Page 4

Chapter

Four

It’s dark by the time I wake from a fitful sleep of dreams about my mother. It takes me a few moments to remember everything that happened. I’m not in my own bed. Mother is gone. I’m never returning to the farmhouse. I won’t get to see my siblings grow up.

My true father is fae.

I stare at my hands from the light coming through from the hallway. Some fae have powers that exit their bodies through their palms. I’ve seen it with my own eyes many years ago. It was one of the few times I actually saw fae. When I was a little girl, some of them came to the edge of the town and put on a show for us just outside the gates. They lit up the night darkness while displaying different powers—fire, water, light, dancing rainbows.

Gunnar scoffed and stormed away, muttering how stupid everyone was for enjoying the show. However, Mother told us kids how fun and magical it was to watch. She did tell us to always be careful around the fae, but she didn’t act like they were dangerous monsters and that we were dumb for being curious about or amazed at what we saw.

Now I know why. I only wish I knew sooner. She could’ve answered so many questions. Maybe she always meant to tell me everything when I got older, but then illness stole that from us. If only she’d had time to tell me what kind of fae I am. That would’ve been a helpful starting point.

But here I am. At least I know as much as I do. If Gunnar had kept her from talking to me at all, I might never know about my latent powers.

I stare at my palms and will them to do something.

They don’t.

Maybe that isn’t the kind of fae I am. Or I don’t know how to activate my powers. I really should be careful—the last thing I want to do is burn down Harek’s family home. I’d never forgive myself.

Voices sound from another room. Harek is telling someone about my mother.

A lump forms in my throat and hot tears fill my eyes. How can she be gone? It isn’t fair at all. Why couldn’t fate have allowed her to stay longer? She was a good person. One of the best. Not mean and harsh like her husband. Why don’t people like Gunnar ever get sick and die too soon? My mother could’ve done so much good in the world. My stepfather is only going to serve himself. Nothing more.

While tears stream down my face and I try to choke back sobs so nobody hears me, I rub my palms together. Pull them apart. Wave them around, imagine something happening.

From what little lore I know about halflings, they all have powers. They aren’t hindered by their humanity. Whatever my father can do, I should be able to do as well. But without him here to teach me, it’s anyone’s guess if I’ll ever be able to tap into my magic.

That’s exactly why I need to head out into the woods and find the nearest fae metropolis. It could be where my parents met. If it is, my father may still be there. Not that I have a clue how I’ll find him, aside from searching for someone who resembles me. I don’t look particularly like Mother, so I must have many of his features.

A little spark of hope warms in my chest. Out of all this mess, all this heartache, maybe some good can grow. Even if my father doesn’t want anything to do with me, I might get answers. Might be able to learn about my kind of fae. I can start over somewhere and hope it’ll be as easy to hide my humanity as it has been to hide my fae side all these years.

Footsteps sound. Someone is heading my way.

I desperately wipe my tears and my nose.

Harek appears in the doorway holding a candle. “How’d you sleep?”

“Great, if you like nightmares.”

He frowns. “I can’t imagine losing my mother. Can I do anything for you?”

“No.”

“I hope you’re hungry. My father’s making a stew from some of the buffalo parts.”

“That sounds great. You’re sure there’s enough for me?”

“There’s plenty.” Yet his voice hitches.

His family isn’t well off, and here I am eating their food.

All the more reason to take off as soon as I can. I don’t want to take their resources when we’re only at the beginning of what’s sure to be a long winter. They can barely afford to feed themselves.

Harek reaches for my hand, and just before we make contact an orange light glimmers faintly—it’s so light I wonder if it’s my imagination. I desperately want to find powers, after all. He doesn’t seem to notice. Must be wishful thinking on my part.

“Have you been crying?” He helps me to my feet.

“It’s hard not to.” I sniffle.

He wipes a tear. “Then you definitely have to eat.”

“Okay, but then I need to leave.” I glance back at my palm, which isn’t lit up in the slightest.

“I’m going with you.” He squares his shoulders.

I give him a double take. “No. I’m going alone.”

“I won’t let you.” He stares me down.

“But you need to stay and help your parents.”

“I should see you through the woods to the nearest human settlement. It’s dangerous out there, and I know the land like the back of my hand.” He glances at it. “Wait, when did I get this wart?”

“What?”

He grins. “I’m kidding. Let’s eat, and then we’ll start our preparations.”

“I really don’t want to pull you from your family. Your parents need you to hunt before the weather gets really bad.”

“I’m going with you. You’re not changing my mind.”

“You’re stubborn.”

“As always.”

I should be grateful my best friend wants to come with me on this adventure, but the timing is terrible. His parents really do rely on him to get through the harsh winters. Not only that, but if he travels with me, it’s going to be hard to keep my secret from him.

We really don’t keep anything from each other.

Though if the idea of me being a halfling freaks him out, he’ll likely hightail it back here and be able to help his parents catch more food. That would be good.

“I hate that you’re hurting so much,” he says. “I’ve never seen you so quiet. Though actually, it is a little nice. Usually, I don’t have the space to think around you.”

I shove him.

He laughs. “There’s the Eira I know and love.”

“You said there’s stew?”

“It’s almost done, but we should start planning our journey. I don’t know what you have in your two bags, but I’m sure it isn’t enough. Do you have a weapon?”

I shake my head. Not unless I’m a weapon, but obviously I can’t tell him that what’s inside me might be my best defense. I check my palm again.

It’s slightly orange.

My heart leaps into my throat, and I hide my hand quickly. I’m not imagining that. It’s real. My palm is orange.

A skittering noise sounds outside. It’s just on the other side of the wall.

I practically pull a muscle in my neck as I turn toward it.

“What’s wrong?” Harek asks.

“You didn’t hear that?”

“Hear what?”

I hurry over to the wall and press my ear to it. Even with my hand against my leg, I can see a faint orange glow. Instinctively I pull my hand into my sleeve to hide it.

“What’s wrong?”

“Someone’s out there.” I point to the wall. “Just on the other side.”

“Stay here.” He disappears from the room.

I follow him into the hallway.

He and his father are speaking in hushed tones. The front door creaks. Footsteps. Another creak then a soft click.

They’ve gone outside to face whoever or whatever I heard outside.

My heart races. What if I’ve just put them in danger?

I have to do something.

The orange glow on my palm is brighter now.

What does it mean? I want to yell at it. Will it help me? Or does it have some other purpose? Why couldn’t I have had more time with Mother? Surely, she could’ve explained all of this to me. She had to have known something about my father’s mysterious powers.

Thud!

No time for wishful thinking. I grab a knife from the empty kitchen, throw on my coat, and hurry outside, rounding the corner toward the other side of the house.

Scuffles sound. Angry voices carry on the wind.

Could Gunnar and Vog have come to threaten Harek’s family, knowing I’d run here? I shouldn’t have come. I’m only putting them in harm’s way.

My palm becomes so bright it could rival the sun’s ability to light the way—and let everyone in eyesight know I’m a dreaded fae. I shove my dominant hand into a pocket and wield the knife with my left hand.

I turn another corner, avoiding a large stack of chopped wood.

Harek and his father are fighting a man who stands a head taller than them both. They’re tall themselves, but this stranger is a giant. And he seems to have the upper hand on the two of them.

An orange glow shines from inside my coat.

It’s getting brighter the closer I get to them.

I step away from them. Sure enough, the orange glow disappears. I take out my hand. It’s still glowing, but dimmer. I inch closer to them.

The glow brightens.

I’m not imagining it. Why is this suddenly happening? I never glowed before I knew I was fae. Did finding out about my powers awaken them?

Harek cries out in pain.

Without thinking, I run toward them. Harek and his father have their backs to me.

The stranger steps back and stares at me, his eyes wide. His gaze goes right to my glowing hand.

He knows I’m fae.

I hide my arm behind my back, but it’s too late. He’s already seen the glow.

The man’s mouth falls open, staring past them at me. “You’re?—”

Harek throws himself at the stranger. They both stumble. Harek’s father joins the scuffle.

Despite the attack, the stranger doesn’t stop staring at me .

Is that terror in his eyes? No, that’s crazy. He’s huge, and I’m average. And a woman. No reason for him to fear me.

He pulls away from them and flees, disappearing into thin air.

My orange glow fades until my palm returns to its normal color.

I run back into the house before Harek or his father see me outside with them.