I stopped next to the others as we first entered the cleared area, only shining black grass and heavy mist that crept up the winged wolf’s legs could be seen. I placed my hands behind my back and waited to be spoken to—becausethiswinged wolf sure as Fairy could talk if that pack of deer did.
The winged wolf tipped her head down in greeting. “Rulers and heir, I am happy to see that you all made it here. I am Ruiuen. And I understand that you have come for an artifact?”
“Yes, the artifact the Fae left behind to counter the awakening giants.” Queen Mikko stepped forward, her head tipped all the way back to see the winged wolf’s fuzzy white face. “Will you tell us how we may obtain it?”
“It is simple for me to tell. But hard for you to find.” Her tail swatted the mist back and forth. Faster and faster. The fog lifted from right in front of her. “There are ten items before me. One is the artifact; the other nine are not. You will pick one individual from your group to send forward. They must choose one object that they believe is the correct artifact. If they pick correctly, you all may leave with it. If it is not picked, you will never be able to try again.”
My eyes bulged, and my mouth dropped open.
We will only receive one try at this?
Oh, my Fae.
The five rulers and I quickly huddled in a circle.
We did not talk at first. Everyone looked vaguely ill.
Queen Alora shook her head. “I can’t do it. The only artifacts I know are the ones resting at the bottom of the ocean. That does not help at all where the giants and the Fae are concerned. Those relics are all made by our own people. Who here has studied about the Fae for over twenty years consecutively?”
Father, Mikko, King Athon, and I nodded.
Queen Alora continued, “Out of you four, who has studied ancient history for over twenty years consecutively?”
Father, King Athon, and I nodded.
“All right. So out of King Athon, King Traevon, and Princess Trixie, who do we think should pick the artifact?”
None one spoke up.
“Come on,” I muttered. “We can do this.”
I wasn’t sure if I believed that, but it was positive to say it.
Queen Mikko said quietly, “I think it should be King Traevon. His mother was a soothsayer, and he is over a thousand years old.”
I stated withmuchreluctance, “I think it should be King Athon. The giants were a fierce people, and the Shifter Kingdom is the most brutal. King Athon may be able to figure it out.”
King Traevon scratched at his chin. “I believe that Trixie should do it. It’s already been proven that my mother taught her about giants and where to find this artifact in the Blood Forest. It stands to reason, she may have done more than that, but Trixie doesn’t realize it yet until she views the items.”
King Athon grunted softly. “I agree with Queen Mikko. It should be King Traevon.”
“I believe it should be King Athon,” Queen Alora intoned. “As Princess Trixie said, I believe he will connect better with the artifact.”
Everyone turned to look at King Elon. He rubbed the pads of his fingers over his mouth in deep thought. The gorgon king stated haltingly, “I…have to go with culture. I believe King Athon might understand the history of the artifact better.”
Queen Mikko stated quietly, “King Athon it is.”
King Athon popped his neck and rubbed his hands together, nodding to himself and staring over King Elon’s right shoulder at nothing—perhaps giving himself a mental pep talk. He swung around and prowled through the mist—hunting—in his element as he headed toward Ruiuen. The King of Shifters didn’t bother to look up at the winged wolf. Instead, his focus was on the items at her feet.
The mist covering the clearing blocked our view.
I chewed on my dirty thumbnail.
His back was our group’s only view of what he might think of an item. The back of his shirt was already tight over his tensed muscles, but when he was about to move onto the next item, his head slowly turned, already on the move even when he was still looking.
Nine times he did this. Nine times with no indication whatsoever on his thoughts. The tenth didn’t end up being any different, either.
I started gnawing on my other thumbnail.
