“I have deliveries to make. By the time I return, I’m sure it will be easier for you to wander in through the village.” He smiled like he already knew Devin would never stay long.
“Thank you,” Devin replied.
The old man stared at Devin and then nodded. “It will take much, but know that no one likes change, especially those in charge. No one person is meant to stand still in time. Change is supposed to happen. Traditions can kill a race if they let them, and the sidhe are steeped in tradition. Most don’t even know why or when the rules they follow began. Don’t let that deter you. Be the man you’re meant to be. The rest will just have to deal with it. That’s the burden that comes with power.” The old man hobbled back to the door. “Feel free to stay as long as you’d like.”
Devin didn’t respond as the old man shuffled out the door and to his waiting cart. He wanted to ask what the man meant, but Old Man Winters’ horse was well now, and there was really no excuse Devin could make to go help the man. And he was right, Devin needed to think, needed to decide what to do next.
This wasn’t what he planned, and even if his plans kept changing he definitely never wanted to be in the situation where the girl he loved was begin sought after by other men again. He had done that before and lost. He didn’t want to repeat it.
Devin took a drink of the tea in front of him. He could taste a handful of different herbs in it, but the honey did well to blend everything together to keep Devin from analyzing it too much. He looked around the meagerly furnished house. There was a hearth with a fire that seemed to be well stocked. Also, a small set of kitchen cupboards that were mostly empty. The tiny bed was only inches off the ground, and a well-worn blanket was neatly made across the bed. There was one thing on the walls, a picture of an older woman Devin had never seen. There had been a Mrs. Winters at some point. Beyond the picture, there were no more decorations. The old man had very little to himself. Were all the common sidhe like this? Devin had to wonder about the village. The elite had rooms upon rooms packed full of stuff, but this old man, who supplied the milk to the villagers, had close to nothing.
Devin stood and walked around the small space. It was too closed in to think. He needed to be outside, even with the slight nighttime chill still in the air. Finding a second door in the house he opened it. It led outside to the back of the house. Devin stepped through into the overgrown pasture. It must not have been used recently as the grass was waist high. He walked through the meadow to a spot by the side of the house that allowed him to see when the old man returned. He didn’t want to leave without thanking him.
Devin sat down in the grass, and it covered him while he could still watch the house. People didn’t come past the house as it was the last one before the lane ended, but Devin could still see the commotion of people up the road. The old man was right that it was slowing down. The day would be the best time for Devin to wander more in thought. He would have to stop and find a place to rest eventually, but his mind was too busy for sleep at that moment. He needed to plan. Devin didn’t like to do anything in life without a plan, and a backup or two.
Devin glanced up beyond the trees where the sun was beginning to rise. The lighter streaks in the sky told him the day was coming, and the village would be quiet again.
He felt the tingles as Nessa walked down the street before he could see her. Devin had blocked his mind from her since he found her saying yes to being courted by someone else. He could still feel her through the bond, but he was sure the only thing she felt was his location.
Nessa walked up to the door of the Winters’ house. She paused and raised a fist to knock on the door. Quickly, she lowered her hand and stepped two steps back. Devin wanted to eavesdrop into her mind but decided against it. Nessa paced a few steps, and then returned to the door. This time she knocked. Devin didn’t reply as he wasn’t in the house, and he didn’t really want to hear her excuse.
Nessa placed her hands on her hips and blew her curls out of her face in frustration. She knew he was there and not replying. Devin found himself longing to touch the stray hair that wouldn’t stay in place.
Nessa reached up and knocked again. Still no response. Her anxiety turned to anger as she stared at the door like she could see inside it.
“Devin Alexander, I know you’re in there,” she complained, hands on her hips, tapping her feet. Devin still didn’t reply. It was childish, but he didn’t care. He didn’t want to deal with her at that moment, and part of him wanted to make her angry.
Nessa backed away from the door like she was contemplating trying to look in the window next to it. She paused before deciding not to, and instead stood in the street staring at the house. Devin was sure that she felt him through the bond, but he still didn’t reply.
“Fine,” she muttered, turning on her heels to walk away. She paused as Ronan and Turner approached.
“Find him?” Ronan asked.
“Oh yeah, I found him,” she replied before turning back to glare at the house.
“And he won’t talk to you,” Turner interpreted correctly.
“Nope,” she added. This time her anger simmered a bit, and Devin could feel the hint of sadness in her voice. He had planned to stand up and greet Ronan and Turner to make Nessa even angrier that he had watched her try to talk to him, but he decided not to. He didn’t need the bond to see that under her anger was sadness.
“Give him some time,” Turner added. He patted her shoulder as he passed her and continued on to the old man’s house. Nessa nodded, and with only one last look, she turned and walked back the way she came.
Turner strolled up to the door and tried to turn the handle. He wasn’t one for formalities like knocking. Suddenly, he pulled his hand back, acting as if it zapped him with electricity. Ronan stood beside Turner, laughing away at his reaction.
“Sidhe homes are made to warn the owner if someone is trying to enter that they haven’t given permission to. Unless you knock, and they let you in, it can be a bit painful to enter,” Ronan explained.
“So we just sit here and knock like Nessa?” Turner asked. Devin saw the doubt crowd his face.
“Yes,” Ronan replied, raising his fist to knock.
“Or you could just join me in the grass,” Devin suggested loudly from his spot on the ground. Turner’s head snapped to him, and Devin’s best friend easily jumped the natural fence of intertwined growing bushes to join Devin. Ronan was a bit more cautious and looked for the gate to go through instead.
“Still pouting?” Turner asked as he sat beside Devin. He stretched out amongst the tall blades of grass, finding the perfect spot that the rising sun was hitting as the day light began.
Ronan joined them and sat beside Devin, staying as best he could to the shade. All night humans had some sensitivity to the sun, but shifters like Turner didn’t seem to care too much about the possibility of a sunburn. He seemed to enjoy the sun while most night humans cowered away from it. Devin always thought maybe Turner was more cat than wolf.
“You really aren’t coming back to the palace?” Ronan inquired, unsure how to judge Devin. They had met only days ago, even if it seemed like Devin had been part of the sidhe for much longer.
“Nessa needs her space,” Devin replied. At least that was the excuse Devin wanted to believe.
“Or you need yours,” Turner suggested, opening one eye and then closing it again.
“I don’t need space,” Devin replied. He didn’t. That much was true. “I know what I want. She doesn’t.”
Ronan shook his head. “I told you; this is all tradition. Nessa didn’t have any other choice but to say yes to him. If she had not, it would have been a slight to his whole family. She would have been going back on her own father’s word.”
“It may be tradition, but she could have said no. Some traditions need to be broken,” Devin remarked. Ronan didn’t look as shocked as Devin expected him to be. Instead, he seemed to contemplate the words.
“I think you and my father mu
st secretly be the same person. He’s always complaining about the traditions around here.” Ronan added, “But that might just be because he wants me to feel welcome and not inhibited around him. I’m not traditional, so you don’t have to talk to me about breaking old customs. But I do understand Nessa. She didn’t want to start out as queen by angering one of her most supportive families.”
“The sidhe need change and that won’t happen if people keep following tradition. Nessa needs to make a choice, and I’m not going to stand in her way,” Devin stated. He was sulking now. He felt it through the bond and was a bit surer that Nessa wasn’t changing how she felt about him.
Standing up, Turner shook his head.
“We better head back to the palace,” Turner told Ronan, who was scooting ever so slightly to stay hidden from the direct sun rays. Devin had noticed that the sidhe was subtly uncomfortable.
“And what about you?” Ronan asked, standing and moving to a more shaded spot. “You can always stay at my place. It’s not as big as Nessa’s, but I still have space for another person in it.”
“I’ll find somewhere out here to sleep,” Devin replied. “I’m not really interested in going back to the palace yet.” Devin felt resigned. He would return to Nessa, and he knew it. As much as he wanted to give her space to make her own decisions, they were bonded. He couldn’t deny that much.
“All the homes here have people in them,” Ronan replied. Devin hadn’t thought about sleeping in a home. The sunlight was warm enough; he could curl up where he was now to get some rest. “What will you do? Sleep with the outcasts?”
Devin stood up and looked at Ronan. That was actually a good idea. He had just moved the would be assassins Mara and Colin to Turner’s village, so their house would be completely free. He wouldn’t be imposing on anyone.
“I think that’s exactly what I’ll do,” Devin replied. Ronan, no matter how liberal, had to hide his disgust at the idea. Turner laughed at the sidhe’s response. Devin would have been laughing, too, if he weren’t still upset with Nessa.
“Have fun, man,” Turner replied, patting Ronan on the back as he seemed still in shocked at the idea that Devin would move out of the palace and to the outcast village. “Just realize this isn’t the same.”
“What?” Ronan asked, finally returning to the conversation after his momentary shock at Devin suggesting that he was going to the outcast camp.
“Stay with Ronan for now. I can’t protect you from the sidhe as I should be able to do,” Devin admitted. He brought his friend into the village, but there was nothing he could do about it now. “Once I figure out what I’m doing, I’ll let you know.” Turner nodded to Devin and followed Ronan. He didn’t seem to mind much. Turner was using his visit as an extended vacation to get out of duties back home.
“Nessa isn’t Arianna,” Turner added, not explaining for Ronan, but speaking for Devin’s benefit. “Arianna wasn’t yours to lose because you never really won her. Nessa is yours. You won her over before you even came back here. If you let her go, this will be your fault, and you’ll regret it.”
Devin stood and watched Turner walk away with Ronan. He wanted to give Turner some witty reply, but his friend was right. Devin hated when Turner was actually being smart about something. He preferred his friend to be the laid back one, not the smart one doling out wisdom. Unfortunately, Turner was right. Nessa wasn’t Arianna, and what Devin felt was different.
Nessa was the real deal and his other half. He wanted Nessa, but he wanted her to want him, too. She didn’t feel for the newest suitor what she felt for him, but he needed her to be sure. He didn’t want her to regret anything later in life, and the only way to achieve that was to let her now make her own choice. She may have allowed the suitor to court her for tradition, but it was a choice. For now all Devin could do was wait. If she was meant to be with him, then it would happen. He didn’t want to regret letting Nessa go, but there was nothing he could do until she made up her mind. The best he could do now was focus on the common sidhe and make their lives better.
The old man returned to the pasture with his horse and cart as Devin made his way to the gate.
“Time to leave already?” Winters asked.
Devin nodded.
“So you made up your mind on what you’re going to do?”
Devin nodded again.
“Good,” he added as he unhooked his horse from the cart and ushered her through the gate. “You do know there’s nothing wrong in fighting for someone.”
Devin paused at the old man’s comment.
“It may be chivalrous to let the lady make her own choices, but it doesn’t hurt to let her know that you’re the choice she should make,” he added, as if he could read Devin’s mind.
Devin just nodded. He wanted to make Nessa choose him, but he wasn’t sure how to go about doing that without interfering in letting her making her own choice. He needed some time alone to think and make a plan. Nessa was his to win, and he was pretty sure that she needed to know that, too.
Devin made his way back through the village to the outcast camp at the edge of the city limits. It was nice that the sun had risen, and the sidhe had retreated indoors for the day. He didn’t pass a single soul on his walk, and he was more than thankful for that. Their bowing and the fear in their eyes stung a bit after not being anything to them just the day before. He wasn’t quite sure how to help the common sidhe now that they had turned to being afraid of him, but he was determined to do so. Once he got a few hours’ sleep he would be able to think more clearly about what to do.
Devin walked into the outcast camp and found they had not retreated for the day. Most of them still milled about getting their chores done, yet no one really paid much attention to him. At least there was one place he didn’t change. The house he was going to no longer had inhabitants because he had taken them to a new town earlier that day when they were banished from the sidhe village for trying to assassinate several people. Walking over to the abandoned house of Mara and Collin, Devin paused to survey it. It was in decent shape and would do as a place to rest for the day. It wasn’t like anything in the outcast camp was nice by any means, as large cracks protruded into practically every home there, but it was still better than sleeping outside. He did have to wonder how they made it through the winter, but that would be a question for another time. For now he just needed to rest and come up with a plan.
“The palace not fit for your comfort?” someone asked from beside Devin, eyeing over Mara and Colin’s place.
Devin turned to the voice and noticed that while most of the outcast sidhe were finishing up their night and heading indoors after their chores, a man stood beside him doing nothing. Devin guessed that he was old and maybe didn’t have chores to do, but it was difficult to be sure. The outcasts all appeared much older than they really were. Even if Devin thought the man seemed to be at least in his fifties or sixties, it probably wasn’t so.
“It’s a little too crowded and getting worse there,” Devin replied.
The man nodded before thrusting out his hand. “Keaton,” he introduced himself. “Colin was like a little brother to me. I was sad to see him leave, but I guess I shouldn’t be.”
Devin wanted to reply, but he had to keep it all under wraps. He needed the sidhe to believe he had punished Colin and Mara by sending them away, but that wasn’t even close to the truth. The sidhe were afraid of the outside world and thought banishment was worse than death. He knew that just their being away less than a day meant that Colin and Mara already had a better life than they had for years in the outcast camp. In Triclan City they would have a house that didn’t let in the rain, food to eat without having to live on the vegetables Mara grew, and jobs that didn’t include being the lowest form of life like they were in the sidhe village. They would be happy in Turner’s hometown. All night humans were happy there.
“What do you guys do for winter?” Devin asked, changing the subject since he couldn’t tell the truth to the man.
/> “Winter?” Keaton replied. He shrugged. “Shiver through it like we’re meant to.” The older man made a fake shiver with a sad face before breaking back into a grin.
“Meant to?”
“We’re all here for a reason. This isn’t supposed to be luxury. We’re meant to suffer while we live out our pathetic lives,” Keaton added, but Devin didn’t get the feeling that Keaton thought it was just like he made it sound.
“And your reason?” Devin replied, finding the friendly sidhe interesting.
“Not praising and worshiping the past king, Rhys, well enough for his satisfaction. That guy was a jerk, and everyone knew it. No one wanted to be near him, let alone work for him. Not like I had a choice. From what they told me before forcing me here, I wasn’t nice enough to him. I guess I just wasn’t smart enough to fake it.”
“You’re really here because you didn’t like him?” he asked. Devin had met Rhys personally only a few months ago. He knew firsthand how much Rhys wasn’t likable, and it didn’t strike Devin as odd that someone wouldn’t like him. It did seem strange, though, that they would be cast away because of it.
“Well, he might have overheard me telling a few people what a jerk he was,” Keaton added with a shrug and a sly grin.
“You worked in the palace?” Devin asked. The only outcasts Devin had met worked part time in the palace. The new sidhe seemed a bit different, but Devin couldn’t put his finger on why.
“Worked?” Keaton asked in reply and laughed. “I suppose you could call it that. Well, no, I guess you couldn’t. I never worked a day in my life until I ended up here.”
“You’re nobility?” Devin replied in shock. He really hadn’t thought that any of the nobility ended up with the outcasts. Everyone he had met thus far was more concerned with their status than anything else. None would ever dare do to an offense to end up here.