The Elf Girl (40 page)

Everything fit together like puzzle pieces after that. Everyone believed Zora was in a Fairy Realm. No one would have ever thought anything different. However, Zora was not in the Fairy Realm, that I knew for sure. I knew what Zora had been trying to tell me. Her mention of the “not in the…Realm” finally made sense. She was trying to tell me she wasn’t in a Fairy Realm, the Element Fairy Realm, specifically. But I knew where she really was.

Zora was in the Human Realm!

I jumped from the bed, all of my dizziness and aching now gone from my body. I knew where Zora was. Her time was running out and I had to act quickly. I ran to my shoulder bag and took out Zora’s journal. I put my cross necklace on for luck and quickly prayed I would have enough strength for what I was planning to do. I scribbled a few words on an unused piece of paper in the journal. I left it open on the table beside my bed. I hoped the right elf would find it.

I knew I would need some kind of weapon. I put my shoulder bag over my head and started opening drawers and cabinets, but there was nothing I could use. Dismayed and disappointed, I realized I would just have to take my chances. Maybe I could find something on the way out of the palace.

Getting out of the palace was the tricky part. I hoped Jacqueline wouldn’t want to start her guard duty again so soon. I opened the door and ran out of the room, colliding right into Brielle. The pot of tea she was holding flew into the air with some of it spilling onto the carpet. With catlike reflexes, Brielle caught the handle as it fell to the ground.

“Ramsey, what do you think you are doing?” she yelled. She held out her hand and helped me up.

“I don’t have time to explain. I have to leave the palace,” I said quickly.

“What? Why?” she asked.

“I know where Zora is,” I blurted out.

“You know where Zora is?” she asked.

“There’s no time. I have to get out of here.”

I tried to run past her, but she grabbed my arm with her free hand. “Not without me you’re not. Now tell me where she is,” Brielle demanded.

“Why do you even want to come?” I wondered.

“For the same reason I wanted to spend time with you today,” she explained. “You’re not like the others, judging me because I’d rather have fun than sit all prim and proper all the time. You’re different.”

“Why does everyone keep saying that?”

“Because it’s true,” she said, shrugging her shoulders.

“You can’t come to the Human Realm with me, Brielle!” I cried. My hand flew over my mouth. I had just told her where Zora was.

Brielle grinned. “Oh yes I am! You can’t fight Element fairies without help.”

“But you are a princess!” I protested.

“That doesn’t matter. Surely by now you must have figured out that I’m not just an ordinary royal.” I grimaced, realizing the truth in her words. “Why do you have to go alone anyway?”

“I don’t really have proof that she’s in the Human Realm. It’s just a feeling, but a strong one. It would take too long for me to explain my reasoning to Queen Taryn, and the soldiers won’t be here until tomorrow morning. I have to do this now,” I said.

“Then you have no choice. I’m coming and that’s that,” she decided.

I sighed. I knew I had to let her come. Otherwise, she would tell the Queen. Then the guards would stop me, and I wouldn’t reach Zora in time.

“Fine, do you have any weapons?” I asked.

“No, but we can get some. Drink this tea and follow me. It will help clear your mind.”

I gulped the scorching hot liquid and followed Brielle down the stairs. She took me to a room that smelled heavily of smoke. It was faintly lit by firelight. I could see swords and other weapons hanging from the walls and lying in piles on the ground.

“What is this place?” I asked.

“It’s the palace’s weapon room. The guards store extra swords and daggers here,” Brielle explained. “Do you know how to use a sword?”

“No. I grew up in the Human Realm, remember? Kids there learned how to play baseball, not fight with weapons,” I said.

Brielle gave me a strange look and then shrugged. “Then you will just carry a dagger. Anyone can use a knife,” she said.

Brielle picked up a five-inch dagger and placed it into a sheath. She handed it to me, then found a sword for herself. We attached our weapons to belts and tied them around our waists. I noticed Brielle hadn’t bothered changing for dinner either.

“Why didn’t you change?” I asked.

“I…I had a feeling.”

“You had a feeling?”

“Yes,” she said. “I had a feeling you would remember something about Zora.”

“And just how do these feelings come about?”

“They just do,” she said.

Before I could question her further, she took my hand and pulled me out the door. After shutting it quietly, we both tiptoed through the halls. I was surprised we didn’t see any guards. I remembered what time it was and then understood. Everyone was preparing for dinner.

“Are there guards outside?” I asked.

“There should be, but not many are on duty at this time,” she said.

She pointed to a room emitting music and laughter. I nodded and continued to follow.

“And even if they were, we could take them,” she added.

Not knowing how to respond to that, I simply followed her out the palace doors.

***

The night air was chilly as we left the palace and stepped onto the bridge. About halfway across, Brielle let go of my hand and climbed onto the railing.

“What are you doing?” I asked.

“You need to get to the Human Realm, right?”

“Yes,” I replied.

“Then we need a body of water to make an elf circle,” Brielle reminded me.

“I’m sorry, I almost forgot.”

“How else were we going to get to Zora?” she asked.

“You’re right. Let’s go,” I agreed.

I waited for her to jump down from the bridge and onto a tiny strip of land. Then I climbed onto the railing, prayed I wouldn’t break my neck, and jumped. I landed unsteadily but without injury.

“How do we know this will take us to the barn where Zora is being held?” I asked.

“We don’t,” Brielle admitted.

“What if we are nowhere near it?” I wondered.

“In the Elf Realm, nothing is a coincidence. There is a reason you figured out where she was being held here, now. She will be somewhere nearby. And if not, we will walk until we find her. Just trust me.”

“I trust you,” I told her, knowing I had no other choice.

“Then let’s dance again,” she suggested.

“Doesn’t it have to be midnight to go into the Human Realm?” I asked.

“No, not in Tarlore. Queen Taryn put restrictions everywhere except in this city. She wanted unlimited access just in case we had to make a quick escape.”

“Make a quick escape from what?”

“From the Element fairies, of course. If they attacked the city, we would hide in the Human Realm. I can explain in more detail when we are not in the process of saving your sister. Hurry now; the sooner we get out of here, the less chance we have getting caught by the guards,” Brielle told me.

She took a step forward and began the elf circle dance. I joined her a second later, and together we made a perfect, flattened portal.

With one deep breath, we joined hands and stepped into the circle, vanishing from the capital city Tarlore, from the Queen, from Stellan and Addison, from the guards, and from the Elf Realm.

~18~
Sisters

The bright morning light blinded us as we appeared in the Human Realm. The twelve-hour difference between the Elf Realm and this Realm meant it was eight the next morning here. I rubbed my eyes and took a look around.

We stood in a large open field that seemed to stretch on for miles. I could hear grasshoppers chirping and bees buzzing, and felt the beginning of a hot, humid day. Wildflowers swayed in the breeze. The landscape was gorgeous. However, I wasn’t here for the scenery.

Where was the barn? Would we be able to find it?

“Let’s start walking,” I suggested. Brielle nodded and we began.

We walked for miles under the blazing sun. Sweat trickled down my face as we trudged through the field. But no matter how far we traveled, we didn’t spot any signs of a barn.

Noon passed and our stomachs grumbled with hunger. I fished through my shoulder bag and withdrew the ripe fruit from the Birchwood City orchard. Brielle thanked me and stuffed the fruit into her mouth. We ate as we walked. The heat was exhausting, especially with our heavy clothes. In the Elf Realm, it was considerably cooler, yet still a comfortable temperature. Here, we were baking. I transferred my dagger to my shoulder bag so I could loosen my belt and allow air into my shirt and onto my hot skin.

Hours passed as we traveled further. Our toughest challenge began when we reached the base of an incredible hill. Looking up, I almost cried. How would we climb this hill in our exhausted condition? My head still throbbed and my legs ached from our adventures in the city the day before. Brielle didn’t seem any better.

But sitting atop the hill was what motivated us. Even with the blinding sun, I could make out the shape of a farm. Sitting next to a silo was an immense wooden barn.

“Brielle, I think that’s it!” I cried, pointing to the hill.

The Princess nodded. “It’s worth a try. Let’s get moving.”

The sun was setting when we finally reached the top. Brielle and I hugged and sighed with relief.

“Let’s rest for a moment before going in. We need strength,” Brielle suggested.

We ate the rest of the fruit and lay for a while on the grass. After walking for so long, we were both completely drained. We knew we couldn’t continue so soon. We meant to rest for just a moment, but I should have realized those kinds of plans didn’t always work out. Because before we could stop ourselves, we fell asleep.

***

My eyes flew open to pitch darkness. I swore and felt around for Brielle. When my hands found her arm, I jarred her awake.

“Brielle, wake up!” I whispered. “We fell asleep and we have to get moving!”

I heard Brielle groan and sit up. “What time is it?” she asked. She was obviously too tired to tell the time herself.

“It’s almost ten,” I informed her.

“What? That means we slept for almost four hours!”

“Keep your voice down!” I scolded. “We are lucky we weren’t caught out here.” I grabbed her hand and pulled her up. “Come on, we have to find Zora.”

Brielle nodded. We had a bit more energy because of our nap, so we ran as quickly and quietly as possible to the barn.

“Wait,” Brielle said as we grew closer, “what’s our plan?”

“What’s our
plan
?” I asked, a little confused.

“How are we going to get Zora out of there, walk the ten miles back to the pond, and then cross into the Elf Realm?”

“I don’t know, but we have to try our best,” I said. “It doesn’t have to be midnight when we cross into the Elf Realm, right?”

“Not if we go back the way we came. The restrictions don’t affect that part of the Human Realm because of Tarlore,” Brielle explained. “It’s the only portal that never has a time limit.”

“Then that’s one good thing. Let’s just hope we can run fast enough,” I said.

“Is that all the plan you have? Really? It won’t work,” she told me.

“I know it sounds crazy, and it probably is. But I don’t have another plan. I wasn’t prepared for a return to the Human Realm, and I didn’t have time to think. Let’s just get Zora out of there and make the rest up as we go along. I have no idea what else to do,” I admitted.

“Okay. I’ll trust you. But we had better hurry,” Brielle said.

I nodded and prayed that the simple plan I had would be enough to get us through this alive.

We crept to the side of the barn, our feet rustling slightly in the grass. I held my breath as we walked. I was afraid Finn and his followers would hear us. When I could feel the hard wood of the barn, I found a small peephole and peered through it. I motioned for Brielle to come closer.

I immediately recognized the musty smell and the very faint trace of blood; I knew we had found the right barn. I couldn’t see much of anything through the darkness, but I could make out the outline of a body slumped against the wall.

“I think I see her,” I whispered to Brielle.

“Are you sure?” she asked.

“No, but I’m pretty sure,” I told her.

“Say her name. See if it’s really her,” Brielle suggested.

I nodded. “Zora, is that you?” I whispered a little louder, “Zora?”

The shape moved and a small moan escaped from its mouth.

“Zora?” I repeated.

“Maybe it isn’t her,” Brielle said.

“Hush, it has to be,” I retorted. “Zora?” I repeated one last time.

“Ramsey…,” the shape whispered.

I turned to Brielle. “It’s her. I recognize her voice from the connections.”

“Well, don’t just stand here telling me. Say something back to her!” Brielle suggested, gesturing toward the barn.

I nodded and looked through the peephole. “Yes, Zora, I’m here. How can I get in there?”

I heard her cough and then moan again. “There’s only one door and Wynter is guarding it.”

I turned to Brielle. “We have to figure out a way to get in there without being heard.”

“Give me a second to think,” she said.

I waited for a few moments, then Brielle’s eyes lit up.

“What?” I asked.

“Just stand back, all right? I can’t believe I didn’t think of this before,” Brielle said.

I nodded, unsure of Brielle’s next move. She unsheathed her sword and placed the tip against the barn wall. My eyes widened as a faint glow appeared on the sword. Brielle moved the glowing sword in a door shape and then the glowing ended.

She freed the huge slab of wood and set it gently on the grass, creating a passageway into the barn. It was small and crude, but big enough for us to step through without getting cuts and splinters.

“Let’s go,” Brielle said.

“What was that?” I demanded to know.

“I’ll explain later. We don’t have time to chat. Come on,” she said.