Darkness, Kindled (Fire Spirits 4)

Lush greenery surrounded the hall. Crawling vines with small white and purple blooms ate their way throughout the room. Thin-trunked trees with perfectly shaped leaves of all shades of green with roots that grew from underneath the marble floor were landscaped behind the thrones. Wren and Maleina were earth Faeries with a natural-born connection to the land. Not so much presently but in the past, earth Faeries had felt a responsibility to cultivate and nourish anything that grew in Alandria. Unfortunately, Maleina felt their magic was better used within their domain. As a result, everything beyond the borders of Feraánmar suffered. Alandria was dying and not just from a lack of magic. Inside High Court, however, there was something sinister lying within its natural beauty.

Something in the trees made them feel dangerous.

Daegan was announced, albeit a bit weakly, by the breathless Faerie that had followed him in.

I have been summoned. But I don’t play these games. Let us talk and be done with it.

He strode in with strength and confidence straight toward them. He saw the briefest flash of shock in Maleina’s eyes as she adjusted her posture, choosing to ignore his insolence. Daegan’s attitude belied his belief that he was not their inferior—their position had not been granted, but taken. He usually hid it better. Not toda

y.

Wren, a Faerie and one of the Ferrishyn, still looked to be in his fifties compared to a human’s standards of age. The only physical evidence of his aging were the few streaks of silver highlighting his dark hair on the sides and a little spattering throughout the crown. Still handsome, he had kept himself in the shape a seasoned warrior should be. He was tall and carried the ghost of someone used to commanding, but over time he had let it slip away. His flat gray eyes spoke defeat, as disconnect was the only means of getting through the next event he was dragged to, dressed in fine linens and attending the most important events and meeting with the leaders of other tribes. At first glance, Wren appeared to be wise beyond his years, ruling in splendor and glory, but instead he was diminished to the shadow of his wife.

Wren greeted Daegan with a slight nod. Deep down Daegan believed he actually cared about the people, but he hadn’t stood up to her for them. That was where Daegan lost respect for him… and for himself.

Maleina was ever smooth, manipulative, and enticing, but her authority was absolute.

Wren now deferred to her ambitions and all Feraánmar feared her. She was beautiful, with long red hair that was always adorned in jewels. Her dresses were flowing and colorful, always revealing just enough to turn heads. She could seduce with false humility and charm but at her core, she was exceedingly arrogant and vengeful. There was a fire in her eyes ready to consume anything that got in her way, and it often did.

Daegan sensed her time was coming to end. Her reign?… Her life?… He wasn’t sure, nor did he care. Watching her grow more paranoid and more restless as the days went on, he had to believe she could sense it too.

Their son, Halister, not much younger than Daegan, was lighthearted and sanguine; a show-off just trying to be seen and heard by his parents. Their daughter, Rheina, second in line after Halister to the throne, had a bit of an attitude. She was about to come of age and felt she was entitled. Rheina could be loud and spirited one moment, then grow moody and sulk to the shadows in another. What not many saw, however, was her quietly good heart.

Daegan refused to kneel on the floor pillow before them. Maleina bristled at his boldness, but he waited for Maleina to speak first. Hands clenched at his sides, he lowered his eyes in a show of subtle submission, enough to ease her infuriation in order to procure answers. It worked.

“Daegan, my dear boy,” Maleina said in her most unnatural maternal tone as she rose from her throne and walked behind it pretending to admire a purple flower on the vines. “Tomorrow is your scouting day in Anise, is it not?” she asked. Her back was now to Daegan but she turned her head to the side just enough to see him nod in confirmation. “While you are there, I want you to listen for whispers of a new power—the Sol-lumieth. I have heard rumors circling about. Have you heard of it?”

“I have. Do you believe it is something we should fear?” he asked, knowing full well the answer.

“Of course we do not need to fear this new power, whatever it may be.

However, we should not be ignorant. Since no one will oblige us with the information we seek, we must search it out for ourselves.”

Though

her words were defiant, in her eyes he could see the fear of a potential threat as she spoke, and he wondered what that could be about. Daegan was not going to tell her that not only had he overheard the people whispering amongst themselves in a hushed frenzy, but he too had sensed something unknown stirring.

"I will see what there is to be learned in Anise. My visit may require a couple of days. May I request Halister to accompany me to cover more ground?” Of course, Daegan didn’t need him to assist, but he enjoyed his company and he knew Hal liked to get out and explore the frivolity in other cities.

“That is a splendid idea!” Wren said, speaking for the first time. His enthusiasm was a contradiction to the subdued persona he had been giving off. Maleina shot daggers at him with her eyes. Wren acknowledged her irritation but leaned forward anyway, declaring with a grin, “It’s a shame I have so many boring duties to attend. I’m half tempted to go along with you boys.” He sat back, giving Daegan a wink.

Maleina spoke with assertiveness. “Yes, that seems like a good enough idea. I will inform Halister that you will be departing at first light and to meet you in the stables.” Despising that her statement had to follow Wren’s comment, she gathered up the abundance of fabric from her dress and turned to leave. Turning back to look at Wren, she demanded with her eyes that he depart with her.

Daegan offered a nod and smile that didn’t quite touch his eyes to the only father figure he knew. Wren stood, nodded his appreciation, and left the room, a broken man in the wake of a tumultuous woman.

???