REALM'S END (BOOK OF FEY 1) by Jules Hancock

though it may well prove difficult, for she is very stubborn I think.”
         “From now on, Lindel, you and the boy must drink from the well every day. We will need to be able to communicate easily with one another, no matter what the time of day. I know you and I have waited for this day for a very long time, and we must stay diligent now so no one suspects. I have put a spell on the journey cavern so no one will want to go there, still accidents happen, so we must be ever vigilant. We will use the communication experiment as a cover story as to why the boy is drinking the sacred water.
         Lindel could barely contain his excitement. He knew that his friends’ daughter was near to being freed by the simple presence of this young woman from the future. “Should we not just bring the girl to the council and then Lillith could be restored. Isn’t that the easiest way?”
         “No,” said the Rowan. “They would discount her arrival as just another enemy, or worse as a trick, she would be dead before nightfall. Even I cannot protect her completely against those of our tribes who believe we will live forever. We must protect her, give her time to use her skills to free Lillith and then perhaps the council will be convinced of Lillith’s innocence. Briok, what color are the girl’s wings? I can’t see them clearly in your mind. Briok?”
         Briok blanched momentarily from green to white. “She has no wings Great One and she seemed quite surprised by mine as well.”
         “What? How can that possibly be? I had not anticipated one arriving who had no wings. I fear it will make her all the more vulnerable. Should we send her back and wait for a winged one, do you think?”
         Briok looked from his father to the great Rowan. “She told me there are no winged people in her time.”
         “No winged people! How can that be? The Fey have always been winged. Son, do you think she is lying or perhaps even an imposter?”
         “No father I believe she is the one spoken of in the old legend. The one who has been waited on for so long and she does possess the ever growing Rowan branch. As for the wings, I honestly can’t say,” Briok shrugged.
         Letting the information sift down through the all-ness of her being the Rowan began to reach a glimmer of understanding. “Perhaps what we bring about here is the cause of a time without wings. I wish I could see more clearly the future,” the Rowan said, as she sighed. “Please go now, each to your tasks. Lindel, please study the old legend and Briok, you must protect and assist your charge. Bring her more water as well. I will set a charge on the spring that will allow you to enter whenever you need. I must comb through time and see what I find regarding this unsettling piece of information.”
         Lindel hurriedly flew away and Briok turned to go as well.
         “Use the outer chamber to access the journey cavern, it will be less conspicuous,” the Rowan spoke clearly in Briok’s mind. “I will send you a guide. The guide will show you the door to both the spring and the cavern, but you must remember, Briok to come back and leave through the main door after. We don’t want to raise any more suspicion, than we already have. The ancients are very wise, and not easily fooled and unfortunately they are not all our friends. Remember Briok; we will not be the only ones who know of the child’s arrival. There are some who will already be working against the girl.”
         “Yes I will and thank you Great One. Can I ask, will she succeed, do you think?”
         The Rowan sighed. “I can’t say child. I’ve never been able to see that far ahead. Each time I have tried to see the outcome of all this, I’ve run into a roadblock of fog. I have never found a way past it. I often wonder, whether I should have ever engaged in this ruse to save Lillith or the tribe of Fey. Now go, and be careful.”