by D. L. Boyles
“Yes.” She sounded so eager and so innocently joyous that Philip almost felt bad for the trap he’d laid. Almost.
“Well then, you will have to get away, but I can help with that…” They discussed her room and once he discovered where his mother lodged her, it was even easier than it should have been to tell her the secret passageway she could use.
“When shall we go?”
He smiled as charmingly as he could. It was almost too easy. “Dawn. Everyone else will still be sleeping from the excitement of this evening. No one will even miss us.”
With the plan made, he returned Princess Audora to her mother then filtered through the ballroom briefly before taking his place beside his mother.
“You seem taken with the foreign princess. I admit that when her mother wrote to me, I was hesitant to invite them. She was desperate to find a match for her daughter, however, and I understood the queen’s feelings acutely.”
“I’m sure you did,” he murmured.
“Do not sass me, Philip. Your adversity to settling down has been well-established and I know that you believe you have a mate out there, one you’ve been searching for, but I cannot help but think such a bond may never come. Your father and I…we managed without being bond mates, Philip, and I loved him greatly.”
“And you would have me marry a foreign princess? A human one, too?”
“I would have you be happy, Philip. In whatever form that may come.”
He endured the duration of the party, his mother’s yearly tribute to the summer solstice, from the safety of the dais. Several young females made spectacles of themselves in an attempt to lure him from his chair but none of them worked. He noticed with grim satisfaction that the attention he’d given to Princess Audora had isolated her from the females of his court but had endeared her greatly to the males. He hadn’t realized that she and her mother would be here, but his own mother rarely told him her plans.
The presence of the queen and princess of Wessix would give him a rare opportunity and he planned to make the Wessix queen squirm.
Without his mother’s permission—something that would give her reason to chastise him later—he left the ballroom for the serenity of his personal chambers. His rooms were not as lavish as they’d once been, just barely comfortable, but he liked it that way. As he aged his mother gave him more freedom to do with his things as he would, so he had slowly dispersed his furnishings amongst the palace staff. More recently, he’d struggled to accept the lavishness of his space. The over-sized chaise lounge that once graced the foot of his bed reminded him of the many mistresses who’d dangled their naked bodies across it alluringly, so he gave it away. The thick rugs and pillows that used to pile in front of his marble fireplace brought too many images of half-naked females propped upon them, their scents still lingering in the material long after they’d gone. Those, he’d given to Galancix. Ever since that awakening of his senses had occurred, since the creation of the tether that sparked to life in him, he couldn’t bear the thought of touching a female. He had most of his things removed from the room and new linens made for his bed. Now, his sitting room consisted only of two chairs and a table and his room boasted only a bed and a large wooden closet angled in one corner. Behind the closet, nestled safely and secretly in the wall, was his secret passageway that allowed him to slip in and out of the palace unnoticed. There were many such passages, but this one was known only to him—and once to his father and brother.
He knew his mother would be upset that, once again, the future king of Endari had slipped away from a holiday, not to be seen the rest of the evening. She had grand plans for his future, but it had never been his intention to become king someday.
A gentle tap on his door alerted him of the arrival of his most trusted guard. The man slipped into the room without being summoned; it was the way between the two of them. In his nondescript black outfit beneath a hooded cloak, he sat stiffly in the chair across from Philip.
“No luck?”
The man shook his head.
“The little rabbit has stayed hidden from you, too, then.” It was a statement, not a question. “After all this time, I thought she’d be easier to find. She was told to leave Wessix, not disappear.” Philip sighed. “To be fair, I did not expect her to come here. Just because she has a Malesian blade in her possession does not mean she will seek refuge in fae lands.”
“True, but…”
“But?” he asked.
“It is nothing.”
“You’ve done well looking for your prey. And you have been away a long time. Rest. Enjoy the holiday celebrations. Just be cautious. My mother has invited the queen and princess of Wessix this year.”
“They’re both here?” The cloaked man stood and paced along one side of the room. “Do you think they know?”
“Impossible. We’ve ensured they have no idea who they’ve been dealing with,” Philip told him.
“Yet, they know it was someone from Endari. If she was smart enough to lure Mazin into her trap, it will not take her long to figure out the rest.”
“Mazin was lured because he was led by desire.”
“There are many forms of desire and just as many ways to manipulate them.”
“You are right, Galancix.”
“Be cautious, Prince Philip. What are your plans?”
“If I can trick the princess into…Well, maybe I should use some of that charm I once had, Galancix. If I can lure her in, that may be a way to get close to Isadora. And lead to finding Mazin.”
He pulled out the newest piece of paper Queen Isadora had given him during his last visit to Wessix, dropping it on the table for Galancix to read.
HE CANNOT SPEAK AND CANNOT HEAR BUT HE WILL ALWAYS TELL THE TRUTH WHEN YOU’RE NEAR.
“Her riddles never make sense,” his guard complained. “And the other hunters? Do they understand it? Have any suggestions?”
“That he is locked away somewhere. We’ve scoured the castle in Wessix, though. He is not there,” Philip said, giving the wall a little kick. “And we’ve searched the towers. Perhaps there is an old tower, one we’ve not remembered?”
“Fae always speak the truth,” Galancix stated. “This riddle is unhelpful in every way.”
“I’m sure that was the intent,” Philip grumbled. “As have been all the clues she’s given to us over the years.”
“Do you worry what will happen if you cannot find him?” Galancix asked.
“I won’t think of it,” Philip told him. “Failure is not an option. If I cannot find him through the clues from the queen, maybe I can find him through a relationship with the princess.
∞∞∞
Princess Audora met him exactly where he’d told her to be and the two made their way through the shadows to the stables. As he expected, no one was awake, and no one noticed. Those who would, he’d paid a gravi—or ten—to look the other way and pretend they did not see him take the princess away from the stables. The gold coins were a large sum to pay but it was worth it.
The princess was young and foolish, but she was sweet and equally wild. To his surprise, he found that he liked her, enjoyed her spirit, and admired the way she loosened the reins and raced her horse across the barely lit meadow. When he feared the horses needed a break, he forced them both to slow down before allowing them to graze near the Injabi River.
“This is beautiful.” She gazed out across the river with an awe that made him look at the water with a new perspective. “We have a small stream where I am from. It’s never even been named. I enjoyed going there with…” Her words trailed off, a hint of sorrow in her voice, a slight sadness creeping across her features. “I named it,” she said, turning to look at him, that bright smile on her face once more, “Lonely River.”
“That sounds…well, it sounds lonely.” She laughed softly and the sound of it made him smile, though, in truth, he felt even more guilty. He knew who she was thinking of…or suspected.
“This is much bigger,” she told
him, waving her hand towards the rushing water. “This is the Injabi River?”
“Yes.”
He must have sounded surprised by her knowledge for she shrugged and said, “I read about your history and studied your geography before we came. My mother said it would be rude not to know something of your kingdom if we were to be your guests.”
He nodded, beginning to feel increasingly guilty for luring her here. He wanted to find his brother, but at what cost?
They returned to the horses and he decided to show her some of that geography she’d studied. They rode along the sandy dunes that sprawled along the east coast and she surprised him by removing her shoes and sinking her perfect little toes in the sand, laughing endlessly when she ventured too close to the water and a wave would splash against her ankles.
The ocean was amazing, and Philip always enjoyed it, but watching Princess Audora take it all in with such pure delight made him love it even more.
In the distance, he caught sight of Galancix, the hooded cloak billowing in the sea breeze. If Audora noticed him she didn’t say anything, but he wondered what she must be thinking. There was no doubt she’d seen the guards at the ball the night before; Queen Isadora had studied them closely.
Certain there would be mass panic at the princess’s absence, he urged her back to the palace and they boldly walked in through the front doors. And, of course, they were greeted with endless questions, irritated mothers, and shocked stares from other guests. Philip didn’t care in the least, however, and despite the fury he’d witnessed in his mother, he sensed another emotion from her—relief. Relief that he’d returned the foreign princess safely to the palace or relief that he’d been caught spending time with a female? It was hard to say, but he ignored it and somehow managed to get through breakfast without any additional discussion about where they’d been.
Midsummer was always preceded with lavish dinners and parties leading up to the Midsummer’s Day Ball. This, however, was followed by carnivals and tournaments meant to display the power of the Summer Fae, a reminder to the Autumn Fae in Malesia that Summer reigned supreme, the lesser seasonal courts with sufficient powers but nothing that rivaled that of Queen Milagros. She was, after all, the only queen of any court and only the queens possessed supreme powers.
Today, he was escorting Everlynn and Audora to the Fire Festival. It was the only nighttime festival of the Summer Court and it was meant to showcase a glimpse of Queen Milagros’s powers to the world—to those who came, at least. The Autumn Court of Malesia was noticeably absent, but Prince Malecinth needed no reminder of the Summer Queen’s abilities. She’d spread a fire once through Malesia, burning a section of the Northern Wood when Malecinth displeased her. It was then that he began prolonging his engagement to Everlynn, unwilling to set a date.
Since it was a beautiful night, Philip walked with a female on each arm to the festival grounds. It was a short mile-long walk, but that was apparently too much for Queen Isadora, who opted to go by carriage. Philip was glad he’d not have to entertain her so fully supported her desired transportation. She had her own retinue and personal guards to escort her, but he sent Galancix as an extra eye, and to further confuse her. Queen Isadora knew that she dealt with a hunter but was not certain of his identity. To complicate things, Philip employed multiple guards who all wore The Hunter’s garb. There were times even his mother was not sure who was who. The other hunters all did the same. Only the true hunter, however, was known to the queen, while the others were hidden faces; shadows, meant for deceit.
“It is very pretty here,” Audora commented as they walked.
Everlynn rolled her eyes. Audora was genuinely enamored by everything they saw. Philip couldn’t help but smile with her as she took in new sights. Magnolia trees in full bloom lined the street they walked down. Narrow lanes led away from the street to the expansive chateaus where royal court members, nobles, and the wealthier residents resided.
“I’ve never seen trees like this,” Audora said, her wide-eyed wonder giving Philip opportunity to see Endari in a new light.
“I am convinced you’ve lived in a bubble,” Everlynn said dryly. Thankfully, Audora seemed not to hear her as the festival grounds came into view.
Philip admitted that it was spectacular, hiding a smirk as Audora bounced on her toes at the sight of all the torches. His mother had a penchant for fire and star gazing; something this festival focused heavily on. He guided his sister and the human princess to the private seating area. Queen Isadora was not there, relegated to the guest seating a level below their own in the outdoor auditorium. Had he wished to, he could have asked to have her escorted up, but he was content to leave her. She tried making eye contact with him several times, but he skillfully managed to avoid it.
“I’ve never really understood constellations,” Audora admitted to Everlynn.
Everlynn raised a brow at her and flared her nostrils. “You do realize that the Summer Court—which is where you’re at—relies heavily upon the stars?”
Philip fought the urge to chastise his sister, who knew about as much about the constellations as she knew about sword fighting—very little.
“Yes, I did read that, and I tried to memorize a few, but it is a skill and understanding that eludes me.” Audora glanced up at the sky, squinting at the stars then back down at the little book she’d brought along. It outlined some of the greater constellations and a sparse few of the lesser.
Philip should have helped her by pointing out that she was looking in the wrong direction but decided he hadn’t the desire or energy to explain it all. While Audora may be enticing and sweet, he was still not entirely convinced that getting close to her was one of his better aims in his search for Mazin. That idea was feeling more outrageous by the moment.
∞∞∞
Queen Milagros arrived in a chariot gilded with gold and encrusted with rubies, garnet, and peridot. Audora had never seen such an elaborate chariot. Or any chariot, really. Not in person, anyway. Pulling the chariot were two bull-like creatures with the manes of horses. Fire streamed from their backsides, leaving a trail of earth scarred by flames in their wake. Only the shield of the queen prevented the chariot from bursting into flames, but even that had small scorch marks and periodically, embers stuck to the shield and bits of the chariot, glowing bright red before fading away.
As soon as the chariot reached the stage, Queen Milagros slashed a whip into the air, severing the connection between the fiery creatures and the chariot they pulled. The pair of strange-looking bulls barreled onward, unfettered and eager to get away.
“Will they burn down the forest?” she asked, her gaze flicking between Princess Everlynn and Prince Philip then back to the fading light of the bulls’ trail.
“The centaurs will corral them,” Prince Philip told her.
That was a relief but still unsettling to know such creatures existed.
She quickly returned her attention to the stage where the queen was already using her power of light to give the air a glittering sheen as though a thousand fireflies were blinking all around them. No. They were fireflies.
“Did your mother just create fireflies?” she asked, her mouth agape and knowing she looked very unladylike.
“Do you need a running commentary?” Princess Everlynn drolled.
“I’m sorry,” she apologized. The princess’s comments made her feel foolish.
“It is fine, Princess Audora. I doubt the human kingdoms are acquainted with fae traditions or capabilities,” Prince Philip told her. He offered her a sweet smile, a balm to the embarrassment she was feeling.
She really tried not to ask so many questions, but they flowed from her like breath as she watched the queen of the fae dazzle all in attendance with her powers. Audora never imagined someone could shoot flames from their hands or mimic constellations with sparks of fire erupting from their palms. When Queen Milagros was finished, the stage erupted with a series of fireworks and magical apparitions of various woodland cr
eatures before it fell dark and the crowd’s applause filled the darkness.
“Wow.” It was all she could manage to say. Princess Everlynn rolled her eyes, but Prince Philip smiled.
Something about Prince Philip seemed familiar. He was kind at moments but distant at others, yet there was a familiarity in the way he spoke, in his mannerisms, that made her feel comfortable around him.
“Thank you for inviting me,” she said to him.
“It was my pleasure.”
The walk back to the palace was quiet, but Audora used the time to contemplate her situation. Her mother adamantly wanted Audora to find true love and insisted that she may find it here amongst the fae. She was certainly mesmerized by Endari and its people. Queen Milagros was a spectacle in her own right. Yet, Audora could not imagine herself fitting in here. Princess Everlynn made no effort to hide her dislike for humans or her annoyance with Audora.
Her heart sank a little lower. During the festival, she wished she could have shared it with Peter. She had turned once, expecting to find Florian standing guard, able to share a smile with him. Neither of them was there, however. Audora missed them both. Determined to enjoy herself in Endari and to take the time to reestablish herself, she pushed their memory to the furthest recesses of her mind. This trip to Endari was meant to be healing. Even if she didn’t find love, she’d allow herself to find a bit of happiness because she’d spent the past couple of months mourning her own foolishness and the lives it had cost. Honestly, she was tired of feeling sad.
∞∞∞
It was not until the third day of holiday celebrations that Philip realized he’d willingly spent time with Princess Audora for more than half of it and had actually enjoyed himself. There was something refreshing and exciting about her that he could not avoid. She saw the world around her with such intense excitement that he found joy of his own in the most peculiar and simple things. And her rebellious streak called to him in a way that he’d never experienced before. Well, that was not true. He’d experienced it, but it had been so brief and so conjectural that he doubted if it had existed beyond his own imaginings. Maybe it had all been nothing more than a dream; she had been a figure of his imaginings, the manifestation of his hearts’ desire. This, however, was real. Princess Audora was real. That other woman, she was a figment of his imagination, as was their connection.