Page 13 of The Shadowed Throne (Midlife Fairy Tale #4)

L etter done, Ro had sent word to Queen Varyana, asking her to come to the library, if she was interested. Ro had already pulled two books when the library doors opened.

“Sparrow?”

Ro stepped out from between the shelves. “Varyana, over here.”

“This is a marvelous library.” Varyana walked toward her, smiling. “We don’t have half as many books in our own. Nor such a variety.”

“Then you should borrow some.”

“You can’t mean that. Books are precious.”

“I wouldn’t have said it otherwise. And once the portal is complete, you can come borrow books whenever you like.

” A new idea had come to her as well. One she wanted to run by her council of professors to see if there would be any resistance.

Even if there was, she doubted she’d let it stop her.

She wanted to invite Ehlzar and Varyana to Willow Hall. She thought they’d love it.

“You are so good to us.”

“I’m glad you think so,” Ro said. “Because I have an ulterior motive.”

Varyana laughed. “This I must hear.”

“I might need some crystals. Some impressive ones. In exchange, I would be happy to pay you whatever they’re worth.”

“I’m sure something can be arranged.”

“So you know, they’re not for me. They’d be for a gift for another kingdom. One I’m trying to negotiate an alliance with.”

Varyana shrugged. “A new alliance for you would be like a new alliance for us, would it not?” She smiled. “I know that is not exactly how these things work, but a friend of a friend is better than an enemy.”

“True. And I’ve been planning to tell them about our alliance.”

“I will speak to Ehlzar, but the crystals will be no problem. When do you need them?”

“I don’t know yet, but I’ll tell you as soon as I can.” Ro hooked her arm through Varyana’s. “Now, let’s find you some books.”

Varyana had an armful by the time she walked out, including two for her husband. Ro promised to see her at dinner, then went back to her quarters.

There was no sign of JT or Violet, both no doubt off doing something far more interesting than waiting for Gabriel to return. As there was no sign of him, she walked out onto the balcony to enjoy a little fresh air and sun.

As she always did, she looked toward Malveaux, visible across the Whistling Sea. She narrowed her eyes, trying to understand what she was seeing. The clouds were back, shrouding the Grym kingdom in gloom once again.

How was that possible? Wondering if something could have gone wrong, she left her quarters and went straight to Uldamar’s, taking one wrong turn but correcting herself almost immediately. She knocked on his door.

“My lady, twice in one day. I am honored.”

“Have you looked outside recently?”

“I can’t say that I have. Is there something I should see?”

“I think so. Malveaux is covered in clouds again.”

He blinked. “You don’t say. To the balcony.”

She walked with him. “I’m not saying I have any doubts in your magical abilities whatsoever, but could the magic have gone wrong somehow?”

“Your highness, anything is possible, but I followed that spell to its last letter.” He opened the door for her, then came along behind her. His balcony was smaller than hers but still spacious.

They both turned toward Malveaux.

He let out a soft grunt. “It is indeed covered with clouds again. It could be a natural phenomenon due to the normal patterns of weather, but my deepest instincts tell me that is not the case.” He stared for a few long minutes without saying another word.

She let him be, unsure if he was doing some kind of magical reckoning or just deep thinking. Either way, she didn’t interrupt.

Finally, he turned back toward the door. “Just a moment.”

“Okay.”

He returned with a tapered brass tube in one hand. He held it up. “Spyglass.”

“Good idea.”

He held it to his eye and took a closer look, scanning the distant shore. He took a deep breath as he dropped the spyglass. “This is not good, my lady.” He offered it to her. “Have a look.”

She took it and did as he asked. She could see Malveaux much better and some of the town of Dearth as well as the turrets of Castle Hayze. She needed one of these spyglasses. It would be great to have for her own balcony.

She wasn’t sure what else she was supposed to be looking at, but Anyka and her court were not having a great weather day, that much was plain. She shook her head. “I don’t know if I’m seeing what you were seeing.”

“Look near the coastline,” Uldamar said. “Look at the base of the trees and even the entrance to the Brightwater Bridge, on the Grym side.”

She brought the spyglass back up and focused on the areas he’d suggested. She frowned. “What is that? Smoke?”

“Fog, my lady. And I don’t believe it’s natural. For one thing, the conditions aren’t right. For another, fog does not move with such … urgency.”

She stared at the fog. He was right. She could actually see it moving. Like it was trying to cover as much ground as possible. “I’m almost afraid to ask, but what is it?”

He answered her question with one of his own. “There are trolls in Malveaux at the moment, are there not?”

“Yes. A delegation of them has come to see Anyka. It’s my understanding the kingdom has had a treaty with them for many years.”

“That is true.” He nodded thoughtfully. “That would make sense.”

“What would?”

He gave her a quick smile. “Thinking out loud, my lady. My educated guess about the fog is that it’s some kind of magic. Probably trollish in origin. I would very much like to send one of the Wyvern guards for a closer look. If they’d be willing. They’d need to get very close indeed.”

“How close?”

“Close enough to smell it. If I’m right, the fog will carry the scent of soot or smoke.”

“So Anyka has the trolls doing her bidding now? Is this fog dangerous? I don’t like any of this. I’m sure we can get one of the Wyvern to do a fly-by.”

“I don’t know if the fog is dangerous or not. If I can confirm that it is what I think it is, then … yes, it would be less than a pleasant experience to come in contact with.”

“Great.” She sighed. “You feel like taking a walk with me down to the guards’ keep?”

“I’d be honored to accompany you.”

“Thanks. Let’s go see if we can find a willing Wyvern to head over there.”

They found one not long after they arrived at the guard quarters. In fact, they had several volunteers. As Professor Denwood was there interviewing some of the Summerton guards about who would like to go to Hythe, he suggested a more tactical maneuver than what Ro had been thinking of.

“Let’s send three in formation as a distraction, then the fourth we’ll send out alone to do the actual reconnaissance.”

A young woman stepped forward. “I’d be happy to do it. I’m smaller than some of these boys. I can stay lower and fit into tighter spots easier.”

Ro nodded. “Works for me. Thank you, miss.”

“Sysanna, your highness.” She grinned as she did a quick curtsey. “Happy to be of service.”

Denwood gestured to three Wyvern guards, calling them over. He explained what was going to happen, then put his hands on his hips. “All right, you have your orders. You three get flying, then we’ll send Sysanna after you.”

“All you have to do is get a good whiff of the fog,” Uldamar said to Sysanna. “If it smells burnt, or like smoke, get away from it as quickly as you can and come straight back here.”

A touch of concern flickered in Sysanna’s eyes, disappearing as quickly as it had appeared. “I will.”

The three Wyvern Denwood had selected moved into the open ground of the training area and shifted into their dragon forms. They looked at each other and one gave a nod. As a group, they jumped into the sky and took off.

Ro shook her head, her words for Uldamar only. “That will never get old.”

“I agree.”

Sysanna got into place and shifted. She waved her wings, stretching them wide under the sun. After a few minutes, she took to the air.

With the barracks around them and no balcony to view from, Ro and Uldamar really couldn’t see what was going on. All they could do was wait.

Denwood approached. “We’re all squared away with the Summerton guards who are willing to go to Hythe, your highness. We’re ready to make the exchange.”

“Very good. How’s general morale?” She asked. “Everyone knows we’re on the precipice, don’t they?”

He nodded. “They know what might be coming. They are prepared. Not eager, but ready.”

Uldamar had been watching the sky but looked at Ro again. “If it comes to war, I will gather the most gifted citizens, and we will pool our magic to create a spell of protection over each guard.”

“That would be wonderful, Uldamar.”

There wasn’t much they could do but watch the sky. Minutes ticked by. One of the captains offered them tea, but Ro declined. She just wanted to get some kind of answer so she could do whatever needed to be done next.

“Movement,” Denwood said, eyes on the sky.

They all followed his gaze. Sysanna was coming back, fast, so fast Ro cringed, thinking the young woman was about to crash into the ground before them. At the last moment, her wings went wide and slowed her.

She hit the ground hard, shifted, and collapsed.

Ro ran toward her, Uldamar, Denwood, and a few of the guards with her.

Ro reached Sysanna first. She was sobbing, breathing hard. Ro took the young woman’s hand. “What happened? Are you hurt? Tell me what you need.” She looked up. “Someone get a medic.”

Sysanna took a deep, ragged breath and pushed herself up. Ro let her hand go, and Sysanna wiped at her eyes. “The fog reeked of something dark and burned. It put images in my head. Made me sick. Made me…”

“It’s all right,” Ro said. “You’re not going to be judged by anything you say.”

Sysanna looked at Ro and no one else. “It made me sad. Deeply sad. As if there was no hope.” Fresh tears leaked from her eyes. “It made me want to harm myself. Showed me a vision of that.” She swallowed. “I would never do that.”

Ro wrapped the young Wyvern in a hug. “You’re safe now, and you did a wonderful job. I’m so grateful for your help.” She glanced at Denwood. “This brave guard deserves to rest. After she’s been checked out by a medic.”

He nodded. “I’ll see she gets whatever she needs, your highness.”

Ro let go of her. “Go on inside and rest. You’ve earned my deepest gratitude.”

“Thank you, your highness.” Already Sysanna seemed to be breathing easier. “I’ll be fine. Just need a little time.”

As the group retreated to the barracks, Ro caught the sleeve of Uldamar’s robe and held him back with her. “Do you know what that fog is now?”

He nodded. “I do. It’s troll magic, as I suspected. Called the Mourning Fog. Dangerous, deadly stuff. It will fill a person’s mind with dark thoughts and darker desires. It affects everyone differently, based on their vulnerabilities.”

He glanced in the direction of Malveaux. “The trolls often use it to weaken an enemy before they attack.”

A chill went through Ro. “Is that what’s happening? Anyka is trying to weaken us so she can attack?”

With a deep sigh, he nodded. “I don’t see any other way to interpret this. Unless…”

“Unless what?”

“It is curious that the fog appears to be coming from inside Malveaux. Almost as if it started well within the borders.” He frowned. “But that would put Anyka’s citizens in danger, too.”

“You think she did it to them deliberately? This is Anyka we’re talking about. Maybe they got a little too happy about Summerton being responsible for lifting the curse.”

“To think she’d do something like that to punish them…”

Ro’s heart ached for the citizens forced to live under such an evil woman. “It’s not that far-fetched.”

“No. Sadly.”

She put her hand on his arm. “Do whatever you need to do, but find me a way to protect the kingdom.”

“I will, my lady.”

She started back toward the palace, Uldamar at her side, her thoughts whirling, rage building up inside her. “I need to make an announcement.”

“About the fog?”

She shook her head. “About the fact that we are officially at war.”