Page 45 of Broken Lands

Icouldfeelthewell inside me filling slowly as I lounged in the sun before the small lake in front of the academy building. Surprisingly, given the size of the field and the sheer number of wildflowers I’d grown, my power reserves weren’t that low. I’d definitely felt more drained during my time here. Most of the power must have come from the sword.

Lincoln had to return to the royal mansion in the heart of Danann and Bee had her work duties to attend to, so I was on my own. A restless energy buzzed through me as I soaked up the warmth of the afternoon sun. With a few hours to go before I was due to meet Stefan for air tutoring, and no inclination to spend the afternoon inside, I needed something to do. Some way to distract myself from the constant worry I’d been subjecting myself to.

I pushed up from the ground and pulled the picnic mat Bee had grabbed from the dining hall. I stuffed it into my bag and walked towards the academy gates. I knew I shouldn’t be wandering around alone—I’d promised Professor Darmon I wouldn’t, and I’d reassured Bee I’d head up to our room to study until she returned—but I wanted to see Annie.

I’d felt a connection to the mare from the second I met her back home in Sommers. She’d been at B station during the attack by those Void creatures. I’d ridden her there and then left her after I stormed off and rode the carriage back to the academy. I needed to see her with my own eyes and make sure that she was alright.

I moved into the trees and followed the path through them to the gate, which swung open at my approach, sensing my magical signature. I hadn’t believed it when we first arrived. I’d been positive there wasn’t a trace of Fae in me. I’m something though. Something powerful. I’ve proven that beyond a shadow of a doubt.

Like it could sense me thinking about it, I felt my magic swell inside me, pushing against my control. I took a deep breath, fighting for the ability to push it back down as I exit the academy grounds and continue along the path through the large expanse of grass and flowers, to the stables across the way.

I was able to temper the surge of power. I could still feel it within me, roiling and unchecked, completely regenerated from my use of it this morning.Later.I thought to myself. I would be meeting with Stefan later to learn how to wield air. I could burn off some of this excess energy then.

A young man, maybe a few years older than myself, was leading a couple of mares around the training ring as I approached. I stopped to watch them for a moment, leaning against the round white fence. I’d spent my entire life so far without having met any of these creatures. They were majestic, strong, and proud. Elegant in the way they trotted circles around the stable hand.

The sun was beating down on me and I turned my face to it, letting the rays warm my skin as a gentle breeze brushed loose strands of hair across my face. I breathed in slowly, deeply. It was quiet here, peaceful. The academy grounds were nice—paradise compared to Sommers—but there were always plenty of Fae crowding around.

“Can I help you, miss?” My eyes snapped open to find the stable hand passing by me, leading the two mares to the gate between the ring and the stables.

He looked like he might be around the same age as James. His white collared shirt clung to his thick stocky muscle and tucked into a pair of tan cargo pants. His dark hair shaved short and close to his head.

“You here to see Annie?” He asked in a deep voice before I’d even opened my mouth to respond. “I’m about to bring her out. Wait here.”

“What are you? Some kind of mind reader?” He laughed but didn’t stop; didn’t wait for an answer. He disappeared into the stables, and I shrugged. “Guess I’ll wait here.” I murmured to myself.

I leant against the fence again, eyes locked on the stables, waiting for the stable hand to bring Annie out. It was only a few minutes before he was moving through the doors with her lead rope in hand.

She whinnied when she saw me waiting and I grinned, pushing off of the fence and jogging over to her slowly. I rubbed the white strip on her nose softly when I reached her.

“Hi girl,” something in my chest loosened, like it had been coiled tight with worry and could now relax. “Sorry I left you behind the other night. That grumpy general rubbed me the wrong way, and I had to get out of there.”

She snorted, air puffing out of her nostrils and tickling the skin of my arm. It was an amused sound, and I marveled at her intelligence. There was something about this horse.

“Grumpy General,” the stable hand chortled. “You’ve got that right.”

He held out his hand to me and I took it, shaking it as I peered around Annie to look at him.

“How’d you know I was here for her?” I asked, letting his hand drop and stroking Annie again.

Maybe he was a mind reader. Gods, I mean dragons exist in Faerie. And apparently seers had been meant to cross before things went sideways for the Fae. They see the future, right? The idea that someone might be able to read minds didn’t seem as farfetched as it once had.

“I saw you here with the General the other day and you seemed… attached to her. Affectionate.” He frowned a little, as if considering something. “Anyway, I recognized you and since the General isn’t hanging around today, I took a guess. Turns out it was spot on. I’m Garner.”

“Riley.” I said, offering him a smile. “I felt a connection with her the moment we met. I’m still trying to work out what it means.”

What did it mean? Was it a part of my connection to the Earth element, or something else entirely? A hint about my heritage, maybe? I sighed.

Why was where I came from such a mystery? Somehow, I’d ended up in a human community with no clue I didn’t belong there. Where does James fit in? Is he my brother? Where has he gone?

“Riley? Riley Emmett?” His voice cracked a little as he spoke, causing me to glance quickly at him in concern.

“Yes. Riley Emmett. Why? What’s wrong?” His reaction made me nervous. Anxiety caused my stomach to twist as I wondered what I’d done to make him react this way to simply knowing my name.

“James was my friend. He told me about you. I didn’t realize you were here. Why are you here?”

Pain barreled through my chest, the air cleaving from my lungs. He’d known James. James had spoken about me. I tried to remember how to breathe. Why couldn’t I remember how to breathe?

Annie nuzzled me, whinnying softly. Her touch grounded me. I just needed to breathe. In. Out. In. Out.

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