Page 111 of The Shadow Fae Rhapsody
She nods.
If I do this, Rainer will not come to save me.
A bitter reality slowly sets in me. I breathe in the crisp and fresh air of Astefar. This forest is my new home now.
I bid the spider farewell and continue my journey alone out from the forbidden forest. The atmosphere is tense as the entire village watches me. I’m a little embarrassed by my tattered dress but I walk proudly in my shiny spider silk shoe. Some of the folksare crying, some are praying at the miracle that I’m still alive, but most of them are fearful.
“Hello, Princess,” Graysen gives me a wry smile. Being face to face with the governor makes me want to cry and scream and vomit.
The villagers, guards, and everyone must stand a distant away from me. That is what was promised. I settle on the seat they’ve provided me and look at the writing materials on the table. My fingertips move to trace the objects.
I miss writing, I miss reading…
The governess stirs beside her husband dressed in a bright orange dress. She folds her hand in front of her lap. “What would you tell your uncle?”
“I will tell him how the twelfth division knights sacrificed themselves to save me from being sold to the slavers by bandits. Their bold sacrifice shall be remembered, and their heroic tale will be sung in the great halls of Völundr,” I announced loudly. There is no fear in my voice, only steel determination. “You will arrange for their remains to be sent home.”
I watch the tiny shift in the governor’s face at that order. He is angry being pushed around by another Wiolant. A smaller one.
“I will say that I choose to stay here with you under your protection and study in the Arawynn temple in the village,” I say as I write. “If you’re smart, you’ll write letters to my uncle confirming this, praising my prowess and obedience to the gods.”
“No one has ever cultivated from the gods at such a young age,” he hisses with derision.
I level a hard stare at the governor. “My uncle will believe me. I’m a Wiolant. Greatness is expected from us.”
Graysen’s face turns red from the building wrath inside of him. “How do we know your letter is not a trick to get your uncle here?”
“You’ll know if you’re still alive by next week,” I say easily. I sign the letter with my name and seal it with my official seal.
The governor smiles as he approaches me. “Well then. Thank you, Princess.”
There is nothing sincere about his face or his voice.
“That’s close enough,” I tell him, covering my nose from the obnoxious smell of his perfume.
One guard with a well-trimmed beard steps closer. More are coming from the trench and bushes like well-hidden Night Rats.
“After her!” Graysen bellows. “Don’t let her get away.”
I sigh. Of course, the governor would betray his promise.
But I anticipated this.
I tug the string on my shoulder. Before his guards can lay their hands on me, Salty Spider reels me back into the forest with her elastic string.
I hold my breath as I am being flung over back into the woods. The hard ground and sharp branches await me once I fall. Instead of crashing, I land safely on the spider’s soft mesh.
Salty Spider untangles me from her newly improved web.
“I’ve done my part,” she says breathlessly from her effort. “I reeled you back as promised.”
“Thank you, friend. This is for you.” I give her my last strawberry hairpin. “From henceforth, you shall be called Jessica.”
Jessica blinks all eight eyes over her new name.
“Thank you,” she says before scurrying deeper into the woods.
Day81 in Astefar
