Page 75 of Kingdom of the Two Moons

***

I feel drained. After the incident in the night, I fell back into a restless slumber. I’ve forgotten my dreams as I always do, but I know it wasn’t a nightmare that woke me.

I look pale, dark circles under my eyes when I get up in the morning, meeting my reflection in the mirror. When I return to my bed after a brief shower, I find the drawings I left sprawled all across the floor stacked in a neat pile next to the bed.

I stare at them for a long time. The top sheet shows Riven’s stunningly beautiful profile. I wonder who put them there like that. Who has come to watch me while I slept?

***

Today is the same as all the others during the equinox festival. In the morning, we spend hours preparing all the food for the festivities later. Two weeks, Nidaw said. My head swirls at the idea that last night might repeat itself. I don’t allow myself to think of any of it. Of Kyrith. Of the Dark Lord. Of the feeling of his hands on my skin.

I banish every thought of him, but useless shame crawls up my body nonetheless.

I focus on the task of cutting food and crushing herbs, doing my best to distract myself.

It’s easier here, in the hustle and bustle of the kitchen. It’s also the kitchen I like most. I truly enjoy watching the cooks conjure meals that look too fairy-like and fantastic to be true. I particularly like one of the chefs—if the fae call them chefs in the fairy world—a huge satyr with two massive, black gayal horns that protrude from behind his large, round, furred ears, fierce and terrifying. He has shiny black hooves, dark skin, intriguing blue eyes, and ink-black hair he wears in dreadlocks braided tight to his head, three golden earrings dangling from his earlobes.

Whenever he notices me watching him create one of his magnificent dishes, especially the sweets, he slips me something to try. This time, it’s a slice of a dark fruit that has a soft texture and glistens like licorice but tastes like a chocolate pudding in my mouth.

He laughs heartily at my wide eyes. I smile back at him shyly, and he slips me another before he stalks away, barking orders through the halls.

I’m licking my fingers when I catch Nidaw watching me from the other end of the room before she orders me over into the hall where last night’s celebrations took place.

When I enter along with the other servants, there’s no trace of any party left. The whole room is as immaculate and clean as it could possibly be, with the floors shining, all the furniture and cushions gone, not one stain to be found anywhere.

For a brief second, I find it hard to believe that it happened at all, that the high lords had been lounging right over there.

I must have been staring a moment too long because Nidaw says, “Magic.” The siren has suddenly appeared next to me, following my gaze.

I turn to her, startled. Nidaw rarely speaks to us servants during work time. “So why do we need to clean at all when magic can do this all?” I make a gesture with my hands, and to my surprise, she chuckles.

“It’s notourmagic. It’s the Dark Lord’s magic, so it’s up to him whether he spends some of it on cleaning up.”

When I frown, she explains, “The fae world adapts to its ruler. It’s subject to his wishes, his ideas. He can bend it to his will—starting from this—” she gestures to include the whole building “—architecture, to even the temperature outside.”

“The temperature? So the Dark Lord turned it into a... desert?”

“No. It was a desert when he took over. He didn’t change much of it save for a little rise in temperature lately, yet he could—if he wanted to,” Nidaw finishes.

I can’t help but notice the gleam of awe in the siren’s eyes at that. There’s always a warmth in her voice when she speaks about him, and adoration.

“You once said you like him—the Dark Lord.”

Nidaw smiles at me with her row of slightly pointed teeth, then nods. “Yes, we all do.”

“I thought he can be—cruel?” I ask quietly.

Nidaw’s smile falters and turns wistful for a second. “Every ruler is also cruel, Melody. He has to be. But he was also the one who offered us a new home where we are safe after we lost ours. When no one cared for us lesser fae, apart from spitting on us. He never treated us any worse than he treats any high elf. This is why we love him.”

“So you don’t mindthe curse? Apart from not being able to go to town at night, I mean?”

I try to ask as lightly as I can, but Nidaw narrows her eyes anyway, clearly not pleased that I’m bringing up the town again.

“No. A lot condemn him and what he represents. Yet it’s not in our nature, the nature of the water folk, to judge. We believe that, in the world, there’s no right or wrong. There’s never only light, nor is there only darkness. One can’t exist without the other. They’re interdependent, do you understand?” Her voice is gentle, kind, kinder than she’s ever been.

I want to shake my head, to tell her that I don’t understand, but Nidaw goes on.

“It’s always chance, Melody. Chance and choice. It’s in our hands, always. We’re not creatures without will, no matter what they tell us about our future, our fate. Don’t forget that it hasn’t been written yet.”

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