17. The Fae King
Even I couldn’t justify skipping an entire week of council meetings. Not when the Unseelie Queen was so obviously testing my weaknesses. There was no chance Georgia had simply wandered into her path.
The Unseelie were growing bolder.
If my suspicions were correct, there would be more testing of our defenses. Perhaps, my council would have more news tonight. So, I dutifully made my way to the council chambers, hoping the meeting would be filled with its usual tedium—boring political machinations, posturing, and favor swapping.
I reached the council entrance at the same time as him, the vicious little viper. ”Hawthorne,” I said, inclining my head so little I wasn’t sure it was perceptible.
He paused and swept into a dramatic bow. ”Greetings, my king. You are well?”
I wanted to say I was exceedingly well, but that would have been a lie, which was why the wretched snake had asked in the first place. So, instead, I replied, ”Better than I deserve.”
After all, why should I deserve to be exceedingly well? I was a fool king who had been cursed by an imp of a human witch, scarcely five feet tall. I had a tenuous grasp on my crown, and I was putting the entire isle at risk in this weakened state.
Hawthorne’s eyes narrowed in suspicion, but his expression quickly turned to polite concern. ”And your bride? How does she fare? I heard she had an encounter with the Unseelie Queen.”
”Did you?” I asked through gritted teeth. What part did he play in all this? I already had Harry and Rosie watching over Georgia, but perhaps, I needed to add on to her guard. How would it look to my people and council if I couldn’t protect my own bride?
Within the castle, the council room was hidden in the safe, sturdy trunk of an ancient tree. Perfect for deadening sound from any passing eavesdroppers and camouflaged from those who might expect such a meeting to take place in a grand hall. The tree spirit also had a mind of his own, occasionally picking up roots and moving when the mood struck.
As we ducked through the tree’s hollow and entered the council chambers, I was able to slip away from Hawthorne and his not-so-subtle fact finding mission. The rest of my council was already milling around the small, wooden room.
Upon my entrance, several of them came to greet me with jovial smiles, congratulations, and hearty claps on the back. Now, this was a victory. It didn’t seem like anyone thought my soul was rotting now. I was soon to be a happily married man, after all.
”Congratulations on your new bride! Tell us how you wooed her,” said one of the elder members with a fond smile.
”Business first,” I said, taking my place at the head of the large oak table.
Everyone took their places, and the meeting began in earnest.
There were the usual territory disputes, common among the folk. Often I declined to rule on these and forced the parties to resolve their own differences. As a rule, the folk didn’t like a heavy-handed king. The only laws we truly answered to were those of nature.
I drummed my fingers on the tabletop, wishing the meeting was over. ”Other matters?” I asked, hoping to keep things moving along.
Rowan, an ancient fae with a long white beard, cleared his throat. ”Yes, your majesty. One of a personal nature. While you were away collecting your bride, we were able to secure the return of your father’s sword from the little folk under the hill. Thunderblade is now in the royal armory being sharpened and cleaned.”
That was good news. My father had never lost a battle with the sword, and I liked the idea of keeping it nearby. ”Excellent. And what of the thieves?”
”If they or their children ever ride to battle, all of their swords will shatter and fail. Also, the tall ones used our raid as cover to reclaim their territory near the great oak.”
”Fitting.”
From there, the conversation took a dark turn—disappearances. While I was away, three servants had gone missing. Each served an important member of the court.
”The unseelie,” I murmured, my suspicions now confirmed.
”Indeed,” answered one of the members.
”Were they taken, or were they spies?” I asked.
The elder Rowan spoke again. ”Taken, majesty. My guard is one of the missing. He has served me honorably for two centuries. He didn’t take a single personal effect with him, not even his sword.”
A redcap growled low under his breath. ”A warrior would never leave his sword.”
I nodded and turned to Hawthorne, our supposed expert on the unseelie. ”Hawthorne, what do you make of these disappearances? Do you believe they are the work of the unseelie?”
He bowed his head in feigned deference. ”Without more information, it is hard to be certain. However, the unseelie queen has expressed an interest in meeting with you, king.”
I chose my words carefully. ”I have no quarrel with the unseelie queen. However-”
Rowan’s younger brother, Remus, pushed back his chair and exploded, ”Except for her wretched hurricane!”
My mouth quirked into an amused smile. This was why I kept Remus on the council. He often said what needed to be said and in far less diplomatic terms than I ever could. ”Quite,” I agreed. Not a month ago, the unseelie had unleashed a fierce hurricane that had been set on a path to blaze across our shores before making landfall in the human kingdom. It was a violation of our shores and waters as well as the human’s land. While I had no real love for the mortals, I had no wish for war either. I had been forced to intervene.
Remus flushed, and his jaw worked in irritation. ”Sorry, my king. I didn’t mean to interrupt. It’s just she could have taken out half of the island along with the human territory!”
”I agree,” I said.
”The Unseelie Queen wishes to send her apologies on that matter. A member of her cabinet informed me the wind sprites grew restless,” Hawthorne said, brazenly looking around at the council as he dished out this obvious falsehood.
I snorted. ”Restless wind sprites? Do you believe that?”
Hawthorne inclined his head in more feigned deference. ”It is not my job to believe or not, my king. The Unseelie Queen has given a message, and I have shared it. What you do with it is your decision and yours alone.”
The aged Rowan pointed a gnarled finger at Hawthorne. ”See, here, boy. You are on a council of advisors. Your job is to advise. We don’t need an errand boy for the Dread Queen.”
A few people glanced around the table at the slur ”Dread Queen.” I hid my smile. I’d have Harry send over two bottles of our finest wine to Rowan and Remus’s rooms later.
Hawthorne’s eyes flashed, and through tight lips, he said to me, ”The unseelie queen could be a powerful ally against the humans.”
”We are not at war with the humans,” I reminded him.
A redcap with a dark beard boomed, ”Why not?” He stroked his red, bloodstained cap lovingly, hopefully. Redcaps were violent fae. They lived for war and combat. With each victory, they dipped their hats in the blood of their slain enemies.
I rubbed the bridge of my nose. ”Because we are at peace. The humans are no threat to us.”
”Peace is for the weak,” muttered the redcap. ”That storm might have taken out a chunk of their settlement along the seaside.”
Hawthorne nodded as if considering this for the first time. ”If the hurricane had been allowed to continue along its path, nearly half the coast would have been wiped out. Half the humans, half the problem.”
”And what of the other half who would come with their best warriors and mages? What of the ripped up trees, coral reef destruction, and washed up fish? What of the delicate sea oats and the turtle eggs hiding within? Would you have us wipe them out as well?”
Rowan cleared his throat once more. ”Wisely said, my king. The humans were once a threat, but they fear us now. It has been many generations since any of their rulers have made a move against us. And now you are marrying one of their own, a princess. I’d say relations are better than ever.”
I nodded. There was no need to tell them exactly how my bride had come to our shores. Though needless to say, I didn’t expect the humans to send wedding gifts anytime soon.
Rowan continued on, inclining his head in deference to the redcap. ”However, we will need the redcaps to continue their fierce defense of our shores.”
The redcap narrowed his eyes but nodded. ”There is no glory in defeating a weak foe. Bring us one worthy of our skills, oh king. Then we will prove ourselves on even footing.”
”I trust you would.” Unless I wanted this meeting to turn into a war council, I needed to wrap things up. ”Hawthorne, deny the unseelie queen in the most politic way possible, but deny her all the same. I cannot meet with her just weeks after she has just taken such a hostile act without appearing to reward it. There is also the matter of these disappearances. I want those looked into… quietly.” I glanced at two fae who had not spoken throughout the meeting, a brother and sister dressed in pale gray robes. My spies. Barely perceivable, one nodded. ”I also agree that the redcaps must continue to fiercely defend our isle. No human vessels must be allowed to cross into our waters. If they try, drag them to the bottom of the sea or slay their occupants one by one. The choice is yours.”
The redcap lowered his head. ”Yes, my king.”
It wasn’t wise not to give the redcaps something to do. I hoped this would continue to satisfy their bloodthirst. They were advantageous allies at war time, but during peace they could be difficult to control.
”We will continue to monitor the situation with both the humans and the unseelie. And on that note, are we ready to adjourn?” I was ready to return to my wine and stargazing.
Several heads nodded, and papers and chairs began to shuffle.
”You never told us about your happy news, king,” Hawthorne prodded, returning to the subject of my new bride.
Rowan placed a hand on my back. ”Yes, majesty, when are the nuptials? We know how you enjoy a good celebration.”
Remus chimed in, ”It’s been far too long since our last revel!”
Hawthorne listened with a gleam in his eye.
I tried not to let my displeasure show on my face. I wasn’t ready for Georgia to interact with the court. Our relationship was too tenuous. I had no idea what she would do or say.
There was also the threat of the unseelie. A revel would last days and bring in a myriad of visitors to our court. How many more would disappear during the tumult? How many secrets would slip through wine-soaked lips?
Curse my reputation. Of course, they would be expecting a party.
Still, I had to play the part. They had to believe I was merely blowing off daytime business. I was the hedonist king, and it was time to put on a show.
So, I gave them my best roguish grin, kicked my feet up on the table, and announced with bravado, ”A revel to end all revels! On the next full moon, we will celebrate the engagement. I expect each and every one of you there. And no stuffy business talk.”
”No, my king,” several chorused, grinning back at me.
Thanks to Hawthorne and his rumors about soul rot, I couldn’t pass up this party. Not without losing my crown.
I only hoped tonight’s meeting with Georgia would go better than our dinner.