Page 16 of Raven Rebel (Sablewood #1)

Brenna

T ayen requested Brenna perform various tasks with the sparks coming off her hands.

She could feel them buzzing right under her skin.

Under his direction, she brought them together into a small flame in her palm that sputtered for a few seconds before falling apart.

Her chest heaved with the effort. When asked, she closed her eyes and felt the heat in her bones, drawing it out until the air around her glowed with light coming from her body.

He determined she was primarily the element of light, not fire. While she could command fire, it was light that danced between her fingertips until she exhausted herself and slouched onto the bench.

“Your natural ability is impressive,” Tayen said, sinking onto the seat beside her.

“I think your craft is nearest to my shielding, so if you don’t mind, I’m going to recommend to Cerne that I be your primary trainer.

There are some aspects you’ll need to learn from Seda, but much of how your light functions will be nearer to how my shielding operates. ”

“I appreciate any help I can get,” Brenna said, tipping her head back to rest against the nearest column.

“Of course,” Tayen murmured, raking his fingers through tousled orange curls. “I’d have to be there anyway, to keep you from committing incendiarism.”

Brenna scrunched up her face, and he chuckled. They fell into a companionable silence for a moment.

“Will it be possible to identify our parents? Truly?” she asked, the question escaping her. Worries battered her mind, but she chewed the inside of her cheek and waited.

Slow to consider, Tayen stared across the treetops and exhaled audibly.

“Like I said, there are few faeries that could have left such an enchantment on you. That is how we will identify them. And then, we may discover they are your parents, or that they placed the magic at the request of another. We will see.”

The possibility hadn’t occurred to Brenna and a strange, hollow pang grew beneath her sternum. She never expected she’d know her true parents. But here, it felt possible, or even likely.

Anxiety and excitement warred within Brenna when Kirrily informed them dinner would be a formal event and include leaders from the court.

Brenna slipped into the apricot dress Dyani had altered and sent up, admiring the sparkle of the delicate beading in the dying afternoon light. Kirrily tutted it was not formal enough, but it would have to do. She redid her hair, keeping it loose but adding jeweled pins.

Holding her hand out to her sister, Brenna said, “Ready for a fae dinner party?” Meara looked sick, her skin taking on a greenish tint that had nothing to do with her evergreen dress. Brenna bumped their shoulders together. “It’s going to be fine. Relax.”

Tayen met them in the hall, looking aristocratic in a nutmeg jacket that matched his freckles. She happily took his arm, and prodded Meara until she took his other side, and together they entered the gathering.

The scent of roasted meats and spices fill the air.

A myriad of auburn, ivory, and pumpkin satin swirled through the dining room.

Every seat would be occupied when the residents settled.

Males in doublets escorted females with golden rings hanging from their tapered ears.

Brenna admired the style and made a note to ask Kirrily about earrings later.

As eyes turned to appraise them, Brenna tightened her hold on Tayen’s arm. His answering grin chased away her anxieties. They were not stranded in this crowd. She leaned closer and murmured, “How often do these dinners happen? Is it a special occasion?”

“No, this is merely the leaders that Cerne keeps close. He holds court dinners every few weeks or so.”

At the head of the table, Cerne held court with an array of faeries, many with silver threaded through their hair. Advisors or elders, perhaps. Seda sat stoic beside a fae female with graying braids and white fox ears. Even the lines on her face were elegant.

In the middle of the table, Ayala laughed with a tall male faerie with elegant rams horns arching over his mahogany curls.

Her flame-colored hair draped over her bare shoulders and covered her naked back.

The blood red dress hanging from her neck gathered at the waist, showing a swath of ribs.

Such a dress would never have been worn in the queendom, except for perhaps as a negligee.

Brenna bit her lip, feeling a hypocrite as her dress hugged her curves, revealing skin she was growing comfortable baring.

Tayen pulled out a chair for Meara and then one for Brenna on the other side of his seat.

Easing in, she folded her hands in her lap and looked up to meet the curious gaze of the dinner companion sitting across from her.

He was a small, stout male with warm skin darker than hers.

From his short, stocky stature and sparkling smile, she suspected he was a brownie, a woodland faerie with helpful magic. She wondered what he could do.

Around them, the guests took their seats. Cerne cleared his throat and the room fell silent. The jeweled buttons on his dinner jacket glinted as he pushed his chair back and stood. His hair was pulled back to reveal his graceful cheekbones, and charcoal accented under his lower lashes.

“Thank you for joining me tonight. I trust all of your families and people are well. Our court is in its predominant season, so let us enjoy the bounty of the land we tend.” He raised a glass of vermilion liquid, and everyone lifted their own goblets.

Brenna watched the bright drink swirl as she clinked it against Tayen’s glass and her sister’s.

“Here, here!” the brownie across from them called out in an earthy tenor. Around them, the faeries drank deeply and called for refills.

The first sip of the sweet liquid warmed her.

It tasted of apples and cranberries and something she couldn’t identify.

Tayen’s head dipped toward her and he murmured, “Take it easy on the wine. You aren’t used to it.

” Eyes wide, she nodded and set her glass down.

Already, a bubbling lightness filled her veins.

The scent of roasted meat filled the room. Kirrily and a selection of women who appeared to be her sisters set about placing plates before each guest. Brenna caught her gaze, and the dryad winked at her.

The first plate held slivers of braised rabbit over root vegetables drizzled with an oil that tasted of walnuts.

Brenna lifted her fork and took a bite, her eyes closing at the succulent flavors.

Using her magic that afternoon left her hungry, and the lightness of the fae wine meant her inhibitions were falling away.

The plate was soon replaced with a bowl of velvety butternut soup swirled with cream. Sugared flowers floated on the top, and Brenna smiled as she scooped one up. The delicate, floral flavor crunched in her mouth as the sweetness exploded on her tongue.

“Are you enjoying the Autumn Court?” A musical voice asked. She glanced up to see Meara nod at a tall, wraith-like faerie. Her ears ended in a longer, sharper point, and her dark eyes were framed in long lashes. Everything about her seemed daggerlike.

“Lord Cerne has been so generous to host us,” Meara said, her voice softer than usual. Brenna could sense her anxiety. She let out a trilling laugh, pulling attention from her sister.

“I never realized how remarkable the cuisine was. If I had known how delicious everything here was, I would have come sooner,” she joked. Tayen laughed politely, and the female sniffed and turned her attention elsewhere.

The soup was replaced with rounds of pheasant surrounded by mushrooms and wrapped in a flakey pastry.

Knives glinted down the table as each guest sliced into their dish.

Brenna lost herself in the buttery flavor and the way the meat melted on her tongue.

Pungent herbs laced the mushrooms and the effect was like tasting the forest. It reminded her of her mother’s workshop.

Her stomach protested the rich meal, and Brenna took a deep breath and straightened her posture.

Tayen’s eyes flicked to her, and she quirked her mouth into a small smile, silently communicating her wellbeing.

Past him, Meara watched the table warily as she picked at the scrap of pastry crust left on her plate.

Dessert was wine-poached pears set into a dark molasses cake. Brenna dared a few more sips of the sweet fae wine, rolling it over her tongue.

The guests grew raucous as the faeries finished their meals and leaned back with glasses in hand. Tayen handled most of the conversation, and Brenna smiled and commented when she could. The wine filled her head with spun sugar, leaving her feeling light and sweet.

Cerne rose at the head of the table, holding his goblet aloft. “Thank you, dear friends, for joining me tonight. May your houses grow strong and be filled with warmth. I look forward to the next time we gather.”

Around them, the faeries voiced their agreement. Brenna smiled, leaning back in her seat and listening to Tayen’s discussion with the friendly brownie, named Perran, across from them.

Meara rose from her seat. “I’d like to return to our rooms. Join me, Brenna?”

“I think I’ll stay a bit. Will you be okay?” Brenna asked.

Nodding, Meara left the room with the last of the guests that chose not to stay. Down the table, a small faerie with rough skin like hewn rock sat and conversed with another dryad.

The fire kept the room warm, and Brenna sipped her wine.

Perran spoke with his hands, gesturing with short, expressive motions.

Tayen laughed, his curls falling over his face.

Brenna found herself laughing along, even if she didn’t understand their discussion.

The brownie seemed pleased and gave her a radiant smile.

He leaned forward and drew her into the conversation.

Time slipped away, and Brenna felt as if she was home.