Page 9 of Raven Rebel (Sablewood #1)

Meara

M eara crossed her arms, facing Xurey who stood a handspan shorter.

They both had long, black hair, but that was where the similarities ended.

She always imagined faeries to be slender, spidery figures, but Xurey was stocky with defined muscles in her arms. Her mouth pressed into a faint frown as she said, “I will not let you or your sister fall. Walking will take much too long.”

“I am not comfortable with the idea of riding you,” Meara repeated.

“Shouldn’t I be the one to decide if I’m to be ridden or not?

I truly don’t mind it. And your mother and Tayen need to take our two horses.

” She looked over her shoulder to where Brenna held their mother tightly, exchanging soft words.

“Would you prefer to wait until Cerne returns and you can ride him? ”

Nose wrinkling, Meara took a step back and dropped her hands in defeat.

“Go say goodbye to your mother. It may be a few weeks or even months until you see her again.” The words were gentle, more of a loving suggestion than a command.

Brenna opened her arms and welcomed Meara into their embrace.

The three women - one human and two lost faeries - huddled together with their foreheads touching and breath mingling.

“My daughters, remember that you have every right to be among the fae. You are one of them,” their mother murmured, “and if you desire, you can stay among them forever and we can visit each other often.”

“We would never abandon you,” Meara insisted.

Their mother stroked over her hair and down her spine. “Stay close and listen to each other. You’ll be fine as long as you’re together.”

“Yes, Mum,” they said in chorus, sounding more six than twenty-six.

With one last kiss to their foreheads, she released her daughters and accepted Tayen’s hand. Brenna wiped at her eyes and sniffled, so Meara wrapped an arm over her shoulders as they watched their mother clamber up to sit astride Airgid. The patient white stallion stood perfectly still.

Beside them, Tayen leapt onto Eirlys with a preternatural grace. Meara blinked. She would have to get used to these faeries if they were to live among them. Be one of them.

“Ready?” Xurey asked. No sooner had the girls nodded, silver magic shimmered over her and she was replaced with a slate gray mare.

Meara resisted the impulse to touch her black mane.

Instead, she hoisted Brenna up onto her back and then allowed her sister to tug her up to sit behind her.

With a toss of her head, Xurey set out .

Her gait was smooth, and without Cerne’s imposing presence, Meara could almost enjoy the ride. Conversation was stilted, knowing the equine beneath them was listening as well. The sisters watched the forest change as they cut through the edge of Dornadan and continued northwest to the fae lands.

The change was gradual and Meara didn’t notice until they were well into the territory of the Court of Autumn Harvest. Green leaves turned to gold and then shades of burnt orange and crimson.

The trees rose, the forest older here than by their forsaken home.

The air felt heavy, ancient. Tales of faeries living for hundreds or thousands of years trickled through her mind. In this place, it was easy to believe.

Birdsong rang out around them, quiet at first, but building until the trees were teeming with life. A bright red squirrel leapt across branches in front of them, chirping as it darted away.

“Oh, how cute!” Brenna gasped. Meara covered her smile with her hand, feeling like a child again walking the forest with their mother and learning of the herbs that supplied their apothecary, Brenna squealing every time they encountered a new animal.

Through the trees, Meara glimpsed a cottage. It was difficult to spot with its gray-brown stones covered in vines heavy with orange and red flowers that blended into the surrounding trees beautifully. The roof was a slope of mossy shingles above a door painted a rich earthy hue.

A faerie opened the door and stepped out. Her eyes caught Meara’s, and her mouth formed an “O” before she darted away. Her hair caught the light, flashing a deep shade of evergreen. Within seconds, she evaporated into the forest.

Meara’s eyes lingered on the cottage until it faded from view. It didn’t fit with the stories told in Liosliath about monsters living off the blood of maidens.

Soon, more homes emerged from the trees, grouping together until they formed loose rows flanking their pathway. As the forest floor melted into a cobblestone path, Xurey stopped and dipped her head. Meara slipped off her back and helped Brenna down.

In a glimmer of silver magic, Xurey transformed and stood beside them. With an audible sigh, she stretched her shoulders and shook out her hair.

“Meara, Brenna, it’s only a short way now. Welcome to the Autumn Court.” Holding out her hand, Xurey ushered them into the township.

It was shockingly clean. No piles of refuse or puddles of piss marred the street. The air smelled of roasting nuts and spices blended with the musty pine scent of the forest. Meara wanted to soak it in, absorb it into her soul.

Little shops and businesses popped up between the houses, making it feel like a proper village. The buildings grew closer and taller. They passed a bakeshop, a tinker, and a tavern all within a few steps of each other.

Brenna beamed, squeezing Meara’s arm. Her wide, amber eyes searched the shops, greedily taking everything in.

The faeries on the street waved or nodded in greeting to Xurey. They looked happy and well-fed with faces unblemished and bright, wearing loose dresses or tunics and trousers in the same earthen shades as the charming structures they walked between.

The path rose and they rounded a curve. Orange and red leaves overtook the cobblestone as the buildings dropped off.

Ahead, the trees framed a sprawling manor house.

It was fashioned much the same as the rest of the court with large stones, wooden beams, and shingles, but at a grander scale.

Polished wood trim surrounded a multitude of windows spreading out from a set of gilded front doors thrown wide open.

This was not a house, it was a palace. Meara’s anxiety rushed back and she clenched her hands in her skirts near her hunting blade to reassure herself.

Xurey ascended the shallow stone steps and greeted an older faerie. He stood tall and broad with a tangle of leaves poking through his braided beard and thick hair. His skin was the rough brown of tree bark. Brenna took Meara’s arm and eased her forward until they stood before the dryad.

“Welcome to The Autumn Estate.” He stepped aside and ushered them into an expansive parlor.

The last dregs of sunset streamed through arched windows and fell upon a mural of an autumn forest. Dark wainscoting covered the bottom of the wall and warm cherrywood pillars broke the artwork into sections, framing scenes of leaping deer and dashing foxes.

The millwork continued onto the ceiling in an array of beams and carved corbels.

The entire room glowed from a trio of massive wooden chandeliers studded with hundreds of candles.

“This is Ryles.” Xurey tilted her head toward the dryad. “Ryles, this is Meara and Brenna. They will be staying with Cerne for a few weeks, perhaps longer.”

“Honored to meet you,” Ryles said with a formal bow.

“Ryles cares for the household. He will take care of anything you need,” Xurey explained.

“Thank you,” Brenna said as she dipped into a curtsy. Meara attempted to copy her, but her movements were awkward and she refused to take her eyes off Ryles.

“I’m sure we will all gather for breakfast in the morning, but for tonight you can get settled and rest.” Xurey tapped her chin. “We can find some comfortable clothing for you as well.”

“This way,” Ryles said, his long coat rustling as he moved.

“I’ll see you soon,” Xurey said with a reassuring smile.

Meara wanted to call after her to stay for she was the only faerie she felt reasonably safe with.

Now they were alone in a strange palace with a dryad who looked less than pleased by their appearances.

Her thumb smoothed over the handle of her blade, reassuring herself.

The dryad led the girls past the mural and down a hallway covered with the same intricate paneling and plush carpet so thick it felt like walking on overgrown, springy moss.

With a sweep of his hand, Ryles opened a door to reveal a suite of rooms larger than their family’s cottage.

“These rooms will be yours as long as you stay with us. There is a bathing room there.” He motioned to the middle of the three doors along the back wall.

“This is too much,” Meara blurted. “We aren’t visiting royalty.”

Ryles canted his head. “These are our guest rooms. Not for royalty.”

“It’s wonderful, thank you,” Brenna said, squeezing Meara’s arm to stop her protests.

Bowing again, he stepped away. “I will send an attendant along shortly. You can make any requests with her, unless you need anything before I leave you? ”

“No, thank you, Ryles,” Brenna said with a winning smile. The dryad steward nodded and closed the door behind him.

The sisters stood in the sitting room, taking a moment to adjust to their new surroundings. It had been a whirlwind of change in the last twenty-four hours and Meara could never have imagined it would end here.

Calling the rooms comfortable was an understatement.

An ornate table and chairs stood to one side, while a pair of plush armchairs sat facing a fireplace mantle of gleaming dark walnut.

A low fire burned within, lighting the lucent green stones of the hearth into opalescent emeralds.

The extravagance soured her stomach. She did not belong in a place like this.