I felt my head jerk to find Chevelle, not believing what I had just heard.
Ruby continued, “I’m sure you’ve heard by now I’m an amalgamation, a half breed.” She said the last part with distaste and glanced at Steed before going on. “I will give you a short version of events so when the subject comes up, and do believe me someone will ask, you are not overcome by curiosity and forced to seek less than honorable venues to discover the facts.”
She spoke with a flourish and blunt casualness at the same time. “My mother was a power-hungry wench seeking notoriety. She was an element fairy and, like me, sported a fine head of red hair.” She bounced her hand under the curls twice for emphasis. “She heard a story one day of a mixed-species birth and got it in her head she could breed a more powerful magic. Apparently she thought she could control her offspring and use the magic to her advantage… I suppose she thought she could rule the world.” She smirked. “She studied various species for a few weeks and decided her best chance at conquest was a dark elf. She made her way to this very village and happened across my father, poor unsuspecting sap.”
She flitted her fingers and glasses came out and stopped in front of each of us. She continued as wine followed and filled each glass, “So, there he was and she, just a wisp of a woman, flew up to him in her best seduction and blew a little fairy dust… well, you know about that.”
I ignored her blatant point and focused on the story.
“He was putty in her hands. It was all over before he even knew her purpose. She kept him under her enchantments and lies as long as she could. She thought she was safe hiding here in the village but, as you know, an elf birth is a hefty event. Upon the hour of my birth, the entire village had gathered to see the new elf (at my father’s request, of course). Can you imagine the shock when they found my mother was his intended?”
She laughed but her audience was quiet. Chevelle wore an extremely uncomfortable expression as he turned to watch out the front window.
“Needless to say, it did not go as she had planned. At her death, my father was released from her bonds. He was horrified at what he had done, at what had been done to him. But he hadn’t the heart to destroy his crop. He simply left.”
I felt like a tear might fall from my own eye, but hers were dry and clear. I wondered how many times she’d told this story.
“I hear he wanders the mountain. Probably killing fairies.” She laughed again, this time it sounded like genuine humor. The tension in the room eased a bit.
“Ruby.” Chevelle’s tone was respectful as he turned from the window.
“They’re here?” she asked. He nodded and she rose gracefully from her seat. “Well, looks like we have some gathering to do. We can finish this later.” She smiled at me as she followed Chevelle out the door.
Chapter Ten
Summit
Steed sat across from me, quiet. “Seems so sad,” I said. I was thinking of Chevelle’s loss, of my own, and now of Ruby’s. How could we all be without family? “Your mother...” I asked him, trailing off.
He sighed. “My mother died years ago, with a large part of the northern clans.” I cringed as understanding washed through me. His mother had died because of my mother. The same as Chevelle.
I was almost afraid to ask, “And your father?”
He smiled. “My father wanders the mountain… killing fairies.”
I gasped. Impossible. “You mean Ruby, she’s your sister?” Disbelief was clear in my voice.
“Half-sister,” he emphasized. He let me roll that around for a while before he spoke again. “You know, Ruby told me she’d had dealings with the infamous Chevelle Vattier but I didn’t believe her. One can never believe the tales of a fairy.”
Infamous?
“But imagine my surprise when he walked out of the trees, following a green-eyed beauty.” He smiled at the memory and then turned serious. “When I ran into the trackers,” he hesitated at the use of the word, “I had only hope Ruby had told the truth and might know where to find you.” He laughed. “She tried to hide you but I recognized the horses out front.”
“She tried to hide us?”
“Ah, yes. Fairies are full of treacheries and wickedness. Always meddling in the affairs of others, causing trouble whenever possible. They have quite a time. At least Red’s only half wicked.” He smiled again.
His sister. I was still trying to wrap my head around it all.
“Don’t worry, she’s had her fun with you. She’ll be helpful now.” He grinned and I wasn’t sure if he was being sarcastic. “Besides, sounds like you’re the biggest trouble going. She’d do well to stick around you.” I frowned. “I’ll keep an eye on her,” he promised.
“You?” I remembered what she’d said. “You’re traveling with us?”
“You don’t mind, do you?”