Not a shield. A friend.
She nodded. “Come. Let’s go see my cousin.”
They strode through the open city gates, smiling up at the guards that manned the wall, passing fae who were bustling to and from the market square. For once, it felt nice to come and go as she pleased. It had been so long since her every action had not been watched, where she was safe enough to stride down a street without worry.
Tairngire had been a beautiful place. But it was a dangerous one. The fae hid behind their city walls, terrified to leave for fear the enemy might sprout from the very ground itself and kill them instantly.
The Ice Court had not avoided war either, but the battles never made it this far north. Here, peace was an ever-present calming presence, and the city knew it. Few fae were carrying weapons, and their faces were unlined, free from worry.
Eislyn could not help but be envious of every last one of them.
When they reached the castle gates, one of the guards recognized Eislyn and welcomed her inside. He jumped down from his post, his long white hair twisted up into a knot on top of his head. The Ice Court armor fit him well, and his hoarfrost cloak rippled in the light breeze.
“Princess Eislyn, we weren’t aware you were paying a visit,” he said. “Lord Morcant will be exceedingly pleased to see you. How long has it been since you were last in Snowport?”
Eislyn wasn’t certain. The years were all jumbled up in her head.
“A few,” she said tightly. “Too long.”
“Aye, you mustn’t stay away too long next time.” He grinned. “Or does your southern king demand too much of your attention?”
A snake of unease hissed through her gut. She glanced at Vreis and caught his frown. “I’m not certain what you mean.”
“Don’t be so bashful,” the guard said. “All of Tir Na Nog is abuzz with the news. The youngest princess of the Ice Court has caught the eye of none other than the air king.”
Her cheeks flared beneath his knowing stare. “I’m afraid it has been a long journey, and I need to see my cousin at once.”
The guard caught the change in her tone, his own grin dying. “Suit yourself. I’ll escort you inside.”
“That’s hardly necessary,” she said with an exasperated sigh. “I’ve been here a dozen times before. I know the way.”
“Lord Morcant wouldn’t want you to be wandering around by yourself. The north isn’t as safe as it once was.”
At his ominous words, Eislyn snapped her mouth shut and followed him through the cerulean square. He led them into the looming doors of the main hall and into a study where she found her uncle bent over his desk, scribbling furiously on a sheet of rolled parchment.
The guard cleared his throat. “My lord.”
Lord Morcant jumped halfway out of his rickety chair and whirled toward them with an accusatory glare. When his eyes landed on Eislyn, they widened in shock. He wet his lips, and then glanced at Vreis, before twisting his face into an expression of familiar kindness.
“Princess Eislyn.” He pushed up from his chair. “I daresay you have given me quite a shock! Come in. Come in. And your friend. Are you quite all right? Everyone is worried about you. Your father is about to tear out his hair, what’s left of it.”
At once, she relaxed. It felt so good to see her cousin’s familiar face and hear his voice, the one that sounded so much like her father’s. She edged inside the study and perched on a leather armchair that sat beneath rows of packed shelves. Vreis stood just to the side of her, choosing to stand rather than sit. Her cousin noticed, but he did not say a word.
“My dear, Eislyn.” He clasped his hands, leaning toward her. “I don’t know quite where to start. Perhaps with the obvious question. Are you all right, my dear?”
“I am fine,” she said, nodding to Vreis. “Thanks to him, of course. He smuggled me out of the Air Court and sailed me all the way north.”
“All the way north?” Her cousin frowned. “To Margaidh?”
She nodded.
“Oh dear.” Lord Morcant twisted his clasped hands into a knot. “There has been quite the rumbling going on in Margaidh. They’re unhappy with the alliance. There’s been talk of war. I assume if you’re here then you didn’t get caught up in all of that?”
Eislyn filled her cousin in on everything that had happened since leaving Tairngire. It was a long tale, and by the time she was done, night had cast a heavy blanket on the sky. The stars were out in full force this night, thousands of brilliant suns gazing at them from far above. An ache formed in Eislyn’s chest. She had missed home so very much.
If only she could stay. If only the answers to the Ruin did not lie across the sea.
When Eislyn had finished with her very long and scattered tale, her uncle sat back in his chair, chin rested on his fist. “So, no one has any idea where you are?”
She shook her head. “We must send word to my father at once. He needs to know what we’ve encountered, and what’s happening in the Air Court.”
“Because of this Grand Alderman, Aengus?”
“My father will take his army to the city gates and forced Aengus to abandon the throne. Then, it will be Thane Selkirk’s once again.”
If they can ever find the missing king.
Lord Morcant sighed and shook his head. “No, he won’t do that, child. We cannot tell your father any of this.”
Confusion ripped through her. “Why ever not? Aengus has stolen the throne from Thane, the rightful ruler. Our ally.”
“Your Thane has run away, Eislyn. A king who would abandon his people, for whatever reason, does not deserve his title, his people’s loyalty, and especially not that seat. It’s either that or he’s dead.” Lord Morcant leaned forward, his eyes sparking. “Your father will feel the same, I’m afraid. And, as none of his daughters actually ended up marrying into that court, they are certainly not our allies now.”
Eislyn gasped, shaking her head in disbelief. Vreis placed a comforting hand on her shoulder and squeezed tight. His touch emboldened her. “I can’t believe what you’re saying. What Aengus has done is wrong.”
“Oh, he’s in the wrong but for not the reasons you think.” Her uncle tapped his chin. “You see, part of the reason we’re all so shocked to see you, my dear, is...well, it appears Aengus has been pretending to have you.”
“What?” Shock hit her like a slap on the cheek.
“It seems he has a pretender by his side. A girl with silver hair. All this time, we’ve thought he had you trapped inside that castle. A prisoner in a gilded cage, forced to convince the air fae lords to join his side.” Lord Morcant sat back in his chair. “And it’s working. Many have already taken their armies to Tairngire. They’re preparing for more war. War against us.”
Anger charging through her, she stood. “Well then surely you see why he must be stopped at once! How can you possibly believe my father wouldn’t agree?”
“Your father is tired of war, child. He wants peace. As soon as he finds you safe, he will hole up inside that castle of his until the day he dies.”
“No, he won’t,” she said, her voice rising. “He’ll do something. Maybe not war, but he’ll do something.”