Page 9 of Wings of Starlight

A monster? From Winter? Clarion hadn’t known anything besides winter fairies and a few animals thrived there, much lessmonsters. But when she glanced at Elvina, the queen did not look rattled at all. Then again, she kept her composure in every situation, no matter how dangerous. As much as it baffled Clarion, she had always admired and envied that about Elvina. A true Queen of Pixie Hollow could show no cracks.

“And what,” Rowan asked warily, “did this monster look like?”

“It’s hard to place, sir. Something like a fox, but not like any fox I’ve ever seen. It had something like a glow, or a shadow….” The scout trailed off, growing paler. “We followed it as long as we could, but we lost sight of it when the sun rose.”

“Send for the commander at once,” Elvina said. “I will see her here.”

With the grounding comfort of following an order, the scout regained some of her composure. She snapped back to attention. “Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Once you’ve done that, take your unit and ensure every citizen gets inside,” Elvina continued. A troubled frown creased her brow. “Until we can identify the threat, no one goes out.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Artemis perked up, her fingers twitching toward the sword strapped to her hip. “Your Majesty, if there’s anything I can—”

“You will not desert your post at the princess’s side,” Elvina replied icily.

Clarion felt a pang of sympathy at how Artemis wilted. Bowing her head, she said, “Of course not.”

Elvina flicked her wrist at the other scout. “You are dismissed. As for the rest of you, this meeting is adjourned. As a matter of safety, do not leave the palace until you hear otherwise.”

“But, Your Majesty, I can’t stay here,” Iris protested. “If it came in through Spring—”

The look on Elvina’s face brooked no argument. “The scouts will handle this.”

“Yes. Of course,” Iris replied, but Clarion did not mistake the worry in her tone. Aurelia rested a steadying hand on her shoulder and squeezed.

The rustling of paper and low murmurs filled the room. Clarion watched the ministers filter out, with cold dread lodged deep in her chest.A monster.How could such a thing be possible?

“You, too, Clarion,” said Elvina wearily. “Go to your room.”

Indignation flared within her. Was that it, then? Dismissed, just like the others, as though she were nothing more than a child? This meeting—an opportunity to demonstrate her capability—had gone awry. And now, Elvina would shut her out of something so important? “I can help.”

“You cannot. This isn’t a matter that concerns you.”

It should have gutted her to have confirmation of all her worst fears: Elvina did not need her. Instead, that seed of anger flared into full bloom within her. She flitted across the room in a rush, her glow intensifying and casting an amber light on the walls around them. “How can it not concern me? I am expected to govern all of Pixie Hollow within a month’s time.”

At last, Elvina looked at her—trulylooked at her. Clearly, Clarion had shocked her, because she did not reply for a long few moments. “I only mean to say that you shouldn’t worry yourself with this.”

Clarion could not accept that. “But shouldn’t I learn how to handle a crisis?”

“There’s still time to teach you. That time is notduringa crisis. Trust me. I have this in hand.” Elvina rested her hands on Clarion’s shoulders. They weighed heavily on her, and Clarion found her resistance momentarily smothered beneath her shock.

Elvina so rarely touched her, so rarely displayed any sort of tenderness toward her. And yet, Clarion could not forget the way Elvina had looked at her when she first arose from the star on her Arrival Day. She’d helped Clarion out of the crater, then cradled her face with something like wonder and terrible recognition shining in her eyes. It had filled Clarion with such a sadness—one she did not and could not understand.

Before she could reply, in flew the Captain of the Scouts, Nightshade. She was dressed in full regalia—a breastplate, and plates of bark armor strapped to her forearms and shins, all of it gleaming menacingly—and carried a spear in her hand and a quiver of saw-grass arrows across her back. Her blond hair was pulled back into a severe bun at the nape of her neck, which was bronzed from sun exposure.

“Your Majesty. Your Highness.” She clasped a fist over her heart in salute. “We should discuss logistics.”

“We should,” Elvina agreed. “Clarion—”

“Please let me stay,” Clarion pressed. “I won’t interrupt.”

“It is out of the question,” Elvina snapped. “Go.”

Clarion could only stare at her, stunned. Elvina had been impatient or disappointed in her before, yes—but never had she been so curt. Without another word, she turned toward Nightshade and began to speak with her in low tones. Clarion, bristling all over with affronted humiliation, understood that was indeed the end of the discussion. Elvina had promised to teach her everything she needed to know—and what better way to learn than by observing? Clearly, her insight was not valuable or welcome.

She had half a mind to listen in at the door like a child sent off to bed. She had sworn to do better—to comport herself with the dignity befitting her role. And yet…