Page 21 of A Storm Rises

Nia held a tray with oils and a glass of orange-tinted water. She looked at Avalynn’s cloak, bow, and boots, then hurried inside and closed the door. “My lady, what have you been doing?”

“Let me show you.” She tossed her things on the floor, then went to her bed and shoved her hand under her mattress. She rooted around, grunting, and then pulled out the plain white envelopes. “I meant to show you these earlier.”

Nia set the silver tray on the table. “Oh my.” She placed her delicate fingers over her mouth. “What are those?”

“Notes. Someone slipped them under my door. On two separate occasions.” Avalynn pulled out the parchments and set them side by side. She folded her arms while Nia read them aloud.

“Words of guidance?” Nia asked.

“I guess.” Avalynn shrugged with a sigh. “I wish I knew.” She stuffed the notes back in the envelopes and returned them to their hiding spot. She sat on the edge of her bed, silent for a few seconds, sifting through her thoughts of Mateo and the Enbarr. He didn’t seem so lowborn to her.

“Nia, can I ask you something?” Her tone was soft and low.

“Anything, my lady.”

“Why do we hate the Sublanders?” She clasped her hands in her lap. “I know what I was taught about our realm and the human realm living peacefully until the humans wanted to take over. I know all about the Great Shimmer War and how our realms separated and then later how the Strongs committed atrocities against the humans.” She played with her fingers. “But after all that, the Strongs united with the Sublanders, right? And if they united, then why do we still hate them?” The story made sense, but the resulting outcomes did not.

“They did unite. It was Queen Celyse who fell in love with a human. Then later, their daughter, Princess Gabriela, fell in love with a half-human, half-fae Sublander. But those love affairs did not change the hearts of the fae purists.”

“But why? I do not understand.”

“Who can know the reason why hate lingers?” Nia placed her head against Avalynn’s shoulder. “Or why some think they are superior to others? I suppose it could be the inability to let go and move forward. Or the fear of history repeating itself. But there is one thing I have learned in all my years in this glorious realm. There is great power in asking these questions.” She took Avalynn’s hand and squeezed. “Great love in forgiveness, in pushing the pain away and looking forward to the future with clear eyes and open hearts.”

Avalynn’s chin quivered, and she could not explain it. “I saw the Sublander tonight. Out in the forest.” She could not believe she told this to anyone, but she could trust Nia.

“You did?” Nia stayed calm, as Avalynn expected.

“I did.”

“And?”

“There was no brightness in his eyes. Only pain.” The silence in the room thickened as Avalynn’s heart grew heavy.

Nia rubbed her arm. “I am sorry, my lady.”

She scooted closer to Nia, feeling the comfort from her friend. “I am too.”

Everything about Mateo’s bed felt wrong. The plump feather mattress beneath him smothered his body like quicksand. The soft silk sheets over him clung to him like chilled water. He flung his covers off with a grunt. Sitting on the bed’s edge, he missed the stone rocky floors of his room. He yearned for the thin cotton blanket fashioned from cheap threads that reminded him of his life and that place he called home. Swaddled in luxury in Stromm Palace, he would have passed for an entombed yet villainous god. Lirien and Gareth would have laughed at him for a lifetime and called him Your Highness.

Gleaming moonlight streamed through the open window. The soft light brightened a large spot on the floor. Stormshroud should be there, curled up, paws twitching. He’d been caring for her since that night he and his father found her. So small and frail, he’d bundled her up as soon as they got home. He used a cloth to drip water into her mouth. For food, he crushed insects into a paste and fed her small portions. She whimpered at night, and he was never sure if it was due to missing her pack or just being so small. But every time he wrapped her in his arms and held her to his chest, she stopped.

Was she okay? What about his father and little Floriana? He prayed to the Sun, Moon, and Stars that her sweet heart still struck a beat. She had to be alive. He was not about to let another loved one leave him. His mother would have been proud of him and his quest for the benefit of the Sublands.

He rubbed his face, forcing away his worries for his family. He needed to focus. Today he would see the prey for the hunt and later attend the dreaded ball. He would size up the competition there. Tomorrow he would hunt. The hours could not pass quickly enough.

He paced the room. His legs tingled and ached unless he moved. His mind raced with the day’s upcoming events. When the sun shone bright enough to wake up the palace, he dressed in his green pants. He put his black shirt on inside out and his brown boots on the wrong feet. He slowed down. He needed to relax. With everything on the right way, he sheathed his dagger at his waist and then made his way to the receiving room for breakfast.

He was the first one there. The ice princess was probably still asleep in her bedchamber. Or maybe she was eating golden flakes for breakfast with the High King and High Queen. Either way, she was sure to be surrounded by servants. He stifled a growl. Stop thinking about her. She is your natural enemy by birth and by the rules of the hunt.

Maid Nia approached him with a quick stride. She was wearing the same outfit as the day before, all-white maidservant attire. But today, she wore a yellow ribbon in her hair instead of the blue one.

“Good morning. I see you are an early riser.” Her head tipped, and she glanced over his left shoulder. “Will your party be joining you?”

“They may later. Right now, it is only me. Thank you.” Though he knew he could not escape them all day, he wanted to be away from the manipulative mouths of Lady Verona and Rhyka for as long as possible.

“That is fine. The food has been prepared. You may help yourself.” Maid Nia motioned to a row of tables along the back wall filled with generous helpings of eggs, cheeses, fruits, and warm breads. The aroma of dripping butter and crushed garlic on that bread made his stomach grumble like Stormshroud’s before devouring a desert rat. This spread would’ve fed a hundred Sublanders.

He loaded his plate and sat at the room’s far end. After a few bites, the other hunters strolled in. First, Finnian, and then Eiric, followed by Selene. They served themselves and then sat together. Now and again, Selene glanced his way and then smirked with her paper-thin lips. No doubt the other hunters plotted against him. They should have held up a sign. “Us Against Him.” Who cared? He didn’t want to ally himself with those highborn losers anyway.

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