Page 26 of Raven Rebel (Sablewood #1)

Meara

A plate of fruit and thin crackers waited in their rooms, and the sisters sat to eat. “Kirrily spoils us,” Brenna said. Meara nodded, her eyes closing as she savored the exotic flavors.

“You’d better wear trousers this time,” Meara said with a smirk. The sisters changed into comfortable clothing ready for physical activity, and left their rooms.

Xurey, Ayala, and Tayen stood in the entry. Meara wanted to ask about this challenge, but Tayen and Ayala were arguing about something frivolous. They sounded more like siblings when they disagreed.

Cerne emerged, looking unreasonably handsome in a loose tunic and breeches. “Ready to see what Seda has thought up?”

The faerie in question stood on the steps with her hands on her hips.

The early afternoon sun illuminated her dark skin to a warm mahogany.

“I will be testing potential new recruits for the Autumn Guard this week. While you were gone, I set up an obstacle course. I would like to see it completed before turning the youngsters loose on it.”

Tayen cocked his head. “Why do I get the feeling you’re simply looking for entertainment?”

Seda’s full lips tugged into a sly smile. “Perhaps, but it will be good for all of you to challenge yourselves physically. When was the last time you trained with the guard?”

“When was the last time you broke my toe?” Tayen muttered.

Ignoring him, Seda clapped her hands together. “Is everyone agreeable?”

“Very well,” Tayen grumbled. Cerne laughed, and gave his own agreement.

Brenna wrung her hands nervously, but Meara tugged them apart and threaded their fingers together to calm her.

“So what do we do?” Ayala drawled, picking at her nails.

“You will form teams. The challenge starts with tracking. Once you locate the course, you must reach the token and bring it to me before the other team.” Seda shrugged like it was the easiest task possible.

Meara shifted her weight, glancing at the others’ faces to gauge their reactions. Was this a typical occurrence in the Autumn Court? Tayen’s eyes gleamed with eagerness and even Xurey smiled. She exhaled slowly, trying to relax.

“Do the winners get a prize?” Ayala asked, drawing out her vowels like she was bored, but Meara didn’t miss the competitive edge to her tone.

Cerne’s eyes narrowed and his chin lifted, “Bragging rights.” Smirking, he stretched his shoulders, pulling open his half buttoned shirt with the motion and revealing a swath of golden skin.

“Sounds good to me,” Meara said, keeping her gaze away from both Cerne’s distracting body and Ayala’s sneer.

“I have chosen teams and I am accepting no complaints.” Seda surveyed them, looking like the leader she was. “First team is Tayen, Meara, and Xurey. Second team is Brenna, Ayala, and Cerne.”

Tayen turned to Meara, grinning, and motioned her and Xurey closer. She glanced at Brenna, concerned, but her sister had a determined set to her jaw and was eyeing her two teammates. She would be fine. Ayala was not antagonistic to Brenna the way she was with Meara, and Cerne was there too.

“I suggest you begin!” Seda laughed and folded her arms.

Brenna jumped as Ayala grabbed her wrist and dragged her into the trees. Cerne broke into a jog, leading the way.

“Meara!” Tayen called. She blinked, realizing she was being left behind. She fell into a jog beside Xurey.

Huffing, she spoke between breaths. “So how are we supposed to track down an obstacle course? Do you know what it will look like?” They slowed and stopped, and Meara frowned. “Well, do we have a strategy?”

“Patience,” Tayen hummed. He nodded to Xurey. The faerie’s curtain of dark hair swayed as she approached the nearest tree. Her mouth pinched and she let out a low whistle. In a flash of auburn, a robin flitted to a lower branch and warbled to her.

“What is she doing?” Meara whispered .

“Asking the animals.” Chuckling at her shocked expression, he explained, “Seda gave us Xurey because her magic is not too different from Cerne’s. Both are useful for this type of thing.”

Xurey spun, her face bright. “It’s this way!”

Meara’s calves warmed as they jogged. After a while, Xurey paused to ask a squirrel which direction to go.

It was surreal watching her stare into the creature’s adorable face and knowing she was communicating with it.

A pang of jealousy streaked through her.

It would be incredible to have magic like that.

Her face was flushed by the time they reached their destination: a great brute of a tree with ropes extending from its high branches to another tree until leaves concealed the course.

“We are climbing that?” she gasped, bending at the waist to rest her palms on her knees.

Tayen snagged a bow and quiver of two arrows from the base of the tree. “What are those for?” Xurey asked. They stepped back and peered upward.

“We could simply climb it. The bow and arrow could be unrelated,” Tayen mused.

“Or a distraction.” Meara squinted up at the lowest tree limbs, far above their heads. A flutter of crimson drew her attention. Walking sideways around the tree, she tried to see a clearer view without any success. “I can’t tell, but I think there is a target painted up there.”

Glancing behind them, Xurey said, “We should hurry. The second team will be here soon.”

“Meara, can you shoot?” Tayen stepped closer to her and craned his neck back while she pointed at what might be a target.

“Not well, sorry. ”

“Don’t worry. Xurey, can you shoot? I’m going to attempt to guide the arrow.” With a sharp nod, Xurey gripped the bow and notched one of the two arrows. She followed Meara’s directions and carefully aimed at the shock of red.

Tayen stood behind her, arms raised on either side of her.

His eyes narrowed and his jaw ticked as Xurey loosed the arrow.

It soared straight and the greenery in its path swayed out of the way as the arrow flew past. The sharp head embedded into the target and with a resounding snap, a rope unraveled and tumbled down to rest at face level.

“Excellent!” Tayen’s hands fell, his shoulders slumping.

Cerne dashed into the gathering, Ayala and Brenna on his heels. Xurey surged forward and grasped the rope, keeping it from Ayala’s hands. Without hesitating, Xurey reached higher on the rope and set her feet onto the trunk. As she climbed, Meara rushed to scale the rope behind her.

Ayala snarled at them and paced away. She snatched up the bow and looked around for a target. A moment later, a second rope unfurled, and Ayala began climbing. Meara pulled herself upwards, wincing at the burn in her palms as the rough fibers dug in.

“Climb!” Tayen urged, his voice breaking into laughter as he blocked Cerne with his body. In response, Cerne grabbed his shoulders and shoved him to the ground. The males grappled, both grinning madly.

Xurey reached the tree limb and released the rope, turning to heave Meara up beside her. They grabbed the branches above their head and stepped onto the next limb until they reached the ropes stretched between the towering trunks.

Behind them, Ayala and then Brenna scrambled onto the first bough. Brenna’s eyes were wide, but she gritted her teeth and crept after Ayala. Meara felt the twigs under her hands snap as her grip tightened. She didn’t like to see her sister in any danger, even if it was a game.

“So onward to the next tree?” Xurey asked, her voice wavering.

Meara nodded. Two ropes, one above the other, stretched between trees.

Xurey gripped the top rope and cautiously stepped onto the bottom one.

It wobbled but held her. She took a deep breath to steady herself and then shimmied out into mid air.

Ayala reached the branch, and Meara knew she would muscle past her given the opportunity, so she flung herself out onto the ropes behind her friend.

Xurey tensed but continued working her way across the rope.

Hand over hand, feet skating forward, Meara edged further.

Her balance tipped too far forward, and she had to yank herself up with the upper rope.

“This is ridiculous. I’m a puca, not a wind sprite,” Xurey muttered as she leapt onto the wide bough of the next tree.

The rope swayed in her hand as Ayala stepped across. Her movement was graceful and confident, and Meara’s throat constricted. Brenna watched with wide eyes as she clutched the trunk behind her.

“You’re almost there!” Xurey chanted, gripping a branch with one hand as she strained to reach Meara with the other.

The rope wobbled, and Meara paused, clinging to the rope as it shook. Her hair whipped against her neck in a sudden breeze. She glanced wildly at Ayala, but she stood upright with one hand stretched toward them with her palm facing out.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Xurey hissed.

“Meara, you need to move!” Wind slammed into her, shoving her feet off the rope below her.

She swung from her hands, feet scrambling to find the rope as her hair whipped over her eyes.

Her hands screamed with the pressure of holding her full weight dangling from the rough rope.

Xurey’s voice sounded distant. “Ayala, stop!”

The air battered her, prying her fingers from the swinging rope. Blood rushed in her ears, competing with the whooshing air. She was going to fall. Each breath felt like drawing needles into her lungs.

“Don’t touch my sister!” Brenna screamed.

For a moment, her hair slipped back and Meara caught sight of her sister. Brenna’s eyes blazed gold and her gleaming curls tumbled from their braid. Light poured from her hands like magma flowing outward. Ayala threw her hand up to cover her eyes. The wind died away instantly.

Meara pedaled her feet, searching for the bottom rope. They made contact and she pulled herself to stand. She looked to Xurey and edged forward. Brenna let out a startled shriek and the rope fell out from under her feet.