Page 129 of Lore of the Tides

“Smells good, Lore,” Lex said with a grin, threading his fingers through his partner’s.

“I’m hoping it will taste even better,” she said as she poured the buckets of river water into the cauldron. The broth began to boil immediately, a perk of having Finn there to tend the fire, so she needn’t wait before emptying both bags of lentils and barley into the pot. “Finn, can you add the sausage?” She cut her eyes at him, daring him to make a joke about the “sausage” he would rather be handing her, but he refrained, though his eyes crinkled at the corners as he slid the knife across the cutting board, adding the pile of sausages to the broth. Lore snatched an end piece of a sausage just before its descent into the broth and slipped it to Ember, who was weaving in and out of her legs.

She added in the dried herbs, the last of the ingredients, before stirring with a large wooden spoon, imbuing each pass around the cauldron with intention. This wouldn’t be a simple meal; this wascommunion, it was health, and love, and cherished memories, and hope, so much hope.

While the stew simmered, she and Uncle Salim opened bundles of sticky, sweet dates, sliced fruit, beeswax, and chocolates onto a table.

A few months ago, she passed the fae farmlands of Alytheria and dreamt of bringing wagons filled with food back to her people. She hadn’t managed a wagon, but at least she would be able to fill their bellies and hearts this day. Wagons would come later.

When the stew was ready, she filled every single person’s bowl. As the first spoonfuls were tasted, a murmur of appreciation arose. Lore watched, her heart swelling with a fierce tenderness. As the last bowl was emptied, a newfound resolve settled over the villagers. Their eyes, dulled with resignation and hunger before, now burned with determination.

Finally, when the sun reached its zenith, every willing person kissed their loved ones goodbye, buttoned their coats, tightened the laces and buckles on their boots, and headed toward the forest that had been their prison wall since before they were born. Since before their grandparents had been born.

Lore took the lead. With every step, she cast her magic wide, searching the barrier for fractures in the spell. She pressed her own magic of the sun, locating each fissure, widening the fractures until the spell fell apart as though she were swiping at a spider’s web.

* * *

Lore was the first to step into the forest. To show them that she had indeed broken the spell. There was nothing here to fear anymore, not even any sentries.

For almost everyone, this was their first time stepping into the woods.

With every tread of her boots over the frost-covered ground, Lore spooled her magic, drawing on the grimoires’ power.

Their plan was simple: a show of force.

Lore did not know what the king planned to do with the humans, why he had pulled his sentries back and in preparation for what... She hoped with her return that the humans were no longer defenseless and planned on fighting back, that he would not want to risk his precious soldiers on them.

They hoped he would let them go. Lore wanted to fight him. To try every one of the Alytherians responsible for their crimes, but Lore was no stranger to sacrificing her wants for the greater good. She could put her anger aside if it meant they could leave Alytherian land unharmed, uncontested, for good.

The king had plenty of warning to prepare for their arrival at his castle. A host of palace guards stood in front of the gates. Overkill, as anyone with eyes could see that the gates were barred shut and the humans were not carrying any weapons that would breach the thick wood of the gates.

Many of the soldiers wore the blue stripes of sentries, their uniforms pressed, their stripes shining with superiority. The sneers on their faces and their jeers were familiar to Lore and slid off her back like water.

The humans arrived at the gates. Finndryl and Isla came with them but stood behind them. This was not a time for the fae to speak for the humans.

Lore prayed that she had not led them to their deaths.

“We have come to request an audience with the king,” Lore said, projecting her voice for all to hear. She was glad that it was loud and clear, not a hint apparent of the fear that clogged her veins.

The commander spit on the ground at Lore’s feet. Some of thespittle landed on her boot. She felt Finndryl stiffen behind her but prayed he did not make a scene.

“I am Commander Arelas, voice of the king. He declines your request,” he said to Lore, his tone haughty, infuriating. The commander stepped forward and addressed the rest of the crowd. “Your king views this display as blatant insurrection.” He paused a beat, letting that sink in, before continuing. “But he is a merciful king. He will not end your lives for this mistake, but instead, he has most graciously decreed that you shall return to Duskmere at once. However, his mercy has limits.” The commander grinned, sweeping his hand out toward the sun, which had almost dipped below the tree line. “Anyone found outside the forest barrier by the time the sun has set will be regarded as a dissenter and will, as such, be put to death. On sight.”

One of the sentries in the back called out, “Do as you’re told, humans!”

“Better hurry!” another shouted through a peal of cruel laughter.

“Go home to your mud. Your kind aren’t welcome here!” This was voiced not by a sentry but by a citizen... a female fae wearing an apron, holding a fuzzy cat in her arms, leaning over the balcony railing of one of the houses that had cropped up on the outskirts of the castle wall.

Lore clenched her jaw so tightly she was half afraid her teeth would crack.

Instead, she looked behind her at her people’s shining, beautiful faces and drew courage from them.

They may be quaking in their boots right now, but you wouldn’t know it by looking at them. They stood, backs straight, their chins in the air, pride in their eyes. Pride in who they were, in each other.

Uncle Salim, who stood tall beside Eshe, winked at Lore and motioned with both hands toward his chest.

Inhale.

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