Page 23 of The Shadowed Throne (Midlife Fairy Tale #4)

T he Charred Forest was surprisingly dark. The canopy of leaves overhead let only a faint, greenish light through. No wonder the neph lived here. They were probably able to travel during the daylight so long as they stayed within the confines of these burned trees.

The size of the cave openings they passed grew taller and wider, but it wasn’t until the first man-size one appeared that they saw signs of life. The stones protruding from the ground looked like ribs.

Inside the cave mouth stood two guards. Neph. They had to be. Ro straightened in her saddle.

“Halt,” Gabriel called out. The royal guards came to stop. “I’ll speak to the neph guards,” he said to Ro before urging his horse forward.

He went to the cave mouth and spoke to the guards. There was a bit of back-and-forth, and Gabriel’s body language grew slightly more animated. After a few moments, he wheeled his horse around and returned, frowning, eyes blazing with anger.

Uldamar brought his horse alongside Ro’s. “He doesn’t look happy.”

“No, he doesn’t,” Ro said. She addressed Gabriel as he reached them. “What is it?”

“It’s uncivilized is what it is. And beyond undiplomatic.” He snorted in disgust. “They refused to give us entry. Said the king has no interest in seeing you.”

“How can that be?” Uldamar muttered.

Her heart sank. “Why? Did they give a reason? What’s changed?”

“No reason and I have no idea.”

She glanced at the guards. If they saw her, they made no sign of it.

She exhaled. She wasn’t one to give up, but there wasn’t much she could do outside of causing an incident, and that wouldn’t get her the result she wanted.

Right now, the dagger in her boot was registering no signs of danger.

She imagined that would change if they attempted to gain entry again.

“Then we go home and send another letter.”

Gabriel’s frown deepened.

Her brows lifted. “You have another idea?”

“No, my lady.”

“I’m not happy about it, but I see no other way.”

“Neither do I.”

She looked at Uldamar. “Do you have any thoughts?”

“No, my lady. If it’s not meant to be, there isn’t much any of us can do about it. Your plan is the only one that comes to mind.”

“Then that’s what we’re doing.” Without waiting for them, she turned her horse and gave a nod to the Radiant guard. “Back to the portal.”

With Gabriel at her side, they began their trek back.

Her mind whirled with new thoughts and ideas. She began mentally composing a letter to the neph king, something that would both express her disappointment and attempt to arrange a second meeting.

She glanced back at the neph cave, but it was already out of sight.

A cry broke through the quiet of the forest.

She looked at Gabriel, who was again at her side. “Was that animal or fae or something else?”

“I’m not sure.” He scanned their surroundings.

The guard leading them held up his fist and came to a stop, then pointed. “Lord Nightborne, an injured neph.”

Gabriel started forward, and Ro went with him, but he held out his hand. “This could be a trap.”

“My dagger says it isn’t.”

“All the same, you stay here. Let me investigate.”

She nodded, knowing he was right. He went forward, dismounting near a shape on the ground. He crouched and stayed that way for a while. Then he got up, mounted, and returned to her.

“It is an injured neph. Looks like he tripped over a root and cracked his head pretty well. He’s bleeding.”

“We have to take him back.”

“Ro—my lady, we were not welcome there.”

Uldamar stared toward the injured man. “Rendering aid is the right thing to do.”

“I agree,” she said. “Regardless of how we were received. It’s how I’d hope any of our neighbors would deal with an injured fae.”

Gabriel gave a quick nod. “I cannot argue that. I’ll take him on my horse, but in case it is a trap, I want the rest of you to stay here. If I’m not back in a reasonable amount of time, you return to the portal without me.”

“I don’t think?—”

“My lady.” He gave her a sharp look. “Please. These are not the Wyvern you’re dealing with.”

“Right. We’ll do as you say.”

“Thank you.” He went back, retrieved the neph, and passed by, giving Ro a chance to see the young neph better.

He was well-muscled, with dark skin and hair that mimicked the colors of the burned forest around them. A gash marred his forehead. Dark spots that Ro assumed to be blood speckled the front of his simple tunic. There was a dagger in his belt and a bow and quiver strapped to his back.

Gabriel had seated the young neph in front of him so that he could hold on to him and guide his horse as well. The young neph seemed to have a tenuous hold on consciousness, his eyes rolling back in his head.

As soon as they were out of earshot, Ro spoke to Uldamar. “Did you get any weird vibes or a sense of magic being used?”

“No strange vibrations, your highness, but there has been a sense of magic at work since we entered the Charred Forest.”

“Good or bad?”

He shook his head. “Just magic. It is very much present here. How it is being used, I cannot say.”

She didn’t take a lot of comfort in that.

They turned their horses to wait on Gabriel. After a few minutes, she spoke softly. “I don’t know what a reasonable amount of time is to wait, but I really do not want to return to Summerton without Lord Nightborne.”

A gentle smile bent Uldamar’s mouth. “Neither do I, my lady. We will wait as long as you deem.”

“Thanks.” As much as she didn’t want to leave without Gabriel, she didn’t want to be in these woods after true dark fell. He was right that these were not the Wyvern. She had no alliance with these people.

She fiddled with the reins, then stroked Indi’s neck, wondering what her horse thought of this strange forest.

Noise brought her head up, the sound of something rushing toward them. The guards went on alert, but they all soon saw it was Gabriel riding in their direction. He was alone and smiling.

She nudged Indi forward. “What is it?”

“You are a very clever woman, Queen Sparrow.”

She laughed. “That’s good to know. Why?”

“Because. Taking the injured neph back was a test.”

“You’re kidding.”

“Not in the slightest.” He stopped next to her. “The king will see you now.”

She shook her head. “So we were denied entry, then tested to see how we would react? If we would do the right thing or not?”

“Very interesting,” Uldamar said. “And from what I know, very much like the neph.”

She exhaled, not thrilled to have been tricked like that but happy that they’d passed.

Uldamar leaned in. “You did well. You executed good judgment. But there is nothing to say you won’t be tested again. Stay wary.”

“Good advice.”

They returned to the cave mouth. This time the guards were outside the cave, staves leaning away from their bodies in a more relaxed position.

They were all in leather, as were the second set of guards visible deeper in.

That pair had short bows and quivers of arrows at the ready, but there was nothing offensive in their stance.

A woman carrying a lantern appeared. She wore a dark blue gown of fine fabric with a long pale gray suede vest over it, and a waist chain of faceted gemstones. She was older than Ro and wore her silver hair long, held back at the sides with gleaming black combs.

She gave a small bow to Ro. “Welcome to the Wild Court. You are Queen Sparrow?”

Ro dismounted and walked forward. “I am.”

“I am Illesha Fray, the king’s councilor. I am here to guide you and your people to him.”

“Thank you. I’m pleased to meet you, Illesha.” Ro turned. Behind her, Gabriel, Uldamar, and the guards had dismounted as well. “This is my Professor of Security, Lord Gabriel Nightborne, and my Professor of Magic, Uldamar Darkstone.”

Illesha nodded at them. “Welcome, gentlemen.”

Uldamar stroked his beard. “You said Fray, did you not?”

Illesha tipped her head. “I did. Does the name mean something to you?”

He smiled. “It does. It appears in my lineage, many years back.”

Illesha let out a soft gasp. “You are of neph descent?” She stepped forward, hand lifted. “May I?”

He looked a little unsure. “As long as you don’t mean to cause me injury, by all means.”

“No injury, I give my vow.” She placed her hand over his heart and went still for a few beats of time. Then she laughed. “You are neph. I feel it in you. Welcome home, my brother. The Wild Court is honored by your return.”

Uldamar bowed. “I am honored to be here.”

Ro glanced at Gabriel, whose raised brows and widened eyes undoubtedly matched her own expression.

Maybe this would be easier than she’d thought.