“Sorry lad. No time to chat. We’re busy.”
“I only need one moment of your time,” Thane had shouted up with a frown.
“We’re getting out of here, son.” The merchant had pointed a trembling finger toward the smoldering castle. “Whatever that is, I don’t want it coming for me.”
“I’m the High King of the Air Court,” Thane had said roughly, his voice carrying on the light breeze.
The merchant had blinked at him, glimmering green eyes drawn to the elaborate tattoo that stretched across Thane’s tanned forehead. “Yes, I suppose you are. What’s it to me?”
“I have business with the Sea Court,” he’d said. “Take me there, and you will be rewarded for your bravery.”
The merchant had snorted. “Bravery? It ain’t bravery if it’s for coin.” And then he’d added, “Your Majesty.”
“You know who Imogen Selkirk is, yes?” Thane had asked, ignoring the jab. “Daughter of—”
“Yes, yes,” the merchant had said, flapping his hand in dismissal. “She’s a sea fae, and your family are royals. I probably know more about you than you do about yourself, son.” The man had squinted, white bushy caterpillars dancing on his forehead. “Alright then. Come on board. I’ll get you there, and you’ll get me that coin. If you don’t, then I’ll have to tell the Grand Alderman where you’ve gone. And I doubt anyone wants me to do that. Me included, but I will.”
Thane had nodded, climbed on board, and that was how he found himself on a merchant ship, docking on the island of Gorias, home to the Sea Court’s capital city, Gorias City. The salt in the air thickened as he strode down the wooden dock, head tipped back to gaze up at a clear, turquoise sky. Colors in Gorias were unlike anywhere else. The blues were far more vivid; the greens deepened into teal. A soft wind blew his golden strands away from his curving-tipped ears and rustled the silken tunic around his waist.
Thane drew a deep breath into his lungs and sighed. It had been years since he’d visited the Sea Court. His father had forbidden it, too focused on the wrongs between the two realms. The Air Court and the Sea Court had been at war for a century, just like the rest of the realms, but Thane’s mother had always kept the lines of communication open with her sister. She’d brought Thane here, only a few times, and always when he’d been no more than a boy. He had always loved it here. It felt more like home than Tairngire.
“Thank you, Doughlas,” Thane said to the merchant. The fae had been shockingly kind during their journey. Something Thane realized he was not accustomed to, at least not without a deceptive reasoning hidden behind the smile.
“No need for thanks,” Doughlas replied, straightening his ever-present hat. “Just don’t forget us merchants when you wage your wars. The past century has not been kind to us.”
Thane nodded. He’d always known the merchants had suffered. With the borders between kingdoms as closed as they were, trade was not what it had once been. Many merchants had taken to smuggling, risking their lives for a chance at enough coin to survive. Those who had chosen to trade within the laws of the realms had lost a great deal, having to rely on enough business within a single kingdom to get by. The only other options were to trade with the humans across the Mag Mell Sea, or with the Fomorians. Neither were particularly attractive options.
After bidding his farewell to the merchant and his crew, Thane made his way through the city of Gorias. Much like Tairngire, Gorias had been built on a foundation of kingdom colors. A dirt-packed road led through a bustling city center with buildings built from teal stone that glimmered beneath the strong, steady sun. The markets were bustling, and music drifted through the streets. It was a happy place. Calm, serene.
It made Thane take the long way around to reach the castle gates.
“I’m Thane Selkirk, here to see my aunt.” He did not use his title here now, and he never had before. It would be seen as a slight to the sea fae. His father had never understood that nor had he cared to try. To him, the sea fae were nothing more than fish to fry and feast upon.
No doubt the sea fae would celebrate once they learned of his demise, if they hadn’t already. The journey had taken several weeks, long enough for a message to reach Leaghan Castle.
The castle itself sat upon a cliff that rose high above the churning Mag Mell Sea, a glistening tower of rocks flecked with turquoise stones only found in the waters surrounding the Thousand Islands. Gorias was the largest and most prosperous island of them all, boasting ten thousand residents.
The guards led him through the castle and into the Great Hall where he had dined many times as a young boy. His aunt’s family sat around a long wooden table, halfway through breaking their fast, though the king and queen were absent. The scent of delicious breads and soft cheese rose up to greet him.
“Thane Selkirk here to see you, Your Grace,” the guard said, bowing slightly and then stepping back into the shadows of the nearest corner.
His aunt turned and stood. Iona Leaghan was a twin to her sister, even though they had been born two years apart. She was tall and lithe with an angular face, sapphire eyes, and blue hair that hung down to her waist. A sea fae circlet sat on her head, glittering from the sunlight that poured through the wall-to-wall window that looked out on the sea on the western edge of the Great Hall.
“Thane.” His aunt’s voice wobbled when she saw him, fear and pain churning through her eyes. He hesitated, fearing that he had made a terrible mistake. Their realms were at war. He might be family, but that did not mean that he would be welcome here.
But then she jumped up from the table, rushed forward, her long blue hair trailing down her back. She clasped his hands between hers and squeezed so tight that his fingers ached. “Oh, Thane. I had hoped you would come here. We will kill him, we will. This, I promise you.”
Thane shook his head in confusion. “What do you mean? Kill who?”
She furrowed her brows. “Aengus, of course. That horrible fae who has stolen your throne and killed our beloved Imogen. He—” She stopped when she saw the look of devastation that must have passed across his face. He staggered back, and his heart ached as though someone had punched a sword through his chest.
“What?” His voice came out a croak as the world spun before him.
His aunt’s face swam in his blurred vision. “Oh, Thane. I am so sorry. I thought you knew.”
“Thought I knew,” he mumbled dumbly, grasping at the wall. Surely it could not be. His aunt must be wrong, or he’d misunderstood her words.
His aunt’s grip tightened on his arm, her sharp fingernails digging into his skin, talons into flesh. “When you disappeared, that lover of hers took the throne in the name of the Grand Alderman. He showed everyone some letters she tried to send to me, letters discussing how we planned to get Sloane off the Seat of Power and…” She trailed off, but Thane knew what she would say next. His mother had worked against his father, and against Thane, in order to sit on the throne herself. In the end, she had given it up, but it had been a source of strife between them.
