“Here. Wear this hood and cover your hair,” Vreis said quietly as he pressed a silken hoarfrost cloak into her fingers. “Put your circlet away, too, while you’re at it.”
Eislyn cocked her head, smiling at an elaborately-dressed merchant they passed by. “That’s silly. Why would I want to hide myself in my own lands? I can be seen walking around the markets, Vreis. This isn’t the Air Court. It’s safe here.”
Vreis shifted uncomfortably in his boots, and Eislyn couldn’t help but give him a fond smile. Poor Vreis. He’d only ever lived in the air fae lands, where intrigue and murder were as common as thieves. Prince Thane—High KingThane—had often sneaked out of the castle to revel in the nearby taverns, but he’d only ever done so in one specific district where he knew every fae could be trusted. He never ventured out of the castle other than that, and neither did the rest of the nobility. They kept themselves locked up tight behind their looming stone walls, protected against unseen enemies.
“Is it truly that bad in Tairngire?” she asked as they began to stroll through the merchant stalls singing of laughter, conversation, and coin. “I never saw much of it myself.”
Vreis sighed. “Yes and no. The city hasn’t always been as dangerous as it is now, but recently it’s hit a boiling point. It’s like the whole city itself is squatting on top of a volcano, ready to burst at any moment. I fear for the low fae when it happens. The royals will be safe. They always are.”
“Are theytruly?” Eislyn asked. “Because I wouldn’t say they are. Not even during Thane’s coronation.” She left the rest unsaid. She herself had not been safe. If it had not been for her sister, Eislyn would be dead.
Vreis winced. “You’re right, of course. I wasn’t thinking of the coronation, but you’re right. Well then it seems that no one in Tairngire is safe now. That city is cursed.”
Eislyn was inclined to agree, but her troubled thoughts were momentarily distracted when they came upon a silver tent overflowing with leather-bound books. Excitement tripped through her veins as she gestured eagerly, smiling up at Vreis. “Look. Iknewthere would be a stall.”
He did not look as quite as thrilled as Eislyn felt. As she rushed forward, she caught his frown deepening as he stared down every fae that passed by. Despite her attempts to convince him that they were firmly on friendly ground, he could not relax. She supposed that this was what made him such a good guard. He was always ready to protect, even if there was nothing to guard against.
But no matter, she thought eagerly. There were books to be examined, pages to flip through, and words to read. These tomes were ancient. Some of them, at least. She could tell by their faded covers and the deep wrinkles etched into the leather. One of these books might have the answers on how to defeat the Ruin.
She grabbed the nearest book and flipped it open.
Immediately, the merchant with his floppy hat and deep crimson robes was by her side, his breath scented with sour wine. “No reading here, I’m afraid. If you want it, you have to buy it.”
Eislyn pulled her eyes away from the words and frowned. “How can I possibly know if I want to buy it if I don’t know what it’s about?”
He narrowed his eyes. “All right then. Take a few moments to scan the contents, and then put it back or buy it. I’ll be watching you.”
She shivered, suddenly a bit less certain that she should be walking so freely and boldly through these crowds. The last time she had visited the eastern market, not a single merchant had been rude to her. They’d let her browse the books endlessly, reading whatever she liked. But they had known she was the princess then. Perhaps…
Vreis edged in closer. “Why don’t we just grab a few of these and go? I think we ought to go see your father’s friend now.”
“But there are so many,” she said with an exasperated sigh. “I’ve barely even begun to look through them.”
“Let’s go see him, Eislyn,” he said insistently, prying the book from her fingers. “We can always come back later, after we’ve spoken to him.”
Something in his voice sent a chill down her spine. She let him take the book and watched him pay the merchant his coin. Vreis pressed the book back into her hands, grabbed her elbow, and steered her toward the northern stalls where an exit leading into the city sat waiting.
Her heart was racing as they upped their pace. “What’s happening?”
“There were a few curious eyes back there taking an extreme interest in you,” he said almost too quietly for her to hear. “A group of them. Maybe a dozen in total. It was difficult to tell.”
“Perhaps they recognized me,” she said. “I’ve been here before with my father.”
“Oh, they no doubt recognized you. It’s what they want to do next that has me worried.”
Eislyn frowned. “Ice fae would not harm me.”
“No?” He shook his head. “You left your lands to join your sister at the Air Court. The war has been long and harsh and full of death. I wager there are some who might not be pleased by what you two did.”
“What, ensure an alliance? Try to end the war? Why in the name of the Dagda would anyone hate us for that?”
“Oh, Eislyn.” Vreis shot her a sad smile. “You are far too pure for this world. I wish there were more fae in these wretched lands who see things as you do.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” She wrenched her arm out of his grasp and glared at him. “Tell me.”
“Grudges are like poison. They get into your blood, and it’s impossible to get clean. Once it’s in you, it’s in there for good. In the end, you either welcome in the poison, take it as part of you, and survive with a festering illness for the rest of your miserable life…or you die.”
Tears threatened to burst into her eyes. “You’re saying the ice fae have poison in their hearts.”
