Chapter 7

“How far is the palace?” Brea nudged Maisie to go a little bit faster. The sweet horse had two speeds. Slow and stop. Not that Brea was in a hurry to get to where they were going. She was curious about her aunt, but she was not at all confident she could do this whole meet the queen thing.

“We will be there by nightfall.” Griff set an easy pace across the rolling hills just beyond the cottage.

“Is it a for real palace?” Brea chewed her bottom lip.

“As opposed to a fake one?” Griff shot her an amused smile.

Brea shrugged. “I saw this movie once where the queen and king didn’t care too much for fancy things. Their palace was a cozy log cabin.”

“Your aunt enjoys the finer things. Her palace is grand—and like nothing your human eyes have ever seen.”

“Like how?” she pressed. Brea didn’t like surprises. She needed to be prepared for whatever was coming her way.

“You will see soon enough. Queen Regan’s palace lies along the Villandi River in the forest city of Vindur.”

“How can a forest be a city?” Brea leaned into her saddle, hoping her fat little mare would make it to Vindur. At the rate she was stopping to eat grass, it might take them a week to get there.

“You will see soon enough.”

“Anyone ever tell you you’re infuriating?”

“Frequently.” Griff pushed Mack into a trot and Lazy Maisie followed.

“Look at you go, girl! You do know how to run.” Brea patted the gentle horse.

Brea enjoyed the warm fresh air and bright sunshine. It was invigorating to finally get away from the cottage and jump into the next phase of her new life. She liked Fargelsi. Sometimes she even thought she felt a connection to the verdant green hills.

“So… what happens when we get there?” Brea asked. “And so help me if you say ‘you will see soon enough’ I may sic my horse on you. She’s a hungry girl, you know.”

Griff’s laughter was a deep, throaty sound she really liked. “When we arrive it will be late. Servants will show us to our rooms, and you’ll likely meet the queen tomorrow or the next day. She’s a very busy woman, though she is anxious to meet you.”

“What is she like?”

“She is a kind and generous ruler. You should strive to be yourself with her, Brea. Well… perhaps save your biting sarcasm for me.” He winked. “I can take it.”

“Is there nothing but rolling hills between here and there?” Honestly, she’d grown quite bored with the trip so far. She’d expected to see more. People. Towns. Something.

“We will reach the Dragur Forest soon.”

“Dragur? That doesn’t have anything to do with dragons I hope.”

“No, no dragons.”

“What does Dragur mean?”

“Haunted.”

“We’re going to the haunted forest? Like with ghosts?”

“It’s not actually haunted. At least I don’t think it is anymore.”

“Oh, well, that’s just peachy.” Brea glanced back over her shoulder.

“Why do you do that?”

“Do what?”

“You’re always looking behind us like you think we’re being followed.” Griff shook his head, as amused with her as ever.

“I don’t even know I’m doing it. There’s just a vibe I get sometimes. Like not everything around me is as harmless as it seems.”

“Probably just your human caution rearing its head. Gelsi is a strange new world for you. Of course you’re naturally curious and suspicious of things you don’t understand.”

They stopped for a break around midday in a beautiful low-lying glen. To the east, the rolling green hills gave way to green mountains with rocky peaks. To the south lay the entrance to the Dragur Forest. As Griff cared for the horses, Brea explored their surroundings, taking the opportunity to stretch her legs. After hours of riding through the hills, Brea was happy to see something that wasn’t green. Gorgeous purple flowers bloomed on shrubs at the lowest part of the glen. Orange wildflowers hung in clusters among the tall grass.

Brea picked some of the orange flowers and braided them into a daisy chain for her hair. She even found what looked like bubble-gum-pink strawberries growing on a vine-covered fallen log. She picked enough to go with their lunch, placing them on a napkin on the picnic blanket they’d brought with them.

“I wouldn’t do that,” Griff came up behind her as she was about to pick some of the purple blossoms. “You’ll be dead before we reach the palace. Even more dead if you eat those berries you picked.”

“What’s wrong with the berries?” Brea stood up, taking a few steps away from the poisonous flowers.

“One or two would just make you sick. More, and you’d fall asleep and never wake up. Some healers make a tea from the berry leaves for a sleeping draught, but even that can be dangerous.”

“What about these?” Brea’s hand went to the flowers in her hair.

“Harmless. And quite charming in your dark hair.”

“No purple flowers. No swimming in Lake Villandi. No pink berries and no Gelsi berries. I should start a list of all the things that might kill me or drug me.”

“Don’t touch anything once we reach the forest. There, the more beautiful a thing is, the more likely it is to be dangerous.”

“Got it.”

After they ate and packed up, they headed into the forest. She wasn’t prepared for how dark it was under the thick canopy of vine-covered trees.

“I feel like we should be traveling a yellow brick road to find the flying monkeys at the witch’s castle.”

“What are you babbling about?”

“Nothing.” She stared into the swaying branches. “It’s too quiet here. There aren’t any birds in this forest.”

“There are some, but most here are nocturnal. You’ll rarely see or hear them.”

“I find that… unsettling for some reason.” Like she couldn’t trust a forest that didn’t have birds.

“You’ll get used to it.”

“So, how long will we be in the forest of nightmares?” She didn’t relish experiencing nightfall here.

“It’s not that bad, is it?” Griff’s half smile slid into place. It was her favorite smile of his.

“It’s creepy.”

“We will reach the Villandi River before sunset. Vindur Palace is just across the river.

“Is the river like the lake? Should I prepare to fight the urge to dive in?”

“Not at all. The river flows north to Loch Villandi. Whatever phenomenon makes the lake so treacherous is not present in the river waters.”

“Good to know. How will we cross the river?”

“There’s a bridge, Brea.”

“Well, you all aren’t very modern, so how could I know if you’d discovered bridge engineering or not?”

“We aren’t imbeciles. We just prefer simpler ways of living.”

“You should think about getting cell service here. It beats the heck out of relying on messengers to carry your snail mail.”

“Oh, I’ve seen your phones and the way humans depend on them like a drug. It may provide a certain level of convenience, but I prefer to enjoy a well written letter rather than the instant gratification of emoji texts.” He smirked as if proud of himself for knowing what an emoji was.

“Whatever. I’d give my right arm for an hour at Dunkin Donuts with a large iced hazelnut latte, a smartphone, and a good pair of earbuds.”

“I have no idea what you just said, but I find you utterly fascinating, Brea.”

“I’m not all that complicated or deep, Griff.”

“I beg to differ.”

Sometimes the way he looked at her made her so nervous she couldn’t see straight. Good job, Brea. Crushing on the hot fae dude.

“So what’s expected of a queen’s niece? Do I get a title or something?”

Griff frowned. “I’m not sure, actually. Technically you’re a princess as the daughter of the queen’s brother.”

“Oh gosh, I was joking!”

“They’d probably just call you Lady Brea. But as the queen’s niece, you’d have certain privileges, and in time, certain duties I imagine. Nothing you can’t handle of course.”

“And after you deliver me to the queen, where will you go?”

“I will stay for a while, but eventually, I’ll return to my cottage where it’s quiet. It will be a lot quieter without all your endless questions.”

“You’ll miss me when I’m gone.”

“Indeed I will.” Griff picked up the pace, urging Mack into a trot. “Look there.” He pointed in the distance where the trees grew taller and wider than anything she’d ever seen. It reminded her of pictures she’d seen of the Redwood forest back home.

The path ahead ran in a straight line for miles and miles. “It’s a lot farther than it seems, but you can just see the other side of the forest. We’ll reach the river before sunset.”

~~~

Brea didn’t know what she’d expected of her first look at the forest city of Vindur, but she wasn’t prepared for how it crept up on her. They’d traveled the whole day and never once saw another living soul. Brea had become so used to their solitude that it took her by surprise when the first fae woman she’d seen since her arrival in Fargelsi seemed to appear from nowhere.

“Why are they just hanging out in the forest?” Brea looked over her shoulder to see dozens of fae going about their business.

“We’re on the outskirts of the city. Open your eyes, Brea. Not everything here is mere forest.”

That was when it clicked, and her eyesight shifted. Fae were coming and going from buildings, visiting businesses and returning to their homes—all sitting among the tree tops.”

“How?” Brea turned around in time to see a woman leave her home, skipping down the steps wrapping around the massive tree trunk.

“The Fargelsi fae draw their power from nature,” Griff reminded her. “They grow their homes this way.”

“Amazing.” Brea leaned forward in the saddle, and swore she caught a glimpse inside a home with moss carpet.

“Is the palace like this?”

“See for yourself. The palace is just across the bridge.” Griff pointed ahead.

Brea’s eyes couldn’t decide what to look at first. The bridge was made of thick, green vines that grew from a massive tree trunk into a twisting pattern of knots and leaves that extended across the river. The bridge was wide enough for the two lanes of traffic coming and going from the palace. Far below, the crystal waters of the Villandi River made their lazy way across boulders and over rocks, splashing and tinkling like a symphony of sounds.

The palace itself seemed to have grown up from the riverbed. Vine covered stone spires reached for the skies, and pointed archways rose up in tiers from the main gates to the highest point at the center of the structure. Each spire twisted into three points that wrapped around a light source that shone brightly in the fading sunlight.

“It’s breathtaking,” Brea murmured in awe.

“The beacons are solar powered,” Griff explained. “They provide light for the whole palace.”

“Beautiful, functional, and safe for the environment.”

The entire scene was picturesque, the way a tributary of the river flowed around the castle on either side, cascading in twin waterfalls over the cliffside to the main river below. Stone bridges grew from the palace at dizzying heights to connect to other wings.

“I have no words. It’s possible I’m back to thinking I could be hallucinating again.”

Griff’s laughter brought her out of her fog. “I’ve never known you to be short on words. And for the last time, this is real, Brea Robinson. You’ve finally come home.”

~~~

As soon as they passed through the castle gates, the queen’s men-at-arms ushered Brea and Griff into the grand hall to meet the castellan.

“Lady Einin, it’s good to see you again.” Griff took both of the small woman’s hands in his larger ones. “The queen has summoned us. Is she available?”

“She’s visiting with a diplomat from the Eldur court. She’s asked me to see the Lady Brea settled in her rooms.” Lady Einin turned to give Brea a nod. She was stern-faced and didn’t seem to bother much with small talk. “You know where your rooms are, now off you go.” She shooed Griff toward a different part of the palace.

“You’ll be fine.” Griff put a hand on her shoulder. “Lady Einin will take good care of you tonight, and I’ll see you first thing in the morning.”

Brea nodded, trying to shove back the blazing hot panic at the realization that her security blanket would be too far away to hear her if she needed help.

“This is your home, Brea. You are safe here.” He squeezed her shoulder, leaving her with the allegedly capable Lady Einin.

“This way.” Einin called, turning toward the massive staircase made of the most vivid green vines.

Brea followed silently as they climbed the great staircase to the third level of the palace. Einin stopped at an ornate doorway with a pointed arch covered in white vines with pink flowers and the palest green leaves streaked with gold.

“This is the queen’s quarters. She has requested to have you near. Be on your best behavior, and don’t go wandering about. The maids will bring your dinner and draw a hot bath for you.”

Einin slipped an intricate bone key into the lock and stood back to let Brea enter the huge room—suite of rooms. It was fit for a princess, which she wasn’t.

“Surely the queen would rather put me in a simple guest room.”

“Queen Regan does what she likes. Make yourself at home and ring the bell if you need anything. Good night, my Lady.” She dropped a slight curtsy that left Brea completely creeped out.

“I can’t have people curtsying.” She shivered and ran her hands over her arms. “It’s too bizarre. And now I’m talking to myself again.”

Brea walked around the oval-shaped sitting room, too scared to touch anything. She definitely needed that bath. Everything was so white, it shone like pearls in the moonlight. She was sure to ruin anything she sat on in her travel clothes.

A white settee occupied the center of the room. It seemed to have grown right out of the floor from the same delicate vines that adorned the doorway. The cushions of flower petals beckoned to her after hours in the saddle, but she couldn’t resist checking out the rest of her rooms.

Three arched doorways led from the main room. The first led to a bathroom and dressing area with a huge walk-in closet filled with fluffy pink gowns Brea really hoped weren’t meant for her.

The second door led to a bedroom. A vine-covered canopy bed stood on a dais at the center of the room. Strands of sheer white flowers grew from the canopy and fluttered in the warm breeze flowing in through the open balcony doors.

The last doorway led to a study. Rows and rows of books filled the shelves from floor to ceiling. A white wooden desk stood in front of a second pair of balcony doors, and a pair of white fur-covered chairs waited by the fireplace.

“Give me Netflix and Uber Eats and I could live here and never leave these rooms,” Brea murmured.

A door opened behind her and three maids entered carrying trays and an assortment of clean nightclothes. They were identical triplets, making identical curtsies, staring at her with identical blue eyes.

“Would you like a bath first or food first, my lady?” The lead triplet asked, with another curtsy.

“Bath, please.” Brea decided to go with it. She was far too tired to protest their eager little faces. She would explain to Lady Einin tomorrow that she’d rather see to herself. Servants were definitely not something she wanted to get used to.

~~~

“My lady, you must get up. The queen is ready to see you.” Triplet Two pulled the warm downy covers away, and Brea wanted to scratch her face off. She’d just had the most restful sleep of her life and she wasn’t ready to get up yet.

Triplets One and Three were busy pulling fancy dresses from the closet, while Triplet Two shoved a breakfast tray in her face and went to work on her nails.

“I can dress myself.” Brea munched on a delicious pastry and sipped hot spiced tea. It wasn’t coffee, but it was tasty. This world had to have coffee somewhere, and if they expected her to stay, someone better find it soon.

“Nonsense.” Triplet One said… or maybe it was Two.

In no time they had her brushed, curled, and stuffed into a pink gown with a narrow waist and a long train. They left her to wait for Griff to arrive, and as soon as the trio was out of sight, Brea kicked off the tight slippers that pinched her heels and shoved her feet back into her boots. Under the long dress, no one would know. She felt more confident that she could actually walk without falling over her own feet.

Griff didn’t give her time to get nervous. He knocked on her door just as she’d started to pace.

“What’s with the terrifying triplets?” She shoved an errant curl out of her face, and snatched off the white gloves they insisted she wear. “I swear they snipped, plucked and trimmed me within an inch of my life.”

“You’re the queen’s niece. There are certain expectations.” He tried to hide his smile.

“You can say it, I look ridiculous.” She tried to flatten the back of her big hair.

“You look beautiful. But the palace styles are a bit much. It’s one of the main reasons I don’t live here.” He gestured at his own attire. A trim cut suit with tailored pants and a jaunty hat.

“Compared to this get up, you look comfortable. Want to switch outfits?”

“No, thank you.” He offered his arm. “Ready to meet your aunt?”

She placed her hand in the crook of his elbow and kicked her train behind her. Blowing a dark curl out of her face, she said, “As ready as I’m going to get.”

Griff led her to the hall and into the queen’s apartments. “You’re wearing your boots aren’t you?” He chuckled.

“If you expect me to walk like a normal person, then yes, I’m wearing my boots.”

“Don’t be nervous, Brea. Just be yourself. She already loves you.”

“That’s not as comforting a thought as you seem to think it is. She has expectations, and I doubt I’ll ever live up to them.”

“Don’t sell yourself short.”

Brea gazed around the huge room filled with dainty gilt-edged furniture and breakable things. Sunlight poured in from the balcony.

“There she is!” The breathy genteel voice washed over Brea like a soothing balm. “I’m so happy to finally meet you, Brea, darling.”

Queen Regan was not at all like Brea imagined. She was short and plump with soft white-blond hair that fell nearly to her knees. Her kind blue eyes sparkled with excitement.

“You look so like my brother.” Her white-gloved hand rested over her heart. “It’s so sad he never knew about you before he died. Come, let me get a good look at you.” The queen took Brea’s hands and held her at arm’s length. “Such a lovely girl. Would you like some tea while we get to know each other?”

She dragged Brea out to the wide terrace where a table covered in pastries and tiny sandwiches waited for them.

“Thank you so much for having me… your Majesty.”

“Come now, you may call me Auntie Regan. We are family.”

“T-thank you, Auntie.” The word felt ridiculous on her tongue, but she liked the bubbly little woman. “My rooms are the most beautiful I’ve ever seen.”

“I’m so glad you’re pleased.” The queen sat on a tiny vine chair that looked like a throne. “Have a seat, dear.” She patted the chair next to her. “And where is Griff?”

“Here, your Majesty.” Griff stepped onto the balcony, flashing a brilliant smile for his queen.

“Brother, it’s good to see you again.” The other voice sounded familiar. Brea turned to find a blond man leaning against the terrace railing. “The last time I saw you, you were rather in a hurry.”

“Lochlan, don’t be such a stick in the mud,” the queen chastised. “We simply couldn’t allow my niece to end up in the hands of your queen.”

Brea looked from Lochlan to the queen and back to Griff.

“Brothers?”

~~~