Page 8 of Shade of Ruin

He arches an eyebrow as he slides the two pennies off the bar. “Sure, you just follow the path northeast out of town. You’ll pass a few villages, but just keep going and you’ll get there. About aweek’s walk if you’re trying to get there in a timely fashion. You know Wyrdlings aren’t treated any better in the city, don’t you?”

I nod. “I stopped expecting anyone to treat me decently a long time ago. Why aren’t you bothered by me?”

“I remember your mother. She… she was a different kind of Fae. I figure you’re a different kind of Wyrdling. Plus, every Wyrdling I’ve ever heard of has already killed half their family long before they were your age. I doubt you’ll start any fires at this point.”

I blink, surprised at Calum’s candor, and the things he’s saying, but instead of responding, I just take the key and give him a nod as he turns back to his other customers. Part of me wants to talk to him about my mother, to learn more about her, but he’s busy, and I don’t know if I can handle any more surprises tonight. It’s probably better that I get some sleep and maybe talk to him tomorrow.

As I walk past the other patrons at the bar, I hear one of the younger men say, “Shade save us all. That evil mist is getting closer by the day. Riverside down the way is gone. Not abandoned. Gone. The mists swallowed it up, and no one’s been seen since, save two travelers who were just passing through. They don’t remember a thing. One moment, they were eating supper at the inn. The next, they were standing on the edge of the mist.”

A shiver runs through me at the mention of the mists. Just another piece of the world that’s wrong. Everyone knows not to go in them. Bodies have been found after they’ve receded with their skinmeltedoff. Like someone had poured boiling water over them. It’s sickening to think about.

“That’s a shame,” one of the old farmers responds. “Riverside was always a nice little spot. No one of any real importance came from there, and I think that’s a good thing. Just good peopleminding their business. Can’t say anything bad about a man who takes care of himself and leaves the rest of the world alone.”

“Unlike that Trevor Arden. The man’s a menace,” Terry Wood says with a sneer. “Between Arden and Milligan, I wouldn’t be surprised if they tried to tax us. It’s not like Arden even earned his money. That’s Fae gold from that sister-in-law of his.”

There’s silence from the group. Like so many people, they have plenty of terrible things to talk about, and almost nothing to do about any of them. That’s the way it goes when the world is dying, though.

I walk up the stairs, feeling a lot of pressure on me. I wish I could be down there with those old farmers. The work wouldn’t be enjoyable, but worrying about food sounds a lot better than trying to do something that no one else would fathom doing. It’s terrifying. No, that’s not the right word. It’s overwhelming and feels impossible.

Another one of Vesta’s sayings pops into my head. “Destiny doesn’t care about your feelings. You do what must be done or you die.”

Vesta was not a kind woman, but she cared about me. I don’t know if I’d have survived my childhood in the woods if I hadn’t had her guidance. Ineededto run free. Vesta had understood, and she’d taken me deep into the forest where there were real dangers.

She’d been more stoic and emotionless than anyone I’ve ever met, but I never felt afraid when she was near. Where my father was the person I went to when I wanted a hug or a story, Vesta was the one I looked to when I needed someone to protect me or someone to teach me.

I take one last look at the dining hall of the inn, and my eyes move to the High Fae who’s staring into a candle not far away, his forest green cloak hood covering his eyes in shadows. Andyet, I feel those eyes on me. There’s no doubt that he’s seen me as something more than human, just as I can tell that he is.

If you fight a Fae, you will die. Vesta’s words echo through me, and I don’t doubt them. Not after seeing this. Like this morning with the deer, my body wanted to move toward him, to talk to him, but that chill that ran down my spine told me he was dangerous. My hand clenches around my spear a little tighter. As Calum said, no one in Blackgrove could stop him from doing anything.

Him staring me down from across the dining hall doesn’t make me feel particularly confident that I’ve kept my head down. When I unlock the door to my room, I slide inside and quickly lock it back. Without a second thought, I look around the room. I need more than a locked door between me and a High Fae. Especially one with an interest in me.

The room is a typical barebones room at an inn. Another wobbly table in the far corner. A bed large enough for two people that might be better than a bedroll on the ground is pressed against the wall. There’s a heavy wooden dresser against the wall between the room and the hallway, and I move to the side of it. I have to really work to get it to move, and when it’s finally in front of the door, I feel a lot better. It would take a lot for someone to open the door with the dresser in front of it.

That doesn’t mean that I get comfortable. No, danger’s already found me, and there’s no chance that I’ll be doing much more than tossing and turning tonight. At least they won’t be able to sneak up on me. If someone manages to open that door, they’re going to do it while making plenty of noise.

I may not win a fight with a Fae, but I’ll be damned if I let one kill me without giving it my best shot.

Chapter 5

We were too few. The Prince and his troops surprised us while my best shadow walkers were away. The Shattering came, just as the darkness said, and we were not prepared.

~Queen Brenna, personal journals

BOOM!

My eyes snap open, but nothing makes any sense. I don’t recognize this room. Where am I? Why am I sleeping somewhere other than the bed I’ve had for the last fifteen years?

BOOM!

The walls shake again, and memories flood my mind. I remember where I am and what’s happening, though the booming walls weren’t what I’d expected to wake up to. I roll off the bed, grabbing my spear in trembling hands. I’m at the Tilted Mug. There’s a High Fae here, and for some reason, he seemedinterested in me. I simultaneously thank the gods that I hadn’t gotten undressed and curse them for letting me fall into a deep sleep. I stare at the dresser that I’d pushed against the door. It’s still in the same place, which seems odd if someone was trying to break down the door.

BOOM!

The walls shake again, but the door doesn’t move. I whirl around to figure out where the attack is coming from. Then I see the indentation in the back wall. The wooden planks are bent and cracked. How would the High Fae be attacking my wall from there? I’m on the second floor. Whatever is doing that has to be able to fly…

Can High Fae fly? I grip the spear tighter, and for the first time in my life, my hand shakes. Vesta’s words echo in my mind again.If you try to fight a Fae, you will die.I guess I’ll have to run.

Except that I blockaded myself in my room.

---