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Even after the rebirth of the Witch, the return of the Great Phoenix, the day of the Green Wedding, many stories have been told of the Moorfolk and the Dark Fae of the caves across the sea. True magic often comes with an abundance of adventure for anyone who partakes in it.
Many of these stories are of heroism and redemption, the power of love and all it can accomplish.
This is not one of those stories.
This is a story about geese.
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Conall, recently resurrected and still a little sore about it, saw them first and true to his nature, he invited them into their lives. He would later regret this.
"I welcome you to the Cave of Origins of our people, the sanctuary for all Fae kind."
The improbably gorgeous woman at the head of the small group inclined her head but made no other move to show her gratitude. Something about it made Conall's skin crawl. When she spoke, her voice was pitchy and loud.
"As it should be."
She shouldered past him to settle herself and her people at the bonfire, directing them to collect an abundance of the various items of food and drink that were on offer for all to share.
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The problem, you see, was that Branta and her people were very good at exactly the kind of thing Borra prized. Fighting, drinking, boasting, and sex. Watching them surround his friend with cheer and possession gave Conall a strange, stinging sense of loss. So much so that he turned away before he could see the concerned look Borra sent his way.
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Branta was territorial. She had come with a handful of her people but somehow, everywhere Conall looked, she or one of the others was there taking up space. They were bullies, taking whatever they wanted without so much as a thank you.
Conall would have to do something about it.
The council listened to his cautionary words, but there was a strange energy to the meeting, like the conclusion had already been drawn. Borra supported him, as he so often did, but the final result was that the Fae would never willingly turn away their own kind.
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Branta had an army and no such scruples.
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In the middle of the night, Borra shook him awake and for a moment, Conall did not know where he was. Dreams had a tendency to bleed into reality at the break of dawn and many of them had Borra in it. Conall often told himself that this was a normal thing for two good friends to experience.
"Get up," Borra whispered. "They're coming for you."
Conall froze for a terrible moment as reality crashed into him like a cold wave. He burst into action, following Borra as he led him through tunnels and nooks to the edge of the water. Borra stopped and turned back to him.
"We have to go. They want subjects but they can't abide someone like you, someone who would always question their power."
Conall could see the fear in Borra's eyes, something he hadn't witnessed since that moment just before Borra turned away from his dying friend to fight an unwinnable war. That fear was for him and only him. It was a blessing and a burden at once.
"Lead the way," he said, and took flight alongside Borra, toward the Moors and the only ally that could bring down an army.
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Maleficent had been asked to assume the de facto leadership over all of the Dark Fae when she was revealed to be the true heir of the phoenix. She had turned it down. At the time it had felt a little like a rejection of their ways, their people, but now that Conall had come face to face with Fae who took power as if it was their due, he understood the hesitation.
"We have a goose problem," Borra said and Maleficent cocked her head. She always had that little half-smile these days, like she couldn't believe how funny the universe turned out to be. It suited her.
Conall sighed. "They are brash and loud and they have decided that I'm in their way. Borra thinks they want to kill me and anyone who would turn the consensus toward their removal from the caves."
Borra huffed, cracking his knuckles. "They can try." His wings rippled with nervous energy despite his bravado. Conall could read the anxiety in every line of his body. In a different world, maybe Conall could be brave enough to follow eyes with fingertips, but today his problems were more dire.
"I don't want to start a war," he said. "They do belong in the caves. They just have to learn that this is true for all Fae, including those that disagree with them."
Maleficent bared her teeth. "How very human of them. Perhaps we are not so different after all."
She rose from her seat in the library of the human cottage she shared with the three fairy godmothers and the Raven. It was a compromise to let her take part in the lives of Aurora and her children. She walked over to a bookshelf and scanned the tomes for long seconds until she found what she was looking for.
"Ah, here it is." She dropped a well-read bestiary on the table. It opened to an entry about geese. "It looks like what you need is a very large fox."
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Borra had very little obvious magic of his own. That didn't mean he was somehow less than other Fae, his magic just augmented what was already there. He was fast and strong, could fly faster and further than most.
So he was the obvious candidate for transformation. Conall seemed to be the only one with any misgivings.
Borra smiled at him, a hand on Conall's shoulder. "I trust you."
With that, what else could he do but call his magic and summon his protector.
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Borra made short work of the geese. He was careful enough not to give them lasting wounds but they left a few feathers on their wake. He bounced around like an excited puppy and all Conall could see were his beautiful eyes.
Conall withdrew the magic and Borra bounced toward him, launching himself at Conall in the wildest hug he'd ever received.
"I knew you could do it," Conall whispered into the wild tangle of hair.
Borra pushed back and looked for something in Conall's eyes. A slow smile spread on his wicked lips.
"For you, I can do anything."