The Shadowveiled Fae

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The thick forests around the Plains of Elysium surrounded us. A crystal-clear blue sky hung over us. And the saddle beneath my butt dug into my cheeks.
“These forests have been managed by my subjects for centuries. They are the perfect arena for learning to ride.”
I shifted in my saddle. “I know, but my butt needs that much time to get used to this thing. It’s about ready to rebel and find itself a new owner.”
His eyes dropped to my derriere, and he chuckled. “That’s a pity. I quite admire your bottom.”
“Well, I hope you remember what it looked like, because now it’s squashed flat,” I quipped as I looked around at the woods. “Besides, what happens if a nethral pops its ugly head up around us? The horse could outrun it, but I don’t think I would stick around very long for the ride.”
“There are no nethral here,” he assured me as he scanned the area. A pensive expression slipped onto his face. “The soldiers practice their infestation patrols here. Any sign of the nethral is immediately obliterated.”
I squeezed the reins. “You wish you could do that everywhere, right?”
“As do all the rulers of the kingdoms. They cause nothing but grief for our subjects.”
“Has anyone tried to make Lord Secundus’ blood stronger, or the church’s water more, um, holy? Or maybe even duplicating your scales.”
A faint smile graced his lips. “The Conservatory and many others have tried countless ways to perfect the methods of fighting them, but all have failed. Without knowing why they work, one cannot figure out how they work.”
I pressed a hand against my chest over my locket. “I wish this had a way to do it. All those Dreadwroughts trapped in there doing nothing, especially since we know they can be used with the magic people have.”
Cassian stared ahead and furrowed his brow. “Ignivane, Cancer, Crustalune, Aequilux, Chronocapra, Aquafluxor, and Dualmaris.”
I blinked at him. “Come again?”
“Those are the names of all the Dreadwroughts we have gathered. Four of them are inside your locket. The stranger who set you in this world told you to find them all.”
My heart fell. “Yeah. That makes only half of them, though, doesn’t it?”
“Yes. The legends state there were twelve in all.”
A heavy sigh escaped me. “And we have no idea where the others are.”
Cassian reached over and set a hand over mine. “We will find the answers you seek. I swear it.”
I managed a small smile. “I wish I could do the same for you with that nethral problem, but I don’t think I’m the one to look to for stopping something that’s been going on for centuries.”
“Your smile is comfort enough for my subjects and me,” he assured me as he took up his reins and turned his horse around. “But we had better return. Caligo no doubt has a mountain of paperwork for me to sign.”
I laughed as I eased my horse in the right direction. “It can’t be as big as what was waiting for you after we got back from Thalorian.”
Cassian shut his eyes and shuddered. “Let us hurry.”
He started at a trot, and I tried to match his speed. The results were less than stellar. I leaned forward and caught the horse’s eye. “Could you do that with a little less bounce?”
The animal blinked and continued its bouncing trot. I swear that horse was part cat. He seemed to ignore every word I said to him.
We were approaching the edge of the forest when we heard shouts. “King Scalyvar!”
“Cassian!”
“Where are you at?”
The first voice was that of Aurelius Auctor, military adviser to Cassian. The second was the inimitable Titus, and the third was the brusque and slightly wild shout of Varro, the wildest man of all Cassian’s soldiers.
Cassian stood in his stirrups. “Here!”
The sound of hoofbeats came a second before we saw our friends break through the brush ahead of us. They came to a screeching, dust-raising halt in front of us. Their horses were winded, and their faces were filled with worry lines.
Cassian frowned. “What is it?”
“A letter, Your Highness,” Auctor told him as he reached into his coat and drew out an envelope, which he held out to his king. “It’s from Ríona Sí.”
The name sounded familiar to me. It was definitely familiar to Cassian as he accepted the envelope with curiosity mixed with concern. He pulled out a folded letter and read the contents. His eyes widened, and he whipped his head up to his men. “When did this arrive?”
“An hour ago, Your Highness.”
“Right as I was eating my meal…” Varro grumbled.
“And the messenger?”
“He was asked to stay in case there was a reply, but he said ‘his mistress will expect His Highness within a fortnight.’”
I craned my neck to see the letter. “What’s going on?”
Cassian tucked the envelope and note into his riding jacket. “That’s better left for the palace. We must hurry back.”
Oh boy. The seasoned military men turned their horses and took off at a full sprint. I winced and reluctantly clicked my heels against the horse’s sides. My steed shot off after them, though Cassian stayed by my side. I was overjoyed when we reached the palace and dismounted in front of the palace doors. Servants rushed out to collect the reins, and the last one to step out was Caligo.
The pasty advisor bowed his head to Cassian. “I have prepared your departure, Your Highness.”
“Excellent,” Cassian thanked him as he strode up the steps. He stopped at the top and turned to the rest of us who stood perplexed below him. “Everyone, please come inside, and I will explain the note.”
We followed him into the palace and ended up in his large study. Cassian stood in front of the hearth while the rest of us sat in the chairs or on an arm. He clasped his hands behind his back as he furrowed his brow at the floor.
“Well?” Titus wondered. “What’s she say?”
Cassian reached into his coat and drew out the letter. “The queen has written to inform me of a hunter who is preying upon her people.”
“Is that all?” Varro wondered as he scoffed. “Why doesn’t the queen and her archers take care of him?”
“That is impossible.”
“Why?” I spoke up.
Cassian’s gaze fell on me, and the cloud on his brow grew darker.
“Because the hunter is using a Dreadwrought.”