Servant of Earth (The Shards of Magic, #1)

by Sarah Hawley

The king giggled unsettlingly. “You’re always interested in games, Prince Drustan.” Drustan bowed. “The fire loves to play.”

“Kenna Heron.”

I braided her hair carefully, grateful for the gesture of trust. “So we are both ill-suited for our positions.” When she didn’t respond, even to snap at me, I smiled at her in the mirror. “That’s why they’ll never expect it when we succeed.” After a few moments, Lara smiled hesitantly back.

“What are the virtues?” I asked past the flare of anger at the thought of the solstice ritual. “Courage, discipline, cunning, strength, hedonism, and magic.” I wrinkled my nose. “Hedonism doesn’t sound like a virtue.” “To the Fae it is.” His eyes flickered like embers. “Don’t tell me humans have forgotten how much we revel in trickery and pleasure.” How exactly did they plan to test hedonism, and did I have to watch? “Our village Elder chose to omit the part about pleasure.” “The human world sounds dull.”

They stayed neutral to protect this secret, but also because its use taught them the value of neutrality. During a war every side believes itself to be correct. Someone must stand apart and view Fae history with impartiality, or history will only remember one side of any conflict.”

Well, I preferred plain speaking anyway. “Me, specifically?” I asked just as softly, hoping my blush didn’t show in the low light. “Or someone placed advantageously in Earth House?” His eyes flared slightly, then trailed over me. “When you ask questions like that, the answer is definitely you, specifically.”

“I’m not sure I understand what you mean by that, my prince.” He leaned in, breath ghosting over my cheek. “Call me Drustan. And I think you do understand, Kenna.” He pulled back just enough for our eyes to meet. I fell into those gray irises, molten silver in the torchlight. “Bold but clever is a rare combination.” My heart wasn’t working properly. Neither were my knees, which wavered. I clenched my fists in my skirt as if that would keep me standing upright. “I wish faeries would just say what they mean instead of talking around it.” Drustan let out a surprised-sounding laugh, then straightened. “Not as much as I wish humans listened to the meaning between words.” He dug his teeth into his plush lower lip as he studied me. “Have a good evening, Kenna.”

He laughed. “I can do two things at once, you know.” He leaned in, pressing his mouth against my ear. “I’d love to show you sometime.”

Dreams were nothing but illusion.

Life can be so painful. During the worst moments, all you can do is focus on one second at a time. You focus on staying alive. You make it your only goal, and you forget everything before or after.” The choices, not the dreams. The fight, whether hope existed or not. “It’s hard, but that’s the only way I’ve ever been able to get through.”

But…I’m not free.” Lara withdrew her hand, looking hurt. “None of us are free.” “I know. Which is probably why none of us are happy.”

“Like holding lightning,” he breathed against my lips before setting in again.

“I mean, I was just wondering—why would you do that with a human?” His laugh was low and tempting. “We aren’t all Osric.” His eyes trailed over me. “And you looked delicious.” The door closed behind him, leaving me trembling and alone.

I had only two goals now. Making sure Lara survived the trials…and helping Drustan rebel against the king.

“It’s for you.” I looked up, puzzled. “I don’t understand.” Lara smiled, radiant as the moon. “It’s the first item in your new collection.”

Who was your last owner? I asked. The rightful ruler of Mistei, of course. I blinked, confused. Osric? No. The dagger’s hatred for Osric pulsed in my blood. My mistress would have been queen if she’d won the war. Instead she died a princess, and now I am all that remains. My breath caught. This wasn’t just a mystical dagger. It had been one of the most important weapons in a war fought centuries ago. Caedo had belonged to Princess Cordelia of Blood House, leader of the rebellion, who had refused to bow to a tyrant and had died with her people instead.

And now I, Kenna the human servant, no one special from an unremarkable town, a cheater who had just killed one of the Noble Fae, wielded it.

When I woke the next morning, a red feather had been pushed beneath the door that separated my room from Lara’s. I ran my fingers along its silky surface, wondering why Lara had put it there. Then I turned it over and smiled. The number two had been shakily written on it in eyeliner. The second object for my collection.

“I like it when you’re cold,” he whispered. “But I like it better when you burn.”

“Hello,” he said. I blinked at him as he joined me at the rail and rested his elbows against it, more casual than I’d ever seen him. “Hello,” I hesitantly replied. “Are you here for information? I don’t have any.” He shook his head. “Not tonight.” “Then why are you here?” He should have been dancing below, as he had earlier. He’d moved like quicksilver across the floor, light-footed and elegant. “I find balls dull.” “That’s no reason to spend time with a servant, much less a human.” He made a humming noise. “ ‘Much less’ isn’t any kind of term for you, Kenna.”

Caedo quivered against my arm, radiating pure joy. What’s happening? I asked the dagger. You passed. What do you mean? You have power now. My fingers throbbed with energy. I felt full to bursting with that strange fire. What power? You are Blood House reborn.

That was my hand that slew King Osric. The tyrant was dead because of me.

Love meant different things to us.

That was what love was. Not just romantic love, but any type of love. It was caring so much for another person that you would do anything to see them happy and whole.

“The boy was an idealist,” Drustan said. “As am I.” “I don’t see idealism,” Hector sneered. “I see opportunism.”

“This may sound strange,” I said, “but do you want to—” “Yes,” she interrupted. “Whatever it is, yes.” I laughed through the sob that caught in my throat. “You don’t even know what I’m going to ask you.” “It doesn’t matter. You’re my friend.”