REALM'S END (BOOK OF FEY 1) Read Online Free Page A

bird flapped its wings and lifted its unnaturally rotund body briefly off the stone wall, before settling back down, its raspy voice cawing out through it all. “No don’t argue with me,” Meredith said, shaking her finger at the bird.  “Remember we agreed the sister that took on this task would make the decisions as she saw fit, without everyone else trying to override those choices.”
       The second crow large by any crow standards, yet clearly the thinner of the two, puffed up its iridescent blue black feathers. As the bird’s feathers settled, a middle aged woman sat resting on the low wall, where only seconds before the crow had been. She made a striking figure, wrapped as she was, from head to toe in a cape as black as the blackest night. “Yes we did agree sister, but one can’t help but notice, this child riles you beyond all reason. Perhaps it’s your heart attachment to the man?”
        Meredith faced her sister. “Of course this child riles me Hectain,” she said, striking the wall with her open hand, “and as for that distasteful jab, you of all people know, I do not ever make heart attachments. Even if I did how would that translate to being riled up over the girl,” she asked? Meredith lifted her heavy black skirt up, as she sat down upon the low wall.  “The problem is Gwenth has no inkling about her heritage, no real idea who or what she is. On top of that, she believes all of the human superstitions regarding magic!  That’s what riles me so,” Meredith said. “The child is fast asleep. I can’t even begin to fathom how to wake her, especially in this time of witch hunts. How will she hear me over the clamor of the Scottish church?”
         Hectain turned first from one sister to the other. “Why don’t you shift Reval? Contrary to what father’s said all these years, it doesn’t feel at all bad. It actually feels kind of nice.”
         Reval shook herself all over and as she settled her feathers, a short very stout middle-aged woman sat naked on the wall in the place the rotund crow had just occupied. “Oh my it’s so cold sisters! How do these humans stand it?” Reval sat shivering and trying to huddle against the wind.
         Meredith and Hectain exchanged a glance. Hectain let out her breath slowly, “Dear, if you would choose clothes I think you would find that they are almost as warm as our natural feathers.”
         Reval giggled, “Oh yes, of course you are right dear sister,” Reval shook herself once again from head to toe and her stout figure was clothed in a heavy cape over a pale shirtfront and her legs were covered in a black woolen skirt. Low heeled boots of soft leather encased her feet. “Oh you were so right, thank you sister.”  Reval let her fingers pick at the cloth as she settled into the sensations of her human body. Turning towards Meredith, Reval wagged her finger at the youngest sister, “Hectain is right, you know, in at least one thing. You have made a heart connection with the man. No, let’s not start with subterfuge,” she said, shaking her head so that hard her dark mane of hair came loose from where it was tied back about her shoulders. “If you are so foolish as to be lying to yourself, it’s better now if that stops. I know you both often think I’m silly,” Reval mused, as she reinstated order over her wild hair, “And I suppose in our world I have played at that too often, for my own good, but I will not pretend for your benefit now. You must admit what is so clear to us, sister. You must admit to the emotional alliance, it may yet help our cause in the long run, though even I can’t quite see how.” Reval’s voice trailed off as her focus honed in on a beetle, crawling within reach of the shape shifter.
         Meredith’s shoulders slumped, her raven-colored bangs fell over her left eye and a sigh escaped her open mouth. “Alright then,” she said dejectedly. “It’s true, sisters, as horrible as it