Page 3

Chapter

Three

My legs turn to rubber as I take in the face staring down at me. It takes me a moment to find my voice, and it comes out sounding childlike. “Harek?”

My best friend releases my arm, adjusts the same fur hat he’s had since he was fifteen, then glances down the road to the farm. “Aren’t you supposed to be scooping scat? Gunnar’s going to beat you again if you don’t get back to work, and when that happens, I can’t promise I’ll keep my fists to myself this time.”

“I’m running away because he’s sold me to the highest bidder. Vog is on his way to the farm for me now.”

Harek’s brows draw together. His face reddens, the color so deep it’s visible even in the moonlight. “Does your mother know? No way she’d allow that! She’d find the energy to climb out of that bed and pulverize him. And if she doesn’t, I will. She won’t mind—I’m sure of it. No way she agreed to that. He’s slimy and dastardly, and you shouldn’t have to be in the same room as him, much less marry him. Give me two minutes with him and he’ll breathe from the wrong orifice for the rest of his life!”

The tears I’ve been trying to hold back blur him into the shape of a cloud, and my mouth trembles. I struggle to say something coherent but can’t.

“What’s wrong?”

I can barely sputter out one word. “Mother…”

“No!” Harek gasps. “Say it isn’t so—she can’t be gone already!”

The tears gush down my face, my entire body shakes. I can’t hold back my grief any longer. In the safety of Harek’s presence, I can’t push down my pain for another moment.

“Eira, I’m so sorry.” My best friend pulls me into his arms and squeezes me so tightly against his chest I can barely breathe. “When did it happen? Did you get to say goodbye?”

My tears soak the fur on his jacket, making it smell even muskier than before. Somehow I manage to find the words. “She died just a little bit ago.” My voice cracks. “I barely had time to pack my things and sneak out. Mother no sooner took her final breath before I heard about Vog.”

“You want me to mess him up? I’ll do it. Just say the word. Or I can go for Gunnar. You know I’ve always wanted to put that scat weasel in his place.”

“No, forget about them.” I sniffle, choking back more sobs. “I’m running away. I’ll never have to see either of them ever again.”

“Fine, I’ll put them out of my mind for now. Let’s focus on you.” He pats my back. “Come with me.”

“Where?”

“My place. You need food and water.”

“I can’t. Me being there will put your family in danger.”

“We’ll deal with that later. What you need is time to mourn. You can stay with us as long as you need. My parents and I will go with you to the funeral.”

“Gunnar took that from me. I have to get out of Skoro. Staying isn’t an option—not even with you. Especially not with you. He’ll go after you and your parents. I’d never be able to live with myself.”

“We can handle him. That dung licker doesn’t know what… wait. Did you say you’re leaving? You can’t mean for good.”

“I have no other choice, Harek.”

“We’ll hide you. Lie to his face if it comes down to it. You’re staying with us, and I won’t take no for an answer.”

There’s no point arguing with him when he has his mind made up. At least I’m with someone who will take care of me. Maybe I can stay with Harek’s family during the mourning period before fleeing town. I could even watch the funeral from a distance.

Then I’ll be able to make a plan to figure out my fae heritage, crazy as that sounds. Seriously, will I ever get used to the fact that I’m part fae?

I should use the proper term. Halfling. I’m neither fae nor human.

At least I’m used to a life of not being accepted. Now I simply have another reason to be hated. Because of my very essence.

“Come on.” Harek takes my bags from me, heaves them onto his back, then guides me down the road. We stay near the edge of the tree line, making it harder for anyone to see us.

It’s nice to have someone taking care of me. I wish I could tell him my secret, but I can’t share that I’m a halfling—not even with him.

Nobody can know. My mother was right about that much.

I’ll spend a few days with him, enjoying some last moments and memories with my best friend before taking off on my new journey. After that, I’ll find both my father and my destiny then start my new life… whatever that might look like. That’ll depend on whether my one remaining parent accepts me.

Given when my mother was pregnant she fled from him—I can only assume, since she didn’t have time to tell me much—he must not have wanted anything to do with their child. Or he didn’t realize Mother was only human when they got together. Finding out would’ve been unacceptable.

It isn’t like fae look any different in their natural form. I’ve only seen a few in my time, but had I not known what they were, I’d have just thought they were like anyone else. Hopefully things will make more sense once I’m out in the wild and reach my first fae territory.

Before I know it, we reach Harek’s home. It’s small compared to mine—my former home—but it works for his little family. His father doesn’t see having kids as building his empire. Not like Gunnar, who wanted Mother popping out babies one after another so they would all work the farm for him. Everyone except me, because I don’t look like him. If I had his pale hair, eyes, and skin, would he want me to stay instead of selling me for a dowry? Probably not. Regardless of my appearance, my very existence is a reminder he wasn’t the first man in Mother’s life, and Gunnar wants to be first at everything. That alone could be why he hates me so much. Or it could be one of a dozen other things. Whatever the reason, I really don’t care. I’m about to start my own adventure.

Harek pulls me into his house and immediately sets a glass of water on the table in front of me.

I gulp it down, only now realizing how parched I am. All my crying must have dehydrated me. I’d mostly held it together until I saw him. Something about Harek breaks through my walls.

“What are you hungry for?” he asks.

“Nothing.” My stomach roars loudly.

He lifts a brow. “Really?”

“My stomach and mind don’t agree with each other.”

“I’ll find something.” He rummages around then puts some smoked meat on a plate along with some cheese. “Try it. Last time Father and I went out, we struck gold.”

“A deer?”

“Better.” He beams.

It’s rare any of the local archers catch anything larger than a deer out in the woods, though Harek and his father tend to catch large animals none of the others do. “I give up. What’d you get?”

“Taste and see if you can figure it out.” He nudges the plate closer to me.

I’m hardly a meat connoisseur, unless it’s something from the farm. We eat and sell a lot of chicken, eggs, and pork. Not much else. Gunnar never cooks anything bigger. He sells cows for top dollar, never “wasting” any of the beef on the likes of his family.

Harek picks up a piece of dark meat and hands it to me.

The rich flavor explodes in my mouth, making me forget my problems momentarily. I recognize it—probably from another time I ate it here—but I can’t place it. “You’re going to have to tell me.”

“Buffalo.” He grins widely. “We’re going to be able to buy everything we need around here. The meat has been selling like crazy at the market.”

“Don’t waste your family’s food by feeding me this expensive meat.”

“Because it’s too good not to share with my best friend. Especially after the day you’ve had.”

I glance at the plate. “You’re sure?”

“If I wasn’t, I wouldn’t have offered it to you. Try it with the cheese.”

After a moment of hesitation, I do. It’s even tastier than the other piece.

“See?” He takes some and eats it. “I can’t believe we were so lucky. One animal, and we’re set to buy everything we need for a full month.”

“I’m really happy for you. Speaking of your parents, where are they?”

“Mother’s selling meat at the market while Father prepares the less desirable parts. There’s a buyer for every cut. It’s just a matter of waiting for the right person to come along.”

“And what about you? Are you just lazing around today?”

He chuckles. “Hardly. Everything around here falls on me for now. Not that I mind—this is going to be a great month.”

“No one deserves it more than your family.” I glance at the last piece of meat on the plate.

“Take it,” he says.

I feel bad eating so much of his buffalo, but I need the nourishment if I’m going to travel through the woods and try to find answers about my heritage. I still can’t believe I’m part fae. I don’t know how Mother managed to keep that a secret all these years. She must’ve known whatever my powers are, they wouldn’t present a problem if I accidentally discovered them. What are they? What magical thing can I do?

“Do tell.” Harek’s voice breaks through my thoughts.

Even though I’ve always told him everything, I’m not ready to voice this .

“What’s your plan?” he asks. “Now that you’re finally free of Gunnar.”

“I’m not free until I’ve left the village gates, and now I have Vog to worry about, too.” I sigh, thinking of traveling through the woods on my own. There are all kinds of vile creatures out there—fae so terrible they aren’t allowed in the kingdoms and territories of their own kind. They’re the main reason our settlement has walls. It’s to keep out all fae, sure, but especially the bloodsuckers, the shifters, and the like. Those are the fae that parents tell scary stories about to their children to keep them in line.

The cold-blooded killers who give no thought to taking innocent lives.

“Eira? What’s your plan?”

I turn my attention back to Harek. “I’m leaving.”

“Right now?” Color drains from his face. “You can’t be serious.”

“I know I said I was going to stay a little while, but the more I think about it, the more I just need to leave. We both know Gunnar will stop at nothing until he gets the payment for me. I’m not safe in Skoro. Vog is already on his way to the farm.”

Harek stumbles over his words before spitting out something that makes sense. “You’re actually going somewhere else? Forever?”

“I have no other choice.”

“We’ll take you in. Maybe that’s why Father and I caught the buffalo—to save you.”

I straighten my shoulders. “I don’t want saving.”

He rubs his temples. “At least take some time to think about this. Let yourself mourn your mother. Then you’ll be able to think clearly later.”

“I’ve had plenty of time to gather my thoughts since she fell ill. From that moment, Gunnar had me scooping manure and gathering slop for the animals, which left me nothing but time to work everything out. I have to start over fresh. I wish I didn’t have to leave you behind, but I do. I’m sorry. It’s my destiny now. I knew I had to get away before, but now with Vog in the picture, things are more dire than I thought.”

Especially now that I know I have a real father out there somewhere. Even if he outright rejects me, I have to at least find out if he’ll consider taking me in.

Harek leans closer and rests a hand on mine.

An awkward moment passes between us. We both yank our hands away.

“I just mean…” He clears his throat. “My parents and I are more of a family to you than Gunnar ever was.”

Tears prickle at my eyes. “I know, and I appreciate your offer. However, I don’t want to be a burden to your parents. They’ve already been through enough. Besides, I need to do this.”

My best friend stares into my eyes. “You’re keeping something from me.”

I try to deny it, but can’t get out the words.

“Eira.” He holds my gaze.

I swear he stares directly into my soul.

“You’re right, Harek.”

He blinks a few times. “That you’re keeping something from me?”

“Yes. But I can’t tell you what I know. I’m sorry.”

“Well, at least you’re being honest about it. Can you at least say why you can’t tell me?”

My stomach knots. How would I explain it to him without telling him that I’m a halfling? I’d risk everything. He is the one person I’ve always been able to rely on outside of my mother and sisters. I can’t put him in danger. Plus, what if this news was too much for him? If he decided he couldn’t be my friend anymore, I couldn’t take it. Not when I’ve already lost everything else today.

“Eira?”

“It’s complicated.”

“Did Gunnar do something that you didn’t tell me about? I’ll kill him. Nobody’d ever suspect it was me. I’m an archer, you know. I could be in and out before anyone noticed.”

“No.” Guilt stings. He’s willing to kill for me, and here I am doubting he’ll accept me after finding out about my real father.

Except my conflicted feelings aren’t unfounded. Everyone hates halflings. Up until this afternoon before talking to my mother, if I’d crossed paths with one, I’d have run away and never looked back.

“No, he didn’t do anything?” Harek asks. “Or no, you don’t want me to kill him?”

“Both.” Suddenly exhaustion sweeps through me. “But I’ll take you up on your offer to rest here before I figure out my next step.”

“I’m glad to hear that. Let me get you settled.”

I follow him to their spare room. While this house is like a second home to me, I’ve never spent a night anywhere other than the farmhouse.

Everything in my life is going to be a series of firsts from here on out. Some of those firsts will put my life in danger.

I hope I’m up to the task. Whether or not I am, everything is about to change.