Of Twisted Thorns

IndexPROLOGUEChapter 1: VILLAGE OF MALHAINChapter 2: TO THRON Chapter 3: A PROPOSALChapter 4: MISSINGChapter 5: A NEW ANSWERChapter 6: AN ENGAGEMENT Chapter 7: A DARK SECRET Chapter 8: RUNAWAY BRIDE Chapter 9: THE HOWLING STORMChapter 10: THROUGH THORN AND FOGChapter 11: WHAT LURKS IN SHADOWS Chapter 12: DINNER FOR TWOChapter 13: CASIMIR Chapter 14: NEW FREEDOMS Chapter 15: PORTRAIT OF A MAN Chapter 16: A CURSE Chapter 17: A SPARK OF HOPEChapter 18: THE LESSONSChapter 19: THE SEARCH CONTINUESChapter 20: A GRAVE AND A GOODBYEChapter 21: A PROMISEChapter 22: THE CHASEChapter 23: A PERFECT FAÇADE Chapter 24: ESCAPE Chapter 25: TO SAVE A WOLFChapter 26: REUNITED Chapter 27: BLOSSOMS OF SPRING Chapter 28: SHALL WE DANCEChapter 29: WHEN IT RAINS Chapter 30: GOOD VS EVIL Chapter 31: BROKEN Chapter 32: THE END In Loving MemoryOfCarole Ellison OFTWISTEDTHORNSBy:C E Young PrologueMany centuries ago, humans and the Fae lived in a world full of magic and wonder. But peace would not last forever. The humans became greedy and jealous of the Faes’ powers and blessings. To avoid bloodshed the Fae split the realms.The human realm was stripped of magic, the Fae being the only source. This new realm was untouchable, forever hidden from humankind. Peace settled for a time. However, humankind would eventually battle their own people over greed and the need for power. Their lands were separated with tight borders.As the years passed those who knew of the magic that once existed and the magical creatures that wielded it, eventually passed from this world. As their bloodlines continued those stories of truth, were no more than mere folk tales. No magic existing to show them otherwise.Little did the humans know Fae walked among them in disguise. Monitoring their movements and ensuring the secrecy of their realm was intact. They were forbidden to interact with humans. Such actions could destroy their concealment. But no one would ever question seeing a mischievous fox or even a silent wolf skulking about. Unfortunately, such rules can be difficult to follow… even for those who set them. 1VILLAGE OF MALHAINOur story begins in the village of Malhain – well, my story to be more exact. My name is Briar, and this is my tale of love and loss, magic and curses, betrayal, and healing. But as all stories must, I will start at the beginning.My father and I lived in this small village alone. My mother died during childbirth, leaving my father to raise me on his own. He gave me everything he could, though he was just a simple cobbler. This village had served as our home and community since I was born. It was a simple place full of simple people. Most days were quiet… too quiet sometimes.As the years passed, I grew into quite the independent woman. My favorite thing in the world was books, for they took me to places I could never reach and lives I could never live. Of course, I was very thankful for everything my father did for me, and I loved him dearly. There were days that I wished for something more, though.Instead of going on adventures in real life I would also take adventures in my writing. Imagine places I would love to see, people I would love to meet, tastes and smells… With little coin to spare, I got creative creating my own ink from leftover oils in my father’s workshop and the ashes and coals from old fires. Our chicken feathers made for excellent makeshift quills, despite their miniscule size. I learned to write as small as possible to save on paper as well. Somedays I had to resort to memorizing whatever I could of my writings, until we could afford more parchment.My 20th birthday had already come and gone. Another year with no adventures… Sadly, another year of watching my father age. Though, he did give me a wonderful gift of a small bundle of paper to write on. Guilt had plagued me for it, but he was so proud of the gift that it quickly faded. I felt a pang in my chest seeing my father slowing down as he hammered nails into an old shoe he was repairing. I saw a slip and had to stop him from hammering his hand instead of the nail.“Blast it…,” He muttered under his breath as he adjusted his glasses. He pulled his hand away to try another swing.“Father…, you need to take it easy, or you’ll hurt yourself.”He was a prideful old man, and it had nearly hurt him on more than one occasion. His eyesight wasn’t what it used to be, and neither were his once steady hands. He shook his head in a huff, his short wily grey hair rustling with the movement.“I’m not senile… I can still do my job, Briar,” He barked and continued with his work – a little more cautiously this time.I sighed there was no arguing with him. Especially when it was our only real source of income. I was able to help out the villagers every now and then with small tasks, but it wasn’t enough to replace his cobbling. There was little work for a woman in this village, and the men loved to remind me of that.I had even tried acquiring a teaching position within the local schoolhouse, but I was laughed out the door. It was not a rare thing for women to be teachers, but this village was very male oriented…“A woman… teaching the village boys… HA! HAHAHA!” The headmaster’s mocking laughter still played in my mind on occasion.I pushed those wretched ha’s out of my head. I thought often of the cities bordering Malhain and what opportunities they could hold for me outside of this small-minded village. I had heard stories from my father. He lived in the city of Thron in his youth. It was where he met and fell in love with my mother. He started out as an apprentice shoemaker, and part time shoe shiner. She saw him