Lord of the Hunt

by Shona Husk

  Do not think about it.

  Just wait.

  There wasn’t long to wait; then they could be together openly.

  Beynon poured wine into carved wooden goblets. Verden knew those goblets. He’d made them for his parents. Now they were smooth and stained with use, warm to touch, unlike the pretty, delicate glass he’d become accustomed to.

  His father sliced bread and fresh soft cheese along with dried fruit, and they sat down to eat at the same table he’d grown up sitting at. He looked at his brother; the blond hair belonged to his mother. Beynon carried his mother’s bloodline, as was often the case in Annwyn—one child for the father, and one for the mother. Is that what he’d do?

  He couldn’t imagine it. Either option seemed unpalatable—either some mortal got Taryn pregnant or he got some mortal pregnant. Either way, the baby had to be born in Annwyn—and yet at some point, Taryn or he would want a child and the decision would be made. He wanted to know how his parents had made that work. Had they loved each other enough to give them what they wanted regardless of the price?

  “Love, eh? That’s a bit dangerous for a man in your position,” his father said.

  You have no idea how dangerous. And it was probably best not to say.

  “It’s true what they say, that no one gambles with their heart at Court?” Beynon asked.

  Verden looked at his brother. When had he been born? There was so much he wanted to know, and yet so much he shouldn’t ask. He had no right after abandoning his family.

  His brother leaned back. “I have no intention of going to Court. I’m going to run the farm after Da crosses the veil.”

  Verden almost choked on his bread. “Cross the veil?”

  “I’m no fool. I’d rather death be quick than have it take years like your poor mother.” Hollis glared at Beynon. There was a reason Beynon wasn’t going to Court. He wasn’t stupid, but he gave away too much without thinking. The Court would chew him up and spit him out once bored with him. Verden knew because he’d come very close himself.

  “You plan on dying in the power shift.”

  “The wasting has started. I will use the opportunity to travel the mortal world for a bit. Beynon and I have discussed it.”

  Again without breathing a word to him. He wanted to argue with his father and tell him to not be in such a rush to die. And yet, his father was right; there would be a few old fairies who would seek the instant death over the prolonged wasting.

  With his gazed fixed on the food in front of him, Verden spoke, his voice dark and heavy. “Then you’d best be packing and crossing the veil soon if you want a chance to see some of the world.”

  “Closer than we think?”

  “Much.”

  Hollis nodded. “I trust your judgment. You were always sharper than your mother or I. We once joked you’d leave us for greener fields; we just never expected it to be quiet so fast. I’m glad you did well and that my name has been honored at Court.”

  Verden smiled even though he felt tears forming in his eyes. He blinked to clear them away. Showing emotions like that at Court was a quick way to reveal yourself as easy prey, yet here he didn’t have to hide.

  “So, is she mortal or fairy?”

  “Fairy, raised in the mortal world.”

  “There have been a few old faces coming back around here. Guess it would be the same at Court,” Beynon added.

  “A few, more in the hamlets. People don’t want to be caught on the wrong side of the veil.” He glanced at his father.

  Hollis looked him in the eye but said nothing about his already made decision. “What will you do after?”

  “I don’t know.”

  There was no invitation to return to the farm. Hollis and Beynon had that sorted. He wasn’t needed here and he had no place at Court under Felan’s rule. Maybe he was bound for the mortal world. What place would he have there?

  “You know, Son, after the change, the humans will need help to rebuild. They always do after so much death. Your grandfather, Lorcyn, helped after Gwyn took the throne, traveled through most of Europe and always had a story to tell.”

  “It’s not the same now.” Taryn had been telling him about social security and passports. Travel wasn’t simple, and magic and glamours couldn’t fool science all the time.

  “Well if your ladylove intends on living in the mortal world, you’re either going to have to live without her or follow. I know which one I’d choose.”

  Verden already knew he couldn’t live without Taryn. But he knew nothing of life across the veil. Court hadn’t prepared him for anything other than gambling and dancing.

  Chapter 16

  Taryn had never seen so much activity at Court. The shadow servants flitted instead of drifted. The remains of the flowers that had hung from the vines were cleared away and tidied up so no one need watch the failing of the magic. In their place, decorations were hung, tiny nests of blue. What they had to do with midsummer she had no idea, but that is what everyone was preparing for. That was why the extra trees were being brought in, trees from the mortal world in pots to give the impression of forest inside the castle, or maybe to mask the growing lack of leaves on the castle.

  She leaned a little further over the living balustrade to get a better look. The changes were fascinating and yet she still couldn’t see the point to the small white mushrooms being carefully dotted around the base of the pots.

  “The change will be more dramatic tonight, in the dark.” Sulia appeared next to her.

  “I’m enjoying watching the set up.” She’d also been hoping for a glimpse of Verden. It didn’t feel like a breakup; it just felt like they were being extra careful to not run into each other. “Is it this busy every festival?”

  “The festivals are very important. They are how we mark time. People say they are one hundred winter festivals old—or whatever festival they were born closest too.”

  “That’s the same as one hundred mortal years.”

  Sulia gave her a slow blink that conveyed just how stupid she thought counting in mortal years was. “The festivals are a reminder of our past and our connection to the mortal world. Some fairies only come to Court for the festivals.”

  “What about those in the hamlets and farms?”

  “They have their own celebrations.”

  “But my mother could come back to Court for tonight.”

  Sulia gave a little laugh. “Your mother wouldn’t be welcome at Court, but she could join one of the other festivals.” She shook her head. “Your mother made a dangerous mistake; she fell in love and gave it all up. She’ll never get her status back while tied to your father.”

  Was that how it would be for Verden and her? A sacrificing of power and status to be together? Would he give that up to be with her across the veil? Or would he expect her to live in Annwyn? Had she done enough to show him how life in the mortal world could be?

  Taryn turned away from the decorating of the hall and crossed her arms. “She loves him and he loves her. She wouldn’t give up on him just to come back and spend centuries scratching and scheming her way to the top. Some things are more important than status.”

  “You’re afflicted with your mother’s delicate heart. Best you keep it protected here and not tell too many people your ideas about love. Look around you. How many love matches do you see?”

  Had she seen any, or were people here only getting together for status? “There is that woman, with the lower-ranked man.”

  “That will fail eventually. She will tire of his social climbing. If she loved him, she wouldn’t care about lowering her status.” Sulia gave a dismissive flick of her hand. “Even the King didn’t marry for love; that’s why he has an interest in you. You marry for status and then take lovers. It’s all about business here. If you want love, you don’t find it at Court.”

  But she had and now they were desperately trying to keep it secret. Best to shift the conversation from her to Sulia…besides Sulia liked talking about Sulia above
all others.

  “Is that what you’re looking for across the veil?”

  “I don’t want love. I want power. I want Felan.” Sulia clenched her fist, her long white nails glistening.

  Taryn felt the frown before she could stop it. “He has to marry a mortal.”

  Everyone knew that. The fairy King, or Queen, had to bind a mortal’s soul to Annwyn to balance the magic. Their soul for the safety of every other mortal; in exchange they lost their mortal lifespan. Who would willingly make such a trade? Eyra hadn’t done it for love; she’d done it for power. She looked at Sulia, so pretty and pale, like cotton candy made of poison. When Sulia looked at Felan, she saw a chance to rule by proxy. Or perhaps rule…she was taking human lovers and possibly had royal blood.

  Sulia was Felan’s enemy at Court. As soon as she thought it, she knew it to be truth and yet she had no proof, just suspicions.

  “You are thinking like a mortal.” Sulia tapped her arm. “I will be his mistress. I will take the place of that blond fairy he is sometimes seen with. A low-level no one. He needs to aim higher.”

  Right.

  Surely if Felan were going to have a mistress, it would be with someone he loved, not another power-hungry fairy. Now didn’t seem like the best time to mention that, yet she knew she needed to warn Felan about Sulia. The woman was too…Taryn couldn’t put her finger on it.

  She was sane, cold, and calculating, but there was a glimmer in her eyes like she wouldn’t let anyone get in her way and those that did would suffer.

  “Ah, of course.” Taryn tried for a noncommittal smile.

  “Felan requested you come to Court. You must know how his search for a bride goes.” Sulia hooked her arm with Taryn’s so she couldn’t pull away. She didn’t want anything to do with this woman’s scheming, yet it was already too late. It wasn’t friendship Sulia had wanted; she’d needed a spy, someone who Felan had known from the mortal world.

  “He has said nothing to me.” That was the truth. Felan played his cards close to his chest and very carefully. He had to with people like Sulia around.

  “Then maybe you need to spend some more time with him. Teach him some of your games. You owe me, Taryn.” Sulia’s nails pressed against her skin for a moment too long for it to be accidental.

  Of that she was aware. And it was debt that would take far too long to repay. “I’m not sure the King would appreciate that.”

  Sulia released her and spun to face her. “You’ll find a way. I need to know who she is and when he plans to bring her to Court.”

  Taryn needed to find a way out of Court. But because of the power shift, she had to stay or risk death. Death was looking preferable. Yet even as she thought it, she knew she could never willingly place herself on the wrong side of the veil.

  “If I hear anything, you will be the first to know.” So she would make damn sure she didn’t hear anything.

  “I will be the only one you tell.” Then she smiled and her mood seemed to lighten instantly. “Come, we must see how the costumes are going. No doubt there will be some final adjustments.”

  ***

  As dusk settled over the castle, Taryn could taste the change in the air. A sharp sense of expectation. Carefully she put lines of pale green just under her eyebrows and on her cheeks like the other women. The costumes were all in dark greens and browns, torn silks, feathers, and wooden beads, as if they had just stepped out of the forest. While some wore silk slippers, most had bare feet.

  She dipped her fingers back into the paint and traced along her collarbone; then she put three slashes on each arm. The effect was a little like sexy jungle camouflage—until the lights went out. Then the paint began to glow.

  Cheekbones and eyes were emphasized, as were the other lines marked on bodies. There were handprints on bare stomachs and glowing nipples peeking through fabric. Some had gone even further, the costumes quite see-through over the glowing body paint covering them. Oh God. The excitement of getting ready vanished in a flash, and she had the horrible feeling this midsummer party was an excuse for really bad behavior. If people put their keys in a bowl, she was going to hide in her room for the rest of the night.

  She shivered and hoped she was getting ahead of herself. This was just a chance to dress up and have some fun. Did they know how to have fun or would they still be scheming and point scoring?

  Led by the Queen, who wore a crown of leaves, they walked down the stairs. Taryn glanced at the hall. While she’d watched the decorations being placed in daylight, at night the transformation was total. The mushrooms were glowing as were the blue birds’ nests that had been strung up. The whole chamber was cast in soft light and shadows. A fairy glade ready to be inhabited by wild fae.

  In the center of the hall was the King with a headdress of antlers; around him were the other men. Her heart clenched, but among the shadows and glowing body paint she couldn’t see Verden. He’d left Court yesterday; she’d heard that from Rhodia, who seemed to track his every move in and out of Court. But he had to be back for this, otherwise the Queen would be truly pissed. Eyra had been almost pleasant this afternoon. She’d smiled and joked with the other women as they’d gotten ready, accepted the praise for the costumes she’d had made and her brilliance in coming up with such an obscure theme. For the first time since her arrival, the frost had almost left the air.

  Her feet touched the grassed floor. If it had looked amazing from above, from below the effect was stunning, like walking into another world. Like slipping back in time and becoming one of the wild fae Verden had talked about—the spriggands, the sylphs, and the dryads. The minstrels had their wooden pipes and delicate harps, but also little drums. The music was different, less constrained.

  The King stepped forward and bowed to the Queen. She returned with a curtsy, her dress revealing a whole lot of leg amongst the rough, wide ribbons of silk. Then the King stepped back.

  A man with a much smaller set of horns stepped forward to take the Queen’s hand. His chest was bare except for a painted spiral over his heart. His pants ended in rags just below his knees and around each bicep he wore a band of woven leaves and feathers. Verden. She bit her lip to keep the sigh from escaping, but her heart was pounding louder and faster than the drums. He looked so…so wild. A single line of glowing paint traced down his forehead to the end of his nose. Had he seen her?

  No. His gaze was firmly on the Queen and no one else. As it should be. As they’d agreed. They weren’t together and couldn’t be until Felan took the throne. Until then, they had to wait. Maybe it wouldn’t last and all they had was sex in random places in the mortal world. Good sex, in amazing places. Her belly tightened as longing slid between her legs and lodged there. There would be no sneaking away tonight.

  When the King stepped forward, she walked over and took his hand. Everyone else followed, one couple at a time as determined after the hunt. Small tables had been set up around the edges of the chamber, but the King’s usual table was still there, raised above everyone else so he could watch the goings-on.

  “You look very pretty tonight.” The King kissed the back of her hand.

  Where once she would have felt revulsion at the unwanted contact, now she sucked it up. She had to. She had to do everything right and pretend that she wasn’t in love with someone else or they were going to sink. Verden was right; they had gotten far too bold and careless far too quickly.

  “And you look quite…” He did look good. Everyone did, as if they’d shed some of the weight and responsibility for just one night. “Wild and noble.” The antlers were truly amazing. Most of the men had horns of some kind and it took only a quick glance to realize that status was still denoted.

  The King smiled. “Exactly what I was hoping for.”

  There was no hint that he was still angry with her for asking him to pardon her father. But she also knew he would not back down; his pride wouldn’t let him. Is that what had happened with Eyra? One fight had turned toxic until neither of them would admit th
ey were wrong and kiss and make up?

  Tomorrow the worst would be over. She’d see her father and he’d take the offer. Her parents would be safe and she could start untangling herself from the King’s embrace.

  They sat at the table. Tonight it was slightly different; instead of being full of the King’s council, there was Felan and his partner for the dance, Dylis, Eyra and Verden, who were talking about something and ignoring everyone else. Taryn tried to ignore the twisting of her heart. It was an act and nothing more. He loved her, and while she’d blamed the whiskey, she’d seen it in his eyes.

  The rest of the table was made up of two of the highest ranking of the Council and their partners, one of which was Sulia, who had made sure she was seated on Felan’s other side. She wasn’t subtle, but then maybe that worked for her. Everyone was watching her actions and not what she was actually doing. If Felan was careful with his plots, Sulia was just as secretive.

  Food was served by the shadows and a small tree was placed on each table.

  The tree was the dinner. It was all totally edible. The servants had spent a lot of time putting it all together. Around the tree were little mushrooms of soft white cheese. From the tree hung berries; the leaves were candied pieces of apples. What she would have given for a little bacon—or any other meat. While many of the fairies here would be horrified at her eating dead flesh, she wondered how many crossed the veil for the occasional steak.

  Like a good fairy she nibbled and drank her wine and laughed when expected. She kept her gaze to the safe end of the table, away from Verden. But he was in her thoughts. She wanted him, wanted to be able to celebrate with him and talk. Once her father was back, she’d get free of the King. Or maybe she wouldn’t have to, as Felan would step up sooner rather than later. Even she was now playing games and keeping her heart’s desires secret.

  With a smile on her lips, she sipped her wine and glanced over the goblet at the King. “I look forward to my trip across the veil tomorrow.”