Court of Aether and Shadows (Crowned Monster Trilogy #1)

16. Awakening Tides Of In The Mist

Awakening Tides Of In The Mist

~ A ETHEREON~

“Ahs’a Le Hmmamina. S’Hara Le Ve Nashina La Yunm.”

The scent of night-blooming jasmine and ancient magic filled the small room as I watched the Elder work her craft.

Her gnarled hands moved with surprising grace as she attended to Sparrow, weaving protection and concealment into every fold of the new garments she draped over my sleeping queen.

The robes themselves were masterpieces of magical artifice – shadowsilk harvested from the depths of the Twilight Court's most sacred groves. Interwoven with threads of pure starlight captured during the convergence of the three moons.

The fabric seemed to breathe, shifting between deep purple and absolute black, occasionally catching the light in ways that made it appear almost transparent before deepening again to an impenetrable shadow.

"Each thread has been blessed," the Elder explained as she worked, her voice carrying the weight of ancient knowledge. "The shadowsilk absorbs excess power, while the starlight threads help channel it safely back into her core. It's an old technique, rarely used now. Few have the power levels that require such measures."

She seemed pleased with how her aged eyes twinkled with pride.

“This will be a testament to shielding the Princess. If this provides protection, I’ll begin to create various pieces of cloth down to garments that can be worn continuously to give around-the-clock protection.”

I nod ever so slightly, though the idea of her wearing clothes beneath the covers in our massive bed seems amusing, to say the least.

My Queen despises clothes at night. Makes her hot and sweaty.

I’m unsure if that trait still follows Sparrow, but if that’s the case, a light sheet for the warm nights and a blanket for the chilled will need to be crafted.

Though, in my arms, she’d need none of those tools. My shadows would shield us both, cloaking us with a blanket of the very night sky to conceal our energies.

That would have to be later on when I know where I stand with my little Songbird.

I watched from my position by the window, every fiber of my being attuned to Sparrow's presence. Even through the dampening effects of the new garments, her power called to mine like a siren's song.

The best way of envisioning it was standing near a star, feeling its gravitational pull while trying not to be consumed by its brilliance.

Kaelon shifted at his post by the door, his eyes tracking the Elder's movements with careful attention.

"The craftsmanship is remarkable," he observed. "I haven't seen any like it since the Age of Twilight."

The Elder – whose true age I was beginning to suspect was far greater than her appearance suggested – smiled as she adjusted the final fold.

"Some arts are worth preserving, even when their need seems to have passed. The old ways remember, even when we forget."

She stepped back, surveying her work with critical eyes.

The robes settled around Sparrow's form like a second skin, the magic within them already beginning to take effect. The brilliant beacon of her power, which had been visible to any with the sight to see it, began to dim to a more manageable glow.

"There," the Elder murmured, satisfaction evident in her tone. "The garments will help conceal her aura, though they are but a temporary measure. A more permanent solution will be needed before she fully awakens."

I could feel the truth in her words.

The power within Sparrow was too vast, too primal to be contained indefinitely by mere clothing, no matter how masterfully crafted. Already, I could see tiny sparks of energy escaping the shadowsilk's dampening effect, like stars peeking through a clouded night sky.

Kaelon cleared his throat, his voice carefully neutral.

"The binding spells we discussed..."

"Would be unwise at this juncture," the Elder cut in, her voice carrying surprising authority despite its age-worn rasp. "The rift must be our primary concern. It must be sealed before nightfall, my Lord, or we risk far graver threats than mere detection."

She gestured toward the window, where the tear in reality was visible to those with the ability to acknowledge its existence — a shimmering distortion in the air that seemed to bend light around itself. With each passing hour, the rift grew more unstable, its edges fraying like worn fabric about to tear.

"The darkness of the Twilight Court would only serve to empower those who might wish us harm," I acknowledged, understanding the gravity of her warning. "Particularly those from the Void and Elemental Courts. Their very nature would allow them to draw power from our realm's shadows."

The Elder nodded gravely.

"The Void Court especially would find such a portal irresistible. They seek to unmake reality itself. What better tool than a rift created by one with the power to bridge worlds?"

I moved closer to Sparrow's bedside, careful to maintain enough distance that my own power wouldn't interfere with the Elder's work. The shadowsilk rippled at my approach, responding to my presence like water disturbed by a stone.

"You've served us well, wise one," I said, studying the ancient woman before me. Beneath her seemingly frail exterior, I could see patterns of power swirling – old magic, deep and complex as tree roots. "Before you go, I would like to know your name, so that I might properly introduce you to the Princess when she awakens."

A small smile curved the Elder's lips, knowing and mysterious.

"I am called Moira, in this age," she said, her voice taking on a musical quality that spoke of other times, other names. "Though in the old tongue, I was once known as Vesh'na Shal'ira — Keeper of Ancient Ways."

The formal name sent a ripple through the room's shadows.

Even Kaelon straightened, recognition flashing in his eyes.

The title was one I hadn't heard spoken aloud in centuries — a designation from the time before the great schism when the courts were one and magic flowed freely between all realms.

"Vesh'na Shal'ira," I repeated, the ancient words carrying weight and power. "You honor us with your presence. Why did you not reveal yourself sooner?"

Moira's smile deepened, touching her eyes.

"Some truths are best revealed in their own time, my Lord. Just as some powers are best left to develop naturally." Her gaze flickered meaningfully to Sparrow's sleeping form.

She gestured to the door, and it opened to admit Elenore and the boy. They entered with deep bows, though I noticed the boy's eyes darting curiously around the room, lingering on the shadows that gathered in the corners.

"You know Elenore, of course," Moira continued. "One of our most skilled healers, whose loyalty to the Shadow Court has never wavered." Elenore blushed at the praise but maintained her composure.

"And this," Moira placed a hand on the boy's shoulder, "is Finn. He has... unique abilities that may prove useful in the days to come."

I studied the boy more closely, noting the subtle ripples of power that emanated from him. Unlike most magic users, whose power manifested in clear, definable patterns, Finn's energy seemed to fold in on itself, creating spaces between spaces.

It was a signature I had seen only rarely, and never in one so young.

"Portal master potential," I murmured, intrigued.

The ability to manipulate the very fabric of reality, to create doorways between worlds, was not a gift that manifested often.

"Is there a connection to our current Portal Master?"

"None by blood," Moira replied, though her tone suggested there was more to the story. "Though perhaps by destiny. The old powers have a way of manifesting where they are most needed. Finn was found as an infant, left at the crossroads between realms during the last great convergence."

This information sent my mind racing with possibilities.

A child abandoned at a convergence point, possessing natural portal-crafting abilities... it was too convenient to be a coincidence.

"The Fateweavers?" Kaelon asked, voicing my suspicion.

Moira's expression grew grave. I guess this wasn’t necessarily a conversation with Finn’s presence, but none of us had anything to hide. Some would deem themselves worthy to be spoken of among Fae of our caliber.

"Perhaps. Their hand has been more active in recent years than in all the centuries prior. But whatever his origin, Finn's loyalty is to us." She squeezed the boy's shoulder gently. "He has been raised in the knowledge of his duty to the Twilight Court."

Finn shifted uncomfortably under my scrutiny but met my gaze steadily.

"I want to help," he said, his voice carrying a quiet determination that belied his youth. "I can feel the rift's instability. If it's not closed properly, it could tear wider, creating a cascade effect that would..." he trailed off, but I understood his meaning.

Unchecked, a tear, in reality, could spread like cracks in glass, eventually shattering the barriers between worlds entirely. It was precisely the kind of catastrophe the Void Court dreamed of causing.

Suddenly, Moira's expression sharpened, her head tilting as if listening to something beyond mortal hearing. The shadows in the room deepened, responding to a disturbance I had felt growing for the past several minutes.

"A threat approaches," she warned, her voice tight with urgency. "The rift draws them like moths to flame. And this one..." She paused, her eyes widening slightly. "This one is different. Powerful. And somehow... familiar."

"I am aware," I replied, having sensed the disturbance in the shadows moments before.

The presence approaching was indeed powerful, carrying with it an energy signature that tugged at ancient memories.

"Kaelon and I will handle it. Take Elenore and Finn from this place. The shadow energies that may be unleashed are not for those unprepared to withstand them. It could cause a situation of manipulation or potential possession. Both gruesome and a pain to reverse if one falls victim to their merciless captivity."

Moira nodded, gathering her materials with a gesture that encouraged them to float to her grasp.

At the door, she paused, looking back at me with eyes that seemed to hold the wisdom of ages.

"Be cautious, my Lord," she said, slipping into the old tongue once more. " Vash'nor thy'lar sul'van . Nyr vash mor’neth... thy’rin elar vel’tar elva, faen'shara ul’ven kai’el, drithar nyra sul’keth te'lan far’eyn.”

Not all shadows dance to the same rhythm. This threat... it comes bearing old magic, older perhaps than even you suspect.

The ancient words carried weight, a warning and a prophecy wrapped in one.

I inclined my head, acknowledging both her counsel and her right to give it.

"Shal'ven mor'eth, Vesh'na Shal'ira, " I responded formally, before shifting back to mundane language while keeping the power woven in my tone. "Your wisdom honors us, as does your service."

With that, she ushered Elenore and Finn from the cottage, leaving Kaelon and me alone with a sleeping Sparrow.

The air grew heavy with anticipation, the shadows deepening as we prepared to face whatever force approached through the rift.

But even as we readied ourselves for confrontation, my mind was racing with plans.

The appearance of a young portal master, the involvement of the Fateweavers, the increasing instability between realms – all of it pointed to changes coming faster than even I had anticipated.

We would need to adapt our strategies and find new ways to protect Sparrow while allowing her to grow into her power.

Perhaps most importantly, we would need to discover who among our potential allies could truly be trusted.

The game board was shifting, the pieces moving in unexpected ways.

At the center of it all, lay my sleeping queen, her power calling to forces both light and dark, drawing them all inexorably toward whatever destiny awaited us.