I had been angry and frustrated. I've yelled and begged.
Now I just stood here, feeling defeated and betrayed. I know deep down they didn't betray me, but that's how it felt standing here watching them leave. Both Tew and Amon had decided to follow the fay king back. The ceremony is put on hold, and I'm forbidden to follow. I am 100% sure, that the woman The fay king talked about, is my sister. Ans if he is telling the truth, she lives in one of his houses now. My sister. The one I've been searching for. The one I've spent years trying to find clues about. She is right there, and I am not allowed there.
"Come, hanging here and pouting will give you saggy boobs!"
My face twisted into a grimace of disbelief as my head slowly turned in Maya's direction. She shrugged with a little smile.
"What? Don't believe me? you should hear everything else they believe will give you saggy boobies and make you look old in this place! Believe me1 I've spent way too many hours with the old nannies and elders in this town! Every time I think I've heard it all, they top it with things like " Oh, no girl! Drinking too much water will make your skin look old! Or, no no no! Nursing to much will drain your titts.. or even don't rest to much, your back will be curved! Remember to have sex as fast as possible after birth, this helps your female parts heal faster. "Bullshit all of it!"
Maya kept ranting, waking back to the village. I looked towards the thick forest and mountains again, only to see they all entered the forest now. Out of sight. Dark clouds slowly clumped together, making the shadows look even darker and taller.
"Eir!"
Maya shouted, apparently, she took a breathing pause in the rant and noticed I didn't follow her. I stiffened a little laughter and turned to follow her back. It is stupid to be so upset and so broken over this. I know that verry well, but still, I can't help that heavy cold feeling nagging inside my chest. It felt unfair, cruel, and just wrong! But I am alive. I'm not dragged in front of the elders with a claim for my head. Still, I struggle to just leave this.
"I have a plan."
"What?"
"Oh, come on! You didn't really think this shit would fly with me?"
Maya snorted but tied the whole statement together with a mischievous grin.
" Ookay...So does this plan involve me and you sneaking into fay territory?"
"No..."
She dragged out the word little too much and scoffed before she slumped down in a little wooden chair. Clenching my teeth together I turned away and rushed up to another chair. Quick enough for her not to see me smiling and doing my best to not drop to the ground laughing.
"Well, almost. But I can't leave with you. I have to stay with the kids."
I almost laughed in surprise.
"You never say no to a little adventure? And Arcane are great with the kids..."
"I know, and I can't explain right now. All I know, is that I must stay here. That sparkling asshole and I have unfinished business, I can feel it into my bones. He will be back, and I promise you, he will not lay a hand on my children! "
"Look, I don't exactly like the guy either, but don't you think you are overreacting?"
I wanted to eat my own words and met down into the ground the moment the sentence slipped my lips. Maya´s head snapped towards ne in an unnatural speed. Her eyes pierced me, and they flickered, I swallowed hard and sank into the chair when I saw her Valkyrie pressed through. Her voice was much sharper, harsher than Maya´s, her words like lashes with a small whip.
"The human's ability to overlook threats, to so carelessly laugh away danger and to rely on their so-called parental instincts are pathetic. I can't believe this is the rase that survived! I look past her motherly instincts, on old wisdom and help from the spirits themselves. Do not ever question my judgment for my children! I could sense it, smell it, even feel it! But the sensation has no name as for now, so I know what to do but I can't break it into stupidity level for you to comprehend!"
With eyes as wide as dinner plates, I held my breath several seconds after she left. Stunned, embarrassed and quite frankly a little scared, all I could do was mutter out in a low whisper,
"Ouch..."
Lowering my gaze again I swallowed hard a couple of times. Damned, Maya looks terrifying when angry! I half expected her to laugh or set up a half grin, but instead she looked as angry as her Valkyrie sounded. Right now, I'm wondering if I should second guess my life choices before it is too late. Eventually she let out a deep sight, and I felt like I could finally breath again and dare look up.
"I'm not going to say sorry. She is a bit direct, but she is right. I could feel it through her, even smell it. Fear, power, and dark magic. Things I never knew had a smell! But I recognized them, and no. Before you say it, I didn't smell the king. More like I smelled the outcome of his plans, or how he pictured it. I don't know. I am staying here, and you have to leave. You must get ahead of the group and be there before them. Technically his ruling and banishment doesn't apply before he enters his kingdom! Tell no one and run. This is your one chance to reach your sister before the king can poison her mind against you."
My heart started pumping, and muscles twitched with the rush of adrenaline that followed.
"How can, I be sure? What if it's not her?"
"Well, it is a chance you have to take. But, come one. The king gloated like a spoiled goat, he spilled everything. How many girls do you think it can be? New arrival, for some reason they believe her to have been, well, let's call it created, here. There is only one woman that left this world, ever. They think she is the woman you claim to be, so obviously there are something brewing here. The fay would not throw themselves at shiny stones, they search for evidence, explanations, how this or that can serv them or make them superior in anyway.
This woman just came from the human world, from home and despite the Viking pack's fierce attitude towards the hunt and who can attend, they somehow managed to end up with her. And haven't you already searched this entire planet? At least 3 times already? No unturned stones, no undiscovered deep waters...Nothing. You need to do this. Either expose it as bullshit and get peace of mind. Or, you will finally meet the sister you have been dreaming about and searching for."
She managed to set fire too every single smoldering spot inside of me. Convincing me even more. She was right, the facts, they were all there! Too much to be a coincidence, to strange to not mean anything. This is closer than I've ever been before! A real clue, and not just any clue! One that actually, sounded possible. The first real light in the end of the tunnel!
I jumped to my feet, my heart still pounding, raging against my chest. My body trembling with adrenaline and excitement.
"You are right! I have to leave! I just have to quickly pack something and maybe I have..."