Eversleigh said ruefully, “Mortals who come to Faerie are often seeking to escape society’s rules. They are attracted by that same openness.”
“Were you?” asked Frederica abruptly.
“I visited here as a child, and I simply accepted the rules here were different. It never seemed odd to me. Sometimes I miss the frankness of Faerie in our mortal world where so many people wear false faces and hide their motivations behind shields of secrecy.”
“That kind of frankness would make it impossible for sorcerers to hide their work,” said Elizabeth. Since Frederica still appeared distressed, Elizabeth changed the subject. “What is this about Oberon entering the decline? How do you know?”
Eversleigh hesitated. “Forgive me. I do not feel comfortable answering that before I have spoken to Oberon. But...”
“But what?”
Lines appeared between Eversleigh’s brows. “I had not known he was the one who interfered with your memories. That is very odd. It suggests the disturbance of his mind has been going on much longer than I believed, and he was simply cunning enough to hide it.”
“But he is the king,” said Frederica. “Did that not give him the right to do it?”
He turned a pained look on her. “The right, perhaps, but Libbet is hisshurinn. He should have not been able to bring himself to harm her.”
“He did more than blur my memories,” said Elizabeth abruptly. “He did something to make me wish to stay away from Faerie.”
He frowned. “What do you mean?”
Elizabeth rubbed her hands together, suddenly cold despite the warmth of the bower. “I have always loved to explore. I cannot see afootpath without having to discover where it leads. I explored every path near Rosings, even in the short time I was there. Bluebird gave me my talisman and told me I could go to Faerie whenever I wished, but I never did. It is completely unlike me. Until I drank Titania’s Faerie wine, I had no desire at all to come back. The only reason I returned the first time was that I was desperate for a refuge.”
Eversleigh drew in a deep breath. “You have known that all this time,shurinn, and never said anything of it to me?”
She shrugged helplessly. “He is your father. I did not wish to make you think ill of him.”
He seemed to look off into the distance, but there was no distance inside the bower. “I should have spent more time here. I might have seen it sooner and saved us from this war.”
“He deliberately kept knowledge of the war from you, so it would not have helped if you had been here,” said Frederica. “I do not understand how it came to be your role to tell him of his decline when you have been absent much of the time.”
“I am not the ideal person for this duty, but it falls to kin or close friends to speak the truth. Aelfric and I are his closest kin. Aelfric is young for this duty, and it is a great loss to him, more so than to me. If I may dare to say it, this is a time when he could benefit from having a sister.”
“One he barely knows and whom he dislikes?” asked Elizabeth dubiously.
Eversleigh’s brow wrinkled. “He does not dislike you, not at all. He likes you.”
“Then why is he always furious at me?” exclaimed Elizabeth.
“Perhaps he does not know how to act towards a sister. Among the Sidhe, siblings are often hundreds of years apart.”
She could not see how that made a difference, but there was no point in arguing about it. “Is it true Titania and Oberon have been quarreling for years over me? What is so special about me?”
“Nothing.” Eversleigh paused. “That did not come out as I meant it. You are special in many ways, but in this case, you were likely only the pretext. They often quarrel, and as I understand it, Titania was displeased that Oberon finally had a Sidhe child when she did not.”
“She seems to have taken this news about Oberon very calmly. Will it not be a great loss to her?”
“The Sidhe do not grieve long over those who have died, perhaps because they have grown accustomed to losing mortals they care for. They think mostly of the present, and at least for the Sidhe, there is rarely a strong emotional bond between them. They save that for their human followers.”
“How sad!” exclaimed Elizabeth.
“Perhaps it is difficult to remain close to one another for hundreds of years at a stretch,” said Frederica.
Eversleigh nodded. “Titania will likely be distressed for a time, though. From the standpoint of our relationship with the fay, I am glad you will be staying here, Libbet. If Marigold Meadowsweet would be willing to consider doing so as well, it could be beneficial. I would like Titania to be thinking of the effect on mortals when she chooses the next king.”
“She chooses the king?” Frederica sounded shocked.
With a dry smile, Eversleigh said, “Things are different here. The king is chosen by the queen, and often they have no particular affection for one another. Oberon and Titania with their blood right are the exception, and most of the fay would be happy to avoid a similar arrangement in the future. It is widely held that Oberon and Titania’s frequent quarrels are owing to their blood right. It might even be true.”
