I was surprised when Rev suggested we go to the Crackling Court next, but it makes sense. This is where the ancient we need lies, slumbering beneath the eerily still waters.
"Is it always this calm?" I ask.
Rai stands beside me, admiring the lake, his hands folded behind his back. "Almost always, yes."
"What are the exceptions?"
"When a storm rolls through, the water—dances."
"Dances?" Rev asks.
Rai nods. "It begins as a gentle ripple, as expected. But at the height of a thunderstorm, the waves rise in unnatural formations. From the shores, it honestly looks like two figures dancing together. No ships ever successfully make it out to sea during these times to find out exactly what's happening. We only have legends to explain the phenomenon."
"Your element is lightning," I say. "You can't control the storm?"
He shakes his head. "We can control the lightning, but not the wave’s reaction. Even the fae from the Glistening Court have been unable to control the lake when it rises in this way. It's as if it's protected by a great power."
"I suppose it is.”
Rai whips his gaze to me. "It is?"
I purse my lips, unsure how much information to give to Rai. We’re trying to make him an ally, but how much do we trust him? "There is an ancient slumbering here,” I say quietly.
His eyebrows rise. “A beast like the one that destroyed the High Court?”
“Almostdestroyed the High Court,” Rev amends.
I nod. “One not unlike the being that rose in the High Court. One not unlike the Night Bringer."
Rai's eyes flare. "And how do you know this?"
"I simply do." That is where my trust will end.
He narrows his eyes and glances at my backpack. He suspects the truth, but I will not tell him that the spell book, which only answers to me, holds knowledge of every event that has ever happened in our world. The council knows the book has power and can grant me spells no one else has access to. Members of the council have made it clear they deem control of the spell book to be too much power for one—untrusted—fae to hold. And they don’t even know its full ability. I don’t plan to let them in on this secret.
"And you intend to raise this ancient power,” Rai says calmly, but his jaw clenches. A soft breeze blows over us, rustling my hair. The water doesn’t so much as ripple.
“We haven't decided."
"We would take your opinion into account," Rev tells him.
"Into account," he says through gritted teeth. "We all saw what rising one of these beasts did to the High Court. And you would take myopinion into account."
"What happened to the High Court will not happen here," I say. “And yes, if we believe raising this power is the only way to save the entire realm, we'd complete the act with or without your blessing”.
“But that would be a last resort. We both believe you to be a wise fae. You'll hear us out, and we'll honor your wishes."
"For now," he says, voice low.
"For now," Rev admits.
Rai shakes his head and runs his fingers through his hair. "How can you be sure it will not destroy my court?"
"The High Court relied heavily on the power of the king, and he was slumbering directly below the island,” I answer. “It affected the very structure of the island when he rose. In your court's case, the ancient is miles off. There is plenty of space between your capital and the lake. I can't promise to be able to control the being we raise. But the rising itself will not affect your court."
"You cannot promise to control the being," he repeats.
"Raising any of these beings is a risk,” Rev says, “but it is the only way to even our power with our enemies. If there was another way, I'd do it."
