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“Luad.”
I stiffened as Brahm, one of my personal staff, intercepted us on our way out of the palace the next morning. We had decided to go for a walk in the kingswood after breakfast, and Lonan had my old bow slung over his back so I could teach him archery.
For the first time in a long while, he actually looked happy—at least, as happy as Lonan ever looked. I was determined to keep that relaxed expression on his face. I wanted to spend the entire day doting on him.
“What is it?” I stopped and frowned at Brahm. “I’m spending the day with Prince Lonan. Not working.”
“Of course,” Brahm rushed out. “I just… Guards from the forest edge have sent word that a small group of solitary Folk would like entry onto seelie land.”
“What?” My entire body tensed up, and I reflexively gripped Lonan’s hand tighter. “Why?”
Brahm blinked at me. “It’s not unusual, King Ash. We often get solitary Folk requesting a visit, especially during the Mild Months. They come to shop for wares only found on seelie.”
Heat crept up my throat and into my cheeks as embarrassment made me keep my gaze away from Lonan. On the heels of it, anger started creeping in. Why hadn’t anyone told me that? It seemed like a pretty fucking important detail. Morrin could have at least mentioned it the night before.
I realised I was clutching Lonan’s hand too tight, and forced myself to relax, forced myself to take a breath and calm down. It was fine. It didn’t make me look stupid or ignorant. Of course I wouldn’t know everything straight away. Nua did his best to remember everything I needed to know, and it had just slipped his mind. He’d been away from the court for a couple of decades too. It made sense that he’d forgotten some things. There was no way Nua was trying to sabotage me on purpose.
“Who’s in the group?” I asked Brahm, trying to keep my voice calm and controlled. “How many of them are there?”
“Several who have visited seelie before, Luad,” Brahm said politely. “A group of five.”
“Are any of them unseelie?” I asked before I could stop myself, and felt Lonan tense beside me.
“No, Luad,” Brahm said slowly. “All solitary Folk, as I said.”
“Have any of them been seen talking to unseelie?”
From the corner of my eye, I saw Lonan look over at me.
“Not… that I’m aware, Luad.” Brahm kept his expression calm and polite, but a touch of wariness flashed through his eyes as they darted to Lonan and back to me just as fast.
“What about the noble Folk?” I pressed. “Have they been seen talking to them?”
“I… don’t know, Luad.” Brahm shifted on his feet. “I could go back to the guard and ask—”
“Send word to Morrin,” I interrupted. “Get him to speak to them first. They can wait.”
There was a pause before Brahm inclined his head. “Of course, Luad. Enjoy your day.”
He stepped back and waited until I turned and led Lonan to the doors. As the guards heaved them open, two more fell silently into step behind us carrying big wicker baskets filled with food, drink and arrows.
The sky was an unbroken pale blue as we stepped outside, and I took a moment to tilt my face up to the sun. The cacophony of summer sounds surrounded us: birds singing, crickets chirping, the low drone of solitary bumblebees winding through the air to take their pick of the myriad flowers blooming around the palace.
This place had, in the past couple of months, become even more beautiful, and I hated the fact that I’d barely had the time to notice or appreciate it. Wisteria blanketed the front of the palace, its scent heavy in the warmth. The rose garden was near overpowering, the heated stone trapping the riot of heady scents within its walls. Lavender grew in fat stone pots along the sides of the living steps, which were springy and lush with moss and grass.
I grinned over at Lonan, trying to forget the conversation I’d just had with Brahm, and the fact that a group of strange Folk were lurking at the edge of seelie land, wanting to come here. Word had surely spread into the forest that Lonan was here. And who knew what the Carlin had said? Maybe she’d put a bounty on Lonan’s head. Maybe she’d lied and said he’d betrayed the unseelie and now the entire queendom was baying for his blood.
And Balor kept being seen out there too, skulking in the woods. Who was he talking to? What was he doing?
“Why do you think those Folk want to come here?” I heard myself blurt out as we made our way down the living steps.
“Probably just to buy things, as Brahm said.” Lonan glanced over and squeezed my hand. “He was right, it’s not uncommon for solitary Folk to visit the kingdoms to buy goods or forage with the ruler’s permission. Even my mother allows it occasionally. You would just need to grand them a temporary invitation.”
“Yeah, but why now?”
Lonan cocked his head. “Why not now? It’s the Mild Months. Seelie land is flourishing.”
I stayed silent at first, not wanting to worry him or make him suspect I didn’t have firm control of things. I didn’t want him to think I couldn’t keep him safe here. He deserved that much—to know that he was finally safe. That his mother or siblings couldn’t hurt him. That I would look after him.
