Sharp as Steel -- Chapter One

Link to Prologue: https://www.youngwriterssociety.com/work/Aspawn/Sharp-as-Steel--Prologue-162217

thirty years later...

     Annie watched the two girls play. One a human, something her plain browness revealed- brown hair, brown eyes, brown skin. The other was a young faery, with pale green skin and eyes that twinkled mischievously like impish stars. They ran around the trees, giggling their little heads off. It seemed they were playing some form of tag, where the two girls would take turns chasing each other around. She watched with a wisp of a smile on her lips. 

   She missed it, sometimes, that innocent age where it seemed as though nothing was wrong in the world, that age where the Fae Folk were simply another friend to play with, as natural to be around as grass or stone. But, alas, reality caught up with everyone at some point. Some earlier than others.

   A cry- deep and male- blew through the wind, snapping her attention back to the present quite forcefully. "Annie, you old girl!" 

   She whipped around, groping for her adder stone necklace. "Ezer," she let out a breath, relaxing as she spotted the tall faery, "What brings you here? I thought you were in Evreshe."

   He just winked, ruffling her dirty-blonde hair. "I was in Evreshe. Emphasis on was. But you never said you were coming to the market!"

   Batting his large hands from her head, she rolled her eyes. "I always come. Did you really think I'd miss it when I literally live in Liftane?" Ezer raised his hands in surrender. "Gosh, woman," he said in a serious voice, "I think you may be suffering from a serious fae-glamour. Unless I am recalling incorrectly, you did miss it last year- the day before Beltane, no less."

   Annie blushed. She had forgotten to turn her coat inside-out before leaving to the market that time, and a mischievous pixie had led her through the woods for nearly an hour before she fell into a river and came to her senses. A common risk as a human in the Land of the Ever Young. "That was a one-time incident," she insisted, "You know as much as I d- wait, what serious fae-glamour?"

   "Did I say that?" he asked innocently.

   She slapped him across the face. "You know just as well as I do that fae can't lie. Who's glamouring me?"

   "Well, see," Ezer said in that mock-serious voice of his, "You are suffering from a glamour- just, happens to be you're also wearing that charm of yours, so you just aren't affected by it."

   A high-pitched chorus of giggling, like twittering birds erupted behind them. Annie raised an eyebrow pointedly at the small group of pixies- literally small; pixies were around a handspan tall, with glittering dragonfly wings- then gave Ezer a look. He shrugged. "They dared me. I told them it wouldn't work." 

   Sighing, she turned and walked away.

   "Wait, Annie!"

   "You can join me when you learn to act your age," she called back, fighting to hide her grin but failing miserably. Dear, sweet, irritating Ezer. Their friendship has been ongoing for some fifteen years by now. Ever since that time when he, a young boy of just five years like her, strode up to her with the words "My mother said not to play with humans, but I think you're pretty."

   Yes, she missed childhood.

   But she had other places to be now.

   Annie jogged to the market, the main road of Liftane that had colorful merchant stalls on either side, running all the way through the town. It was already decorated for Beltane, though the holiday would only be held in three weeks. Flowers in fiery reds and oranges decked the stalls, strands of golden stardust streaming down the sides like bejeweled vines. Great tongues of smokeless fires burst out at random, startling those passing by. And that wasn't even the best to come. Annie remembered her father's stories of Beltane in the human world, where they'd walk their cattle between the bonfires to protect them from spirits; his face was wistful as he recalled the sugar plums the kids would get as treats.

   Fae did things a little...different. 

   At midnight of Beltane, the main road of Liftane would burst into golden flames, and fae, cheering their prize cattle on, would race them through the fire, and the first one to make it out would win the bet for its owner. These cattle would be marked by the flames, charming them to have the best meat and be--- for lack of a better word- unstealable. Beltane meat could easily reach twenty times the price of regular steak, and it was the only type of meat most faery would eat- though other Fae Folk aren't as discerning. It was Annie's favorite holiday, ever since she had been a kid.

   But this year, she had bigger plans than Liftane.

   Hurrying over to Darnonn's stall, Annie rummaged in her pocket. She had found an extra adder stone, and knew that the old leprechaun- a male pixie- was fond of collecting fae warding charms. He had a whole wall in his hut designated for them. Though why he was interested was beyond her. She just wanted to get a good trade out of it.

   She could tell by Darnonn's greedy eyes that he knew she was bringing something good. "What's it today, miss?" he called out in his high-pitched voice as he landed on top of his stall, folding back his glittering beetle wings. Annie didn't say anything, simply held out the adder stone. It was a big one, almost a hand-length and nearly the same height as Darnonn, though he was tall for a leprechaun. She had heard that in the human world, pixies and leprechauns took on a human-sized form. That was a weird mental image.

   "Hmmm...that's a beauty, all right. Let's see, what do I have that's worth that?" The leprechaun hopped down from his stall, and began rummaging through the back. After about twenty seconds of humming and muttering under his breath, he popped out, dragging a long, gaudy orange-and-red necklace. "Here! In honor of Beltane, miss! It's rowanberry, too!"

   Annie took it uncertainly. "Um, it's a little-" she paused. "bright. Plus, I already have several rowan berry charms. Perhaps you have something a little more...useful? I've been looking to find a ride to the City of Gold," she added helpfully. 

   Darnonn's eyes widened, and he let out a deep- for him- laugh. "Ah! The City of Gold! You set your price high indeed, miss. Tell you what," he said, giving her a large, obvious wink, "I know this goblin- Blacktooth's the name-who's bringing a convoy to the City of Gold for Beltane. I can get you on there, if that's what you want."

   "He wouldn't happen to be a redcap, is he?" Darnonn had some interesting friends.

   The leprechaun squirmed. "Well...he may have had a past- hasn't murdered anyone for years by now, though- trusted wagon driver...hasn't bloodied his cap in years!"

    Annie laughed. "I'm not taking my chances. But you can keep the charm." She winked. "In honor of Beltane." She thought that Darnonn actually teared up at her words, grabbing the adder stone and giving it a fond kiss right above the hole.

    "My word lady! This is too great a kindness. I say-"

    Annie waved away his fervent thanks, and turned to walk back home. She could already hear him telling his next customer the story. 

   Cost me an adder stone, and I still don't have a ride, she thought, frowning. How would she ever make it to the Golden City in time? Unless she took Darnonn upon his sketchy offer...

   Almost without realizing, Annie had wandered up to her house, the iron horseshoe over the door shaking softly from the wind, as if greeting her. Her father didn't want any unwanted fae wandering in. She pushed open the small wooden door. "I'm home!"

   Her father walked out from the kitchen, a large, blonde man with a weary smile. "How's the market today?"

   "Fine." Annie looked around, frowning. "Where's Kennedy?"

   "Out with Gisa, buying new brooms or something." Gisa was their brownie, a fae species that hold pride in housekeeping.

   Annie wrinkled her nose. "He's so boring. In other news," she continued, wandering into the kitchen and poking her nose into the pantry, "I couldn't get a ride for the City of Gold in time. Unless you want me traveling with a maybe-retired redcap. Are you sure Mom can't just take me?"

   Her father pursed his lips. "I actually wanted to talk to you about that...Annie, the Faery Courts? Are you really sure you want to do this?"

   "Father. There's nothing to talk about," Annie said firmly, "I'm already twenty. Most young women my age have already been married off. Anyways, haven't you always wanted a higher rank?"

   "All I wanted," he said, running a hand through his hair, "Is for you, Kennedy, and Ben to be safe. I don't trust those Court Fae. Not even the Seelie." Of course. Father had never trusted fae, no matter the species.

   But she had ambition. Even humans could join the Seelie and Unseelie Court, the high noble court of the City of Gold, capital of Faeryland. She was going to join the Seelie Court, rise up as high as she could go, talk face to face with merchants, nobles, and kings.

   And Annie Ashworthe will prove her value.