Trinket, Page 2

  Instead of deterring the Pixies, the sight of her sword seemed to inflame them. Two of them tangled painfully in her hair, four kept whizzing around her, and the last one tried to creep into the gap above her gauntlet.

  She shook the creature off, then swiped at the others with her blade. It was like trying to swat flies with an open umbrella. The glowing Pixies zipped away faster than her eye could follow, then moved right back in to pester her. Even her shield was too cumbersome, and provided no barrier to the aggravating motes of light.

  Violet glanced up the pathway. Hob’s cottage wasn’t too far—just over the hill and around the corner. Worth making a run for, since using her sword against the tiny glowing faeries was useless.

  “Look over there!” she called, pointing across the clover-strewn meadow.

  It actually worked. The Pixies stopped dive-bombing her, and two of them headed away to investigate. Violet turned and pelted along the path.

  High, angry screeches followed her. It didn’t take long for her tiny tormentors to catch up, but she bent low and kept going, her sword bouncing at her side. She crested the hill, trying not to pant. At least her armor felt like regular clothing rather than weighty pieces of metal.

  The Pixies started going for her face, whizzing past and pinching her cheeks, tweaking her nose. She put her arm up to shield herself, but she couldn’t run without seeing where she was going.

  One Pixie hovered by her ear, humming like a musical mosquito.

  “Ow!” Sharp pain tore through her earlobe.

  Violet clapped her hand to her ear, gritted her teeth, and kept going. Maybe she should have made a magic-using character after all, because the skills of a Knight sure weren’t designed to combat Pixies. A big magical fireball, now that would work. Fry the creatures out of the air. She didn’t care how cute they were—they had gone past the point of forgiveness.

  Ahead, Hob’s cottage came into view; the white plaster shining in the sun, the multi-paned windows sparkling. The goblin still sat on the doorstep, his black eyes unreadable. He rose, lifted a long-fingered hand, and spoke in a guttural language. The Pixies squeaked and fled toward the pale-trunked forest, seven lights shimmering into the deeper shadows of the woods until they were gone.

  Violet rubbed her throbbing ear, glad to see the last of them. She trudged the remaining few yards and stopped in front of Hob.

  “Greetings, Vie the Brave,” the goblin said in his creaky-hinged voice. “Have you accomplished the task I set you?”

  “I have.”

  Violet toggled open her inventory and handed Hob the four-leaf clover. He inspected the plant, turning it side-to-side, then looked up and smiled at her; a hideous expression on his ugly face.

  “Your quest is complete, adventurer. You have won access to the second level of Feyland. I shall transport you there.” He lifted his hands, his fingers inscribing glowing runes in the air.

  “Wait,” she said. “Can’t you tell me about—”

  A thick golden haze surrounded her, blocking out Hob and his cottage, the woods, even the sun-bedazzled sky. So much for her questions about the game. She wasn’t sure she liked Feyland’s learn-as-you-go approach.

  The light flared, then faded away to reveal a deep, piney forest. The air was rich with the scent of cedar and sap. Sunlight sifted through the branches, scattering dappled coins of light on the forest floor. She stood in the center of another ring of white-speckled red mushrooms—apparently the portal to the next level of the game.

  She wanted to jump out of the faerie ring and follow the mossy path edged with purple flowers, but the smart part of her knew she’d better log off. Jay would be home soon, insisting on his turn. He’d rudely kick her off the sim equipment whether she was at a good stopping point or not. She’d lost way too much progress on various games to take the chance.

  The beckoning path, and the next adventure, would have to wait.

  With a silent sigh, Violet slid her fingers together in the command to exit game. Instead of simply returning her to the starting screen, a dizzying vortex of light whirled around her. If that was the game designers’ idea of a cool trick, she’d prefer to pass.

  Finally, her vision cleared to show the depressingly ordinary walls of the computer room. She sat forward and stripped off the gaming gloves, then lifted the helmet and set it on its stand. Her right arm stung, and she glanced down to see an angry red scratch marring her skin. Weird. Somehow the glove must have scraped her. She inspected it, pulling it on and off, but couldn’t detect anything sharp. Maybe a wire had accidentally poked her, then gotten re-seated.

  Her ear hurt too, and she rubbed it. Wait—where was her earring? Had the helmet yanked it out while she was playing? That would explain the sharp pain when the Pixies had been tormenting her.

  Violet picked up the helmet and shook it, then turned it over and inspected the lining. She slid the visor up and down, felt the lining by the speakers. Nothing.

  She couldn’t have lost one of her earrings—they were her favorite pair!

  Disappointment clogging her throat, she knelt on the carpet and searched all around the FullD system. No luck.

  The front door slammed open, and she heard Jay calling goodbye to his friends. Violet rose. She must have lost her earring earlier, maybe when she slung her backpack off. It would turn up.

  Or maybe she’d lost it in-game.

  The fanciful notion made her shake her head. Silly. No matter how immersive it seemed, Feyland was only a simulation.

  ***

  Seven Pixies flitted through the branches of the pale-trunked trees. They spoke in high-pitched chiming, a language of mirth and mischief. Something sparkled in the air, tossed back and forth between the glowing faeries; something long and silver, hooked at one end. Something precious.

  A trinket, stolen from the human world.

  Thank you!

  Thanks for reading TRINKET: A Feyland Tale. I hope you enjoyed it!

  * Would you like to know when my next book is available? You can sign up for my new release newsletter at http://www.tinyletter.com/AntheaSharp or like my Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/AntheaSharp.

  * Reviews help other readers find books. I appreciate all reviews, whether positive or negative.

  * This book is lendable. Share it with a friend, or gift them a copy!

  * You’ve just read a story connected to the FEYLAND trilogy. The other books in the series are listed below. I hope you enjoy them all!

  FEYLAND: THE COMPLETE TRILOGY – All three books in one epic digital bundle ~ Scoop up the entire series now, or buy individually (titles listed below) ~

  ~ Buy at Kobo ~

  Faeries. Computer games. A boy from the wrong side of the tracks, and the girl he's afraid to love...

  What if a high-tech computer game was a gateway to the treacherous Realm of Faerie?

  "Ms. Sharp is a master storyteller... The Feyland books have found a prized place on my all-time favorite books list."—Rebecca McKinnon, The Crooked Word

  "This is a great series that deserves more attention. The books are quick and exciting reads, and if you like stories based on fairy tales, or if you enjoyed both the portrayal of the fae in Mercy Thompson and October Daye and the virtual world of Ready Player One, you will love this series."—Kate, Epic Chocolate Fantasy

  "The series has come full circle with the great cast of characters and events that take place. Would recommend for everyone!"—Jen, What's on the Bookshelf

  THE FEYLAND BOOKS:

  FEYLAND: THE FIRST ADVENTURE ~ Free! ~

  Jennet Carter never thought hacking into her dad’s new epic-fantasy sim-game would be so exciting… or dangerous. Behind the interface, dark forces lie in wait, leading her toward a battle that will test her to her limits and cost her more than she ever imagined.

  The First Adventure is 15,000 words (65 pages), and free in e-book form at all online retailers. Want it in print? It’s a slim 65 pages, and costs $3.99.

  FEYLAND:
THE DARK REALM ~ Buy at Kobo ~

  WHEN A GAME…

  Feyland is the most immersive computer game ever designed, and Jennet Carter is the first to play the prototype. But she doesn’t suspect the virtual world is close enough to touch — or that she’ll be battling for her life against the Dark Queen of the faeries.

  TURNS REAL…

  Tam Linn is the perfect hero — in-game. Too bad the rest of his life is seriously flawed. The last thing he needs is rich-girl Jennet prying into his secrets, insisting he’s the only one who can help her.

  WINNING IS EVERYTHING…

  Together, Jennet and Tam enter the Dark Realm of Feyland, only to discover that the entire human world is in danger. Pushed to the limit of their abilities, they must defeat the Dark Queen… before it’s too late.

  FEYLAND: THE BRIGHT COURT ~ Buy at Kobo ~

  INSIDE THE GAME…

  Jennet Carter escaped the dark faeries of Feyland once. Now, fey magic is seeping out of the prototype game, beguiling the unwary and threatening everyone she cares about.

  MAGIC…

  Tam Linn may be a hero in-game, but his real life is severely complicated. Still, he’ll do whatever it takes to stop the creatures of Feyland, even if it means pushing Jennet toward the new guy in school–the one with an inside connection to sim-gaming… and the uncanny ability to charm everyone he meets.

  ALWAYS WINS…

  Despite the danger, Jennet and Tam must return to Feyland to face the magic of the Bright Court–and a powerful new enemy who won’t stop until the human world is at the mercy of the Realm of Faerie.

  FEYLAND: THE TWILIGHT KINGDOM ~ Buy at Kobo ~

  THEIR LAST CHANCE…

  Jennet Carter and Tam Linn are almost out of time. Feyland, the most immersive computer game ever designed, is about to be released into the world–along with the Realm of Faerie’s dangerous magic.

  WIN THE GAME…

  The faeries, desperate to break free from their realm, have set treacherous plans in motion. Despite magical allies of their own, Jennet and Tam have no idea what dire threats await, both in-game and out.

  OR DIE TRYING…

  Battling for their lives against the united powers of the Dark Queen and Bright King, Jennet and Tam’s quest to stop the fey takes them into the perilous Twilight Kingdom, where illusion reigns–and magic can break all the rules.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Growing up, Anthea Sharp spent most of her summers raiding the library shelves and reading, especially fantasy. She now makes her home in the Pacific Northwest, where she writes, hangs out in virtual worlds, plays the fiddle, and spends time with her small-but-good family. Contact her at [email protected] or visit her website – www.antheasharp.com

  Anthea also writes historical romance under the pen name Anthea Lawson. Find out about her acclaimed Victorian romantic adventure novels at www.anthealawson.com.

  Be the first to hear about new releases and reader perks by subscribing to Anthea’s quarterly newsletter, Sharp Tales, at https://tinyletter.com/AntheaSharp.