Chapter 15 #2
Baeleon inclined his head. “I happen to have ambassadors from each of the other courts here as we speak. There’s always someone crawling through these halls when the doors are open.
I met with some of them last night, as a matter of fact.
” He waved over a servant with a tray of dried fruits.
“Circumstances being what they are, all four courts have agreed to a year’s time in which you are free to roam the Wyldes, a citizen of all of them until you choose one for yourself.
You have all the privileges and protections that each court provides while in their borders. ”
“But they haven’t even met me,” I said, then snapped my mouth shut. This open acceptance had to be a trick of some kind. Eberon looked more amused than anything else, Schula seemed pleased, and Thain just added a nod.
“Thank you for your generosity.” Eberon gave a small bow in his chair. I took his lead and bowed my head too. “I believe what Wren means is she is still learning of the fae generosity after so long among humans without it.”
I nodded vigorously, latching onto Eberon’s explanation, and the king laughed.
“It is well, young one. You will see soon enough how different from those human animals we are.” The king took a long drink from his wine, and I couldn’t help but feel a small pang of annoyance that he would disregard half of my lineage so easily.
He finished his glass, and as another was poured, he addressed our party.
“You three.” Baeleon swept the hand holding his wineglass at the triquetram around me. “You, of course, are tasked with traveling her through the Wyldes.”
“Of course, Sire.” Thain gave a rare smile, and Schula bowed her head. “We are honored to guard her and guide her.”
“And Thainalan, if she has magic, you are to assist her in managing her powers. What may not have surfaced in the human realms will surely spring forth here.” Baeleon leaned forward, to my horror, and took a deep breath through his nose in my direction.
“Ah, and unless I grow feeble in my old age, I’d say she has quite a bit of it under the surface. ”
Oh no. Oh no no no. My back burned, and I clenched my fists so tightly that my nails drew blood in my palms. If he looked deep enough, he’d find magic all right. But would the seal restraining it turn this evening of spectacle and merriment into something far worse?
“Yes, Majesty.” Thain bowed again.
“Now, with that business out of the way, I’m sure you know of our dire situation.” Baeleon gave me a pained look. “Many of our younger people are dead.”
“Yes, Sire. I’ve been informed,” I said, mouth dry.
“Very well, then, I would like to know your age and birthday, if I may,” he said, and many of the courtesans danced just a bit closer to the dais, all the better to eavesdrop.
“I am twenty-five years old.” The number felt so small, so insignificant in the room, and yet I heard a number of pitiful murmurs.
“And since I was found as a baby, I’m not sure of my precise birthday.
But I was only a few days old when I was found around harvest season, weeks at best, so Bryn and I always celebrated my birthday on the autumn equinox.
It’s close to when I should have been born. ”
“The equinox!” the king exclaimed, slamming his hands against the arms of his throne, causing me to jump and the music falter for a moment as he splashed wine onto the floor but didn’t shatter the glass this time. “A glorious day! Did you know of this, Eberon?”
“No, I didn’t, Sire.” Eberon gave me a grin. “A good day indeed. Wren, it’s the first day of power for our court. I’m only sorry we missed celebrating with you.”
“I can promise next year will be the most exciting birthday you’ve ever had. You’ll have to see the festivities in Thanantholl.” Schula smiled. “That is, if you want to, of course.”
My eyes rounded, and everything in me tried to relay without words that, no, I most certainly did not want the most exciting birthday I’d ever had, shaking my head in small but significant motions. Schula simply covered her smile with a wineglass.
“To have a birthday on the equinox is quite a celebration around here.” The king gave me a wink. “The finest day of the finest season. And almost always a sure sign that you belong with the Autumn Court. Are you certain you don’t have a particular pull to this place?”
“I would love to see Thanantholl on the equinox.” I smiled, resigning myself to his invitation. “I’ll be sure to be here for it, Sire. All of the Wyldes has felt so alive to me, I’m afraid I wouldn’t be able to tell the difference yet.”
“The human blood meddling, I’m sure.” He waved me off, taking a swig from his glass.
“You’ll find yourself in the Wyldes, now that you’re in them.
Give it time. Now, with that business out of the way, let’s become more casually acquainted.
What do you think of the food here? I’m told Eberon took you to the River’s Edge. ”
We talked for an hour about things to see in Thanantholl, the food, the craftsmanship, the architecture.
Baeleon gushed about everything the Autumn Lands had to offer.
Servants came and went with food, and after a time, the orchestra took a break and several important fae came forward to introduce themselves.
Nymphs, sprites, wisps, fae of every kind came to greet their king and steal glances at me. Some were beautiful. Some were frightening. All were strange to me. I had barely gotten used to Thain, Eberon, and Schula. I wasn’t ready for a parade of every person in the palace. Yet here they were.
Another hour dragged on, and then another. Between all the wine and the amount of time the king had held me hostage with his parade of lords, I was squirming for the privies. Schula was too, or she sensed my emergency and came to my rescue.
“Sire, may I excuse myself to the washroom?” She stood gracefully, and the king nodded before returning to the newest lord to approach the lower dais. “Thank you. Oh, and Wren, would you like to know where they are? I can show you.”
I latched on to her, barely remembering to bow, and we left the room. Fae left and right tried to pause us for a chat, but Schula expertly avoided each one. The twisting golden halls of the palace echoed our footsteps as we turned further in.
My muscles relaxed with every step away from the noise of the great hall. I nearly sighed with relief when we turned in to an empty hall.
“Forgive Baeleon. His social appetite hasn’t been sated no matter how many centuries he indulges it.” Schula smiled. “I know it’s not your favorite thing, but we all appreciate it. I’m afraid your name is going to ripple through the Wyldes now, though.”
“I was ready for that,” I said. I sighed. “Thank you, I don’t think I can stand it anymore.”
Her eyes softened, and a cool hand rested on my arm. “Any time.”
Schula was such a comfort. I didn’t understand the dynamic of many kinds of family members, but I liked to think we were already getting along well.
If anything, I wished to find a way to repay her kindness, but that wasn’t the only thing on my mind.
“Um, you weren’t lying about the privies, were you? ”
Schula gave a light laugh, like snow dancing in the sky. “No, I wasn’t. We’re almost there.”