Leon throws a look at his brother before reluctantly striding out of the room. I follow while the dryads duck back into Fairon’s chamber. I suspect he’s watched constantly.
Out front, a group of seven fae are facing off against Leon’s unit. Unlike Leon’s soldiers, who wear fighting leathers and practical tunics, the new fae are dressed in full armor. I recognize the orange symbol on their breastplates as the same crest Leon has on a ring around his neck. A tall, broad-shouldered man with a thick brown mustache stands at the front of the group, arguing with Eryx.
“That’s an order!” the man with the mustache barks.
Eryx draws himself up and growls through his beard.
“We don’t take orders from you, Velrir.”
“But you do take orders from the king,” Velrir clips back.
“I don’t think Lord Frinlail needs to be reminded of that fact,” Leon says, his voice cutting through the air.
The fae in armor straighten, finally noticing us. Then they all bow in turn. Velrir goes last, looking slightly reluctant.
“Your Highness, I apologize. We didn’t wish to disturb you as you visited your brother.”
“If that were true, Velrir, you would’ve stayed the gloam off this island. What do you want?”
Velrir’s jaw tightens, as if it’s killing him not to snap back in response to Leon’s rudeness.
“I carry a message from His Majesty.”
“Interesting. I didn’t know you’d been demoted to errand boy,” Leon sneers. “What’s so urgent?”
“Nothing, Your Highness,” Velrir says. “Only that your grandfather is very pleased to hear you have returned after solongan absence, and he requests your presence at the palace.”
A smile spreads over Velrir’s face that I don’t like at all. Then he looks directly at me.
“As well as the presence of Her Royal Highness Princess Morgana.”
Chapter 13
Leon
The day I die and get to the Eternal Realm, or the Gloamlands—which, at this point, seems likelier—I’d like to ask whichever god put me there a few important questions. Starting with who exactly I pissed off so much that my plans always have to go to shit.
We’re not meant to be here, now, following my grandfather’s smug attack dog Velrir across the grounds. This is exactly where I wanted usnotto be, and there’s only so much bad luck a man can take before it starts to feel personal.
We enter the palace through the south wing, a route that takes us past the banquet hall, doors flung open so we get a good view as we pass, and the ballroom too. The three chandeliers that float above it are reflected in a floor polished to such a shine it looks like a mirror. I roll my eyes because I know it’s no accident Velrir has taken this way.
Where my grandfather is concerned, everything is a game. And the name of this game is “Intimidate the Human Queen.” This palace is far older and grander than the one at Elmere. He wantsto remind her we were here long before her family and will be here long afterward.
It’s exactly this kind of nonsense I was hoping to avoid. I thought if I brought Ana straight to Fairon that maybe she could heal him, and we could then leave Lavail without ever having to encounter my grandfather. But, of course, nothing escapes King Respen. I can only hope I can keep her out of whatever political maneuvering he has in store for her.
Because hewilltry to turn this to his advantage in some way, I can guarantee that. I haven’t prepared her for this, and part of me is screaming at myself, telling me to grab her and bundle her out of this viper’s nest before it’s too late.
Except I still need her here to help Fairon.
My frustration flares at the mess of it all, making me stop walking abruptly.
“You can leave us now, Captain Velrir,” I say.
The fool spins on his heel, eyeing me.
“I believe His Majesty wanted me to escort you to him directly, Your Highness,” he says with his usual trick of making my title sound like it tastes bad in his mouth.
“Why would I need an escort?” I say coldly. “Have you forgotten I live here?”
