Chapter 36
Moonhill
“The late King’s own brother has forsaken him in death! A heretic! A usurper! He dares to claim Castivian for himself! Shame upon his name!”
— Kolson Strange, Minister of Spirit
I awoke in the late morning. The sun sparkled radiantly over Bastard’s Bay, reflecting off the ocean in gold smears like Lyonheart magic.
Reeking like a brothel, I stumbled sleepily out of the heavenly comfort of bed, making the dreadful mistake of glancing in the mirror. My knotted hair could rival a ratty tavern mop.
A thorough bath was necessary before anything else.
I took intentional time to wash my hair and moisturize my skin with a vanilla scented oil.
Picking my outfit for the day was easy. I’d been dying to wear a black and violet gown that the tailor master delivered to the house just a day prior.
I adjusted the thin straps of my dress and smoothed the flowing lace layers of the skirt down before applying cosmetics.
I was still experimenting, but I liked darker shades on my eyelids, and colors that matched my dress on my lips. I deserved femininity. Cleanliness. Maybe even beauty.
I placed a black chain around my waist, attaching Singer and the orb at each side. While they may have thrown off the elegance of my outfit, I preferred them with me.
Taming my hair took an excessive amount of time, but after I finished combing through it, I decided on my usual style.
By the time I was ready, it was midday.
I had wanted to discuss the bladebreathers and Moonhill with Xavian, but he was surely long gone by now. As king, his agenda was consistently full.
That was okay, though. I could go to him. He’d likely be at the House of Sterling.
I held the skirt of my dress up as I descended the steps and stopped by the kitchen for a light breakfast. Perhaps a muffin. I had been enjoying those. Especially plumberry.
“Late night?” Lady Jocelynn chimed from the living area.
I jumped back a step. “For Fate’s sake, I nearly pissed myself!”
She was perched elegantly on the couch, elbow resting on an overstuffed grey pillow, with her hair swept back into a low bun and an exotic hat atop her head.
“No need for such dramatics, or soiling a perfectly fine gown. That one suits you, by the way.”
“Thank you.”
She studied me for a moment, looking me over. “Anyhow, I was concerned when you missed tea. Your brother mentioned you were out until dawn.”
I did not care for Xavian sharing my business. Especially with the most judgmental person available.
“It was…a long night indeed. We’ll have to reschedule tea for tomorrow.”
Her face went sour. “My show is tomorrow. Or have you already forgotten?”
“I presumed it was in the evening.”
“It is, but for an event like this, I will be preparing and rehearsing all day. My cosmetics, naturally, will be flawless. For the guests, it begins in the evening, yes. Sir Riven should know that.” She sighed dramatically, crossed her legs, and folded her hands in her lap.
“No need to pout. We’ll be there. I’m sorry you went out of your way to check on me.” I grabbed a muffin from a black wicker basket on the counter and took a hearty bite, crumbs scattering.
“And what are you dressed up for, if not our daily tea?”
I swallowed, setting the muffin down on a loose napkin. “I plan on discussing Moonhill and the bladebreathers with my brother today. I’d like to visit as well. I understand it's only a few hours' ride north. The more riders we gain, the better chance we’ll have against the Drakers and Witchlords.”
“The king is unavailable today.”
I snapped my eyes up. “Maybe to you.”
Her king. My brother.
She sat poised for an argument. “Unavailable’ means unavailable. You will have to wait for your little Moonhill trip.” Crows flew back and forth outside the tall windows.
Xavian had not told me anything about being busy today. He told me hardly anything at all.
“What’s he so busy doing?” I pressed. Of course he had things to do, I just wanted to be included.
He was the one who dragged me here in the first place.
Over our few shared meals together, he had promised to discuss controlling the dreams and going over our inheritance. Neither of which had happened yet.
She considered her words carefully. “He’s spending the day tending to… personal affairs. Loose ends, I suppose, before the meeting in a few days.”
Personal affairs. I rolled my eyes and took another bite of muffin.
So he was either caught up with Lady Fiera and her tears, or tangled in other matters I probably didn’t want to know about.
Still, I was every bit as grown as he was, right down to the hour—and had more resources at my disposal than I could ever have imagined. I could just go to Moonhill on my own.
Amzee had offered to take me, but it could be weeks before I ran into her again, and I had no way of contacting her. I could ask Riven, but he would be busy training new recruits.
There was so much to be done. Everyone was busy, except for me. They had purpose. I did not. I would find mine if it was the last thing I ever did.
“Sounds like I’ll be going alone.” I patted the crumbs away and poured a glass of water from a silver pitcher on the counter.
Lady Jocelynn scowled. “You cannot go to Moonhill alone.”
“Why not?”
Shadows danced around the flowers and feathers adorning her hat, cascading off her dress and pooling on the floor.
“Because you are the Princess of Castivian, engaged to the heir of Whimcastor Hold. Are you really that dense?”
“Exactly. I’m the Princess of Castivian, and you believe you have the authority to tell me what I can and cannot do. Are you dense?”
The shadows wrapped tighter around her like a protective blanket.
“Hm. Good luck, then. Would hate to hold the bladebreather chaser back.”
Now she was going to treat me like I was doing the work of a commoner? No, I would not stand for it. I would never again let anyone believe that my actions were beneath them.
“You’re coming with me.”
She laughed. “I am not going to Moonhill.”
“Yes, the fuck you are.”
She glared, and for the first time, I think she truly despised me.
Three hours later, I rode horseback on Kostini, with Lady Jocelynn beside me on a black mare. We hadn’t spoken much, except for her making her displeasure known after I hadn’t been sure about which direction to go.
“That is why you should be studying your maps,” she’d lectured before taking the lead.
The trees around us swayed, as if waving hello and goodbye. Signs were nailed to posts every so often, pointing in the directions of various villages and small towns. The sky was a beautiful shade of blue, clear of clouds, and perfect for riding a bladebreather. I shuddered with excitement.
The final hour of our journey offered little to admire. Fewer villages and hardly any directionals until finally, there was a solitary plank nailed to a dying tree.
Moonhill.
I urged Kostini forward, catching sight of the clearing through the trees ahead. He seemed to sense my eagerness, and I leaned into his stride as he galloped. Lady Jocelynn did not share my enthusiasm and stayed trailing far behind.
Coming out of the woodline, there were open grass fields for miles. No houses or establishments.
Only bladebreathers, laying out in the sun and circling the skies in quick jaunts.
Black, red, blue, green, orange—every color of scales and fur.
My hands trembled. It was the very essence of my dreams—a landscape that could promise a better future. With the bladebreathers at our side, we could rescue the prisoners still trapped in the Waywards and forge vibrant new communities here. They were our chance to start anew.
“Elora!” a spunky voice called out.
Amzee walked alongside Zephy, waving from across the clearing.
Lady Jocelynn caught up, her chest blotching red.
“There are so many,” she said, holding tightly to her reins while I dismounted.
My orb glowed faintly, as if it wanted to see the bladebreather’s just as desperately as I did.
Amzee made her way to us. “I wasn’t expecting you to come this soon. I’m impressed.” She grinned. “Who’s this?”
If Lady Jocelynn didn’t care for me, she was certainly going to detest Amzee, but she would have to get over it. “Amzee, this is my brother's friend, Lady Jocelynn.”
Lady Jocelynn frowned. “That is what you see me as?”
I wasn’t sure what else she expected. It would have been worse to introduce her as Lord Draven’s wife.
“It’s so nice to meet you. The red cutie over there is Zephy.” She pointed to her bladebreather, who had run off to fly with a smaller, young one in the sky.
Lady Jocelynn grimaced at the beasts.
“We could try to find your match. Both of you, if you want. So few people are willing to try anymore. I assume that’s why you’ve come all this way,” Amzee added.
My heart skipped a beat.
“I needed to see Moonhill and the bladebreathers firsthand. Now that Lady Jocelynn and I have witnessed their magnificence with our own eyes, I’m hoping my brother, King Xavian, will have an incentive to advocate for more riders.”
Amzee didn’t react to my brother's identity, as if she already knew.
Lady Jocelynn and her steed backed away. “I will be going nowhere near them. I have children and a husband waiting at home.” She stuck her chin up at even the idea of trying to match with a bladebreather.
Amzee smiled at me. “Well, we can certainly try with you, Elora. Lady Jocelynn, you’re welcome to watch from the woodline if you’d feel more comfortable.”
“I don't need comfort. I need both of you to hurry up and either live or die so I can make it back for evening tea, if your brother does not kill me first.”
“No need for dramatics,” I said. I’d had enough of Lady Jocelynn for the day. “Amzee, what do I need to do?”
Actually approaching a bladebreather was slightly terrifying. I wasn’t exactly sure of their temperament, or what to say or do.
“Well, it’s probably best if we approach the youths. One near Zephy’s age would be ideal.”