Aveera Nyaalie: 05 - "Time Flies"
“Ah-veer-ah!”
From her vantage point in a knee-high cul de sac, the eleven year old Aveera could look up at her pursuer without her pursuer spotting her. The dark clothing she wore blended well with the midnight marble that graced every wall, ceiling, and surface in the Nyaalie sithen even if her golden-blonde hair had to be covered. Kaie was also crouched at her side beneath the ledge and was watchful in case the hunter wizened up to her quarry. Neither girl spoke nor breathed, holding the air back though their lungs burned for oxygen. Luckily, the Tuatha de Danaan did not truly need to breathe. Now, if only all Fae had the gift for speaking mind-to-mind, Aveera would be able to ask someone why the tutors were screaming for them on their free day. By the Goddess, though, she knew they weren’t going to find her.
Once the searcher was beyond the corridor, Kaie flashed her sister of the soul a mischievous grin that fairly lit up the hall before grabbing her hand and slipping out of their hiding place. Without a word, the two girls broke into a barefoot run toward the next niche. So far, they had encountered four people looking for them in this section of the sithen. That meant dozens more were spread out and around their home. However, once they reached the Deserted Corridor they would be home free. Few people braved the spirits said to linger in the oldest part of the sithen, and even the Queen of the Nyaalie sithen could not order her people into the dark halls. Thus, less than a handful of people would dare to follow them there. And, over the years, they had successfully haunted the rooms enough to memorize the maze. Some of their most prized possessions were kept in a closet-sized room with blankets and reserves of food.
Suddenly, Kaie paused. A half-step later, Aveera also stopped. Looking behind them, before them, and to each side, the younger girl wondered why her best friend had paused. Then, the older Fae sighed. “We need to go to the throne room, now.” Aveera blinked, realizing that whatever had happened was important. Kaie never gave up the opportunity for a good hunt.
“Why?” Aveera’s lilac eyes gazed deep into Kaie’s amber ones. She knew when the golden orbs stared back that her friend had experienced a vision. “What is happening, Kaie?”
Kaie gripped the hand in hers more tightly, feeling every second of her extra three months of life, and began leading her back the way they had just run. “Our queen is in mourning. She wants her family near.” The air whistled slightly at the black-haired Fae’s exhalation. “Your mother Eirienwyn has returned from gan treabh to die.” Aveera nodded, accepting Kaie’s words as truth… except for one thing. Eirienwyn was not her mother.
From her vantage point in a knee-high cul de sac, the eleven year old Aveera could look up at her pursuer without her pursuer spotting her. The dark clothing she wore blended well with the midnight marble that graced every wall, ceiling, and surface in the Nyaalie sithen even if her golden-blonde hair had to be covered. Kaie was also crouched at her side beneath the ledge and was watchful in case the hunter wizened up to her quarry. Neither girl spoke nor breathed, holding the air back though their lungs burned for oxygen. Luckily, the Tuatha de Danaan did not truly need to breathe. Now, if only all Fae had the gift for speaking mind-to-mind, Aveera would be able to ask someone why the tutors were screaming for them on their free day. By the Goddess, though, she knew they weren’t going to find her.
Once the searcher was beyond the corridor, Kaie flashed her sister of the soul a mischievous grin that fairly lit up the hall before grabbing her hand and slipping out of their hiding place. Without a word, the two girls broke into a barefoot run toward the next niche. So far, they had encountered four people looking for them in this section of the sithen. That meant dozens more were spread out and around their home. However, once they reached the Deserted Corridor they would be home free. Few people braved the spirits said to linger in the oldest part of the sithen, and even the Queen of the Nyaalie sithen could not order her people into the dark halls. Thus, less than a handful of people would dare to follow them there. And, over the years, they had successfully haunted the rooms enough to memorize the maze. Some of their most prized possessions were kept in a closet-sized room with blankets and reserves of food.
Suddenly, Kaie paused. A half-step later, Aveera also stopped. Looking behind them, before them, and to each side, the younger girl wondered why her best friend had paused. Then, the older Fae sighed. “We need to go to the throne room, now.” Aveera blinked, realizing that whatever had happened was important. Kaie never gave up the opportunity for a good hunt.
“Why?” Aveera’s lilac eyes gazed deep into Kaie’s amber ones. She knew when the golden orbs stared back that her friend had experienced a vision. “What is happening, Kaie?”
Kaie gripped the hand in hers more tightly, feeling every second of her extra three months of life, and began leading her back the way they had just run. “Our queen is in mourning. She wants her family near.” The air whistled slightly at the black-haired Fae’s exhalation. “Your mother Eirienwyn has returned from gan treabh to die.” Aveera nodded, accepting Kaie’s words as truth… except for one thing. Eirienwyn was not her mother.
posted by J. Mackin at 1:41 AM
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