Cade watched his sister fall silent and start to stare at the ground with a vacant expression. Her mouth fell open an inch and she smiled at Axel as if he was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. He was about to go to her and demand to know what the bandit had done to her but then he noticed the flowers in the meadow. How had he not noticed them before? They were shining like stars and once he was looking at them he found he wanted to sit among them. They must be as soft as they look. Swaying to one side he put out his hand and caught himself as he fell. He imagined his wrist should have hurt with the impact but it didn't. Nothing hurt in this lovely place. His vision swayed in and out of focus and his skin was tingling. Sitting on the grass he heard laughing. He realized it was him who was giggling and that struck him as very funny.
He wondered where Freya was. Maybe she was back in the castle. He would like that. She was safe there. There were no monsters or bandits or dragons. He remembered caring about the dragon a lot for some reason but it seemed unimportant now.
The birds were chirping and the sky was turning pink as the sun rose. Cade lay on his back and looked at the colors. He had never noticed how amazing they were before. The way that they slipped into each other and made the sky look like a dream. He let out a long breath. He could stay here forever. He didn't need to go back to the circus and he no longer wanted the dragon. What use would a dragon be anyway? And he would be a bad king. He would make stupid choices like stealing a gem that was supposed to tell the future. Thank god that nice girl had helped him escape from the guards or he might not be here now, in this amazing place.
He could hear voices in the distance but who cared what they said. He was so content. He was so relaxed that he struggled to make his muscles work to breath. Maybe he shouldn't force them. They needed a rest like anything else.
He rolled onto his side, the soft grass brushing his face. Making a pillow with his hands he snuggled into the earth. He wanted to stay here forever, sleeping peacefully where there was no danger and no pain. Maybe he would drift off and dream about Thor. Not the night he died but the times before that. When he had let Cade sleep on his side or put hats on him that he found on the street. He could picture the wolf now, wearing that ratty top hat, his head rested on the ground as he kept a watchful eye on Cade.
His body was heavy and his eyes where almost shut when a shape appeared in his line of sight. It moved through the flowers with wide eyes fixed on him. Its large ears twitched this way and that. With each step Cade heard it crushing grass lightly beneath its hooves. It had a narrow head and a lean body. Its coat was brown and speckled with white spots. As it slowly came nearer to him he thought hard and came up with the name of the creature. It was a doe. He had seen this animal before. When he had been at the bandit camp it had come through the trees and stared at him like it was right now. Deer were common creatures but somehow Cade knew that this was the same animal. It watched as if came soundlessly closer. Its nose wiggled as it sniffed the air around him.
Cade closed his eyes. He didn't know why it was following him but he was too tired to be bothered to think about it. He would wait and the doe would go away, just like everyone did in the end.
There was a gentle nudging against the side of his face. Short bristly fur rubbed against his cheek and Cade opened his eyes. He was face to face with the doe now. He looked into its eyes and felt concern radiating from within it. It was as if the doe's emotions were pouring into him, as if he was inside her head. He had only felt this once before, with Thor. Was this doe trying to become his spirit animal. It was true that since Thor went there was a hole in Cade's life. He was the only person he knew who had lost their spirit animal and hadn't gone mad. He wasn't even sure you could get another one.
The doe was so close that its breath was hitting him in the face. He shut his eyes against it and it licked his cheek meekly. His heart leapt at the thought of this doe becoming his new spirit animal. Finally, he wouldn't have to feel so alone.
Another part of him piped up. What the hell use was a doe to him? He needed a strong spirit animal, like Thor had been. He lived on the streets and needed something that could survive that with him. A new sense of clarity came into him. His bones were still heavy, and voices urged him to stay on the ground. Just slip away, they cooed, we will look after you beneath the willow tree.
But Cade couldn't just stay here. If he did, then he might end up with the doe as a spirit animal. While it seemed nice it wasn't what he needed. He needed the dragon. That was why he was here wasn't it? He blinked and looked around. His sister was gazing at Axel who had his hands on her face. Freya was dragging Rowan along the grass, yelling at him to snap out of it. Cade shivered, suddenly very cold. Wrapping his arms around himself he sat up and turned to face the doe. She was completely still, one front foot raised, as if intending to take another step towards him. He had the feeling if she did that then he would be allowing her to be his spirit animal. His chest felt tight as he shook his head at her. He needed to find that dragon and he didn't want another animal to get in the way. Besides, she would never survive the journey.
"No," he whispered.
The doe shook herself and bellowed once. Galloping into the tress, she vanished from sight. Cade held himself tighter against the empty feeling inside. It was for the best, he told himself.
A loud smacking sound broke him out of his thoughts. He spun to see Axel slumped to the side with his hand on his face.
Elora was glaring down at him. "Do not kiss a girl unless she asks for it!"
"I was saving you from the fey magic." Axel stood straight and rubbed his cheek. There was a red mark appearing there.
Freya stopped pulling on Rowan's arm and pinned the fey with a disdainful stare. Rowan was lying on the ground making a sound almost like purring.
The fey shook her head and giggled. "It ordinarily makes everyone fall asleep and then they stay with us forever."
Cade could imagine that. If it hadn't been for the doe then he would have drifted off quite happily. Rowan was closing his eyes and Freya took one look at him then drew her sword on the fey.
The otherworldly creature narrowed her eyes and held up her hands. "No need to be violent princess. Given that most of you have escaped the spell we will let him go. Although he does look happy, don't you think."
Rowan was smiling and nuzzling the grass. Cade had the absurd impulse to laugh. Freya might stab him if he did though, so he held it down.
"You tried to trick us," Cade growled, "Why shouldn't the princess just strike you down?"
The fey chuckled. "My kin would make short work of you then."
Cade felt the eyes on them before he spun to see them. There were glowing faces all around them, floating in the dimness of the early morning. He clenched his teeth and wished he had a weapon to brandish.
"We are the fey, we are not interested in battle," the fey said.
"You just like messing with people's heads." Axel was still nursing the mark on his cheek.
Cade must remember to high-five El later for that hit.
"We like playing tricks and making deals," the Fey said, "but given that they have won the game perhaps we should give them something for you." She glared at Axel and the bandit king sent a look of equal hatred back.
"Why should he get something for us winning?" Cade moved closer to his sister. He didn't trust that the fey wouldn't throw another curve ball their way and he wanted to be able to reach Elora and escape before they did.
"They aren't going to give me a gift, idiot." Axel rolled his eyes. Cade was tempted to punch him to add to his wounds.
"You never have known how to show respect to those who own you," the fey said to Axel.
The bandit king clenched his hands into fists but didn't say a word.
"Let Rowan go." Freya took a step closer to the fey and Cade's heart skipped a beat. He had no idea what a fey did when threatened but given what they had endured for asking for help he wasn't looking forward to finding out.
The fey pursed her lips and let out a long whistle. Rowan had been curled into the foetal position on the ground but when the sharp sound reached its end he sprang up like he had been stung.
He blinked at the others. "What happened? Did I fall asleep?"
"Something like that," Axel told him.
Rowan stood up and took up his place just behind the princess. Cade knew it was where the servants stood in relation to their masters in the palace. Seemed he couldn't break the habit even out here in the wilderness.
"Would you like your prize now?" The fey grinned at Axel but Cade was sure she was speaking to Freya.
"We will take this solution you have and then we are leaving. Don't try to stop us." Freya raised her sword a few inches to make her point.
The fey scanned the sword from the tip to the handle then surveyed Freya. "You are not special enough to warrant two rounds of our game."
Freya pressed her lips together and waited. Cade was beginning to think that they were just going to stare at each other for a few minutes straight when the fey finally smiled and asked Freya to lower her sword. When the princess didn't move the fey let out a long sigh.
"I cannot go and get your prize if you do not let me."
Freya met Cade's eyes from across the clearing. She had gone pale and her mouth was a tight line. Cade knew she was scared to lower her sword. Already the fey had tried to hurt them and nothing they said could be taken at face value. This prize could be anything for all they knew. But they couldn't stand here forever. Without knowing what else to do, Cade nodded at her, hoping he looked confident enough to reassure her.
Freya lowered her sword and the fey skipped towards the tree without delay. The group stood in silence while they waited for her to return. Cade remembered the injured gorgon and spun to search for her. She was sitting on the ground where he had left her. She wasn't screaming anymore but there was still a good bit of blood on her face. He went to her side and asked if she was alright, but she didn't say a word.
The fey came back with a long thin silver chain in her hands. Axel took a step away from her as she approached and started to scan the area around him rapidly.
"This is a chain the fey use to keep the humans we take from the villages. It is under the command of whoever ties it around the prisoner. Only they may break it, otherwise it is indestructible." The fey held the chain out to Freya and she gingerly took it. Without a backwards glance at the fey she walked towards Axel.
The bandit king clenched his teeth and narrowed his eyes at her. He lowered himself into a combat stance and held his hands up in front of him. Freya glared at him and drew her sword with one hand. Cade could see that she was struggling to hold the long weapon in a single hand and started to approach her. He would use the chain and she could use the sword.
Before either she or Axel could take a swing, Elora moved between them and stretched out her hand towards Freya. The princess hesitated, looking between Axel and Elora a few times. Eventually Freya gave the chain to her. Elora turned and walked to Axel. He watched her closely. Cade's heart was hammering as his sister got into Axel's personal space. He had mental images of him grabbed her around the throat and squeezing the life out of her. Or using her to escape, taking her as a prisoner again. Instead he gradually lowered his hands. She reached him and gently took his hands in hers, bringing them both up in front of him. Without a word she fastened the chain around his wrists and took hold of the end of it. He was now essentially handcuffed, and Elora held his leash. Cade had the horrible feeling that the chains wouldn't be enough to keep him under control.
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