Chapter 2

Chapter Two

T error floods my body as six heavily armed men rush towards me.

For the briefest moment, I think about running, but I know that will only make things worse. Guilty people run, and I have done nothing wrong. At least, that is what I tell myself. Taking a deep breath, I hold my ground and make myself appear meek with a lowered gaze.

The wild part of myself roils in anger again. I am not weak, mild, or meek, and forcing myself to appear this way for these people is beneath me. If they are unable to cope with who I am, then that is their problem and not mine. I want to rage and scream, releasing this trapped part of myself that demands to be heard.

If only it were that simple. I cannot take on a whole village, and I need to think about my family. They could not survive without access to the village. Jasmine truly would hate me if I ruined that for them. Besides, I might not be meek and mild, but I am also the type who enjoys her own company and does her best to stay out of trouble. It is as though I have two different people living within me, their personalities on opposite ends of the spectrum.

Suddenly, all eyes are on us, and it feels as though the whole village has turned up to watch the commotion. No, it is not us they look at, but me, all watching with anticipation. They know I am different, and I have heard their whispers about me when they think I cannot hear them. Bracing myself for impact, I pray to anyone who is listening that this doesn’t backfire onto my family.

Only, Jimmy does not grab and arrest me when they reach the stall, roughly pushing me aside instead. “Move, girl,” he grunts, anger lighting his eyes, but to my surprise, I see that anger is not aimed at me.

Picking up items on the table, he hisses as he finds what he was looking for—animal bones, feathers, and hair, all signs of magic. Spitting on the ground, he throws the charm away like it burnt him.

Stunned, I step back as the armed protectors storm the stall, destroying the items and grabbing the tradeswoman roughly.

“What is the meaning of this?” she demands, authority ringing in her voice. “Unhand me at once!”

Chills run down my arms, making the hair stand on end. I do not know how I know this, but the tradeswoman has power. It pours from her as she struggles against the males restraining her, and I can see the confusion on their faces. They can feel it too, they just don’t know what it is they are feeling. Is this what magic feels like? Is her stall a front? She risks a lot by selling occult items, especially in a village so close to the forest where there have been fae sightings.

“You are selling forbidden items,” Jimmy announces, his voice echoing around for all to hear. He stands back from the other protectors, looking on now that they have the woman fully restrained. “We do not allow your kind in our village. You will invoke the rage of the fae.”

Everyone around us hisses at the mention of the fae, backing away as though the woman is contagious. The protectors have clearly had enough and begin to drag her away, her table and wares getting knocked over in the process, crushed like the hope she built in me. There was something about her that spoke to me, a kinship almost, as she was the first person to understand that I am different and not afraid of that. Now she is being dragged away because of her own differences.

She puts up a fight, making it harder for the males to carry her off. In her struggle, she lurches forward and knocks into me. Gasping, I step back, but not before she presses something into my hand. As soon as it touches my skin, I know what I have to do. Backing away, I attempt to look shocked and horrified, playing along with what is expected of me. In the meantime, I clutch the item in my fist and put my hands in the pockets of my flowered dress. I know exactly what I am now holding without even having to look, a current of something humming against my skin—the bracelet.

It is time for me to get out of here before I get accused of assisting her, or they search me and find the bracelet in my possession. If they were to discover that she gave me something, they would take it away from me, and they might even arrest me as well. The tradeswoman wanted me to have this enough that she fought against the protectors to get it to me, so I will not let her efforts be in vain.

While everyone is focused on the tradeswoman who is being dragged away, I use the distraction to make my own exit. Hurrying through the market stalls, I barely even get a second glance. Gossip travels quickly in Brine, and although I fear for the woman, I am grateful that I am not the topic of conversation.

Slipping behind a barn, I glance around to ensure I am alone. I cannot see anyone, so I decide to take a risk. Reaching into my pocket, I pull out the item the tradeswoman gifted me. I relax my fist and stare at the bracelet in my hand.

Will wearing it make me a target? The villagers reacted pretty violently to the tradeswoman, but that was over the items that contained animal remains. This is simply a bracelet woven from grass and a tiny black stone. No one here will know that it is actually made from fae bane, and they probably would not even notice the stone. Shaking my head, I blow out a shaky breath as I think over my options. My instincts are telling me to wear it and that I shall need the protection it offers.

I really hope I don’t live to regret this. Sliding the bracelet onto my wrist, I admire it closely, the delicate band suiting my style. Although I am sure it is just in my mind, I feel stronger with the fae bane wrapped around my wrist, and it puts a slight spring in my step. Slipping from the side of the barn, I rejoin the mass of people in the market. Focus is on the woman who was dragged away, only it changes as I move through the mass of stalls. My name is on people’s lips, questioning if I was somehow involved with the tradeswoman.

Don’t react , I tell myself, keeping my steps sure and my head high. Pretend you do not hear them and go about your day as usual .

It is not unheard of for me to be the gossip of the day when I visit the market, so this is nothing new to me. Holding my head high, I try not to let their words get to me. My mother emerges from the healers’ building ahead, and relief floods me at seeing the friendly face. She smiles as she sees me, her face unburdened, and I know she didn’t see what happened in the market.

I hurry towards her, but someone steps into my path, and I pull up short to avoid crashing into them. Gasping, I press a hand to my chest in surprise. Alexander Koff stands in front of me, Brine’s mayor’s assistant, and as is usual for him, he is looking at me as though I am something he found on the bottom of his shoe. This is not an attitude he saves just for me though, as he deems himself above all in the village thanks to his position.

“Miss Bloom,” he greets with a curl of his lip. “The mayor would like to see you.”

Dipping my head in understanding, I keep my gaze down. I have seen what happens to those who mess with Alexander, and while his revenge might not be physical, the outcomes have not been pleasant for anyone involved. I try not to stir the pot, sticking to my mantra of appearing meek and mild while in the village.

“Of course.” My reply is quiet, but I need not have bothered because he has already started walking towards the mayor’s manor. Following several steps behind him through the village, I try not to look like an errant school child being taken to see the principal, even if this is exactly how this feels. My mother’s eyes are on me as I go, a concerned frown pulling at her brow, yet she says nothing and does not try to intervene.

The mayor and I have an odd relationship. He has always been kind, and by giving me dominion over the plants in the village, he has given me protection in the form of his endorsement. The villagers may say what they wish, but they do not dare go against the mayor by protesting my presence. After all, they trust him, and the mayor would not allow anyone into the village who could cause them harm.

Brine Manor is a large three-story house on the east side of the village. It overlooks the market, but it is set back enough to give it a sense of privacy. The walls have been whitewashed, and it has many windows, adding to the brightness of the building. I always wondered at the choice of style for the manor, as it is so different than the rest of the village. Other than the shops surrounding the marketplace which are taller, most of the houses are one-story cottages with thatched roofs and fairly blank facades. Glass is expensive and something most cannot afford for more than one or two windows.

A manicured hedge borders the front garden to the estate, and the plants here flourish almost as well as the ones in my garden at the cottage. Huge rose bushes grow up the front of the house, the pink, red, and orange blooms open in their full glory. As I walk through the perfect garden, my happiness blooms like one of the flowers, their gorgeous floral scent making me feel safe.

Alexander keeps up a steady pace, not once checking to make sure I am still following behind. Thankfully he doesn’t try to speak to me, simply leading me through the manor house. It is stunning inside, with gilded portraits lining the walls, marble floors, and huge vases of flowers in every room. Everything is spotless and in its place. It feels… cold. There is no life or lived in feel, and I suspect that it became that way after the mayor’s wife died several years ago.

We only come to a stop once we reach the large study, the door already open as though waiting for me. Alexander knocks once to announce our presence and gestures for me to enter. Stepping inside, I clear my throat, clutching my hands behind my back as I wait for him to acknowledge me.

“Mayor Marshal, you wished to see me?” I greet quietly after a minute of silence has passed. Does he not realise that I am here, or is he making me wait on purpose?

From the way he startles, I would guess the first option is correct. He chuckles quietly and slowly glances over his shoulder at me, giving me a fond smile.

“Come now, Iris. I told you to call me Dean.” Finally stepping away from the window, he gestures to the chairs waiting for us. “Come in, sit down.”

The mayor’s office is larger than the whole downstairs of my cottage, one wall almost entirely made up of glass. The huge window overlooks the village, and when I come to visit, I often find Mayor Marshal standing by it in quiet contemplation. Bookshelves line the walls, although I have never seen him use them, and in the centre of the room is a huge glossy wooden desk. His wealth shines in every aspect of the room, from the books he doesn’t read, down to the velvet cushions adorning the chairs in front of the desk. Our village is not poor, but it certainly is not wealthy either, and I have always wondered how the mayor manages to fund this lifestyle when we are so far from the rest of society. I do not ask, though, not wanting to cause problems, especially with how good he has been with me. How he makes his money is none of my business.

We both take our seats, the large leather wingback chair almost swallowing me with its size. The mayor has a larger version of the same chair, but somehow, he manages to make it look regal, whereas I look like a child playing grown-up. He watches me for a moment, his hands poised on the desk, his expression thoughtful. Why do I get the feeling that I am not going to like what he has to say?

“That mess in the market today—”

Leaning forward in the chair so quickly I almost fall from it, I press my hands against the desk to steady myself and cut him off with a rapid shake of my head. “I did nothing, I swear. She just started talking to me.”

My words come in a rush as I leap to defend myself, my pulse pounding so hard I can hear it. The last thing I want is to be associated with anything related to the fae. The villagers already look down on me, so my whole family could become ostracised if I am not careful. No more than twenty minutes must have passed since the incident, and he already seems to know all the details. Someone must have reported it straight away, and of course my name was mentioned, as it so often is when something goes wrong in the village.

The mayor raises his hands in a slowdown motion, a smile pulling at his lips in a reassuring gesture. “I know, Iris, you need not worry. I heard rumours that a tradeswoman who specialised in oddities was travelling with the traders. I should have checked her out before I allowed them to set up.” With a deep, weary sigh, Mayor Marshal rubs his hand across his chin. Leaning back in his large chair, he frowns and rests his hands on his slightly rounded belly, a troubled expression crossing his face.

This worries me. If the mayor is concerned, then things might not be as stable in Brine as I thought they were. I want to return to the safety of my garden where it is just me and my plants. There, I don’t have to worry about how other people will react to me or change my personality to make them comfortable.

“Along with the sighting of the fae, people are jumpy,” the mayor continues after a brief pause to gather his words. “I just wanted to remind you not to draw attention to yourself. I do what I can to protect you as your… skills keep this village alive and bright, but there is only so much I can do. Associating with women like that could make people question you.”

All I did was speak to a market vendor who was interested in buying my flowers. I spoke with all of the tradespeople, not seeking her out specifically. He makes it sound as though I am choosing to consort with people who will cause a stir within the village. Frustration stirs deep in the pit of my stomach and starts to work its way up, demanding to be heard.

He is trying to help you, don’t be ungrateful , my thoughts chide, and I realise they are right. The irritated voice inside me quickly subsides as I remember the reasons I try not to stir up trouble—my family. My father has been away for a long time now, leaving my mother to be the breadwinner. My sister’s greatest dream is to get away from this life, and a strategic marriage is the only way she is going to manage that.

Thinking back on the situation, I suppose I could have just walked past her stall when I realised what she was selling, but my curiosity got the better of me. Reining in that part of myself has always been something I struggle with, but if I want to live a normal life, then I need to try.

“Yes, sir, I shall try harder.” My gaze drops to the desk, making me seem suitably apologetic.

“I know you will.” His large, meaty hand reaches across the desk and lands on mine as he pats it like he would when comforting a child. Standing, he rounds the desk until he stands beside me, staring down with a smile that seems a little forced. “We have a big day coming up next week. Visitors from the city shall be coming to view our village, so I need our gardens and flowers to be bright and blooming. Can I trust you with that?”

Visitors. We have had visits from the city before, but the mayor has never acted like this, meaning this must be a very important meeting. Usually, I am kept away when the village needs to make a good impression, yet this time it seems it is the opposite.

My interest is piqued, and I nod in agreement. “Of course, Mayor Marshal.”

“Good.” He squeezes my shoulder. “I know Robert was looking for you. Why don’t you find him so I don’t have to look at his mopey face any longer?”

It is a clear dismissal but one that I am happy to take, a genuine smile pulling at my lips. Robert is one of the other main reasons I enjoy coming to the village. He is the mayor’s son. My heart flutters in my chest as though a hundred butterflies are gathered there, a mixture of nerves and excitement making my movements clumsy as I climb from the chair and quickly exit the room.

He is quiet and reserved compared to the other young men in Brine. You might expect him to lord over others with his social status and wealth, however he could not be further from that. We became friends several years ago when we were both trying to avoid the harvest festival, not wanting to be surrounded by so many people. Commiserating with each other about organised “fun,” we bonded over our dislike of large events. After that, our friendship blossomed, and in the last six months, something changed between us. We are not officially together, and we have not even shared a kiss. The most intimate gesture we have managed so far is holding hands, but I do not think it will be long before he asks me to date him.

It does not take me long to track him down, and I find him in the library. Knocking lightly on the door, I smile shyly as he looks up from his book.

“Iris.” His face lights up, making my cheeks heat with a blush. Placing his book on a low coffee table, he walks over to me. “How are you? I heard there was an incident in the marketplace?”

Wow, gossip really does travel quickly. A faint blush flushes my cheeks, but I give him a small smile anyway. “It was a bit of a shock, but I am okay. Thank you for asking.”

He smiles and reaches out, brushing his hand against my face as he pushes back a strand of my hair. We stand together, close but not touching, the heat from his body warming my own. Although I still have an excited flutter in my chest, I feel my whole body begin to calm. The peace Robert carries around with him is contagious.

“Would you like to go for a walk in the gardens?” he asks, breaking the comfortable silence between us.

Clearing my throat, I dip my head in response. “That sounds lovely.”

Although the manor house is lovely, I feel the pull of nature outside, a call that is impossible for me to ignore. Robert and I walk side by side, exiting the back of the house and making our way through the manicured garden. Behind the house and garden is a field that also belongs to the mayor and his family. The perfectly cut plants and mowed grasses give way to a wilder, freer place for nature to bloom. Wildflowers fill the space, and it always evokes a happiness in me, including now as I spin through the tall grasses, grazing the flowers with my fingers. Out here, I feel completely uninhibited. Robert watches me, but I know he does not judge me for my behaviour. He might not understand my fascination with flowers, but he does not stop me from indulging.

We don’t speak for a long time, but we do not need to—our communication goes beyond words. There is so much noise in our world that being together like this is bliss. It gives me a greater chance to reach out into the plants and sense what they need. These plants are happy, and that feeds my soul with joy.

We eventually reach a large oak tree at the far end of the field that we have adopted as our spot and sit under it, using the shade from the leafy canopy. It is a hot day, and the air is dry, yet this field flourishes. I love to come here, and the spot where Robert and I sit always has such a beautiful array of flowers, ones that I did not know could grow in this climate.

Leaning back against the tree trunk, I rest against Robert’s shoulder, my fingers running through the grass beside me. The heat quickly lulls me into a light doze, the warmth playing over my skin. At some point, Robert puts his arm around me, pulling me farther against him. I don’t protest. His hand migrates up to my hair, and he runs his fingers through it. His touch is magical, and I relax into it, my body melting as the sensation.

“We could leave all of this behind.”

Robert’s voice startles me out of my daze, and I rest my hand against his chest as I sit upright to face him. I must not have heard him right, because it sounds as though he is suggesting we run away together.

“What?” Blinking rapidly, I brush sleep from my eyes. “What about our families?”

“Don’t you want to get away from all the bureaucracy of the village?” he asks quietly, yet there is a fire burning in his eyes. “I know you enjoy your quiet life outside the walls, and I would do anything to have that freedom.” Grabbing my hands, he holds them tightly in his. “Our families might object, but they cannot stop us. We are of age. You and I, Iris, are different. We don’t fit in here.”

Everything he says is true, and for a moment, I daydream of what it would be like if the two of us moved away and started a life somewhere new where no one knew us. I could tend to my private garden, and he would get a job in a local library or as a historian in another town. We would keep to ourselves and live happily together.

A daydream is all it could ever be though. There is no time for fairy tales in my life, not when it could never happen. My expression drops, and I hope he can see just how much I wish his idea would work.

“I cannot just leave my mother and sister, Robert. What about my father? They need the money from my flowers—”

He stops me by squeezing my hands again. “Iris, your family would be fine without you. They are only under so much scrutiny because of you. If we left, they would not have to live on the outskirts of society anymore.” Realising what he just said, he frowns and shakes his head in regret. “I’m sorry, I don’t say any of this to hurt you.”

His words do hurt, especially due to the fact he is saying them. He has never judged me or spoken badly of me, so this harsh reality check has come as a shock. In fact, I feel each one of his words cutting through me to reach the most vulnerable parts of myself. The worst part is, all of them are true.

“No, you are right, I am a burden. You certainly would not want to take me with you.” I look at him with a shaky smile as I climb to my feet, brushing down my dress in a hurry. “I need to return. My family will be wondering what happened to me.” My eyes sting with tears I refuse to let fall. I will not cry, not over something like this.

Robert’s eyes widen as he realises that he upset me, and he stumbles to his feet. “Iris, wait—”

I don’t wait. Instead I pick up my pace and hurry back to the manor house. My family might manage well without me, but they would miss me if I were gone. I am sure of it.

Then why do I have an uncomfortable, sinking sensation in my stomach?