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29 CAIDEN

Caiden paced around his mother’s parlor, chewing on a piece of willow bark.

“You’re going to wear a hole in my fine rug,” Tempestia said, looking at her son through lowered lashes as she knit a sweater for her future grandchild. Caiden’s older brother, Aaryn, was expecting a child with his wife, a half sylph from the Court of Ashes.

“I just can’t believe it.”

“Believe what?” Tonin entered the parlor followed by Ora, joining Roderick and Tempesta around the fire.

“We think we located one of the Wells in the Court of Screams.”

Tonin flinched, shutting his eyes tightly. The Court of Screams was known for its brutality. Even among the sylphs who were made for battle, they were considered extreme. “The Trinity would choose a place like that. Even the elves dared not tread on their land, and when the courts split between Wild and Council, they took no side.”

“Have you been there before?” Caiden asked.

“They are wild—wilder than any court. Anyone who dares to tread there would be risking their life. They worship pain, thinking it makes you stronger. The more pain one can endure, the closer to the Trinity they become.” He took a seat next to his wife on the leather sofa. “I’d say it’s barbaric, but that would be an insult to barbarians.”

Caiden swallowed hard and shot a knowing glance at Roderick, who said out loud what Caiden was thinking, “We need Lucius and his Shadow Hunters.”

“I’ll send a raven to the Court of Myst tomorrow, but there’s no telling if he’ll get it. He probably hasn’t even arrived yet. It’s on the other side of the continent, after all.”

“True.” Roderick thumbed the still healing gash on his palm where the binding scar would soon form.

“I will have a chat with the representatives from the Court of Honey and the Court of Ash tomorrow,” Tonin said. “Perhaps they know something.”

“I can do some research at the library,” Ora added.

“Well, then, it seems we have a plan for the interim,” Tonin said, leaning back on the sofa. “Now, there are some horse races tonight I’m obligated to attend if anyone is interested.”

“I should get back to the library.” Ora rose, dusting off her robes. The firelight illuminated the beautiful angles of her face, and Caiden could not look away.

“Please, accompany us,” Caiden said, grabbing her hand and immediately letting it go. “I… uh… I mean, you’ve done so much for me. It only seems right we reward you. Let me take you out for a night. As thanks.” Caiden’s pulse raced, and he could feel everyone’s eyes on him. The air was suddenly much warmer. “If you’re allowed, that is.”

Ora let out a shoulder-shaking laugh.

“We’re not prisoners. We are allowed to have fun now and again.”

Caiden could’ve sworn the scholars who weren’t grandmasters had to be in by a certain hour, but perhaps he was mistaken.

“So that’s a yes?”

“Yes.” Ora’s entire face lit up when she smiled, and Caiden’s chest lightened a little at the thought of being near her the entire night.

“Well, then, we better get going,” Tonin said, rising from his chair and extending a hand to his wife. “I like to get there early and meet the horses beforehand. I’m better at picking a winner then.”

“Sure, you are, my dear,” Tempestia said, kissing her husband on the cheek.

“Shall we?” Caiden said, extending his arm to Ora, who hooked hers through.

The amphitheater in the center of Vantris buzzed with the energy of ten thousand sylphs, all eagerly anticipating the start of the races. In Vantris, horse racing was a regular event, even in the dead of winter.

Being a member of the Sylph Council, Tonin was afforded a luxurious suite at the top of the amphitheater, complete with staff who kept them plied with ale and delicious morsels while they cheered on their favorite horses.

Caiden, Roderick, and Ora took their seats while Tempestia and Tonin went to survey the horses before the race began.

“Nothing like a good night of sporting to get the blood pumping,” Roderick said, taking a pint of ale from one of the servers.

Usually, Caiden loved the races. As children, he and his brother had raced their ponies around the Stormlands estates, pretending to be their favorite riders.

Caiden remembered the first time his father brought him to the amphitheater to see a race. He had been six, and the world seemed huge then. The statues of champion riders outside of the amphitheater were like gods to Caiden. Each court brought a bevy of riders to the capitol, and it was common for people to hang their favorite riders’ colors outside their houses.

But tonight, Caiden couldn’t relax. Knots tied themselves in his stomach, and he couldn’t tell if that was because of Ora or because he knew he’d eventually have to travel to the infamous Court of Screams. He let out a breath. Just enjoy this moment here with the people you care about. You can worry about everything else tomorrow.

“Who are you betting on tonight, Roderick?”

“Stormlands, always,” Roderick said, taking a swig of ale. “Greysong is a winner, and I know it. She just hasn’t hit her stride yet. The jockey isn’t giving her enough rein around the backend turn.”

“Did Amolie tell you that?”

“No… yes…” he said with a sheepish grin.

“She knows her horses. Perhaps I should make a bet on her, too.” Caiden hastily filled out one of the betting sheets before handing it to an attendant.

“I’ve never been to the races before, although I did enjoy riding from time to time when my studies permitted,” Ora said, staring down at the track of hard-packed snow that would soon be filled with jockeys and their mounts. Tension and excitement hung heavy in the air, making the stadium pulse with a buzz only a race could conjure.

“You should have said something,” Caiden said, “I would’ve taken you down to the stables to see the horses.

“It’s alright.” Ora’s cheeks flushed pink.

“At intermission, I’ll take you down. It’s really something to see how it all works.”

Her long face brightened. “That would be lovely.”

Caiden’s chest warmed, and he hoped his face wouldn’t give away his excitement at the thought of spending time alone with her.

Tonin and Tempestia entered the suite, glowing as they always did, even after centuries of marriage. “I’ve picked a winner this time. I felt it when I passed by his stall,” Tonin proclaimed to everyone in the room.

“Oh? Which one did you bet on? Greysong?” Roderick asked.

“Winterwinds,” Tonin replied.

“You didn’t bet on a horse from your own court?” Roderick arched a brow at the lord.

“Of course, I put a little money on all the Stormland horses. But, I think Winterwinds can go all the way this year. I see the Trinity Crown in his future.”

“I’ll bet on that—fifty gold coins,” Roderick held out his hand.

“A bargain easily kept.” Tonin shook the half-giant’s hand, binding them to their words.

Tempestia rolled her green eyes. Her tight ringlet curls bounced as she shook her head at her husband.

“What?” Tonin said, giving his wife a coy smile.

“Nothing, my dear.” She kissed him on the cheek, making the old king blush.

Horns sounded, signaling the start of the races. Traditionally, there were three races, with an hour break between the second and third race for the horses to recover. The horse with the most wins won it all. Fans often got heated over their favorites and how they performed.

“Let’s get closer,” Caiden said, offering Ora his hand. Together, they walked to the edge of the suite, where they had a view of the entire course. Jockeys and their mounts lined up behind a row of flags. The horses danced in anticipation of the race under their rider’s steady seats.

Caiden held his breath as he always did at the start of the race.

A horn sounded, and the first horse leapt over the barrier before the flags could even fall. The rest followed suit.

“How are they not slipping on the snow?” Ora asked.

“Special shoes made to grip the ice,” Caiden answered. It was well known that the Court of Wailing Winds produced some of the finest racers on the continent. Surely, she’d understand how they raced on the snow. He brushed his apprehension to the side. Perhaps her family wasn’t into racing—she’d never been, after all.

The horses rounded the first bend. Caiden could see the blanket of the Stormlands on the head horse.

“C’mon, Greysong!” Roderick cheered, clenching his fists tight as the horse took the lead. “Give her her head!” he called to the jockey as if he could hear him.

The horses rounded the second turn, and the dark gray stallion pulled ahead of the Stormlands mare. “That’s it, Winterwinds! Give it all you’ve got!” Tonin called.

The two horses were neck and neck until, out of nowhere, a horse black as night rounded the final curve, catching up with the competing grays.

“Who’s that?” Ora asked no one in particular.

Roderick looked down at his roster. “Looks like it’s Tallon’s Delight from the Court of Wailing Winds.”

“Oh, that’s my home! Go, Tallon!” Ora shouted.

The three horses crossed the finish line together. The crowd held their breath while the officials decided who won. After what seemed like an eternity, the round official, wearing a deep blue vest covered with embroidered hoof prints, announced Tallon’s Delight as the Winner. A mixture of cheers and disappointed sighs rippled through the crowd.

The next set of horses lined up while men frantically smoothed the track again.

“The horse from my court won!” Ora said, clapping her hands together in delight. “Can I see him during intermission?”

Caiden smiled. Seeing her happy lit something inside him he hadn’t felt in a long time. “Of course.”

They cheered on the next two races, of which a mare named Cherry and Greysong each won a round.

“Let’s go down and see your winner,” Caiden said to Ora, who nodded enthusiastically.

“Oh, this is so exciting,” she said as they made their way down to the stables.

The smell of oats, hay, and manure all mixed together in the bustling stables.

Horses snorted and whinnied to one another.

“Oh, this is lovely,” she said.

Something gnawed at Caiden’s mind, like an itch he couldn’t scratch. Someone else he knew loved horses. Amolie was a royal trainer once, but that’s not who he was thinking of. His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a horse neighing.

“This is him! Look how beautiful he is,” Ora cooed over the stallion, who munched on hay happily.

“Yes, he is gorgeous,” Caiden said, admiring the horse.

“Thank you for bringing me to see him.” Ora held out her hand flat, and the horse gently nudged it, looking for a treat. “I don’t get out of the library much.”

Caiden swallowed hard. “I’d like to see you again, if that’s alright with you.”

Her face brightened, and her eyes darted to where the horse nuzzled her.

Caiden wanted to say something, but it had been some time since he’d courted a woman, and his tongue refused to untie. “We could go somewhere right now if you’d like.”

“I…” She hesitated, digging her toe into the dirt of the stable floor. “I’d like that.”

A wave of relief washed over him. “Great, there’s a little pub not far from here that I haunted as an up-and-coming commander.”

“Sounds lovely,” she said.

He extended a hand and clasped hers. Together, they walked through the sparkling night. The lights of Vantris twinkled like little stars all around them, hands laced tightly together.

“I’ve not done this before,” Ora said.

“Done what? Hold hands? Surely you had suitors in school?”

She shrugged. “Not really. It’s been my dream to be a Master Scholar since I can remember. I’m not very good with my powers. Books and knowledge made more sense to me.”

“And what exactly is your specialty?”

She cleared her throat. “Ancient elixirs, potions, and the gods of the old world.”

Caiden arched a brow. “That’s a lot.”

“I never get bored.”

Caiden nodded. “Quite right.”

“Hey, I’ve got an idea. Let’s grab a bottle of wine and head down to the river.” She gave him puppy-dog eyes.

“You won’t get too cold?” Caiden asked.

“If I do, you can keep me warm.”

Caiden tried hard to fight the smile growing on his face. Scholars were often known to take a vow of celibacy until they reached the Grand Master Level, but maybe Ora did not believe in such things. “Of course. It would be the gentlemanly thing to do.”

They stopped outside a lively tavern where the sound of boisterous laughter and song spilled into the street. Caiden hastily bought a bottle of wine, and the two headed to the river walk where lovers were known to have their first kiss.

Only a few people lingered on the boardwalk.

They sat on a secluded bench overlooking the river. Caiden sipped the wine, hoping it would calm his nerves.

“Thank you for this,” Ora said, taking the bottle from his hand. “I haven’t been out in ages. Sometimes, I forget what it’s like to be out here in the real world.”

“Plenty of scholars have families.”

“Yes, but plenty don’t.” She sighed. “I fear I may be the latter. Bound to the work.”

“Are your parents scholars too?”

She snorted. “No, they are wild wailers. They help ships cross the Black Sea. Dangerous work, but very lucrative.”

“And you didn’t want to go into the family business?’

“You saw my gift. I’m an extinguisher and not a very good one.”

“Yeah, I guess you’re right.” Caiden scooted closer to her. “How long have you been here in the capitol?”

“Oh, nearly thirty years.”

“Nearly?” Caiden cocked his head. “You have three bars on your hood. If I’m not mistaken, that’s thirty years of training.”

Her cheeks flushed. “Oh, yes, where has the time gone? Being cooped up in that library, you lose track of time.”

“Maybe you need to get out more?” He prepared himself for the next question. His palms sweated, and he rubbed them on his trousers. “Are you interested in accompanying me to the Woodland Realm for an Ostara festival? I’m supposed to meet some friends there to discuss what we’ve found. We could use someone with your expertise.” His heart beat faster.

“I’ll have to ask my elder,” she said, shivering slightly.

Caiden wrapped an arm around her, and she rested her head in the crook of his neck.

“I promise to be a gentleman the entire time.”

Ora chuckled. “I have no worries about you, Lord of Lightning.”

“Hey, what does that mean?”

“Oh, I uh, just mean you’re known for being a respectable man.”

“I try to be,” he replied.

“Those are hard to come by these days, I hear.”

The hair on Caiden’s arms stood on end. He wanted to kiss Ora, but he didn’t know if she wanted that.

“Caiden…” Ora whispered.

He swallowed hard. “Yes?”

“Can I ask you something?”

“Anything.”

“I’m almost one hundred years old and I’ve never been kissed. And since the world may be ending soon, and you seem like a good enough… well, not that you’re some second-place prize…”

He cut her words short, pressing his lips to hers.

Ora leaned into Caiden, letting her hand wander into his thick hair. Her mouth tasted like blackberries and the mulled wine they had been drinking.

Arousal boiled in Caiden’s core, and he slipped his tongue between her lips.

She let out a little moan, but didn’t pull away. Instead, her hand went to his belt.

Caiden pulled away. “It’s okay, we don’t have to.”

“Excuse me. I didn’t mean to be too forward.” A heat flushed her cheeks.

“I just don’t want to do anything you’re not comfortable with.” Caiden grabbed the wine bottle and took another swig. When the wine hit his lips, he knew something was off. He looked at Ora.

“What’s wrong, my Lord? Feeling sleepy?” A wicked smile cut her beautiful face in two.

“What did you do? Who are you… really?” His words slurred as they left his lips.

Ora’s face transformed before him into something sharper, with bloodred hair, deep tanned skin, and a hooked nose. “Oh, prince, that’s not for you to worry about.”

“But…” His eyes grew heavier with each passing moment. Heaving himself to his feet, he tried to run, but his legs were clumsy, and he toppled into the snow.

The stranger clicked her tongue, and she stood over Caiden. “You men are all the same. All it takes is a bat of an eye and you forget your own names.”

Caiden tried to speak, but his whole body was numb. All he could do was blink as the cold of the snow seeped into his bones. The world went dark.