About OSAS

In the frozen Wild beneath the breath of Pinus, god of winter, twins Alora and Ahren Faunus hunt a Daemygg—an abomination that drains magic from its prey. Their kill is swift, but its victim, a mortal girl scarred by captivity and carrying a deadly gift, binds their fates to something darker.

Back at court, Alora hides a dangerous secret. By day, she is heir to Navelle, trapped beneath her mother’s merciless rule. By night, she is Swift, the thieves’ guild’s most skilled operative. When her rival, Rayne Deveraux, threatens to expose her unless she returns his stolen ring, Alora is forced deeper into a web of treachery, false bonds, and impossible choices.

But shadows are stirring. The Mother Tree, lifeblood of the realm, sickens. Daemygg roam in numbers not before. And whispers rise of the First Kings, long buried beneath the sea, whose return could shatter the fragile peace bought with blood.

As Winter Solstice approaches, Alora must decide what, and who, she is willing to sacrifice. Because in Velysia, every oath has a price.

Book cover titled 'Of Salt and Sap' by Kat Schwartz, featuring a dark forest scene with a large tree and a black wolf with glowing green eyes in front of it.

Meet the characters

Fantasy elf woman with long silver hair holding a bow in a dark, green forest.
Illustration of an elf warrior with white hair and pointed ears, holding a large sword, wearing a green cape and medieval-style clothing, in a dark forest background.
Portrait of a young woman with long dark hair, blue eyes, wearing a gold dress with puffed sleeves.

Alora Faunus

Heir Mother Fae of the Wood

Ahren Faunus

Heir Protector Fae of the Wood

A painted portrait of a young man with dark, wavy hair and piercing blue eyes, holding out his hand with glowing blue energy emanating from it, against a dark background.

Reverie Alpen

Runaway from Thassena

Rayne Deveraux

Heir Protector Fae of the Lake

A young man with blond, wavy hair and blue eyes, dressed in ornate dark armor with gold accents, standing in front of a painted backdrop featuring large, white angel wings.

Emris Yarrow

Heir Protector Fae of the Cloud

A young man with short curly hair and intense expression, wearing a dark jacket, stands amidst swirling orange and red flames against a fiery background.

Drach Youngblood

Heir Protector Fae of the Ash

Fallon Yarrow

Heir Mother Fae of the Cloud

Taryn Youngblood

Heir Mother Fae of the Ash

A digital painting of a confident woman with reddish-brown skin and long braided hair, surrounded by flames. She is wearing a black outfit and a wide gold choker, with a serious expression, and her right hand raised with flames emanating from her fingertips.
A woman with long, wavy blonde hair blowing freely, wearing an off-shoulder dark dress, gazing directly at the camera with a neutral expression.
A fantasy-themed portrait of a woman with elf-like features, dark hair, pointed ears, wearing a dark blue off-shoulder dress with gold accents, a gold tiara, and jewelry including earrings, a necklace, and rings, holding a glowing gold chain.

Jinx Briar

Heir Mother of the Mortals

What are Mothers and Protectors?

After the devastation of the Second Great War, when kingdoms burned and the skies filled with ash, the Mother Goddess descended to restore order. To prevent the world from tearing itself apart again, she decreed a new balance for the Fae and mortal realms:

  • Mothers would rule. They were chosen to guide their kingdoms with wisdom, sacrifice, and the strength to weave peace where war once reigned. Each Mother bore the mantle of sovereignty, their authority sanctified by the Mother Goddess.

  • Protectors would guard. Bound in oath to stand as shield and sword, defenders of both kingdom and people. They were entrusted not with rule, but with vigilance, carrying the burden of protection so the Mothers could lead.

Together, this bond of rule and defense became the foundation of the new age. The Mother goddess’s decree was both blessing and warning: kingdoms thrive only when Mothers and Protectors stand united.

The First Queens & Kings

Sylvie & Nor Faunus

Cordelia & Erynx Deveraux

A man and woman dressed in regal, medieval-style clothing and crowns, standing closely in an elegant, dimly lit room, possibly during a royal ceremony or celebration.
A fantasy-style painting of a regal couple with crowns, holding two small dragons, one white and one blue, dressed in royal attire with rich details.

Thana & Erynx Briar

Enya & Krotos Youngblood

A man and woman in ornate, fantasy-style clothing stand near a stone balcony overlooking a misty, fantastical landscape with waterfalls and cliffs, under a tree with green leaves.
A man and woman dressed as elves in dark green and gold regal costumes, wearing crowns with gemstones, with a dark background.
A man and woman dressed in regal, medieval-style clothing, with the woman wearing a crown and the man wearing detailed armor, standing close together and looking at the camera.

Zephyra & Vito Yarrow

“Nothing good ever came from a man who ruled a kingdom. Especially not five of them. Each clawing for dominion over a continent that belonged to none of them. Power rotted them from the inside out, twisted their souls into snarling, desperate things. And when they wrapped their fingers around the reins of power, they didn’t rise, they withered into something monstrous.”
— Of Salt and Sap

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