She released the air held tight in her lungs.
While Morwyn moved gracefully from the sandy coastline, Caelian trudged through it like she was stomping through mud, grasping the queen’s hand tightly for fear she would fall on her face.
“You should remove your shoes.” Lira piped up, walking alongside her. “The earth is gentler than you think.”
She hoisted her swishing skirts, displaying her bare toes.
“Oh.” Caelian paused, looking down at her feet. “Okay.”
She slid her heels off, hooking them between her fingers, and plucked them from the ground. Wiggling her toes between the grains of warm sand, the corner of her mouth lifted slightly. “Delightful.”
Morwyn and Lira met her with beaming smiles, and they made their way into the waiting forest.
The moment Caelian entered the Myrkwild, a strange sense of familiarity settled over her. As though with every step, every impression, she was marking this world as her own. Birdsongechoed overhead, a tranquil melody that soothed her soul. She grazed her fingertips along the rough bark of each tree she passed, and her blood stirred, awakening. Like the forest was welcoming her home.
The air hummed with magic, the warm breeze whispered through yawning branches, fluttering her hair and feathering her cheeks like the wings of a butterfly. Dappled sunlight filtered between the jade and emerald leaves so they glittered like jewels, while pink and white blossoms sprouted from serpentine vines, their delicate petals falling like incandescent snowflakes. Beneath her bare feet, the ground was cool and comfortable, a reprieve from the everyday pangs of heels or slippers.
They walked deeper into the beguiling woods, past homes built into mounds of earth and others perched high in the sturdy overhang of branches. There were doorways framed with red and white speckled mushrooms, boughs of greenery tied with twine and tinkling bells, and beautifully carved stairs of smooth wood that wrapped around the dizzying heights of each tree. Windows of stained glass reflected scenes of natural wonders, and wind chimes sang softly in the breeze.
Laughter rang out, accompanied by the patter of footfalls and hushed voices.
“Druids are a curious sort,” Morwyn explained as they passed beneath a waterfall of wisteria and entered a clearing. “Quiet, but curious.”
Lira darted past Caelian, sprinting into the clearing that was actually more like a meadow. Long blades of golden grass rippled like waves in a sea of wildflowers. Butterflies danced and dozens of Druids milled about, enjoying the gifts of an eternal summer. Their gazes followed Caelian as she fell into step with their queen, but she was too mesmerized by the majestic tree standing before her to pay them any attention.
It must have been as tall as the Moonfall Peaks in Aeramere, for it stood with exceptional grandeur. Balconies curled from its moss-covered trunk, walkways spanned between gnarled branches leading to multiple rooms built into the side of the magnificent tree. Lanterns hung from ropes of flowering vines, benches were carved into its impressive overgrown roots, and a winding wooden staircase led to an arched door engraved with whorls at its base.
It was a palace within a tree, and Caelian had never seen anything more fascinating in her life.
“It’s splendid,” she breathed, gazing up at the tree that wildly resembled the Tree of Life constellation tattoo marking her heart.
“This is the Eldergrove, she is the life source of Wenfyre. All that is, and all that ever will be, runs deep through her roots.” Morwyn looped Caelian’s arm through her own. “I have adjoining rooms suitable for you and your dragon rider.”
“Oh. He is not my dragon rider.” Caelian stumbled, casting a quick look over her shoulder to see if Kjeld was listening, but he appeared to be in a deep conversation with Sylvan. The Druid was showing him one of his arrows as they walked. “Kjeld is…”
It was a struggle to convey his relationship to her.
“Well, I suppose he’s my companion.”
“A pity. There’s something rather pleasing about seeing the two of you near one another.” Morwyn patted her hand and guided her up the winding path of steps toward the framed doorway. “Would you prefer more separate quarters?”
“No.”
Morwyn flashed her a look of interest, and Caelian bit her lip, realizing she’d answered far too quickly. “That is, adjoining rooms will be fine, thank you. We have…well, we’re traveling with dragon eggs, you see. And I would like to be close by when they hatch.”
Truth be told, she hadn’t much considered the eggs hatching at all. She didn’t even know how long baby dragons stayed inside their protective shells, or if they should be incubating, or if they would need constant care. However, now that she thought about it, she would very much like to be there when they did hatch, because she liked to think she had some small part in saving their lives.
“Is that why you’ve come to Wenfyre then?” Morwyn asked as the large door to the Eldergrove groaned open. “To find a safe haven for your baby dragons?”
“Not exactly.”
Caelian stepped lightly into the breathtaking space, her footfalls hushed against the smooth, polished hardwood. Staircases swirled inside the husk of the trunk, leading to multiple levels. A banner of evergreen rippled overhead, depicting a gilded image of the Eldergrove. Softly glowing lanterns drenched the cavernous space in a warm glow, the delightful scent of rose and sandalwood more prominent. Druids dressed in robes of earthy tones roamed about, some carried tomes while others pushed trolleys overflowing with platters of mouthwatering food, all of them speaking a language Caelian couldn’t understand.
Morwyn started climbing one of the far staircases, and Caelian followed, the truth spilling from her before she could stop it. “We came to Wenfyre because my mother was a Druid. For some reason, she glamoured herself as a fae, married my father, Lord Zenos Starstorm, then poisoned him not long after I was born. And I want to know why. I have seven brothers and sisters, and she kept it a secret from all of us. Until recently, when her treachery was discovered and instead of offering an explanation, she took her own life.”
Shock slammed into Caelian.
She tripped over one of the steps. Throwing one arm out, she grasped the railing to keep herself steady, clamping her free hand over her mouth. She hadn’t intended to be so blunt, so bold in her claims. But once she started speaking, she couldn’t stop. Before she could even blink, Kjeld was there. Bracing her. Ready to catch her if she fell.
