by Lish McBride
The ostrich lifted his chin and ruffled his feathers. “I cannot turn away from a maiden in distress.”
“We need to speak with Merit,” Tevin said without any preamble. “Glendon, Cedric—we could use your help.”
“We heard about the mirror message,” Glendon said, his fingers tapping on the arm of the couch. “Kaiya was already concerned about the lack of communication. I’ve tried getting through to Lady Zarla as well, and haven’t had any luck. However, I’m unsure what helping you three crash a wedding will accomplish.”
“Hopefully it won’t get to that point. We just want to talk to her. But it wasn’t an accident that we saw that message. Someone reached out to us for help.” Tevin leaned against the wall. He’d been sick on the train, and his stomach still didn’t feel quite right. “I’m not sure what state she’ll be in when we get there. But if she’s back to herself and still wants to marry Latimer by the time we get there? Fine. I—” He suddenly felt twice the fool, surrounded by Merit’s friends, in this grand house. Who was he to offer for their friend?
“Would she marry Cedric, then, if she didn’t want Latimer?” Ellery said, adjusting their spectacles to take a good look at the fairyborn in question. “Because—and I don’t mean this unkindly—he’s still an ostrich.”
“Only for a few months,” Kaiya pointed out. “It’s not like he’s going to be a giant bird forever.”
“Anything milady needs,” Cedric said, his head held high. “Merit’s a dear friend. I will happily offer myself as an alternative.” He made that weird hrrmm noise with his throat.
“Pretty sure Tevin meant he would be the alternative,” Amaury said, sprawling in his chair.
“Tevin?” Glendon looked at him carefully. “How will that help? I thought the whole point of this escapade was to make sure she still wants Latimer to break her curse. Or Cedric. Tevin can’t do that.”
“Unless he loves her,” Kaiya said, a slow smile spreading across her face.
Everyone in the room turned to Tevin. He shuffled his feet, uncomfortable under the scrutiny. “That’s why we’re here.”
Diadora hugged her sister. “So romantic!”
“He didn’t actually admit anything,” Ellery said.
Kaiya pushed her friend with her boot. “Don’t be stubborn, Ellery. It’s clear what he meant.”
Ellery crossed their arms. “That may be, but if we’re going to do this crazy thing, I want to hear it from his lips. There’s no way I’m going to help possibly bust up my best friend’s wedding just to toss her a groom who hems and haws and then pulls a Jasper. Even if we have Cedric as a backup to break the actual curse. It would be cruel. Merit doesn’t need more heartbreak.”
Kaiya dropped her foot back onto the floor. “Ellery does have a point.”
Tevin had a feeling that they both believed him, but they wanted him to work for it, which was fair enough. He stepped away from the wall. “You get me there, and she says yes, I will marry Merit. I’ll sign a wedding contract that will give you peace of mind—none of her money, her lands, anything, will come to me. Everything will stay hers. I love her.” He stared right into Ellery’s face when he said it, because he knew the spriggan was the one who needed convincing.
Ellery remained stony. “And if she says no?”
“I won’t leave her cursed,” Tevin said. “She can marry Latimer if she wants. We’ll have Cedric with us on standby. Or you can bring Freddie. I’ll fight for her, but if she says no, I won’t stand in the way of her freedom.”
“I would be honored to care for your lady love.” The ostrich nodded solemnly.
“We might need someone to get Lady Zarla on board once we get there. Assuming Merit has changed her mind about Huldre.” Amaury’s eyes lit up as a maid brought in a tray of food. They all looked at Glendon.
“She might not listen.” Glendon rubbed a hand over his face. “But I will do my best.”
“Please,” Kaiya said, rolling her eyes. “You’re an ambassador. Talking people into things is one of your gifts. If that doesn’t work, play kissy face with her.”
Glendon didn’t move. “Lady Zarla is a baroness and an intelligent woman. I don’t like the implication that playing ‘kissy face’ will sway her mind. We share a mutual respect and—”
“I’ve seen you,” Kaiya said, her tone deadpan. “Lady Zarla. You.” She held her hands in front of her, like puppets. She slowly brought them together in a kiss, staring at her uncle. “Canoodling.”
“What?” Glendon blinked at her. “When? How?”
Kaiya dropped her hands. “It’s my job to know things.”
“We know all, we see all,” Amaury said. “And what I saw was you smooching Lady Zarla in the garden.”
“And the stables,” Val said.
“The pantry,” Kaiya said.
Glendon’s tan face was red to the roots of his hair. “Yes, I understand.”
“That explains why Lady Zarla wasn’t interfering with Merit more.” Ellery affectionately punched the man’s shoulder. “I’m a little in awe, really.”
Glendon buried his face in his hands. “I don’t feel comfortable discussing this with any of you. Can we stop talking about it, please?” He held up a hand. “I will do my best to sway her around to Tevin’s side if Merit chooses him.”
“Excellent,” Willa said, her fingers steepled. “Let’s talk about the wedding, then, and how we’re going to sneak in.”
* * *
• • •
“How did I get talked into this?” Glendon asked the roof of the train his question, not aiming it at anyone in particular. Together they entirely filled the private train car Willa and Diadora had rented. Except for Cedric—despite his title and status, he’d been made to ride in the cattle car. No matter how well dressed or genteel the ostrich, it still couldn’t ride in a first-class passenger cabin. Tevin didn’t think that was an actual rule, but the conductor insisted that it was.
“We’re very persuasive,” Val said, leaning against the plush leather of her seat. “And we grow on you.”
“Like fungus,” Amaury said, as the train swayed around a slow curve. Countryside flew by, smears of blue, green, and brown.
“I want to die.” Tevin hung his head between his legs. Diadora rubbed small, soothing circles on his back.
“That’s not very heroic.” Kaiya squinted at him. “Heroes on their way to rescue someone shouldn’t cast up their accounts.”
“Airin’ the paunch,” Val said solemnly, her hands folded in her lap. “You best acknowledge the corn, Kaiya—even heroes get motion sick.”
Acknowledge the corn? Willa wrote on her slate. What does that even mean?
“It means to accept an obvious truth or to stop lying,” Val said.
“We could all do with a little acknowledging the corn,” Ellery said, rubbing a cloth over the lenses of their glasses.
“My head hurts.” Glendon cradled his head in his hands and shut his eyes.
“I have a powder for that.” Ellery stood up to grab their leather satchel from the rack above their head. “Have you been drinking enough water? Headaches can often come from mild dehydration.”
“I think this headache has DuMont written all over it in giant letters.” Glendon rubbed his temples.
Ellery opened up the medicine bag. “Either way, I have a powder to help.” They handed a packet to Glendon. “Tip it back into your throat. I suggest with water to wash it down. The taste is dreadful. Tevin, you get a ginger chew.”
“No, thank you,” Tevin groaned.
Ellery tossed the small wrapped candy to Val, who caught it one-handed. Ellery grabbed Tevin’s forehead and pulled him back in the seat, while Val unwrapped the candy and popped it in his mouth. His eyes watered.
“It’s strong,” he said through the hand Val still had clamped on his mouth.
“It will hel
p,” Ellery said.
Tevin chewed, because arguing with the combined force of Val and Ellery was useless.
“Maybe I should go back and sit with Cedric,” Tevin mumbled through Val’s hand. Diadora kindly patted his hand, though Willa rolled her eyes and mouthed, “Baby,” at him.
Val removed her hand from Tevin’s mouth. “Cedric is fine. If anyone tries anything, he can kick them.”
“Glendon, what can you tell us about the Huldre kingdom?” Amaury asked.
“Precious little, really. The family isn’t very friendly, and they very much see themselves as a cut above. I was there for a party they held a few years back celebrating an anniversary. It was theatrical and excessive. There were fireworks and dancers, bards, trained bears, and a dinner that went on for hours. They like to hit you over the head with their wealth. Everything is a spectacle. They will also have excellent security. Large palisade around the whole palace.”
“The nearest village is Dalliance,” Amaury said. “I looked at a map earlier.”
Kaiya dug around in her pack, pulling out a leather tube. She unrolled it, revealing several small maps. She sifted through them until she found the one she was looking for and then spread it out. “Dalliance is the closest, yes.”
“I know,” Amaury said dryly.
Ellery leaned over the map. “What an odd name for a village.”
Tevin leaned back into his chair, his eyes closed, pleased that his stomach was settling.
“I’m told it helps if you keep your eye on the horizon,” Kaiya said. “But that might only work on ships.”
“It will be a huge event.” Glendon traced his finger along the edge of the map. “They’ll be checking invitations closely.”
“How are you going to get in, then?” Ellery asked.
Amaury snorted. “You’re adorable. Don’t you worry about the how. We just need to get to Dalliance. Once we’re there, we’ll handle the rest.”
“Do you have everything you need?” Tevin asked Amaury.
His brother wobbled his hand back and forth. “I’ll need to see an actual invitation before I can say for sure. Likely I have most of it.” He hefted his travel bag. “I can get the rest. Easy.”
Tevin felt his stomach roll at Amaury’s words, hoping it was the motion of the train and not a sense of foreboding over the word easy.
CHAPTER 30
ENTER THE FOREST
Though the train ride wasn’t a long one, they had short stopovers at several stations along the way. At the last one before they crossed the border into Huldre, the train would be docked long enough to change out mages and also check crossing papers. Tevin hadn’t been concerned about that—everyone had them except for Amaury and himself. They had forgeries, but since Amaury had made them, they were identical to the real thing. The problem occurred when they all clambered out at the station to stretch their legs. Amongst a wall of schedules, notices, and general signs was a large picture of Tevin. Val quickly swapped their hats, jamming hers onto his head and tipping the brim down while Amaury went to read it.
“They don’t say what you did,” Amaury said when he came back. “Just that you can’t cross into Huldre. Mandate of the king and queen.”
“If there are signs here, that means they’ll be checking the roads, too.” Ellery took out their pocket watch. “We don’t have a lot of time. What are we going to do?”
Tevin thought back to Kaiya’s map. There was a way to get to Dalliance that didn’t involve the train or the roads, but it was a terrible idea. Unfortunately, it was the only one he could think of unless he suddenly sprouted wings. “You’re going to get back on the train. I’ll meet you in Dalliance.”
“What’s your plan?” Amaury asked.
“I’m going to cut through the forest.” Tevin kept his hat low, but not enough to block his line of sight completely. He wanted to keep an eye on the crowd.
Glendon, Willa, and Diadora tried to argue. Val’s face scrunched up, expressing her skepticism. Only Kaiya and Amaury appeared to be considering it.
“Does anyone have a better plan?”
Glendon rubbed a hand over his jaw. “No.”
Willa and Diadora shook their heads.
“It could work.” Like him, Amaury’s gaze was restless, examining the train station bustle for danger.
“I’m coming with you,” Val said. “No argument. The forest is dangerous, and last I checked, I had the pistols.”
“I’ll come, too,” Kaiya said. “That way there’s a small chance you will both live.”
Given more time, Tevin would have talked them out of it, but at that moment, the train blew a warning whistle and people started to reboard. “Fine. We can cash in the rest of our tickets. We’ll need horses or we’ll never make it in time. Does anyone have coin we could borrow?”
They ran back on board, pausing in the cabin to grab their bags and pool funds. Everyone gave up what coins they could. He hugged everyone in thanks, saying quick goodbyes as he did.
Amaury grabbed his arm as he was about to leave. “I’ll see you in Dalliance.”
Tevin nodded, knowing that was Amaury’s way of saying be careful. “Watch over everyone for me.” His brother nodded and then Tevin was out the door behind Val and Kaiya, hoping they were making the best decision.
They used a few coppers to catch a hack to the closest town. After asking a few of the locals, they were able to find people willing to part with three horses, saddles, and tack, and that was only because Tevin leaned heavily on his charm. They only had a few coins left to buy food and canteens for the ride, something Kaiya wisely insisted they take the time to do.
Night was falling by the time they were done. Out of coin and not wanting to stay in town any longer for fear of drawing attention to Tevin, they rode their horses to the edge of the forest. There they paid a farmer to let them picket their horses and sleep in the hayloft. It wasn’t smart to enter the forest tired, or at night. They would have to wait until first light.
* * *
• • •
The Enchanted Forest, for all that Tevin could see, looked exactly like a regular forest. It was large and full of trees, creating a wall of greenery that stretched off into the distance. Thick undergrowth nestled underfoot. Birds chirped, and something hooted. It didn’t even look ominous. Looks, however, were deceiving, as Tevin knew well, and every instinct in him was running around and banging cymbals, yelling, Danger! Danger! and then making siren noises.
They’d pulled the horses up to the forest’s edge and were currently in a loose line, staring at the trees.
“At this point I think we should remember that there are giant cats in there,” Val said, her head tipped up as she looked at the canopy.
“Merit just added another one, too,” Tevin said, thinking of the marar from the carnival. “Best avoided, I think.”
“Someone else told me that there’s apparently a magical orchard in there where the fruits are all gems and the leaves are coins, but if we touch any of them, we die,” Val said.
“How would we die?” Kaiya asked.
Val shrugged. “That point was unclear. When I went to the farmhouse this morning to buy us breakfast, the farmer said there was a dragon who will chew us up, bones and all, and his husband said to not eat anything because everything is poison.”
“According to one of the ladies we bought horses from, I’m supposed to avoid all beautiful maidens, but I’m not sure if that means all of us or just me.” Tevin shifted in his saddle. “Either way, be careful, Val. Don’t go off chasing mysterious forest ladies.”
Val leaned over and punched him in the arm.
“I think, then, based on what I know and what everyone is saying, we should assume that everything in the forest is trying to kill us.” Kaiya’s face was serene, her eyes untroubled as she gazed out at the forest.
“Ye
s,” Val said. “That, exactly.”
“I think the point is that we’re supposed to kill the things first,” Tevin said. “Before they eat us.”
Val eyed his saddle. “You don’t even have a rifle. How are you supposed to do that?”
“By standing behind you,” Tevin said. “I’m a terrible shot, and no one wants me armed. I think my primary role is bait.”
“I think it makes more sense to avoid what we can instead of chasing and killing everything we see,” Kaiya said, pulling her hair into a ponytail.
Val tipped her hat back and looked out at the expanse of trees. “How big do you reckon it is, anyway?”
“Here’s the thing—I checked the maps this morning, and the map the farmer had. The Enchanted Forest is vast, but the actual sizing seems . . . inconsistent.” Kaiya shielded her eyes with one hand as she gazed along the tree line.
“Maybe they’re bad mapmakers?” Val didn’t take her eyes off the forest.
Kaiya shook her head. “Everything else matched. The only problem was the scale of the forest. Could be magic. May also be that the cartographers don’t get paid enough to go in there.”
“Well, we might as well get a move on,” Tevin said, nudging his horse. “It’s not going to get any less deadly or enchanted. But as the self-proclaimed bait, I’d like to ride in the middle.”
* * *
• • •
The first thing Tevin noticed was the change in light. Since the tree cover was so dense, the bright light of morning became watered down and dark, like the sun had taken one look at the world, decided it wasn’t worth it, and gone back to bed. At first they were met with an eerie silence: The only sound was the breaking of twigs as their horses pushed through the dense underbrush. But as they made their way in farther, the forest came back to life, and Tevin couldn’t tell which was worse, silence or noise. Birds—at least he hoped they were birds—screeched and hooted. Occasionally the scratchy boom of an animal vocalizing cut through the racket, but Tevin couldn’t for the life of him figure out what it was.