Thorns of Fae

by S L Mason

  I close my eyes and picture Arthur in his glasses sleeping on a cot, all the pain from his beating wiped clean.

  “Nothing I have done has earned me a boon from a Queen. I have lived to undermine every Queen by Danu, until now. Now I only live to be reunited with my heart. Tell me what I must do to please you and I will make it so. I’ll tear down any castle, fight any battle, hunt any prey.” I can’t say the word Arthur said to me, ‘please’ is not the Fae way.

  The Queens eyes cut me apart with her anger. Her teeth grind and she grips the sides of the stone throne. Nick leans over and whispers in her ear. Then steps back.

  “I will not give you a boon, only this, if you find a way to the surface without magic you may leave and never return. Now get out, if I see you again, I’ll give you to an iron room, like the one you shoved Janice in.” She stands her wings flare then she turns and leaves the room, her consort in tow.

  The pressure holding me to the floor leaves with her. I take to my feet and turn to face the Fae crowd.

  Sycophants one and all. Most of Fae is weak and petty. The show will be the talk of the age, right after the fall of my father.

  The greatest Hunter Fae has ever see made low by the power of the Queen.