34
Dawn arrives all too quickly. My dreams were a mix of Maeve and my past, all twisting into one and leaving me breathless and lacking sleep.
I groan as I get out of bed and make my way over to my wardrobe.
I pick out a black tunic laced with gold and slip it on.
No armour or training gear today, as the hope for our next mission is to gain allies rather than fight them.
Although, I can admit that showing up with Maeve by our side might turn some curious heads. But Maeve said they didn’t hate her, so I have to trust that however she knows the King of Faystra, it won’t disrupt our plans.
I stare at my gold crown resting atop the dresser. Meeting with another King also usually requires a more formal appearance. One that I don’t bear often.
I sigh and place the crown atop my head before leaving my room.
Cole and I are in the transporter room, waiting patiently next to the ball of purple energy, for Maeve to arrive. I hear her footsteps before I see her and turn towards the doorway, where I know she’ll be standing.
Maeve looks a little nervous this morning as she walks in to meet us.
She’s wearing more casual clothes as I requested.
Considering we’re not intending to fight anyone in Faystra, I didn’t want her to show up in her assassin outfits with all her blades strapped to her or with the armoured corset she sometimes wears.
So instead she has chosen still her black combat pants but has paired them with a long sleeved tight green top, it matches her eyes.
Maeve’s hair is in one long braid that twists around the side of her head and hangs off her shoulder. I resist the urge to reach out and grab it, turning my attention to Cole instead, who is dressed in his usual uniform today, a grey and gold commander tunic
I see Maeve in my peripheral vision walking further into the room, closer to Cole and I. She’s looking anywhere but at me.
“Are you okay?” I ask her as she takes her spot next to me, her gaze fixed on the transporter. I feel Cole beside me turn his head too, he seems to have sensed a change in her energy as well.
Maeve doesn’t seem as bold today, there’s something bothering her. My heartbeat starts pounding in my chest as I realise it might even be from our moment last night.
Maeve finally looks at me after what felt like an eternity. The look in her eyes changes ever so slightly from nervous, to her usual confident self when she runs her gaze over me. I watch as Maeve’s eyes shift their focus from the commander and I, to the gold crown at the top of my head.
“Never better, your highness.”
Maeve’s mocking tone makes me smirk but her gaze never leaves my crown.
“Should I bow or something?” She asks, pointing between us, while also motioning towards my crown. I suddenly realise that I haven’t worn it in front of her yet.
I smile at her and Cole chokes back a laugh.
“There's the Maeve I know and love.” I murmur sarcastically.
She looks away immediately at that but not before I catch her cheeks turning pink as she blushes, interesting.
Cole looks at me questioningly and I just shrug as I grab both their hands and we all step through the transporter together.
The blackness from the unknown realm of the transporter fades as quickly as it came. Having travelled like this so many times, the darkness and the absence of noise doesn’t bother me so much anymore.
I start to smell the salt and hear the waves before the world flickers into view and we finally land on the beach of Faystra.
Maeve stumbles slightly as her feet meet the sand but she manages to regain her footing without her body meeting the ground as well.
I look up to see the expanse of the castle up above. The sandstone walls look further away than what it is. The sound of the waves almost pull me into a trance as I watch the birds fly past the castle.
I turn my attention towards the bushes on the left of the beach, where I know the stairs lie. They will take us all the way to the castle walls.
Cole walks forward, leading the way with Maeve in between us.
“Have you been to this beach before?” Cole asks.
“Yes.” Is all Maeve says back and I roll my eyes at her one word answer that I am all too familiar with.
“I thought we were past this secrecy and stubbornness.” Cole says and I agree with him.
“Some things aren't worth knowing.” She replies defensively.
“Yes, but it is called a conversation, love. You know, where someone asks a question and you answer them with more than one word so they can continue.”
Maeve stops so suddenly that I almost run into her but I manage to steady myself. She whips her head around and levels me with a stare.
“I am not a child.”
I smirk at her and motion for her to continue on. She turns around with a huff.
“Well how many times have you two been here then?”
It’s Maeve who asks us the question, seemingly ready to play along,
“More times than I can count.” Cole answers.
“We’ve generally had a good relationship with King Castor, even the generations before me have, he’s been at this for quite a while.” I continue on for Cole.
“I know.” Is all Maeve replies.
King Castor Caye is almost nine hundred years old. As far as fae nowadays go, that’s pretty ancient. It was even starting to show the last time I saw him.
As fae we age very slowly, but once you hit close to the millenia, you start to see a decline into old age, we’re not wholly immortal. Our healing just allows us to age much slower, healing us of the organ failure most animals and some hybrids end up dying from.
We finally make it to the sandstone walls and I will admit, this is the one castle I have always been jealous of.
The lighter stone makes the building feel more inviting and airy in a way. That, mixed with the doors and windows being completely open, allowing a soft breeze to flow through.
The entrance is grand with a wide arch way and stone patterned tiles leading the way. There are vines growing slowly up the castle walls to the left, leading from the bushes we just walked through.
As the guards all dressed in white and gold approach, I move to stand in the middle with Maeve on my left and Cole to my right.
“We’re here on invitation, to meet with King Castor.” I announce, to hopefully signal for the guards to take us through. They know who I am and no doubt, Castor would have prepped them on my arrival, he said as much in his last letter to me.
The guards part their formation in the middle, allowing one of the King’s sons to walk through.
The prince is tall with tanned skin, light brown hair and a brown beard across his chin.
He’s wearing a sky blue royal tunic with light gold accents on the buttons and lapels.
A tunic much like my black one that I haven't worn in fifty six years, since before I was King of Erador.
My King tunic that I wear now, being much more grand and fashioned with a long jacket over the top.
I keep my expression emotionless as I try to remember what his name is.
I know the King has three sons but I have never paid much more attention to them than necessary. I know their powers and that this one is the middle child but that’s as far as I can remember. For the most part, my dealings have always been with King Castor himself when I visit.
I watch the prince as he walks towards us, a cruel confidence radiating from him. The prince's light blue eyes widen suddenly and I follow his gaze, right to the woman next to me.
The prince starts to take another step forward before thinking better of himself and staying put. I feel my jaw clench as I narrow my eyes at him.
“Maeve.” He breathes, as his eyes rake over her.
What the fuck?
My stomach twists as his eyes glaze over, like he’s remembering something.
Something that Maeve neglected to tell us.
“Hi.” She says nervously and I look down towards her now, her breathing is shallow and she looks uncertain. Not like the Maeve I know at all. Almost a shell of herself.
“What are you doing here?” The prince asks as he walks closer to her, completely ignoring Cole and I, which is entirely unacceptable.
I clear my throat before Maeve can answer and the prince's attention is directed back to me.
He looks at me confused, before turning back to Maeve. Seemingly okay with ignoring my presence entirely.
“You’re with them?” He questions her.
“Yes.” She replies, much more confident, finding herself again.
I clear my throat again. “Sorry to interrupt this little reunion, but we really do have important business to attend to with your father.”
“Right.” The prince says, staring right through me as he motions for us to proceed through the castle.
The prince, followed by his guards, lead us down the hall, right to the meeting room.
Familiarity flows through me from the last time I was here. I remember the long birch wood table and the window arches around the room, that let in a welcome breeze.
The climate is warmer up here, our clothes from Erador are almost becoming too hot to wear.
I take a seat at the head of the table, facing the open archway that leads to the hallway we walked in from. Maeve sits to my left with Cole flanking my right. The prince sits next to Maeve, still looking at her like he can’t believe she exists.
My jaw ticks as I stare across at them. I want to ask Maeve what's going on, how she knows one of King Castor’s sons but I can’t yet and it’s starting to irritate me.
Cole senses my annoyance but seems to have his own as he levels a stare down at the prince, at least now I don’t feel unreasonable.
Maeve looks between us both and shakes her head, she’s about to say something when she’s interrupted by King Castor’s arrival.
He walks through the doors with his other two sons by his side. They look very similar to the one sitting next to Maeve but once again, I cannot remember their names.
The two sons share the same sky blue uniform. Castor on the other hand, bares the same colours but has a cape flowing down his back. His white beard and hair, a stark contrast to the tanned skin and blue eyes beyond.
“Good to see you King Xander.” He says as he takes the spot at the other head of the table, across from me
“And you.” I reply with a nod of my head.
“I am sure you remember my sons.” Castor says as he gestures to the ones next to him and the one next to Maeve.
I don’t.
“Resson, Rafe and Raylin.” Castor says, introducing them anyway. I almost roll my eyes when I hear their names. That’s why I couldn’t remember them, they’re all so fucking similar.
I try to take note of the King’s sons as he addresses them. Resson, I remember as the oldest, based off his confident and mature demeanor as he takes a seat to his father’s right. Resson is the tallest of the three princes and I note that he narrows his eyes at everyone on the table including Maeve.
Although his eyes flare ever so slightly before moving his gaze back to his father.
Rafe must be the youngest, his blue eyes sharing a youthful spirit, the only giveaway. Though his hair is more of a blonde, compared to his two brother's light brown.
The King pauses as his gaze flickers to who Raylin is sitting next to, seemingly only just recognising the woman at our side.
“My my, it cannot be.”
“It’s good to see you again, your highness.” Maeve says to the King and smiles at him. I notice the way she says your highness is much different to how she offers it to me. A subtle note of respect is in her tone, directed towards this King.
“And you, I wasn’t sure we would see you again. Are you here because you’re ready to take up Raylin’s offer?” Castor says, seemingly excited.
Maeve looks down before she opens her mouth to answer but I cut her off.
“I’m afraid not.” I reply looking at Castor, “Maeve is here with me, on official business.”
I have no idea what Raylin offered Maeve but I do not feel like now is the time to get into that, not so publicly.
Castor smiles gently, the action not meeting his eyes.
“That’s too bad, I was excited to have someone with her skills join my family.”
His family? What in the gods' names is going on?
I try to hide my surprise and continue on, masking my face and pretending that whatever he is baiting me with, does not bother me.
“But alas, she is here with me.” I say with a deathly calm and then sit back in my chair, relaxing slightly before continuing. “Let us discuss what we came here for instead of this nonsense.”
King Castor smiles knowingly at me and I fight the urge to sneer at him. “But of course.”
I return his smile with one that doesn’t quite meet my eyes. We’re allies yes, civil, mostly yes but I do not respond well to taunts.
“So Xander.” Castor says, leaning forward on the table and linking his hands together in front of him.
“You have the artifact, both pieces?"
“Yes.”
“And judging by your letter, you would like me to activate it?”
It was phrased like a question but the look in his eyes told me otherwise, he knows exactly what I’m here for, I told him as much in my letter.
“I would.”
“Very well.” Castor says, clasping his hands together.
“This is a decision that I cannot take lightly, as I’m sure you understand. We will deliberate over the next few days and work out the logistics before I agree to help you.”
I knew this was the case, I was prepared to stay here a few days initially, but now? With Raylin looking at Maeve the way he has been, I would rather be anywhere else.
I bite back a groan and nod my head. “Of course.”
“My guards will show you to your rooms.” Castor says as a dismissal.
We all get up to leave and Maeve leads the way, following the guards when Raylin reaches out and grabs her wrist to stop her. I clench my jaw as my eyes lock onto his hand at her wrist.
“Can we talk?” Raylin asks.
I cross my arms and look at him.
“It will have to be another time, Maeve has matters to discuss with us.”
“It will only take a second.” Raylin replies, not looking at me. The nerve on this man is unbelievable.
Maeve looks at me and then back to him before sighing.
“Fine.”
With that, she follows Raylin out the door. “You two stay here, I’ll come get you in a second.”
I say nothing as I stare at her, watching her walk away, with the knot in my stomach growing as she closes the door behind her.
“I don’t like him.” I say to Cole.
“Neither do I.” Cole answers, also staring after the now closed door.
He sighs before turning to face me.
“Do you think Castor will activate the artifact?”
I don’t turn my gaze away from the door for one second while I answer him.
“I do, I just don’t know what he’ll demand in return.”