There are only two reasons why the elves come to our world: war or wives. In either case, they come for death. They come today.
My hands shake as I reach for the next jar. My solace and calm are hidden somewhere among the herb-filled containers that line the shelves of my shop. If I dig deep enough within them, keep looking between them, and continue mixing their contents, I might find some semblance of peace. There are two more poultices to make, one more sleeping draught, a strengthening potion, several healing salves…about five hours of work and only two hours to do it all.
If the Human Queen isn’t found among the women of Capton, war will befall us. War would lead to all of humanity’s destruction under the might of the elves’ wild magic. Finding her would fulfill the treaty and secure the safety of humanity for another century. But if you are her, you might as well be dead.
It’s the lack of queen that has the whole town on edge, myself included.
The chime of the bell above the door to my shop steals my attention from the meditation of my work.
“I’m sorry; I’m only open for emergencies tod—” I still as I settle the heavy jar of dried valerian root on my counter. There’s a familiar reflection on its surface—a man with light brown hair and doe eyes, carrying a large bag. I look up quickly, affirming my suspicion. “Luke! What’re you doing here so early?”
Luke stands in more traditional garb than he usually wears as a Keeper of the Fade. His dark trousers are freshly pressed and his bright blue tunic doesn’t have a trace of dirt. The Keepers of the Fade look after the temple and forest at the edge of town, at the foot of the great mountain. They’re the ones who traditionally deal with the elves, and keep anyone in Capton from accidently crossing over the Fade—the barrier that splits our world from the land of the elves and wild magic.
My work is quickly forgotten. I pop up the counter and step over to the other side. Luke drops the bag with a heavy thud and sweeps me up in his arms. The embrace goes on a little longer than typical for merely friends greeting each other.
His grip loosens, but he doesn’t fully release me. His slack arms rest around my waist and I don’t know what to do with my hands. They finally settle on his shoulders. Though what I want to touch is his chest.
“I had to come to see you.” He runs his knuckles over my cheek. I tilt my head upward and swallow thickly.
I want to kiss him.
I’ve wanted to kiss him for at least six months now, likely more. I knew it when he came with me on my excursion to find winter root deep in the frigid marshes. I knew when he told me that the lack of Human Queen meant his duties as one of the Keepers of the Fade would triple, preventing him from spending as much time with me.
I likely wanted to kiss him before I really even understood what kissing was—back when we were small children playing games in the woods at the start of our lifelong friendship. But realizing you have a want to kiss someone makes everything agonizing. If I still thought we were just friends, I could’ve kissed him several times over on a dare, or a whim, or if he asked. I could’ve kept his company without my stomach doing flips.
But this wanting makes every movement between us unbearable. Especially because I can’t kiss him. Doing so would be cruel…to both of us.
“Well, you’ve seen me now.” I finally break away, smoothing out my apron. I’m at war with myself around him. Every second hurts. I want him to sweep me up in his arms again. But I can’t want that. I know I can’t deep in my marrow. I don’t have time for him; duty calls me. He’s already too distracting as a friend. “I’m sure you’re busy with the Keepers today, preparing for the arrival of the elf delegation this evening. We can go out to the forest tomorrow.” Assuming there is a tomorrow.
“I want to take you this morning,” he says in a tone I thought was reserved only for my dreams. “But I want to go farther than the forest.”
“What’re you talking about?” I ask, returning to the other side of the counter, where I continue adding