“It’s to your right,” he called from outside her room.

Shade stepped into the hallway and looked down the darkened hallway. The walls were made of wood, twisting and curving in such a way to create the rooms and halls. She realized in awe that they must be inside a large tree that was converted into a cottage. She retrieved her light stone from her pack and held it in front of her. The glowing light was bright in the dim surroundings and comforted her some. The hallway was not as long as it looked in the dark. She took the last door at the end of the hall; it was a modern looking bathroom, nothing elaborate but it was clean and (small). She placed her clothes on the counter and the light stone continued to glow. She smiled and was glad it didn’t need to stay in contact with her to stay lit. She whispered thanks to it and turned the shower on.

I wonder how this all works? There wasn’t any electricity in the cabin but it appeared to have modern conveniences. It was still hard to take in the idea that magic and the faeries were real, even after everything she had seen and been through. The water ran over her skin and the heat and steam revived her, and simply felt like bliss.

When Shade was done she returned down the hall to her room, slipping in and putting her things away. She put her shoes on and held her backpack in one arm as she left the room to check out the rest of the house and find Ursad. The main room was small but cozy; a blazing fire crackled along one side of the room in a simple fireplace. There was one reading chair (made out of old red velvet) it sat in front of the fire along with a fluffy couch that was placed on the right side of the room. It was covered with a warm cotton throw blanket, with bits of yarn loosened from its edges. She turned towards the left to see a small table and two chairs made out of wood and it appeared as if it was hastily nailed together; but the wood was smooth and worn and showing signs of age.

Ursad sat in one of the chairs and had his hands on his face when she entered the room. He pulled his hands away and stood up suddenly, when he realized she was standing there and watching him. He looked momentarily distressed but composed himself immediately.

“Oh, you’re done? I guess you will want to be leaving then.” He sank back into his chair and sighed. His green eyes glowed with the fire dancing in them, as he stared at it from across the room.

“Yes, I have to. I wanted to thank you for your hospitality. I don’t know what would have happened to me if you had not found me.” She stopped and stared at him. He looked almost agitated at her words. She bit her lip nervously and approached the chair that sat opposite of him. Dropping her pack, she sat down and looked up at him. “Ursad?”

“Yes.” His voice sounded quiet and dejected.

“What’s wrong? Are you upset? Did I do something wrong?”

His green eyes drifted up to meet hers. She realized that his cheeks were wet with tears. She waited uncomfortably for a response. She felt like she didn’t know who this person was at all but felt compelled to stay. A moment or two won’t hurt.

“Ursad?” She said, as he did not respond.

“You don’t have to go. You are safe here. Whatever was chasing you, will not find you here. I have wards all around this area that prevent even other faeries from wandering here or knowing of your presence. You don’t have to go and risk your life again Shade. Stay here, stay here forever, please?” He had his hands grasping the table, his knuckles white with strain.

She stared at them and then back to his face. She shook her head, feeling suddenly drowsy, like she had been drugged. No, I’m just feeling really tired. “Ursad, I can’t do that. I have people counting on me…I have been asked to do something and I can’t give up. I have to do this or the land of Faerie faces a war between the two Faerie courts. Queen Zinara needs me to get to the fountains of the Santiran lands to get the magic water to help them keep the Lonares of the Unseelie court from waging war against them. So you see, if I stay, the war would spill out of Faerie and into the mortal world. I live in that world, and my family does too. I can’t let that happen, Ursad. I can’t.” She felt the warm spill of tears stream down her cheeks as she spoke of her family. She missed them more at that moment than ever before.

Ursad had his hands clasped together on the table. His eyes no longer flaring but were filled with sadness. “I’m sorry; I shouldn’t have ever asked you to stay here. I know you are meant for great things, I can feel it. It is selfish of me to make you.” He sighed and handed her a handkerchief.

She wiped her face, blowing her nose and sniffling. She stood up then feeling again exhausted. When will I be able to go home? She thought sadly and frustrated too. She looked at Ursad and idea came to her. “You could help me you know.”

Ursad looked up at her, he seemed to be wondering what was going through her head but decided to ask instead. “What do you mean, Shade?”

“You are a prince of the Santiran lands. You would know the way to the fountains wouldn’t you? I don’t know the way; and you could take me there. Please, my friends will probably be heading that way, and I could catch up.” She found herself sitting forward in the chair, and was surprised at how she was eager for him to agree to the idea. Shade took a hold of his hand as her eyes flashed with hope. “I’ve been feeling lonely a bit and lost myself. Ursad, it would be nice to a have new friend with me.”

He glanced down at their hands touching and Shade pulled back. Her face was flushed with heat and her stomach fluttered in an excited way and she wasn’t sure why it was happening. Maybe it was because a man had never looked at her like that before; his eyes were filled with hope and maybe desire. She glanced away and down, focusing on her hands, now folded in her lap. Don’t make something out of nothing…he’s just a new friend.

“Okay, I’ll help you,” he said.

Shade met his eyes, her face lighting up as she jumped from her chair and hugged him, and let out a sigh of relief.

Shade smiled as he embraced her. “Whoa, any tighter I might not make the journey.” He chuckled, sounding winded. “But I have to say your enthusiasm is contagious.”

“Oh, sorry about that,” she loosened her grip and stepped back. “You won’t regret this, Ursad. Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you! I don’t know what I would’ve done without your help.” She stopped and watched him smile quietly and nod his head. She fought the urge to hug him again and nodded too. She wasn’t feeling exhausted anymore, but revived and ready to get started. “When should we start?”

“We can go now. Wait a minute, though,” he opened a cabinet on the wall by the sink and rummaged through it. Tin cups and miscellaneous papers trailed out and clamored on the floor. Shade pressed her lips together, not wanting to laugh out loud and hurt his feelings. What a mess, She thought his place was cozy but cluttered.

“Here we go!” He pulled out a folded parchment brochure that looked like it had seen too many years. He unfolded and shook it, letting dust puff out into the air. Coughing a little, he cleared his throat and laid it out on the table. It was a map, another map of the faerie lands. It was extremely detailed (down to the tree stumps) and also showed the side trails and pathways.

Shade’s eyes widened as she absorbed the amazing drawings and unusual names that were scattered throughout the parchment. She reached out and slid her finger over the area labeled ‘Santiran Fountains.’ “That’s where I need to be, Ursad.” She glanced up and smiled at him. He smiled back, confirming.

“We are here right now.” He traced the crescent of Solare’s beach and followed it down a crooked blue line. “This stream is the small river near where I found you.” He traced the trail that led through what looked like a small town or village, past a small mountain range, and to a palace of stone near a much larger mountain range, that bordered all of Faerie.

“Yes, how long do you think it would take us to get there?” Shade asked and felt the excitement flutter under her skin. They couldn’t be that far from the fountains.

“It’s a day and a half hike to reach the fountains. We can spend the night in the town of Genoden. The road is not what I’m afraid of though.” He paused watching Shade’s face fall. “The trail is filled with dark creatures and probably already being watched by the Lonares soldiers. We will have to sneak past them to reach the base of the Santiran Mountains, where the fountains are housed.”

She pressed her lips together as she thought about what he said. Can’t any part of this be simple? She thought, irritated, but she was quickly learning life wasn’t always easy or fun.

Chapter Fourteen

Dylan’s foot slipped, as he climbed down the cliff made of loose muddy rock and dirt. He cursed under his breath as he grasped the jagged rocks firmly and felt them rip into his palms. He looked down to see how much farther he had before reaching the lower banks of the falls. He had seen Shade jump. He hardly could believe that she had done that. He was so enraged that stabbing Blythe had felt almost surreal. It was only a second after she turned and faced him before he plunged his sword deep into her chest. Her screech had filled the air and her warm crimson blood had soaked his hands, until he pulled his sword back out and watched her crumble to the ground. Death, warmed over her thin body, and she shriveled into a pile of ashes.

Dylan had then reached the edge of the cliff and looked down into the misty cloud of river spray, but had found no sign of Shade. He had felt his blood scream in his veins as a wave of pain crawled throughout his body, making him hunch over with its intensity. He knew then that Shade had been hurt and the blood ties would drag him to her as long as it was in place. The farther he got from her, the more it would hurt. He cursed under his breath, wishing he had reached her before she had plunged into the falls. He glanced back at Blythe’s withered body–or really– her pile of ‘dust’. At least the dryad witch queen will not get in the way again. He knelt down, leaning over and scanned the area for a way down the falls. He did not like what he saw and sighed, sheathing his sword and tightening the leather straps that held it across his chest. Unfortunately, this had to be done. He had glanced around for the rest of the group but the fight had pushed inland rather than towards the cliff. He no longer could hear anyone. Damn, there is no time that can be wasted.

He left them behind, afraid to wait too long to see if anyone survived or didn’t for that matter. He had done well until the slip up. His hands burned and stung as he moved on the rocks, warm blood oozed from his cuts where the stone had shredded his palms. It was then Dylan gritted his teeth but continued on. He could heal later, right now, getting down in one piece was the top priority. When his feet were placed as firmly as they could be on the slick, muddy banks, he scanned again for any signs of her. There was nothing that surfaced in the water or on the surrounding banks. She probably has drifted away, downstream… He ran as carefully as he could on the slippery rocks, splashing small puddles and muddying up his boots to the knees. He didn’t care; he had to find her, no matter where she could be in Faerie right now.

He would not give up.

Chapter Fifteen

“Wait!” Ursad whispered urgently as he pulled Shade down behind some large boulders. She crouched next to him, reaching for her sword and quickly surveying the area.

“What, what is it? What do you see?” She whispered. Her heart jumped in her chest as she waited, straining to hear a sound. The birds were singing and the rustle of leaves swayed above the like an ocean wave. She saw and heard nothing that would be considered off. Irritated she turned towards Ursad but he had a hand up to stop her from speaking.

“Look.” He pointed out in front of them. She stared out into the woods and narrowed her eyes. The vegetation was thicker here; small bushes, vines and flowers everywhere, covering the forest floor. Tall grasses shielded the dirt from light and made travel just that much more difficult.

Shade scanned the area but shook her head. “I don’t see anything.”

Ursad placed a finger to his lips, pointing again slightly further to the right.

“There, do you see them, right there in the rays of light that sun has casted near the stream.”

Shade looked again, not really expecting to see anything when she did. Her eyes widened and her mouth dropped. Unicorns! She watched the three creatures prance around the small stream. One was drinking up the water, licking it up with its large pink tongue; its coat was a shiny brown, with both a stark white mane and tail. The other two were all white, like the crystal snow in winter. Their coats shone almost like diamonds. Shade exhaled a breath in amazement and smiled widely.

Ursad was also smiling, admiring the creatures with awe.

“Are they actual…unicorns? I thought that they didn’t exist. Wow!” She turned back to watch them after Ursad nodded. One of the white ones nuzzled the brown white mane one and sipped the water too. They neighed happily, unaware of the watchers before them. Their long legs made them tall and graceful in the tall grasses. Their glistening horns were like swirls of a candy cane sticks. Shade wanted to touch one, almost like an uncontrollable urge. Her fingers itched as she clenched her hands into fists as she fought to stand and walk straight towards them. She didn’t want to frighten them.

“Come on Shade, unicorns like their privacy, they’re a rare sight. I’ve seen these three many times but that’s only because I live near here. I thought you might like them. It’s quite a gift that they are allowing you to see them. We have to get going; it will be dark all too soon.”

Shade shook her head. “But I, can I touch them, Ursad? They are the most beautiful things I have ever seen. Let me touch them, please!” she cried as she went to move forward and was filled with child like excitement.