Not All Who Wander are Lost

Not All Who Wander are Lost

Shannon Cahill

Copyright © 2013 Shannon Cahill

http://missesmerelda.wix.com/shannon-cahill

Cover designed by Beth Heart Art

https://www.facebook.com/bethheartart67

All rights reserved.

ISBN:

ISBN-13:

DEDICATION

This book is dedicated to Barbara Sprott. Thank you for having faith in an awkward, nerdy girl and teaching me to reach for the stars. This may not be the book that 13 year old girl thought she would write, but I finally did it. It took me all this time to remember how to just close my eyes and write. Thank you for being an inspiration even after all these years!

Part One

Prologue

Finn was fully absorbed by the oil change he was doing when he heard the sound of heels clicking and then a soft, throaty voice say, “Excuse me, you there, can you help me?” Intrigued by a sexy accent that he couldn’t quite place, he slid partway out from under his truck to get a better look at the owner.  He came face to face with the smallest pair of 6 inch heeled thigh high boots he’d ever seen, and above the boots, what could only be described as a mini version of his wildest dreams. He felt himself harden as he struggled to regain his composure.

“How can I help you?” he breathed. His words coming out a little cracked, like he was a teenager again. He knew he was in trouble.

The tiny girl bent over to be closer to him and said in that devastating voice, “My car seems to be having a bit of a problem. Well, actually, more than a bit. It is making a horrible sound and I fear I’ve done some real damage. Can you look at it for me?”

Finn swallowed and tried to find his voice. From that angle, he could see that she may be small, but not where it mattered. She looked to be just under 5 feet tall, even in the soaring heels, compact, but curvy as hell. He couldn’t stop his eyes from lingering on the low neckline of the tight black dress she was wearing. He found himself wanting desperately to tangle his big hands in the long black riot of curls falling into her face. He noticed her eyes were an unusual shade of brown—almost wine colored--and the same shade as the streaks in her hair. She was stunning.

Struggling for control, he found his voice at last. “Of course. Let me get out from under here. Where are you parked?”

“Just outside, “she purred.

At that, she turned and started to walk to the door, then stopped and looked back over her shoulder, “I’m Crimson, by the way. Crimson Thorn.”

Chapter 1

F
ive days earlier…Black Thorn Forest

After spending the last year training and waiting, being under constant scrutiny and the object of her sisters’ cruel jokes, Crimson was both excited and anxious about being summoned by the High Council. Her last assignment hadn’t gone so well. She had allowed her personal feelings and lack of self control cloud her judgment. It had been a nightmare. She was humiliated and angry with herself, to say the least, but mostly she was afraid she had ruined her career as a Guardian, that she would never get another assignment, and would be forced to spend the rest of her long life at home, a washed up old maid. She might as well start collecting cats.

It was hardly fair. She had spent over 400 years as a Guardian. Her record was impeccable. She had worked hard to be the best. As a woman, it had been difficult to be taken seriously, but she had been, at least for a while. One mistake and the whole Court had turned on her. The worst part was that she had been betrayed by her sister, Drella. Crimson had made one fatal error, trusting her sister, and she was being treated as a pariah, not just shunned, but mocked and snickered at mercilessly. Crimson had not had the best of relationships with her sisters, but she had thought Drella was different, a friend, a confidant, someone she could tell her secrets to. It hurt so much to be wrong. She only hoped that this summons was a new assignment, a chance at redemption, and not more harassment.

Despite her eagerness, Crimson walked slowly down the path towards her fate. The dense forest around her was comforting. It was home. Despite her wanderlust, Crimson had always loved the forest with its earthy smells and soft light filtering through the trees. Lost in thought, Crimson nearly jumped when a musical voice called out from the trees.

“Where you off to, Big Red?” Crimson’s best friend, Ivy, said from the shadows. The tawny colored Faun stepped out into the clearing, adjusting the coronet of flowers that had slipped sideways on his head.

Crimson suppressed the urge to laugh. While Ivy was almost always a pleasant distraction, he was a little much, and her thoughts were serious today. “Court,” she shot back, annoyed, “and stop calling me that.”

“Can’t help it girl, you get bigger every year. Honestly, how do you even find shoes to fit anymore?” he joked.

Crimson’s eyes narrowed. That was a low blow, she thought, even though she knew he was just making light, not really insulting her. He was probably the only person who could say that to her and not make her feel insecure and leave her feelings raw. “I know a good cobbler.” She said dully. “Don’t you have somewhere better to be?”

“Nope. Can I come? I’m dying to go to Court. I haven’t been there in days,” he said sarcastically. Ivy served the High Council as a sort of travel advisor, but it was not a job he took very seriously. He would much rather stay in his workshop making endless piles of elegant and elaborate shoes, but alas, making shoes didn’t buy peat for the fire or keep the wolves from the door, especially when he could hardly bear to part with them once they were made. “Please? Please? I’ll be your best friend!” Ivy said in a sing song voice, dancing in front of her. Watching Ivy dance like that was hilarious, and Crimson found it nearly impossible to stay annoyed at him for long. His prim and proper waistcoat and kilt mixed with the colorful circlet of flowers on his head didn’t help.

“Honestly Ivy, the High Council will never take you seriously if you keep blowing off meetings to work on your latest shoe creations. If you weren’t so good at your job, they’d kick you out entirely. Look, I’m late, come if you want, but can you at least move out of my way?”

“By all means, after you,” he said with a flourish and a bow, falling in behind her. “Are we portalling? Oh wait, I forgot, your portalling privileges have been suspended, guess we’re walking. I hope those sad things on your feet can take that kind of abuse,” he said shaking his head and grinning.

Crimson shot him a scathing look, they were her favorite boots, and set off down the thickly treed path at a swift pace. Nearly an hour later, her feet were killing her, but she could see the ornate gates of the High Court up ahead. Ninety feet tall and made from cold iron to keep out the Dark Hunters, the elaborately scrolled gates guarded the dazzlingly white façade of the Royal Hall. Crimson closed her eyes, bowed her head, and whispered, “Opnask,” and the gates opened.

“Someday you are going to have to tell me how you do that,” whispered Ivy.

“You know I never kiss and tell.” Crimson laughed, surprised at her own good humor. The truth was, the former gatekeeper was her ex, and a bad, bad breakup at that, thanks to her sister, but there had been certain advantages to the relationship. A personal password for the Iron Gate was a much coveted perk among Guardians, and she felt she had earned hers many times over. They entered the gates. Crimson nodded to the Gatekeeper, thinking how glad she was that Rickon was gone, even if he had taken off with her sister. The new Gatekeeper was a quiet young Elf who, remembering her, just waived her on. Crimson raised her head haughtily and held it high as she walked through the gate and up the stairs to the doors of the Royal Hall. Looking first left, then right, she nodded to the Doormen. “I was summoned, “she said.

“Yes, Guardian Thorn, you are expected,” they said in eerie unison. The Doormen were mirror -image twins, they always spoke like that and it had always sort of creeped her out, but she knew they had always been there. The twins had been there longer than anyone could remember. She had never seen them away from their post. She had often wondered if they were even really alive. Did they eat or drink or sleep? They were a mystery, but a comforting one, one that could always be counted on.

“Wait here,” she said to Ivy. Wish me luck?”

“Good luck, Big Red,” Ivy snickered, sitting down on a bench near the door.  “I think you’re going to need it.”

The doors opened and Crimson entered the bright room. The shining white walls lit up the large interior of the hall itself. Large Doric columns ringed the room, supporting the high, domed ceiling. The stark plainness of the walls had always unnerved her. They were so white that they almost glowed. They gave the room a soft, dream like quality, especially when paired with the riot of colors above. The ceiling was a mosaic of stained glass and gems depicting scenes from ancient Elven myths, that oddly, did not reflect down on the white walls, but instead, glittered like a starry night when backlit by the sun above.

Despite the beauty of the room, Crimson’s only concern was those who would be waiting for her. Certain members of the Council were less forgiving than others, and some of them, she thought, actually hated her. Rickon was a Black, and his family had always held a coveted position on the Council. They had blamed his sudden and scandalous departure on her. Their golden boy would not have done anything like if he hadn’t been so publically humiliated by Crimson. They didn’t know him very well.

In the center of the room on a raised dais, sat High Guardian Illiana Oak. Illiana’s face showed her usual blend of indifference and control. She was a strong leader, an accomplished Guardian, and a pillar of self control—a quality that Crimson was still, even after 400 years as a guardian, trying to master.  Despite her stoic outward appearance, Crimson knew Illiana to be fair and just, and maybe just a little bit partial to her. As one of the few female Guardians, Illiana had been a mentor to her. They were close, not friends exactly, but Illiana’s opinion was one that mattered greatly to Crimson. She was certainly glad to see her there on the dais alone, instead of the entire Council. 

With a hopeful heart, Crimson went down on her left knee and bowed. “My Lady Illiana,” said, “I have come as summoned. How may I serve the High Court?”

“Rise Guardian Thorn,” Illiana replied. “We are well met. I have a new assignment for you. Come, have a seat, and we shall discuss the details.”

Crimson let out a sigh of relief. Trying very hard to control her enthusiasm at getting a new assignment, she approached the bench in front of Illiana. “Thank you, my lady,” she said.

Illiana held out a small parchment scroll. “Your orders, Guardian Thorn,” Illiana said with a brisk nod.

Crimson took the scroll from her eagerly, and began to unroll it. She began to read, and her enthusiasm was quickly replaced with horror. “A Human? A bloody Human!” she exclaimed. Illiana’s expression remained unchanged even as Crimson’s fury grew. “I’ve been a Guardian under four Monarchs. I’ve served the Royal Courts of all nine of the Outer Realms. I’ve guarded Elf princes and Fairy kings. And you are sending me to guard a Human? This is ridiculous!”

“Are you quite finished?” Illiana murmured. “If not, I can wait, by all means, get it all out of your system. It’s not like my time is valuable or anything.”

Her flippant reply stopped Crimson in her tracks. It was so not like her to make light. Crimson had expected to be reprimanded or even punished for her outburst. She didn’t know how to handle this previously unheard of side of Illiana. Unable to speak, she sat down with a thud, the wind effectively gone from her sails.

“Crimson,” Illiana said softly, “I know you’ve had a tough time since your last assignment. I know this may seem like a punishment, and maybe to those who assigned to you, it is, but try to see this as a blessing. How hard can it be? He’s simply a Human who has a minor part to play in some higher plan the seers have seen. All you have to do is keep him alive. It will be like a vacation.”

“But Humans are so, so, well, fragile. They don’t even live a century, and they have no magic to speak of. Not to mention their irrational fear of things they don’t understand. The lying and the glamours, it’s all so tedious. Is this really my only chance at an assignment?”

“I’m afraid it is. Truthfully, the Council wants you gone. They wanted to dismiss you entirely, but I fought for you. I would like to think that I made the right decision,” Illiana said, with a warning in her eyes.

“It’s been a couple hundred years since I was in the Human world. Have they at least learned to bathe?”

“Yes, they have embraced good hygiene at last.” Illiana said with a barely concealed laugh. “And I think there have been some other changes you might appreciate.”

“Don’t try to make me feel better about this, “Crimson mumbled. “It’s not going to work.”

“Regardless of your feelings on this, these are your orders. I suggest you get your affairs in order. You will be cleared to portal to your assignment in the morning.” Illiana’s cold, regal demeanor returned. “You are dismissed. I suggest you make the most of the time you have to prepare yourself; the Human world has changed tremendously since you were there last. Tell your delinquent friend Ivy that he will need to get your travel provisions ready, if he can pry his ear away from the door that is.” With that, she disappeared behind a small door behind the dais, leaving Crimson alone in the Hall.

“Shit!” she muttered, much louder that she meant to. As the words echoed off the shining walls, she turned and headed for the door. Ivy was waiting eagerly outside.

“So, Big Red! What’s the big news? Are you going anywhere good?”

“Oregon.”

“Wait, isn’t that where Kate lives? Why are they sending you to the Human world? We haven’t sent a Guardian there for at least a hundred years.”

“Some prophecy, apparently.” Crimson said, deflated.

“At least Kate will be there. You were just saying the other day that you hadn’t seen her in centuries.”

Crimson smiled. Kate was a Selkie that had wandered all of the worlds. She was a friend of the family, sort of an honorary Aunt. When she was a child, she would look forward to Kate’s visits. She had loved the stories of her adventures. Kate was one of the few people who had encouraged her to become a Guardian. It had been a very long time since she had seen her. Kate loved the Human world. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad after all. There was just one thing she needed to make it all better.

“Ivy?” she said with a sly twinkle in her eye.

“Yes, dear?” he replied.

“I think I’m going to need a new pair of boots.”

“Ah, a girl after my own heart. Come with me, I think I can do something about that.”