A young woman with long black hair wandered from the path as her flowing dress caught on twigs and bramble here and there.  She lifted a toddler over the mess at the forest’s edge before walking deeper into the woods.  She gripped the child’s hand firmly leading the way between the trees and other flora.  She remembered as a child, her mother telling her stories of an old village that used to live at the edge of this forest and the old medicine woman who spent her days among the trees.  She offered the child a reassuring smile, “We’ll be safe here.”  The woman nodded to herself in affirmation, and then she saw it.  There was a small run-down cottage in the clearing, forgotten by all save for the forest animals and bugs that occasionally came to visit.  The last rays of the sunset cast a blood red shadow over the dilapidated building.  She turned towards the small child at her side.   “Come.  Let’s make this our new home.”

The child looked at it with sparkling eyes, seeing a secret hideout and a mystical witch’s shop rather than a worn-out cottage.  With an enthusiastic nod, the child answered: “Yes!”

***

“Suri!  It’s time for dinner!  Suri?”  she paused on the step looking around, but the child was nowhere to be seen.  

She made a circle around the small home, eyes scanning the edge of the forest.  “Suri?”  She closed her eyes and just listened.  After a moment, she set off towards the East and the faint muffled voices on the wind.  The voices became stronger the further East she went and soon she was running towards them.  Finally, she reached a dense copse of trees, separated from the rest of the woods, and froze.  There was a dark figure looming over the child, laughing menacingly.

“Suri!”  She nearly stomped towards them.  “You know you aren’t supposed to go out this far!  You had me worried!”  

The young child turned his adoring gaze away from the shadowy presence and looked at his mother. “I’m sowwy.  I jus’ wanna to pway.”  

“I know,” the woman sighed as she placed a hand on the child’s head.  “But it is dangerous to go so far away right now.  Please don’t encourage him,” she glanced at the shadow before turning back to Suri.  “One day, when you are a little older, we can go on adventures away from home, but right now we need to stay close to home.  Do you understand?”

The child nodded.

“It’s okay, Suri.  You aren’t in trouble,” she offered a reassuring smile, “but it is time to eat so we should go back.”

At that, the child’s eyes lit up.  “Food!  YAY!  I wove mama’s food!  I’m sowwy, I have to go now.”  Suri offered a bow in parting from the creature.  “But we can pway again later!”  

With a jump and a wave, the child ran towards the woman and back to the safety of their home.  The shadow waved, watching as they disappeared into the foliage.  After a long moment, it dissipated into the darkness.

***

Suri leaned against the wall, just out of sight, listening.  The faint scent of chamomile and peppermint was in the air.  Lucien was stopping by less and less, often in the middle of the night.  He not fight with mama, but they no agwee.  Suri sighed and slid down the wall to the ground.  Is it why Papa left?  But, when Papa left, they no fight; he held Mama and Mama cwied and then he told me goodbye.  Papa said had to leave, but Lucien wants us go with him.  But how will Papa know where we go?  Suri’s eyes closed with another sigh.  I miss Papa.

A tall man stood beside the open window in the kitchen, speaking softly but insistently.  A young woman stood before the hearth, coaxing flames back to life as they heated the kettle.  Both were strikingly beautiful, but she had an exotic look about her where he had strength.  Her delicate fingers gathered the tea leaves in the muslin before tossing them in the kettle.  Strands of her fine dark hair shimmered in the moonlight as she listened to her visitor.  It looked to be another long night ahead of her.

“I would feel better if you came back to the Magical Realm with me.  I would be able to protect both of you.”  He placed his hand gently on her shoulder, but she didn’t turn around.  

“No, I’m not uprooting Suri again.  Besides, the Angelic Realm won’t think to look here, and it will help suppress his magic.”

“That isn’t a good thing if you’re attacked.  Or if you are trying to teach him.”

“He’s still too young to learn, and don’t you go getting any strange ideas!”  She turned to poke him with a spoon.

“Are you sure he is too young?”  he grinned, “Alright, alright.  But Araja, what if they do come for you here?”

“Well,” she turned to hug him, resting her head a moment against his chest before looking up into his blue eyes, “I am sure that as my big brother you would be here in an instant.”

“What if it’s--”

“It won’t be.”

“But he hasn’t returned.  He could give your location to them if he is infected.

“He isn’t, and he won’t.”  She pushed him back with a glare.

“And what if you’re wrong?  What if he attacks?”

She froze for a moment before shaking her doubts away.  “You know why he hasn’t returned as well as I do.  He’ll be here if we truly need him.”

“You have too much faith in the light.”

She turned to watch as he approached the window, gathering shadows around his fading form before evaporating like a whiff of smoke.  “And you have too little, brother.”

***

They set out from Naofalas's stronghold on foot, intending to join with the small group of men Tahir brought with him, leaving most behind to guard Skia in his absence.  It was a clear day and the grass swayed in the wind like waves.  Distantly you could hear birdsong as they occasionally passed overhead.  After an hour or so, Kalla noticed the sun was staying mostly to their right, but Skia was Southwest of al'Kourra.  

"This...isn't the way to Skia, is it?"

"No."

"Where are we going?  Naofalas said--"

"How am I to take you into my city to help before you've proven yourself to my men, or me."  He paused, but she only looked into his eyes, waiting.  "We're going to Coillte Draíochta."

"What?  Why there?!"

"You've had dealings with Dian or the faeries there?"

"I, I have.  That's not really what I mean."  She looked away.  

"His realm is protected more than most and is neutral.  It makes sense to meet there first.  And--" 

"And if something goes wrong, it will be contained by Dian's powerful borders and any injured would have the best healers." she finished for him. She shook her head at his raised eyebrow.  "Do try to have a little faith in me."

"Faith is not the issue.  I nearly killed you the last time and--"

"And I lived."  Her defiance burned into his eyes, snuffing out the fire of an old argument.  He cleared his throat.

"We should go."

With a sigh of frustration, she followed him through the plains and rolling hills, watching as the landscape became increasingly thicker with trees and lush vegetation.  By afternoon, they were walking in a sea of green and climbing over fallen logs.  They paused once, at a quiet stream, before continuing onward.  Despite the picturesque landscape, they rarely spoke.  She attempted a few times, but his answers were short and concise.  With her second sigh of the day, she gave up.

"What is wrong?"

"What?" 

"You sighed."

"So?"

"Again."

"..." He is counting?

He caught her arm and faced her.  "What is it?  You were talking and you stopped abruptly and--is this funny?"

"Sorry," she forced herself to stop at his scowl, "I'm just surprised.  This whole time you barely say a word and when you do speak it's the shortest answer possible.  Now you are questioning why we're not talking."

"I... have been told I'm not good at conversation." He turned his eyes forward towards the path.

"You were told right, but it's okay.  There is something about being able to share the silence with someone too.  A lot of people's thoughts are so loud they cannot stand to stay silent if another person is nearby."

He blinked, "And which do you prefer?"

"I don't have a preference," she shrugged, "but the more I know of you and your people, the better I will be able to help you."

"Ah, I see."  That sounds...disappointed?  Surely not, why would that disappoint him?  "Then ask what you wish, and I will do my best to elaborate."

"Alright."  

They reached the edge of the Faery King's Forest just as the sun's last rays were fading. Several of Tahir's men joined them as they approached its borders. Naturally the Faery realm was astir with the visitors, but Dian hurried his guests inside apologizing to his people for the weariness of their guests and promising a fine feast on the morrow.  

***

The firelight flickered against the walls as Kalla sat on the bed.  After traveling, she wanted nothing more than a good night's sleep, but her friend had other plans.  

"So, tell me of this dragon of yours!"

"Caer, he's not mine or anyone else's; he's not an object."

"Yes, yes.  But what's he like?  They say that he is as handsome as he is fierce!"

"Caer, I'm tired."

"Oh, come on!  Surely you know somethin'!  You've been travelin' with him and his men."

"Only a short while and anyway, my job is to help them on their mission."

"Job?  How boring!"  She pulled on Kalla's sleeve as she tried to turn over.  "Aren't ya a wee bit curious?"

"Not everything in the world is a game, you know."

"That's racist!  Just because I'm a faery doesn't mean I canna be serious!"

"Oh?"

"Really!"

She held her hand up as if pledging her honesty.  The pose lasted a full five seconds before she fell over giggling.  Kalla couldn't help but grin and shake her head.

"Now, tell me what's he really like!  I bet he's like a god in bed if--"

She felt the heat rise in her face, "Why would you ask me that?!"

"Haha! Are ya still shy about such things, love?  But seriously, have ya not heard what they say?  That he's popular with all beautiful ladies, even some of the men.  Charming, elegant, and" her voice dropped to a whisper, "quite passionate!"

"Enough, Caer.  I need to sleep."  She tried to bury her face in the shadows and pillow under her, but her friend continued. 

"Kalla," she giggled, "it's not like ya to have absolutely nothing ta say!  Besides, there's no sin in lookin'.  Yer a grown woman now and he's exotic and sexy and his voice is--"

"Caer, stop!" Too loud.  Too loud and too serious.

"Why ya so offended?  Do ya like him or somethin'?"  Caer crossed her arms in a petulant pout.

"Wha-What?  Don't be ridiculous!"  

"Oh gods, ya do!  If ya wanted a king, ya coulda had me brother!"

"You're wrong! I don't want a king!"

"Wrong that you like him or about him being a king?"

"Caer, please."

"Do you want a king, strong and protective?"  She draped herself over Kalla's back, shielding her from the rest of the empty room.  

"Stop."

"Charmin' with a deep sultry voice that makes ya tingle all over?"  Her fingers slowly slid up Kalla's hip to her waist, then a little more.

"Stop!"  She covered her face with her hands, but Caer reached to pull them away and pull her in.

"Do you want him to wrap you up in his embrace and--"

"STOP!" She blinked once, twice.  "Stop."  Quieter.  

Caer sighed, "Do ya even know what ya want?"

"I, I want..." do I?  

"Kalla, do ya really like him?"

"It's not like that!  It's a job, nothing more."

"Is that right?"

"Yes."

"Well then, by all means work away.  But if there is even a chance you be denyin' your feelings, you should be honest with yerself.  And him, or you'll regret it."

"I'm not a child!"

She paused, brushing a lock of Kalla's hair behind her ear, "I didna say ya were.  I just donna want ta see ya hurt like my brother, love.  

She turned over to look at the other woman, "What happened? Is he okay?"

"Aye, if by okay ya mean pining like a teenager.  He fell in love with some girl, a selkie at that.  Loved her more than anythin' but...he didna want to pressure her because he is the king, so he never told her.  One day he woke up an' she was gone.  Been a couple years, but he's never gotten over it."

"I'm sorry, I didn't realize.  Is, is it okay to tell me this?"

"Yeah, I mean, dona tell him 'twas me, but it's not a secret.  Ya coulda heard it from any in the faery courts.  They're the worst with gossip."

"That must be hard on him."

"Ah well, no one is dumb enough ta say it in front o' him.  Besides, faeries gossip, but we do know when ta keep our mouths shut...usually."

"Still."

"Anyway," she waved her dismissal, "I dona want ta see ya hurtin' like that.  If it's in ya heart, listen to it.  Been tellin' ya that for ages.  Ya can have any man ya want, or woman if ya like, but ya gotta be honest with yerself."

"Caer..."  You don't realize what you're asking...

"Ha, I know, I know.  I just want ta see ya with someone ya deserve, love.  Someone who can help ya forget the past and take away that lonely look in yer eyes." 

"I said I'll be fine."

Gently she continued, "Aye, that ya did.  It's okay to guard yer heart, but also listen to it, hm?"

"It's not like that.  We are merely comrades and whatever you've heard about him, well, how accurate are all the rumors and gossip about Dian?"

"Admittedly, such gossip is often elaborate and told for maximum drama,"

"See!"

"--but, there is a seed of truth to them.  There always is."  She looked down and squeezed the fabric of her nightdress before looking up into Kalla's eyes.  "You say it's just a job, but I've known ya fer years; I know yer heart and--"

"You don't."  Kalla said it softly, but it was as cold as it was gentle, as piercing as it was true.

"...Mayhap not.  But have the courage to tell the person.  Besides, if he breaks yer heart, I'll kill him."

Kalla huffed out a small laugh at that and relaxed a little.  "Of course you would.  Regardless, I don't know much to tell you about him or his men.  My mind has been on more important matters."

"Alright, alright," she held up her hands in defeat.  "Tell me these more important matters."

***