EL BK5 Chapter 25 - Don't Expect to Feel Like You're a Person. (Patreon)

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It took three weeks for the floating art gallery of a ship to make landfall after the journey from North America to Europe, and I spent most of that time strategically avoiding the Fae. It wasn’t the sea that made my stomach twist itself into knots, it was all these pale haired creatures circling like sharks. Maybe it was just paranoia, but I couldn’t help feeling ‘watched’. At the very least, they don’t blink as often as is polite in human society and it’s uncomfortable.

The ship arrived in the dead of night at a small, silent port. Shipping containers stacked four high loomed in the darkness. A single frosty lamp post flickered at the end of the dock, and ambiguous mist greeted us. It felt more like a drug exchange than the arrival of Fae royalty. They disembarked down the narrow gangway one at a time, seeming to float across the narrow wooden beams without ever taking a step.

When it was my turn, I made the mistake of looking over the side down the drop between ship and land. It was almost pitch black and only the sound of sloshing water indicated it was further down than expected. It must’ve been dredged to make the water deeper for the ship, I thought confidently as my knees buckled. Achaicus caught my arm by the elbow before I could topple into oblivion, and guided me the rest of the way.

His stern guidance was more embarrassing than anything. But I knew he wasn’t malicious, the man is odd in a funny sort of way. Quiet, patient, I think part of him really thinks I’m a dog. Eric had warned me about that. According to him, Achaicus is old fashioned and does still consider humans to be more akin to animals. 

“He’ll treat you kindly, but don’t expect to feel like you’re a person,” he’d offered with an unhelpful shrug. 

I didn’t know what to make of that at the time. He and I sat on opposite edges of his bed, my friend was still under some sort of house arrest, the scarier twin wouldn’t let him leave the room or allow visits to be unsupervised. Nathaniel lurked nearby, alternating between reading and scribbling something on paper at his desk while Eric threw small items at him in gentle looping tosses.

“He can’t be that bad,” I’d protested with all the confidence of someone who didn’t know. 

“Do you think I’m making it up? I know how Fae treat humans. Pets to them are more like the cute cows they have decided to keep rather than slaughter. You’re not their equal, don’t expect to be treated as if you were.”

The faintest hint of a smile pulled at the corners of his mouth when the small angular crystal he’d thrown landed on Nathaniel’s desk with a clatter, causing the Fae to pause mid pen-stroke.

“Must you?” he asked, in a surprisingly sedate manner without turning back.

“Something bothering you?” Eric returned feigning innocence as he reached for another small crystal to throw.

“It’s raining crystals it would seem.”

“Indoor weather can be temperamental.”

Nathaniel snorted out a small chuckle, “Charles, I think it’s time you leave. If the indoor weather is going to be annoying, he doesn't get to have visitors.” 

Eric scowled, and returned his attention to me, “The Fae are bastards, but at least Achaicus is attentive to his Pet’s needs,” he said pointedly,  “Why are you contracting to him anyway?”

“Ahhh…” I struggled to come up with an excuse without mentioning Europe, “It was Claire’s idea, she thinks he’s lonely and her solution to problems is always to ‘replace the loss’ you know ‘one pet dies, just get another!’” I tried to imitate my sister's enthusiasm as I started to get up to go. 

He winced at the mention of my sister and didn’t ask anything else, I’d made a good choice in excuse. I left as Nathaniel moved to Eric, wrapping one arm around his waist and covering his eyes with a hand. He kissed the top of his head softly before pulling him backward off the side of the bed and I hurried to escape. It’s one thing to know your friend is getting laid, another to see it.

My attention returned to the present as my feet hit solid ground. The doc was long and narrow with no side rails, and dizzying gaps between each slot of wood. Looking back at it, I wasn’t sure how it was still standing, the thing looked like it hadn’t been in use for years. Of course these demonic sprites would choose the most dilapidated dock they could find for their 18th century sailship.

“It’s perfectly safe,” Achaicus assured in a calming tone as if reading my mind. 

“It looks like it’s about to detach from the land and sink,” I commented sourly as he guided me along.

“No, it’s simply well hidden from human eyes.” 

He let go once he determined I was stable on my feet, and I followed after him with trepidation. The docks were a bustle of activity. Delicate blue filaments of Fae magic simmered in the air against the onslaught of ambient salt in the air off the ocean. Servants in haughty red and gold uniforms hurried back and forth, carting luggage off the ship. They used some sort of spell I’d never seen before to lift vintage cars out of the cargo hold and tidy the deck.

Achaicus strode with purpose to meet with Alferic at the head of a gravel road. The road disappeared into the distance, winding away into the gloom of the night and from that darkness, came the far off clop of horse hooves. Minutes later a barrier rippled over us, its cold wash arriving ahead of the incoming greeting party. 

A wall of marching Fae clad in dark armor, all with swords and pikes at their sides, their long hair woven in intermittent braids. Past them were the horses. Enormous black creatures with silvery-white manes and tails. With hooves the size of dinner plates and chests like barrels the beasts towered over Alferic and Achaicus. Were the ones at Leúchtned that big? I’d mostly tried to avoid them… 

The army stopped just beyond the reach of the light. They halted all at once as if given a command, but I didn’t hear anything. After a moment, the stallion at the back in the center of the v-shape came forward through the guards ahead of it and Achaicus knelt. I did as well, copying him since I had no idea what to do, while Alferic only bowed. A top the horse was a Fae woman. 

She sat sideways in the saddle and steered effortlessly with both reins in one bony hand. Her face severe and hollow, worn with age. She peered down her nose at us and I felt her gaze burn into my soul. The flowing dress she wore reminded me of something Claire might wear, tight laces held the corset in place while the skirt dangled over the horse. 

When the horse was within reaching distance, Achaicus stood, and I followed suit. Up close, the woman was surprisingly beautiful. The points of her ears peeked through her hair, and thin wisps framed her face. She might have been the oldest Fae I’d seen, but she held the same ethereal grace as the rest of them.

“Ilyana, my love, there was no need for you to come all this way,” Alferic greeted her in a way that I couldn’t tell if he was pleased or not. 

The woman ignored him, giving a small wave of her hand. “There have been more attacks along the path and you are long in the tooth. Of course I would come. Your voyage was long?” she asked as if she didn’t care about the answer.

“Longer and shorter than we expected,” Alferic agreed, “But I have many capable guards with me.” 

“Seems to me they have their hands full,” she gestured past us to struggling servants labouring under the weight of what I would have called a treasure chest, but it was probably full of clothes, knowing the Fae.

Alferic glanced back and his teeth set together, “It’s not that heavy,” he muttered mostly to himself.

“You have brought with you one of our grandchildren?” Ilyana prompted, her pale green eyes coming to rest on Achaicus, then me, “And a…” she trailed off, usure. 

“I’m a Charles, Charles Walsh,” I introduced myself out of habit and anxiety, giving another bow.

The woman didn’t answer, and in the uncomfortable silence that followed I would almost feel Achaicus willing me to turn into a flea. Should I add my title to make it clearer that I belong here? Or tell her that I’m Achaicus’s ‘Pet’? Maybe I would burst into flames for speaking when I obviously shouldn’t have.

“Forgive me, grandmother, he is an unusual Pet,” Achaicus tried.

“Is he deficient mentally? Or is it a failure on your part, that you have been simply unable to train him?” she countered.

“It’s me, I’m definitely mentally deficient,” I interjected, likely proving her point in my effort to save Achaicus.

“Be silent,” he ordered and my mouth closed itself. That was probably for the best. “Charles is an untraditional Pet. We are committed to finding new ways in which to encourage loyalty from humans. My brother and I believe leniency is rewarded. It is better to be loved than feared.”

Ilyana considered his statement for a moment, “It is better to be both.” She dismounted as she spoke, stepping into the waiting hands of a servant and then to the ground.

On ground level she was smaller than her voice, but no less intimidating. Guards swarmed around her like bees protecting their queen and I accepted my fate as roadkill. Her thin frame stood just below my shoulder height and when she walked past, I felt a wash of cold magic emitting from her. 

Thankfully, the woman paid me no mind as I melted into the gravel. She moved instead to hug Achaicus, “It has been so long since I had seen you, my little one, you have grown tall.” She pulled a lock of his hair forward, running it through her hand and giving a smile. “We will talk more later.” 

Ilyana drifted away from him to Alferic, giving a small curtsy before reaching for him, a gesture the man accepted without reservation. He held her hand to his face and closed his eyes, “It’s dangerous for you to be out here.”

“An old lady is no loss. Besides, our enemies would not dare attack a force as large as this,” she shushed his concerns with dismissive certainty. “Come. We have been expecting you and the camp is not far.”

*** 

We travelled in a jumbled parade of horses, carts and slow moving vintage cars down a winding dirt path. The blend of traditional and modern-ish transportation these inhuman species use will never not confuse me. I wanted to ask Achaicus, but the concentration on his face as we travelled at a snail's pace behind the foot soldiers and horses warned me not to. Wouldn’t want him to suddenly veer off-road. I don't think the suspension on this ancient Mercedes could take it.

“Hey ahh, sorry about before. For speaking when I shouldn’t have,” I apologized at last when looking out into the darkness finally gave me enough courage.

“You should be mindful of the food and drink you consume from now on. My grandmother prefers to poison those who displease her,” he answered without looking over.

I swallowed, so I had messed up badly enough to get killed. Wonderful.

“I’m joking, Charles,” he assured, glancing sideways, “Mostly.”

“You know, I think I preferred it when you didn’t try to make jokes. You Fae have the worst sense of humor I’ve ever encountered.”

“I thought it was funny,” he almost smiled, “There are sweets in the center compartment, those should be safe, if you want.”

“Ahh, I’m good, not really a sweets kind of guy.”

Nathaniel had explained that Achaicus kept candy around for Molly, and I didn’t want to accidentally remind him of her. Although, from the tense set of his jaw it was already too late. 

“I can drive, if you want,” I offered awkwardly to break the tension.

“Do you think I can’t drive?”

“Oh, no, I just- you look tired?” I tried. He did have a death grip on the wheel, and the Fae didn’t drive a lot. I knew from Eric that Nathaniel at least didn’t like to drive, he preferred to let my unlicensed friend drive at the risk of everyone else.

“I’m fine. This pace is pleasant.”

Horse pace he meant. Although I’ll concede the big horses did move faster than regular ones, longer legs, I supposed.

“Right, can I ask you something else?”

“Of course,” he agreed gently. 

“What enemies do the Fae have here?”

At this, Achaicus paused to think, “On the roads, fenrir wolves are common. They are considerably larger than their descendants, and they like our horses. So we must be cautious. Scouts ride to the sides and further ahead to ensure the way is clear. Alferic also warned me of an increase in witches in the area. Though they are more likely to be among humans, the wolves are a problem for lone witches as well. However, the Vanir are a plague here as anywhere. Especially as we travel further north.”

“Like Eric’s family?” I asked, shocked. 

“Possibly. Since my brother banished them from their lands, it stands to reason they would rejoin their kin, and the passage from the northern Americas into Europe isn’t a difficult swim.  There is a great deal of territory overlap between our species… Though we do our best to ignore them, our history books are filled with battles. My brother was foolish to think Alferic wouldn't notice Eric immediately. Too much wishful thinking.”

“But why?” I pressed, “Why are they always north?”

Achaicus took in a deep breath, as if he were exhausted, but continued like a patient parent, “Humans struggle to survive in extreme cold. They rely on crops that grow in fertile, warm soils and struggle in places where agriculture fails. Fae and Vanir are predatory species, we don’t need plants to survive. We only need other things to die and warm climates are uncomfortable. I’m surprised you didn’t consider that, Charles, have you not been reading from our history books?”

“I think you’re vastly overestimating my ability to read ancient Fae scribbles.”

He laughed for my statement, “I suppose that is somewhat of a hindrance. Much of our histories are difficult to decipher, you are astute.”

“So really, what you’re saying is that the stories are true? You do melt in heat?” I teased.

“That sounds like something the Orphan must have told you.” 

I gave a nervous grin, guilty as charged. But I sort of thought Eric was joking until just now.

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