17. Timas
Chapter 17
Timas
T he trickle of the waterfall is a peaceful background to the raging storm in my mind. I’m not sure how long I have been sitting on this bench in the garden, it feels like hours. I flew late into the night, searching for Emilia. I crossed the channel, but those at the port on the continent didn’t know anything. I’m angrier than I have ever been, but mostly, I am devastated. Emilia was taken from the palace without a trace. No one saw or heard anything—she just disappeared. It should be impossible to gain access to the palace with the amount of security I have here. Clearly this is a false notion because somehow my Emilia is gone. It feels like my heart has been ripped from my chest. We may not have had the ceremony to cement our spirits together, but she was already a part of me. Emotion clogs my throat, and a stray tear falls down my cheek. I don’t know what I will do if something happens to her. I can’t even think about this world without her smile and gentle spirit, her fierce loyalty and unending kindness. Perhaps she was too good for this palace, but she stayed with me anyway .
Footsteps on the pebbled path break through my thoughts, causing me to look over my shoulder.
“You look like death.” I can’t even play the game we normally play, and Milori sees that written on my face. I turn back around to look at the waterfall as I try to figure out my next step. Milori sits down beside me, crossing his feet and staring at the waterfall with me. “We’ll find her, Timas.”
“I know we will, and I will kill whoever has taken her… slowly.” I’m not joking; whoever has taken her will pay a heavy price for kidnapping my spirit bond.
“I’m honestly surprised you aren’t running around destroying things. This is new for you.” I look over at my best friend. He has seen many things during his time, not only as the captain of the guard, but also as my friend. Admittedly, in the past I have lost my temper over such trivial matters, but now I see that my anger is just a hindrance to solving my problems.
“Getting angry isn’t going to help me find Emilia. She doesn’t need me yelling at the staff and breaking things, she needs me to find her. And I will find her.” Milori’s eyes enlarge and his mouth hangs open.
“Wow, I never thought I would see the day that you would grow so much as a person.” I bring my left hand around and punch him in the shoulder, pushing him off the bench. He lets out a howl in pain.
“For the sun’s sake, Timas, you didn’t need to punch me that hard! I was just making an observation.” A simple grunt is all I can muster at the moment. I may be changing how I deal with things, but he definitely needs to be reminded of where he stands in our relationship. He manages to get to his feet and rubs the part of his arm that I punched. “Note to self: don’t say anything about Timas becoming a better person.” I look over at him with a raised eyebrow as he throws his hands up in surrender. “Fine, fine. So what is the plan? How are we going to get her back?”
I’ve been thinking about it for hours, and there is only one solution. “We need to get Neeve to help us find the Night Court. I know they are the ones who took her, and I am no longer going to sit around and wait for them to attack again. They want a war? Fine! I will bring one to them.” Milori nods along with my plan.
Our trip from the garden to the wing Neeve has been staying in is quick. This wing of the palace is smaller, an addition added by my great-grandfather. The halls are narrower and the decor is more subtle. Putting Neeve here isn’t an insult, it’s simply the easiest wing to monitor who goes in and out. It is to keep them and us safe while they stay here. The oak doors leading to the rooms assigned to Neeve come into view. Milori uses an ornate knocker on the door. After a moment, one of Neeve’s lady’s maids answers the door.
“We need to speak with Queen Neeve.” The woman looks at us skeptically, but seeing as I am the King, she really can’t refuse an audience. She asks for a moment and returns inside. A minute later, the door opens wider, and Milori and I walk in. The sitting room we walk into has lounge chairs, sofas and a few armchairs decorating the space. Towering bookshelves cover the wall on the right, and two large arched windows let in light along the back wall. Neeve is standing tall in a long, dark blue gown. Her stiff posture shows me she is on the defensive, and perhaps she needs to be.
“Thank you for meeting me on such short notice. I am in a position that I cannot fix on my own so I am here to ask for your help.” I don’t like the idea of owing Neeve, but Emilia is out there, probably being treated poorly. I will do anything to get her back, even if it means making a deal with the Queen of the Night Court.
“I’ve heard there has been quite a lot of commotion, but no one seems to know why.” At least the knowledge of Emilia leaving hasn’t gotten out.
“Emilia has been kidnapped. There was a note left to indicate that she was leaving to protect me and the Fae people but we have reason to believe that she did not leave on her own… We think the Night Court has her.” A look of shock registers on Neeve’s face, and then a look of compassion. She lets her hands go to her side, her posture once stiff and on guard, is slightly less defensive now.
“I am so sorry. I never wished your spirit bond harm and if my half-brother, Oberon, has her then she is not going to be in a comfortable situation.” Anger bubbles up in me. I knew as much but to hear it confirmed makes me want to destroy something. Tamping down my anger, I refocus on Neeve .
“I need your help to get into the Shrouded Forest. I will not bond with you but I will help you regain your rightful title in exchange for this information. I will even allocate several islands for you to take over, bring the innocent Night Court members, and start your lives anew.” Neeve just stares at me for a long moment before she says anything.
“I did not come here to make an enemy of you, nor did I come here to force a bond that would bring harm to your people or my own. I desired to see the Fae people united together as one. No more Night Court and Day Court but one Fae.”
“I will not give up Emilia for you. We can come to an agreement on how we can work together, but the idea of uniting all Fae under one leadership is short-sighted. There are centuries of history between our Courts and our people. One bonding will not heal those wounds, but we can work together to make our people stronger. I desire to break down the social classes, and if you desire to bring your people out of exile, we can help each other. I just need your help in getting to the Night Court and I will kill your half-brother and support you as you step up into your role as Queen.”
“Oberon is a vicious and cruel man. He takes pleasure in people’s pain. He has been tormenting my people for the past two years, and I would do anything to see him destroyed. Though my hope was to build a lasting and unbreakable Fae rulership between both Courts, I can see that is not an option. I do not support your council trying to force you into this decision so I will come with you to rescue Emilia.” I don’t know what I was expecting, but her offering to come along was not it.
“You do not need to come along. Just tell us how to get there, and we will take care of Oberon.”
“You can not navigate the forest without my help. The forest is a being of its own. It has not taken kindly to the Night Court making it their home, and for that reason, it uses its power to force people out. The fog causes delusion, the paths are riddled with dangers. There is no one path to get to the Court. We have had to come up with other ways to mark our path through the forest, and without me, you cannot navigate it.” I’m slightly annoyed I can’t do this without her aide but she does know the area better than me or my guard. Reluctantly, I nod in agreement. I am not sure I can hide the unease I feel having her come along but I know this is likely the right move.
“We will leave within the hour. Meet me at the docks.” Not waiting for a response, I leave with Milori right on my heels. We walk in silence for a while as we head back to prepare for our journey. I know something is bothering Milori, but I wait until he speaks his mind.
“I am concerned about the council.” With everything going on with Emilia, the council is the last thing I have been thinking about.
“Why?”
“Did you not find it odd that Uldor voted in favour of the Royal Compliance Act? Aecus was blackmailed into bringing the vote, and now Uldor, a man who has supported you faithfully since your rise as King, wishes to force you into a political bond? It doesn’t feel right.” He’s right, I was beyond shocked when Uldor voted yes. He has been a mentor and helped me navigate many of the challenges of the crown but I quickly forgot about it when I heard about Emilia. Estola is standing in front of my suite doors, walking back and forth, deep in thought. She looks up when she hears us heading down the hall and walks towards us.
“Timas, there is more going on in the council than we know.” I look over at Milori. Did she hear our discussion? A feeling of apprehension courses through me. “After we discovered the blackmailing with Aecus, I followed up on a rumour I had heard a few months ago. I didn’t think much of it then because it came from a drunk, but then I began to wonder.”
“What rumour?” I’m surprised she hasn’t mentioned this before.
“There was talk of a group of nobles who were dissatisfied with your rule. They believed they deserved more privilege and power because of the families they were born into. They didn’t like the new policies you were enacting, trying to break down the class barrier. They believe they have a right to the luxuries of their family name. Things changed when they found out a human was to be Queen. They believe that Fae should rule Fae. It looks like they have decided to take action on their grievances. I have not been able to ascertain who is all involved but I did hear that there is someone higher up in the Court who has been helping them. I believe that someone is on the council.” I feel pure rage at this. The council is supposed to help protect the people!
“I want you to find out who is behind this, Estola. Use whatever you need to root out these traitorous Fae. A noble should have no more rights than any other citizen. If they cannot see that, then I will make them. I am going after Emilia and leave you in charge to find out who is behind this.”
“It would be my pleasure, Your Majesty.” With a tight nod, I walk past Estola and into my suite. Milori stops to talk to her, but I trust she will find the traitors and bring them to me. There may be snakes all around me, but I will fight not only for my people, but for my Emilia. Nothing will stop me from bringing her back, and Oberon won’t survive his first encounter with the Day Court King.