“What clued you in?” I rolled my eyes. “was it my baffled expression or my complete lack of finesse?”
“You've never blessed a human before?” Hrafn gaped at me. “Then how did you manage to do it?”
“She just winged it,” Killian laughed. “Like she does with most princess stuff.”
I winced at the truth in his words.
“But I'm glad you did,” Killian looked over the joyous crowd. “Your little performance has turned us into rock stars.”
Killian was right. I'd never experienced anything like it in HR. I'd heard that Icelanders believed in the fey, but to be able to recognize us under our glamours? To be able to recognize Cat? They must have psychic abilities in their blood, like a lot of the Irish had. No wonder the elves loved Iceland. Not only did the locals have the ability to recognize us, they held no grievances against us. The wars probably never reached Iceland.
“The elves kept Iceland a neutral zone during the Human-Fey wars,” Hrafn said, as if in response to my thoughts. He'd had four shots and three pints of beer, so he was slurring just a little, but he still managed to sound wise. “They've always had a kinship with the Icelanders.”
“That explains a lot,” I said. “Do the Icelanders know that they were saved by the elves?”
“I doubt it,” Hrafn shrugged. “They don't need to. They respect us and we respect them. Simple. I don't think they could be more loyal to us.”
“Yes, I heard how they make sure there are no elves in an area before they build.”
“Most Icelanders, especially in the larger cities, will tell you this is all folklore. They'll swear that they don't believe in us,” Hrafn grinned. “But bring them out here, into a small community, and they suddenly become superstitious. When the fire crackles and the wind licks at the windows, they'll start telling you stories of the Fair Folk. It's like a secret everyone knows.”
“An accepted deception,” Killian said. “It's kind of awesome.”
“It is, isn't it?” I looked around at the happy faces, and immediately changed my perspective on Iceland.
It may seem to be a bleak place, but the warmth was there, hidden just beneath the icy surface, in the hearts and traditions of its people.
Chapter Fourteen
It was still early when we got back to the hotel, so we decided to make use of the hot tub. An outdoor hot tub in Iceland. Yep. We didn't all fit, and it was so cold outside, we had to bring our coats to wear to and from the water. But it was surprisingly wonderful. The hot water eased tense muscles and squeezing into a hot tub made people loosen up in other ways. Even Torquil was having a good time.
The Northern Lights didn't hurt either. They streaked the sky with vivid, green bands which pulsed and glowed in alien beauty. It was magical and so appropriate for the day. Then an arrow struck the ground near the tub, and my entire Guard freaked the hell out.
I was suddenly covered in Killian. His entire body was plastered over mine as he scanned the area carefully. Then his gaze went to the arrow and he relaxed, easing back from me.
“Message for you, Princess,” Killian stretched out in the suddenly spacious tub. Only he and Hrafn had remained with me.
“He's right,” Hrafn nodded to where a dripping, steaming Conri was picking up the arrow and holding it out carefully. A piece of paper was bound around the shaft. “That will be your invitation.”
“Your Highness,” Conri brought the arrow over as the rest of the Guard searched the area.
I unwrapped the paper and saw that it was indeed an invitation. Fancy writing, almost too swirly to read, bade me to seek the elves at dawn the next day. I was perfectly fine with dawn, which was just another word for twilight. That was when I, and my Guard, would be at our most powerful. Even if the twilight magic boost only lasted till morning broke. Seelie got the day, and Unseelie had dominion over the night. It seemed unfair that Twilight only got the small spaces of time in between, but as if in consolation for our reduced time, we gained even more power during it. I often wondered if we all were given the same energy boost, except Twilight's was more condensed than the other two kingdoms.
“At ease, everyone,” I called out to the knights. “We've been invited to meet the elves, and they've even offered us safe passage.”
My Guard wandered back to the hot tub, and we discussed our plan for the next day. It was a huge relief to have it settled, and I ended up relaxing completely and staying longer in the hot tub than I should have. Long enough that most of the others went in to bed. Only Killian and Cat remained behind to guard me, and Cat was asleep on the brick courtyard. Her fur was fluffed, and her nose tucked into her belly. She seemed perfectly happy in the frigid night.
“So, did you tell Raza about Tiernan?” Killian asked in a hushed voice.
“I did,” I kept my eyes on the pulsing sky.
“And he took it well?”
“Well enough,” I shrugged. “He understood.”
“Did he?” Killian had his arms spread out above the rim of the tub, making his biceps bulge. “I don't know if I would have.”
“Yes, you made yourself clear when we first met,” I tried not to notice how good his chest looked wet, but even the Northern Lights couldn't keep my eyes from straying to Killian.
