Aellyn knocked softly on the beautifully carved door to her mother’s chambers, leaning in to press her ear to the dark wood and listening intently for stirring within. She didn’t want to disturb her mother if she was resting. Her keen ears detected quiet footfalls coming closer. She straightened and waited. There was a quiet click as the latch was disengaged and the door swung silently on its hinges, opening slightly to reveal the middle-aged lady’s maid within. The woman’s face was lightly lined with age and her graying brown hair was tucked neatly into a bun at the nape of her neck. She was shorter than Aellyn by at least a hand span, but plumper around the middle, betraying a fondness for sweets. The soft scent of flowers and herbs wafted from her, delicate and comforting. Her kind blue eyes sparkled when she saw Aellyn standing there.
“My lady,” the maid greeted her warmly, dipping a swift curtsy. “Your mother has just awoken, and I’m sure she’d be glad of your company.” The maid stepped back, opening the door further to offer admittance to the plush sitting room within. “She is still abed, but awake. Go in, and I’ll see about fetching breakfast for you both.”
With a grateful smile, Aellyn entered. “Thank you, Petra.” The maid dipped another curtsy and slipped out, closing the door carefully behind her.
Aellyn moved purposefully through the richly appointed sitting room, a room she knew as well as her own. She’d spent countless hours among the overstuffed velvet cushions and lush brocade couches dyed varying shades of azure and cobalt over the years, and it never failed to provide a sense of calm and comfort. She inhaled deeply as she made her way quickly across the room, as if to draw strength from the very air.
She paused in the ornately carved archway that separated her mother’s sitting room from the bedroom. Through the gossamer curtains that hung from the tester, Aellyn could see her mother sitting propped against a mound of cream-colored silk pillows, gazing out the open window with a look of sadness on her lined face, gray hair, tousled from sleep, hanging loose around her. A sudden sharp, hacking cough racked her mother’s body, splitting the silence. Aellyn rushed forward, darting for the table next to her mother’s bed and pouring a glass of water from the decanter there. Taking the glass, she sat beside her mother. She put an arm around her mother’s shoulders, holding the old woman tight as her body rocked with the strength of her coughs. When the spasms subsided, Aellyn held the glass out for her mother, who took it with a grateful nod and sipped delicately.
“Were you able to sleep?” Aellyn asked quietly, eyeing her mother with concern.
“The elderly don’t sleep,” Evelien murmured, refusing to meet her daughter’s eyes.
“I’ll call for the doctor,” Aellyn replied firmly, standing.
“He’s already been.” Her mother handed back the glass, and Aellyn set it back on the bedside table.
“And there’s nothing he can do? No trick of his art to ease your suffering?” Aellyn refused to believe there was nothing to be done to help her mother.
“Oh, he could ply me with potions to ease the pain and make me sleep,” Evelien admitted with evident distaste. “But I don’t want to sleep through the rest of my life.”
“There must be something I can do for you, mother?” Aellyn pleaded, sitting once more and searching her mother’s face. Evelien reached up to touch her daughter’s face, her fingers light as a feather as they traced the familiar contours.
“This life has been kind to me, Aellyn. You’ve made me happier than I could ever have hoped. There’s nothing more I could want,” Evelien smiled reassuringly, but Aellyn could detect the faint trace of sadness buried deep in her mother’s voice, could see it in her mother’s dark eyes. Like a bolt out of a clear blue sky, inspiration struck.
“What about father?” Aellyn asked suddenly, eyeing her mother closely to gauge her reaction. They never spoke of her father, but Aellyn knew her mother loved him still, even after all these years. Evelien’s wide eyes met hers. Aellyn could see clearly the shock and uncertainty there. “Maybe I can find him,” Aellyn said gently. “Bring him here.”
“He would not be easy to find,” Evelien said doubtfully. “And I would not want to force him here, Aellyn. He said he would return one day, and I believe he will when he is ready. If we are meant to meet again before I die, you will not need to seek him out. He will come on his own.”
“If he loves you half as much as you have said, surely he would want to see you again before…” Aellyn’s voice trailed off, unable to finish the thought.
“Before it’s too late?” Evelien supplied with a sad smile. Aellyn swallowed the lump of misery that sprang up in her throat.
“Everyone knows elves reckon time differently,” Aellyn replied, grasping at any small hope she could. “Perhaps he simply doesn’t realize just how much time has passed?”
“Or perhaps his responsibilities have kept him away,” Evelien shook her head. “If you wish to seek him out for your own happiness, Aellyn, I will not stop you. You have every right to know your father. But I will not have you drag him back here for my sake.”
“Does…” Aellyn began uncertainly, “does he know I exist?”
“No,” her mother replied after a thoughtful moment. “You were conceived the last night we were together. I never saw him again.” There were tears in her mother’s eyes.
“I’m sorry, mother,” Aellyn said, putting her arms around the old woman and hugging her close. “I didn’t mean to pry, I just thought…”
“I know, my dear,” her mother patted her arm reassuringly. “I’m sorry to have worried you so.”
“Will you… tell me about him?” Aellyn asked tentatively.
“You have his eyes,” Evelien said after a moment and smiled warmly. “And his spirit, headstrong and restless.” It might have sounded like chastisement, if not for the love that lighted her mother’s eyes and softened the words. “He was charming and handsome, as you might imagine. He was tall, and his hair was the silver of moonlight.”
“How did you meet?” Aellyn asked curiously, reaching back to adjust the pillows and settling in more comfortably at her mother’s side. Her mother grinned, a flash of youthful mischief creasing her face.
“I’d slipped away from my guardian for an afternoon and gone for a ride in the forest outside the city. I’d gone a bit further than I’d intended and before long, I realized I was lost. Evening was coming on, and truth be told, I was near panic by then. I was afraid I’d just been riding in circles, when I came to a clearing. There he stood, alone, gazing up at the sky as it darkened. He wore a green suit trimmed in gold, and his silver hair fluttered on the breeze.” Evelien’s gaze was far off and dreamy. “At first I thought I imagined him, he seemed too perfectly handsome to be real, but then he turned to me and smiled. He called out to me, and before I knew what I was doing, I dismounted and walked over to him. I introduced myself and explained that I’d gotten lost. I asked if he could point me in the direction of the city, but instead he offered to escort me to the edge of the forest. Fearing I might lose my way again, I accepted. Along the way, he chastised me,” Evelien laughed at the memory. “He said I had no business in the forest alone, and he was probably right, but I didn’t want to listen. I thought I’d found magic that night, and I was right.” Her mother smiled wistfully. “I went back the next night, and to my delight, he was there. We talked the whole night, and near dawn he escorted me back to the forest’s edge. We met every night for the next couple months, until at last the Summer festival approached and it was time he and his tribe were on the move again.” Evelien had a sad, far-off look in her eyes. “But he gave me two gifts before he left,” her mother said, turning to Aellyn with a warm smile.
“My necklace,” Aellyn murmured, a hand going to her throat where the silver chain hung.
“And you,” her mother added, leaning in close. Aellyn tilted her head to gently lay her forehead against her mother’s soft hair, drawing comfort from the familiar warmth.
Aellyn pulled the hood of her cloak over her head as she reached the bottom of the servants’ stair at the back of the manor house. She adjusted it carefully to mask her appearance before slipping out the door into the small side yard between the house and the stables. She glanced around furtively to be sure no one saw her before she made her way silently to the stables. She poked her head in and glanced around. All was clear. She assumed the stable lads were in their bunks above among the straw, sleeping. The only sounds were the shuffling of the horses in their stalls. She grabbed a bridle from the collection hanging from the wall nearby and moved to the end of the long row where her mare was kept. A horse poked its nose over its stall door as she passed and whickered softly at her. She paused for a moment to pat his velvet nose as she passed.
When she reached the last stall in the row, she paused at the door. A sleek black mare stood in the cell, eyeing her for a moment before coming closer. The mare lifted her head to clear the wall and reached forward to sniff curiously at Aellyn, then giving a gentle bump with her nose.
“Sorry, girl,” Aellyn said quietly, patting the mare’s head. “I don’t have any apples. But I do have a job for you.” She slipped the bridle carefully over the mare’s head, then gave her another pat, stroking her neck fondly. With that part done, Aellyn moved back to the front of the stable, collecting blanket and saddle and returning to the mare. She saddled the mare with the quiet efficiency of one who had performed the task countless times, checking the girth strap carefully, and moving to give the animal a final pat on the nose before leading her out of the stall.
As they left the barn, Aellyn glanced around once more to make sure she wasn’t observed before leading the mare to the sprawling estate’s small side gate. The heavy gate was closed for the night, and Aellyn figured, rightly, that to winch it open would be too conspicuous, so she led her mare through the smaller side door. Once through, she drew the bottom edge of her cloak up and tossed it casually over her shoulder before mounting and setting off down the narrow stone path that wound lazily through the estate’s outer gardens to the outer curtain wall and the city proper.
Mistwind Manor and its considerable estates sat atop a gently rolling hill surrounded by high stone walls on the outskirts of the illustrious Flower District, home to the noble families of the city, so named by the peasantry because its inhabitants always seemed to smell of sweet, exotic perfumes only the wealthiest could afford. Aellyn glanced around her as she dismounted to walk her mare through the heavy ironwood gate that separated her family’s estate from the rest of the city. A gentle breeze tousled the edges of her cloak and her mare’s long mane and tail. The night was quiet, save the chirping of a few crickets hiding among the low bushes of the garden that lined the path. The sky above was clear, with the exception of a few thin, scuttling clouds, and the near-full moon shone brightly casting everything in a cold silver sheen. Aellyn pulled a jangling key ring from the dark leather pouch at her belt and unlocked the gate, holding it open and clicking her tongue sharply. Her mare passed through the portal placidly and stopped just on the other side, bending her head to crop the low grass and waiting obediently for her rider. Closing and locking the gate again carefully, Aellyn turned and remounted, the soft black leathers she wore creaking softly as she settled back into the saddle.
Aellyn made her way along the well-maintained cobblestone street that led from the manor into the Flower District proper at a gentle trot. The streets here were lit by ornate lamps that glowed with soft amber light that chased away the darkness and lined periodically with beautifully manicured trees flowered with delicate pink blooms that wafted delicate sweetness in the clear night air. There wasn’t much traffic on the streets of the Flower District at this time of night, only the occasional carriage and cadre of attendants returning from a dinner party run long or merchants’ servants with carts or parcels making hasty deliveries to demanding clients. None took any note of her as she passed. Her clothing and horse’s barding were simple but of obviously high quality. It was clear she belonged here, and so none bothered her.
Before long, Aellyn had passed through the Flower District to the crossroads that led either into the city proper or around it. She took the left fork that would lead her around the perimeter of the Merchant District to the northern gate of the city. Two guards with pikes and gleaming plate stood at either side of the large gate. One of them turned with a curious glance at her approach. The guard’s demeanor was alert, but not aggressive. She did not give the appearance of a threat, and if indeed a threat came, it was more likely to come from outside the walls than within.
“What business, my lady?” The closest guard called to her as she drew near, stepping up to stand at her horse’s nose. He had obviously guessed, rightly, from the quality of her outfit and the direction of her approach that she was nobility.
“An evening ride, sir.” Aellyn replied.
“Awfully late for a ride, is it not, my lady?”
“Fear not, sir. I do not intend to go far, and I am well equipped and able.” Aellyn shifted her cloak aside, revealing the sword sheathed at her belt. The handle of a dagger could also be seen, if one were observant, sticking from the top of her boot. “I have left word with my family as well,” she added for good measure. The guards did not make a habit of questioning the foibles of the nobility, as a general rule, but a woman alone on the road at night was bound to raise an eyebrow, she knew, no matter how safe the surrounding countryside typically was thanks to frequent patrols.
“Pardon, my lady, but in which direction do you ride? And when do you intend to return?” The guard asked with a deferential bow. The questions were for her own safety, she knew, so she smiled kindly at him.
“North, towards the forest. I expect to return no later than sunrise.”
“And your na—”
“Mistwind,” Aellyn said before he could finish the question, hoping to forestall further inquiry. Eyebrows raised in surprise, the guard bowed again, lower this time. When he straightened, he turned and signaled to his companion to let her pass, returning to his own position. Clicking her tongue, she urged her mount forward, passing between the guards with a respectful nod to each, though they’d both returned to attention, eyes fixed firmly forward.
Once clear of the gate, Aellyn kicked her mare into a gallop, following the wide, hard-packed dirt road north out of the city towards the thick forest that spanned the horizon far in the distance. She would stick to the road for as long as she could, but it would fork off to the east and west before reaching the forest, caravans favoring the clearer plains around the forest to passing through it. When she finally reached the fork some time later, she slowed as she left the road to accommodate the uneven terrain, not wishing for her loyal mare to stumble, and kept on north. When at last she reached the edge of the forest, she paused, eyeing the trees ahead, searching for any sign of a path to ease her passage.
“So, where are we headed?”
Aellyn jumped, her heart leaping into her throat, the deep voice startling her from her thoughts. She turned in the saddle to find Conrad, mounted on a gray stallion and clad in his usual dark leathers and cloak, just a few feet behind her. He smiled expectantly. With a muttered curse, Aellyn turned her mount so she could more easily face him.
“A casual evening ride, my lady? Or something else?” He prompted when she gave no answer.
She wondered at how much to tell him. “Something else,” she said finally, reluctantly.
He nudged his mount closer, coming up along side her to look her squarely in the eye. “Your secrets are your own, my lady. I only wish to be of service, if I may,” he assured her.
She eyed him closely. He was in earnest, she could see, no trace of his typical humor in his expression now. She nodded in acquiescence, turning her mount back once more to face the forest. She wondered anxiously if his presence would hinder her, but there was nothing for it now. He was here, and unlikely to let her go on alone no matter what she might say. She sighed in resignation. Spying a small gap between some trees off to her right, she clicked her tongue and urged her mare toward it, Conrad and his stallion followed closely behind.
As they moved into the darkness of the forest, Aellyn hooked her reins around the horn of her saddle and reached back into her saddlebags to pull out a small torch, steering her well-trained mare carefully with her legs.
“Let me, my lady,” Conrad said, pulling his stallion up alongside her, placing his own reins similarly, and turning in the saddle to reach into his pack to produce a striking stone. He unsheathed the dagger at his side and held the implements up expectantly. She extended the torch to him, and he held the stone up to it, striking his dagger sharply against it repeatedly until the torch caught. When it did, she nodded her thanks and held the torch aloft to light their way, taking up the reins again in her free hand. Conrad tucked the stone back into his pack and sheathed his dagger once more, taking up his own reins again. “I can take that, if you like, my lady,” he offered.
“I’m fine for now, thank you,” she replied demurely, keeping her eyes forward, scanning the foliage ahead.
They continued on, weaving their way carefully through the trees and underbrush. Aellyn could feel him casting surreptitious glances her way and felt sure he was practically bursting with curiosity, but she said nothing, choosing to ignore him, and he kept his silence, a fact for which she was grateful. She had no idea how far into the forest they must go to find the clearing her mother spoke of, had no idea if they were even headed in the right direction, had no idea if anyone would be there even if she did find it. All she knew for certain was that, for her mother’s sake, she had to try.
“Is there something specific you seek, my lady?” Conrad finally asked. “I might know the way.”
She looked over at him, searching his face in the firelight for any sign of mockery and finding none. “A clearing,” she replied, turning back to the forest ahead. “I know next to nothing about it, only that it should be in this forest somewhere.”
“Not very helpful,” he muttered thoughtfully. She turned sharply back to him, opened her mouth for a waspish response, but realized he spoke more to himself than to her. She thought better of it and held her tongue, looking forward once more. “Perhaps if you told me more about your quest, I could be of more use.”
There it is, she thought. She had to concede that he’d kept his curiosity in check longer than she imagined possible. She reined in her mare and looked at him intently for a long moment, her eyes searching the familiar contours of his face as he reined in beside her. He waited, his gaze was steady, his eyes meeting hers in the flickering torchlight. “How much do you know about my family?” She asked finally.
“Much, my lady. I’ve been in their service since I was a boy, as well you know.” He replied.
“I mean about my mother, specifically,” she clarified.
He paused thoughtfully. “I know she had a lover once, long ago. That much is obvious, else you would not be here. I know her lover was likely an elf…” he trailed off in sudden realization, his amber eyes bored into hers. “You seek your father,” it was an accusation.
“Yes,” she murmured quietly, looking down at her saddle to avoid his piercing gaze.
“Why?” He asked, somewhat incredulously. “Why now? After all this time?”
“For my mother,” she answered, meeting his eyes once more in challenge. “I don’t know how much time she has left,” she went on, sadly. “She loves him still, and though she would never ask it, I know it would be her wish to see him again, before…”
His expression softened in sympathy. “I understand, my lady,” he said after a moment. He looked thoughtful again, a hand coming up to cradle his chin as his attention turned inward. “I know little of elves,” he muttered, searching his memory for any hint of how to proceed.
“My mother said she was able to reach the clearing from the city in an evening, so it can’t be much further,” Aellyn said finally, breaking into his reverie. She clicked her tongue, urging her mount onward once more. “Let us press on.” He nodded and followed.
They rode on through the forest for what seemed like hours, the warm, flickering light of the torch she held chasing away the dappled streams of moonlight that slipped through the leaves of the trees as they passed. She gazed up at the thick boughs above, wondering how much time had really passed, but the branches gave no sign.
“My lady,” Conrad called softly, pulling her from her wayward thoughts and drawing her gaze forward once more.
Somehow, while her attention had been elsewhere, they’d passed into a clearing without her notice. She reined in and looked around, blinking in confusion. The torch in her hand had gone out, she realized, but she knew not when or how. She looked to Conrad at her side, and they exchanged a worried glance. Evidently, he was as mystified as she.
“Hail, travelers,” came a musical voice to break the silence that had wrapped itself around them like a tendril of smoke. Startled, they both turned to find a slim figure clad in a gown of mossy green standing in the middle of the clearing, long hair flowing down her back like a river of silver. Aellyn dismounted before she scarcely knew what she was doing, dropping the torch she held and leaving her mare’s reins to dangle as she stepped slowly towards the figure as if in a dream. She sensed more than saw Conrad do the same. “Are you lost?” The figure asked curiously, turning to face them squarely. She was beautiful, Aellyn saw then, her pale features delicate and leaf green eyes bright.
“No,” Aellyn replied, moving in close. “I come seeking my father.”
“Your father?” Confusion puckered the delicate features. The woman leaned in, peering at Aellyn intently. After a moment of scrutiny, the woman straightened suddenly and her brows shot up as some realization dawned. “Ilbryen, you fool.” The woman whispered on an exasperated breath.
“Ilbryen?” Aellyn asked, confused.
“Your father,” the woman replied, a sardonic note in her voice. “Did your mother not tell you his name?”
“No, she rarely spoke of him.” Aellyn felt suddenly foolish. The woman gave her a sympathetic look.
“Without even knowing his name, you seek him out. Why?”
“My mother,” Aellyn began hesitantly. “She is unwell. I thought… I thought perhaps he might like to see her again.” She finished lamely. While he still can. She didn’t say it aloud, but by the wretched look on her face, the woman could infer the thought.
“I see,” the woman said carefully, and Aellyn knew she did, all too well. “The Prince has not yet returned to the forest, but I can try to send word to hasten his arrival.” Aellyn met the woman’s eyes once more, pleading.
“Could you? Please?” Aellyn felt hope well in her breast. The woman inclined her head.
“Return here in a few days’ time, and I may have news for you then.”
“Thank you!” Aellyn cried, tears of relief pricking her eyes.
“I can make no promises,” the woman admonished. “But I will do what I can.”
“I’m grateful for any overtures you might make on my behalf,” Aellyn bowed respectfully, a hand to her heart.
“Do not bow to me, or anyone, young one,” the woman admonished, reaching out to grasp Aellyn lightly by the shoulders, urging her upright. “You have royal blood coursing through your veins,” she explained. Aellyn’s eyes widened in shock and she let out a tiny gasp. “Your father is the prince of our people,” the woman went on. “And I’m sure he will be astonished to learn of your existence,” the woman chuckled softly. “You and your companion should go now, the night passes swiftly. When you return, come earlier if you can so that we may speak properly. I will tell you of your family,” the woman promised with a kind smile. Aellyn could only nod dumbly in response, too shocked for words.
Aellyn felt a soft touch on her shoulder, startling her from her thoughts, and she turned to find Conrad at her side, his hand gentle and his look concerned. When Aellyn glanced back, she saw the woman was gone and they were alone in the clearing. Aellyn shook her head as if to clear away the cobwebs. She felt as if she were waking from a long sleep.
“We should go, my lady,” Conrad suggested quietly.
“Yes,” Aellyn replied distractedly, and they both turned and made their way back to their mounts. Hoisting herself up into the saddle, Aellyn wondered if she’d imagined the whole encounter.
Conrad bent to retrieve the torch she’d dropped earlier, tucking it under his arm as he moved to his saddle to retrieve the striking stone he’d stowed there. Unsheathing his dagger, he lit the torch quickly, still tucked securely under his arm. He sheathed his dagger again, tucked the stone back in his pack, and took the torch from under his arm, holding it high. Using his free hand to grasp the saddle, he slipped a booted foot into a stirrup and boosted himself deftly up into the saddle and wheeled the stallion around to face the forest. That Aellyn had not objected to any of this told him much about her mental state as she sat quietly astride her mare, a far off look in her eyes. “My lady?” He prompted. Aellyn started, jarred from her thoughts, her eyes wide and her expression pensive. “Shall we?” He asked, nodding in the direction of the forest.
“Of course,” she replied, turning her mare and starting off.
The way back through the forest seemed much quicker, Aellyn thought as they broke through the tree line, the first rays of the rising sun beginning to lighten the sky to the east. She wasn’t sure what to make of the journey just yet, but hope kindled in her heart. Conrad drew up his mount just outside the forest, dismounting briefly to extinguish the torch he carried in the dirt at his feet before wrapping it in leather against any residual heat and packing it carefully away. As he put the torch away, he eyed her across his saddle with concern. They’d traveled in silence since leaving the clearing, Aellyn lost in her thoughts. She was sure he had questions, but blessedly, he voiced none of them. He remounted, and they set off once more for home.
Aellyn was thoughtful as they led their horses back through the inner gate to the stable yard. Conrad had been uncharacteristically quiet during the ride back, leaving her with her thoughts. It occurred to her as they unsaddled their mounts, moving quietly about the barn performing the small tasks necessary to care for their faithful beasts, that perhaps she’d misjudged him. Despite his spending most of his life on her family’s estate, she had to concede that she didn’t really know him. Their paths had seldom crossed over the years, and when they did, while he’d shown her the respect due one of her station, he’d also mixed that respect with a healthy dose of sarcastic humor that she’d taken for mockery and derision. Tonight, however, she’d sensed only concern from him.
“Why did you follow me tonight?” She finally asked as she stood in her mare’s stall, brushing the animal down carefully.
“Curiosity, my lady,” came his casual response from the stall directly opposite. She peered over at him doubtfully. “It’s not often you leave the estate, and certainly never in stealth under cover of darkness.” He grinned conspiratorially at her. “I thought perhaps you were meeting a lover and wanted to see what sort of man could inspire such mischief.”
She rolled her eyes. “Bullshit,” she declared, turning back to her mare.
He gasped, hands dropping uselessly to his sides as he turned to stare at her, mouth agape, looking for all the world as if she’d slapped him. She gave him a sidelong glare. After a moment, he discarded the facade of indignity and came to the door of his stallion’s stall, leaning against it with his forearms, brush still in hand. “Why did you go in search of your father?” He asked quietly, eyes somber, all trace of humor gone. “You never even mentioned him before tonight. Why the sudden interest?”
She continued brushing down her mare, her eyes fixed intently on her own hands as she worked. “Surely you heard what I told the elf?” She asked after a quiet moment.
“Your mother is sick,” he replied sympathetically.
“My mother is dying,” she corrected, a quaver in her voice, tears springing unbidden to her eyes. Swallowing the hard lump that had lodged in her throat, Aellyn came to stand at the door to her own stall, facing him. “My mother is too selfless to ask, but I know if she could be granted one final wish, it would be to see my father again. She loves him still, as fiercely and faithfully as she did all those years ago. He made her a promise, that one day he would see her again. I would not have him break his promise out of ignorance.”
“If they were so in love, why did he leave in the first place?” Conrad finally asked. His tone was soft, but there was a trace of bitterness in the question.
Aellyn shook her head. “I don’t know. My mother made it sound like a matter of duty, but didn’t offer an explanation.” She made a frustrated sound and impatiently tripped the latch of the stall door, stepping out. She paused, turning her back to him as she carefully latched the stall door closed. “The elf told us he was a prince. He likely had responsibilities that took him away,” she murmured, head hanging low as she stared sightlessly at the wood in front of her.
She suddenly felt a strong arm come around her shoulders like a band of iron. She startled, jolting up with wide eyes to find Conrad hugging her in close against his side. His amber eyes were sympathetic, his brow knit in concern. She hadn’t even heard him approach. A tear slid silently down her cheek, and he pulled at her again, turning her and bringing his other arm around her to hold her close against his chest. Without thinking, her arms went around his waist and she leaned her face into his shoulder, accepting the comfort he offered with a quiet cry. He leaned his cheek against her hair and held her, murmuring soft reassurances as he patted her back gently with one hand.
He let her cry quietly into his shoulder, feeling the tension slowly ease from her body as he held her. It was unsettling to him to see her in such a state. In all the time he’d worked on her family’s estate, he’d only ever seen her as a strong, confident figure, capable of overcoming any obstacle with the flash of blade or smile. Over the years, he’d spent a lot of time watching her, though he doubted she knew it. In his mind, there was little she couldn’t accomplish if she set her mind to it, and it was her that had inspired him to educate himself, train with the blade, study the poisoner’s arts, and any number of other things that he thought might make him more useful.
She shifted in his arms, settling herself more comfortably against him as the tears began to subside. She hadn’t realized how tense she had been, her nerves as tight as a bow string, until she’d allowed herself this moment of release. He was the last person she would have expected to offer her such comfort, but she was grateful for the warmth of him now. She dared not speak, lest the spell be broken and reality come crashing back in around her. Instead, she tightened her arms around his waist and heaved a great gasping sigh.
“Better?” He whispered softly against her hair.
“A bit,” she admitted with an unladylike sniffle. She felt more than heard the deep rumble of a chuckle in his chest.
“We’ll find your father, my lady,” he reassured her, and with a final squeeze, stepped back from her.
“Yes,” she replied, a bit breathless. Straightening, “I’m sure we’ll find him. My worry is not for him, but my mother,” she went on. “I am not yet ready to let her go.” She looked down at her hands then, seeming unsure. His gaze followed hers. She turned a dagger over in her hands, studying it closely. His dagger. A grin tilted her mouth as she eyed him through her lashes. He laughed aloud, genuine mirth rocking him back on his heels. She held the blade out to him, a sheepish smile lighting her face. He took it from her with a chuckle and slipped it back into its sheath at his hip. Her little stunt had effectively dispelled any awkwardness that might have sprung up in the space between them, and he was grateful for it.
“You should go, my lady, and get some rest,” he said when his mirth subsided. “It’s been a long night.” She nodded gratefully at him and with a final small smile, she turned and took her leave.
Exhaustion finally began to set in as Aellyn made her way quietly back to her chambers, the fatigue seeming to settle deep in her bones, making her movements sluggish. As she moved through the tastefully appointed hallway leading to her rooms, she was intercepted by a young page. The slight young man was dressed neatly in a tunic of midnight blue and silver, her house colors, and soft leather boots. His blond hair was tied in a tail at the nape of his neck, and he held a small collection of books and papers to his chest. When he saw Aellyn approach, he hustled over to her, looking relieved.
“My lady,” he called, sketching a quick, shallow bow. “Your uncle wishes to see you in his study.”
“Thank you,” she replied. “Let him know I’ll be with him as soon as I wash and change.” She was desperate to scrub the grime of travel from her before doing anything else. The young man bowed again and hurried off. She sighed heavily and picked up her pace as she continued on to her rooms at the end of the long hall.
Stepping into her sitting room, Aellyn reached for the thick bell rope that hung in the corner by a drink table laden with crystal glasses and decanters and gave it a quick yank, summoning her maid. She was starving, she realized suddenly, and she would need help buttoning the gown she would change into before her audience with her uncle. He wasn’t a particularly critical man, in fact he was often very kind to her, but Aellyn knew he appreciated cleanliness and composure, and so she would at least make the effort.
Aellyn poured herself a small glass of watered wine from one of the decanters and sipped gratefully. She carried the delicate crystal glass with her to an overstuffed blue silk couch the color of a clear midday sky in the height of summer, and sat heavily with a groan, sinking into the cushions. Her body ached from a long night in the saddle and she wanted a hot bath desperately, but it would have to wait.
Shortly, her maid, a slender, middle-aged woman with blond hair tied in a neat braid and a warm smile, entered with a breakfast tray made up with toasts, jams, eggs, sausage and a warm mug of tea. Her usual morning fare. The maid bustled over, placing the tray carefully on the low carved wood table in front of the couch upon which Aellyn sat.
“I hope you slept well, my lady,” the maid said as she placed the tray, eyeing Aellyn with a knowing smile.
“Thank you,” Aellyn replied, leaning forward and tucking in with relish. “Could you fetch some hot water and prepare a gown?” She asked through a mouthful. “I need to wash and dress quickly. My uncle has summoned me.”
“Of course, my lady,” the maid answered with a quick curtsy, “at once.” And she darted off on her errand.
By the time her maid returned with a large pitcher of steaming water, Aellyn had cleared her plate and sat quietly sipping at the last of her tea, staring sightlessly into the dying embers that glowed in the large columned fireplace that stood in the wall beside her couches. She rose, reluctantly, as the maid brought the pitcher through the arched doorway opposite that led into her dressing chamber, setting the mug she held on the low table with her empty tray and moving to follow.
In short order, Aellyn had managed to scrub herself clean and, with her maid’s help, don a modest velvet gown of muted blue hues and delicate silver embroidery. The gown was simple but richly made, the neckline was high and hugged her slender arms and waist like a second skin. With a final glance in the long looking glass that stood mounted in an ornate bronze frame in the corner of her dressing room, Aellyn nodded in satisfaction and set off for her audience with her uncle.
Her uncle’s chambers were in a different wing of the estate from her and her mother’s quarters. Each branch of the main family—her aunt, her uncle, and her mother—had their own wing of the primary estate since childhood. Her aunt, the eldest, had passed on some years prior, and her two surviving daughters, both a little older than Aellyn, had moved away years ago—one married into an aristocratic family in a city on the coast and the other had decided to enter an abbey in the countryside to pursue her faith, leaving the East Wing empty. Her uncle, the youngest of the siblings, and his family occupied the North Wing. His wife was a stately woman, and their two children, both girls younger than Aellyn but well into adulthood, were quiet and serious. Aellyn had heard whispers of potential marriage pacts for them, but she wasn’t particularly close with her cousins and had no notion of what their futures might hold.
It was hard, Aellyn mused as she made her way through the grand hallways to the North Wing where her uncle’s study was tucked away, to make such sprawling estates feel warm and homey, but somehow her family had managed it. She often drew comfort from the familiar confines of the manor house and its surrounding grounds. There was none of the typical bickering and back-stabbing here that so often plagued other noble families. While there were occasional disagreements, as of course there must be, every member of the family understood well that love and loyalty were their greatest strengths.
At last Aellyn came to the hallway that led to her uncle’s study. At the end of the hall stood two grand, carved wooden doors, and flanking them, two servants in livery standing at attention. Aellyn smiled warmly to them as she approached, stopping just in front of them to await admittance.
“He’s expecting me, I believe?”
One of the men nodded, then turned to knock sharply at the door. A voice came from within, and the man opened the door to poke his head in. Quick, quiet words were exchanged and the man turned back, pushing the door open further as he did so to offer her entry. She slipped past him with another smile, and she heard the door close carefully behind her as she moved into her uncle’s study.
The room was dominated by tall bookshelves that lined the walls, windows that stretched from floor to vaulted ceiling framed by thick drapes held open by golden cords the only break between shelves on the right side of the room. There was a large, columned fireplace on the wall to the left, opposite the windows, and a warm fire crackled there. At the back of the room, opposite the door, sat a great carved ironwood desk and comfortably stuffed chair. In the chair sat a handsome, middle-aged man with short black hair mixed with gray smoothed back from his face. His square jaw was clean shaven. Dark, intelligent eyes regarded her as he looked up from the parchment in front of him. After a pause, he stood, smoothing the rich blue brocade of his tunic over his trim waist.
“Aellyn, my dear,” her uncle greeted her warmly, smiling as he motioned to one of the two comfortable chairs that sat before his desk. “Thank you for coming.”
“Of course, Uncle,” Aellyn replied, seating herself and smoothing her skirts. “How can I be of service?”
Her uncle seated himself once more behind the large desk, folding his arms on its surface in front of him. He sighed, a troubled look marring his brow. “Your mother, how does she fare?”
“Not well, I’m afraid,” Aellyn began, looking down at her lap where her hands were folded. She fought the urge to fidget. “The coughing fits come more frequently now, and I’m not sure she’s able to sleep through the night anymore. Of course, she doesn’t breathe a word of complaint…” Aellyn trailed off lamely, waving a hand.
“Of course,” her uncle agreed. “Evelien was never one to burden others with her troubles.” They both sat in silence, lost in their own thoughts, for a moment. “Is she well enough to receive visitors?” He asked finally, searching her face.
“I think she would welcome a visit from her favorite brother,” Aellyn replied with a weak smile. Her uncle chuckled.
“I will visit her this afternoon,” he promised. “I’ve been remiss.”
“You’ve been busy with your responsibilities, which she understands well. These estates, which provide for us all, do not run themselves.” Aellyn was quick to come to his defense. He gave a grateful incline of his head.
“While I’m happy to discuss my sister, that’s not actually why I’ve called you here this morning,” her uncle announced, obviously shifting gears. His face took on a more impersonal, business-like expression. “It’s long past time you and I discussed the future, Aellyn.” His eyes met hers, gauging her response.
She had expected this, and so she was able to meet his gaze calmly. She waited. It was true that she was a bastard, but all of her cousins were female like herself, leaving no clear male heir, and her mother was the eldest of the remaining siblings, so there was a distinct possibility that the management of the family could one day fall to Aellyn. After all, her mother had shouldered much of that responsibility when she was able, often acting alongside her brother and with the same authority, and Aellyn had been trained from childhood to one day take stewardship of the family if it became necessary. It was a task that now, as she sat there across from her stern-faced uncle, seemed very daunting indeed.
“As you may already have guessed,” her uncle’s words shook her from her thoughts and she focused once more on the serious eyes that seemed to see into her very soul. “I would like for you to inherit when the time comes.” He paused to let that sink in. Aellyn didn’t respond, but merely nodded in acknowledgment. “You are the eldest child of my older sister, with no living male cousins to contest your inheritance. Despite your… illegitimate… birth,” his mouth had twisted in distaste at the word. None in her family had ever held the status of her birth against her, and her uncle had always been among her most stalwart defenders against those who felt differently among the other noble families. “There is no question that you are your mother’s child and therefore a child of the Mistwind family. You have been well trained and well educated, and you have always taken your responsibilities to your family seriously, just as your mother has,” her uncle went on. “With this in mind, I would like for you to begin training in the oversight of the estates in earnest. Shadow me, see how I manage things, learn everything there is to know about the minutiae of our holdings. Accompany me to Council meetings and see the part we play among the other governing families. Gods be good, you won’t need to put that knowledge into practice for years yet, but I don’t want you to be caught unprepared should the unexpected happen.”
Aellyn was quiet for a long moment, taking in all her uncle had said. “I’m grateful for your faith in me, Uncle,” she finally said. She looked down at her hands again. “However, before we begin, there is something I must confess.”
He looked at her curiously, obviously a bit put out by the turn the conversation had taken. “Yes, my dear?” He asked tentatively. He looked as though he were afraid she would spit in his face.
“I’m in the midst of a quest, Uncle,” Aellyn began, looking up to meet his eyes once more. “For my mother. Last night, I… I rode out to the forest outside the city in search of my father or some sign of him. Though she would never ask, I believe my mother would like to see him once more.” Her gaze never wavered, and she eyed her uncle carefully trying to measure his response to this probably unwelcome news.
“I see,” he said carefully, sitting back in his chair. “You had the good sense not to go alone, I hope?” The look on his face gave nothing away except his obvious concern for her well-being.
“Conrad was with me,” she responded a bit sheepishly. Her uncle nodded, a mixture of acknowledgment and relief.
“Did your late night adventure bear fruit?”
“I’m not sure,” Aellyn admitted. “We met an elf woman in the forest. She said she knew my father and would send word to him that he was needed. She told me to return in a few days and she might have news.” Her uncle digested this in silence for a few moments, resting his elbows on the arms of his chair and steepling his fingers before him, bringing his index fingers to his lips in contemplation. It was a habitual gesture that Aellyn had come to know well over the years, something he did whenever he was lost in his own thoughts, turning things over in his mind. She waited quietly for his verdict.
“My sister’s love for your father is greater than any I have ever seen,” her uncle finally said, bringing his hands down to fold them across his stomach. “I remember well the look of wonder in her eyes the day she realized she was carrying you, and I remember well how often I would find her sitting in the window seat in her chambers, gazing longingly out towards the forest. She never complained. She never cried, at least not where any of us could see it.” A sad look swept across his features, the sympathy he felt was clear. “Find your father, if you can, my dear,” he said with conviction. “I would have my sister’s last days filled with joy, if we can manage it. You have the family’s full support and our considerable resources are at your disposal, if you need them.” Their eyes met once more and held, a silent communication both complex and clear. They were of singular heart and mind in this.
“I will do whatever I can,” Aellyn promised. “And when I have completed this task, I will do as you ask and learn from you all I can of the management of the family.” Her uncle smiled at her then, the expression transforming his face and chasing away all trace of the shadows that had been there. Aellyn stood with an answering grin and gave a deep curtsy before turning and taking her leave.
Aellyn awoke suddenly. She had returned to her chambers after her meeting with her uncle and, hastily stripping off her gown, climbed into bed and let the exhaustion carry her swiftly into sleep. She’d obviously slept through the day; the room was nearly pitch black around her, the only dim light coming from the window in front of her, the moonlight shuttered by an overcast sky. She wasn’t sure what had awoken her, but years of training kept her silent and still in her confusion, her breathing even. She strained her ears, listening for any small sound that might hint at what had roused her. She heard a soft, nearly imperceptible scuffing sound far to the lower right of her bed, behind where she lie facing the large window, deep in the shadows. If not for the enhancement of her senses from her father’s elven blood, she would never have heard the sound. She inhaled deeply, silently, trying to catch any scent in the room she didn’t recognize. But she recognized every scent in the bedchamber around her, as familiar to her as the sweet scent of her mother’s hair. Including one that shouldn’t be there.
She waited, keeping her body still and her breathing even, her eyes closed and her ears tuned. Her keen hearing tracked the sound around the foot of her bed, moving carefully. She slid a hand slowly under her pillow, reaching for the dagger she kept there; she masked the movement to seem as if it were only the movement of deep sleep with a soft snore and nuzzled her face into the pillow. She listened intently for any further sign of movement and heard none. Weighing her options, she decided that, tangled as she was in her shift and bedsheets and with the bed’s canopy above her, she was too encumbered to catch her target before they sprang out of the way and made their escape. Frustrated, she resolved to wait.
“I know you’re awake,” came a deep voice from the darkness at the foot of her bed.
“You do now,” she replied, opening her eyes. “But you didn’t when you said it,” she accused, sitting up and pulling the dagger slyly from under her pillow to hold hidden against her hip. She heard movement and the sharp sound of a striker right before the candle on one of her side tables flared to life, casting her bedchamber in flickering candlelight and dancing shadows. Conrad spread his hands in a shrug, the grin on his face revealed by the amber glow beside him, then folded his hands together in front of him and said nothing. “Why are you here?” She asked tiredly, pinning him with a look of irritation.
“Curiosity, my lady,” he replied cryptically, grin still stuck to his lips.
“About what?” She all but growled the question at him, fast losing her patience.
“Well, for one, I’ve never seen your chambers before. I wondered what they looked like,” he looked around him, his grin melted seamlessly into an innocent smile. His gaze met hers, amusement crinkling the skin at the corners of his eyes.
“Hard to see in the dark, isn’t it?” She asked on an exasperated sigh.
“Well, you’re hardly likely to invite me to afternoon tea, my lady,” he replied placidly.
“I might have,” she corrected indignantly, a bit offended by his implication that she somehow thought herself better than him. He cocked a brow at her. “And two?” She asked. He seemed to sober somewhat.
“I wondered how things went with your uncle today,” he said softly. “I came earlier, but your maid said you were asleep.”
She drew her legs up, crossing them in front of her beneath the covers and settling herself more comfortably, leaving the dagger at her side and drawing her hands into her lap above the bedsheets. “They went well,” she replied. “He gave our endeavor to find my father his full support.”
“Our endeavor?”
“He knows you accompanied me last night,” she explained.
“And was grateful you had the good sense not to go out alone,” he surmised, his lips quirking in satisfaction as he folded his arms across his chest and leaned a hip against the table at his side.
“Yes,” she admitted begrudgingly.
“So,” Conrad drawled casually. “We have good Uncle Aldun’s blessing and I pass from his service into yours. What else?” He asked, eyeing her closely. Her hands fidgeted in her lap, the only sign that betrayed her uneasiness. It was a habit she was typically able to subdue, but she still occasionally let down her guard, though he never saw her do it with anyone else present, he suddenly realized.
“Once my father has been found and my parents reunited, he wishes me to shadow him and learn the management of the estate and our family’s role on the Council,” she said at last. Conrad whistled softly.
“So he means for you to succeed him?”
“Some day,” she confirmed. “Hopefully many years from now.” He nodded, digesting that in silence. “That’s a worry for another day. Is there anything we need to do before our next trip into the forest?” Though she hated it, she had to admit that her experience outside the confines of the estate were limited, and she would have to defer to his judgment. She’d been trained in wilderness survival, of course, but she’d never actually had to put that knowledge to the test. He, on the other hand, had made many excursions out of the city on her uncle’s behalf, she knew. He looked thoughtful for a moment.
“Not especially, my lady,” he responded finally. “I’m sure the waiting and inaction is frustrating, but there isn’t much we can do. Unless you’d like me to make inquiries of my own to see if there might be any word of your father?” He asked, brows raised. She shook her head.
“Somehow I suspect my father and his people take great pains to shield themselves from mortal eyes,” Aellyn murmured. He inclined his head in acknowledgment.
“Probably true, but I can still try?”
“No, we’ll wait and see what that woman has to say,” she replied with a resigned sigh. He pushed himself from the table and bowed slightly. “Now if you don’t mind, I’d like to go back to sleep. Preferably without an audience.”
He bowed again, lower this time, an amused grin tugging the corners of his mouth. He turned, blew out the candle, and left her bedchamber through the archway to her sitting room. A moment later, she heard the outer door open and close quietly. She pushed the dagger at her side back under her pillow and settled herself in among the pillows once more, eyes fluttering closed as sleep claimed her once more.
The next few days went by slowly. Aellyn caught herself pacing her sitting room more often than she liked. She visited her mother frequently, comforting the old woman as much as she could. On one occasion, she’d entered her mother’s bedchamber to find her uncle there, sitting in a comfortable chair drawn up beside her mother’s bed, the two of them chatting quietly over a tea tray that sat on her mother’s night table. The sight warmed her. She bowed herself out of the room, saying she didn’t want to interrupt their time together.
Finally, the day came when Aellyn and Conrad had decided they would return to the forest. Aellyn spent most of the day in an irritable mood. She spent a brief stint in the practice yard that morning, where she’d tried to take her anxiety out on some innocent straw-stuffed training dummies. When she unintentionally hacked one clean in half, she decided it was time to sequester herself away in her chambers until it was time to leave so she wouldn’t be a danger to others. An hour before sundown, she donned her leathers and cloak and made her way down to the stables where Conrad already stood waiting with their mounts. She nodded her thanks and strode to her mare, taking the reins from him and mounting up. He mounted his stallion beside her, and they set off.
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