by LJ Rivers
Royals.
I made a mental eye-roll. Me? Royal? “Perhaps I’ll tell you the story sometime, My Queen.”
A Juniper opened the carriage door, and we stepped inside with Charlie. It was just the three of us in the carriage: Morgana, Charlie, and me. Since waking up after the Enchantment trial, we had been separated and tasked with different assignments. While I appreciated the time I got with Morgana, I wasn’t comfortable with how my pack had separated. Hopefully, Jen, Erica, and Jack were having the time of their lives and would return soon. My stomach knotted from the uncertainty. Charlie had spent all her time with Morgana’s erudites while Brendan was hanging out with his new mates in the smithy. My chores, however, had mostly been to get acquainted with my ancestor while she told me stories from Gwyn Fanon.
Tucking my skirt underneath me, I glanced out across the bailey. “Isn’t Brendan coming?”
“Elwood appears to have taken a shine to your intended, Princess.” Morgana lightly tapped the outside of the carriage door with the flat of her hand. The carriage wobbled as the unicorns picked up the pace, trotting towards the main gates. “Much as I personally appreciate him, and I see his worth in your life, I think it might be unwise to parade him—a Don Hekal—in the Avalen streets just yet. Some might find it provoking, and although I don’t necessarily appease the nobles as much as they would like, I still need their support as I rebuild my land. Besides, it seems Brendan was wanted for a match with young Feeney. I was told they have placed bets on who is the better swordsman. The smith apprentice, or the Don Hekal.”
“Oh, Brendan of Callaghan can certainly hold his own.” Charlie wiggled her eyebrows.
“I would like to see him in action sometime.” The queen gazed outside as we moved across the drawbridge and entered the city.
Cherise had informed me the eighth awr of the day was approaching, and as I looked up, the faint outline of the sun was visible over the hills to the east. While the sky itself was gloomy, the city was full of light. Every window and wall was lit up, and people went about their business as if the day was already in full swing.
As we trotted through the winding streets at a leisurely pace, accompanied by a row of Crimsons on either side, people turned and bowed all around us. A Juniper kept shouting the same words on repeat, urging everyone to join in the market square for an announcement by the queen herself. A baker wearing a linen apron approached us. His small lips and rounded mouth widened between his flour-brushed chipmunk-cheeks.
Taryn, who rode next to our carriage, held a sword out. “Stay where you are, Tallaks.”
“I only wish to give the queen a freshly baked bread.” He held the bread up, and the spicy smell was mouthwatering. “It would be my great honour if the queen would eat what I have made.”
“The queen does not have time—”
“Taryn,” Morgana interjected. “Please. Tallaks is one of the finest bakers in Avalen. He would honour me by offering me this bread.”
The baker’s chest jutted out, and his enormous belly jiggled as he tried to stand taller than he was.
“Your Majesty.” Taryn lowered his sword and narrowed his eyes at Tallaks. “You may hand it over, and I will make sure the queen gets it. After a tasting, of course.”
Tallaks gave the bread to a Fae who appeared to be the designated taster, then put his hands to his sides. “I do not appreciate your insinuations, Commander.”
“It’s either that or nothing at all,” Taryn said firmly.
“I thank you, Tallaks of Pelles,” Morgana said, waving as the carriage moved on. The baker dipped his head and stayed like that until I could no longer see him.
“How’s it taste?” Charlie asked, hanging halfway out the door, talking to the Fae taster.
He licked his fingers, passing the bread over to Taryn. “Tallaks of Pelles is true to his word, milady. It has been many a dark moon since I have tasted such delicious bread.” He held his hand next to his mouth as if to keep others from listening in. “I suspect he uses some Goblin magic to get the dough so fluffy. And since I have not rolled over dead yet, I deem the bread safe for Her Majesty.” He tilted his head back to look up at the towering Taryn. “But give it a few more moments just to make sure.”
Taryn gave the bread to Charlie, and she set it on a tray between us in the carriage. While I was dying for a taste, something else had caught my attention. A chill ran across my skin, making the tiny hairs on my arms stand. I rarely felt cold, and when I did, it was usually because of magic—the kind a Sorcerer might possess.
I stared outside. There were plenty of shadows, so I couldn’t be sure, but it felt as if someone was watching me. That was, apart from the citizens, curiously trying to catch a glimpse of me. Was my father here? It didn’t quite feel like him, and I was pretty sure he was keeping busy elsewhere. Yet, it felt familiar.
“Avalon to Ruby,” Charlie said.
“Huh?”
“You look miles away.”
“Just thinking.” I rubbed my arms to free myself of the chills.
Morgana took my hand. “We are here.”
A fanfare rang out, and the carriage door opened. Taryn offered Morgana his hand.
A row of Crimson guards had aligned themselves on opposite sides, creating a pathway to the centre of the square we were in, keeping the curious spectators at bay. When Charlie jumped outside, Taryn turned his head back.
“You stay here, Carolina of Earth.”
She frowned, and I mouthed an apology when Morgana dragged me forward. We ascended a few steps to stand on a platform with a statue of a male Fae at our backs. I glanced at the inscription on the gold plaque by his feet. “Evenar of Sebilleni, Keeper of Queen Morgana’s heart, Evenar the Brave, Saviour of Avalen.” My eyes teared up as I looked into the stone-carved eyes. If the statue was anything to go by, he had been exceptionally handsome.
The Crimsons regrouped around the platform as the people of Avalen flooded into the square. A few of the Crimsons—those with two legs instead of four—sprouted eagle wings and shot into the air, evidently to guard the airspace. While Morgana didn’t seem to care for a heavy guard duty within her walls, it appeared necessary when out in public. I wondered how much danger she was truly in when exposing herself this way, and how much of it was more for show.
At the front edge of the platform were three spiralling horns, placed so that the mouthpieces were close together and fanned out so the bells—each at least ten feet across—pointed towards all sides of the open square. Taryn stepped up to the mouthpieces and leaned down. As he cleared his throat, the sound boomed from the massive horns, and the buzzing and chatting among the crowd was immediately silenced.
“Morgana of Fay, Queen of Avalon and the Southern Isles, Protector of Talani, Awarnach, and Ygrenya, Subjugator of Auberon of Merlin, Defender of the Realm.” Taryn stepped back, bowing deeply to his queen.
Morgana stepped up to the horns.
“My beloved citizens of Avalen. I come to you today with joyous tidings.” She spread her arms. “I have found an heiress.”
The crowd erupted with chatter.
“Elaine!” someone shouted.
The queen exhaled in a quick breath. “I’m regretful to say my Elaine will never return. It has come to my attention that she passed on a while ago.”
People gasped, and many sobbed.
“Do not fear, my people. I’m not here to give you grief. While Princess Elaine is lost to me—to us—her descendant is here today. How this came to be is a long story, but we have been given a gift, and I know that the young woman beside me is of my blood. I present to you all, your Princess Ruby of Avalon.” She gave me a light push, and I wiggled my fingers in a hi. Awkward much.
The murmurs and noise shifted into a cacophony of cheers. People fell to their knees. Fae fluttered in the air, bowing to me from above, and a few people shifted into their animals. Not everyone rejoiced, however. A wingless man with a goatee crossed his arms, scowling my way. His flashy attire and
gold embellishments made him look as regal as the queen. A couple nearby, equally posh by the looks of them, had the same scowl. Undoubtedly some of the nobles Anwinar had mentioned. He said they weren’t entirely happy with all of Morgana’s decisions. Yet, they were glaring at me, not her.
Morgana gestured with her hands for the people to quiet down. They responded in a heartbeat, and the square fell silent once more. “Ruby was born in the Land of Eternal Sand.”
A Fae, hovering a few feet away, shook her head at me, her eyes wide. Her lips quivered, and she hugged herself. A male Fae flitted to her side, and they drifted to the ground in an embrace.
“For those of you who are close kin to The People of Hope, please seek out Captain Simillan. He will provide you with further information.”
She motioned to a crimson-clad centaur who pounded his hoofs on the cobblestones by the platform, bowing to the queen.
“Thank you, Captain. There will be an official declaration at a later day, but for now, spread the word and let all of Avalon know you have a new princess. Ruby of Avalon!”
“Princess Ruby!” someone cried out. More people followed until the entire crowd was chanting my name.
“We shall not linger for long,” Morgana whispered and led me back to the carriage.
A tiny Fae girl went up to Taryn, her head held high. “I wish an audience,” she said in a sing-song voice. Her sun-coloured hair was tucked mostly under a white shawl around her head, but two braids stuck out on either side of her cheeks.
“I’m afraid—”
“Taryn? Let her through,” I said in my most commanding princess-tone.
His brows knitted as he regarded the girl who couldn’t be more than five. He stepped back a couple of paces, and the girl scurried past him. She curtsied in front of me.
“Princess Ruby, would you please accept these flowers?” Her hands, which she had held hidden behind her back, came to the front, holding a bouquet of what looked like daffodils. “Our neighbour, Miss Tabina, grows them in her garden. Not many flowers grow anymore.” She averted her eyes, then met mine defiantly. “But Miss Tabina can make anything grow.”
“They’re lovely,” I said. “What is your name?”
“Esolda.”
“Such a beautiful name. Thank you for your gift, and may Nimue watch over you and yours.”
She beamed, a couple of dimples forming on her chubby cheeks. “You honour me, Princess.” Bowing her head, she backed up and spread her sheer, violet wings before flying into the arms of a Goblin woman.
“Best get moving,” Morgana said from inside the carriage. “Places to be.”
It appeared the square wasn’t the only place Morgana wanted to make her announcement. Avalen was a large city, and we made several stops where she repeated the same words she had the first time. The only difference was that the families of those sent through the portal—The People of Hope—were assigned a new Crimson at each stop. Whoever was named stayed behind since we apparently didn’t have time to wait for them. There had to be hundreds of relatives who wanted to know what had happened to their family members. My chest clenched at the thought that while Morgana rejoiced, they would soon learn that their loved ones would never return.
Our final stop was by Avalen port, where the sailors and fishermen got the same introduction as the rest of the citizens. Morgana told me she was hoping the sailors would carry the news across the sea. Afterwards, Charlie wanted to look around the port, and though Taryn huffed and complained, he eventually allowed me to go for a stroll with her—and about ten Crimson guards.
We passed a cart of fish, where a man was scratching his head, shouting profanities.
“… Nadredd’s scales! Today of all days … Blasted Son of the Nethers.” He kicked the cart. “You old pile of—” He saw me and clamped his mouth shut.
“Is there a problem?” Charlie asked him.
“Not at all, milady.”
“It sounded like you were in distress.”
“It’s just—” He pointed at the wheel that had fallen off the cart, and the pile of fish on the ground.
Charlie crouched by the wheel, looking between it and the cart. “I can mend it for you.”
The man bellowed, tears springing from his eyes. “You? Such a sweet maiden has no business working on my cart.”
“Well, I want to.” Charlie turned to Anwinar, who led our group. “Help me out, would you?”
He shrugged and went over. I had no idea how Charlie managed to fix the cart, but she did. Once it was in order, I bent down and began picking up fish to put back in the cart.
“My princess,” Anwinar said. “You shouldn’t trouble yourself.”
“It’s no trouble. I used to fish with my da all the time, and I quite enjoy helping another fisherman.” My thoughts wandered to Rhys and Mari, and I hoped they had found their daughter by now.
“Princess,” the fisherman said. “My name is Obrus. What is mine is yours. Please.” He picked out the largest fish from his cart.
I shook my head. “I wouldn’t dream of taking such a catch from your hands, Obrus. I’m sure your fish is your livelihood, and I have plenty of food.” I remembered Kay’s words about refusing hospitality. “But if you wish to honour me, I’ll take one of the smaller ones.”
Once the fish was wrapped up, and in the custody of one of the Crimsons, we resumed our walk. Avalen Port was everything and more than I could have imagined. When we wandered past a warship named Elaine, I paused. The ship was huge, the mast towering maybe one hundred and fifty feet above us.
“She’s a fine vessel,” Anwinar said.
“She sure is.”
I shuddered when chills erupted on my skin again. Turning, I found nothing, except for Charlie, who was engaged in a conversation with a woman. She didn’t have wings, so I had no idea what she was, but her bright blue hair brought me to believe she might be a Pixie.
“Valet Anwinar?”
“Yes, Princess?” He trotted up next to me.
“This might sound strange to you, but can you tell what kin someone is by looking at them?”
The centaur leaned down. “My apologies, what do you mean?”
I lowered my voice. “Back on Eart—in the Land of Eternal Sand, I was able to distinguish a Fae from a Changeling or an Awr Bender from a Dodger. There was a sort of glow around them, if that makes sense to you?” I noticed how the Jumper also had a different name in Avalonian.
His thick brows pinched together, and he narrowed his gaze, clearly confused. “I beg your pardon, Princess, but this is a power I have not encountered before. Do you see it on the Pixie your friend is talking to?”
“No, and that’s my point. I see a glimmer on Charlie’s skin, but nothing on any Avalonians.”
He straightened, shaking his mane. “There it is, Your Highness. Don Hekals reveal themselves to you by this glimmer. A fine gift, if you ask me.”
A man strode past Charlie, also without wings. His back was straight as an arrow, and ropes of muscles bulged on his exposed skin. He wore a black leather jerkin, matching trousers, and a cape, but no linen tunic, like most of the men I had seen. He briefly glanced my way. Intense, dark blue eyes peered at me under heavy-set eyebrows. Wild, coffee-coloured hair framed his face, and I struggled not to stare. Not because he was handsome in a sort of dark and mysterious kind of way, which he was, but there was something else. Power stirred in my veins at the sight of him.
Charlie suddenly swung around, bumping into the man. They crashed together in a spectacular display, and Charlie fell on her butt. Her glasses slipped off her nose, but the man caught them before they hit the ground. He leaned over her and extended his arm. She took it, and I had never seen her look more at a loss for words. She simply stared at the man until he flashed her an inviting smile, and I could see her melt from where I stood. It reminded me of the first time I met Brendan—when I crashed into him, that was.
“My apologies, fair maiden,” the man said.
She
waved him off. “My bad.”
He cocked his head to the side and brushed his fingers through her hair. “I am sure you do not have a bad bone in your body, milady.”
She giggled like a small child.
“These are yours, although I wish you did not veil your entrancing eyes behind them.” He handed her the glasses. “Miss …?”
She accepted them and clumsily put them back on. “The name is Carolina.”
Taking her hand in his, he turned it over and planted a kiss in her palm. “Might we meet again, Carolina.” With that, he walked away, leaving Charlie wide-eyed as she watched him go.
I laughed and went to her. “Smitten, are we?”
“Huh?” She chortled. “Oh, that. What do you think he was?”
I glanced at where the man had gone, but couldn’t spot him. “I’m not sure. Maybe a Dodger?”
“Nah. That, my sweet winter child, was most definitely Prince Charming.”
“Definitely smitten.” I took her arm, and we resumed our walk, eventually returning to the carriage to go back to the castle.
As we rode through the cobbled streets, the already dark day darkened some more. What a magical place this was. And I had put them all in harm’s way. Perhaps, if I could only speak to my father, I could make him leave this place alone.
Yeah, right!
He would stop at nothing to get what he wanted.
And I would do anything to stop him.
Chapter Twenty
Three giant shadows circled the spiralling spear some five hundred feet above our heads. Once, a lifetime ago, it seemed, Dad and I were out with his new camera trying to catch the Milky Way. I could never quite understand how he could be annoyed by the light, but he said it was the polluting glare from Chester that made it hard to get good pictures. I had to smile as I watched the three griffins descend towards the square below my vantage point atop the battlements. The same kind of light pollution from the lanterns of Morgana’s castle—and the rest of Avalen—was actually helping me see the gorgeous, shimmering details on the griffins’ wings.
