Heirs of the Gods

Ch 6: Hook, line and sinker

   The sunlight beat down on her eyes, causing Ella to stir. For a second, she wondered if she had left the curtains open. All at once, she realized she was not in her bed back at the manor. She was on a horse, in the middle of the woods.

To make matters worse, she came to the startling realisation that she was leaning into Gidden's chest, as if he were some sort of giant stuffed toy, with her head tucked under his chin. Bless him, poor Gidden had his arms around her lightly without touching her more than necessary, holding the reins in front of her, probably struggling with the drowsy human woman weighing him down like a lump. At least she hadn't been hugging him, the only bit of consolation.

Good grief, what if she'd been drooling or snoring?

She jerked forward, distress filling her further as the sudden movement made her head knock sharply into Gidden's jaw, and he swore at the impact. She wondered if it was possible to throw herself from the horse and let it trample her to death, to avoid further humiliation.

"I am so sorry, I didn't mean to hit you!"

"It's alright, you just startled me." Gidden seemed amused at her state of embarrassment, but he mercifully avoided mentioning that she had been draped over him like a tick.

"Here, I'm sure you're hungry." Gidden reached into a side satchel and passed her an apple and two slices of the thick-crusted bread they'd eaten yesterday.

She thanked, pointedly trying to avoid looking at him.

"When will we be arriving?" she asked after a moment.

"Less than an hour, we're almost there. See how the trees are changing and becoming less dense?"

The sun was high in the sky, poking between the elms and towering oaks that gradually blended in with different types of pines.

Slowly but surely, the trees gave way to a sloped clearing. The grass in that area was a lush, vibrant emerald, a colour she'd never seen before.

"This line officially marks Faerie realm."

The sheer difference in the air and colours was enough to signal that. She couldn't quite believe how mere distance could have such an impact on the surroundings.

"Where are we going now?" she asked, still awestruck.

Even the air was different, it was as if they had passed a magical barrier. There was a thrumming current under her skin and a deep crackle of magic permeating everything. Everything smelled sweeter.

"We're going to the castle, to relay what happened to the King."

Was faerie nobility etiquette different? She'd been raised all her life between noblemen and had deep ties to the royal family. Her mother's sister had become Queen after marrying King Gerald Ironspear, who was in turn a distant cousin of Harrion's and close friend. Ella was well accustomed on how to behave, but these were different lands. She hoped she didn't accidentally offend anyone and cause an even bigger diplomatic problem than there already was at hand.

"How much longer until we reach the castle then?"

"Minutes," Gidden said, looking amused at Ella's puzzled expression. She didn't see any castles nearby. Only the wooded hills around them.

They approached what looked to be a circle of rock pillars. The rocks looked like large teeth jutting up from the ground. They were square-like and white like old bones, forming a ring around a smaller rock that stood in the middle.

"What are these stones for?" she asked as she climbed down from the horse.

"This is a Petrium. They're portals. They lead to different towns in the Kingdom and other Kingdoms as well, kind of like doors." Gidden grinned at Ella's wide-eyed expression.