“Come in. Please, have a seat,” the crackly old voice called over the flapping of the tent’s canopy.

I ducked under the folding. My eyes took a moment to adjust to the darkness inside.

In the middle of a woven carpet with large tears, surrounded by dusty cushions with red and lavender covers, sat the old fae. Her hair was hidden inside a maroon cover, and a brown robe of faded rough cotton covered her body.

“In you come.” She smiled as she patted the carpet, gesturing for me to join her.

I stood firm as I glanced behind me. The marketplace was bustling. Two peddlers were selling jewels and sweets. Their tucked wings almost touched mine. Behind them, a merchant from a permanent fruit stall decorated the roof of his booth with flowers. Nobody seemed to notice me.

Slowly, I walked in. I took a seat on the torn carpet that did nothing to warm me from the frozen ground underneath. The old fae didn’t seem to mind the cold. Or maybe she was good at not showing it?

“Now, your hand please. Madame Kenina can seeeee what others cannot.” She didn’t wait for a response. She took my palm in hers, her bony fingers closing on my wrist. “Ah! How extraordinary. See here how the line of life and that of love completely dominate—”

“I’m not here for a fortune telling.”

“Oh?” Madame Kenina gave me a crooked grin. “You’re not, are you? No worries about love and fortune, or how long you’ll walk this earth? A young fae who doesn’t want to know what lies ahead, hmm…?”

“I do, actually. But in a real, practical way.” I gave her a penetrating glance and waited until her broad smile narrowed and I knew I had her full attention. “I hear you travel. That you’ve recently crossed the border.”

She squinted. “Who told you this?”

“I have my sources,” I replied dryly. It was crucial that she didn’t ask too many questions.

Her gaze fell on my cloak. It spilled over my feet to conceal my shiny green shoes and the navy-blue uniform that was worn by those who worked in the service of royalty—either at the palace or the Tower. We were never seen at a fortune teller’s tent. And I was going to keep it that way. I had worked hard to secure my position.

“Is it true?” I asked.

“And why would it matter to you?”

I glanced back at the tent’s opening. No other customers queued this close to the end of the day, which was why I’d chosen to come now. But someone could still show up and hear what I said.

“It’s a personal matter.” I fished into my pocket and pulled out a fifty Faric coin.

Madame Kenina’s eyes brightened. “Well… You seem…to have more resources than I’d imagined.”

“Yes.” I eyed her, still holding the coin. It wasn’t a lie. I had resources, all right, though not of the kind she imagined. It was in my magic.

I had the air element—a rare trait in Seelie. It gave me the ability to conjure things that lasted…long enough. What others had to create, work for, or buy, I could get with spell-power. It was perfect for the basics: hair bands, jewels, dishes, cotton clothes—other fabrics didn’t seem to last, but I could still make them—shoes, perfume… That helped me save up. So that now, when I needed it, I had money left over.

Madame Kenina leaned toward me to take the coin.

I wondered which of the five elements she had. Earth perhaps? It was one of the two most common elements. I had it too. My deepest secret was that I had more than one.

She played with the coin between her hands, which were no longer on mine. “What is it you are really here for, Miss…er…?”

I pursed my lips. I wasn’t about to give her my name.

She smiled at my discretion.

“I want to know the state of things on the border.”

“The news is the best resource for that, no?” She raised her eyebrows. Testing me.

“I’m interested in information that it doesn’t provide.” I motioned toward the coin.

“I’m not certain I am the best…”

“I will find another traveler, then.” I reached out to grab the coin.

“Well…if you put it like that.” Her eyes narrowed as they met mine. She spoke in low tones. “There have been rumors around the towns of Pallas and Erving. Riots and raids. The people there say that our young Prince Slúagh does not intend to follow in his late father’s footsteps. That the peaceful rule of the Seelie court is over. They are afraid and are arming themselves.”

“This is public information.” My fingers closed on the coin. “There have been raids around the border. It’s not just rumors.”

She smiled. “Ah. But will they get worse tonight?” She locked gazes with me.

I swallowed hard. She’d figured me out. She saw beneath my cold, unemotional behavior. And realized my timing in coming to her was important.

I kept my expression blank as I replied quickly, “Which way did you travel here?”

“Hmm…” She smiled victoriously and tilted her head as she observed me, trying to decipher my intentions.

I had to get out of here quickly.

To my surprise, she answered my question. “The Quanaig crossing—if you must know. It was clear, and far from any riots or raids. In case you’re interested: it was muddy yesterday and the frost this morning would have solidified the ground. If you’re up there tonight, stop at Erving Inn. Give them my name—they’ll serve you free soup. Best I’ve ever tasted.”

“I never said I was going there myself.” I rose.

“Of course not.” She eyed me. “Safe travels.”

I huffed, but she just grinned at me. I figured it was best to not answer. I stepped out of the tent, without looking back.

Outside, there was less light now. I made my way between the stalls. Normally, this would be closing time for the market, but tonight was different: it was the winter solstice—an important night for our capital city, Lorport, with many celebrations. Lots of tourists were coming in and nobody wanted to miss out on the extra business.

I passed by a stall that sold party stripes and glowing bracelets. Beside me, a man fae walked too close to a bag of fountain candles, tipping it over. It brushed against my folded wings, causing me to trip.

“Sorry,” he said hurriedly as he caught me.

Then, he stopped. For a second, he observed me with the kind of expression men sometimes gave me. I smiled, looking down as I pulled away.

It was my eyes. Their color—a black so dark that some fae said they could drown in them. Like Matri Olivia—who would be very angry if I was back late today.

He lingered, smiling. I couldn’t help but meet his glance. Sometimes, things would lead in a very specific direction from here… I would let myself go there, lose myself in the passion. Or take a step further and date. I’ve had a relationship or two. I even fell in love once, with a farm boy I met while traveling.

But today, of all days, I had to keep my focus. I smiled again and walked away, crossing the last circle of stalls as I shuffled out of the market. Matri Olivia was waiting. I would make it just in time, if I kept going fast enough.

I entered the main street. Here, the decorations were larger. Welcoming banners, large flower chains, and flags of the Seelie kingdom were in every window. The pavement curved up and I saw my destination: the Tower.

I now had to find a side alley to get changed in. Our city had many of these—having been built over generations of fae, uniting villages into one metropolis.

The first I passed was crowded with teen fae—already drunk—singing out loud. But the next one had promise. It was empty except for two girls in orange and purple skirts—the traditional colors of the Seelie kingdom—who walked ahead of me, disappearing behind a bend in the street.

I quickly took off the cloak and hid it in my bag. I straightened my attire and let my long hair loose from its bun. It fell in dark black waves, covering my back. I braided it and when I came out the other end of the alley with the road to the Tower entrance in front of me, I was the model lady’s maid.

A few of the shop owners looked at me. I quickened my pace.

“Do you think she knows if he is really coming tonight?” I heard a lady fae behind me. A male replied, “He will have the nerve to show his face here. But it will take more nerve not to.”

I glanced at a shop window to see the street’s reflection.

The lady’s eyes were on me. “Let’s ask her.”

I quickened my stride, not looking back. They followed me, but stopped and gave up after half a block.

I breathed out in relief and thanked my athletic routine. A few months ago, I wouldn’t have been able to walk this fast, but now I was fit—I had trained for tonight. I could also fly faster and longer than most fae.

The Tower gates soon came into view. A long line of citizens queued to get in. I could already hear the music from inside, when I reached them.

Nine guards—three times more than usual—stood at the gates. I knew all their faces and some by name. I smiled and they let me through. Ladies’ maids were sometimes in and out all day on errands and we had to pass quickly.

The gardens greeted me on the other side. Their vast, circular stone beds curved around the Tower. The snow had been cleared this morning by fae with the fire element—the other most common one. You could now see the winter remains of the Scottish primrose beds—the Seelie national flower.

I walked down the brick road, greeting the gardeners and a few ladies’ maids who were still working hard, decorating the place. The looming tower hid the last rays of the sun behind it and its dark shadow reached all the way from the gates to the other side of the garden wall.

I went through the high-pillared entrance and started to walk up toward my room on the seventh floor—beside that of my lady, Matri Olivia. There were about ninety Matries in the Tower. She was one of the most powerful. Her element was water, and I had never seen a fae who controlled it as well as she could. If she chose, she could divert the course of the streams that formed after heavy rain, or create waterfalls ten times the height of the Tower.

Three ladies’ maids walked down the stairs toward me. New recruits. I had seen one of them at a dinner last week and didn’t recognize the other two.

I wanted to just smile and rush past them, but their conversation reached my ears.

“I can’t believe he is coming here, to the Tower!”

“Such an insult! He has no right to cross that border at all, after what his people have done!”

“How dare he show his face in our kingdom?”

I stopped, facing them with a glare. “Would you three be quiet?”

They looked at me.

I cleared my throat. “I’m sure your Matries wouldn’t want you to dishonor any guest of the Tower.”

Matri Olivia told me yesterday about the special visit everyone was talking about: Prince Kalan of the Unseelie court—our rival kingdom—was due to arrive tonight.

“I was just—” One of the girls rolled her eyes at me.

I gave her a stern glance. “We need to keep our professional appearance. And that includes how we speak.” Sometimes we had to remind our newcomers of that.

She sniffed. “Of course.”

“Good.” I walked past them.

“At least we know he really is coming here,” one of the others whispered. “Did you know he’s one of the most dangerous fae alive, in combat, and able to command large armies?”

I turned back. She looked down.

I kept going, hearing them sneer and whisper about me behind my back. Better this way. Quieter. Safer.

Though a chill passed through me at the thought that she could be right about the prince—I’d heard of his abilities too. All the more reason that his visit here had to go smoothly. He was heir to the throne of Unseelie and this visit was meant to pay his condolences for the death of our beloved king, Verix the Good. And to pay his respects to our new ruler: Slúagh.

Many Seelie fae saw his presence as an insult, given the rising tension between our kingdoms. And also because his mother, Queen Isobel of Unseelie, should have come instead. But she never bothered to cross the border.

They hoped it would all get cancelled—and focused on tonight’s celebrations. Lorport jumped at the smallest opportunity to party. The pubs had already filled by midday. It was five o’clock somewhere. And many fae had taken the day off tomorrow.

The Tower took part in the festivity—holding a royal ball. That and all those parties everywhere were perfect for my plan. They gave me the opportunity I’d been waiting for, for months: when everyone else would be busy, I would make my way out of the city and leave the Tower forever.

I wondered whether Prince Kalan was already somewhere in the Tower and whether he’d show up for the ball. The bigger the commotion, the easier it would be for me to slip out unnoticed.

I passed through one of the kitchens, where our chefs were busy washing and cutting berries and preparing sauces, pastries and fried dishes, under the guidance of two Matries. A circular ladder led me up through the practice halls, and I caught a glimpse of a magic lesson on using the earth element for making plants grow.

The Matries never rested. They were the wise-women fae we all looked up to when it came to magic: demonstrating it, using it to manage our kingdom, and teaching it—even on a busy day like this. They continuously advised the high court too.

I walked up three more floors and crossed over to the other side of the Tower, passing the infirmary, where fae with the water element were healing the sick and wounded. This was why it was forbidden to fly around the Tower: to allow access to the healing wards. I often wondered why they didn’t just move them down. Matri Olivia once spoke of a great flood in the Tower—perhaps it was the fear of that?

On the sixth floor, I passed one of the doors to the library, quickly, without looking in.

This library was why I had come here in the first place. I was self-taught—having to hide that I had more than one element. Books and practicing in secret were my way to magic. My first job here was dusting the library. It gave me the opportunity to explore the books like few fae could.

Finally, I reached the seventh floor. Matri Olivia liked to live high above the town, where the air was clear and the view showed everything from our Reeladin mountains in the north to the south end of the Halton mountains in the Unseelie kingdom. The Halton’s rugged peaks, hanging valleys, and densely covered land was home to many fae—twice as many as our Seelie kingdom. The Oornach Loch with its deadly waters stood near our border.

I let myself enjoy the view. For the last time.

The sun had already set and the wide, cloudless skies looked like they waited anxiously for the stars. And for my departure.

I would miss this. I liked the Tower. The life I had here. The Matries. But I had come here with a purpose: to find and master a certain spell.

I had finally found it. And practiced its parts. I was ready.

Northern winds circled the Tower, brushing from my face a few rebellious strands of hair that had escaped my braid. I breathed in the fresh chilling scent coming down from our snowy peaks. I would miss my home.

I let myself marvel at the view for a little longer. Then, I turned and went into my room.

My bag was ready with the few things I was taking with me. I was thankful for my conjuring ability. I could pack light and nobody would guess my plans. I had only one change of clothing for the trip—my sturdiest. I would dump my uniform somewhere once I left the Tower and then create more clothes if I needed them.

I could conjure food too, by permutating earth so it was a permanent spell. I did it by combining my air element with earth element—another one I had.

“Well, she never seemed to be very magical.” I paused at the sound of Olivia’s voice from the other room. “But she’s smart. Smarter than all the other ladies’ maids I’ve had. Quiet too. Keeps to herself.”

She was talking about me. She sometimes did that, with the other Matries. Always good things, though she never did it to my face.

In fact, Matri Olivia liked to scold me. It was her way to perfect me, welding me into the best servant I could be. It worked, or at least the Tower thought it did: I was considered for management next year—and for my skills alone. I had cultivated in them the belief that I barely had enough magic for anything else. Still, they wanted me. Believed in me.

I was leaving so much behind!

“She sounds like a great girl.”

It was a man’s voice that answered. A deep, rugged-type voice.

Who was with her?

Footsteps neared the door. I quickly shoved my bag behind the bed and stood straight.

The door opened. “Ah, you’re here. Right on time.”

I curtsied. “Matri.”

“Freya,” she said.

The man fae stepped out beside her.

He was tall enough to have to stoop in order to pass through the door. The royal attire with the black and red colors of the Unseelie court stretched on his skin, with silver buttons at the front and golden cuffs where his large hands emerged from silky sleeves. The pin with the trinity knot of the throne of Unseelie wove through the fabric on his chest. And two swords crossed his back.

“Sire!” I immediately bowed low, in recognition of the royalty in front of me.

He approached, but I didn’t dare look up. I felt a chill as all the stories of what he was capable of, that I’d heard over the years, passed through my mind.

He was deadly. Alone, he could take down fifty fae before they blinked, without even the use of his element, which was air. He had the martial arts capabilities of the race of giants our people had learned to avoid being seen by. And with an army, even a small one, he could destroy our city before the sun would rise again.

The raids on the border made my throat tighten now. His presence in Lorport made me fear for my people.

“You can rise.” To my surprise, the prince’s voice was warm.

How could something more lethal than a steel sword have softness?

The shadow of his massive wings, folded behind him, engulfed me, dimming the light from the magical glitter-globe in the hallway.

I had only once seen a man fae with wings this large. Long ago, at an inn in Istanguard village, during a night I would never forget, because it was my first.

And it was perfect. A memory I would hold on to, and remember with gratitude the spectacular lover with emerald eyes I met only once, who turned me from girl to woman. The one man who had held my heart.

“Rise, Freya,” the man repeated, his voice gentle.

I looked up to meet the approving gaze of my Matri.

And then my glance met that of the High Prince of the Unseelie court. His emerald eyes shined at me with recognition and the bright brown hair that had once tickled my bare skin fell on his forehead.