closing in on her and she
could feel her focus dwindling. If she didn’t get out of there she
was at major risk of losing control again, and pride would not let
her do that in front of anyone. She certainly didn’t want to injure
anyone that may be within her presence, however accidental it would
be.
She couldn’t hide the look of betrayal she
felt. Carefully moving her shoulder away from the king’s touch, she
backed up a few steps.
“I - I…” No words came. The young Custodian
turned and ran out of the library.
The king looked at one of the guards. “Do not
let her leave the castle. She is far too upset and could do much
damage if her power gets away from her.”
The guard nodded and turned to leave.
“And for the love of Kernunnos, someone find
her Guardian!” the king bellowed to no one in particular as he
turned to his desk, made a fist and hesitated a second before
slamming it down. Various objects bounced off the surface with the
force of his frustration. The guards ran out of the door, gave each
other a fleeting glance and headed in opposite directions.
Faen took a seat in one of the garden chairs
surrounding an oak table and accepted the mug of brew his mother
poured and offered him. She poured one for herself and took the
chair next to her husband, who covered her hand with his. Faen did
not miss the loving gesture between his parents and yearned to
experience it with someone one day. He knew with whom, he just
didn’t know if it would be possible.
“Where is the Custodian, Faen? Should she not
be with you?” Janessa asked, snapping Faen from his thoughts. He
brought his gaze up from his parent’s entwined fingers to meet his
mother’s eyes.
Faen took a deep breath before responding.
“She is at home.”
“But, Son, you should not leave a Custodian,
you know that.” His father’s brow wrinkled with concern.
“She is sleeping. I will be back before she
awakes; she is quite safe in the cottage, it is warded.”
“Nevertheless…” Faen’s father continued.
“Father, I need your help.” Faen cut in
before his father could continue.
Faen recognized the ‘go ahead’ look in his
father’s eyes and carried on.
“Vivianna kidnapped her father last
evening.”
Janessa gasped. “She did what? Why?”
“She wants the amulet.”
“But the amulet is of no use to her now that
the book has been recovered.” Faen’s father stated.
“I know but she insists that Faedra has seven
days to give up the amulet or her father dies.” Faen dropped his
gaze to the table. The hurt on Faedra’s face burning into his
soul.
“Do you have any idea where she has taken
him?” his father asked.
“That is why I am here, Father. You see, she
has the ruby staff.”
Janessa put her hand to her mouth in shock,
her eyes widened with horror. He could see his father’s features
flicker with surprise before resuming back to his usual neutral
expression.
Janessa turned to her husband. “But, Rowan, I
thought the ruby staff had been destroyed along with Savu.”
Rowan said nothing.
“Father, I remembered the stories you used to
tell me when I was a child, that is why I am here…”
“Excuse me, Master Faen,” the housekeeper
interrupted.
All three turned towards where she was
standing in the archway to the garden.
“What is it, Forbes?”
“There is a Messenger from the castle to see
you. He says it is most urgent.”
“Thank you, Forbes, please send him in.”
She inclined her head and stepped aside to
let the Messenger pass.
The thin gangly looking fae with huge
outstretched wings scuttled passed the housekeeper, causing her to
duck around his wing as he did. She gave him a reproving look
before turning and heading back towards the kitchen.
The Messenger scuttled up to Faen unable to
conceal the relieved look on his face. He was still out of breath
when he started talking. “Oh, Mr. Faen, thank Kernunnos, I found
you.” His speech was rushed and breathy.
“Sit down,
could feel her focus dwindling. If she didn’t get out of there she
was at major risk of losing control again, and pride would not let
her do that in front of anyone. She certainly didn’t want to injure
anyone that may be within her presence, however accidental it would
be.
She couldn’t hide the look of betrayal she
felt. Carefully moving her shoulder away from the king’s touch, she
backed up a few steps.
“I - I…” No words came. The young Custodian
turned and ran out of the library.
The king looked at one of the guards. “Do not
let her leave the castle. She is far too upset and could do much
damage if her power gets away from her.”
The guard nodded and turned to leave.
“And for the love of Kernunnos, someone find
her Guardian!” the king bellowed to no one in particular as he
turned to his desk, made a fist and hesitated a second before
slamming it down. Various objects bounced off the surface with the
force of his frustration. The guards ran out of the door, gave each
other a fleeting glance and headed in opposite directions.
Faen took a seat in one of the garden chairs
surrounding an oak table and accepted the mug of brew his mother
poured and offered him. She poured one for herself and took the
chair next to her husband, who covered her hand with his. Faen did
not miss the loving gesture between his parents and yearned to
experience it with someone one day. He knew with whom, he just
didn’t know if it would be possible.
“Where is the Custodian, Faen? Should she not
be with you?” Janessa asked, snapping Faen from his thoughts. He
brought his gaze up from his parent’s entwined fingers to meet his
mother’s eyes.
Faen took a deep breath before responding.
“She is at home.”
“But, Son, you should not leave a Custodian,
you know that.” His father’s brow wrinkled with concern.
“She is sleeping. I will be back before she
awakes; she is quite safe in the cottage, it is warded.”
“Nevertheless…” Faen’s father continued.
“Father, I need your help.” Faen cut in
before his father could continue.
Faen recognized the ‘go ahead’ look in his
father’s eyes and carried on.
“Vivianna kidnapped her father last
evening.”
Janessa gasped. “She did what? Why?”
“She wants the amulet.”
“But the amulet is of no use to her now that
the book has been recovered.” Faen’s father stated.
“I know but she insists that Faedra has seven
days to give up the amulet or her father dies.” Faen dropped his
gaze to the table. The hurt on Faedra’s face burning into his
soul.
“Do you have any idea where she has taken
him?” his father asked.
“That is why I am here, Father. You see, she
has the ruby staff.”
Janessa put her hand to her mouth in shock,
her eyes widened with horror. He could see his father’s features
flicker with surprise before resuming back to his usual neutral
expression.
Janessa turned to her husband. “But, Rowan, I
thought the ruby staff had been destroyed along with Savu.”
Rowan said nothing.
“Father, I remembered the stories you used to
tell me when I was a child, that is why I am here…”
“Excuse me, Master Faen,” the housekeeper
interrupted.
All three turned towards where she was
standing in the archway to the garden.
“What is it, Forbes?”
“There is a Messenger from the castle to see
you. He says it is most urgent.”
“Thank you, Forbes, please send him in.”
She inclined her head and stepped aside to
let the Messenger pass.
The thin gangly looking fae with huge
outstretched wings scuttled passed the housekeeper, causing her to
duck around his wing as he did. She gave him a reproving look
before turning and heading back towards the kitchen.
The Messenger scuttled up to Faen unable to
conceal the relieved look on his face. He was still out of breath
when he started talking. “Oh, Mr. Faen, thank Kernunnos, I found
you.” His speech was rushed and breathy.
“Sit down,
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