50 Frost 120
"And the innocent shall reap what the ruined cannot."
"...and the ruined cannot..."
"...and the ruined cannot..."
Faine sat bolt right from their bed, panting and soaked in sweat. They put a shaking hand to their heart to keep it from bursting through their chest as they squeezed their eyes shut.
"It was just a dream," they whispered to the air, "not real, just a dream..."
Slivers of moonlight made soft cuts through their window, distorted now and then from puffs of breath turned white in the cold. Somewhere in the half-dark, Faine's fireplace lay dead, along with the bowl of coals at the foot of their bed. There was nary a sound to be heard, the blanket of stillness outside just as thick as it was inside. All was quiet, save for the gradual slowing of their breathing.
Feeling calmer, the Fae pushed soggy strands of hair from their eyes. There was no chance of going back to sleep, not with that unwelcome nightmare awaiting their return. So, they chose instead to get up, relight the fire, and brew a kettle of tea while they collected their thoughts.
It had been nearly a fortnight since Faine had dared to venture closer to the bandit lair. The first time, they had merely followed bloodied tracks in the snow. It would have felt too easy, had they not carried several bruises and cuts of their own, but they were determined to figure out where those children were being taken to. Only on the fourth excursion, having waited until most of the bandits left to gather supplies, did the perfumist manage to get close enough to the cave to poke around.
They were not able to go far. Several members had been left to guard a large cage at the end of the cave, but Faine had heard the whimpers and caught glimpses of tear-streaked faces. It was enough to send their stomach rising through their throat.
Their immediate desire was to free those children. But how? They were one and the bandits many, even after the bloody scuffle that had started it all. Certainly, they could get back to the city and find militant help, but who would believe them? And even if they did, city guards might simply slaughter the band of criminals to the last woman and man and be done with it. The innocents would be saved, but then Faine, ashamed as they were to admit it, would never find answers to their questions.
So the Fae had sat on the cave's location for days, struggling to choose the right path. Alerting the city could mean saving innocent children and ridding these mountains of a vile group of criminals. But it might also mean creating a dead end for their burning questions regarding their Fallen kin. And, worse yet, leave whatever dastardly goal these cultists had pursued open for others to pick back up.
For eight days in a row, the dreams had been haunting Faine. Their conscience screamed and screamed while their mind weighed odds and juggled priorities. This last one, however, had been worse than any of its predecessors. Perhaps it was a sign.
Dawn finally came, silver light warming to pale, golden rays. The Fae had already made up their mind and packed their modest gear, beginning the trek into Kalzasi proper as soon as the sun lit the way. It was by no means a short trip, but they had made it many times already this season, and therefore had found the quickest way from their mountain cottage to the hustle and bustle of city life.
By the time they arrived, it was well past noon—plenty of time left to begin questioning people on the streets. Faine was careful in the establishments they chose, relying on friendly faces and near empty environments to ensure no one would be eavesdropping.
The first few shopkeepers they showed their rough drawing of a strange, coiled emblem to suddenly became withdrawn and made it clear they no longer wanted to speak to the Fae. One even threatened to have them beaten for bringing such a cursed thing under their roof. Confused and more than a little desperate, Faine decided to try bribing instead. Astonishing, how far one gold piece could get a person.
Within the hour, they were entering a shop of a decidedly ominous nature, what with the number of people who had refused to even point them in the right direction. The twinkling of a bell announced their entrance, after which Faine stood staring at the seemingly endless shelves and their strange contents, waiting for the shopkeeper to appear. If they had not felt nervous before, they were certainly anxious now, unsure of whether anything would come of this harebrained investigation. And, if something did come of it, whether it would end in regret.
► Show Spoiler
Common ❀Valasren
