Chapter 5
“S orin!”
A youngling’s voice pierced the silence as Sorin escorted Rayner through the Black Halls. His hood was down. The guards of the Halls had refused him entry unless he revealed his face, and Rayner needed the help of the Fae Queen more than he needed to remain unseen, so he’d complied.
He paused when Sorin stopped outside of what appeared to be a sitting room, and a child of no more than three was making her way as fast as she could on little legs to the prince.
Tangled mahogany hair surrounded her small face, and her jade green eyes were full of delight and fixed entirely on Sorin.
The Fire Prince crouched down, catching her gently. “Talwyn, what are you doing awake?” He glanced up at the harried nursemaid, who was making her way over. “Should she not be napping?”
“Tell her that,” the nursemaid replied, blowing stray hair from her face.
The child just giggled.
Talwyn Semiria. Orphaned daughter of the late Queen Henna, Queen Eliné’s sister. The child would be the Fae Queen of the Eastern Courts when she was of age. Until then, it appeared her aunt was raising her.
“I will watch her for a bit, Rosemary. Take a break,” Sorin said, still crouched before the Fae Princess who was peering up at Rayner. She watched him, eyes narrowed in suspicion as she pressed into Sorin.
The nursemaid wrung her fingers together. “Are you sure, your Highness? I do not wish to impose.”
“It is fine, Rosemary,” Sorin answered, a warm smile filling his face. “Do whatever you need to do.”
The nursemaid bowed, excusing herself, and Rayner’s attention was drawn back to the prince when Talwyn said, “Fire, Sorin!”
The prince chuckled, flames springing up and moving around the room while the princess chased them about. Sorin pushed back to his feet, lifting a hand, and a fire message disappeared among some flames. “I will have Eliné meet us here.”
Rayner merely nodded, unable to tear his eyes away from the little girl. Memories of another child with bright red hair giggling while his ashes had drifted around her and she tried to catch them in her small hands.
“Rayner?”
He blinked, finding the Fire Prince studying him. Rayner cleared his throat, forcing himself to look away from Talwyn. “Yes?”
The prince appeared to hesitate before he said, “I want to make it clear that I do not expect any form of repayment for arranging this audience. You are not indebted to me in any way.”
Rayner stared back at him. “You want nothing?”
“I still hope you will reconsider and aid me, but I am not requiring such a thing.”
“Sorin?”
They both turned at the sound of the feminine voice, and Rayner took in the Fae Queen. She was ethereal. Dark brown hair was swept into a knot at her nape, icy blue eyes surveying them all. A silver circlet sat atop her brow, and she smiled when her gaze landed on her niece.
“Eliné,” Sorin said, striding towards her. “This is Rayner.”
“Your Majesty,” Rayner greeted, bowing at the waist.
“A pleasure, Rayner,” she replied. Her head tilted as he straightened. “Sorin has been searching for you for quite some time.”
“This has nothing to do with that,” Sorin cut in quickly, catching Talwyn by the arm when she tripped over the rug and nearly landed on her face. The child giggled as he swung her up, settling her on his shoulders. “I will leave you two to visit while I take this one to nap.”
“No!” Talwyn cried, squirming atop his shoulders, but then she was giggling again as tiny flames danced along her arms and feet.
Eliné watched them leave. She waited a bit before she said to the two sentries standing guard.
“Leave us.” The pair hesitated, but when the queen sent them another look, they bowed their heads before doing as they’d been ordered.
When the doors to the room were shut, she motioned to a set of armchairs near the hearth. “Please sit.”
“After you, your Majesty,” Rayner replied, stepping back for her to pass.
When they were both seated, Eliné’s hands folded and resting in her lap, she said, “What can I do for you, Rayner?”
It was strange to hear his name. So few knew it, and even fewer used it. It was always Ash Rider. Known for what he could do, not for who he was.
“I am in need of your knowledge.”
A brow arched. “I am intrigued.”
“Do you know of a way to kill a being who can manipulate and control emotion?”
Eliné went utterly still. “There are no such beings in this world.”
“But if there were, how would you defeat one? Shirastone does not seem to affect—”
“You speak as if there is one in this world, Rayner,” the queen interrupted, the temperature in the room dropping noticeably.
“There is,” he confirmed. “She is powerful, and I do not believe her to be Fae, but something…else.”
The Fae Queen stood abruptly. “Where? Where is this being?”
“The Southern Islands,” Rayner answered, watching her begin to pace in front of the hearth.
“There is nothing on those islands.”
“There is an entire colony hidden among some cliffs. There are powerful enchantments around them.”
“Who? Tell me her name,” Eliné demanded.
“Those forced to live there call her the Baroness, but her name is Moranna.”
Eliné hissed a soft curse at the name. She was muttering, speaking to herself, and the only thing Rayner could catch was, “She must have come through with…” She cut herself off, turning and offering Rayner an apologetic smile. “Forgive me. It has been a very long time since I have heard that name.”
“You know her?”
“I know of her. I know…” Eliné grimaced, her icy blue eyes holding pity when she met Rayner’s gaze. “I know what she does. I know how you likely came into this world. I did not know she was here though, or I swear to Saylah, I would have done something. I will take care of this.”
But Rayner was already shaking his head. “Her death is mine.”
He proceeded to tell the Fae Queen what he knew, how he had been Moranna’s personal guard, how he had learned what she was doing, the curse that took his memories, and what he had been doing since the Oracle had helped him recover them.
He left out the parts about Breya and Aravis.
She might be willing to help him, but he didn’t trust anyone with information like that.
Not when it could easily be used against him.
Not when Aravis was still being used against him.
The queen clasped her hands behind her back. “You are correct in your belief that she is not Fae. She was created to serve a different purpose. Shirastone does not affect her because she is not Fae.”
“She has bands of deathstone. Not much, but she has these bands for the wrists that stifle my gifts. Do you know of a way to combat that?”
Eliné shook her head. “There is no way to combat deathstone, and such a thing would suppress her gifts, but then you are still with the problem of actually ending her.”
“There are also wards around the islands,” Rayner continued. “They used to just be around the cliffs themselves, but I was informed on my last visit that she has somehow warded the entirety of the islands. She knows the moment I step onto them, so taking her by surprise will not be an option.”
The queen smoothed her hands down her dress. “If you have some time, I may have a few things that can be of assistance. I can have food prepared for you?”
“I am fine, thank you.”
She nodded. “Would you like a room to rest?”
“I am fine here if that is all right with you.”
She nodded again. “I will send some refreshments.”
Rayner could have told her it wasn’t necessary, but he knew she’d do so anyway. Royal propriety and all that.
It was perhaps ten minutes later when the doors to the small sitting room opened again.
It wasn’t the help with refreshments though, and it wasn’t the Fae Queen.
It was the Fire Prince, a sleeping princess in his arms, head resting on his shoulder.
There was some sort of chocolate smeared on her cheek.
“Eliné said you were staying for a bit,” Sorin said by way of greeting. Rayner only nodded, eyes fixed on the sleeping child. “I would take her to her room, but I promised to be here when she woke up. I don’t break my promises to her.”
Rayner nodded again. He’d made promises too.
And then broken them.
“But I can keep you company,” Sorin added after a stint of silence.
“That’s not necessary.”
“I know,” Sorin replied, gently laying the sleeping princess on a sofa and covering her with a blanket. “Not necessary, but I also told Eliné I would deliver these.”
There was a burst of flame along a small table and a tray of sandwiches, nuts, cheese, and drinks appeared.
“Also not necessary,” Rayner said.
Sorin shrugged, moving towards the food. “Eat or don’t. I will keep you company either way.”
Rayner watched him fill a plate. Then watched him float that plate over to him on a flame along with a glass of liquor before he started fixing another plate for himself.
But Rayner could just stand there, holding the plate and glass.
When Sorin turned back to him, he stopped mid-step, a brow lifting in question.
“You are serving me?” Rayner asked.
“Do you need to get your own food?”
“You are a prince.”
“Whose job is to serve those in his care. Do you not have a residence in Solembra?”
“Yes, but—”
Sorin grinned, jerking his chin toward an armchair. “Just take a seat and eat, Rayner.”
He waited until Sorin had taken a seat in the armchair the queen had sat in before he lowered into the one opposite him. Sorin already had half a sandwich gone when Rayner said, “Thank you again for arranging an audience with the queen.”
Sorin waved him off. “What do you plan to do when you have accomplished these tasks of yours?”
Rayner blinked at him, the plate forgotten in his lap. “I’ve never thought about it.”
“You have family?” He glanced at the sleeping princess. “Children?”
“No,” Rayner answered. “No children.”