Thane stepped forward instinctively, almost as if her words had called him near. What had she been about to say just then? Before she had stopped herself? Probably nothing important.
“It is not the only thing that will save her,” he finally said. “I will go meet with them. I promise. And I do not make promises lightly.”
She trembled, and a tear slipped down her cheek. “Do you truly mean that?”
He nodded.
Eislyn let go of the ladder and launched into his arms. She wrapped herself so tightly around him that he almost lost his breath. The scent of rowan and snow enveloped him, burning him up with a sensation he had never felt. Her arms tightened around his neck, her hair tickled his nose. Closing his eyes, he held her close, his heart beating faster than Beltane drums.
* * *
“What in the name of the Dagda do you think you are doing, Thane?” His mother, clad in a deep purple gown that flared out behind her, stood glaring at where Thane had gathered twenty warriors in the inner courtyard just beside the entrance to the castle gardens. A bright morning sun flared overhead, reflecting off the white stone of the six looming towers that surrounded them.
Just behind his mother, Aengus lurked, her ever-present shadow.
Thane had refrained from telling his mother about the letter, Reyna’s capture, and his subsequent plans to parley with the enemy. It was not the sort of thing that the High Queen of the Air Court would approve of. In fact, Thane distinctly remembered her reaction when his father had proposed an alliance with the wood fae. There had been a lot of shouting and throwing of slippers. His mother despised High King Ulaid and for good reason. He was a terrible male and an even worse king.
The leather-clad warriors shifted nervously on their feet as Thane turned toward his mother, holding his sword loosely by his side. He pasted on a pleasant smile. “I am speaking with my fellow warriors. This is the same company I fought with during the Battle of the Shard.”
“And why would you be doing that, my son?” she asked icily.
“You’ve never fought on the battlefield, Mother. You wouldn’t understand. Warriors create bonds that last a lifetime when they are knee-deep in blood and guts, their swords protecting each other from death.”
She waved dismissively, her rings glinting beneath the sun. “So very dramatic. And while your words may be true, you are mincing them. You are not the only one inside this castle with spies. I know all about your betrothed’s current situation. I am pleased to see that you are sending some warriors to take care of these intruders, but you should have brought this to my attention immediately.”
Thane bristled and glanced at his company with a frown. He had told no one but these warriors of their mission. He trusted each of them with his life, and their loyalty. It was impossible to imagine their betrayal, but clearly his mother had dug her talons into the court far more than he had realized. Her spies were growing more numerous by the day.
“I do not need to bring it to your attention, Mother. For I am the rightful king,” he replied, shoving his sword into the scabbard by his side.
Aengus frowned, and then leaned forward to whisper something into her ear. Thane took note of that action. He knew that Aengus was behind his mother’s recent schemes, and he would no doubt attempt to stop Thane’s coronation from taking place. The prince would have to keep an eye on this one.
“I have no intention of preventing you from taking the throne. But you have not informed the court, you have not had a coronation, and you do not have the crown. It still sits on my head,” she said. “So, for now, I am still the ruler of this realm and control our armies. Tell me what you have planned for this attack.”
Thane frowned. “I’m not attacking.”
His mother hissed and took several long strides across the courtyard, the bottom of her dress swishing against the white stone. “Of course you are attacking. Why else would you have gathered your company here?”
“Attacking will only result in the death of Princess Reyna and Lorcan. I will go meet with the Wood Court and hear their demands.”
Silence dropped like a stone. The warriors behind him cast uneasy glances at each other while Aengus smiled strangely in his mother’s shadow. As for his mother herself, she did not need to speak for Thane to know her mind. Her eyes were alight with pure, unbridled anger. He had seen that expression on her face only a few times before. Once, when she had discovered that his father had been visiting brothels in secrecy. Second, when she had learned that High King Ulaid had risen to the throne in the wood fae lands. And third, when she had once recalled to him the events that led to the shadow fae’s exile.
And now, when her only son wished to parley with their biggest enemy.
An enemy who had captured a member of their court.
“You cannot meet with them,” she said, her voice loud and commanding. “I forbid it.”
“You cannot forbid it, Mother. I am the king of this realm.”
They stood face to face, son and mother, rightful king and taker of the crown. Two sides of the same coin, opposite in spirit but the same in aim. They both wanted to save their realm and keep their people safe. The only difference was, Thane was not willing to risk Reyna’s life.
His mother was.
Aengus leaned forward again and whispered. Thane twisted his head toward the side, trying to catch a whiff of his words, but he had not been alive before the Fall, and he had never been blessed with the enhanced senses of the fae.
“Very well,” the High Queen said with a smile. “I suppose I shall leave you to your preparations.”
Thane frowned. That was it? She was giving up? He doubted it.
