by Karen Lynch
“I have business to tend to in the morning, but I’ve freed up my afternoon. How would you like to visit town with me tomorrow?”
I pulled away to look up at him. “Do you even have to ask? I want to see everything!”
He laughed and surprised me when he leaned down to press a featherlight kiss to my forehead. There was nothing sensual about the gesture, but every nerve ending in my body felt it.
Lukas stayed for another hour, and we kept the conversation light. Mostly, we stood quietly, listening to the far-off sounds of the valley. Long after he bid me goodnight, I lay in bed unable to sleep as I thought about our outing the next day.
When I finally slept, I dreamed of Gus, but he was no longer the tiny drakkan I’d known. He was as big as the one I’d seen yesterday, and his red-gold scales moved like flames under the sun. I called to him, but he didn’t remember me. Sadness filled me as he flew away until he was no more than a spec in the sky.
* * *
“Ready to go?” Lukas asked when I opened my door to him and Kaia the next day.
I stepped outside and closed the door behind me. “Are you kidding? If you’d been a minute later, I would have left without you.”
He chuckled as we walked down the hallway. “Have you always been this impatient?”
I made a face. “No, but I’ve also never had to spend a whole morning getting fitted for a wardrobe. Who knew that could be so exhausting?”
I’d awakened in a great mood, and that had lasted until Sereia had shown up at my door to help me choose a wardrobe. After we’d butted heads once more over what colors went best with my hair and coloring, we had spent another hour arguing over what articles of clothing I needed. If it had been left to her, I would be wearing dresses every day. That might be the style for most females at court, but I preferred pants for everyday use and dresses for more formal occasions.
Lukas laughed again when I recounted my ordeal for him. The sound must have carried ahead of us because when we reached the courtyard on this level, the dozen or so people there seemed to be waiting for him to arrive. It was the first time I’d been outside of my quarters with him, and it was surreal to see everyone bowing or curtsying to him.
I wasn’t surprised when I received more than a few furtive glances. Yesterday, I’d been the object of curiosity because I was the “new” faerie. Today, I was in the company of the crown prince.
“Vaerik,” said a sultry female voice. It was followed by something in Fae that I couldn’t understand.
I turned my head to watch a blonde female approach us from the other direction. It was the same one who’d shot me the death glare the day I arrived, but now I might as well be invisible. She only had eyes for Lukas.
He replied to her in Fae and looked at me. “Jesse, this is Rashari.”
“Nice to meet you.” I pasted on a smile that was as fake as the one she gave me.
“Ah, yes. Vaerik’s little ward,” she said as if she were speaking to a child. “How lovely to meet you.”
She didn’t wait for my reply before she turned her hungry gaze on Lukas. “I’m so happy I ran into you. I wanted to tell you what a wonderful time I had last night.”
My body stiffened, and I felt a tiny stab of pain in my chest. Lukas had told me he’d had dinner with his father.
“The king deserves all your praise,” Lukas said courteously. “He enjoys hosting his dinner parties.”
Rashari smiled coquettishly. “And I am honored to be invited. I look forward to doing it again soon.”
“I am glad you enjoyed it. I apologize for rushing off, but Jesse and I are going to town today.” Lukas didn’t wait for her to respond before he took my arm and started to walk away. I dared a glance at Rashari, whose pinched smile did not mask her chagrin.
“Enjoy your visit to town,” she said halfheartedly.
Lukas and I were quiet when we stepped onto the lift. I stared at the first two levels passing by before I heard him sigh.
“My father often arranges dinners to discuss court business with his senior advisors. Some of his advisors have daughters, whom he considers suitable matches for me, and he likes to invite one of them to dine with us.”
I swallowed around the tightness in my throat. “He wants you to choose one of them as your future consort.”
Lukas’s brows knitted. “How do you know about that?”
I hesitated before answering. I had never intended to tell him about my run-in with Dariyah, but there was no way around it now. I had a sinking feeling that nothing she’d told me had been a lie, no matter how much I disliked the source.
“Jesse?”
“Dariyah told me a few months ago,” I finally said.
“Dariyah?” he echoed sharply. “When did you see her other than the day she came to my place?”
Biting the bullet, I said, “She was waiting for me outside my building one day after Tennin shared those photos of you and me online. She told me you have to choose a blue blood mate to produce strong heirs.”
Lukas’s expression darkened. “She had no right to go to your home or to tell you that. I will make sure she never harasses you again.”
Kaia, picking up on his anger, growled in agreement.
I laid a hand on his arm. “It’s sweet that you want to protect me, but I can take care of myself. I’ve handled a lot worse than Dariyah.”
The muscles under my hand relaxed, and he smiled. “Yes, you have.”
The lift slowed, and I was surprised to see Faris, Conlan, Iian, and Kerr waiting for us on the ground level wearing swords. Lukas explained that an armed detail always accompanied him when he left the court.
We stepped off the lift, and a male in court livery hurried up to us. It was the same attendant who had come for Lukas the moment we arrived in Unseelie, and my heart sank before he spoke. I didn’t need to understand Fae to know he was here on behalf of the king.
“Tell my father I have plans for the remainder of the day, and I will see him tomorrow,” Lukas replied in English, his words sending warmth through me.
The attendant looked like the last thing he wanted to do was carry that message back to the king. Bowing to Lukas, he turned and hurried away.
We walked to a different exit than the one Faris and I had used the day before. This was the main hall, and it boasted two massive doors I didn’t think I had the strength to open on my own. Four guards stood at attention, and they bowed to Lukas when we entered the room.
Instead of leaving through the huge doors, we walked to a normal size door I hadn’t noticed. Iian opened it, and we emerged into a circular area paved with flat stones. Standing inside the circle was a white open carriage. It was drawn by four huge black equine creatures called tarrans that had bony faces and two small horns on their foreheads. A liveried male sat on the driver seat holding the reins. Four more tarrans stood nearby wearing lightweight saddles similar to those used by human jockeys but with long stirrups.
Kerr gave me an exaggerated bow. “Your chariot awaits, my lady.”
“Why thank you, sir.” I walked over to the carriage and let him help me up.
Lukas climbed in beside me. The carriage was big enough to fit six people, but Faris, Conlan, Iian, and Kerr mounted the tarrans and took up positions on either side of us. Lukas called something to the driver, and with a small lurch, we were off.
“Where’s Kaia?” I looked around for her, and I was halfway out of the seat when Lukas stopped me.
“She likes to run. It’s exercise for her.” He pointed to something on his side. “There.”
I leaned into him to peer over the side at the lamal loping ahead of the lead tarran. She suddenly crouched and wiggled her rear, and then she took off after something in the bushes.
I settled back into the seat and took a minute to savor the experience. It was a beautiful day, and I was alone in a carriage with Lukas on my first outing to a Fae town. I’d had a rough start to my visit to Unseelie, but this made that awful day seem like a di
stant memory.
The carriage slowed as we reached a fork in the road. The left one looked more traveled, and the right wound into the trees.
“Where does that go?” I pointed to the right as we started down the left road.
“To the Cadian forest,” Lukas said. “There is a small elf village at the edge of the forest, but most of the elves have gone to live in town. The road is mainly used by hunters now.”
“How far is the town?” I asked as we cleared the trees, and softly rolling hills came into view.
“Three miles.”
I swung my gaze to meet his. “That’s not far at all. We could have walked.”
Conlan, who rode closest to me, snickered. “The crown prince does not walk to town. He must have more regal transportation.”
“Normally, I ride with them,” Lukas explained. “But you’ve never ridden a tarran, and it takes practice.”
“You could have doubled up with him, but that would cause quite the scandal in town,” Conlan joked loudly enough for the others to hear.
“No, thanks,” I said over their laughter.
The gravel road curved, and the hills became farmland. On one side, there were fields of leafy crops and grazing animals, and on the other was an orchid. I recognized some of the fruits I’d been eating back home. The landscape was green and picturesque like the Italian countryside. You could imagine you were in Tuscany until you looked close enough to see that the people working the fields were trolls and dwarves, and the cows were actually small wooly mammoth-like creatures.
It wasn’t long before the roofs of buildings came into view. We passed over a stone bridge, and I let out a sound of delight when we entered the town. It was like stepping back in time to a medieval town, but without the knights and peasants.
The gravel road gave way to a flat cobblestone street wide enough for two carriages to pass. The well-kept two- and three-story buildings along the road were white, tan, or brown with lots of windows and balconies that made them look bright and airy. Some of the buildings had shops on the bottom floor, and I wished we could stop and visit them all.
People waved to us from balconies and sidewalks, and wide-eyed children watched us pass. Unlike at court, the townspeople were a mix of court faeries, elves, dwarves, and even some trolls. It was strange to see trolls going peacefully about their business, and it made me wonder if only the troublemakers came to my world.
As we neared the center of town, the streets became more congested, and there were colorful banners up ahead.
“Are they having a fair or something?” I asked Lukas.
“It’s market day. I thought you might enjoy it.”
I could barely stay in my seat as the crowds parted for us, and we stopped beside a fountain in the middle of the town square. From my elevated position, I had a three-hundred-and-sixty-degree view of the market, and I nearly gave myself whiplash trying to take it all in.
Booths and stalls lined the edge of the square, selling everything from produce, cured meats, cheeses, and baked goods to clothing, jewelry, art, books, and so much more. Music filled the air along with the hum of many voices, shouts, laughter, and the squeals of children. The smells of exotic spices, savory meats, and baked goods made my mouth water.
I saw a few people from court, who stood out in their fine clothing. For the most part, the townspeople dressed more casually in simple pants, skirts, and shirts. Everyone gave the carriage a wide berth, bowing to Lukas when he stepped down. He tipped his head in acknowledgement and helped me down. I could have done it on my own, but it felt like proper decorum for him to assist me. Conlan and the others dismounted and came to stand with us, and Kaia wound through their legs to take her position at Lukas’s other side.
“What do you want to see?” Lukas asked me.
“Everything.”
Laughing, he placed a hand on my back and guided me toward the nearest stalls. People moved out of our way, making a clear path for us. I got the impression the crown prince wasn’t often seen at the market, and this was a treat for them.
The first stall we stopped at sold jewelry, and I was dazzled by the large assortment of sparkling baubles and crystals. There were rings, bracelets, necklaces, hair accessories, and head pieces. I picked up a bracelet made of glowing eyranth and admired the intricate detail in the metal band. When Lukas spoke in Fae, I realized he was translating my praise to the elf vendor, who looked both flustered and honored to have the prince at her booth.
I asked her a few questions about some of the stones and her work until she was more at ease. By the time we moved on to the next stall, she was flushed with pride over some of Lukas’s compliments.
The next vendor sold pastries, and it didn’t take much coaxing for me to try one. The flaky, sugary pastry melted on my tongue, and I told him, with Lukas’s help, that it was the best I had ever tasted. The beaming vendor offered me more, but I told him I had to save room for all the other tasty treats.
Lukas and I wandered from stall to stall. I tried the foods he suggested and talked to the sellers with his help. It was the happiest I’d been since coming to Faerie, and I felt more at home here where it was less formal and had so many different people. Court was beautiful and luxurious, but it lacked the vibrancy and warmth of this place.
Lukas’s men stayed close enough to react to any threat to their prince while not crowding us. It wasn’t like in my world where they walked beside him as equals. They might be his best friends, but here they looked more the part of a royal guard.
Occasionally, faeries from court approached us, and Lukas stopped to speak a few words to them. Some of the females tried to linger, but he never stayed long with them, to their dismay. I also didn’t miss the fact that he always used English when I was beside him.
During one of his conversations, I wandered a few feet away to watch a musician setting up an oblong stringed instrument. He plucked a few strings, and delight filled me. It sounded like a classical guitar. My fingers itched to give it a try. Maybe I could find one like it since I’d had to leave my guitars at home.
The musician saw me watching and waved me over. He said something in Fae, and I shook my head, motioning that I couldn’t understand him. A frown marred his brow, and then he smiled and held out the instrument to me.
I took it with eager hands and sat on the stone bench behind him. The instrument was awkward to hold at first, and the strings were made of a fiber I’d never seen. The first few chords I produced made me wince, and it took a minute for my hands to get used to the feel of the strings. As if my fingers had a mind of their own, they started to play “Annie’s Song.” It didn’t sound quite the same as when I played it on my guitar, but I lost myself in the familiar melody. The market disappeared, and I was back in my bedroom at home playing for Finch and Aisla.
The song ended, and clapping brought me back to the present. I looked up to find a small crowd applauding me. Smiling, I stood and handed the instrument to the musician.
“Thank you,” I said, and his answering smile said he understood the meaning if not the words.
I turned back to where I’d left Lukas and found him watching me with a thoughtful expression. I raised my eyebrows in question, and he merely smiled. He was hard to read sometimes, but today he looked relaxed and content.
A little elf girl with a rika ran up to me. I crouched to pet the creature, and I was surprised to feel a tug at my hair. I peeked at the girl who was running her little fingers through my hair, a look of wonder on her face.
“Misse,” she said in Fae.
An adult female elf hurried over and gently removed the girl’s hand from my hair. The female’s face was anxious like a mother worried her child had done something wrong.
“It’s okay,” I said, but my words only seemed to cause her more distress. I looked around for help and was relieved when Faris appeared by my side.
He said something to the child’s mother, who replied timidly, barely meeting his eyes. When her gaze met
mine again, she wore a small smile and appeared less upset. I smiled back, and she bowed before she led her daughter away through the crowd.
“I didn’t mean to upset her,” I said to Faris in a whisper.
He shook his head. “You didn’t. She thought her child would be punished for touching the prince’s companion.”
I stared at him aghast. “But that wouldn’t happen, right?”
“No one would dare hurt a child, but there are some people at court who see townspeople as beneath them. They would have given the mother a harsh word.”
I pressed my lips together, my good mood dampened by the reminder that no matter what world you lived in, there would always be those people.
“The little girl said something when she touched my hair. What does misse mean?” I asked him.
Faris smiled. “It means pretty.”
He escorted me back to Lukas, who leaned in to say, “You have never played for me.”
The teasing note in his voice sent my stomach into a tumble. “Ask nicely, and I might.”
Lukas laughed softly, and my breath caught. Was I flirting with him? And was he flirting back?
We continued our walk, and I spotted a bookseller’s stall. “Oh, Lukas, we have to stop there.”
A gasp nearby alerted me to my faux pas, and my face grew warm. I lowered my voice. “I keep forgetting you’re the crown prince.”
“You might be the only person in Unseelie who does,” he whispered.
I couldn’t tell if he was disappointed in me or not. “I’m sorry.”
“I like it.” His mouth curved. “That’s between us.”
I smiled back. “My lips are sealed.”
We walked over to the stall that had shelves of books and more in wooden crates. Every book had a fabric-bound cover with a simple embossed title, and most of them were works of fiction, according to Lukas. They were all in Fae, so I couldn’t read them…yet. I flipped through some of them, intrigued by the flowing script that was the Fae language. It was hard to believe I would soon be able to speak and write in Fae. And eventually, I’d be able to pick up any human language.