Page 53 of The Maleficent Faerie
“How much blood?”
“Not enough to kill you. Although your body must be bound to the Spindle during the ritual, as bait for the darkness.”
“Shit, Malec.” She turns away, cupping her fingers over her mouth.
“I know it sounds horrible,” I say gently. “But I’ve worked with the Void for decades. I can do it without risking your life, I swear.”
“And you approached my parents with this request. On the very day of my christening, when I was still a tiny infant.”
Memory darkens my mind and my tone. “You don’t know the whole story.”
“Tell me, then. Right now.”
21
“My father faded in his five-hundred-and-sixth year, leaving me the crown,” says Malec. “From the beginning of my reign, I was determined to be a different kind of leader.”
I tuck my cape closer around me, sensing the start of a longer tale than I anticipated. “Was your mother still alive?”
“My mother lived on for another thirteen years before she faded. They had me later in life.”
“How old are you?”
“Sixty-eight. Now hush, little viper, and listen to the story. I’ll never be done if you keep asking questions.”
“Very well.” I wave my hand airily for him to proceed.
“I spent the first years of my reign wooing your parents and the Three Faeries. First, I ceased the hostilities along the border, ordering my people not to attack even if provoked, only to defend. Then I began sending small gifts into Caennith as gestures of goodwill. My overtures led to some cautious trade and sharing of resources, and finally to a tenuous peace. After a time, I invited delegates from Caennith to cross the border into Daenalla. I treated them like royalty, until at last the Three Faeries themselves deigned to set foot in my lands for a short visit. After that, your parents visited as well, and so did other nobles of Caennith. They would not admit they enjoyed my hospitality, and they made every effort to proselytize my people. They spoke against our beliefs, and though we showed them grace and tolerance, they gave us none in return.
“My people chafed under the perpetual disdain of the Caennith, but I told them it was the price of peace. Meanwhile I continued my research, cautiously gleaning what I could from the Three Faeries. I thought they might have some knowledge that could help me stabilize the Edge and hold back the Void for good. Some of our discussions helped to clarify certain things in my mind—like why the blood heir to the Caennith throne has the power to transform their spouse into a Conduit as well, and why the previous generation loses their Conduit ability once a new Conduit is established.”
Intrigued, I swerve my gaze from the silvered landscape to his face. Malec half-smiles and says, “That explanation can wait, little viper. Suffice it to say, in those days, the connection between the kingdoms was beneficial for everyone, though heavily inclined in Caennith’s favor.
“As time passed, I began to include your parents and the Three Faeries among my regular guests for special occasions at Court. In fact, since they were uncomfortable coming to Ru Gallamet because of its proximity to the Edge, I arranged for our most glorious and important celebrations to be held at Kartiya, a beautiful city, centrally located and closer to the border. Still, neither I nor any of my people had been invited to any celebrations or gatherings in Caennith. It was as if the Caennith regarded us like a muddy lake—too far beneath them to do any more than dip their toes in and then retreat.
“After giving, and giving, and receiving so little in return, I became frustrated. Perhaps I should have been content with peace, but I wanted respect as well, for myself and my people.
“Tensions began to increase again, slowly. I sent ravens into Caennith and discovered that the Royals and the Three Faeries were taking credit for the resources I was sending to needy villages. The Caennith Priesthood still called the Daenalla ‘heretics’ and ‘lost ones’ in their speeches to the people.
“My pride wouldn’t stand for it. I began to try to correct some of the misinformation, sending ravens with missives to scatter over the towns where I’d given resources, letting them know who was truly responsible. I recruited a few dozen Caennith citizens to subtly spread the truth about the Daenallan religion and practices.
“But the Three Faeries caught on to my efforts much more quickly than I expected. They excommunicated my allies and shot down many of my ravens. From then on, my relationship with your parents was soured. I used up the last of their goodwill requesting a vial of the King’s blood to use in my Spinning. It was grudgingly given, and I paid them handsomely for it. When the blood did not work, I asked the King if we could try again. I pleaded with him to come to Ru Gallamet and be physically present for the ritual. I wanted to explore every possibility.
“Your father told me he would consider it. Over and over he told me that, and I kept asking, because the Edge kept crawling ever inward. I’m not sure what you’ve been taught in your geography lessons, Princess, but both kingdoms have been losing ground steadily over the past few decades. The Caennith Priesthood claims to use the light to push back the Edge, but my ravens report that the decline has been nearly equal in both kingdoms—perhaps a little faster in Caennith. Yet no matter how many times I explained my magical theories in letters to your parents, they refused to offer any more help beyond that single costly vial of blood.
“When my ravens brought me word of your impending birth, I felt hopeful again, for the first time in years. Perhaps, with an heir in place, your father might be willing to come to the Spindle and try the ritual with me. Or perhaps, if I approached him at such a joyous time, in the right manner, he would be willing to entertain my new theory—that a fresh supply of God-Touched blood, not yet activated as the Conduit, could be the key to fueling my great work. The Void surely could not resist amassing at such a tempting intersection of life and light, and I would have everything I needed to ensure this realm’s survival. So I waited for the right moment to make my request.
“Shortly after your birth, I began to hear of several noble Daenallan families receiving invitations to the christening of the Caennith Crown Princess. A truly courteous Royal would have invited me first, but nevertheless, I refused to take offense. I expected my invitation to arrive any day.
“As more nobles of Daenalla received their invitations, I began to realize what made my heart burn with humiliation and disbelief—that I was being purposely excluded from the event. I, whom the Caennith Priesthood still called ‘the Maleficent One, Spinner of Darkness, Wicked Conjurer,’ and such foul names, despite my beneficence. I who had supported Caennith for years without demanding anything but peace along the border and a modicum of respect. The Royals were shaming me publicly before my people and theirs.
“I could not allow it to stand. So I wrote a letter to your father. It was mostly about my concerns regarding the Edge, and my theories for stabilizing it. I hinted at my need for your blood, in the most delicate and reassuring terms I could concoct. At the end I mentioned the latest bouts of misinformation and slander my ravens had perceived occurring throughout Caennith. I told him that if I was granted an invitation to the christening, it would no doubt solidify our alliance and reassure the Caennith citizens that I was not some kind of Void-worshiping monster.
“In his reply, your father called me delusional and said that his daughter’s christening should be a day of glee. He did not want the ‘dark presence of a fear-mongering sorcerer to spoil his most joyful day.’
“Angry and desperate, I appealed to the Three Faeries, describing my magical research in detail, pleading with them to see the reason behind what I must ask, begging them to uphold the shaky alliance between our kingdoms. They sent a message overflowing with insipid flattery, but I could read the truth between the lines. They did not intend to help me, or to defend me before their King.
“That same day, I received word that the Three Faeries had held a gathering of all the elders among the Caennith Fae, and told them that I was causing the Edge to contract faster—that my ‘dark magic’ was hastening the doom of Midunnel. Utter lies.
