Page 3 of A Conduit of Light
Springhad finally come—lifeanew and the endless cold rising to a spark of warmth once again.
“Anotherone gone, look—there!”
Inodded, looking down at the little faerie as she spoke, her long, sage fingers pointing across the sea of spring’s evening dew at yet another tree inFelgrenthat had not made it through the winter.
“Atleast we only found six of them today, much better than yesterday, and at least they don’t all have the look of death about them.”
Ipulled on the sleeves of my dress, suddenly chilled. “Ina way,Moira, they do.Imaginebeing deprived of all that nurtures your soul.Wouldn’tthat make a part of you die, too?Wouldn’tit forever change you?”
Thetiny faerie bowed her head as her fluttering wings held her off the ground.Moirahad been so elated to see spring arrive once again, but allIcould now see was nature forgetting what it had done to itself.
Well,Iwouldn't forget the cold winter.Ithad been a harsh and long one.Manyof the ancient trees ofFelgrenForestdid not make it to see spring at all.Toomuch had died, andIwondered as we walked back to theFortress, if the forest would ever be the same again.
Ihoped so.
“C’mon,Karus.”Moiratugged on the fabric of my dress. “Wedon’t want to be late.”Shezipped by me, her little wings fluttering so quickly, they were difficult to see in the waning sun except for the glint of iridescence that could transfix the eye and mesmerize the soul.
That’sone thing faeries do well.Alltheir tricks and games were successful because of their gorgeous exterior and mysterious smiles.Moirawas different, though.Shehad been my friend and companion here for…Ididn’t know how long.Thelittle thing stood no higher than my knee, but she was the best kind of friend.Shewas always watching out for me in the forest and getting me back into theFortresswhen it was time.Mymind tended to wander, my thoughts often cloudy and undisciplined, never focusing too hard on one thing for too long.
Except, of course, for the forest.Evenin that dreadful winter,Icould feelFelgrenstriving to survive, to hold together what was left of itself until the sweet spring could awaken it yet again.Theleaves of the swaying trees shined viridian in the orange glow of the sun, and the birds sang the sweet song of spring’s arrival.Iclosed my eyes and felt the spirit of the forest once again.Ifelt the magic that flowed through its roots.Itembraced me asIwalked its dirt floor.
Iinhaled deeply to soothe what else was troubling me.SomethingthatIcould not name.Thebreath worked.Fora few moments, at least.
Wetraveled back in silence.Iassumed we both were listening to the music of the life around us.Moiraspent most of her time in theFortresswith me these days, butIknew her fae heart belonged in the forest with her fellow-kind.
Wetook a new path back, andIwas careful not to disturb the newly grown richness around me.Carefully,Istepped over fallen logs, laden with soft moss, and tiptoed around new ferns and old, unfolding their leaves to greet us.Mywhite, gauzy dress flowed lazily behind me asIducked under yet another fallen tree.
AsIreached out my hand for balance, it brushed something smooth and hard in the coarse, mossy bark.Istepped back from under the tree and searched for the anomaly.Itwas tucked into the wood, whether forced into it or placed there lovingly,Idid not know.AllIknew was that it was unnatural.
Iglanced under the tree to see thatMoirawas well ahead of me, butIcouldn’t just leave it there.Ipulled at the withering bark and pried the oval stone from the tree.Smoothand imperfectly shaped,Itraced along the black lines adorning the green whole of it.
Ifelt something then asIplaced the stone into my palm, its cool surface mirroring my chilled touch.
Abond.
Butmore than that, it caressed a sort of embrace around my heart that was so foreign…and yet…Ifelt as ifIknew it well.Ofcourse,Iknew it.Asharp clarity nestled into my mind for a moment, andIwondered whyIhad ever forgotten—
“Kar-us!”Moiracalled from some distance ahead. “Keepmoving or we’ll never make it back in time!”
AthreatIhad heard many times before,Iquickly pocketed the stone and continued on my way.
Ididn’t admit toMoirawhatIhad discovered asIcaught up to her frenzied wings.Iwasn’t sure why, but if this stone was a gift to me, a gift from the forest,Iwanted to keep it to myself.
Atleast, untilIunderstood it.
TheFortressloomed ahead of us, impossible to miss as dark and brooding as it was in the forest of life.Theweight of its inanimate high towers and ancient parapets seemed so out of place among the living trees swaying in the evening breeze.
Inthe winter, it was different.Itfelt as if theFortresswas the origin of the cold, unforgiving weather, but now that spring had arrived again, the forest seemed to be pushing back.Inoticed the creeping ivy winding around the stone staircase, desperate to claim all in its path.Ipointed at the vine and a swirl of my magic lazily guided the greenery upward, twisting further toward theFortress.
Weentered through one of the many smaller doors, this one leading straight into the bustling kitchen.Theoven was warm and welcoming asIsnagged a fresh biscuit from the cook’s tray, downing it in three mouthfuls.Ifthe cook saw me again, she didn’t say anything this time.
TheFortresswas booming with activity today.Newfaces rushed up and down the stairwells.Someold faces were mixed in too, but somehow more of them than usual.TheBaronhad little care for who completed his tasks as long as they were done and in a timely manner.
Hewas searching for something and wouldn’t let anyone get in his way, least of all me, soIkept out of his presence as much as possible.
Iliked it that way.Iwas free to roam theFortressand surrounding woods, was fed good food, given good company inMoira, andIslept in the warmest bed, fire crackling low in the hearth each night.Theonly thingBaronRevichasked of me was this meeting at the end of each day.Isuppose to him, it was a way to check thatIwas not getting into trouble or wandering off.Iwas a part of his fortress, andIwas somehow his responsibility—whether he liked it or not.
“Howare you today,Karus?”
