I had never been there before. This was excellent!
It was also a city a Fae-gifted pegasus would not fly to; it was too near the edge of the realm. Boats would be used by all.
The Merfolk Queen added, “You are all invited to stay at my castle, as well.” Her merfolk gaze snagged on mine, the white sparkles in her solid blue eyes combining into two large starbursts homed in right on me. “Do try not to get into too much trouble while you are there.”
I held my free hand up in assurance. “I will behave.”
King Elon raised his brows on his silver face, not saying a word. He didn’t need to. It was there in his skeptical expression.
King Traevon looked at the Misfits. “Is there anything else you need to say to us?” They had been waiting around, watching.
“Yes. Princess Trixie will need a bucket.” Red Louie snickered as he started walking toward the doorway. “That is your warning.”
The rest of the Misfits followed him out the door, disappearing from sight as they turned the corner toward the stairs leading out of the dungeon.
My forehead wrinkled as I peered at my father. “Do you suppose a boat will have a leak on our journey?”
“Let us pray that is not correct,” King Traevon grumbled. “What a horrible way to start our task.”
King Elon scowled and hissed, “King Traevon, please make sure your boat stays far away from mine tomorrow.”
Queen Mikko cracked her neck and stated calmly, “If we are to meet in Cosimian Trench the day after the morrow, I will need to leave shortly.” The Caster Kingdom was the farthest south, and Cosimian Trench was north of the Gorgon Kingdom. She would need to travel halfway around the landmass to reach it, so she was correct. The Caster Queen would need to leave tonight. “We need to finish what we started earlier.”
King Athon’s lips slowly curved up on the sides. “He bleeds like a stuck pig. It has been the most enjoyable part of my day so far.” He nodded his head regally to the Caster Queen. “Thank you for capturing such a large specimen to play with, Queen Mikko.”
King Traevon grunted. “Other than making him bleed…what have you learned?”
“He’s a troll,” King Elon explained. “The caster guards found him in a swamp under a bridge. The bastard was far too big to hide there, but, apparently, he lives under bridges.” His lips lifted in a pleased smile. “And the Blood Forestisa bridge, his old home. He told us much that he has overheard.”
“Such as?” I asked instantly.
“That Fairy used to be one whole until the dark Fae and the light Fae started fighting so badly their own population dropped to critical numbers. That was when this realm was built, but splitting them apart has caused Fairy to have problems with the land.” King Athon lifted a black brow. “The bridge troll hasn’t been in Fairy for a long while, but from the rumors he’s heard? He believes Fairy is dying.”
My eyes widened. “Fairy’s dying?”
King Athon continued, “The Fae traveling here are doing so because they are starving. Literally.”
King Traevon held me closer—it felt like he needed the comfort—and gazed down at the rock floor below his feet. “Louie said that our realm wasn’t the one that had done anything wrong. And the Fae are searching for their own artifacts.” He gradually lifted his head and narrowed his eyes. “We…are in a fight against the Fae for our own damned land!”
Queen Alora nodded. “That is what we have decided, as well. But we don’t know if they want our land, or if they simply want to destroy us—the bridge—to bring Fairy back together.”
“The Judge of Shadows wrote that book.” I breathed heavily, thinking aloud. “I would say thisisa trial, us versus them. But…the judge wrote that book a long time ago.” My forehead wrinkled deeply. “Someone knew this was going to happen for that book to be written by the courts. They knew the giants would awaken to destroy this realm and that Fairy would start to perish. I bet the Fae have their own book, too, for their own artifacts. That would be fair in a trial.”
Queen Mikko smiled softly. “Very well done, Princess Trixie. That does make sense.”
King Elon tapped on his chin. “Mayhap, they have an oracle on the court?”
The Shifter King asked too casually, “What is an oracle?”
“An oracle is a dark Fae. They are like our soothsayers, but a more morbid in nature. They work on the darker side of the prophecies whereas a soothsayer sees smaller visions of both light and dark.” King Elon smirked, quite proud of himself. “I managed to pry that out of a Fae a long time ago.”
King Traevon inhaled deeply. “If Fairy is dying…mayhap, that is why the giants are waking? The Misfits never told us why they were. Perhaps, the Fae aren’t strong enough right now to keep them sleeping.”
I blinked slowly. Weakened Fae would be perfect for King Athon and me right now. The weaker the better.
My soul mate grunted quietly, flicking a glance at me. It was clear he was having the same thoughts. His shoulders even relaxed and his eyes lit up with malicious glee.
King Elon stared at my father. “That…was a very good thought, King Traevon.”
