.

A soft knock sounded at the door.
It must be Moira with lunch
, he thought as his stomach growled. Standing from his chair, he opened the door for the old woman, but in the doorway stood Peter holding his tray of food.

“Peter? I had expected Moira. Is something amiss?” 

“My apologies, my Laird; Moira asked me to delivered this to ye, but that was no’ the reason I am here. Ye have a visitor; a fearsome lass who has demanded an audience.”

As much as Galen wanted to believe the lass had returned, he couldn’t allow himself to hope. Weeks had passed and there had been no sign of her. For a fleeting moment, thought of her crossed his mind, but any optimism immediately vanished when a bright and bold red-headed lass pushed her way past Peter and entered the library.

“Good day, Lady McFadden. Tis always a pleasure. What bring ye this far north?”

Without responding, Braelyn looked over her shoulder as she waited for Peter to exit the room and close the door behind him. Once they were alone she turned back to him and smiled.

“Ye, of course, my Laird. My father has no’ heard a reply to his inquiry regarding a contract, so I have taken it upon myself to retrieve his answer,” she responded, as she took off her tan-colored wrap and placed it over the arm of the chair near the hearth.

Her long reddish locks hung across one shoulder, complimented by the brilliant blue gown she wore. A necklace with a single teardrop-shaped jewel hung low between her bosoms, making it hard for Galen to avert his eyes; losing all sense of discretion.

Dragging her feet upon the floor, she moved closer to him as if she were dancing to a tune that only she could hear. Her eyes stayed fixed on his. The blue color of her eyes matched the crystal waters of Loch Awe in early spring, and the freckles that dotted her cheeks were like the constellations in the night sky. Her beauty was vexing, and there was no doubt that she was a woman who could easily get what she wanted.

“Ye are referring to the betrothal contract.” He presumed.

Braelyn innocently smiled.

“My Laird, I dinna pretend to no’ understand yer reservations. There have been many things said about me. Some of which are true, but mostly false. I only ask that ye dinna be so quick to judge me based on my reputation. I am a kind and loving woman.”

Braelyn stepped closer to Galen, delicately placing her hand upon his shoulder. Her fingers playfully drew lines down his arm. Galen, like a statue did not flinch at her touch; nor did he reciprocate.

“The truth is, my Laird, I am a lonely woman. And in need of a good mon. We come from good families. By uniting our clans, ye would be the most powerful laird in the highlands. With my dowry, ye will gain more than three hundred acres to add to yer meager few, and in addition to that a powerful army for ye to command. I am yer match, Galen. I would make ye a good wife. Ye know there are also many benefits to a marriage.” Braelyn raised herself to her toes and whispered in his ear; her lips merely touching the lobes. “My body would also be yers to command. To do whatever ye wish.”

Braelyn relaxed her feet back to the floor and came to stand in front of him. With her head lowered she gazed at him through desperate, pleading eyes, as if she were daring him to kiss her.

Galen exhaled, allowing all of the air to leave his lungs. What she offered was hard for any man to turn down. Not to mention the particular way she flaunted her curves made it difficult enough to resist wanting her. His groin began to ache, though he ignored its betrayal.

Galen felt as if he was standing on a precipice. He needed to jump or back down. Thinking of his predicament of late, Galen was finding it more and more difficult to deny her. The world as it had been and his mysterious lass were gone. Though in his heart, he knew he would never love Braelyn the same way, time was running out for him. He would do his duty and consider taking Braelyn as his wife for the good of the clan.

“Ye are right as always, my lady.”

Before Galen could even complete his thought, Braelyn wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him into her, pressing her lips against his. Galen grabbed her shoulders and pushed her away.

“Just think about it,” she asked, as she wiped her thumb across her lips. “I am to travel to the market today. I will return in two days for my answer.”

As Braelyn walked out the door, Galen returned to his chair and began eating the meal Peter had brought him, though he was left with little appetite. If he married Braelyn the match would ensure his clan’s prosperity, and the increase of funds and land. It was hard to turn down. He had to consider her offer. Galen could not be selfish. He had a clan to lead, and sacrifices had to be made.