Esterpine

Koldis relayed orders to his pairs, settling into the role of commander, keeping close contact as he stationed them all around the outskirts of Esterpine. They were waiting for Claire—waiting for her to appear. His mind raced. Images continued to pour in. Shadows. Trees covered in rot. Vines twisting and claiming. His breathing came in great gasps as Claire's fear leached into the projections.

He'd considered telling Queen Jade. Considered storming into her throne room and demanding she retrieve Claire. He'd drag her out into the forest himself if he had to, but just as he'd raced to the palace, Claire came free of the darkness. Now her images were clearer, laced with green and not black.

"Lord Koldis! She's here!" He almost cried with relief a short while later when Madeleine and Nokin's telepathic thought pulled him to the northern side of Esterpine. He ran faster than he thought possible. Sprites watched him streak past with quizzical expressions. They had no idea of what transpired outside their precious city. No idea of the threat.

Claire had left on the western side. It's where he'd stationed himself to wait, expecting her to return the same way. She'd somehow come back to an entirely different place. It was the forest. The gods damned forest.

Relief poured over him at the glint of golden hair when he saw it. She was alive. Safe.

"Claire! I'm here," he called. The second she spotted him, a sob erupted from her chest. She ran for him and launched herself at him. He folded her into his arms, engulfing her in safety.

"I'm fine," she sobbed. "I'm...fine, Koldis. I'm...I'll be fine. I'm fine." She repeated the words, breathless and gasping. She must have run the entire way here. "I'll be fine."

He held her there for the gods only knew how long, his queen, resting his chin on her head. Her breathing grew steadier. Her trembling subsided. Only then did he glance down and notice her hair, infested with leaves and twigs. Dirt streaked her clothes. Despite the tension, he almost laughed, seeing her like this. A wild thing. Untamed. A true queen.

He spotted blood on her clothes. Not enough to be lethal. He held her at arms length. "What the hell happened?"

"I...it was the forest. But...I'm okay. Really. I shouldn't have panicked like that. I just...I wasn't prepared for it." Her face turned a darker shade of red.

"You have nothing to be ashamed of, Claire. I would have reacted similarly. Believe me. It's this...this place. Something isn't right. Something—" A commotion sounded. He looked up, only to narrow his eyes. "You! What is the meaning of this?"

"I do not answer to you, Lord Koldis." That voice.

"Well, I want answers gods damn it! Look at her. Look at her." He didn't mean to, but he turned Claire at the shoulders so that Taylynn would see her—see the result of the forest.

Claire pulled out of his grasp. "I'm fine, Koldis, really. Taylynn saved—"

"I don't care if she saved the whole damn forest," he hissed. "You could have died."

"She wouldn't have," Taylynn simply said. "Now, step aside, Lord Koldis. I have buisness with my mother."

"No. I want answers. Not later. Now."

Taylynn sighed, as if resigned. "Answers you will have. I will meet you in the palace shortly. See to the queen first." He started, glancing around to be sure none of the others had heard. How did she know? "Her wound requires tending. And I'm sure she'd appreciate a bath and some food. Get her somewhere she can rest. I will visit you then. You'll have your answers, Drengr. Or as much as I can truly give you."

"Fine," he snapped, stepping aside, only to watch her disappear down the path toward the palace.

***

Taylynn was true to her word. She came while Claire was tucked away in her bedroom suite, likely in the bath. In Sprite fashion, she swept into the room. Her clothes were different. She'd changed into a gauzy gown of silver. He couldn't help his eyes as they roved over her figure, over her markings.

She went to the fireplace in the middle of the room and whispered to it. The flames crackled and grew to a roar. The space was suddenly warmer and more inviting. He noticed her back then, the luminescent tattoo shimmering through the fabric. A giant tree. His gaze narrowed, but as she moved, he couldn't get a better look at it.

"How is she?" Taylynn said at last, turning to face him. It was disarming, the way her eyes pinned him.

"How do you think? She nearly had her life sucked out of her by some rutting blackness."

Taylynn exhaled, paying him a look. Her lips pressed into a thin line. "Claire is stronger than you think. Give her more credit. She isn't a weak, fragile bird. She will not break."

"And you know this how? Based on all the time you've spent with her?" His mind raced back to something she'd said before. Something about seeing Claire again—

Taylynn barked a laugh. "Believe me, my lord, I have seen far more than you might imagine. I know who Claire is—who she truly is."

"Oh? And who is she." A door opened, but he didn't take his eyes from Taylynn.

The princess fell silent. "Only blood will tell."

"Is that what Talon was referring to?" Claire appeared beside them. "The blood thing? He mentioned something about tracing my lineage. A way to prove that I really have Sprite blood."

Taylynn opened her mouth and paused. "You don't need a blood test to tell you that, Lady Claire." She pointed at a mark shimmering through the gauzy fabric of Claire's blouse. "But yes, there is a way to trace your blood. It is well known to us Sprites, as we use it to keep track of all of our people. A family tree of sorts."

"I'd like to see mine."

"Are you certain?" Taylynn asked, hesitant. "Some knowledge is better left undiscovered for what it might do. Not to you, but to those around you. Especially when it reveals answers of your lineage."

"I think it's pretty obvious who I descended from," Claire said, crossing her arms. "But having a confirmation would give me...peace."

Taylynn nodded. "I understand. Mayhap it is time. Come."

"Oh." Claire's eyes widened. "Right...right now?"

"Wait a moment—" Koldis held up a hand. "We are here to talk about what happened in the forest. Do not try to distract us from that."

"What happened in the forest was unnatural," Taylynn snapped, showing irritation for the first time. "You wanted answers, fine. I cannot tell you much. A sickness has taken root here. A sickness that should not exist. Evil has found a foothold in the purest of places. It always finds a way in."

"Evil only enters if it is allowed in," he countered, attempting to hide his surprise.

"Yes, exactly."

"What—what caused it then?" Claire asked. "What let it in? Kane?"

Taylynn blinked. "I cannot answer with certainty," she said at last. "I have done my best over the years to reverse its effects, but these past few months it has spiraled out of control. There are ways to cleanse—"

"Like with your blood," Claire hedged.

"Like with my blood. I am royal. I hold dominion over this place. So I do what I can. But..."

"But what?" Koldis demanded. He was losing patience.

"But like I said, it is getting worse. Especially ever since Claire arrived. Something drives it. I have my theories, but only so."

"Well, I for one would like to hear those theories," he said, glaring.

"That's unfortunate, my lord, as I will not give them. I will not speak about things which I am uncertain of."

"It's Kane," Claire whispered, convinced. "He's growing more desperate."

"That may be," Taylynn said. "Or it may not be. Now, would you like to trace your blood?"

"I...yes."

"Good, come along."

A muscle ticked along Koldis's jaw. He wanted nothing more than to drag Taylynn over to a chair and tie her to it. Demand that she give him more answers. He was certain whatever theories she held fast to had merit. The fact that she wouldn't tell him only irked him further. But, what could he do? He released a slow exhale, calming his nerves, and followed the two women from the room.

***

"We call it our Blood Stone," Taylynn said, bringing them to stand before a giant crystal protruding from the forest floor. They were near the market. The Sprites who passed by stopped to watch, curiosity written in their expressions. The stone was taller than Koldis by a hand or two. Its front face was flat and broad, but the back was rough, as if someone had chiseled it from a crystal boulder. Three stairs were cut into its side, but they didn't continue all the way to its top. Most remarkable were the grainlines of green quartz running through it.

"Its...wow. It's beautiful," Claire said. She walked towards it and stopped, lifting her hand and hesitating. "Can I?"

"Of course."

Claire laid her palm on the stone and her eyes closed. She hummed. "It feels alive."

"That is because it is—in a sense. The forest flows through it," Taylynn explained.

Claire's hand dropped. She walked around the Blood Stone's wide perimeter, eying it with caution, perhaps understanding more about its power than he would. To him, it was just a lifeless crystal, appreciated for beauty and nothing more. He had a feeling that this was about to change.

"And it will really show me who I'm descended from?" Claire asked.

"It will. Are you ready to know? There is still time to renege."

"No—I mean, yes. I am ready. I want to do this."

The small crowd gathering began to whisper. He glanced around. It grew to more than twenty.

"What is the meaning of this?" A voice brought silence with it.

He turned.

"Ah. Mother." Taylynn smiled. "I wondered if you would join us."

Queen Jade stood proud in her sweeping gown and dainty silver circlet. Lord Marquin stood almost beside her, a single step back. He wore a curious expression in direct contrast to Queen Jade's. Prince Feowen appeared a moment later and went to stand beside his sister. Koldis didn't miss the obvious alliance there. Jeanine slipped in with the small crowd.

"Why have you brought her here?" Queen Jade asked again.

"She wishes to know her lineage, Mother. She has a right to demand it, as do all Sprites."

Spots of red appeared on the queen's cheeks. "Of course." But she didn't look as if she wished to permit it.

"May we continue?" Taylynn asked. He didn't miss the underlying tone in the princess's voice, that she would proceed no matter what the queen said. Queen Jade's eyes flicked to the growing crowd. Perhaps she knew she'd been cornered, that it would reflect poorly upon her if she denied Claire this right before an audience.

"Please, proceed," the queen said.

Taylynn nodded. "Very well. Claire—" She took a dagger from her jeweled belt and handed it to Claire, whose eyes widened. "It isn't called the Blood Stone arbitrarily. You climb the steps there and give it your blood. Best to make a large gash and squeeze your hand into a fist. It should be a generous amount. That is all."

"Oh..." Claire glanced between the awaiting dagger in Taylynn's outstretched hand and the Blood Stone. She nodded and retrieved the dagger.

Koldis took a step. "Are you...sure about this?" he silently asked.

Claire's head tilted, listening. "Im sure, Koldis. I've wanted answers for a long time. You know that. I won't rest easier until I know. Part of my identity has been missing. I intend to find it."

He nodded and stepped back, giving her space. This he could understand. He'd felt something similar when his brand of magic first appeared. He'd been young then. Gods...so young. Nearly two hundred years had passed since then. But he'd felt it, felt the thoughts and emotions of other animals. It had felt, then, like part of his identity was missing...uncharted. It wasn't until meeting Cyrus, learning that some of the Drengr were simply born different from others, with abilities that weren't typical. Learning that made him part of something collective, it allowed him to belong. He wasn't a freak. He wasn't abnormal. He was merely unique.

Claire blew out an breath, eying the Blood Stone. She went to its side and climbed up the steps that brought her head even with its top. There, she dragged the dagger over her open palm making a deep gash. A hiss escaped her lips, but that was the only sound she made. She closed her hand around the wound and clenched, dripping blood onto the top of the stone. The patter of each drop sounded louder than normal, as if amplified. She watched her own actions, eyes wide as if she couldn't believe what she was doing.

"That ought to be enough," Taylynn's voice broke Claire's trance.

Claire returned to his side, keeping her hand in a fist. He was acutely aware of her presence beside him, the smell of her blood dripping onto the mossy ground, but didn't pull his eyes from the stone. He couldn't. He watched in fascination as its top turned blood red. Lines of Claire's lifeblood raced down the flat front surface, thin as spiderwebs. Words began to appear at the top. No—not words...names. Names written in her blood. First one name, and then another. Beneath each name, a new line raced downward to form the next, and another, and another. A cascading family tree took form. When the racing lines reached the middle, they slowed.

He watched, transfixed. A final line shot from a name, lengthening into a long streak that sped towards the bottom of the stone. Only then did a final name appear.

He stepped forward at the same time as Taylynn and Claire. A gasp fell from Claire's lips. He spotted it at the same time she did. Her name was at the very bottom, connected by the abnormally long line that remained strangely empty all the way up to Princess Irelia. Above Irelia's name, Queen Isabella. Beside Isabella's was Queen Ametrine. Below Ametrine, Jade, with names for her children, Taylynn and Feowen. His eyes continued to trace up the names and lines above Claire's. He wasn't sure if he was breathing properly. He'd shared the same hunch as Claire and the others ever since she'd voiced it. But seeing proof was entirely different.

Above Queen Isabella's name there were more—first daughters. All the way up to a single name. "It can't be," he whispered. Ellia. The Ellia. The woman responsible for bringing the wandering tribes of Spirit Singers together. The First Sprite.

Collective gasps and whispers rang out around them. The crowd had gathered close to look. When he glanced behind him, it was to see Queen Jade's face, as hard as the stone of her namesake. There was no hiding it now. The entire city was about to know Claire's deepest secret. She wasn't simply Talon's queen, she was Sprite royalty. She had a particular line of royal blood entitling her to sit her on the Sprite Throne, if she wished for it. He was well aware of Sprite customs. First daughters always inherited. That gave her more claim to the throne than Taylynn. Than Jade. It didn't matter that her line had diluted during its time in her home world. Blood was strengthened through the use of magic. If Claire worked hard enough, her blood could be strengthened to levels higher than any Sprite in existence.

"Why is the line blank for so long?" Claire broke the spell that had fallen around them. "Where is my mother's name? My grandmothers?"

"Your mother and her mother, and the many mothers before them are not part of our world," Taylynn said. "They are not here. They may carry your blood, but it has not been activated. The Blood Stone only works for Sprites."

Koldis's gaze traced the long line. How many generations did it encompass? How many generations of firstborn daughters had lived and died before Claire?

"It seems we are cousins, in a way," said Feowen, stepping forward, grinning. He warmly took Claire's shoulders and pulled her into a hug. She huffed, pulling away wearing a sheepish grin. "Oh. Sorry about that." He took her wounded hand and hummed a tune. The gash closed up without his having spoken a single word.

Koldis felt his eyes narrow. He was strangely reminded of the magic Claire had shown once before, while humming. He knew enough about the difficulties of healing to be impressed.

"A first daughter has returned to us!" The shouted statement grounded him. He glanced around to see who had spoken. Excitement rippled through the crowd. It had grown in number over the past few minutes. Strangely enough, Queen Jade had disappeared. He was too shocked by what happened next to question it. Everyone around them went down on one knee.

Claire's gasp was the only thing that broke the silence. "No. You must be...I mean. I am not..."

"You are our queen—by right—if you wish it." Taylynn said, smiling. She too had gone down on a knee. He was the only one left standing beside Claire.

A frown pulled at his lips. He realized then that Taylynn had known. That damn Sprite princess had known all along. That's what she'd meant when she called Claire a queen. It wasn't that she was referring to Claire's mate bond—or maybe that was part of it—it was because she knew exactly who Claire was. His irritation rose, but he kept it firmly in check.

Taylynn stood.

Claire took a step back, towards the blood stone. The words and blood had already begun to fade, all but disappearing to leave a clean crystal surface broken only by the grain lines of green quartz. "I'm not your queen," she whispered.

"But you are our heir, technically, if you wish it."

"But I—"

Taylynn laughed. "Come now, Lady Claire. You do not need to decide here and now. They are simply paying you the respect you deserve." Taylynn hesitated, glancing around. "You may rise, all of you. Please leave us. I wish for a word alone with Lady Claire."

The Sprites around them got to their feet and scurried away. All but Lord Marquin, who had remained. He wore a look of humbled respect. "Your Highness," he said, bowing to Claire and Taylynn before disappearing.

"Why...why did he call me that?" Claire demanded, clearly at odds with what was happening.

"Because," Taylynn said, "until and unless my mother steps down, you are technically a princess heir to the throne. Otherwise he'd have addressed you as Your Majesty."

Claire opened and closed her mouth. "I have a stronger claim than Queen Jade?"

"You may depose her, if you wish." The look on Taylynn's face made clear she wished for nothing more. He realized then, how deeply flawed Taylynn's relationship with her mother must be. There was certainly something going on—something he was eager to discover.

"I...I would never do that. I don't want..." Claire shook her head and fell silent.

"Lady Claire, I knew this would be a lot to take in. That was why I wanted to make sure you were truly ready. You need not worry or act. My mother is queen. That will not change unless you wish for it. Now, there are other matters I wish to discuss with you. That of your training. While I respect my mother's methods, and Lord Marquin's abilities, I have something different in mind. Will you humor me?"

"I...yes." Claire looked eager to be discussing anything other than the boulder dropped on her.

"Good. Then come. There is someone I very much wish for you to meet." Taylynn wrapped an arm loosely around Claires shoulders and led her away, leaving Koldis to stand beside Prince Feowen and Jeanine.

"Well," said the prince, "I suppose we should follow. I can only imagine what my sister has in mind next."

"She knew," he said, looking at Feowen with accusation. "Did you?"

Feowen lifted his hands. "Hardly. Trust me, I wondered why Claire looked so similar to Queen Isabella. But without proof? I can't say that I'm surprised though. My sister...she has a way about her. I believe she..." He fell silent.

"Believe she what...?" Koldis hissed. "Claire is my charge. I am sworn to protect her."

"My sister would never hurt her. She is our blood."

"Still, I would have you tell me, since Taylynn seems so intent on..."

Intent on what, precisely?

"Taylynn is unlike anyone I know," Feowen said, resigned. "Come, let us follow before we lose sight of them." He kept pace beside the prince while Feowen spoke. Jeanine stayed a few paces behind to give them space.

"I don't simply say this because she's my big sister," Feowen said. "She's touched by the forest in a way I've never seen before. It is said that those who first walked this world were often in communication with our King Tree, long before its line of contact narrowed to the rightful queen of each generation. Taylynn knows things, sees things...meddles. And I'm almost certain she has left the protection forest for the world beyond many times. Not for short periods, either."

"So you're telling me that she's up to something." It did not sit well with him. What could she be doing? Planning? Did it have anything to do with the darkness spreading? He didn't trust her as far as he could throw her.

"I do not think anything she does is harmful," Feowen explained, as if reading his thoughts. "I truly believe that whatever she's involved in is for the greater good. I just..." Feowen rubbed the back of his neck. "I worry about her sometimes. There, I have said more than I intended to. Please do not ask more from me, Lord Koldis."

"I...thank you, Prince Feowen. I appreciate your honesty."

Ahead of them, Taylynn had stopped. She turned to them. "I must ask you do not follow us further. What I wish to show Claire is for her and her alone."

"You cannot be serious." Koldis clenched his jaw. "Like hell am I going to let you simply lead her away." He waved an arm.

"She will be quite safe. Unfortunately, I made him a promise and I cannot break it."

"Him who? What is going on? Where Claire goes, I go."

"Koldis—" Claire opened her mouth.

"No, Claire—"

"Koldis," Claire hissed, more firmly this time. "Stay here. I will be fine." Her command stung. He clenched his fists.

Feowen squeezed his shoulder. "She'll be fine. Come. Let's get some fresh air."

Koldis hesitated, unwilling to let Claire out of his sight, too aware that he'd only gotten her back hours ago. Gotten her back from whatever darkness lurked in the depths of the forest.

Taylynn's expression softened. "I promise on my life, Lord Koldis. No harm will come to her. If if does, I submit myself to your mercy."

He opened and closed his mouth, unprepared for Taylynn's words. "Fine," he said. "I will hold you to it."

Taylynn nodded.

He watched until they disappeared down a path, leaving him with Feowen and Jeanine. "Come," Feowen said. "Let's show you the open sky. Nothing calms a Drengr's nerve faster, eh? Or so I'm told." He let out a grunt and complied, following the Sprite prince in the opposite direction, away from his queen.

⭐️🌟⭐️🌟⭐️

Happy Friday Bookworms!

I've been dying to write this chapter for ages! Okay, okay. You already knew who Claire descended from. Even Claire had a hunch. But there's something of a relief in having your suspicions confirmed. Some closure. I think Claire needed this for a long time. Her coming to Dragonwall wasn't a coincidence. Dragonwall has longed for the return of its rightful heir for quite some time...balance and all that. 

;)

Next week's chapter is titled "An Ancient Sprite" and i'll let you make of that what you will. Hope you all have a great weekend!

All my best,

Mel