ALDER Read online

  The Caster chucked the ball in Forrest’s direction, but Luke shot a gust of wind at it, and the ball flew high over Forrest’s head, landing in Jastin’s outstretched arms.

  “Aw, come on!” the Caster named Zane groaned in exasperation, blowing his russet hair out of his face. Jastin was already past the goal line and slamming the acorn ball into the ground. “Damn you elves and your Powers.”

  “Aw, be a good sport, Zane,” a female Caster named Wyx said with a twinkling laugh. Her ebony skin glistened with sweat from the fast-paced game. Zane cast an annoyed glance at her. “It’s just a game,” she trilled at him.

  “And you’re just annoying,” Zane muttered.

  “Now, children, let’s all just get along,” another warlock named Leon said. He had jet-black hair, purple eyes, and glitter everywhere. Let’s just say that warlocks were a lot more open to exploring their sexuality than elves were. Next to Leon, Kyndel and Ember’s relationship wouldn’t make anyone bat an eye.

  “Leon, hush your face,” Zane joked, punching him in the shoulder.

  “Oh, you better watch yourself, boy. This is brand new purple dragon leather, and it cost me a whole boulder.”

  “I thought warlocks exchanged small stones as currency,” Autumn said.

  “We do,” Leon conceded. “I was joking. Except, not really though because if I put all of the stones I paid for this together it would probably make a small boulder.”

  “Leon is a fancy Caster,” Wyx said with a wink. “If he’s going to die, he wants to look good doing it.”

  “Damn straight,” Leon said, flashing a set of sparkling white teeth at her.

  Autumn chuckled at their exchange. Watching the warlocks and elves interact like this gave her hope for the future of the Underground. It also made her realize that, underneath the Warrior and Caster uniforms, they were all just a bunch of young adults who wanted to have fun and enjoy life. Unfortunately, some of their peers hadn't had that luxury. Thanks to the Vaun siblings.

  Eden sat amongst a group of Tetras, staring blankly at the ground. During the Battle of City Circle a few months ago, she’d lost Lucian, the love of her life. Warriors knew their lives were in danger every day, but it didn’t make the blow of death any less painful. Yet, even in the face of pain, there was still love—Autumn and Avery, Luke and Crystal, Charlotte and Jastin, Willow and Forrest, and Kyndel and Ember. Though the latter pair still genuinely bothered Autumn. Ember was more controlling over Kyndel than ever before. For instance, they were noticeably missing tonight because the last time the Warriors and Casters had met up, Kyndel was hit on by one of the Caster girls named Mara.

  Mara sat a few feet from Autumn now, watching the game with an amused look on her face. The elders didn’t believe in the Underground races mixing for fear of creating another Ellock like Victor, but in Kyndel and Mara’s case, that wouldn’t exactly be a problem.

  The Casters were a group similar to the Warriors, only they didn’t have partners. They either worked as a group or alone. This was also due in part to the fact that there was an uneven number of them because warlocks believed seven was the most powerful magical number.

  Luke and Jastin high-fived after winning the game and came to sit beside their respective girlfriends. Actually, Charlotte and Jastin were engaged now. Jastin had offered Charlotte a diamond rose the day before the Battle of City Circle. Luke had only worked up the courage to finally offer Crystal a red binding rose a few days ago. After months of basically dating.

  About damn time, Autumn thought.

  Luke plopped down beside Crystal, kissing her on the cheek and putting an arm around her. Crystal was still apparently not used to these kinds of exchanges between her and Luke because every time he did something like this she blushed profusely. Edric Ogden, Crystal’s sort of ex, was clearly over her as he’d taken Luke’s place as “head ladies man.” He was back to wooing any female that walked—including warlocks—and making out with them when he wasn’t busy training.

  “It’s weird that we don’t have school anymore, isn’t it?” Charlotte said. “I keep thinking I’ve slept through my alarm every morning.”

  “I know,” Crystal agreed. “It feels like we’re actual adults now.”

  Autumn tugged at a dandelion, twirling it between her thumb and forefinger. “We’ve been adults since the Warrior Trial.”

  The others nodded somberly.

  “So, uh…while we’re taking a break between games,” Luke began. “We should probably go over some of the information Autumn and I received from the vampire and troll leaders about Shadow attacks.”

  A resounding groan ran through the group.

  “Really, Oaken?” Forrest sighed. “Can’t we just have one afternoon of non-Warrior, non-war, non-Shadow, non-Victor, non-serious talk?”

  “Yeah, elf king,” the Caster, Zane, agreed. “Let’s just chill out for a few hours.”

  “Oh, you want to chill out?” Luke said with false brightness. “Okay, let’s chill out.” The others raised their eyebrows in surprise at this, but Autumn knew what was coming next. “Meanwhile,” Luke continued, “the Shadows are multiplying like flies on dragon manure. The vampires have lost another five of their best fighters, and the trolls have lost another ten.”

  Autumn jumped in. “And the Shadows will continue to multiply like this as long as Victor is alive because they were made from his blood. They’re connected to him.”

  The others’ temporarily cheerful faces had turned dark and downcast, as if they realized they really were adults now. No more “chilling out.” Not as long as Victor was alive, that was.

  “Okay, but how are we supposed to even begin to approach Victor?” the Warlock girl named Wyx said. “I mean, Alder Island is completely packed full of Shadows. Some of the merpeople told me the Shadows were actually lining the perimeter of the island so no one has a chance of getting through.”

  “We can just fly over them on pegasus,” Forrest said with shrugged shoulders and upturned hands that indicated this should be obvious.

  Luke snorted humorlessly. “And get shot down by Atrums with flaming arrows.”

  “We just need to arrange as much man—well, magical creature power—as possible,” Avery said.

  “But not everyone is on board with that,” Jastin said. “The centaurs still loathe the warlocks and elves, the giants aren’t fans of ours either, and leprechauns laugh in our faces any time we approach them about storming the island.”

  Crystal ducked under Luke’s arm to look at Jastin. “I thought Autumn’s speech changed their minds, though.”

  Jastin shook his head. “It did change some of their minds, but others just listened to the part about their families and loved ones dying and have almost completely stepped out of the war against Victor. They don’t want to lose anyone else.”

  “Well, they’re going to if we don’t do something soon,” Charlotte said. “Don’t they realize that?”

  “Clearly not,” Luke said pulling Crystal in closer to him and frowning into her silvery blonde hair.

  “It’s okay,” Autumn interjected. “There’s still time to bring them around. Let’s just be thankful we have—” Her words were abruptly cut off as a vast and raucous group of elves streamed out of the forest lining Arbor Lake. They were unlike any elves Autumn had ever seen. The women and men alike all had long, wild hair, wore flowing shirts baring their midriffs, no shoes, and many of them appeared to be inebriated.

  The Warriors’ and Casters’ heads swiveled around to look at the commotion and Autumn heard Crystal say, “Oh, no.”

  “What?” Autumn asked, unable to take her eyes off of the group of elves.

  Charlotte and Crystal exchanged wary glances before they both said, “Gypsies.”

  3

  Gypsies

  “Oi!” one of the gypsies called out when they caught sight of the Warriors and Casters. “The royals are here!”

  “Perfect!” another said. “Just who we wanted to see.”
/>   One of the gypsy women came dancing over and Autumn had to force herself to close her mouth. The woman’s clothing left almost nothing to the imagination.

  “Hello, Queenie and Kingie,” she said cheerfully, curtsying in an exaggerated way. Autumn was concerned her chest might tumble out of her shirt. “I’m River, your new neighbor.”

  “Neighbor?” Autumn said with a quirked eyebrow, side-eying the group of Warriors. Most of the guys were ogling the gypsy woman with wide eyes and dropped jaws. Some of the girls too.

  The gypsy woman must have been privy to her effects and brushed her hair back dramatically, colorful beads tied to the strands clinking like raindrops as she did. “Yep. We’re moving in. To Arbor Lake, that is. You see, we gypsies have been through an awful lot the past year what with all of these Shadows roaming about, and we needed somewhere safe to stay.”

  “Uh…” was all Luke managed to say. Autumn was just as speechless.

  “After all, your laws do state that ‘Any elf of the Underground may find refuge in the kingdom of Arbor Falls.’ We know, we’ve read them,” River said proudly.

  “Well, um, we do need extra people who are willing to guard the border,” Autumn admitted slowly, looking at Luke, whose eyes were clearly trying very hard to look into River’s face rather than—well, several inches below her face.

  “Oh, no,” River said, shaking her head vehemently. “Gypsies don’t fight. We are a peaceful people.”

  “Bet you’d fight if a Shadow was charging at you,” Charlotte muttered loud enough for River to hear.

  The gypsy woman shook her head at her. “Not even then.”

  The Warriors and Casters looked incredulous.

  “You may stay for the evening while my brother and I review the kingdom laws and we will—um—we’ll get back to you,” Autumn said uncertainly.

  “Perfect,” River purred, winking at a few of the guys in the group who responded with thunderstruck looks, before sauntering away, her hips swinging from left to right in an exaggerated way.

  “Well, then,” Luke said, clearing his throat and looking over at Autumn. “Guess we better go read that ginormous book of laws in Olympus’s old study.”

  On the way back to the castle, Crystal and Avery filled Autumn and Luke in on the not so clean history of the gypsies. Apparently, they were some of the most sexually promiscuous creatures in all of the Underground.

  “At least twenty bindings are broken in each city they crash,” Crystal said gravely. “I’m pretty sure they all have Powers that have to do with love, sexuality, and infatuation. And they aren’t afraid to use them on bound elves either. In fact, I think they prefer it.”

  “My father actually stayed with a gypsy tribe in his youth,” Avery said with a slightly amused smile. “He had some interesting stories.”

  “The biggest problem is the fights they cause,” Crystal added. “Obviously, the women and men who’ve been betrayed by their significant others aren’t happy about it and they generally attack the gypsies as a result.”

  “Nothing like passion and jealousy to create an angry mob,” Autumn grumbled. “This is so not what we need right now. Surely the laws don’t make it okay for them to stay at Arbor Lake without contributing to the community in any way.”

  “On the contrary,” Luke chuckled, “it seems like they’re contributing lots to the community.”

  Autumn and Crystal both shot him fiery glares.

  Once they’d made it to the castle, Avery went up to check on his mom, and Crystal left to speak with hers as well. Autumn and Luke traveled together into Olympus’s old study, a place they hadn’t entered since his death. The door creaked open at Luke’s touch and the twins tentatively stepped inside. The fay lights flickered on at their entrance, illuminating the old den. Autumn felt like there should be cobwebs everywhere or something, but in reality, it had only been a handful of months since Olympus’s passing.

  They had decidedly been the longest few months of Autumn’s life. Going from immature teenager to Queen of the Elves was quite a leap. Of course, in the depths of her mind, she was still immature. In comparison to others her age, though, she was light-years ahead of them.

  Maturity comes with two things: age and experience. Sometimes one comes sooner than the other. And that’s what happened with the Oaken twins. Their experiences had forced them into maturity, however hard they’d tried to fight against it.

  “Okay, the laws are split into three books,” Luke groaned as he plopped two of the heavy books on top of Olympus’s old desk. “You start with that one and I’ll look through this one.”

  Autumn looked down at the dusty book of laws with distaste. She usually enjoyed reading, but this wasn’t exactly what she searched the shelves of the library for.

  “Remember that kid from the Warrior Test that could read books just by putting his hand on them?” Autumn said as she wrenched open the cover of the enormous book.

  “Yeah,” Luke said, scanning the pages with narrowed eyes. “He was the first one to go in our group every time and he was absolutely terrible.”

  “He may be a terrible Warrior, but we could kind of use him right now. Maybe we could hire him to be the Castle Reader. Like, any time we need to know if something is a law, we can just call on him and he can tell us.”

  “We should probably know what all of the laws are if we’re going to be King and Queen, don’t you think.”

  “Half of them are ancient and don’t even apply to the present day!” she exclaimed as she turned yet another page. “Like here,” she pointed to one of the passages. “Female elves and male elves must not attend the same school classes to avoid unnecessary distractions. I mean, seriously! No one even acknowledges that anymore.”

  “Yeah, I see what you mean,” Luke chuckled. “Here it says female elves should keep the tips of their ears covered at all times. That’s hilarious.”

  “Maybe we should rewrite the laws,” Autumn suggested. “Or at least edit them.”

  “How ‘bout we worry about that after we aren’t being attacked by Shadows on a daily basis?” Luke said. “Aha! Here it is. Oh, damn.”

  “What?”

  “The gypsies were right. They can stay. ‘Any elf may take refuge in Arbor Falls in the event of an Underground war, attack, or emergency.’ Well. I guess we should put up a sign outside of Arbor Lake to keep people from going there until they leave.”

  Autumn groaned, shutting her book. “I mean, it sounds like a fair law when you read it like that, but these gypsies could cause more panic amongst the kingdom than the Shadows!”

  Luke shrugged. “We’ll just have to put out a kingdom-wide alert about them. ‘Gypsies in town. Lock up your men.’ Ha!”

  Autumn rolled her eyes. “Women can be put into a trance as well, you know.”

  Luke’s expression changed from amusement to concern, his mind clearly going to Crystal, imagining all the ways the gypsies could steal her away. “Let’s put KEEP OUT signs all around the lake, then. Just to be safe.”

  4

  Girl Fight

  KYNDEL put the acorn message she’d been listening to back into the Message Tree and turned to Ember, who was lying on her bed dressed in only her bra and underwear.

  “That was a kingdom message from Autumn and Luke,” Kyndel said. “Apparently, there are gypsies in town.”

  Ember’s eyes lit, and she sat straight up. “Really?”

  Kyndel nodded, looking from Ember to the door. Her dad was supposed to be home any minute, and if he caught Ember lying in her bed in her underwear, he’d disown her on the spot. Or we wouldn't think anything of it because his little girl could never be something so disgusting and unnatural.

  “You want to go check it out?” Kyndel asked, hoping Ember would agree so she would put her clothes back on. Just to be safe.

  “Hell yes,” Ember said, jumping up. “Gypsies are the reason my parents broke their bond.”

  “Really? You never told me that.”

  Ember sh
rugged. “Well, I’m telling you now. Change into some pants.”

  “What? Why?”

  “Because you’re wearing a skirt and I don’t want those damn gypsy boys hitting on you,” Ember said as she pulled on her own pants.

  “Would it even matter if they did?” Kyndel said, though she stepped out of her skirt and slipped into a pair of pants anyway.

  “It matters to me,” Ember said darkly. Kyndel hated when her voice got like that.

  They traveled to Arbor Lake, side by side, but knew better than to touch. The Warriors were the only others who knew about them, and that’s how Kyndel wanted to keep it. She glanced over at Ember’s cold face, a contradiction to her fiery Power. Sometimes she wondered, as she had with Cera, if the only reason she stayed with Ember was because she was the only one “like her.”

  Kyndel and Ember approached Arbor Lake to see that a sign had already been erected, warning the residents of the kingdom that gypsies were staying at Arbor Lake.

  “Wow,” Kyndel said. “So this is, like, a serious thing then.”

  Ember flashed a pair of grim amber eyes at Kyndel. “Of course it is. They can make elves fall in love with them with just a look. Sometimes—well, actually most of the time—they convince them to do physical things with them and stuff. And you know how elves feel about that.”

  Yes, Kyndel did know. All too well.

  Ember walked straight past the sign down the path to Arbor Lake.

  “Ember, wait!” Kyndel called, jogging after her. “Maybe we shouldn’t—”

  “Oh, stop being such a petalsie. Come on.”

  Kyndel glowered but followed Ember past the KEEP OUT signs and down the hill that led to Arbor Lake. The gypsies were unlike any elf Kyndel had ever seen. They let their hair grow long and wild, apparently neglecting to brush or wash it for quite some time. Most of the men’s faces were covered in unkempt beards. The gypsy women wore rags of clothing with barely enough fabric to cover everything that needed covering. Some of them were dancing, some were sleeping in the grass, some swimming in the water of the lake, others were even smoking an unknown substance. Kyndel wasn’t sure she wanted to know what it was.