Shadow Cursed by May Sage Page 0,25

to dawn. It is rare for fae to have one child in a hundred years—in a thousand years, sometimes. Ma birthed her second in less than ten years, and then she knew she had to step away from the post, to care for us. She and Da put all her pennies and favors to good use until they had enough funds to open the shop.

Ma sews. Da forges. Nothing very grand, but it put food on our table in our youth.

“Now, I train with my brother. For the war to come," she adds, standing a little straighter.

The queen snorts. "Oh, I think not. No, no. Talent like this? Your hands aren't made for fighting."

I could kiss the high queen right then, awkward as it may have been, given the fact that I'd much rather kiss her daughter. If she asks, I'd even bend the knee.

To ensure I cannot be faulted as an excellent sibling, I point out, "Neb's one of the stealthiest fighters I've ever trained."

When Ciera's eyes fall on me, they're cold, determined. Regal.

So, there is a Lilwreath hiding under the surface, then. Perhaps not a queen, but a strong soul all the same.

Too bad the fate of Tenebris doesn’t move her as much as that of one skilled tailor.

“No. You will give this girl to me." It’s an order. Ciera is unyielding.

Part of me wants to laugh. Beneath cloth and decorum, stripped of our courtesies, we’re beasts, as simple as wolves. And Ciera is not at the top of the hierarchy. Not even close.

I don't like the way she's talking—as though Neb is some commodity that is mine to give. But she's already turning to my sister. "There are different ways of fighting a war, child. Your brother's rangers and my father's soldiers are invaluable. But say, if we send a thousand soldiers into fire without any protection, what then? We do not treat the folk the way human barbarians do their forces—like cattle they're willing to sacrifice."

I still, understanding her meaning. Neb, however, doesn't.

For years, I've served in the military. As a foot soldier, I was given ten fabric charms—a small bird at the heart of a tree—that I had to stitch to my uniforms. They served to reinforce the fabric of my clothing, preventing arrows from hitting true unless they were shot from too close. When I made it to captain, the charms grew bigger, and were accompanied by a stamina charm—a lute.

I never paused to think about who had made them. That they were special and precious seemed obvious. Not every piece of clothing can easily be coated with charms. Cheap, common cloth will lose them.

The queen means for my sister to serve as one of the royal seamstresses. A considerable upgrade from what she was doing before. And more importantly, this occupation will keep her out of harm's way.

"She's talking about the charms you and Ma sewed on my uniforms," I clarify.

The queen nods, eagerly. "It's grueling, boring work, but terribly essential. We only have three seamstresses capable of such work—me included, and I haven't been able to spare much of my time."

I don't know why, but I expect Nebula to reject the prospect. She's had dreams of battles and blood for years now. To my relief, she nods. "I'd be glad to help however I can."

Ciera squeezes my sister's hands. Now that she’s won that battle, she turns to me. "We've been trying to reach the Sea Lands, but none of the merfolk have approached us—not even a kappa. I fear, as they know we stay away from these parts, they've grown out of the habit to swim the river. I'm afraid we’d have to venture out to the sea to reach them."

"Couldn't we send a bird?" I ask, for the sake of it. If she wants my rangers out, out we will go. But I've relapsed into the habit of questioning things, and I don't particularly want to let it go.

"If we were willing to risk it being intercepted," Nero says. "It's safer to give a message to a merfolk directly."

I concur, but I mislike the notion. Whitecroft is right at the heart of Tenebris—the coasts are farther away than we've ventured in ten years.

I'd have to head such a mission, that's for certain. It wouldn't have mattered a few days ago. Now, the thought of going so far from Vlari for an extended time makes me pause.

In the end, there's only one answer I can give. "I'll gather a team, and