Beyond the Iron Gate (The Faery Meadow Book 1)

“Alright, now save the questions until after I’m done talking okay?” Lorcan said.

“Okay fine.”

“I’m a wanted...criminal. I’m hated around here, but I’ll explain that story at a better time. As you probably have guessed, we are in the fae world now. You might have heard of there being two kingdoms such as ‘the dark and light fae’, but that was just a child’s tale. There is only one true kingdom here known commonly as, Aeringdal. There are many outskirting towns though. Also, the fae aren’t the only creatures here. There are several different breeds. Fae is a loose term, basically, it means nonhuman magical creature to us,” he explained quickly.

“So you aren’t going to kill me?”

“I’m not going to kill you, but something else might. We think a...demon may be after you,” he told her in a whisper.

Elaine looked at him in confusion. She wasn’t too surprised he was a criminal, but she found it hard to believe the annoying voice was a demon.

“I will explain more later along with a few other details. For now, we need to get in disguise. We are going to be meeting an old friend of mine today.”

Lorcan suddenly yanked her arm and they rounded a street corner walking into a dark shady looking alleyway. The buildings seemed older back there and when they reached the end of the path a dark old wooden door appeared. The sign above it read Earl Attire the old lettering’s paint was chipping badly.

“Come on,” Lorcan grunted to Elaine.

They stepped inside the old building to be greeted by an elderly looking man. Immediately, the old scrawny man sized her up giving a quick nod. He scurried off into the back part of the shop like a mouse. Then he returned and held onto two cloaks.

He watches me with a deep frown, “Here take these. Keep your head down too.”

Elaine felt over the soft dark hooded cloak. Then she slid it over her head and tugged it downward watching it drape over her body. Her clothes were a little itchy underneath it, but it did keep her quite warm.

The old man threw Lorcan the other cloak. Lorcan pulled it over his head. Their new outfits were practically identical.

“You two best hurry. They’re already scouting the area,” the man said nervously glancing out a broken old window.

Elaine wondered who he was talking about, but she glanced out the window seeing no one.

“Thanks Earl, I owe you,” Lorcan mumbled.

The next thing Elaine knew, Lorcan was tightly grabbing her arm and pulled her out the door. They walked back out onto the well-lit streets. The evening sun was setting and most of the younger fae weren’t walking the streets anymore. In fact, barely anyone was among the side of the street, but them.

***

Clorg’s Brewery, Elaine mentally read.

The dark wooden sign seemed freshly painted with bad handwriting. She thought herself too young for a bar thinking she’ll just have to wait outside.

Lorcan probably was just old enough to drink. She thought he looked a little older than herself anyway. She remembered her seventeenth birthday was coming up soon. I was another reminder of her situation. She hoped Lorcan wasn’t lying about her parents.

“I need to talk to someone in here. It should only take five minutes. You must stay right outside the door. Do not even consider coming in or running away. I’ll be right back, human,” the faery man told her.

I’m really starting to wonder if he didn’t hear my name back then. Anyway, he must somewhat trust me, leaving me alone out here. However, I do not trust the fae. I can’t believe he would leave me out here alone. The only light piercing through the darkness of the town is the dimly lit lamps among the road, Elaine wondered.

She rolled her eyes and shook her head while combing through her tangled hair under her cloak’s hood. She shrunk back against the darkness of the street wall hoping no one would exit the bar and see her. Taking a step back, she leaned even more back against the stone wall of the brewery.

From outside the brewery, she could hear the rumble of laughter and the occasional crash of glass, the clanking of mugs.

Why does Lorcan have to even go in there? It’s definitely been past five minutes. I don’t hear any fighting from inside, perhaps Lorcan really did just ditch me for a nice drink. Come to think of it, I’m thirsty myself, but not for beer or whatever they’re drinking in there. I could really go for a nice warm cup of hot chocolate with marshmallows, Elaine thought just as her stomach growled in agreement.

Deciding to take things into her own hands she trudged directly to the door of the brewery. Taking a deep breath, she quickly opened the door and let it slam shut behind her. Her presence went easily ignored as she took in her new surroundings.