Chapter 3: Chapter three

As I entered the lounge room, I took a brief moment to assess the two people occupying the room. Only one of the two was familiar to me, and I knew it would be difficult to trick her into believing I wasn’t the person she was looking for.

Sitting with her hands folded in her lap, Lady Isabel possessed the poise, and ethereal beauty of the Aos sí. Her delicate cheekbones were defined with a light dusting of pink, and her lips were the same bright red as her gown. With her crimson red hair piled atop her head, she looked as though she were cosplaying the red queen from Alice in Wonderland.

Emerald green eyes met mine for a brief moment, and I bit the inside of my cheek to hold back my smile as I imagined her screaming “Off with their heads” in a fit of anger.

The Dökkálfar lord stood before the hearth, his posture stiff. Compared to Lady Isabel, he looked rather dull in a gray knee length tunic, which split at the sides to reveal a pair of trousers of the same color, and gray shoes to match. Even his eyes were a bland gray, that stared at me with an empty gaze. The only part of his appearance that stood out were his antlers, but even they were unremarkable, the unadorned prongs revealing him to be a lower ranked noble with no spouses or children.

“Ellie, these are the guests who have come to visit you.” Mai said, making a show of coaxing me forwards to greet the guests.

“Greetings honored guests,” I stammered, dropping into a clumsy attempt at curtsy. “I am Ellie of the New York enclave. M-may the moon shine upon our meeting.” As I waited for a reply to my greeting, I continued my inspection of the pair through my lashes.

“There is no need to be nervous, Ellie. I am Lady Isabel of the Unseelie High Court.” Lady Isabel said, raising a hand to gesture at the Dökkálfar lord. “And this is Lord Loren, a representative of the Dökkálfar Court.”

“Are you here because of the goblins?” I asked in a soft, wavering voice.

“Will you tell us your side of what happened?” Lady Isabel enquired, raising a delicate brow in question.

I stared at the ground for a moment, taking a deep breath as if I were gathering my courage.

“I was passing through the nearby park on my way home from school, and noticed the local Harpy flock appeared agitated.” I said, stopping briefly to draw in a deep, shuddering breath. “Sometimes Griffowls slip through the veil to prey on the Harpies, so I went to investigate in order to properly report the incident to the guardians.”

“Which was when you came upon the goblins.” Lady Isabel prompted after I did not continue speaking.

Wrapping my arms around my body, I let out a soft sob as I spoke the next part. “They were eating an old woman, I recognized her as one of the park goers who often feeds the Harpies.”

Lady Isabel nodded, her emerald eyes appearing thoughtful as she stared at me.“The guardians reported that when they arrived, one of the goblins was dead, and the surviving goblins claimed you killed their companion with dark magic. Those two survivors were then killed in front of the guardians, in a manner that has yet to be determined.”

“My Lady, as you should know, a child who has not reached the age of maturity and manifested their core will have great difficulty in condensing their mægen to the point of being able to use it effectively. ” I said, letting out a long sigh. “All children are taught basic combat, and I am no exception. I never leave home without a blade, as an un-manifested child such as myself is vulnerable without magic.”

This was all true of course, unless that child possessed a strong magical tool that could bypass this issue with an artificial core. In Manna-heim, such tools were a rarity, and not something the guardians even considered a possibility due to the expense of such an item.

“So you are saying you did not use shadow magic to attack the goblins?” Lady Isabel asked.

“I haven’t manifested a core yet,” I said, ensuring I was extremely careful with my choice of words.

“Did you use any form of magic on the goblins?” She asked, her musical voice sounding amused as she attempted to lure me into admitting I had used magic.

I let out a forlorn sigh. “How could I do so when I am still a child yet to manifest her core?”

“We are not as ignorant as the guardians of this enclave, we know you could do so through the use of an artificial core,” Isabel said, raising a hand to cut off my babbling. “Nor are we unable to sense the glamor you both wear, despite its strength.”

I considered her words for a moment, before inclining my head in acknowledgement “The glamor is needed for interactions with humans. My apologies, your visit was unexpected, so forgive me for being unprepared to greet you properly in true form.”

It was true I needed to wear a glamor when leaving the house, though, in this age it was not unusual to see people walking around with ears that ended in a pointed tip. There were many humans who dressed themselves up as Elves, or members of the Fae races, which granted a reasonable excuse to any who might have dropped their glamor in public.

“If we gave you a warning, would you have been here to greet us?” Lady Isabel asked, her emerald gaze roaming over my body.

I remained silent. She was correct that we would not have remained if we knew of their coming. It would not have been safe to do so. Perhaps if it were only the Dökkálfar, it would not have been an issue, but Isabel? No- if I had warning she was coming I would not have remained in the city, or even the country.

With a confident stride that showed none of the tumultuous feelings welling up inside me, I made my way to the armchair opposite the couch Lady Isabel sat on. As I settled on the chair, I glanced over at the solemn form of the Dökkálfar, wondering when he would reveal himself.

“Forgive me, I see we’re being rather poor hosts so far. We should have offered tea,” I said, looking over at Mai. “Grandma?”

As the old woman turned to look at me, I twirled a strand of hair around a finger, discreetly pointing to the front of the house. Mai inclined head in response, and gave a shallow curtsy before leaving the room.

“Do you know why we have come here?” Lady Isabel asked. I fought the urge to roll my eyes in response.

“Grandma said it was because of the rumors spread about me after the fight with the goblins,” I replied, lips twitching as she huffed out another sigh.

Lady Isabel’s lips pressed into a scowl as she stared at me. “You think we came because of a few rumors?”

“Why else would you be here?” I asked, raising a brow at her.

“We received a report that the missing Dökkálfar princess was hiding in this city, the rumors you speak of only reached our ears when we approached the enclave to question them about this.”

“A report?” I stiffened, eyes narrowing as I stared at the woman.

“Indeed,” she confirmed, raising one of her own delicate crimson eyebrows in return. “How long do you intend to play this game, niece?”

“Niece? You address me with such confidence, Lady Isabel.” I said, tilting my head to the side as I observed her. Did I continue dragging this on, or simply admit what was already obvious to all?

“I held my sister's hand as she labored, and was among the first to hold you after your birth. There is no doubt in my mind that you are my niece. Your mægen carries the frigid kiss of a dark winter’s night, a perfect mix of my Unseelie sister and the Dökkálfar king.”

“There are many occurrences of the Unseelie Fae, and Dökkálfar coming together to bear offspring. The two kingdoms are allied, and interact often.” I answered simply, still not admitting to anything.

The Dökkálfar lord shifted, his fingers twitching towards his side. His expression remained void of emotion, but his eyes held a tinge of something unfathomable as he stared at me. I met his eyes, gazing into the pale gray for a brief moment, before turning my attention back to the Fae woman seated opposite me.

“That is true,” Lady Isabel acknowledged, her lips pressed into a tight line as she flicked a brief glance at the man standing beside the hearth. “Enough games, niece. Speak the truth of your identity, so we may move onto addressing other matters.”

“Very well.” I smiled, the glamor I wore rising from my body like a theater curtain being lifted from a stage. Sun kissed skin faded into a pale porcelain, and golden blond hair darkened into inky black strands. Ears which previously appeared rounded, now possessed a pointed tip, and earthy brown eyes become a wintery blue. “I am Elayna. Dóttir of Solorian, Ríkrtungl av Svartálfaheimr, and his Concubine, Lady Luciana.”

As the words left my lips, the stoic Lord Loren sprang into motion, and Lady Isabel cried out a warning as he lunged towards me, dagger in hand. Unfazed, I remained seated, not moving an inch as the dagger stabbed towards my chest. When the dagger was close enough to graze the material of my blouse, a hazy brown light engulfed me, and the blade came to a jarring halt.

Isabel rushed towards us, a slender sword held aloft as she shouted to the guards outside for aid. No guards responded to her calls, nor did I expect them to. Mai would have already dealt with them by now.

“He revealed himself sooner than I thought.” I mused, watching the would-be assassin as he parried Lady Isabel’s attack.

Lady Isabel fought with a grace that made her movements appear as though she were dancing with the Dökkálfar, rather than trying to kill him. In comparison, the assassin's movements were jerky, and panicked, clearly not a skilled fighter or properly trained assassin.

It was almost disappointing.

My first official assassination attempt since leaving Svartálfaheimr, and I got an amateur who couldn’t even tell I was layered head to toe in protective magic. Pathetic.

“Indeed,” Mai said, walking back into the room carrying a tea tray. “Isabel, hurry it along, dear. Your tea will get cold.”

“The three outside?” I asked, taking the cup the woman offered with a smile.

Many underestimated the strength of the Húsvættir, and considered them little more than house servants due to their nature.

The Húsvættir began their life as domestic spirits and, if granted a name, they would form a bond with the granter. Maitane was granted her name by my paternal ancestor, after which she had served faithfully for many generations, her bond passing down through the royal family, heir to heir. Mai had accompanied me since my birth, and would remain at my side until the day her bond passed to my own heir.

“I have secured them.”

“We’ll deal with them later then,” I said, as a panting Lady Isabel slumped down onto the couch, a bloodied and unmoving Dökkálfar at her feet. It would take at the very least several days for the lord to recover, unless Lady Isabel had shattered his core when stabbing him through the chest.

So long as their core and vital organs remained intact, survival was possible as a mature vættir could recover from most injuries. Which was why I was sent to hide within this realm. Until my mægen reached a point of maturity, and my core manifested, I was vulnerable to those who sought to remove me from the line of succession.

Not that I would be safe after manifesting my core. If one wished to kill a matured vættir, they simply needed to destroy either the core, heart, or head. Limbs and organs could not be regrown, no matter how much mægen one possessed, which was why I used shadow magic to crush the hearts of the goblins in the park.

If they were a stronger being, perhaps they would have been able to survive if they received healing. Then again, if they were stronger, my shadows would never have been able to penetrate their bodies, as their own mægen would have protected them.

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“It has been quite some time since I’ve had such a workout.” My aunt said, taking the tea Mai handed her. “You appear to be quite calm despite the attempt on your life.”

“People have been trying to murder me since I was still in the womb, and almost succeeded when I was in my eighth cycle.” I reminded her.

Lady Isabel sighed, her expression solemn. “The roots of treachery in your fathers court ran deep. It took my sister's death for the king to see how far they had spread. Many of the roots have been removed since that tragic night, but others are proving more difficult.”

“And the tree which spreads its roots through the court?” I asked, glancing at the assassin.

“The tree stands, although it has withered significantly.”

“Not withered enough it seems.” Mai interjected, scowling at my aunt. “You should have noticed the lord's intent earlier, and removed him.”

Isabel sighed, looking down at the body on the floor. “I did not wish to distress Elayna with a fight in her presence. She has been raised in the human realm after all.”

“Did you think I would leave her un-blooded? I am raising a future queen, not a simpering maiden!” Mai snapped. “Why have you come to our door, leading dangers to the Smártungl before she is ready to take her place?”

Raising my cup to my lips, I used it to hide my smirk as Lady Isabel cowered beneath Maitane’s glare. For once, it was not me on the receiving end of the Húsvættir's scolding.

My aunt pursed her lips, her expression stern as she met Mai’s gaze.“I have always been the one sent to investigate any rumors pertaining to children showing signs of Dökkálfar heritage. We could not risk that one might truly be the Smártungl, and that those who seek harm would reach her first.”

Rumors of the search were common, but I paid them little heed. The last thing I wanted was to draw attention to myself by asking questions about the missing Dökkálfar princess.

“Does faðir expect me to return before reaching my manifestation? I would be at risk if I did so,” I said, glancing down at Mai who was rolling the body of the assassin inside the blood covered floor rug.

Hefting the rug up onto a shoulder, the old woman strode out of the room carrying the load with ease, despite her frail appearance.

“I am uncertain what his expectation will be.” She murmured, looking thoughtful as she tapped her nails against the side of her cup. “I was simply sent to confirm if you were indeed here.”

“Tell me of the report you said was received.” I demanded.

“A guardian by the name of Kelsie Monroe contacted the Dökkálfar enclave in Germany telling of three goblins who spoke of being killed by the dark. She described the goblins' deaths, and even spoke of a young girl who had been present, though she gave off no feeling of mægen at the time. The tip off was your dagger, niece. It is made from Peryton antler, something the guardian recognized. From there, the facts continued to add up.” Lady Isabel said, her lips curling into a mocking smile. “Your glamor is the exact opposite of what you should look like, blond hair, tanned skin, brown eyes. You’re never seen outside at night, always claiming to be sick if a nighttime event is held at the enclave. Living with your elderly grandmother because your mother is dead, and your father is a deadbeat who can’t take responsibility for his kin. This information was passed directly to your faðir through an informant placed within the enclave.”

That last part wouldn’t have gone over well. My lips twitched, imagining how faðir would have reacted to the jab at his inability to protect his hirð.

“It seems I underestimated Guardian Monroe. She’s a lot smarter than her comrades.” I said, giving a slight shake of my head. “I should have killed them all that night rather than taking the risk of them not noticing my use of magic.”

“You should have killed them.” Isabel agreed once I finished my explanation of the true encounter with the goblins. “Are the guardians truly so unskilled that you believed killing in front of them would go unnoticed?”

“They are,” I said, crinkling my nose. “The lord cares for his parties, and socializing more than the safety of the city he is charged with.”

“Ah, yes, this is a Seelie ruled enclave.” Isabel tutted, her lips curling in disgust as she set her cup aside. “They’re rather fond of their image.”

I laughed, following my aunt's lead and setting down my own cup. “The lord is quite proud of his Seelie heritage, and despises any of Unseelie descent.”

“I see,” Lady Isabel said, her brow creasing. “I am curious how it is you remained hidden, being part of an enclave. Surely it was questioned why you remained concealed behind a glamor.”

“To do that, someone would need to sense my glamor.” I answered simply. “Few in the city can do so.”

Lady Isabel raised a delicate eyebrow, her expression indicating she wanted me to elaborate.

“Lord Fergus is very weak magically, despite being half Aos Sí.” I murmured, brushing a strand of hair out of my face. “He is very prideful, as all Seelie are, and as such he has seen to it that none in the enclave are stronger than he is. Over the past decade, Lord Fergus has successfully removed any within the enclave who were stronger than he is, thus preventing any from potentially challenging his rule.”

“I see.” Lady Isabels eyes narrowed.

“I am not the only one who uses this to their advantage, many seek New York because it is known the guardians are weak, and they can easily avoid discovery. The only ones who know I wear a glamor are also in hiding, so won’t reveal me for fear I would return the favor.”

Hearing this, my aunt pursed her lips, her emerald eyes drifting to the door as Maitane re-entered the room with a bucket, and mop to clean the blood which had seeped through the rug she’d removed.

“Isabel, I’ve placed the assassin within your vehicle,” Mai said, as she dipped her mop into the bucket. “The other three are also in there with him, be a dear and dispose of them.”

“To speak the truth, I am uncertain how to move forward.” My aunt admitted. “I assume you will not willingly return with me?”

“Correct.” Maitane said cutting in before I could respond.

Chin propped on my palm, I listened silently as the pair began to discuss the issue of my safety, and the guards in the carriage. According to Lady Isabel they were sent by faðir, and meant to remain with me should I be found.

“I care not who they serve.” Mai said to Isabel. “Those fools were defeated by a lowly Húsvættir, such guards are unworthy of her.”

“Very well,” Lady Isabel said, smoothing a hand over her dress. “I will depart to inform King Solorian of my findings. Will you be here when I return with new guards?”

“We will not.” Mai replied, shaking her head. “I will be moving the little moon and keeping her hidden until her manifestation in two months' time.”

“That may not be needed,” Lady Isabel said, looking thoughtful. “The enemy has already suffered a great blow after their failed attempt to kill Elayna.”

Mai scowled. “You think she's safe despite the one who attempted to kill her just now?”

“Their support is weak, as was the one who attempted to kill my niece.” My aunt replied. “With loyal guards at her side, such paltry attempts would not reach her as they did this day.”

“The attacks on her life will only increase until she comes of age, being in Svartálfaheimr where her enemies have more influence and power will endanger her more.”

“I understand your position Maitane, however her faðir wishes for her to return home.”

“I will go home once I have reached my hundredth year, and manifest my core.” I said tersely to remind the pair I was still in the room. “Until I have a mægen core of my own, I am vulnerable and not able to meet the challenges that will come my way.”

Isabel inclined her head. “Perhaps your faðir might concede if you moved to one of the Dökkálfar enclaves, wherein a regiment of trained Skutilsveinr can accompany you.”

Mai glanced at me, her expression contemplative. “There are benefits to spending the next two months in an enclave. It would allow us to better prepare for your return to court, however it will also give time for those who oppose us to prepare in return.”

“You say that as though they are not already doing so.” I said with a wry smile. “However, I agree that beginning to move now will have its benefits.

Isabel nodded. “Then I notify the enclave in-”

“I wish to remain in New York.” I interrupted.

“You wish to remain in a Seelie enclave?” Isabel frowned, before giving a slight nod. “I suppose it might prove safer, as it would be a place where those who seek you harm would have little influence. However, you have already said this enclave is weak, and thus I do not believe it is suited to protect you.”

“New York is of more benefit to me,” I said, glancing at Mai who nodded in agreement. “Please pass on my wishes to faðir, we shall await your return.”

“Then I will bid you farewell niece.” My aunt said in response to my not so subtle nudge for her to depart.

“Farewell, and may the moon guide your path.” I responded, standing to escort her out of the room.

From the front door, I watched as Lady Isabel climbed onto the front seat of the black vehicle, looking more than a little displeased. The three Dökkálfar were tied up in the back, which meant she would need to drive the car herself, instead of having one of the guards do so whilst she sat comfortably inside.

The mægen powered car made no sound as it smoothly pulled out into the street. My aunt didn’t bother giving way, or waiting for a gap in the flow of traffic as she pulled out, which caused a cacophony of loud shouts, and honking horns to fill the air as enraged New Yorkers loudly expressed their thoughts on her driving ability.

Beside me, Maitane exhaled loudly, her expression weary as she scanned the street. “Let us return inside.”

I nodded, taking one final glance at the sky and savoring my last moments of freedom. It was unlikely Mai would let me go out whilst we waited for Lady Isabel to return, which meant the next few days would be spent confined to the townhouse.

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