Total pages in book: 162
Estimated words: 151630 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 758(@200wpm)___ 607(@250wpm)___ 505(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 151630 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 758(@200wpm)___ 607(@250wpm)___ 505(@300wpm)
Devinshea grins as he puts a hand on Daniel’s shoulder. “None at all, Shy, and I think the last time we were in Faery, Dan here did get into a row with some trolls. Apparently they remember.”
“They were cheating at cards,” the king says with a sigh. “I did call them out on it. I respect a con, but I’m not going to get taken by one.”
I stare up where the troll sat, the hounds rejoining us since their curiosity will obviously not be assuaged.
And then I feel it. I feel an invisible tug to my gut. Like I’ve been hooked but no one is reeling me in yet. That tug forces me to turn and look to the north. Past the rolling fields and forest. Away from the shining White Palace.
A chill creeps up my spine. Not because I’m afraid of those mountains in the distance. Because I want to be there. Because something waits for me there. Something wants me there, cries for me to come forth.
“Shy?” Rhys is at my side.
“What’s in those mountains?” I ask, trying to temper my growing anxiousness.
“Well, not a frost giant. That’s for sure.” Neil gestures the king’s way. “Daniel killed that motherfucker years back. It was sad. We killed a frost giant and all I got was a T-shirt.”
The queen’s eyes widen. “You could have gotten hexed by leprechauns if you had taken even a T-shirt. We made a deal with them. We got the Blood Stone and nothing else. Except apparently the trolls hate us now. That was so long ago I’m surprised anyone remembers.”
“The Fae never forget.” Devinshea is more sober now as he takes in the mountains I pointed out. “Those are the Shehy mountains. It’s the northernmost part of the sithein. They’re dangerous, as my goddess and Daniel discovered. I think I know what you’re feeling. There is a cave system, and it’s where the sluagh of our plane reside. We have quite a few unshriven dead.”
I shake my head. “That’s myth, Your Grace. Shriven, unshriven, it does not matter. The universe does not constrain a soul based on rituals. The soul itself decides whether to move on. No ritual can hold it back nor can a ritual force it into the light. The sluagh are simply Fae who choose to stay for whatever reason. I’ve found it’s almost always fear, though some stay in a bid to protect those they love. Yes, I believe that’s what I’m feeling.”
So many souls without light. Souls who choose to cloak themselves in shadow and feast on death itself.
“Well, we stay far from the north, then.” Rhys slides his hand against mine. “I want to bathe you in light and life, my goddess. Not expose you to all the death Faery offers.”
I follow him as we begin our walk to the palace. The trouble is I find that death very attractive.
And that scares me most of all.
The sun is beginning its long march to evening as we make it to the forest. I was told from here it’s only an hour or so into the village that surrounds the palace.
The queen has a lot of memories of Faery.
“This is where I was almost eaten by an ogre,” she says, pointing out a small pond.
Most of them involving some kind of bloody battle.
Neil sighs as he looks it over. “Good times.”
“I still owe Herne the Hunter for that one,” Devinshea admits with a sigh. “Although he did me a solid when he called down the Wild Hunt and slaughtered my enemies.”
“All Dad talks about when he tells that story is how he almost lost his favorite pajamas,” Cassie points out.
“Pops bought him those.” Brendan defends his parents.
They start to reminisce, and Devinshea declares this is a perfect spot to eat the sandwiches I made earlier. I like to joke about the fact that I only cook for productive people, so I carefully put together the brown bread, butter, and ham sandwiches while the rest of our group packed.
I’m not hungry.
My mind keeps going back to those mountains.
Rhys begins a fire with nothing more than the clapping of his hands and pulling from the earth. The royals all sit around it, the wolves and Sasha joining them. The hounds prove their canine instincts as they are far more interested in the food that’s being brought out than in anything else around us.
But I feel myself pulled to the pond.
“Hey, Shy. Don’t get too close,” the queen calls out. “There are lots of things that want to eat you out here.”
“The hounds don’t seem to think so,” Cassie points out. “And I don’t smell anything but some small prey.”
Brendan grins and suddenly looks very wolfish. “I haven’t hunted in a while.”
Neil growls his boy’s way. “No changing until we need to.” He takes a deep breath. “I don’t sense any threats. If anything this place smells…different.”