9
We reach the Kingdom's walls and are met with guards at the gate. The walls span so high, that it would take almost ten fae standing on each other's shoulders to reach the top.
They’re made of a cream coloured stone that shows cracks and breakages, from standing tall after all these years.
The guards open the massive brown gates for us as they see the King approach and we ride through seamlessly.
There’s a light stone path that leads through the town. I look either side of me and see hundreds of houses with children playing and their parents working or watching over them. There’s sounds of laughter, music being played and overall a feeling of joy in the air.
I feel my stomach drop. This place is nothing like Hidale.
Back in Hidale, everything is tense and dark. No one leaves their homes except for work, gathering supplies or going for a drink at the tavern and you certainly don’t see children playing on the streets.
The only children on the streets are the ones without homes.
I tear my eyes away from the young fae and look forward and see the castle, the King's home.
The same cream colour from the stone walls make up the castle's structure, they meet with arched windows letting in the natural light.
There’s another wall surrounding the castle, but it’s much smaller and more inviting. As if the citizens of Erador could walk in at any moment.
Maybe they can. Maybe they’re allowed.
This wall is very unlike the first, the one that felt like a warning to stay away.
I’ve heard of Erador’s strict rules against being let in its city’s borders. You can’t gain access to this place unless you live here, have married a fae who lives here or in the rare case, like myself, you’re invited in. But even once you’re invited, you can’t come and go freely.
I wonder if you could share what you saw? I’ve never heard from anyone who has been invited in. All the rumours are just whispers from fae who heard one thing from another, not exactly fact. Though, none of the rumours I’ve heard have ever described Erador as this beautiful or serene.
However, this isn’t the only place in Erador, just the main city. There’s plenty of towns that you can visit all around but from what I hear, they’re just normal. Nothing as exciting or beautiful as this place before me.
I can see now why they have secluded themselves in the main city like this. The peacefulness and happiness from all the fae around is overwhelming. If you let all the miserable lot from back in Hidale or other parts of Erador in here, they would surely ruin it.
Erador’s walls are the biggest mystery to all other Kingdoms. There’s stories of many King’s that have driven themselves mad trying to figure out how to do it.
I can feel the King watching me as I’m looking around and taking everything in. His blue eyes stare straight through me. He looks curious, or maybe it’s caution in his gaze. I can’t quite pick it.
He’s not risking much by bringing me here, I can’t invite any others in without being a resident.
Though, maybe he’s trying to figure out whether I would tear apart the serenity here, by unleashing the wrath of the invisible assassin.
I wonder if he’s figured out that I wouldn’t do it, these people are innocent. I wouldn’t want to be the cause of their demise.
We make it through the second wall and ride around the right side of the castle, to where the stables are. I look forward and see that the stables are a basic mix of wood and stone, with hay for the horses in each of their rooms.
We all jump off and leave our horses for the stablemen to take care of.
The King and Cole are slightly ahead of me as we walk on. There are two guards at the front of the castle doors, I look up at them as we start our climb up the stairs.
I note a walkway up the top of the stairs that seems to span out and around the whole castle, filled with plants in pots and bench seats.
I even see a few fae walking around, dressed well, arm in arm with their friends or partners.
They nod to the King when they see him. I don’t watch to see if he nods back.
I just turn my attention to the guards dressed in grey, as they open the doors for us.
We walk into a large open entry way with a beautiful candle chandelier lighting up the room. There’s two huge staircases curving around the sides of the entryway that lead up to the next level. The floor below is a marble type of stone that reflects in the candlelight.
There’s another door directly in the middle of the staircases as well as two either side of the room.
This place is a maze, it’s going to take me a while to figure out my bearings.
“Cole, take her to the room and assign a guard for her.” The King orders his commander.
I fight to hide my scowl but it’s no use, I feel the King’s gaze on me but I don’t bother to look at him.
“Maeve.” The King says gently, “when we can trust you, you will have your freedom to roam wherever you wish. But for now, you will head to your room, rest and then have a guard take you anywhere else you need to go.”
I don’t say anything or bother looking in his direction.
“Let’s go.” Cole says and we walk up the left staircase, my legs aching from the last few days of riding.
I take note of all the hallways we pass through, the turns we take and the pictures on the wall. Knowing where you are is one of the biggest strengths you can have.
Cole says nothing as we walk, no attempt at conversation, no taunts, nothing.
He does, however, motion for one of the guards to follow us when he sees one that’s worthy.
The guard is clad in silver armour with a sword strapped by his hip. The man’s face is stern, giving no emotion or even a hint of what he’s thinking. He’s been well trained.
The commander stops suddenly and gestures with his hand. I guess this is it, my room.
“What do you need?” Cole turns and asks me.
“What… do you… mean?” I groan out, each word a struggle.
“To wear— clothes— what would you like me to send for?” The commander says like it’s obvious, seemingly getting impatient.
“Oh… just combat pants… long sleeve tops… will do.”
Cole nods and the guard opens the door.
I walk in, before turning around to face Cole and ask him something, when the door slams in my face.
What the fuck?
I turn the door handle and it’s locked. I bang on the door so hard my hands hurt and after a couple of seconds, the door opens. The guard is standing there, no expression on his face. Yet again.
“Can I help you, miss?” He asks.
“Where’s… Cole?” I groan out, my voice still weak.
“He has some business to attend to with the King, they will send for you in two days, until then, I will take you where you wish.”
“Then why… is the door… Locked?”
Gods my voice is starting to annoy me.
“I can’t answer that miss.”
I shoot him a look, right through his frustrating neutral face and then I slam the door.
I turn around, looking at my new room. It’s very grand, though only slightly larger than what I was used to when I was back at the Agency. The light stone walls, however, make the room much lighter and more inviting than what I had growing up.
It’s a welcome difference.
The bed, dressed in cream coloured sheets, is to the right hand side with a matching ottoman in front of it. There are two dark wood tables beside the bed with candlelit lamps on each. To the left, there is a separate room that leads to the bathing room and a dark wood wardrobe standing next to it.
I walk over to the door adjacent to my bed. The sunlight pours through the glass panels and I can only assume it leads to a balcony.
When I walk out, I’m met with a chilly breeze but the sun rays warm me ever so slightly as I stand, basking in the sun. There's a wooden table and chairs out here and I have a view of the castle grounds. I can just make out the town beyond the second wall.
This is definitely better than being stuck conscripted to an army.
I smile to myself as I look out at the view and take in the sun on my face.
Ironically feeling the most free I have felt in a while.