She knew what she was losing the moment she spoke a word. Honestly she’d hoped to die sometime during the process; save whatever pride she had left and be able to ask Vriuh all her questions. But she woke up devoid of wings and every part of her screaming of the thing that was missing.
The room itself was small but rather extravagant, separated from the rest only by a curtain. She could still see the beach through the window and heard the humans shouting things in their own language. She didn’t try doing anything but lay there, daring to wonder who they might have been to take care of her. Stories of humans never made them seem friendly, after all.
It seemed she wasn’t the only one inside, though, when a human carefully parted the curtain with bandages, medicine, and tea on a tray. She said something strange before then asking, “Is this any better?”
“You speak my language?”
“More of read, but it can go both ways. Any good historian will make themselves familiar with the Old Tongue.” She smiled, although it was only an attempt at comfort. “I’m Diana, descendant of Viscount Avery of southwestern Mikkel territory.”
“Lustris, descendant of the Fae Court’s Madam Megia…”
“Go on and get some more rest. The others are a tiring bunch to be around and it’ll be worse for someone who went through what you did.”
…
It took weeks before she felt well enough to get out of bed; recovering from loss of magic was never made out to sound pleasant. Between resting she talked with Diana, who she eventually shared her story with. It wasn’t until they prepared to leave (this had, apparently, been a part of their vacation) that they talked about something more than simply backgrounds. Diana began teaching Lustris the human’s language, since she’d need the skill no matter where she went afterwards.
For a while the only thing she could manage was fragments. But she learned that “stop” and “be nice” was enough for the little Lydia (at least in the beginning); Lewis hardly required any words of warning at all; when Elena came, she used it to get away with singing Qizarn lullabies; if she was ever stuck on anything, “help” was the only thing she needed for Diana to check on her.
By four years, though, she learned enough that they started making her actually leave the familiarity of the Stone Estate. If there were gaps in her knowledge before, there were none now. In that time she also decided to stay with them—she grew fond of them, even if the kids were annoying and it often fell on her to watch them.
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“Lydia, for the love of the gods, get down!” Lustris called from the bottom of the tree.
The eight-year-old defiantly stuck her tongue out. “Make me!”
“Lydia Envi Stone.”
“Full names don’t scare me!”
So, perhaps it shouldn’t be that all the children were annoying. Just Lydia. Neither of her siblings had half the rebellious attitude that she did and she was always trying to see how far she could go without being punished. The only part of it that improved with age was that she was able to leave more often and hardly ever required Lustris’s assistance.
“Then I’m going to get Andrew,” Lustris decided and turned around. “I’ll let him decide what to do with you.”
“Okay, okay! I’m coming down…” Threatening her father’s involvement was the only thing that worked, only because Lydia was so interested in his travels she didn’t risk not being able to join him on them. As she walked past, though, she added, “You’re no fun.”
“You can thank me when you’re older.”
…
“Why did you bring me with you?” Lustris asked as she looked around. This was a place of nobles, both ones from Seothia and Fleyw Bresh (well, Qizar, as they called themselves, though it felt off to her). She never would have belonged in a place like this in her home, let alone here when everything else meant nothing and she was only a servant of the Stones.
“It’s better than leaving you all by yourself,” Andrew remarked, “and you might find some people to talk to. Socializing a little won’t kill you.”
Diana took to pointing out something else. She gestured to several people. “Be mindful of who you’re around. King Casper, Queen Minne, and Prince Imre are over there. Lydia will probably end up with them along with the Red Rose and the prince’s guard. Just avoid Lord Raisul, you’d find his personality… unfortunately familiar. Queen Odelle and King Nigel are with Lord Kadol. Prince Dimas and Princess Zofie are closer to the lake with the princess’s guard.”
“That’s a human?” Lustris stared at the princess. Even from afar there was a powerful presence of magic; a kind of magic stronger than most fairies she had met.
“Don’t say that aloud,” Diana sighed.
Andrew didn’t seem to mind, though. “Here I thought someone from Idkor would be used to sensing strong magic. You don’t have to wander over there if you don’t want to. This is only meant to expand your horizons a little.”
Eventually they both left her. She continued to stand there until Lydia took it upon herself to change it. They ended up going to her friends, who more or less continued their fooling around together while Lustris and the prince’s guard—Lydia introduced her as Kiah—watched.
“What led you into the presence of Seothian royalty?” Lustris asked after a little while. “You’re a goblin of Fleyw Bresh, I’d assume, if you have human blood. Did they realize you did nothing wrong?”
“Is that what happened to you?” There wasn’t really sympathy but it wasn’t lacking any emotion either.
“My mother was accused of an act she did not commit; something forced on her. Standing up for the rights guaranteed to us by the Commandments was thanked by the loss of my magic and the removal of my wings. Then I was taken in by the Stones and found myself staying with them. You?”
“Merc. Got a job and ended up serving the king. It helps my parents back in Hyasari.” The last thing Kiah said to her before leaving was, “As one person screwed by traditions to the other, I know it’s late, but welcome to Seothia. You’re damn lucky you look human.”