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The area between towns is filled with tall grasses, flowers, and trees. There’s a winding stone road that carves its way through the landscape, ensuring easy travel. The sight of the clear path makes me feel better about the long journey we have waiting for us.
The stone road begins where we currently stand. The fastest route to the castle seems to be through two different villages. Then, only the city at the base of the castle separates us from our destination.
The castle itself is enormous. It’s made of the same purple stone we’ve seen in Faerie. I can’t see all of the details and design from here, but it has several tall towers and looks as wide as the village itself. It’s the princess castle most little girls dream of.
“My mom grew up in a castle that was wider than the town. I guess they weren’t afraid to flaunt their power.” The sarcasm is strong in my words. Maybe because I wasn’t raised in this life, but I just can’t imagine the need for a castle this big. I guess Emrick agrees, because he grunts in response to my statement.
“The royals were always proud of what they had, and weren’t afraid to use their power to live in pure luxury. The castles simply reflected to everyone that they were in charge and weren’t to be challenged," Gerwyn explains. There’s a bit of shock in his voice, yet another person who can’t make sense of me being a royal.
“I haven’t discussed it with the queen yet, but my plan was to build a new castle on the stone plateau of the meeting site. Then a room in each of the castles for visits," Allwyn supplies, giving me an apologetic smile. I mask my annoyance, making a mental note to discuss plans with him later. Clearly it’s going to take me channeling my inner bitch to get him to stop hiding things from me.
“Fine, but I refuse to waste resources on building something that’s flashy and unnecessary. As long as it’s big enough for my family and guards, I’ll be fine with it, but only once our people have shelter," I explain in a determined voice, crossing my arms in front of my chest for extra emphasis. Allywn and I stare at each other for a moment, his feelings and mine clearly not aligning. The rest of the group studies me, I guess to see if I’m serious, but Jacob gives me a knowing look.
“That’s fine, but don’t forget about Prince Jacob,” he jokes, but I can tell this whole thing still overwhelms him.
“Never!” I fake gasp at the mere thought. When we break into laughter, the rest of the group gives us an odd glance but visibly relaxes. River and Andras shake their heads, used to our shit, and Bowen smiles like he can’t wait to be in on the joke.
“How is he a prince?” Maddox asks, looking slightly appalled at the thought of his new queen making up titles. I meet his eyes with a hard glare, because this is not up for discussion. Especially coming from the man who called his friends brothers.
“The same way you have three brothers from different courts, Mad," I deadpan, deliberately shortening his name as a means to throw him off. He snorts at the name, but doesn’t look away from my hard stare.
“Fair point," Bowen chuckles, giving me an appreciative grin.
“I believe that was her humble way of putting you in your place, Maddox," Gerwyn adds, his voice full of amusement. Maddox gives them both a look, before a grin spreads across his face. Was he just messing with me? Testing me?
“Men," I mutter and roll my eyes, before gesturing for us to continue. “I believe we have miles to walk.”
The conversation falls away as we walk, partially because of the ever present formation and partially because of the tension in the air now. But I don’t feel bad about any of it, Allwyn can’t keep this up.
We finally approach the first village thirty minutes later. It reminds me of a fairytale, the thatched rooftops and brightly painted shutters downright adorable. Even after the years they’ve sat alone the colors shine in the afternoon sun. The yards and flowerbeds are overrun now, but the streets are still clear enough to walk. The raw materials of the homes and the stone inlaid roads against the backdrop of nature is fitting for the Court of Spring.
“This is like something out of the Lord of the Rings, minus the hobbit holes,” Jacob jokes. We both gape at it for several minutes, the others a little less entranced.
Walking through the village is unsettling. It’s completely silent other than our footsteps echoing in the empty streets. Aside from the flora, there isn’t a single sign of life here, but I can already imagine it thriving again once the land is restored.
Too curious to simply walk through, I break away from the group and push open the closest door I can find. The building is a bit bigger than the other homes, and I realize it’s a blacksmith shop, weapons lining the walls. The layer of dirt and vines covering the weapons is a testament to the years of abandonment. But it feels odd, like I’m encroaching on someone’s space. Taking in their personal possessions without permission. If the owners made it through the war, that is.
I hear heavy footsteps come up behind me and I scream as two huge hands encircle my waist and lift me up. I know it’s Emrick because of the size and power that radiates off of him. I huff as he sets me down and whip around to face him, hands on hips and glare on point. He gives me a stern look similar to Allwyn’s, but I don’t feel judgement in his actions, only concern, which has my fight draining away.
My silent protector doesn’t say anything before he turns and enters the building, ahead of me this time. He does a quick sweep of it, heavy axe in hand. He didn’t exactly ask me to come with him, but I follow behind him anyway and take a look around.
The back room is filled with as much dust as the rest of the building. The empty dishes on the counter of a workbench and an unstrung bow are a proof of the unexpected abandonment of the land. It feels creepy standing in the aftermath of the people fleeing.
Emrick continues his sweep, though now he’s checking out the craftsmanship on the weapons instead of looking for danger. My curiosity peeks as I take it all in and even if he’s not much of a talker, questions start tumbling out.
“Did the animals die in the war, or did they die due to the changes in the land?” I ask softly, the untouched and silent building making me feel as if whispering is appropriate. Even though I asked, I’m still startled when the usually quiet man answers.
“They disappeared halfway through the war. One day they were here, the next not an animal could be found.” His voice is just as deep as before, but has a rich, smoky quality to it I didn’t notice the first time. My face lights up with a smile at the sound of it and I even feel a bit honored he answered me at all.
“Thank you for answering, Emrick.” I give him a smile and a quick bow of my head in appreciation. The smile he returns is small, yet heart stopping. It morphs his face from one of intimidation, to serene, relaxed, and gorgeous. Fuck, I’m in trouble.
After we run out of stuff to look at, we make our way out of the building and I glance around to see where the others went. They seem to have paired off, searching the other buildings. Not wanting to be cooped up aga
in, I settle in the center of town with Emrick by my side. An old well rests next to me and as I lean my back against it, I feel a faint brush of magic against mine.
“Was the water tainted?” I ask Emrick, turning and peering down the well into the darkness below. When I look up, he nods his affirmation to my question. I knew it was true the moment I felt the darkness intertwining with the ancient magic I’ve gotten used to. “I’m going to see how the land feels here. Protect me, my knight? Thought we should find a new term because I hate the word bodyguard," I ask with a teasing smile. He gives me a half grin and nods again. He’s a man of few words, but I feel like we made more of a connection than I anticipated.
Wanting to get closer to the magic, I climb on the stones that create the well, dangling my feet forward as I lean inside. Emrick lets out an exasperated sigh and I smirk as his giant hands grasp my waist, keeping me from falling forward. If anyone would pull that off it would be me, so it’s a smart move.
