by Toni Cox
There had to be another reason. The magic looked like it was working, but then stopped. I was missing something.
Over an hour passed before I had a wild thought. What if the elven Raven Hall Forest wasn’t in another world? Could it be that it was merely an enchanted part of the real Raven Hall Forest?
There was a spell to reveal the true nature of things. We used it to distinguish between poisonous and non-poisonous plants, for example. It was such simple fae magic; my teachers would have laughed at me for even wanting to try it.
Standing in the middle of the circle, I rolled my shoulders. I hadn’t done this in a while and concentrated hard on the words.
The magic glowed around me, and I felt it tingle along my veins. The air shimmered, and I squinted at it, but could not see the other forest beyond the haze.
I was missing something else. Desperate, I drew on the original chant to call forth the tear between worlds and mixed it with the revealing spell.
Suddenly, the elven forest fizzled out of view and soon left me standing in the dark and gloomy forest of Raven Hall.
I blinked in the darkness of the old forest. Even if I didn’t like this forest, I was sure glad to be back here. It had worked! My heart raced in my chest as I picked up Lorelei’s reins to continue.
It took us a little while to find our way back to the road, but once we found it, I urged the mare into a trot that she could sustain for a while. Not delayed by the ox wagon, we made much better time than on our way there.
By nightfall, we reached Oaktown. I considered seeking shelter by the miller. After all, it had not been his fault he had been made to talk. Still, I decided not to rely on anyone.
I rode down to the river, we drank our fill, and then hid underneath an overhang for the night. It was the best I could do. If the mare hadn’t needed rest, I wouldn’t have stopped at all.
We left again before the sun came up. We reached Clover Hill a couple of hours later, but I didn’t dare stop there, either. From there, it was a straight road to Draeguard.
The way my luck had run since I’d left home, I didn’t take any chances. I set the mare to the fastest pace I knew she could maintain over a long distance and stayed to the very edge of the road, ready to disappear into the trees at a moment’s notice if I had to.
The mare ate away the distance, bringing me closer to home, and I dared to hope. My nerves frayed the closer we got, and I flinched at every sound around us.
When the light began to fade, so did my hope, but then I saw lights in the distance shining through the trees, and I asked the mare for one last effort.
An hour later, we rode past the fields and towards the main gate of Draeguard. It loomed tall and forbidding over us, and the mare eyed the armed guards warily.
“Who goes there,” they demanded, crossing their lances.
“It is I, Princess Dana of Silverstalk. Admit me.”
The guards hesitated and whispered amongst themselves, before turning back to me.
“You need to come with us, Princess.”
Nothing had changed here, then. I could not let these guards delay me.
“Very well,” I said agreeably and waited for the one to open the gate, while the other came to hold the mare’s head.
The moment the gate was open, I urged Lorelei into a canter. She sprang forwards, ripping the reins from the guard’s hand.
The other guard tumbled to the side as I raced through the gate and on into the streets of Draeguard.
City lights lit the streets as I made my way to the palace. The few people that were still out, raised their fists at me for breaking the city’s speed limit.
At the forecourt of the palace, the palace guard patrolled as they did every night; archers on the roof, and lancers on the ground. The captain stepped forward.
“Princess Dana, where have you been? We have been so worried.”
I smiled at Jared. He’d been my father’s captain for decades, and he used to bounce me on his knee when I was little.
“Please, I need to speak with the councillors. It is urgent. Take me to them.”
“Dana, you know there is an order out for your arrest. They think you are involved in the attacks on the palace.”
I sighed. The mare pranced beneath me. “I know, Captain. I promise I have nothing to do with it. If I could just explain it to the councillors.”
Jared’s face fell, and he looked at me with sad eyes. “Once you are in custody, a councillor will speak with you.”
“No, you don’t understand. The kingdom is under threat. I need to speak to them, now. Let me pass.”
“I cannot, Princess.”
I ground my teeth. They would not stop me now that I was so close. Praying it would work this time, I concentrated on the blue magic. It accumulated along my arms and hands, and I flung it out to scatter the guards in all directions.
Before they had a chance to regroup, I put heels to the mare and galloped up the steps and on into the palace. The horse’s hoofbeats echoed loudly on the marble floor.
Shouts rang all around me, and guards ran from all directions. Undeterred, I guided Lorelei towards the courtyard where the councillors held their meetings. There, I waited for them to catch me.
“Don’t come any closer,” I warned them, the blue energy humming softly in the palm of my hand. “Bring me the councillors.”
The courtyard filled. Guards surrounded me. Spectators swarmed the balconies above. I had my audience; now, I just needed the councillors.
The magic still simmered in my hands, instilling a measure of control and confidence within me.
The councillors arrived one by one, some already in their night robes. Those that stayed in the city took longer to come, but I did not mind waiting for them.
“What is the meaning of this?” Councillor William asked when he finally joined the others.
“I have come to warn you.” My voice rang loud across the courtyard. “You have imprisoned an innocent man, and in the meantime, your enemies run free, plotting against you.”
“What nonsense do you speak of, child?”
“Nonsense? What investigation into the matter have you done, then, councillor? Is it your fear and superstition that is driving your assumption, or do you have proof?”
“You indolent child. How dare you speak to me like this?”
“I am no child, councillor. I am your princess, and as such, I order you to listen now. The dark elves are plotting against us. They have been using dark magic to weaken us and sow unrest within our kingdom.”
“Pah, to what end?”
“The elves want our moonstones for themselves.”
The noise in the courtyard reached a fever-pitch as the people voiced their outrage. Councillor William calmed them down enough for him to address me again.
“How would you know this? It is safer to assume it is you with your strange magic that has brought this upon us.”
“If there is one thing that being away from this palace has taught me, it’s that you should never assume things, councillor. My magic has nothing to do with this. In fact, had it not been for this magic, I would not be here right now bringing you this warning. The elves captured me. They want our stones.”
“Preposterous.”
I had no time to argue with these fools. Sending a blast of magic across the courtyard, I destroyed the statue of Councillor William himself.
“Bring my father to me now.”
When they hesitated, I destroyed another statue. Someone went to obey.
“You have to hide the moonstones,” I tried again. “Get the armies ready. The elves are coming for them, I can assure you.”
The councillors looked at each other, but Councillor William dared to take a step towards me. “What do you know about war, child?”
“Nothing, councillor,” I glared at him, “which is why I want my father freed. He’ll know what to do.”
Councillor William glared back at me. He had probably not forgiven me yet for e
scaping his home and stealing his daughter’s things.
Lorelei shifted beneath me, and when I laid my hand on her neck, I felt her tremble. She snorted nervously.
“Oh, no.” I felt it, too.
A blast of dark magic rocked the palace. Not strong, but enough to shake the walls and unsettle everything. I tried to keep the mare calm.
“You see?” Councillor William shouted. “It’s her. She brought the shaking back.”
The shout was taken up by the other councillors. “We haven’t had an attack since she left.”
I saw my father’s sad face looking at me over the crowd, standing bundled between two guards. I would have to make them listen ~ for my father’s sake.
Outside, the big bell rang in loud, even gongs. The courtyard fell silent. Councillor William looked at me; his lips pulled down in the corners.
A messenger came running into the courtyard, clearly out of breath. “An army. There’s an army of elves at our gate.”
Chapter 16
The hubbub of voices almost drowned out my father’s voice as he called my name. A minute ago, all the focus had been on me.
Now, everyone turned to the messenger. “An army. There’s an army of elves at our gate.”
Councillor William stared at me, for once without words. The captains shouted orders all around us, while the guards retreated down the passages.
“Dana,” my father called again, but his voice sounded so far away.
I blinked my eyes rapidly, trying to focus. The guards had let go of my father, and he pushed himself through the crowd towards me. Why did it seem so strange?
My eyes blinked again. I took a deep breath. The voices around me faded to a whisper. My father called my name again, but I could barely hear him.
Then, the ceiling tilted to the right and collapsed.
***
“Dana,” my father’s worried voice found its way through to me. “No, no, leave the cloth, Rosalie, I’ll do it.”
Cloth? I tried to open my eyes, but they were so heavy. A moan must have escaped my lips, for my father patted my hand and told me it would be alright. Something cold and wet mopped my brow.
“Can you hear me, Dana? I am here, now, my faeling.”
“‘m ‘wake.”
“You fainted, Dana. You look exhausted. When last did you sleep?”
I couldn’t remember. It reminded me how thirsty I was, and I licked my cracked lips. My father brought the wet cloth to them, wiping them gently.
“Rosalie, bring water. And, find some food for Dana, if you will, please.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Soft footsteps indicated that Rosalie came to the bed to drop off the water before hurrying to fetch the food. I pried my eyes open and blinked in the soft light of my bedroom.
My father smiled down at me, sitting on the edge of my bed, holding my hand.
“There you are. I thought I had lost you, my faeling.”
“Never, Father.”
He helped me sit up and poured me a glass of water. The cool liquid soothed my rough throat.
“What is happening out there?” I asked. “Is it the elves?”
“Yes, you were right. I can’t even begin to imagine where you would have gotten this information. I am only glad you are safe now.” He gently squeezed my hand.
“Father, the moonstones aren’t safe. You need to hide them.” I coughed, and my father passed me another glass of water.
“I believe you, Dana. You can tell us everything in the council later. Right now, you need to rest.”
“No, this cannot wait,” I protested.
Rosalie came back in with a platter of fruit and bread.
“There you are. Please, assist my daughter to bath and find her something clean to wear. Make sure she eats. Let me know once she is back in bed. I will be in my office for so long.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“No argument from you, little princess,” he traced his index finger from the top of my forehead down to the tip of my nose, just like he had done since I was a little girl, “I will see you later.”
I knew it was no use arguing with him now. He rose from the bed and left. Rosalie ran water into the bath while I ate fruit from the platter.
It felt great getting out of the dirty clothes; I tried to ignore Rosalie’s face as she saw the grime stuck to my skin underneath the soiled garments, and then the sores and scratches on my body once the dirt was washed off.
“Oh, my Ladybug,” my handmaiden cooed over me, covering me in healing ointment.
With my skin and hair smelling of flowers, I once again stepped into clothes that were my own. Rosalie had chosen a blue dress, which tied with a silk ribbon underneath my breasts and then fell smoothly down to the floor. Tiny silk bows adorned the silk shoulder straps.
Once dressed, I made my way to my father’s office, even though Rosalie did try her best to stop me.
My father had a private office next to his royal quarters, where he could conduct affairs of the palace when not in council meetings. When I rounded the corner to enter the door, I heard voices arguing.
“Do not worry, councillor,” I cut in, “I am ready to speak to the council now. My father only has my best interest at heart, but this matter cannot wait. If the moonstones are to be saved, you need to act now.”
The men stared at me, but Councillor William nodded abruptly. “The council is ready.”
I saw the worried look in my father’s eyes, but I hooked myself into his arm and walked beside him on the way to the council.
The councillors, sitting on their throne-like chairs within their mostly refurbished marble hall, all eyed me suspiciously as I took my place on the speaker’s platform. Councillor William stood next to me.
“It is confirmed that an army of dark elves has laid siege to our city. They have encamped along the eastern wall of Draeguard for now, and we fear that more are on their way,” the councillor began.
The men and women of the council voiced their concern in whispered conversations.
“Apparently, Princess Dana has information as to their intent and reason for their attack. Please, Princess, enlighten us.”
He turned to me with his face pulled into a half-smile.
“First, I need you to reinstate my father as regent officially.” I stood up tall and raised my chin. “You locked him up for treason, and now you want help? My father is the best general this kingdom has ever seen. Reinstate him, and I will tell you what I know.”
The voices rose, some agreeing, others arguing. Councillor William remained silent for so long, it worried me. When he finally spoke, it surprised me.
“Indeed, it would be foolish not to do so. All in favour of reinstating the king.” He raised his hand.
Around the hall, hands raised along the tiers. Even the nay-sayers from a moment ago had now changed their minds. It was a unanimous decision.
“Very well.” I nodded to my father, who came to stand beside me.
I kept it short, telling them only the essentials about the elves, the house I’d been to, the sorceress’ abilities, and their desire to acquire the moonstones. I also told them about the trade in human goods and the White Law.
“We knew nothing of this,” my father said to me, pulling me aside. “How did you learn all of these things?”
“That is a story for another day, Father. Right now, I have to go back to rescue a friend; I left him behind to bring you these tidings. Can you spare some men to help me?”
His brow wrinkled in thought, but then he became distracted by questions the councillors asked. I had to wait several minutes before his attention turned back to me.
“Father, I left a friend behind. I need men to rescue him. Please, help me.”
“Faeling, we cannot spare men now. Let’s deal with the threat at our door, and then we can think of rescuing your friend.”
“He might not have that long. They were torturing him.”
“There are five hundred or
more riders in front of our wall. They have brought siege weapons. Although they have not declared any demands, yet, they are flying the flags of war. I cannot think about your friend now.”
“But…”
My father put a gentle hand on my shoulder. “I am sorry, Dana. I have to put the wellbeing of the kingdom first. The council needs me now. I have to give my orders.”
“Yes, Father.”
He turned away, joining his councillors and captains. Of course, he was right. He had to protect the kingdom, but that didn’t make it any easier for me. Thomas might not have the days it would take Draeguard to deal with the threat.
I retreated slowly from the council hall. No-one paid me any attention now; they had gotten from me what they wanted. I slunk away unnoticed.
The last time I left Draeguard, I did so wholly unprepared for the world outside the walls of my city. I knew better now.
I also knew what to expect along the way and how long it would take me. Taking this journey by myself was not ideal, but I would not let Thomas be tortured while I sat in my palace.
The only clothes in my cupboard suitable for the kind of mission I had planned were my riding clothes. I dressed quickly now and put spare clothes into a bag.
I cursed my cupboard and its content of dresses. At least my riding pants were pants, and I had some formal-wear pants, as well, which would just have to do for this trip.
The fruit within the bowl Rosalie had brought me ended up in my bag, too, as did my toothbrush. I wasn’t leaving without it, again. I needed water, as well.
My next stop was my father’s personal armoury. Most of the weapons in there were collector’s items from around the world, but it also held my father’s real weapons.
Selecting two daggers in black leather sheaths, I stuffed them into my bag. I also helped myself to some coin from my father’s room. It could be useful.
I didn’t know what they had done with the mare, but they had probably put her in the stables. I only wanted her as a second horse, so I would have one for Thomas to ride once I had rescued him. That was if I couldn’t rescue that gelding of his.
