Chapter 3

Samdy woke up from a dream where he had a vision of his parents. Why did they leave me with Grandmother? Was it because I look different or because I can’t perform any kind of magic?

He stared for a moment at the blue walls trimmed with purple and stumbled out of bed. Samdy ambled over to his closet and pulled out a purple suit with silver stars on it. I can’t believe Pegland wanted to make this out of sissy silk. She doesn’t get that I’m a big boy who wears flannel.

He walked out of his room and strolled to his grandmother’s. He ambled down the hallway gazing at the pictures of the faerie lands. I love these paintings of the land of the dogs and the land of the cats. I would really like to have a dog one day. Grandmother say I have to wait until I’m a faerieager.

When he arrived at the Queen’s room, he knocked on the door.

“Come in,” she said.

Samdy opened the door and crept in. The room was pink trimmed in blue with portraits on the walls of all her children. I wonder why Mabon and Cydia betrayed her. Mabon’s the ruler of the Unseelie Court, but I wonder what happened to Cydia. Grandmother rarely gets to see any of her other children because they rule their own courts.

His grandmother sat at her silver vanity table. She brushed her long blond hair with silver streaks in it with a pewter brush. After brushing her hair, she placed a green crown with multi-colored flowers upon her head. She wore a long pink dress made of silk.

“Good morning, Grandmother.” Samdy walked over to her.

“Good morning to you too. Would you like to join me for breakfast?” She hugged him.

“Could I go see Marta and Tyler?”

“Yes. Summon Sol and La to take you to the saloon.”

“I know what to do. I’m a big faerie.”

“I know Samdy, almost eleven years have passed by so quickly and before I know it another nine will go by, and you’ll be a grown faerie. Have a good time, and I’ll see you later.” She kissed him on the forehead.

“Goodbye, Grandmother.” He hugged her.

Samdy walked out of the room. He strolled down the hall where more pictures of his relatives hung. Here’s my favorite picture, the one of my Grandfather, King Farian, who died in the Great Faerie War. I don’t know much about that war except all of the head faeries died too.

When Samdy walked outside, he shouted, “Sol and La, Sol and La, Sol and La!”

Sol and La appeared in front of him.

“I want to go to the saloon. Grandmother said I could go.”

“Would you like to ride on me?” asked Sol.

“Sure, and let’s go very fast!”

Samdy climbed on Sol. They galloped away with him. During a ride on the unicorns, he often envisioned meeting his parents. I’ve always loved my grandmother, but I want to know who my parents are.

When they reached the saloon, Samdy jumped off Sol.

“So long,” the unicorns said in unison. After that, they trotted off.

In the saloon, he found Tyler and Marta sitting at a blue and pink table sipping on tangerine ambrosias.

“Good morning, sweetie.” Marta hugged him.

“Hey, pal.” Tyler shook his hand.

“Would you like a glass of milk and a slice of watermelon bread?” Markim walked over to Samdy.

“I would love some. Thanks,” said Samdy.

Markim ambled to the kitchen and brought back a glass of milk and a slice of bread that was pink and green.

“Thanks, Markim.”

“Anytime.” Markim strolled back into the kitchen.

“I have to go to bed. The sun has come up, and I don’t want to burn.” Marta gave Tyler a quick kiss on the lips and Samdy one on the cheek.

“Why would you burn?” asked Tyler.

“Nocturnal faeries are allergic to the sun.”

Marta walked over to the staircase and ascended up the stairs.

“Do you know why I look more like a human than a faerie?” Sandy asked.

“Sorry, can’t answer that one for ya.”

“What kind of gun is that?” Samdy pointed at Tyler’s holster.

“It’s a .45 revolver.”

“Do you go after bad beings with it like Marshall Hock?”

“No, I just use it for protection.”

“Can I hold your gun?”

“No, you’re too young. They’re very dangerous in the wrong hands. By the way, I haven’t met your parents. Where do they live?”

“I don’t know who they are. I’ve daydreamed about them a lot. I’ve always been with my grandmother.”

“Chin up. At least you have someone. Most of my family died in a fire five years before I was born. My ma died right after my brother and I were born, and my pa disappeared when I was eighteen. My brother, Dylan, went plum wild, robbin’ and killin’ folks. Been alone for a long time now.”

Samdy glanced toward the front door at Sol and La.

“Hi Sol and La.” Samdy waved to them.

“Come join us.” Tyler motioned for them to step inside.

“We would like to, but Queen Morganna wants us to take you and Samdy back to the palace,” said Sol.

“She also said we’ll have a picnic by the ocean later,” said La.

“Great, I love picnics!” shouted Samdy.

“Sounds good to me,” said Tyler.

They walked out of the saloon. Tyler climbed on La while Samdy got up on Sol. They galloped back to the castle.