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C asimir ventured down the hallways, through twists and turns in the brightly lit pale stone castle, buzzing birds and insects flying among the flowers along the walls.

He reached the royal suite, a large wing at the other side of the castle.

Nodding to the guards outside the double doors, he entered.

Following the sound of laughter, he walked through the living quarters and entered the large private dining room through a doorway on the right. Seated at a table with enough room for a dozen or so people, were Thorne and the rest of his friends.

The dining room was decorated in congruence with the rest of the castle and a fireplace roared at the back of the room. The smells of roasted meats, herbs and yeast permeated the air as he joined his friends.

“Ah, Cas! You finally deigned to join us!” said Raine, lifting his wine goblet.

Casimir took a seat next to Raine and looked at him. “ Drunk already?”

His friend laughed. “There are no finer wines than those made in Mosshaven. How I’ve missed this during our travels.”

Casimir smiled and held up his empty goblet.

Raine grabbed the golden pitcher and filled his goblet to the brim, while Thorne asked from the head of the table, “I presume our guest is situated?”

Casimir took a sip. “She is. Though I don’t see why you had to put her in my suite.”

“It’s because you’re the scariest one out of us,” said Raine. “Makes her much less likely to pull any human shenanigans.”

“Human shenanigans?” Thorne asked, humor in his voice. “And what, pray tell, are those?”

Raine waved his hand. “No idea,” he said, laughing.

Casimir leaned forward and started loading his plate with food. Roasted quail, meat pies, cakes, pastries, breads and bowls of steaming vegetables covered in herbed sauces sat at the center of the table.

As he continued piling on his fares, he said, “You should have put her with Quinn. She is much scarier.”

“Well, if she sees your eating habits, she’ll be terrified. Do you think you could fit any more food on that plate?” Quinn said.

Biting into a drumstick, he said through a mouth full of food, “Leave me alone. I’m starving.”

Thorne laughed. “Welcome home. I bet you’re all glad to be free of Jorrar’s cooking.”

“Well, I’m the only one who even tries when we travel. You lot should be thankful of my effort.”

“I’m certain they are,” said Thorne. “By the way, Casimir. What is that horrid thing on your face?”

Casimir paused his eating, raising his eyebrows. “My beard?”

“Oh, is that what that’s called?”

“I just decided not to shave one day, and it grew on me. ”

“Literally,” Raine muttered.

Casimir ignored Raine and looked back at his king. “So, that was interesting back in the throne room.”

“Ava threatening Thorne?” blurted Raine. “I thought we were about to have a brawl.”

“I could use a good brawl,” uttered Quinn.

“And I could use a good fu?—”

Casimir clapped Raine on the back, interrupting him. “Then get on with it and free us from your perverted mind.”

“But bathe first because you reek,” said Quinn.

“We all do,” said Jorrar.

Thorne shook his head and huffed a small laugh, then responded to Casimir’s earlier comment. “Ava’s tenacity surprised me. I’m curious to see if she learns her lesson.”

“Doubtful,” murmured Casimir.

She didn’t know the first thing about etiquette and their fae ways. He wouldn’t be surprised if it wasn’t the last time she stumbled and got herself into trouble.

“Now that we’re all here,” Jorrar began as he looked at Thorne. “May I ask what that was earlier, back in the throne room?”

“To what are you referring?” Thorne asked.

“When you learned her name… I noticed… a reaction.”

Thorne sat back in his chair, tapping his thumb and index finger together, a nervous habit Casimir had noticed ever since they were young.

Thorne was an incredible ruler, always concerned with the happiness and safety of his subjects.

The opposite of his father and their former king, Vardan Everwood.

But with the reintroduction of the very enemies that killed Vardan, Thorne was likely stressed as he carried the fears of each citizen. Fears that Monterre would be next.

Thorne heaved a sigh. “Since you all have been gone the last few months, I’ve been having these dreams.” He rubbed his temples briefly before continuing. “Dreams where I’m running through a forest, trying to stop someone from something.”

“Alright,” said Jorrar. “And?”

“It always ends with me calling out someone’s name…”

“What was the name?” Raine whispered.

“Ava.”

Everyone stilled.

“What does that mean?” Quinn inquired.

“I’m uncertain.” He turned to look at Raine. “What’s your take on this?”

They had seers in their world, ancient beings who could see the past and parts of the future. While Raine wasn’t a seer, he could often sense things others could not and had proven an asset in making decisions within the kingdom. His intuition was invaluable.

Thorne watched closely, appearing to hang on Raine’s every word. “I can’t feel much regarding this situation. Regarding Ava,” said Raine.

“It’s probably a coincidence,” said Quinn. “What reason would there be for you to be dreaming of a human?”

“I don’t think it’s a coincidence.” Raine shook his head. “Perhaps you were trying to stop her from opening the portal?”

“But what’s the connection?” Thorne replied.

“This is supposed to happen. She’s supposed to be here. As much as it terrifies me to know Deidamia and Andras are back in Eorhan, it feels like this is fate. We need to figure out where to go from here,” Raine continued. “Besides, I like Ava.”

“I do too,” said Jorrar.

Casimir and Quinn remained silent as Thorne looked at both of them.

“She’s okay,” Quinn muttered as she crossed her arms. “I don’t trust her yet though. What if she means us harm? Means you harm?” She looked at Thorne, concerned.

Thorne and Quinn had a long history. Their on again, off again relationship had caused them to be protective over each other, almost to a fault.

“Cas?” Thorne raised a brow.

“She’s hiding things from us,” he answered. “Until we learn what she knows, I won’t trust her.”

“I don’t think she’ll hurt us,” interjected Raine.

“Says the one she stabbed,” Quinn replied.

“She thought we were Deidamia’s soldiers taking her back to camp,” said Raine. “You would have fought back too. You and Cas have sticks so far up your asses, you think everyone is a threat. Even a weak dainty human.”

Jorrar interrupted, “Thorne… I think we should bring her to Nelida.”

Nelida was their kingdom’s greatest seer. She was a terrifying wood nymph who lived deep in the Whispering Bog. The creatures that lived in those woods weren’t always friendly and it was not an easy trip, winding through treacherous mists that tried to trick travelers into getting lost.

“That’s one way to scare the shit out of her,” Raine remarked.

“He’s right,” Thorne said. “We risk the trip and take her there. This is too big to sit and do nothing.”

“I agree,” said Quinn.

Casimir stroked his beard. “How are we making this journey with her in tow? There are foul things in that swamp I imagine will want to taste human flesh for the first time.”

“There are five of us. I think we can manage. I’ll make sure to have Skye on stand-by should something truly terrible happen. She can fly us out if needed,” Thorne answered.

Casimir nodded. Skye was Thorne’s companion. A giant golden eagle with the ability to carry several of them at a time, who often came in handy if they had to make a quick escape.

“Great,” Raine mumbled. “Am I the only one that doesn’t want to see that creepy wood nymph ever again? ”

“Yes,” the rest of them said in unison.

“You don’t have to come if you’re scared,” Quinn purred at Raine.

“Of course I’m coming,” Raine retorted. “You’d be bored out of your minds without me to entertain you all.”

“Then it’s decided,” Thorne stated. “After the three days of rest I promised her is up, we’ll meet and prepare for our venture to the bog.”