Chapter 55
Exhaustion wasn’t a comprehensive enough term to cover how deeply fatigue had settled into my existence.
After all the time I’d already traveled across the Breocharn, and after I’d been attacked by hundreds of burning tumbling bushes, I was more carrying Cath than him transporting me.
He’d panicked a little while ago, but leaving him behind wasn’t an option—if I didn’t protect him, he’d burn to death.
Was it strange that I held the life of an animal in higher regard than the one of a fae or human?
Thank fuck. Finally, the fire fields opened up, and I rode into a plane, sandy and hot still, but nothing blazed anymore.
Cautiously, I dropped my magic, groaning at how much I’d spent.
If the Doitean sent me away without hearing me out, I could run into serious trouble on my way back before even facing Galrach.
Depletion was a bitch, and I wasn’t keen on experiencing another near-burnout so soon, especially not in the middle of a literal inferno.
I squinted as I observed my surroundings through the flickering air, drying my forehead with my sleeve. Both Cath and I were drenched to the bone.
The peaks of big tents materialized on the horizon, and not long afterward, I arrived at a guarded opening in a large stone wall that curved all the way around the primitive encampment.
Two fae, dressed in nothing more than leather loincloths, wore patterns painted in plentiful shades of yellows, oranges, and reds on their naked skin. The hair of the left one was braided into a multitude of tiny strands and shone in a red color so dark, his tresses appeared almost black.
His eyes burned with the intensity of the flames I’d crossed, and the other one’s irises had the same shade. His hair, though, was bright orange, his head shaved on both sides, while the rest of his locks reached down to his knees.
Both males pointed impressive spears at me and Cath, and I made sure to clamp down on my darker nature as I dismounted. Lifting my hands in a peaceful gesture, I bowed. No one could claim I had no manners. Most of the time, I simply chose not to use them.
But this? Definitely one of the rare moments I had to be as polite as possible.
“Who bested the heat of the Breocharn and disturbs the Doitean uninvited? State your purpose.”
Fine. Everything would be alright.
“My name is Dionadair Dorchadas Cor—”
Or maybe not.
Both Doitean took a step forward, with much more aggression in their stance and in the way they wielded their lances than before. One whistled, most likely for backup.
I shouldn’t be surprised. Really shouldn’t.
“—oin De’An Scriosta, and I came here to warn the Doitean that High King Galrach Folus Iadrann of Galanta has ill intentions toward your people.”
True, I wouldn’t believe myself as well, and neither did the two guards nor the five new ones surrounding me, imprisoning me in a tight circle of wickedly sharp steel. In the distance, I spotted several archers holding their bows drawn, arrows directed right at my head and heart.
Oh my.
Unpleasant.
Usually, such a situation wouldn’t even stir any kind of worry in me, but I really wanted to succeed at this whole diplomacy thing. These fae were our ancestors, after all.
And most importantly, they had powers themselves. Most likely, the tips of their weapons could ignite in magical fire in a matter of seconds.
“And why should we believe you?”
A female sauntered to us, and she stopped just shy of the protective circle keeping me contained.
Her head was shaved but adorned in intricate painted designs.
Her skin was almost translucent and pale, her complexion contrasting sharply with the darker hues of her brethren.
While she was dressed in the same leather loincloth as the males, she wore an additional strap tied around her chest. She seemed to be unarmed, but considering her harmless would likely be a grave mistake.
“Because you can’t afford not to listen to me. My grandfather sent me on a mission, but frankly speaking, I’m not in the mood to work for him ever again.”
“Then why did you come here at all, teachtaire ollscriosta?”
“Two reasons. First, he’ll find another way to get what he wants if he figures out I defied him. Second, to protect someone my heart sings for. Directly risking Galrach’s wrath wouldn’t fare well for the one who means more than the worlds to me.”
“Betray us, an Daoscarshlua, and neither you nor the soul you hold dear will have one peaceful day during the rest of your very short existences.”
Oh, scum of the worlds. That was a new one, and this title actually stung.
But I buried my seething temper and nodded. This wasn’t the right time to lose my composure, though I really felt like teaching them what a bad idea insulting me was and, above all, what the consequences of threatening Nayana entailed.
“My name is Lasair, Head Chieftain of the Doitean. Follow me in peace, and we will speak.”
Pacing, I trampled a circle into Dion’s carpet.
This was the first time I was alone in quite a while, and only because I’d been trying on the ball gown Thain had commissioned for me.
Surprisingly, the piece wasn’t as ostentatious as I’d imagined.
Instead, the dress was a dream in black silk, taffeta, and chiffon, with silver starbursts all over the top layer of the skirt—Dion’s colors.
Luckily, the small Glamour the prince had applied to cover the weird mark under my collarbone was still in place, or at least no one had ever mentioned the discoloration apart from the High King. I speculated that he’d been able to pierce through Ireas’ magic.
Being by myself made me nervous, and I jumped when the chimes announced a visitor. When Antas entered the royal suite, I exhaled the breath I’d held and relaxed. “It’s you. Thank the gods.”
“Is everything alright?”
“Yes, it is. I was just worried because you rang instead of knocking. But what about you? Your face spells bad news.”
“Potential trouble, yes.”
“About the ball today?”
“I fear so.”
“What’s the problem?” Wincing, I glanced at my hand and realized I’d scratched the cuticle of my right index finger bloody. “Damn.”
Antas moved closer and handed me a clean handkerchief, which I wrapped around my digit.
“My dearest brother has decreed that you will receive help with your preparations for the revelry.”
“A maid aided me last time as well. She’d been grumpy and impolite, although she complimented my hair, so I can deal with that.”
“Only, it is not a servant. He ordered Danartha to assist you.”
All the color drained from my face. “Dion’s unpleasant ex.”
“Yes.”
“The one even Thain wouldn’t touch.”
“Yes. She was not always so horrible, but something had turned her rotten.”
“Well, I believe that in this case, Dion would understand if you or one of the others chaperoned me, changing clothes be damned.”
“Maybe in the end, he would see reason, but it is not possible anyway. Unsurprisingly, all four of us have been assigned different responsibilities before and during the ball.”
“Fuck.” Lately, I cursed a lot more. Must be unavoidable when being surrounded by fae soldiers all the time.
Chewing on my lower lip, I tried to come up with a solution to the problem at hand, although honestly, since this was a ploy of the king, I wouldn’t find a loophole to slip out. “There’s no way to evade being alone with her, is there?”
“No. And despite my opinion that Danartha won’t attack you, she will surely aim to hurt you with words. She is not only racist, like most of the courtiers, but also infatuated with the idea of becoming queen one day, and well, from her view, you are standing in her way.”
“Dion wouldn’t—”
“Never. Still, she has not given up hope. She will hunt for your insecurities and use them all without mercy.”
Taking a deep breath, I unwrapped Antas’ handkerchief. The bleeding had stilled, but my finger hadn’t stopped throbbing, and I was silent for a moment.
“Tomorrow morning, we will move you away from court.”
“Oh?”
“It is getting too dangerous for you. Today is a prime example. You will stay in a safe place for a while. I will not tell you where, in case my brother plans to interrogate you tonight. But rest assured, each one of us is busy organizing your escape to safety.”
“Are you joining me too?”
“Only after a short delay. First, we will distract Galrach from realizing too early that you are gone. But we will follow. Soon.”
Antas’ body language was an open book, and from his rigid stance, I concluded that remaining in Alaiann meant tremendous risks for my friends. “Please don’t endanger yourself for my sake.”
“Not only for you, Nayana. Someone has to intercept and brief Dion when he returns before he has a chance to escalate.”
Understandable.
No matter how much I hated leaving my friends behind, I shuddered at the thought of what might occur should Dion arrive back at the palace and find neither me nor the males there. “So, how will I know where to go?”
“Tomorrow morning, at the start of the eighth hour, a servant will pick you up and escort you to a coach. Someone familiar will be there for your protection and to accompany you to your destination.”
“Are you sure you can’t tell me more?”
“Yes, Nayana. So remember, eighth hour. You do not have to pack; your luggage is already safely tucked away. Just bring your personal items, no one has touched them.”
Nodding, I propped myself on a chair. “Tonight will be troublesome, right?”
“We’ll do our best to ensure your safety.”
“Thain mentioned he wanted to organize a suitable partner to chaperon me today.”
“Yes, and he tried to. My brother stopped him, though. His argument is sadly a strong one, namely that a courted female cannot be escorted by any male other than her father or a relative. My fingers itch to strangle him for twisting the traditions he despises on any normal day to his advantage.”
“Will I be seated at the commoner’s table again?”