Ever Shade by Alexia Purdy Page A

lighter, harder and more intricately carved. It was probably made out of marble but Shade was no expert. Different colored veins ran through the stone but that did not break up the smoothness of the carvings.
    The Queen herself stared at Shade through large black eyes. They were very similar to Lady Blythe’s luminous insect eyes, but she did not glamour herself. Her fiery blue skin glowed brightly and seemed to hum with the crackle of electricity. There were constant flames flowing over her body. Her hair looked also afire but did not burn; it was a dark color with the highlight of blue crackling through it. So that is what a full Teleen woman looks like unshielded, Shade thought. She also noticed some of the guard and attendees were in full Teleen glow too.
    They had reached the throne when Ewan knelt down before the blue lightning queen with his head bowed. Everyone followed suit as he spoke. “Your Majesty, Queen Gretel of the Teleen. We have come from the Guildrin clan in the city of Aturine, and greet you with open arms and love from our Queen Zinara. We were told of your great hospitality and ask of you only permission to rest the night and continue our journey tomorrow.”
    The Queen glanced around at them, taking in what she saw. She nodded the slightest of nods and spoke with a voice that echoed off the walls and rippled through the air like a cool mountain breeze. “Please stand, I am aware of your coming from my sister Zinara. She has spoken well of all of you and I find you most deserving of her praise. Please also forgive my guards, they find torturing any visitors to be quite amusing. We don’t get too many visitors here, as you might see. We are an isolated clan and the last of the Teleen blood you will find anywhere in the world. We are a dying breed. But we are powerful and most mischievous. I find it a great pleasure that I am able to aid you on your quest to the Santiran fountains. Please, make yourselves comfortable and accept our great hospitality.” She waved her arm over the crowd as they stood and found that tables had been set up in two rows, one on either side of them. One by one the tiny flying demi-fey servants came out and placed candelabras, bowls, goblets and overflowing platters of food on the tables. They were dressed with great long robes with long flowing linen. Fruits, meat and rolls of soft bread filled the middle of the great tables. Shade felt her stomach rumble with hunger and all of them were looking at each other with glee dancing on their faces.
    They filed around the table on their right and sat down at the end nearest the queen. The queen herself had a table set up right in front of her with anything she asked for. There were stone plates and wooden forks and knives already set up in front of each of them. The small faeries that had laid out the table were now darting back and forth. They were so quick and efficient at their job; all that could be seen was a blur of wings and hands.
    Shade watched them, fascinated by how tiny they were with their wings as thin as tissue, but they held the tiny stick thin figures gently in the air. The ones she was able to gaze longer upon showed her tiny faces with perfect tiny lips and straight noses. Most had jet-black body-length hair, some tied back and some with it hovering around them like capes. Large almond insect eyes were black as night and blinked at her curiously, none of them smiled but flitted by her, leaving a gust of cool air as they raced by.
    Shade was exhausted. The food was working on her already and helped fill the void in her stomach. She felt sleep pulling at her eyes, and her body ached with every stretch and movement. She looked around at her friends. They all seemed tired too as they quietly munched on the great feast. She had stuffed her belly full and felt a twinge of regret with the pain of her swollen stomach making it hard to breathe. She sat back in her chair and looked across the table. On the parallel stone