Where It All Begins
The next day
Cypress
The next day
The Sun King taps his finger on the dinning room table. Tomas, Clove Mari, Connor, and the twins eat what they can while the King sorts his thoughts. Mari and Connor’s children fight over who gets the last pastry while Reed cautiously drinks her ginger tea, taking her time with each sip.
“It sounds too simple,” the King finally states.
Reed and I have taken it upon ourselves to tell the King what we have learned.
“My concern,” Connor speaks up, “is the uprisings. Not everyone is overjoyed with the Shadow Fae being welcomed into our kingdom.” Connor takes a sip of his tea.
“What we experienced in the town with Clove is nothing compared to what my sources have found. Some are even hunting the Shadow Fae and anyone who helps them because of what the Shadow Kingdom has done to their families in the past.” Connor says as he looks to Mari. She agrees somberly.
“Even though we offer peace, grief cannot be forgotten,” Mari says as Connor takes her hand and graces it with a kiss on top of her knuckles; her words sound too raw, too real. My heart forms a knot with the thought that my father may have done something to her, but I don’t dare to ask. I look up to see Clove quietly shift in her seat.
Keeping my eyes blind to his cruelty was something I’ve done over the years for my own sake, but now I see how that has harmed others since if I was there, I could have helped them.
Would I have helped them?
I’m shook from my thoughts as I begin to notice everyone eyeing me. I must have been somewhere else for too long. Without a word, Reed rests her hand over mine, as if she understands. I gently squeeze it to show I am present. I must have been asked a question, I clear my throat to have it repeated, but Reed answers for me.
“Cypress and I can investigate the uprisings. I would prefer Tomas to also be with us for a political stand-point. This way the people can see that the royal family they have always stood-by desires a terms of peace, and welcoming outsiders is how they wish to do so,” Reed states as she takes another long sip of her steaming tea.
After I arrived and spoke to the Sun King about my terms, there were whispers that it was just Reed and I who wished to slowly combine the kingdoms as a way to create unity. In reality, it was the Sun King’s idea. He expressed how over centuries he saw how the barrier was no longer practical. It was faltering, and it kept out those who needed the light. Reed and I have stood by this idea, and have dearly believed in it. But of course, change is not always welcomed if it doesn’t entirely benefit the “right” people.
“Also,” Reed begins, “As you say, it’s not that simple. Posing as refugees could be a way to create division instead of simply leading an attack. Division kills just like a sword can. If the wielder does it right, anyways.” The Sun King looks at her with an expression I don’t completely recognize. Admiration perhaps?
“There’s a warehouse that is rumored to be where rebels meet. I gathered a few whispers of it from my sources. It’s towards the center of town. I would like to start there,” Connor cuts in.
“I’ll go with you,” Tomas remarks.
I look to see Clove open her mouth as if she would join them too, but her words are cut off by the King.
“I would like for you to stay here with me. I have some things I would like to discuss with you,” The Sun King says to my sister. She’s been too silent this entire time. This isn’t like her. She nods once.
“Cypress and I can scout out the rest of the town,” Reed suggests as she shrugs her shoulders and looks to me for my agreement.
I turn my eyes from Clove. Whatever it is, I’ll figure it out later. I give Reed a shy smile. “I look forward to a decent tour around the heart of the Sun Kingdom.”
*
I always figured that there were members of the Sun Kingdom’s court and of the town that were against Reed for what she is. I didn’t realized how much more loved she is. I keep glancing as she takes her steps in stride throughout the town: waving to the local floral shop, asking for the bookshop owner to save a copy of their newest addition. She even stopped to give her time to a group of children that were determined to get chocolate from her. I suppressed a laugh as she crossed her arms and scolded them for thinking she had the time to constantly supply them sweets, and then took out a bag of assorted sweets to toss to them. It was as if she had planned to see them.
Reed and I have been enjoying the beautiful day and being thorough with our search. She insisted we checked every market stand. Without being too obvious, we have walked around the city and wandered around different shops to listen in on conversations in hopes of finding more information. Reed hasn’t mind being hidden with me in between my shadows to avoid intel being silenced if we are seen. She agreed if I bought her some sweets.
She shakes off the cold feeling she gets when she is wrapped in shadows for too long and we split an apple tart. She soaks in the sunlight for a moment then eyes me for her share. As she reaches for her piece, Reed’s necklace flashes a bright blue light twice. Next thing I know, she’s pushing me onto the ground as something buzzes by us. Reed shields my body with hers for only a moment before she looks up to see an arrow lodged in a wooden barrel, right by where we were just walking. She quickly searches around us until she finds her target, her eyes a bright crystal blue. The color of her eyes isn’t the only difference. Reed’s joyful nature has been possessed by a look of a predator seeking out her prey.
I follow her as we attempt to track down the assassin, pushing past those watching in awe and in fear. Whether their reaction is to Reed’s sudden rage or to what they witnessed, I have no idea.
I follow her through narrow paths that are leading us away from the city. I almost run into Reed as she abruptly stops. Her necklace flashes a bright blue multiple times until it stays illuminated. I turn Reed around to see that her eyes are a matching blue, but she isn’t moving. She just stands there, unwavering. I scream her name and shake her. This has never happened before. I feel the unease rise through my arms to my chest. I beg her to come back to me. Still, she doesn’t move.