Page 55 of Wings of Starlight

Only a beat of silence lingered before Elvina set down her teacup. “I have good news to share.”

Clarion perked up. Now, that was a welcome announcement; good news seemed in short supply these days. “What is it?”

“My plan is nearly ready to put into action.”

Clarion had made the grave error of taking another sip of tea just after speaking. She nearly choked on it now. “It is?”

“It took some trial and error,” Elvina continued. “The magic woven between our realms is strong, of course. But magical bonds can be severed like any other—with the right tool and technique.”

Clarion’s blood ran cold. “And what is that?”

“No simple tool could sever it—and my magic alone is too weak.”

Elvina rose from her seat and drifted to her desk. Clarion had not noticed it before, but an elegant metal object rested on a cushion there. It was only when Elvina picked it up that she realized what it was: the bladeless hilt of a sword. The cross guard was intricately wrought, fashioned into the shape of interwoven branches putting out leaves, because of course Petra would make even a weapon a work of art. Affixed to its heart was a sunstone, its glass-like surface swimming with orange light. If she looked closely, she could see a flame blazing bright within it. Clarion had encountered only one other gem like this: the moonstone used to transmute moonlight into blue pixie dust.

“But on the summer solstice, a day of great significance for governing-talents, our power will be at its height. Petra has built this to channel our magic.” The gem shone with the golden light of Elvina’s magic—and a blade of pure starlight flickered to life. “If you wield this blade on the solstice, you will be powerful enough to cut through the bridges. After that, nothing and no one will be able to cross between Winter and the warm seasons.”

Petra had done it. Of course she had.

Normally, Clarion might have been proud of her friend’s brilliance and her uncanny ability to solve seemingly unsolvable problems. Besides, this was what she had always wanted: for her inventions to be of value. And yet, Clarion could feel only horror at what Petra had wrought.

But then, it struck her what exactly Elvina had said.

“WhenIwield it?”

Beneath the harsh brilliance of the blade, Elvina’s face was blanched a severe white. “It has to be you. It will be an auspicious start to your reign and instill confidence in your subjects. They will see that you have guaranteed Pixie Hollow’s safety from the Nightmares forever.”

Notallof Pixie Hollow,Clarion thought.

She could not manage a reply. She could hardly fathom such a terrible thing: a blade powerful enough to rend open the very fabric of Pixie Hollow. No matter the dangers the warm seasons faced, this could not be right. Once, she might have yielded. She might have even agreed. But after everything she and Milori had been through—after how close they’d come—she could not hold her tongue in the face of such a misguided plan. “This can’t be the only way.”

The starlight blade faded until Elvina was left holding the empty hilt once more. Without the light glittering in her eyes, Elvina’s expression grew unreadable, almost cold. “You’re displeased.”

Clarion stood up so quickly, her chair scraped against the floorboards. If Elvina was shocked by the sudden outburst, she did not let it show on her face. “Of course I am! I can’t understand how you’re satisfied with this course of action. You have taught me how to rule. You know very well that we work to ensure each season arrives to the Mainland when it should. This goes against the natural order of things.”

If she had learned anything these past few weeks, it was that each season was essential. Milori had not shared with her Winter’s wisdom the way the other ministers had, but he hadn’t needed to. She’d seen it for herself firsthand. Winter taught endurance—how to hold on to hope, even in the longest, darkest nights.

Elvina regarded her impassively. “Perhaps you were right, when you confronted me before. I have not taught you everything you need to know.”

Her unruffled calm made the heat of Clarion’s anger fizzle. Guardedly, she asked, “No?”

“I have told you before that Winter is self-sufficient. It is for the best that they remain that way.” Elvina placed the sword’s hilt on her desk and folded her hands. “There is a story passed down among queens. It is time I shared it with you.”

Slowly, Clarion settled back into her chair. As furious as she was, she could not deny her own curiosity. Elvina’s stiff shoulders relaxed now that she’d wrested back control of the conversation.

“Once, as hard as it may be to believe, the warm seasons and the Winter Woods lived in harmony.” The cadence of Elvina’s voice changed, as it always did when she shared a story of Pixie Hollow’s history. “Of course, it was a very long time ago—a time no one alive remembers. Understanding the danger the Nightmares posed, the first Queen of Pixie Hollow arranged for them to be imprisoned deep within the Winter Woods. She also entrusted the Warden of the Winter Woods with the responsibility of guarding that prison. For a time, everything was peaceful. But eventually, he grew resentful of his duty. He gathered his scouts and organized a rebellion against the queen.”

“What?” Clarion cut in. “But why would he do such a thing?”

Sensing that she now had Clarion’s full attention, Elvina smiled wryly. “The full details of their conflict have been lost to time, unfortunately. Perhaps he grew bored, or perhaps he believed he should rule over all of Pixie Hollow. The Queens of Pixie Hollow have a great many responsibilities and much power. Perhaps he was dissatisfied with his lot, having no jurisdiction over anything but his barren realm.”

None of those explanations satisfied Clarion. Their realms could not have been driven apart over something as petty as ambition or boredom. She couldn’t believe that—not after she had visited Winter herself. Not after she had fallen in love with it.Barrenwas the very last worst she’d use to describe it. It was beautiful and vibrant—a season that anyone would have been proud to rule.

“However,” Elvina continued, “I have a theory of my own. I believe that Nightmares have an influence over winter fairies.”

She paused, letting that ominous statement hang over them like a blade waiting to fall. It slid beneath Clarion’s skin like winter’s chill, filling her with a terrible, prickling unease. “An influence?”

“You have seen how insidious Nightmares are—how they can sink their claws into a fairy’s mind. Who’s to say they cannot do it while you’re still awake?” Elvina smoothed her hands over her skirts. “Besides, I cannot imagine what effect it must have, living beside so many for so long. If the prison has weakened enough to release them into the world, surely their power has leaked out as well.”