Chapter 97

The stranger looked like a tall male human, his tanned skin the same spun gold as the Queen Ilona’s, but Luna knew he wasn’t completely human, although she couldn’t figure out what he was.

“The Queen awaits.” The music of his voice drifted to Luna’s small ears as she shrugged to her feet.

“Oh no!” Luna’s hands flew to her mouth to stifle a gasp. The guard strode inside, alarmed, sending tingles through Luna’s exposed arm as he brushed past, pointing his sword at the orange-shaped dresser and the floor-length wardrobe that he’d torn open on its hinges.

“What?” “What is it?” He growled, his dust-colored eyes flying over Luna’s face as he gripped her elbow roughly.

“I was just going to, uh, freshen up a bit before seeing Her Majesty.” Luna stammered, watching as the guard’s apple bobbed before he released her with a low chuckle.

“Pray the gods, girl, hurry up with it.” The man sighed, shaking his head, as he settled in with a wide berth on Lucille’s canopy bed.

“You’re waiting here?” Helios squeaked; Luna hadn’t heard him leave the washroom. She whipped her head between the two people, unsure what to do with herself.

“Got a problem with that?” “Yer not concocting to run off now are ye?” The guard said more than he asked, crossing one iron-clad knee over the other and smiling faintly in a way that told Luna they had better not be planning anything at all. Luna wondered what there was to run away from.

They were safe in the Queen’s Castle, weren’t they?

Helios seemed to read her mind, his round insect eyes creasing with worry. She didn’t like being a prisoner, but Helios winked at her in reassurance, his whiskers flying from side to side as he made a show of crinkling his nose. Easy warmth spread through Luna, the knots in her shoulders loosening as she smirked back at her familiar.

“I’ll just be a minute.”

It was dusk when Luna toweled off the water from her straight brown hair.

The man who was lying spread-eagled on her head shot up straight when he heard the creak of her door. Helios was snoring lightly beside him, and the amber streaks of the falling sun settling on the horizon fell in straight slants over their faces.

Luna knew it would stay like this until the sun climbed back up to a full clockwork orange.

It was never dark In Arcadia, and Luna was all the more glad for it.

She noted with odd warmth that the guard had drawn a blanket over her gray-furred rabbit. He wasn’t a complete rake after all!

“It took you a minute and a half.” The guard chimed sarcastically, raking his jet-black hair behind long elfish ears as he stood to tower over Luna.

There was a white windbreaker with puffy feathered sleeves laid out on her bed. Did he expect her to dress while he watched? Luna thought she would go mad at the idea!

“If you wouldn’t…” Luna squeaked and hesitated, unsure how to continue, so she just waved her hand over herself, the other hand gripping her towel lightly.

“Oh, oh, but of course.” The man stammered, appearing flustered. Luna thought she saw a slight flush creep up his neck before he turned his imposing back on her.

She slipped into the dress, wringing her hands behind her to battle with the invisible zip.

“Done.” She whispered, tucking a lock of hair shyly behind her ear as the guard turned to appraise her.

He pursed his lips before clearing his throat and nodding at her.

“Very well, try to follow me.” He grunted, shouldering past her, his porcelain-white skin faintly luminescent.

Luna giggled when she saw the tiny, transparent spider web of wings peeking from his armor.

“What’s funny?” He called, glancing at her curiously over his shoulder. Luna couldn’t very well tell him she’d been laughing at his tiny wings now, could she?

“Nothing! “”What’s your name?”

“Igor.” The guard spoke simply, and Luna nodded dramatically beside him.

Igor led Luna through a narrow paper-mache passageway she’d never seen before, the loam-colored walls lined with liliac and orchid flowers, the scent of which tickled Luna’s sneezes as they passed by. The guard did not say “Bless you.”

Luna gulped and held her breath as they reached the guard-lined red carpet walkway. It was completely quiet; Luna could have sworn the fully armored guards standing deceptively still were mannequins. The crunch and chackle of Igor’s metal plates did nothing to ease Luna’s anxiety as they marched forward, towards the huge floor-to-ceiling double doors. Luna could see a few feet ahead.

She wished she hadn’t insisted on leaving her bunny behind; Helios had a way of calming her that was uncanny.

There was high-pitched laughter and the strum of fingers striking the piano behind the emerald-studded redwood doors that opened on their own as the pair approached.

“Your Majesty, Luna Arkavis of the Forgotten Realm,” Igor’s loud, grating announcement had Luna wincing painfully, as each head seemed to mechanically rotate toward the door, toward Luna.

“Your grace,” Luna’s voice was mousey in comparison as she gathered the skirts of her gown in a graceful bow.

“Approach the throne, Luna.” Queen Ilona’s sweet whistle made the crowd break out in excited murmurs.

Luna walked ahead of the guard, eyeing the net-garbed fairies lining the red carpet.

The faint gleam of yellow sun fell in slopes through the concave glass ceiling as pixies tittered all around Luna, their wings different shapes and sizes.

There was an orchestra playing at the back of the room, beyond Luna’s vision, the soulful melody passing through her and making her unclench her fists.

“Arkavisss.” A baby-sized fairy with a glowing green smock was pushed to the front line to gawk at Luna as she passed, trailing her eyes over the cute, chubby pixie fondly, before a mage with a tall red hat put himself between Luna and the baby as she sailed past.

There was a deep part of her that was still unsettled by everything, but Luna kept it tucked away as she neared the throne.

Queen Ilona was the picture of magnificence; she had changed into a bright golden tunic that bounced the light from her form as she settled with one leg crossed over the other on her throne. A huge emerald and onyx studded swing that stood tall in the sundial that seemed to glow softly.

The entire room was humming with light energy, most of it, no doubt, the Queen’s.

It sent reverent shudders up Luna’s arms when she saw who was standing proudly beside the Queen, his hands crossed over the brass of his bow, and a white-headed eagle perched lightly on his shoulder.

The elf king smiled at her faintly as she approached. Luna was amazed; she’d heard how it was almost impossible to host the reclusive bird and have it obey you.

It was something only powerful fairies could master.

Why, oh why, did he have to be here?

Luna fretted, a scarlet tint blooming on her cheeks.

Only when Luna had knelt directly under the Queen’s gaze did she see what sat cross-legged on the other side.

So beautiful and horrible was the shaman that it made Luna want to scream and scream and scream.