And walked directly into what I could only imagine was Queen Calista’s throne room.
It was much more modest thanI’dhaveimagined forroyalty, but considering she called her castle afortress, Iwasn’ttoo surprised. The queendidn’tseem to need to flash her wealth or status in such ways to let her subjects—and others—know that she was in charge.
I could tell simply by her eyes that she was the one they idolized.
Queen Calista’s gaze raked over our group with a piqued interest, though her near-black eyes spoke of wisdom that must have been far beyond her years. She had tawny tanned skinsimilar toRayven’s,and deep brown, sword-straight hair flowing down to her waist. She looked young, as though shecouldn’thave been much older than Byn—likely Teaganand Rayven’s age. And yet even the way she held herself spoke of having had time to perfect her every movement. She sat perfectly still upon her throne, not a single hair out of place or any shifting of muscles or limbs. Onlyher eyes moved as her gaze followed us, Dexter leading us to the center of the small throne room to stand before his queen.
“Kneel before Queen Calista!” Dexter commanded.
My musclestensedas I forced myself to keep looking forward and not toward Byn for comfort and reassurance.
We might have been farther out of our element here thanI’doriginally thought.
“My sincere apologies, but my wife and I have vowed to never kneel to another.” Byn motioned toward me, then our posse behind us. “My friends here, also, will onlykneel tous. I hope you can understand that this does not affect the respect we have for you, Queen Calista.”
The woman before us was silent a moment, simplyobservingus as though she had all the time in the world at her disposal.
“I see,” she finally said. “I was curious about who was invading my lands, but aThorntierking and aHeartshirequeen wasn’t what I’d imagined.”
“You know who we are?” Byn asked, surprise radiating from him.
“Of course I do. Just because us humans don’t partake in the outside world doesn’t mean we’re clueless.”
Byn dipped his head slightly. “Right, of course. My apologies.”
“We come seeking your help, Queen Calista,” I added, trying to begin pleading our case. “We’re here to find information about the star stones.”
“Oh, I know whyyou’vecome, child. But theLevastIsles have stayed out of the war for this long, and Idon’tplan on that changing anytime soon, I fear,” the queen answered, looking down her straight nose at us.
As she spoke, though, I felt a shadow shift ever so slightly near the dais of her throne.
A shadow with one unfamiliar energy, and another that I knewextremelywell.
Two unexpected visitors.
“You know, usually I would accept that answer,” I said, taking a step forward. “But not today. Because despite what you claim,you’realready involved in the war, aren’t you? In fact,you’vealready chosen a side.”
As swiftly as I could manage, I drew the smallalychitecrystal from my pocket and threw it directly at the shadow that Iknew for a factdiffered from the rest that were in the room.
And the second the crystal connected with theshadow,it sucked theziriliumfrom them, forcing thefaehiding within the darkness back into their physical forms in an instant.
Then, standing where the shadows had been, was Dimitri, along with a smaller, hooded figure behind him. The cloaked figure must have been the unfamiliar energyI’dfelt, though there was something about the secondfaeI thought I recognized.
“Hello, twin,” Dimitri smirked, his gaze locked on mine.
I could feel the frustration and anger flowing from Byn, but it was also originating from withinme.
Forcing myself to keep my hands open at my sidesinstead of in fists, I tried once more with the queen.
“Queen Calista,pleasereconsider your stance on this matter. Dimitri is the main reason that the war has yet to come toitsend. This could all be over today ifyou’donly—”
“See what I mean, Queen Calista?” Dimitrisaid to the woman on the throne, stepping closer to the dais. “They’reonly here to try to use your people and your knowledge. The Southhasn’tchanged, but the North has. And as I mentioned before,wearen’tlooking for a one-sided partnership.”
When my eyebrows furrowed, and Byn’s expression shifted to confusion, Dimi began to explain. “The Queen received your letter,” he said, motioning toward who sat on the throne. “Thanks to me, of course. You really should train your birds better ifyou’regoing to be sending them this far.”
Before any of us could speak or question what was being said, the queen held up a sheet of paper, small enough to fit in acorvid’svial, but what stood out was the seal at the bottom.
It was theThorntierfamily official seal, one that matched perfectly with the ring on Byn’s…
