Chapter 29
Rowan
Days passed and life was good. I spent the majority of my time with Caelan, not only discussing our upcoming ceremony but learning everything there was to know about him.
I fell more and more in love every day. Gone were the fears I’d had when I first met him.
The fears that he didn’t feel for me the same way I felt for him.
He was not shy about that. Not anymore. And I was no longer embarrassed by his displays of affection.
Even though Aenan still grumbled about them.
I tried to shield. Really, I did.
I was practising building that wall as I relaxed in the library, a forgotten fae romance resting off to my side. But, as if my previous thoughts had summoned him, Caelan appeared, strolling into the room dressed in his riding gear, carrying a small pack. He sat on the seat beside me.
“I am leaving for a few days,” he stated, taking my hands in his. “There have been reports of something in the Mystwoods and I need to check what it is. Just in case.”
“But that’s two and a half days’ ride from here,” I despaired. “You will be gone for at least a week. Is there no one closer?”
“No one that we trust. No, it needs to be me. Aenan will be here, should you need anything.”
“I’m not worried about myself.” I was concerned for him. “Maybe I can go with you?” I ventured, but he shook his head.
“Not this time, little bird. I will be riding hard and sleeping rough. It won’t be pleasant. Especially with the weather expected to turn any day now.”
Snow had been forecast, the cold change due by the end of the week. The houseboys had been stockpiling wood, and the stores teemed with food. While I was looking forward to the first snowfall, I would not like to be sleeping in it. But I didn’t want him to, either.
Frowning, I followed him to the back hall, the one that led to the stables. “I’ll miss you,” I whispered, wrapping my arms about his waist.
“I’ll visit you in your dreams,” he promised, pressing a sweet kiss to my forehead.
The reminder that he could spread a warmth through me, and a small smile tugged at my lips.
“I look forward to it,” I murmured, watching him walk away.
He headed to the stables, where I knew Mack would be saddled and waiting for him.
I stood at the back door, watching until he disappeared, my heart already yearning for his return.
Needing a distraction, I went searching for my brother, finding him in his study. Of course. I was greeted by the sight of scattered maps strewn across his desk. One in particular caught my eye, its familiar curves and lines resembling Scotland.
“Where is this?” I asked, gesturing to the map.
“That is Caeldonia,” Aenan replied, his fingers tracing the borders. “Our realm.”
Intrigued, I moved closer so I could take in the details. “It looks just like Scotland, but bigger,” I remarked.
“Is that so?” Aenan cocked an eyebrow, but I had the distinct impression he already knew that.
My eyes caught on the border lines, and I couldn’t help but wonder about Assyntian. “Where are we?” I enquired, assuming it would be in the same location as Assynt in Scotland.
Aenan pointed to the land in the northwest, just as I had expected.
“This is Wyndaryn Estate,” he said, pointing to a spot just left of the centre.
“And these are the Mystwoods.” I watched as he traced his finger further west towards the coast. It didn’t seem so very far to me, but having walked the distance, I knew it was.
“What are these places?” I asked, pointing to the other lands that bordered Assyntian.
“This is Norsdonia,” he said, tapping the kingdom at the top of the map. “It is a land of snow and ice. The Norsdonii live there.”
“The Norsdonii?”
“They are a white-haired fae. They mostly keep to themselves, and you won’t see them travelling about in the southern lands all that often. Especially in the warmer months. They much prefer the frosty climate of their own kingdom.”
“Have you been there before?”
“Yes. Once. A very short trip just over the border. It is a beautiful land, though it is quite cold.”
“And what about this one?”
“That is Celtaanea. The Celtaan people predominantly live on the islands here.” He indicated the larger islands off the western coast of Assyntian. The only one I knew the name of in Scotland was Skye, but I didn’t know what it was called here.
“This one is Skuy,” he answered, reading my mind. “The Misty Isle. It is where the royal estates are.”
“I wanted to ask you about that. When you were telling me about the curse, you said something about the royal lines losing their divine favour. What did that mean?”
“My understanding is that the gods were the ones to select the original sovereigns for the realm. Ever since then, they would bestow their blessings upon the chosen royal lines, marking the new ruler’s ascent.
But when they proclaimed the curse, they withdrew their divine favour as retribution for King Trefyn’s pact with the deamhan.
His turn to darkness was the highest form of betrayal.
“When coronation after coronation went by and the gods failed to show, the people began to lose faith in the monarchy. It led to the gradual erosion of royal authority. As time passed, doubts regarding the legitimacy of those in power arose. In the wake of the curse’s effects, coronations ceased altogether, and the monarchy devolved into mere symbols of power rather than genuine rulers. ”
He pressed a thumb to his chest, indicating himself.
“There is only one true king left now. The others are mere figureheads – lords. Though they may still be revered in their lands and retain certain ceremonial duties, their actual influence has dwindled. And until the gods deem it fit to restore their divine favour and designate the next rightful successor, this state of affairs is likely to endure.”
“Are you the next in line for Assyntian?” I asked, slightly awed. “Are you a prince?”
He laughed at the reverence on my face. “Yes,” he chuckled. “But I am a lord only, dear sister. The prince title disappeared along with the last king. But that still makes you a lady,” he teased, chuckling again at my shock. “You should see your face. Why do you think they call you milady?”
The next morning dawned all too quickly, and when Jesmina came to ready me for the day, I was already in a foul mood.
I hadn’t had a single dream all night and was miserable that I’d missed my opportunity to speak with Caelan.
Worries over his welfare and doubts about his reason for going clouded my good sense.
I had nearly convinced myself that he had left because of me.
That he had needed a break. That I had been over the top in my affections, and he had offered his services when Aenan had told him about the Mystwoods just to get away from me.
I was all but pouting when Jesmina pulled back my bed curtains.
“Now, what’s that face about?” she asked, frowning at me.
“Nothing,” I grumbled.
“You’ll be missing sweet Caelan, methinks.” She laughed to herself. “Well, you will be unhappy to learn that your brother was also called away on urgent business in the middle of the night, so it will just be yourself at breakfast this morning.”
Aenan was gone too. “What sort of business?” I asked. “Do you know when he will return?”
“All I know is that one of the villagers arrived just before midnight, conveyed the emergency, and then Aenan and his man Orick left shortly thereafter. I’ve been told to remind you to stay on the estate grounds, preferably in the castle but no further than the gardens.”
I rolled my eyes at my brother’s high-handedness. His overprotectiveness.
“What are your plans for the day, milady?” Jesmina asked, looking through my wardrobe.
“I may take a walk after breakfast, maybe visit the stables,” I answered. “Then, I don’t know.”
It was enough for Jesmina to decide on my attire, and she pulled out a green skirt with a matching top. Once dressed, I thanked her for the assistance and went in search of breakfast.
It was lonely without my brother or Caelan at the huge table, and I ate my meal in silence, sullen and unhappy.
My mind kept trying to rehash the thoughts I’d had when I first awoke, but I pushed them aside, instead considering what to do for the remainder of my day.
Light streamed through the windows, so I decided a small walk did indeed sound like a plan.
Especially since there was a chance I would not be able to leave the castle in the coming days due to the oncoming weather.
Once my breakfast was concluded, I headed to the kitchens to beg an apple for Gertie.
After retrieving my lighter green cloak, I left via the library terrace doors and headed towards the eastern lawns.
Mindful of not venturing too far, I kept an eye on the castle, certain that if I could see it in the distance, I was still upon the estate.
Before too long I found myself walking along the edge of the forest, my mind ticking over.
The cool breeze that swept through the trees eased my flushed cheeks, but didn’t ease my thoughts.
I couldn’t help but think maybe there was some truth to them.
I was overanalysing everything, I realised that, and still I couldn’t help but rethink all I had done.
All I had said. It was stupid. I was stupid.
But I couldn’t help it.
An owl hooted, the only warning I had before it swooped down from above, flying over my head. It was so low that I ducked, fear spiking through my veins. An image of myself swam though my mind. An image of me, standing right where I was. I shook my head, trying to clear it.
What the hell was that?
It was the biggest bird I had ever seen.
I watched it fly off, gliding through the branches with a skill I envied.
But when I turned around again, my heart stopped.
I had been so consumed, so overwhelmed by my deliberations, that I hadn’t realised how far I had strayed.
How far away from the edge of the lawn my steps had taken me.
I could no longer see the castle through the thick branches, and the sun barely made it through the canopy above.
The Dark Forest.
I turned, searching through the foliage for the way I had come. But it all looked the same. Dark. Foreboding. Rustling sounded in the undergrowth, and I stood frozen, visions of death moths and wild boars coming to mind. When it stopped, I half convinced myself it was nothing but the wind.
Until it sounded again. Closer this time.
I strained my ears, trying to pinpoint the direction.
“Hello? Is someone there?” I called out, peering into the woods. There was no response, but a feeling of unease swept down my spine. I’d had that feeling before, and without even thinking about it, I ran. Plunging into the woods. Pushing my way through the bracken.
A feeling of déjà vu swept over me. A different time. A different set of woods. The same feeling of being chased.
I ran as fast as I could, knowing Caelan was not there to save me this time. The sound of my pursuer crashed through the trees behind me, drowning out my ragged breaths. I dared not look back. Not this time. Not when I needed to watch where I was going. But it was all in vain.
A thick arm wrapped about my waist and pulled me back against a hard body.
Dread surged in my stomach and my heart bashed against my rib cage. I heaved in a breath, but before I could react, a heavy hand clamped over my mouth, silencing any chance of a scream.
A male stepped out of the trees in front of me. A male I had not seen before. I froze, my eyes wide with terror.
“Well, what do we have here, then?” he sneered. “Seems we caught a little bird flying through the woods.”