Page 8 of Shadows of Air and Earth (Remnant Archives)

E mpedolces Staff.

The words echoed on repeat, clattering around in my brain along with my terror that I refused to show. We had worked too long and too hard to return what was once our court’s most sacred treasure.

Clipped from the roots of the ancient grove by the goddess, the Empedolces was made of the four elemental sources of power. Fire, air, earth, and spirit, combined together into an enchanted wood. A staff that crowned the leader of the elemental court.

The last leader chosen by the staff was Oberon Adranos Unseelie, a powerful earth and fire elemental that fell in battle during the Blood Wars.

His loss resonated throughout our people.

We mourned, we grieved, and then she took the throne.

Deirdre Tatianna Maeve Seelie, another powerful elemental that wielded all four elements, never chosen by the Empedolces, and yet still took over the rule.

While our war-torn world accepted her as queen, the elementals were not so keen.

Split between the ways of old and the queen's bright future promises, our people were on the brink of civil war.

We could no longer stay divided. The fracturing weakened everything that made the elemental court formidable, strong, and thriving.

It was time our people were reunited again, under the true leader of our court and not the fake impersonation on the throne.

Power wasn't always the markings of a great leader and Deirdre Seelie was anything but—she was an opportunist.

"The staff has not been seen by our people since the Blood Wars," I said with more courage than I felt inside.

"Oh that I very much believe, please sit." Remnant Dark waved to the seat next to her.

Riley grunted, sliding fluidly into the booth, snatching up a plate to pile it high with warm buns and sticky strawberry sauce. The shadow fae general watched him with an amused expression, stuffing another pastry tart in her mouth.

Catching my look, Riley snorted at me. "I am not about to pass up steamed buns, Xi." He winked at me salaciously and I blinked. The image of his own steamed buns in the shower just moments ago still vivid in my mind.

The general snickered and then raised an expectant brow at me.

"For fucks sake," I muttered, tugging on my bright white hair before sliding into a seat next to Riley.

Picking up a cup of hot tea, the shadow fae watched me from across the table, blowing delicately on the brew before taking a deep gratifying sip, sighing softly into her cup.

The scent of mint and jasmine wafted out from the steam, and was soothing, despite my discomfort.

"The queen does not know, she is more worried about the seal that has been stolen," she frowned and then shook her head, setting the cup down, "and I have no intention of telling her what you have done. "

Both Riley and I stilled before I blurted out, "Why the fuck not?"

Riley's fork clattered on his plate and I winced, knowing then that I had made a huge mistake. I may as well have hanged myself on the city gates.

The shadow fae's emerald eyes gleamed like a predator getting closer to capturing her prey and fantasizing about all the ways she would enjoy her new prize.

"Shit," I whispered, my power flaring beneath us. I could split this room in half and sink her into the unforgiving earth while we made a break for our lives.

Reaching for me beneath the table, Riley’s warm hand settled on my upper thigh to soothe me, his air whispering softly and quietly against my ear, "Wait, terrella."

Remnant smiled knowingly, "Be at ease, Xi Chin. I am not here due to your fine thievery, I am here to ask for your assistance in finding the seal. In return, I will give you the real Empedolces."

Riley and I both quickly glanced at each other. "What do you mean the real Empedolces?"

The General sliced into her steamed bun, at this point more sauce than dough. "Just that. The one you stole is a replica. I had it made the first night I noticed you at the Winter Solstice five years ago. Why else would an unknown elemental be there?"

Riley chewed his own food thoughtfully, the sound loud while I stared at the shadow fae in front of us with disbelief. The absolute absurdity that he was eating was beyond my comprehension. My stomach was currently tied in knots.

"How?" I whispered, the color draining from my face. We had been so careful, so tactical…

Her lips twitched, "Those are my secrets which you have yet to earn, Xi Chin." Leaning forward she tapped her finger on the table. "Here's the bargain. I will give you the real staff after you have given me your full assistance in tracking down the stolen seal."

"What is so special about this seal?" I snapped, surely it was not as important as the Empedocles. The one thing that could truly bring our shattered court back together.

Raising her finger, she counted off. "One, the queen is fully aware that it is gone and is ready to burn down every inch of this world to have it back in her possession. Two, it is the key to unlocking the gateway to the realm of Hell. And three, it has a twin that holds back the beasts of origin."

"You're serious," Riley narrowed his eyes, swallowing hard, "As in the fabled monsters the goddess created before the fae?"

She hummed, slicing another bun and bringing it to her lips, "Yep! And without its twin, the prison that holds them will weaken. I fear it already has." As if she had just told us the day was pleasant because the sun was shining, she popped the bun in her mouth, savoring her bite.

I bit on the inside of my cheek, well fuck, that did sound slightly more important than naming our next leader to take down the queen…we needed our people alive in order to do that. If the beasts of origin roamed our lands then they were at even more risk than before.

Riley crossed his arms, "None of this explains exactly why you chose us."

Eyes gleaming, she sipped her tea and I couldn't help but squirm under that omniscient stare. "Because you have something to lose, and everything to gain by helping me."

I narrowed my eyes on her, there was something she still wasn’t telling us, wording her answers with a clever fae tongue.

Riley barked with laughter, "I call Faerie shit. You have been tracking the seal for six months and you can't find it. You do not have the upper hand here. You're equally as desperate as we are."

I stilled, my eyes widening. This time it wasn’t my mouth that landed us in a fiery pit of Sheol, nay this time it was Riley’s.