by Mary Dublin
The royal party slowed to a wary stop as Anglian and his men approached. It was clear that they had every intention to ride past, set on reaching their destination, but as the distance between the two groups shrank, faces became recognizable in the night.
"Halt!" Lord Anglian called his to his men.
His eyes were wide as he regarded Daniel. The confusion on his face looked no less than painful, preventing his attempt to conjure up an excuse.
"Lord Anglian," Daniel said, his voice even and calm despite everything. "What a surprise to find you out here."
The lord was silent for a few more beats, undoubtedly trying to settle on which lie to use. "Prince Daniel!" he stammered, bowing his head. "We've been scouring the woods for you. Thank the gods you're safe! I received word from your guard that you'd been attacked."
"Oh, I'm sure you did," Daniel muttered.
The prince looked around at each of his men in turn. All steely eyes were fixed on Anglian, waiting for his command. He was in no mood to toy about.
"Arrest him."
"What?" Anglian practically squeaked. He fought as two knights dismounted and made to pull him from his horse. His own men looked between the royal guard and their master, too shocked to make a move. "Unhand me! I won't stand for this insult! To think that I had anything to do with—"
"Your hirelings mentioned you by name," Daniel said coolly. "They said you were their employer. Perhaps next time, invest in men who can hold their tongues."
There was something sweetly satisfying about seeing Anglian tripping in the high grass as he was yanked forward by iron cuffs clasped around each wrist. His fine robes drug in the dirt as he was thrust before the prince on his knees.
"You have to understand," Anglian stammered, lifting his eyes. "I-I know what it may seem, but I'm no traitor. My loyalty remains unwavering to the crown."
"You paid them to have me kidnapped!" Daniel snarled. "To attack my men!"
Lord Anglian flinched. "I was a fool. I only wanted to demonstrate my worth to this kingdom. To you, Your Highness."
Daniel wrinkled his nose. It might have been more comforting to hear the nobleman curse his name. Instead, the glimpse into his logic was like peering into a dark, rotted cave.
"You're insane," he snapped. He looked to the nearest knight and gave a brisk nod. "Tie him up at the back."
The old man struggled with surprising strength as hands gripped at the lapels of his robes. "No, no please! You can't imprison me. You can't. My house… my house will fall into ruin without me. Mirrel needs my family's support."
"I'm sure your wife can manage the affairs of your family, until another successor can be named. Word will be sent to her immediately."
"She'll die of a broken heart when she hears of this," Anglian insisted. Daniel stiffened when those snakelike eyes fixed on Esmae. The old man shuffled forward on his knees. "My lady… surely you can understand?"
Daniel glowered, white-knuckling the reins. He had half a mind to snap at Anglian for presuming to speak a single word to Esmae, but he held his tongue. She was rigid, practically shaking with anger.
"Understand?" she echoed, her voice hushed but fierce. "Understand? You want me to understand why you deemed it fit for me to find my betrothed bound and bleeding on your orders?"
Anglian shook his head. "He was not to be harmed—"
"Silence!" Esmae's commanding order cracked through the air like a whip. "You should count yourself lucky that we didn't return to the palace to send our own hounds to hunt you. You would bring terror and harm upon others under the pretense of being a savior. You are a wicked man, and I do not want to understand the mind a monster."
Anglian looked too stunned to speak, and Daniel didn't give him the opportunity. "Get him out of our sight," he ordered.
He gripped the leather reins tightly as Lord Anglian was hefted to his feet and dragged to the back of the riding party, his pleas turning fainter and fainter. Though eager to depart, Daniel wearily regarded Anglian's remaining staff.
"Were any of you privy to this plot?"
A chorus of "no!" and "gods, no!" rang out amongst the yellow-garbed riders. Daniel narrowed his eyes at them with particular scrutiny. They were all lying, he was nearly certain. But they had been under Anglian's command. He had no way to be sure their lord hadn't backed them into a corner. He couldn't, in good faith, imprison them all.
"Good," he grunted. "Then deliver the news to Lady Anglian."
"At once, Your Highness."
They turned their horses around and spurred them into gallops as fast as they were able, as if he might change his mind. Perhaps he might've, if they hadn't obeyed so swiftly.
As it was, the thin woods had emptied, and at last, nothing stood in his way of returning home.
Chapter
Eight
The study was silent. Daniel had come to appreciate the silent moments, for they had been far and few between the past week. Settling the affairs with House Anglian, sitting in on several meetings about the prisoners, and continuing his regular and swiftly-increasing responsibilities as crown prince seemed to consume every waking moment.
When he could steal a moment to himself, he normally spent time with his father, who was mustering the strength to survive longer than the healers predicted, though he wasn't getting any better.
Daniel leaned back in his seat in front of the desk and shut his eyes. He'd been working extra hard to ensure that he could afford to have that afternoon off. As far as his staff and guard would be concerned, he was taking a much-needed stroll with Esmae through the woods while Sir Logan escorted them.
In reality, it would be far from a leisurely walk. The summer's end council was upon them, and Daniel and Esmae were expected in Evrosea.
He leaned down and rubbed his calf, relieved that he was no longer limping. Though fae healing had been offered, he'd had no choice but to turn it down, seeing as his knights and the castle healers already knew of the injury. Magicking it away would be too suspicious, especially with his ambushers claiming that Mirrel had undisclosed ties with the fae. Nothing was worth the risk of anyone taking those accusations seriously.
They were lucky enough that Esmae had managed to be firm in her lie once the chaos had ended. According to her and Sir Logan, she had insisted on riding out to meet Daniel and welcome him back home. She became concerned with he was alarmingly late, leading her to ride out farther until she and Logan discovered the prince had been captured.
"Having trouble with words again?"
Daniel flinched and straightened, looking over his shoulder to seek the source of the familiar voice. A grin spread across his face when he saw a small figure standing on the window sill of the study.
Daniel shook his head. "Not today, thank the gods."
Esmae's guardians had assured Daniel that Brennan was recovering well, but it was far more relieving to see the fairy for himself. As Brennan glided into the room and pulled to a hover over the desk, Daniel looked for any sign that his flight was affected. The image of Seamus pulling at Brennan's wing continued to haunt him.
"It's good to see you flying," Daniel said. "You're feeling alright?"
Brennan waved his hand dismissively. "I fully recovered days ago, but even then the healers refused to let me fly the distance here. In any case, it did give me more time to reason with King Maison. He's not entirely pleased about another human being aware of Esmae's origins and the fact that there are fairies in your castle."
Daniel winced. "So I've heard from the others," he muttered. "There's… no possibility that they'd go through with glamouring Logan, is there?"
Brennan shook his head. "Even King Maison is against that. Too much glamour can make a human go mad, on top of not working properly enough to block all the memories. Seeing as Logan hasn't gone raising hell about Esmae being a fairy, the king is willing to be convinced he can be trusted."
"We needn't worry about Logan's loyalty," Daniel assured. "He's a good man."
; Brennan scoffed. "I only need to think about him striking Seamus' ugly head to know that." He glanced at the window. "Anyway, we must depart soon. Is Esmae ready?"
"Nearly," he answered readily. "Could I speak to you a moment before we leave? Privately, I mean."
"I thought you already were." All the same, Brennan folded his wings and landed on the desk. The playful smirk on his face faded somewhat as he took a second look at him. "What's this about?"
Daniel made an obvious effort to lighten his expression. Brennan looked nervous.
"As you well know… my father isn't getting well. I'm to be king of Mirrel once he passes. I'm told it's a matter of days now."
It still felt strange to admit aloud. King. Though prepared to continue, Daniel stopped in surprise when Brennan paced over to his hand and set his own on one of his knuckles.
"You should have an easier time of it, now that Anglian is underground," Brennan pointed out. He grinned tentatively up at him in a way that filled Daniel with more reassurance than he could have ever imagined finding from a person smaller than his hand. "The rest of your subjects seem to adore you."
Daniel found himself smiling back even as Brennan stepped away. "Your advice regarding him was invaluable. Not to mention you saved my life."
Brennan shied away from his gaze, smiling at his feet instead. "I told you, Daniel, you don't owe me anything."
"I know. But it would put me at ease to know I still had your counsel when the crown is mine."
Brennan arched his eyebrows as Daniel rummaged around in the bottom drawer of his desk. He withdrew a closed fist, glancing warmly at its contents before offering it to Brennan in an open palm.
"I'll need a chief advisor," he explained.
Alarm crossed Brennan's face as he laid eyes on the tiny metal badge in the pit of Daniel's palm. Either he was too stunned to take it, or he was consciously not making a move. "What's… what? Me?"
"I'm not asking you to be any less loyal to Evrosea or your king," Daniel swiftly assured. "I only ask for your counsel. With the ties between Mirrel and Evrosea growing stronger every day, I doubt there will be much conflict of interest either way."
Brennan looked up with wide eyes, stammering incoherently for a second. "That's not what worries me. I'm not… human, Daniel. It's one thing for me to help with a few trade agreements, but to be your chief advisor… that's…"
"A decision I've put ample thought into," Daniel finished patiently. "Human or not, you're a loyal friend and know how to work through complications thoughtfully, but you're also a quick thinker when you need to be. The bravery you showed at the Weeping Woods is immeasurable."
"Bravery?" Brennan chuckled humorlessly. "I was scared shitless."
Daniel shook his head. "I like to think bravery is less about how you feel and more about what you do."
Brennan brought his gaze back to the badge as he took that in. Slowly, unease faded from his expression, replaced by a crooked smile. With only a small amount of hesitation left in his movements, he leaned over Daniel's hand to retrieve the metal pin.
"I had a lot of help from Esmae's guardians," Daniel admitted as Brennan looked it over. It bore Mirrel's crest, as did the badges of the other royal advisors in the castle: a griffin with its wings flared.
Brennan nodded absently, mouth tight. He blinked hard, squeezing his eyes shut for a prolonged moment before breathing out a laugh. "I hope you don't think this means I'm going to start obeying orders from you or anything."
Daniel grinned. "I wouldn't dream of it."
After a moment of weighing it in his hand, Brennan fixed the badge to the lapel of his vest. Despite his best efforts to give him space, Daniel found himself leaning close to the desk to see how it looked on him. The strapping fairy looked a strange mixture of adorable and impressive to his eyes.
"It fits you nicely," he remarked warmly.
Brennan looked up at him, his little eyes wet. "Thanks," he said, his voice a little deeper than usual.
A gentle knock at the door drew them apart. The person on the other side waited only a moment before turning the knob.
"It's only me," Esmae called as she entered.
Shimmering green skirts danced around her legs as she crossed to his side. She moved more easily in the lighter fabrics she'd shown to the castle seamstress. A matching emerald clasp held back her long hair from her face. Daniel straightened as she came to stand beside him, resting a hand on his shoulder. He turned his head up in time to see her face light up at the sight of her friend. Brennan hovered up from the table, and her smile widened.
"Chief advisor," she greeted, dipping her head. "It's an honor."
He bowed gallantly in return mid-air. "Princess."
She gave a soft huff, looking him up and down with concern. "I've been worried sick about you," she chided lightly.
"Blame the healers. I would have returned to visit sooner if not for them. I'm lucky enough they cleared me to fly out here today."
Esmae cocked her head, a sly look crossing her face. "Are you sure you're not in pain? It looks like you've been crying."
Brennan's smirk flattened in a heartbeat, and he swiped at his eyes. "Nope, you're just wearing too much perfume again."
"It's not like you to fib," she accused.
"I've been in the company of humans too often, it seems," he retorted, though by then they were both wearing good-natured grins. Brennan took another look at the light outside and flew higher. "We want to be there before sundown. I'll wait for you at the edge of the woods."
With that, he waved and crossed the room to exit through the window.
As a new silence settled over the room, Esmae leaned down and kissed Daniel's cheek. "You made an excellent choice," she said, taking his hand and urging him to his feet.
"I don't doubt it. Evrosea seems to be full of excellent choices for me."
Daniel gave her a meaningful look as he lifted their joined hands and pressed a kiss to hers. Esmae glowed, her honey-brown eyes speaking volumes of her affection. He couldn't imagine a day when he ever tired of the way she looked up at him, like he was something incredible and impossible.
He fell into stride alongside her, making their way purposefully down the corridor. They didn't speak much as the carpeted hallways led to polished stone stairs, but found ways brush against the other in the ebbing sunlight—hips and hands and shoulders.
Sir Logan was waiting for them in the middle of the birch-freckled field that separated the castle grounds from the wilds of the lush forest below. It was strange to reconcile that the tree line he'd seen all his life from the windows of his room had once been Esmae's home. She had been right there out of reach his entire life.
"What's that?" the knight asked, nodding at the small satchel Daniel had procured from the kitchens.
"A gift," the prince said. "I'm determined to have this meeting go better than the last."
"What happened the last time?"
Daniel exchanged a look with Esmae. "I'd rather not go into it."
"Well, don't make it sound like you did something wrong," Brennan's voice floated down from a nearby birch tree.
He swooped down, crossing his arms as he regarded Logan. There was no denying the shock on the towering knight's face. Daniel knew from experience that a week was not enough time to become accustomed to fairies' sudden entrances.
"Upon the start of last season's meeting," Brennan went on, "some of the council members thought it was a good and appropriate time to loudly express their opinions on humans being untrustworthy liars who are not fit to enter Evrosea. There were accusations of Daniel planning to abuse our magic, and they took his silence as an affirmation."
"I was too stunned to speak," Daniel argued.
"Fortunately, not everyone was. The king and several other council members demanded silence on the matter, to which the offenders reminded them none too calmly that opinions have always been readily expressed amongst them, and having a human in their midst should not change that.
It settled down soon afterwards, but starting a gathering with a shouting match makes for a very awkward discussion."
Logan raised his eyebrows. "Seems I was right about fairies being a prickly lot."
"Have Mirrel create a sudden alliance with giants," Brennan snorted. "See how smoothly that goes for everyone involved."
"It'll be fine this time," Esmae said firmly. "Let's move."
Daniel learned his first visit to Evrosea that the kingdom was not a place easily stumbled upon. It was amongst the trees in plain sight, yes, but for a human to arrive there, it couldn't be an accident. The fae kingdom was laced in so much glamour magic that a human not seeking the place out specifically would be convinced by the magic to steer in another direction without even realizing.
Red and orange light peeked through the leaves as the sun set over a thicker patch of forest. They'd had to part with Sir Logan some time ago, leaving him to guard them from a fixed post. Bringing an unauthorized human any closer to Evrosea carried the risk of the fairies going from prickly to hostile.
"This way," Brennan called back, guiding Daniel and Esmae through a turn between the trees.
While Daniel's injured leg was beginning to feel stiff, Esmae had a bounce in her step, eager to see her home again. She could no longer see through glamour the same way she used to, though some of the ability remained. She said she could perceive flickers and distortion, unable to see what waited beyond a veil of glamour, but perfectly aware it existed.
An odd, but faintly familiar sensation tugged at Daniel's senses, trying to lead him astray. He blinked hard and focused. It meant they were close.
Like clockwork, Esmae squeezed his hand. "I can see it," she told him. She gave him a soft smile and guided him between a couple of trees that looked no different than the others surrounding them for miles.
From one step to the next, the world went from mundane to extraordinary. The regular trees melted away, replaced by foliage of unusual shades of ruby and amethyst. Even the green leaves, with their vibrant emerald and jade hues, would not blend in amongst their ordinary counterparts. A deep, impossibly blue creek ribboned through gradually thinning trees. Far ahead, Daniel glimpsed the palace in the distance: a massive and ancient tree inlaid with shimmering crystal panes.