Page 16 of Broken Lands

“Let’s get you fed.” Stefan approached me, throwing one arm over my shoulders and pulling me towards the door. He pulled Bee under his other arm as we exited our room. He paused while Bee locked the door, then pulled us back in close and led us towards the dining room. I couldn’t help but lean into him, needing the comfort I felt in his arms as we walked through the unfamiliar hallway.

I had seen none of the interior of the Academy, having been mostly unconscious when they brought me in. Come to think of it, I wasn’t sure I’d even seen the exterior before my power had overflowed its well.

The hallway was long and wide; the walls were cream just like our room, the floor a dark mahogany. There were no windows, just rows of doors along the walls. The space between doors was filled with so many different things. There were mismatched tables with potted plants and flower arrangements on them, large paintings of a colorful land that bore no resemblance to this one; large trees in pots almost reaching the high ceiling, and most surprising of all, some water features with continuous running water, small fish seeming to live in the space.

Looking up, I noticed the hall was lit by large crystal chandeliers spaced evenly overhead. The light they threw was golden and flickering, each of them holding a dozen candles.

“Why do you use candles to light the space?” I asked. Electricity still worked amongst the fae, even if much of the manmade technology did not. It seemed inconvenient to ensure that many candles remained lit.

“Our elemental magic reserves are refreshed by exposure to the element itself,” Bee started, leaning her head forward, peeking at me past Stefan’s wide chest, lickable chest. Wow! Talk about intrusive thoughts. “We try to surround ourselves with the elements at all times, so that we remain at peak power as often as possible.”

It seemed obvious when stated so simply. The excessive gardens outside and the abundance of indoor plants, as well as the lake and indoor water features, made more sense. It even somewhat explained what had happened to me upon entry into Danann. I’d been surrounded by all the elements in a way I never had been before, and that caused my power reserve to fill. I’d felt it, even if I didn’t know that was what was happening.

“What about air elementals?” I asked, genuinely curious. Were their reserves constantly full to the brim just from breathing, or did they need to be amongst tumultuous winds to refuel?

“The strength of the wind determines how fast our reserves refuel. A stagnant room will fill our wells, as there is still air around us. However, it will do so slowly, at a snail’s pace as the air is inactive, unmoving. An intense storm with gale winds will see them fill to the brim in less than an hour.” Stefan explained, drawing to a stop as we approached the end of the hall and a large set of wooden doors.

“Look up at the chandelier. It’s crystal and lit by candles, but what else can you see?” Stefan asked, reaching for my chin, and tilting it up so that I was looking at the ceiling.

I examined the chandelier closer than I had before. The very center, the part hanging from the roof, was an orb. White, almost opaque, it looked like it was filled with a shimmering, moving force. They were strangely beautiful and otherworldly. Extending off the central orb were four crystal arms, each with their own smaller sphere resembling the central orb and three candle holders attached.

“Each sphere is filled with the energy of a storm that raged back home in Faerie. The winds are powerful, though not destructive in nature. They are difficult to harness and were one of the few items we bought with us from The Origin, from Faerie. They fill our halls and there is at least one sphere in every single room, in every house inside Danann.”

“Wow.” I said, unable to come up with a more intelligent response as I gaped up at the chandelier. It really was beautiful; I’d never seen anything quite like it.

Better get used to it. You’re pretty much living in an alternate universe now.

“Come on, the dining hall is just through here and down the stairs.” Bee said, interrupting my internal monologue and turning to open the wide double doors in front of us. I followed her through them onto a somewhat circular landing set in front of enormous floor to ceiling windows. To our right was a staircase leading to the floor below us; to our left, three further corridors leading to who knows where, another staircase leading down at the other end of the landing.

I was going to need a map.

Ornate cream balustrades curved around the edge of the landing; a couple of couches scattered across the space. Small tables sat next to the couches, lanterns and flowers spread randomly across them. I moved forward, reaching the handrail and gazing out the giant windows. Spread before me was the ocean; a place I had only ever read about but had never ventured far enough to see in person. A small flat of grass led from the back of the building, quickly shifting into sand. Blue waves crashed gently into the sand, only to be pulled quickly back out. It was mesmerizing. I felt as though I could sit here all day and just watch this massive beast of nature do its thing.

I felt Bee approaching. She stood next to me, staring at the sea with the same reverence mirrored on her face. “They say the sea back home is pink and gold, and that whilst this ocean is majestic, it cannot hold a candle to the pure beauty of our homeland. I am not sure I believe them, but I pray every night I can one day find out.”

I pulled my eyes away from the ocean, turning to Bee in surprise. “You’ve never been to the Faerie?” I asked softly.

“I was there when I was a girl, but I was too little to remember much of anything” She sighed heavily, leading me to believe there was more weighing on her. I wouldn’t push her. She would tell me when she was ready. Hopefully, we would be friends and she would trust me enough to confide in me one day. If I were around long enough.

After a moment, she turned away, grabbing my hand as she went and leading me to the stairs. I followed her down, realizing Stefan was already waiting at the bottom. Stefan smiled as we reached him, stretching out his arm in the direction we needed to go. We turned from the bottom of the stairs to face another set of wide double doors underneath the landing we’ve just come down from, a plaque on it that simply read ‘Dining Hall’.

As Bee opened the door, I braced myself. I was almost positive I was about to be the center of attention, the new shiny new toy to be gawked at. I hadn’t seen anyone on our walk down here and I had to assume that was because all the other students were inside.

As expected, the moment I stepped inside all eyes were on me. Swallowing the lump in my throat, I straightened, holding my head high and refusing to be intimidated. I most definitely was, but I wouldn’t let anyone see.

I forced myself to look beyond the sea of faces—though there really weren’t as many as I had assumed. The floors and walls were much the same as what I’d seen so far. Fae must like their surroundings clean and simple. The room was long, the opposite end mirroring the floor to ceiling windows behind us. They looked out at the lake and gardens I had glimpsed upon my entry here. There were a couple of rows of tables and benches, each one with eclectic centerpieces that seemed to include a little of each element.

Along one side of the room ran a buffet style, serve yourself, canteen. The options seemed endless, from roast meats to salads, to stews and pastas. My mouth watered in anticipation. Our meals at the orphanage were small, sometimes few and far between. I had never truly eaten well. As much as it irked me, at this moment, I was going to take what was on offer and indulge myself.

Following Stefan to the buffet, I grabbed a plate and piled it high with a wide assortment of food. The smells were tantalizing, and I rushed to the table Bee had claimed and began shoveling down my food, no longer caring that all eyes were on me. I was starving. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d eaten.

When the edge of my hunger had eased a little, I slowed, looking up from my plate to find Bee and Stefan staring at me, laughter shining in both their eyes. I shrugged, taking another bite of the roast potatoes I was currently devouring. Bee grinned even wider before offering me a glass of lemonade. Offering her a smile of thanks, I took it gratefully. The sweet bubbly drink was heavenly—it might be my new favorite.

Just then, a young waiter arrived at the table. He cleared his throat gently before speaking. “Are you Riley Emmett?” he almost whispered, nerves clearly getting the better of him.

I smiled at him, trying to reassure him I wouldn’t bite. “Yes, I am. Can I help you?”

“I’ve been asked to give you this letter. It’s from Professor Darmon.” He handed me a letter on the same heavy parchment that had informed me I was a candidate not two days ago.

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