“Is it?” Nero places his hand on his wife’s shoulder. “We know precious little of Vlari’s power. It hasn't been seen since Nyx, and it's seldom mentioned in any texts. An injection of energy could be just what she needs, and she isn’t likely to feed offus. Facing a few enemies might be necessary.”
“What if we are attacked?” Ciera argues.
“Right now, without a shield, without archers? We’re doomed anyway. I’d much prefer if Vlari was north, then.”
I can tell the queen hates this with a passion, but she knows we’re right. If there's any way we can get an edge, we need to consider it.
“I need to go north, Mother,” Vlari says, holding her gaze.
That, if nothing else, ends the discussion altogether.
The war council ends on that note, and we stay in the room as it empties out.
When no one remains, except for her family—the rest of the high court—I ask, “So where are we actually going?”
She grins. “The Murkwood.”
The Queen’s Fool
Vlari
I’ve never been one to dream. I wasn’t plagued with nightmares either—I just used to fall into a deep sleep. After ten years of nothing but dreams mingled with visions, I have to remind myself that this is real. I am awake. I am alive.
His presence helps. Drusk. Rystan. Having him by my side is an anchor in reality. If nothing else does, he feels real.
Rystan.
If someone had told me years ago that he was my mate, I would have laughed. Now that I've come to realize it, nothing in my life is more certain. When I'm so old that I forget who I am, I'll still know that he's mine.My mate. The man who was made for me.
I smile at him because I can’t help myself. He knows me better than I would have guessed.
I don't have a thing against the shy folk, of course, but going north just to rescue them seems like a monumental waste of resources. I would have spoken against it, and refocused us on the matter at hand, had I not seen an opportunity.
I need to go north.
“And what, pray, will we be doing in the Murkwood?”
I'm amused by the fact that he includes himself in my plan. He's right to. I have no intention of leaving him behind. “Raiding Old Keep.”
Old Keep isthe first settlement the fae built when we arrived to this part of Alfheimr long ago. Surrounded by beasts and demons, they opted to join forces and ensconce themselves behind unbreakable walls. I’ve read ballads and seen paintings of the once-magnificent castle the folk lived in before any court, before any kingdoms, when the unseelie and seelie hadn’t claimed their lands yet. Each stone of the castle is said to be imbued with magic, so that the castle will never be too hot or cold, too dark or light. So that no enemy can cross its doors.
It was abandoned when the unseelie and seelie parted ways, because that castle was meant for both courts, and could not be occupied by just one. They say the last to step out were the seelie king and the unseelie queen. If one had remained alone, the magic of Old Keep would have destroyed them.
I press, “If your hag didn’t lie, the book on shields is there. I wouldn't be surprised—Old Keep was shielded better than any other fae land. And if I'm right, there will be more elemental stones than we could ever need there.”
Every single stone in that castle is said to be an elemental stone.
I shouldn't rely on rumors and legends, but what else can we do? Appeal to the sea? We'll certainly try, but charming as Lind was, I doubt he'll offer his aid again. And even if he does, I want that book. Weighing so much on the word of a hag is madness.
“You forget. If an unseelie enters it without a seelie fae, it may fall to pieces,” Drusk points out.
“Well, I’ll find myself a seelie to drag along, then. Any volunteers?” I stare pointedly at my grandmother, who shakes her head.
“Oh, I think not,child. You go on your adventures. One of us has to remain here to protect your mother.”
I shrug off the slight. My mother can take care of herself just fine. “Very well. There’s a quarter of seelie blood in my veins. Maybe it’ll do the trick.”
Drusk snorts. “You’re as unseelie as they come. You'll never fool ancient magic.”
