Keo Bonus Story: Games Past the Walls (female Keo)

“Not all of them are angry today. That’s good.” Keo lowers her hand from a spellcasting-ready position. I stare over at the giant ironwood tree a few hundred meters from us and feel a sense of relief that my instinct was right in bringing us here.

“It feels... calmer here than where we came from,” I frown, wondering why that description doesn’t seem complete. “But also more excited? Can you see their auras from here? Help me make sense of what I’m feeling.”

“You are sensing all as it is,” Keo replies. “At this distance I can see only a blend of the collective auras of the fae who live in that tree. They are not looking for a fight, and they are busy with the new life this season brings.”

“So calmer and more excited.” I nod. “Do you think they’ll let us get close enough to grab the herb the infirmary sent us out here for?” Tiane’s going to be pretty disappointed if not.

“Yes. But they are excited, as you said. Defend yourself if they attack, but I think it more likely that they will simply make mischief.”

I can handle that. I roll my shoulders and lead us forward. We pass through a landscape lush with wildflowers and rough patches of brush, moving closer quietly until I see a short bush of pink flowers with whorled leaves. Their insides glow with little blue lights.

“Asenavae,” I say, naming the plant and pointing at it. “I found it first—you owe me dinner.”

“Well marked,” she replies. We stoop to harvest what we need, but as we finish Keo stops, signaling me to be alert.

“We’re about to have visitors,” she informs me. “Not hostile.”

A second later I see a crowd of fast-flying fae barreling towards us from the tree. “What the—” I start, then gasp as we’re swarmed by star-white birds with four wings, glowing sprites, and a half-dozen other types of fae. They zip down fast as lightning and snatch the flowers from our hands, holding them aloft as they circle back and forth above our heads.

“Don’t worry,” Keo calls to me over the cacophony of laughter from the creatures. “We’re in no danger.”

I raise a brow, amused as I watch them moving just out of reach. One floats down temptingly, and darts back up the moment I reach out my hand. “So we're playing keep-away, huh?” I smile. “Alright, game on.”

One by one we retrieve our prize. Keo lures them down and I snatch, and the fae seem delighted at our trickery. The birds chitter enthusiastically and the sprites’ glows pulse faster each time we succeed. When the last one drops its flower I catch it, and hold it up to Keo in triumph. The smile she's watching me with is so warm it stops me in my tracks. As the fae speed away to their next adventure she steps closer to me, and unprompted, meets my lips in a brief kiss. “Thank you for playing with them,” she says, resting her forehead on mine.

“I’m always up for a game,” I reply happily. “That was a fun one.”

“It means much to me that you see them as more than enemies. So many do not.”

“They’re half of you.” I put my hand on her chest, just over her heart. “I can't hate them when that’s true. Who knows, maybe someday we’ll make peace. We could invite your mom and all your fae friends to dinner.” I grin as I say it, knowing full well how foolish a notion it is. But Keo doesn’t laugh. She pulls me closer and kisses me again, long and deeply. Her arms hold me tight, and I sink into the feeling of the embrace without a care for the fact that we’re in the wilds.

“I take it I said something right,” I say when we part, still catching my breath.

“I will never grow used to your kindness,” she murmurs, more to herself than to me as she turns and heads back in the direction of the city. “Come, we’ve accomplished our mission. Home is waiting.”

I toss a flower up into the air before I follow, and smile as one of the white birds swoops down to catch it.