Fall

Piper

At dawn, the band was at the edge of Trene. Rope bridges swung over their heads, creaking with the weight of early commuters. Birdsong filled the air, and a chill wind nibbled their ears. Piper wrapped her coat closer to herself, glad she had brought a thicker one from the North.

This is nothing, Reine sniffed.

Says the Northern leopard.

Your point? Reine said.

Your kind is well-adjusted to the cold. Piper watched a fiery leaf make a dizzying loop before drifting to the ground. The final performance of a lone actor.

You forgot to add ‘superior to all other creatures,’ and ‘Life’s gift to Eden.’ Have I taught you nothing?

Apparently so. Piper pivoted on her heel at the sound of crunching leaves to see Nell’s farewell party; Eliza and Micah.

Monty the badger snuffled in the foliage, carving a path for Micah to step in. Reine found this amusing, while Piper was surprised that the Trene ambassador had even shown up at all. She hadn’t seen him since their arrival less than two days ago.

“Okay. I will escort one group to the Southern boundary. Micah will lead the other.” Eliza’s promptness left little room for idle chatter. “Who’s coming with me?”

Atlas, Milla, and Skye sided with Eliza, leaving Piper, Finch and Micah as a somber trio.

A wind kicked up the fallen leaves, twisting and twirling them in the air.

“I wish it could have been different,” Piper said.

“You’ll be fine. Biscay is a breeze,” Milla said. “Lay low, and keep your Northern things hidden. As you may know, we are not as well-received outside of our gracious hosts of Trene.”

So, looking ahead, imprisonment is our best option, Reine noted.

If we blend in, we won’t have that option to begin with. Piper stopped herself. Life, I’m talking about my hometown.

“Are you ready to go?” Micah asked softly to Piper and Finch.

Eliza answered for him. “We’re leaving now. Come on.”

“I will see you soon,” Piper vowed.

“Indeed. Life’s blessings to you,” Milla said.

“Goodbye!” Skye called. She sent Madoc into the space above their heads, where he slowly spiraled upwards, like a leaf defying gravity.

The two splinters of the band began to veer away from each other.

“Wait, Piper!”

Piper spun to Eliza’s group. “Yes?”

“Remember your alea.” Atlas’s face was of stone; grave and defensive. “Sometimes the highest dangers are the ones we cannot see.”

What? That is a foolish saying, Reine thought. How can you fight a danger that is unseen?

He is advising us to be aware of our surroundings, Piper clarified. She nodded to Atlas. “Thank you.”

As they continued away from Trene, Reine snorted. I could have told you that.

Atlas

“Just because we are alone, doesn’t mean my men are around us,” Eliza said.

“Thank you, you’ve told us already.” Milla patted June’s side. “Trene’s defense has grown since our last visit.”

“Traffic through these woods has grown. So security needed to be stepped up.” Eliza tugged at the sling holding her turtle fera. Atlas had identified the adjustment as a nervous tick.

“None of it had to do with Loy?” Skye whispered to Atlas.

Eliza heard her words. She turned sharply in the leaves. “My brother had nothing to do with this.”

Atlas met her gaze coolly. “The lack of red in Trene proves that.”

Eliza’s face paled. Her lips became small, and her eyes narrowed. “We will be at the border any minute. I cannot guarantee your protection outside our land.”

Hudson had been noticeably silent up to this point. His thoughts opened to Atlas in the moments that followed. I worry for Piper.

Piper? Atlas looked to the bear.

As she said, it will be her first time travelling alone. Although Finch may be a spy, strength is not his forte.

She has Reine, Atlas said.

And what can Reine do if they are cornered by several Western guards? It would only take three to outnumber them both. Hudson was visibly concerned, with lowered brows and a heavy gait.

What are you trying to get at?

Hudson slowed. I think one of us should go back. Shadow them, make sure they’re safe.

Oh no. We cannot go back. Atlas shook his head. We are crucial to the mission. Asher entrusted us alone. Milla is of great help as a senior ambassador, and Skye is still learning the reigns— she will need this experience.

Hudson craned his head to the path behind them. I pray they stay out of trouble.

Atlas chuckled. You should not be praying for avoidance of trouble, but their escape from it.

Kane

If the North was considered the firstborn territory of Eden, then the East was its younger sibling by several decades.

While the West had begun as a collection of scattered farmers disgruntled with the North’s soil depletion from vitrum, the East had been aiming for nation status from its creation. People migrated, settled, and worked. Hovels became towns in a matter of years. Cities followed a generation later.

The cities grew roots, and ingrained themselves in the maps to form permanent trading centers. Well-travelled roads marked the history books Kane absorbed. He had been denied these simple facts for so many years, and now had them set before him like a royal meal.

But why has the East been hidden?

A question from Flint. Kane removed himself from his research. I don’t know.

Surely there must be a reason? The deer inquired.

There must be, Kane agreed. All of this should be public knowledge.

King Asher must have remembered he was in the study, for a servant came with supper sometime later and left without a word.

Flint helped Kane as best he could with sorting the newly acquired information. Important dates. Laws. Flora. Fauna.

Many of the fera native to the East had trickled into the rest of the territories with trading, but a few were fantastically exotic to Kane’s eyes. Watercolor pictures and sketches showed frogs of every color, short, furred creatures with elongated snouts, and monkeys that had arms longer than their bodies. Kane shared his marvel with Flint at each page’s turn.

King Asher was still in the throne room when they came out of the divider behind the dais.

“Learn anything useful?” the king said.

“Yes.” Kane rubbed his eyes at the abundance of candles in the throne room. He hadn’t realized how dark it had gotten in the study, and the hallway had been worse without sunlight.

“Good. I’m assuming you will be back tomorrow?” It was less of a question, and more of a statement.

Kane shifted his weight from foot to foot, thinking. “I plan to be.”

You have an appointment tomorrow with Cooper, Flint reminded him.

Yes. Kane nodded. He gave a shallow bow to King Asher. “Goodnight, my king.”

“Goodnight, Prince Kane.”

With his guards in tow, Kane left the palace and made his way through the darkness of Elbe. The buildings were asleep, and the stars awake.

I used to love travelling these streets at night. When I was alone, I could go anywhere. Kane’s thoughts came before he could filter them to Flint, and the deer swiveled his ears towards him.

Do you miss being unbonded? Flint asked. Something fragile lay beneath his words.

No! No, Kane said. I have good memories—a lifetime’s worth—before I bonded. But now I have even more to share with a fera. With you.

You don’t need to be alone to have an adventure. A coil of sorrow corkscrewed through Flint. I know that being Heir and Prince has stolen much of the fun and freedom given to humans your age.

I wasn’t the most easygoing kid to begin with— Kane began.

But I will make sure your life is not without its joys. Flint forced the guards around them to stop by lowering himself to the ground. He turned his head to Kane. Come.

Are you strong enough? Kane furrowed his brows when he understood the deer wanted to carry him.

Hm. You’re right. A mischievous twinkle was in the deer’s eyes. You have grown heavier since the battle. I would not be able to carry you now.

You imp! Kane flicked Flint’s ears.

In a flash, Flint was on his hooves. He pranced in place, then bolted.

Kane looked to his guard. A man with a miniature pony—Homer—clapped his hands. “Go, prince! We will follow.”

With a nod, Kane ran after his fera.

Each step was lighter than the last, and the grass flew under his feet. Although he could hear the light stampede of his guards behind him, Kane reveled in his short burst of freedom. Flint was ahead, loping with the easy stride of his kind.

You’re going easy on me, Kane jeered. I should call you Fawn, not Flint.

Flint tossed his head. I am not a fawn! He planted his hooves in the ground, and blocked Kane’s way with his spindly antlers, which were starting to form small secondary tines.

Kane leaped over the antlers without pause. Ha! His legs burned, but he pressed onwards. In his mind’s eye, he already knew the race’s end; home.

Flint shared his goal, and regained lost ground easily. Ha, ha! A blur of deep brown passed him.

Before they knew it, the ground between the city and ring of ambassador houses had been eaten, and their dwelling lay directly ahead.

Kane, desperate to get ahead one last time, took a two-step bound onto the path from the grass. He miscalculated, and stumbled, but clumsily recovered and worked to win back momentum. By then, Flint was at the front porch.

Who is the fawn now? Flint’s nose was slightly flared, sucking in draughts of the night air.

Kane was visibly catching his breath. Good job. For a deer.

The guards had left them at the perimeter of the house, and Kane was in high spirits when he entered the kitchen.

A sobbing stopped him in his tracks. It was soft and choking.

Kane and Flint found her at the table inset to the window. Curtains covered the glass, and a sleeve covered his mother’s face.

She saw Kane, and gave him an embrace, still sobbing. “Kane. It’s Kit.”

Kane felt the blood drain from his face as Thea showed him a silver coin.

“Someone has taken Kit.”