Page 82 of Dreams and Dragon Wings
When the double doors swing open, I set my jaw and look that way, prepared to face my captor once more. Instead, I scream when two little monsters shamble into the room—one green and one brown.
Their backs are hunched. Their arms are long. Their ears are pointed. Their teeth are sharp. Their eyes bulge within their narrow faces as they stare at me like visitors to a menagerie observing one of the exhibits.
Between them, they carry a long wooden chest carved with floral designs like those upon the doors.
I skitter backward along the bed and press against the headboard, frantically trying to put as much distance between myself and these creatures as is possible.
“Greetings, Lady Aurelia,” the brown-skinned one croaks as the two of them draw to a pause at the end of the bed. They drop the chest with a heavy clang. “King Malice sends his regards along with this gift. He commands you to wear it at dinner tonight.”
Dinner? What time is it? Whatdayis it?
Drowsiness still clings to my mind like a cobweb, tangled with memories of my strange dream. I do my best to sweep it away. I need my wits about me if I am going to save myself, let alone Bene.
I lift my chin, forcing confidence and authority into my voice as I say, “Do tellLordMalice that while I appreciate his gift—and his invitation to dinner—I fear I cannot accept either.”
The green-skinned one smiles, flashing yellowed teeth sharpened to deadly points. “He thought you’d say that. Which iswhy he said you can either come and eat dinner with him, or you can come and eat dinner withus.”
Solemnly, the brown-skinned one adds, “In which case, you would be the meal, my lady.”
… What?
Some madness sweeps over me, driving me to my feet. Still upon the bed, I stand with all my weight on my right leg rather than my left and tower over the little monsters as I shout at them, “Return to your master and give him this message: he will not have the pleasure of my company again until he starts treating me like his guest instead of his prisoner. I refuse to be caged like an animal. I refuse to endure these false threats.”
My glow returns and flares bright beneath my skin, thrumming in time with my words.
The monsters hiss and fall back, clawed hands flying to their faces as if my sudden luminescence hurts their eyes. The green one whimpers and ducks his face low.
But the brown one bows and mumbles, “Yes,Therya’fey.Your will be done.”
When the two hastily retreat and close the doors behind them, locking them once more, I can only stare in wonder.
What just happened?
When next I blink, Velda is before me, her eyes wide.
Relief floods through me to find she is truly here with me and not a figment of my imagination. I do not want to be in this strange place alone. I cannot save Bene alone.
“Bene was right,” the silver pixie whispers, sounding awed. “You trulyarea prodigy with Mind. And Spirit, too, it seems.”
All the indignation that sparked to life within my heart when faced with Malice’s empty threats seeps out of me, leaving me shaking as I lower myself back to the bed. My throat burns with thirst. My stomach twists, hungry.
I can’t remember the last time I ate or drank.
“I’m not,” I protest, scrubbing the rest of the sleep from my eyes. “Contrary to my family name, I’ve never woven a single thing in my entire life. Neither magic nor fabric.”
A part of me longs to curl back up beneath the blankets and rest more. My body aches. The room is warm. The bed is soft.
Surely it would not hurt anything for me to close my eyes for another few hours?
Bene, I remind myself. I must find him before it’s too late. And I don’t even yet know how much time has passed since he was struck by Malice’s latest curse.
Suddenly, I regret not submitting to my captor’s demand that I join him for dinner. I could have used it as an excuse to wander the halls, to study the castle’s layout, to findNa’theryn.
When I look back at Velda, I find her studying me, her lips pursed.
“What were those creatures?” I ask, pulling her from her reverie.
She blinks and raises her eyebrows. “The creatures that reside here were elves and pixies once, but they succumbed to their Shades long ago. Now, we call them goblins.” Her nose wrinkles. “Malice fancies himself their king.”
