Bewildered, I blinked as Meliss?’s green light blurred upward, leaving me alone under the towering shadow. I scrambled back, barely avoiding a fist crashing like a boulder into Meliss?’s herbal bed.

  The lurching beast raised its arm again, its red eyes boring into me. Fear tightened my chest as the end loomed.

  “Gruh?” the beast groaned as a flurry of green fshes popped and crackled around his face. Wings buzzing, Meliss? danced around the beast as he swiped the air. Shadows clung to the monster and swirled around him, sickly bck in the bright morning sun.

  “Jethro run!” Meliss? yelled.

  The beast looked down at me and I darted through the trees as fast as I could. I felt each pounding footstep of the beast lumbering after me. The sound of trees being uprooted followed close behind until a holler and popping sound seemed to distract him away from me. I didn’t look back—not until I cleared the thicket of willows along the ke shore.

  Meliss? danced across the treetops as shadowy hands grasped and swiped at her. I didn’t know how long she could keep it distracted so I resolved to continue my retreat. She seemed more than capable of staying out of its reach—but just as I turned to go, the green fairy screeched in terror.

  I looked back just in time to see a green blur pulled down by a shadowy grip.

  “Meliss?!” I said, lurching forward. I wished for my sword, not that it would do me any good. I did have my sling and one rock, but could I really take down a behemoth like that? I should’ve run. There was nothing I could do. But there was no way I was going to leave Meliss? to such a fate.

  I charged back into the willows, hollering like a madman. The beast didn’t notice me as I faced it head on. It pyed with the green fairy, tugging at her arms and legs like a child with a doll.

  “Jethro… No…” she whimpered as swirling shadows crept over her face.

  I loaded my one rock into the sling and whirled it round. I focused on the head of the beast, right between the eyes. One chance. I let the rock loose like a bullet and it careened right past the monster’s head.

  His ugly grin showed through the shadows as he pulled Meliss?’s arm and leg, still completely unaware of me and my efforts.

  I failed. Would I watch this beautiful spirit—who’d shown me such joy mere hours ago—torn apart?

  No. My heart pounded. There was no way I’d let this happen. My hands grew hot. I would do something, even if it meant sacrificing myself. I roared into the morning and my hands glowed bright gold.

  The beast looked at me, tilting its stinking head.

  I thought a javelin would be just what I needed and one appeared in my hand, shining gold and white. It felt cool and smooth like metal, but I didn’t take the time to appreciate it. I thrust the spear into the beast’s chest. I summoned another, and threw it into his neck and he bellowed a raging howl into the light.

  I threw the next golden javelin into his arm and he dropped Meliss? to the ground. The monster clutched at his neck as blood and shadow poured out onto the soil. He came at me, roaring all the way.

  I lodged another javelin into his knee. He stumbled, but continued to pick up speed. I roared back as I summoned another spear of light, glowing brighter than the others and vibrating violently in my hand, eager to find its mark. I smmed the point into the beast’s belly in a fsh of blinding white light. Silence followed.

  Once my sight returned I saw the beast standing over me, arm outstretched, mouth agape, face twisted but completely still. The shadows were gone, revealing its grey stoney skin. It seemed to be made of stone, nothing more than a statue. I touched its face. It was smooth and hard as rock.

  A gasping rattle stole my attention. Meliss? convulsed on the ground, shadows swirling all about her.

  I rushed to her side and held out my hands. Nothing happened. The fairy continued to shake, her eyes turned red, and she turned to me with a wicked grin, hissing through her teeth.

  “No!” I shouted and my hands lit up, gold and white. The shadows writhed and hissed as they slunk into the soil.

  “J-Jethro,” Meliss? murmured, “you have to get out of here. There’s nothing you can do.”

  “It’s alright Meliss?. I took care of it,” I said as I cradled her head in my arms.

  She looked bewildered. “How?” Her voice was strained.

  “Shh shh. Don’t worry, I’m going to take you to the vilge. Everything’s going to be fine.”

  I stared at the petrified beast, heart hammering. What if there were more of these creatures waiting in the shadows? And Meliss?—how could I have let this happen to her? Guilt twisted in my gut as I lifted her gently, resolved to protect her from further harm.

  The green fairy fell asleep in my arms as I carried her back up the valley. My hands still trembled as I walked, every step reminding me how close we’d both come to death. The weight of my newfound power pressed heavily on my mind—both exhirating and terrifying.

  Partway up the valley slopes I looked back at the willows by the ke where we had just been. They seemed darker, less welcoming—like an invisible stain had settled there.

  ***

  Upon entering the vilge I sighed at the sight of Salva marching toward me, his long white beard whipping around a dour expression.

  “What have you done!” he shouted.

  “She’s hurt,” I said, staring the grey fairy down. “She needs a healer.”

  “I knew this would happen. From the moment I saw you, I knew.”

  “If you’re not going to help then get out of the way,” I snapped.

  The fairy steward stared at me, his sck-jawed shock tightened into rage.

  “Steward,” I said through my teeth as I bowed. “We should hurry. I don’t know how bad this is.”

  Salva’s expression went dumbfounded. “This way,” he said, snapping his cape to his side as he turned on his heel. He led me to one of the rger houses and knocked on the door. An elf in a maid’s outfit answered the door.

  “Mr. Salva,” the maid said, her eyes darting to me and Meliss?. “What can I do for you today?”

  “We need to see Astrid,” Salva said, his voice calmer and smoother than I’d ever heard it. “Something’s wrong with Meliss?.”

  “Yes. Come in.” The maid led us to an exquisitely furnished parlor. “Wait here, I will let Mrs. Astrid know.”

  I id Meliss? on a sofa and brushed the hair from her face. As soon as I stood up Salva stepped between us.

  “Now what happened outsider? Tell me everything and don’t even think about lying,” he said, poking me in the chest.

  “We were attacked,” I answered.

  “Attacked?” He scoffed. “Who would do such a thing? Have you already forgotten you’re only permitted to stay under the condition that you maintain the peace?”

  “I wasn’t the attacker.”

  “But they’re here because of you.” He poked me again. “No one’s been attacked in Itán in decades. I’ve seen outsiders like you bring ruin before,” he spat, eyes bzing with a long-buried anger. “I won’t let it happen again.”

  I grabbed his finger. “Don’t do that again,” I said with a gre.

  Salva’s hand hovered near the hilt of his dagger, eyes narrowed dangerously, before Astrid’s voice broke the tension. “What the hell is going on here?” she snapped me out of my building anger. The st thing I wanted to be doing was getting into fights with the stewards. I stepped away from Salva.

  “That’s just what I’m trying to find out,” Salva said.

  “And as I was telling you, we were attacked this morning by the ke.”

  Astrid’s face fell into shock as I reyed the events of the morning to her. The beast and my newly discovered power.

  “Sounds like it was a troll, and an enshrouded one at that,” she said with a shudder. “The enshrouded have never crossed into our realm before. For years we've felt safe, untouched by shadow. But now, I fear that illusion is fading.” She took Melissё’s hand.

  “It’s clear the outsider led them in,” Salva grumbled. “We should expel him at once—as I’ve been saying all along, he’s nothing but trouble.”

  “Don’t be so rash, Salva. Is your faith in Itániel’s judgement really so weak?” Astrid pondered for a moment. “While I don’t think the bme falls to you Jethro, I do not think this a mere coincidence either. The amount of enshrouded in the realm of Castletún has been steadily increasing in recent years. It’s possible they did follow you; they may have even sensed your power. So little is known about their nature. Many of our hunters have the skill to kill an enshrouded beast, but none among us have ever demonstrated the ability to thwart the shadows themselves.”

  “I didn’t mean for this to happen," I said, "but if my power draws danger, I'll find a way to control it. I won’t let anyone else get hurt because of me.”

  “You must continue to practice and develop this skill with Lavendu and anyone else who can help. You may yet change the fate of both our realms. There’s a darkness growing, Jethro—a power stronger than the Enshrouded alone. Something or someone has stirred them from slumber. Now leave, both of you. I need to concentrate on Meliss?.”

  “Will she be alright, Steward?” I asked with a bow.

  Astrid gave me a warm smile. “Thanks to you, I should think.”

  ***

  Meliss?’s condition weighed heavily, but sitting idle wouldn’t help. All I could do was trust in Astrid’s abilities as a healer; she was a steward after all.

  I made my way to the archery range to see if Saoirse was done with the colrs. This time, a group of adults were lined up, firing arrows into the targets. Among them I noticed álfhild and her boyfriends taking shots with steady concentration.

  “Your colrs are ready,” Saoirse’s cool, smooth voice said from behind.

  “Woah, you startled me,” I said, turning to face the lithe woman. I gave her a slight bow.

  “Apologies,” she said, bowing back. “We sidhe are naturally silent walkers. We often can’t help but sneak up on people.”

  “Ah, no problem,” I said. “The colrs are ready? You sure made quick work of them.”

  “I assure you they are of high quality materials and carefully crafted.”

  “No. I didn’t mean to insinuate. I’m just impressed is all.”

  Saoirse turned and strode over to a bench, her usual commanding presence softened by a barely noticeable hesitation. She picked up a satchel and handed it to me. “Take a look.”

  She wasn’t kidding, the colrs were smooth and polished. Each engraved with the symbols from the book, Power of Mastery, as well as several artistic flourishes like engraved filigree and knotwork. Each one was unique.

  “Saoirse,” I said, “these are incredible.”

  Saoirse gave a nod, eyes downcast for just a fleeting second before regaining her composure.

  I admired each one, brushing my fingers over the glossy engravings. They felt powerful, I didn’t have the words to expin it, they just had a weight to them. It was clear to me they were crafted with magical intent. Finally I pulled the st one out. It was dark green and engraved with an arrow symbol.

  “I think you made one extra. Didn’t I only ask for five?”

  She looked at me and swallowed. Was she nervous? Her face was completely steady otherwise. “The sixth one is for me,” she said quietly, her voice firm yet edged with vulnerability.

  “For you?”

  “If you’ll accept me of course.” She bowed again. I was beginning to realize bowing probably wasn’t the customary way to address a steward. “There aren’t many men that practice such love magic in Itán. I’m eager to experience it for myself. I understand this might seem unusual,” she said, her voice lower than before, eyes cast down. “I’ve long carried the burden of authority. Sometimes, I yearn to set it aside—to feel someone else’s strength guiding me. You don’t have to decide right now. If you like, we could go on a date first.”

  “A date?” I blurted. Several of the archers looked over at us.

  Saoirse looked away, suddenly shy. Her lithe, hourgss form in that bodysuit nearly compelled me to accept her right then and there. But a date was probably wise. I didn’t know how permanent of a bond these colrs would create.

  “I’d love to. Are you free this evening?” I asked, recollecting my composure.

  She looked back up at me. Her eyes smiled as she nodded. “I am avaible.”

  “Great, I’ll meet you here then, just before sunset.”

  “I wouldn’t mind if you brought your fairy along.”

  “My- you mean Lavendu?”

  “Yes. It’s up to you of course, but I find her quite attractive as well.”

  “We- we’ll be here.”

  The archers murmured as I left. Was it controversial for an outsider like myself to date one of the vilge stewards? Perhaps it was expected like the kings of old marrying off their children to form alliances with other realms. Either way, I’m sure everyone would be talking about it.

  ***

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