Page 11 of A Fate so Cruel

Breathe, breathe, breathe.

Saoirse looked up at him then. Looked at him with those empty green eyes that confirmed the one thing he feared above all else.

Their mother was gone.

The Cursed Fae and a Secret Refuge

Chapter One

Rion bounced on his toes, eyes darting from one colorful stall to the next. Saoirse kept a tight hold on his hand. She never let him go far, even if he was practically dragging her down the crowded street, eager to see the performers who were scheduled to arrive within the hour.

“We still have time,” Saoirse giggled, letting Rion pull her through the throng of Fae enjoying the festivities. Many offered kind smiles in passing, while others outright laughed at his sister’s predicament.

He didn’t care. He wanted to be the first in line to see the performers balance across the tightropes and juggle fire. He’d spent the past week reading every book he could find on them. He’d even tried to juggle a few things himself. Much to his sister’s amusement.

Sweat rolled down the side of Rion’s face. Saoirse had mentioned something about humidity. He just knew it was hot. But the heat brought the summer solstice. A night he’d been especially looking forward to this year.

Lanterns lined the streets, casting a pleasant glow over the lines of Fae moving from one stall to the next purchasing all manner of trinkets. Jewels reflected the light in a myriad of colors. Wooden boxes and carved statues promised luck and fortune to those who believed in them. And the smell of food wafted through the air, beckoning patrons toward those stalls.

He wanted to visit them too, but only after seeing the performers.

The pleasant aroma of burned cinnamon floated toward him and Rion’s mouth watered in response. He paused, staring longingly at the pastries dripping with sugar.

“We have time,” Saoirse repeated. “Do you want one?” Rion glanced down the street again, his heart torn. He knew the stall wouldn’t run out anytime soon, especially with the festival lasting the entire week, but—

Saoirse made the decision for him and pulled Rion toward the food stand. He stood on his tiptoes, trying to get a better look through the crowd before his sister grabbed him under his arms and lifted his small body onto her shoulders.

Rion didn’t bother telling her he wasn’t a little kid anymore. Not when he had a clear view above the crowd. He could let it slide this once.

Saoirse purchased the sweet but paused before handing it to him. “If you drip any of this in my hair, I’ll never buy you another one.”

He knew it was an idle threat, but Rion still nodded in reassurance. “I promise to be careful.”

Rion’s gaze was captured by a forest sprite as it floated above their heads, riding the wind on the back of a large oak leaf. It seemed to smile at him before speeding off again, propelled by whatever mysterious magic surrounded the tiny beings.

He carefully tore a bite from the cinnamon pastry, the crumbs falling into the paper tray. It melted in his mouth and he savored the thick flavor.

Saoirse walked at a leisurely pace, navigating through the throng of Fae. They always parted for her and bowed their heads in reverence. They used to do that to their mother, too—Rion shook his head. Saoirse had instructed him to have fun today for her sake. Because their mother would want him to. He swallowed the lump in his throat. Fought the tears that raced to the surface. His mother used to put him up on her shoulders all the time, too. They’d watch the performers and—

“What are you thinking about up there?”

Rion tried to force a smile and was glad his sister couldn’t see his face.

Instead of answering her question, Rion quickly pointed to a stall full of stuffed animals. “I want one of those.” Thankfully, his voice didn’t crack. He was getting better at hiding it.

She paused, considering, and his heart raced. Rion didn’t want to ruin the night for her. She’d been through a lot, too. Rion saw the red around her eyes even when she tried to hide it.

After a moment, Saoirse walked toward the vendor and Rion loosed a sigh of relief. One night. Just for one night, Rion would try to forget about the sadness that blanketed the palace halls and the way their father hadn’t been the same since their mother’s disappearance. For one night, Rion would pretend they were still a family. A real family.

Rion drew in a slow breath, just as Saoirse had taught him to do whenever he was upset. He focused on the stuffed creatures instead. Some resembled the Fairy Folk while others took on the likeness of regular animals. There were even a few shaped like the creatures in the ocean, some beautiful, others scary. Rion shivered at the sight of one with a long colorful tail and menacing teeth. He couldn’t remember its name.

Rion looked through them carefully while they waited their turn and pointed to a stuffed red fox. “That one.”

The male at the stall smiled up at Rion, then fixed his gaze on Saoirse. “Care for a game, My Lady?”

His sister studied the rings in the male’s hand, then reached into her pocket. The male quickly waved his hands. “Oh, no, I couldn’t charge a Lady of Brónach.”

“And I can’t cheat a merchant, especially one who brings such life to the festival.”

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