Lore of the Wilds (Lore of the Wilds #1)

by Analeigh Sbrana

Lore Alemeyu collected stories like the raven that lived above the apothecary hoarded shiny pebbles.

These versions claimed that their ancestors had angered a powerful god, Brokyr. In retaliation, and to humble the humans, he had pulled them through a void, taken them from their rightful world, and banished them to a land of suffering.

“There are many legends, but they all have one thing in common: the sky. That’s why we look through the skyglass on our eighth nameday. It’s why our church has no roof. The answers lie there, I’m sure of it,”

She was no longer a child. There was no leaving Duskmere. For hundreds of years, they’d been confined to the town because the Alytherian fae would never let them leave.

“There is honor in caring for those who cannot care for themselves,

the sentries’ weapons were coated in a substance that slowed the healing process, to make sure that, where the sentries cut, it would scar.

From the moment they could toddle, human children were taught to hide when the dark fae ventured down from their mountain keep and stepped through the tree line that surrounded Duskmere.

The only fae who came around were the sentries and the taxers.

his father and uncle—along with her own—had died in the uprising all those years ago.

The fear—the panic—was false. A spell. Some disgusting magic, no doubt placed here centuries ago by the Alytherians to stop the humans from leaving.

They could never know that she was aware of the spell. If they knew she had that knowledge, she would never be allowed to return home.

We want you to clean up the library, but your main focus will be organizing the tomes and artifacts within, meticulously logging and categorizing each and every book, scroll, and pamphlet you find. At the end of every week, you will provide me with a list, and I will let you know if I wish you to bring any of them to me.

“You aren’t to read any of the texts,

you aren’t to discuss the books you find in there with anyone but me or Lord Syrelle.”

you will use the servants’ passageways at all times. You are to remain in your quarters when you aren’t eating, bathing, or in the library. That means no attending festivals or exploring the grounds.

The Alytherians didn’t like it when humans even acknowledged their alluring abilities, let alone learn about them. It was their best-kept secret.

When you find any books of interest, do not remove them from the library yourself. We have tasked two younglings to your detail. They can notify me, and I will meet you at the doors to retrieve them.”

The guard was tall and slim, his skin a gorgeous reddish-brown that looked a shade darker than Lore’s own. A thin scar bisected his eyebrow; she followed the line of it, past a lovely, wide nose, and a very full, even more lovely, bottom lip.

I, Lore Alemeyu, vow to always keep my gaze to the heavens. I will search and search so that I might be the one to lead my people home to Shahassa, where we belong.

It was through Ziara, their sacred skyglass, that the elders communed with the gods and goddesses. The sky was where they sought answers to their most important questions: the truth of their lineage, their stolen history.

“I don’t see any ladies here. Just a little mouse with a shockingly filthy mouth.”

“My favorite stories are the ones I can escape into. The ones where I can leave behind this bleak existence and be somebody else, even if just for a little while. Someone braver than me. Someone with the power to change their circumstances.”

Asher Gylthrae.

the smell of him: blackberries and cedarwood,

Wild sage and roses. It called to her.

There were hundreds of clans, but none so revered as the winged class. Dark fae born with wings were rare and usually associated with the royal line.

The light fae, who lived south of Alytheria, lived longer than the dark fae, had pointier ears, and didn’t have clans or animalistic features.

the light fae inhabited Rywandall, in the southern part of the continent. The dark fae and light fae could produce offspring, but it was rare, and the mixed younglings were usually ostracized.

those with wings had always ruled Alytheria and a family of flyers wouldn’t want to have a child who couldn’t fly with them—likely

“Yes, I did.” Finndryl’s voice was quiet as he spoke. “And I’ll kill you for touching her.”

The dark fae had come in and taken everything from her. It was one thing to hurt her—but to hurt those she loved? She wouldn’t stand for it.

Lore allowed herself one more moment to cry—allowed herself one more deep wave of grief to rack her body with sobs.