Frey (The Frey Saga, #1)(61)

The time came sooner than any of us expected. Looking back, I suppose it was fortunate. I can’t imagine what might have happened if a full birth ceremony had been prepared; if so many had been present. It makes me cringe to merely think of it.

The elders were there, though. My father and the others waited in the throne room, arranging a celebration. I had read everything I could obtain on the process during my pregnancy and imprisonment in the castle, even finding a few books and scrolls on humans. But nothing prepared me for what happened. I had been walking when the pain struck, pacing my room with worry if I were truthful. It hit suddenly, a stabbing, ripping, horrible thing. My screams called everyone to order, but then it subsided. However, it was only long enough to catch my breath and then it was back, tenfold. I writhed in agony, nothing they did would help. I could not control my magic; it shattered most of the things on the nearby table and twice caught the bedding afire. The elders were frantic, which only frightened me more. I had never seen them agitated much. This carried on for hours, my hair and clothing was drenched in sweat and I was near surrender. And then, with no more warning than when the first pains came, it was over. A small, sweet child was in my arms.

I drew in ragged breaths as I cleaned her face. I wiped her eyes and they came open, an unbelievable shade of dark green, sparkling like emeralds. She was a beauty. I wasn't aware the room had grown silent until I wiped her ears and heard my own gasp. They were slightly rounded at the tip… almost… blunt.





I realized I had stopped breathing as I read, so engrossed in the story. I reached up absentmindedly and stroked the top of my ears.





I looked up then, at the elders who surrounded me. Their faces were astonished. “She is… human,” they said in foreboding, tandem voices.

I took a steadying breath and spat out in a harsh voice, “No.” They stared at me, incredulous. I spoke deliberately, “She is elf. I name her… Elfreda.”





My heart… had stopped. And then it surged as blood rushed to my face, my neck… my ears rang. I must have been speaking… cursing… something. I could hear the sound but could not make sense of it. Nothing made sense. I was standing before I knew I was surrounded. Fury and fire were swimming in my head, my chest, my hands.

I heard them through the buzz, “Frey, what’s wrong... what is it... Frey… Frey.” And then, clearer, “Elfreda!” My jaws tightened, my teeth ground together.

Comprehension crossed Chevelle’s face as he saw the book on the ground between us. He reached for it.

“Touch that book and you die,” I hissed.

He stopped and stared me straight in the eyes. I was fighting for control, struggling to find my thoughts, force myself to think.

And then I saw it. He flicked a glance at Ruby and I knew. They knew. And it was all true.

Suddenly, I couldn’t catch my breath.

“Please, Freya, stay calm,” Ruby pleaded. They were all circling me, their arms outstretched as if to catch me… or cage me.

Black spots were floating in my vision. My head screamed. The sound of metal bands snapping echoed through a scraping, screeching, horrible noise inside my head. I reached up and pressed the base of my palms against my temples. I didn’t know I was going down until my knees hit the hard rock. I held myself there, refusing to give in.

I heard them arguing frantically. “Knock her out… do something… she’s going to crack.”

Yes, crack. That was a good word for it. I felt as if I were breaking in half. No, being torn. I sensed someone close to me, Ruby no doubt. She would drug me again. I didn’t want that. I slid from the pain, reaching out. I found nothing but the horses, but I would take it. I left my body completely.

My entry was so furious it startled the horse. I held him there but when he raised his head from grazing, he was facing them. They were standing, kneeling, surrounding my limp body. I watched them, the horror on their faces, for an immeasurable moment. It was too much. It was all too much.

I took a mental sigh and then melted back into my mind. It was quiet there and I wondered if I had cracked. But then it occurred to me that maybe I had been the cause of it. I was resigned now, the fury gone, and so was the screeching, the pain. They had said the binding was dangerous…

There was a collective gasp as they realized I was back. I heard someone beside me and a flash of anger swept through me, lighting a flame at whoever it was. Okay, maybe the fury wasn’t completely gone. I suddenly remembered the pages I had burnt in the briar patch, so long ago. Burnt before I’d read them. My eyes flashed open. I sat up, ignoring my spinning head, but the book was already gone. I glared at Chevelle. It must have been dreadful, he nodded and backed away, his mouth tight.

“Oh, Frey.” Ruby’s voice was low and soothing.

I grimaced as I turned to her. “Go ahead.” I closed my eyes as her jaw shifted.





Chapter Sixteen


Lessons





The dreams I had then were the most dreadful, garish, repelling I’d ever had. I jolted awake and shuddered for several minutes at the images I could not beat down.

Ruby was there, waiting for me.

“Where are the others?” I asked, hoarse.

“They’ve set up a perimeter.”