When I returned to my quarters my mother and Alan were standing in my living room. My mother was near the large bay window, her figure turned away from me. Her arms were crossed, and I could tell from the set of her shoulders she was not happy. Alan grimaced when he saw me and looked down at the floor, clearly not wanting to get involved.
"Where have you been, young lady!" My mother snapped from the window. She spun to face us; her finger pointed at me. Her eyes were wide with anger. I raised my hands in surrender.
"I went to the forest. I met with a Fae there, by the name of Tatiana. The land is dying; it's being poisoned." I rushed out, trying to explain. My mother threw her hands up in the air.
"You went into the forest!" She cried. "Do you know how many creatures live in that forest?" She ranted stomping back and forth across the room. Then she paused and turned back to me.
"Did you say you met Tatiana?" Her eyes were still wide. I nodded slowly. She blew out a breath in a gust. I briefly explained my encounter with the Queen of the lesser fae, what she'd shown me about the land, and the Earth magic I had used.
"A girl died tonight, Wren. It could have been you." She whispered. Her eyes filling with tears. "It's our job to keep you safe. We can't do that if you run off on your own." She stated. Then she turned to me with determination.
"From now on we are upping security on you. One of us or an escort must always be with you. There's a killer on the loose." I bit my lip but nodded. This was not the time to argue, as much as I prized my independence.
"I'm going to have to return to the forest. I need to continue to try to heal the poisoned land, until we can find out what is causing it." I said. I'm not sure how quick the rot was progressing, but perhaps I could slow it down long enough to hold the walls in place.
"The health of Faery is tied to the ruler. The royal family was once connected to the heart of this land, now it is the current king" My mother said in a grim voice. I stared up at her.
"So, the poisoning of the land, could be related to the poisoning of the king's soul?" I gasped. My mother nodded.
"The land used to react to your father's whims and moods. If he was ill, we could see it in the landscape." She remembered.
"I've heard the king is going to start torturing Fae for information on the deaths." I stated, more than questioned. My mother and Alan both nodded grimly.
"He already has a few people in custody for questioning. His manner is so erratic, so crazed. Someone is trying to undermine his rule, someone is ruining his ritual and the stress is wearing on him." Alan stated. I frowned. I wonder what he was using as an excuse to arrest these people. The sword of truth evidently was not enough, what more could he do?
"He's called upon his snake of a torturer, Oberon." My mother spit the name out. "He is a sadist; he gets off on causing pain." She finished. I clenched my hands; these people didn't deserve this. Not unless the king had something on them.
"What do we know about who they currently have for questioning." I paced back and forth across the room, my head spinning.
"Nothing currently, the royal guard are keeping everything under wraps. Helen and I are looking into it." Alan chimed in. I nodded and sighed. I sat myself down at the table in the center of the kitchenette, in front of my mother. A thought hit me, I smirked.
"Tomorrow I am going to begin training with the guards." I stated innocently. My mother sputtered out a sip of water she had raised to her lips.
"What in the name of the gods are you talking about?" She glared at me. I raised my hands innocently.
"I need to keep myself sharp in case of an incident, and what better way to get some insight on what's going on around here?" I stated. She placed her head in her hands for a moment and groaned.
"I know that face, Wren. That means you're going to do it no matter what I say. But stay out of it!" She growled. I set my shoulders and stared her down.
"These are MY people. I must help. And can you imagine a safer place to be than surrounded by the palace guards?" I quipped, she looked indignant.
"A proper Fae Lady –" she started I raised a hand and cut her off.
"I have never been a proper Fae Lady." I finished. I knew how to live by example, and what I knew is that I needed to be strong. I needed to gather what information I could, regardless of how it effected my image. I found I wanted to train. I missed the feel of a steel blade in my hands, the song of the wind as I slice through the air. I miss the strain in my muscles, the gruelling pace of a fight. I was not a porcelain doll to be admired on a shelf. I was a Queen, and it was time even my mother started treating me like one.
"You may go to the training grounds, only if that general boy is with you." My mother stated, arching a brow daring me to challenge her. I bit my tongue and nodded. A small concession to make. Being accompanied by Kellen would be less conspicuous and easier to manage than being trailed by my parents everywhere. She touched Alan on the shoulder and gestured to the door, they packed up their things to leave. As she was heading out the door, she called behind her.
"And that goes for the forest too, young lady!" The door slammed shut behind her.