“Lady Brea, rushing back to the palace already? It’s hardly mid-day.”
Brea paused at the sound of her name, blinking at the exotic woman dressed in free-flowing silks outside the magic shop. That’s what Brea called it anyway.
“Mrs. Moran. I’m sorry, I’ve got to get back early.”
“Come by later today. I have some new herbs to show you. They arrived today from the fire plains. I can teach you all about their mystical properties.”
For a moment, Brea was tempted to join her. She was fascinated with Mrs. Moran’s apothecary shop. Everything she stocked held magic of one kind or another. It wasn’t the kind of magic she was supposed to be learning, but it was definitely more interesting considering Brea hadn’t felt her magic in weeks. Something had her blocked, and she wasn’t sure how to move past it. No one seemed too concerned about it, so she went along with it.
“I’ll try,” Brea called over her shoulder.
“Go have a nap, dear, you look a bit peaky. And have a cup of that tea I gave you yesterday. It will help you rest.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Moran.” Brea picked up her pace. Some of her favorite shops were closer to the palace, but they knew her as Lady Brea there. She much preferred the anonymity she had at the marketplace across the river in the lower city. It was like a different world down there. The merchants in this part of the city catered to the nobility and wouldn’t dream of calling her or anyone else a ‘richie,’ at least not to her face.
By the time Brea reached the bridge entrance to the palace, sweat poured down her back, and she was anxious for a cool, quiet afternoon in her grotto. She might actually take that nap if her mind would quit running in an endless loop of worry and regret.
Shouts and commotion interrupted her thoughts. Sneaking into the courtyard wasn’t going to work this time. Both queens and half the palace swarmed the entrance, shouting and issuing orders. Soldiers and horses stood by while a distinguished looking man gave a report to the queen.
“Brea, darling.” Tierney spotted her before she could creep up the stairs. “There you are.”
“I was just exploring some of the shops.” She inched closer to the woman who called herself one of her mothers. “Have you had news of Alona?” Brea eyed the distraught Queen Faolan, still unable to fathom her as the woman who gave birth to her. Both queens were wonderful people, but with Alona’s disappearance and now no news from Lochlan and Finn, they were distracted. Most of Brea’s interactions with her mothers were awkward in the extreme, none of them knowing quite how to act around each other. Brea tended to avoid them.
“We’ve had a disturbing report.” Tierney put her arm around Brea. She was the more touchy-feely mom. “One of our scouts found the remnants of a battle. All of Lochlan’s men were slaughtered.”
Brea took in a sharp breath. “Loch and Finn too?” It surprised her how much it hurt to ask the question. Lochlan was a self-righteous pain in her butt and Finn was more of a stranger than a true friend—not like Myles had been. But that they both might be dead had her feeling all sorts of terror she hadn’t expected. Like she couldn’t possibly face this life in the fae realm without them.
“No, thank the heavens. There was no trace of them, so we must move forward hoping they made it to safety.”
“But?” Brea braced for the bad news.
“It’s been more than a week since the battle. Lochlan would have sent for help if he was able.”
“So, they might not have made it?” She couldn’t imagine Lochlan in any situation where he didn’t come out on top.
“We can only hope news of their whereabouts will reach us soon.” Tierney’s eyes followed her wife’s movements as Faolan issued orders. “But it is possible they’ve been taken back to Iskalt.”
“His uncle will kill him.” Brea’s hand went to her throat.
“It’s not likely Callum O’Shea would kill one of the last of his clan.” Tierney squeezed her shoulder. “The O’Sheas have remarkable magic that is too precious to snuff out over something as petty as a throne.”
Brea didn’t think Callum O’Shea would agree with the Eldur Queen Consort.
“He is like a son to Faolan. To us both, really. He grew up right here with Alona.”
“Lochlan is tough and resourceful. He can take care of himself and Finn.” But Brea worried about Finn. If they got separated or were injured, would either of them have enough sense to come back home, or would they be stubborn and pigheaded and insist on looking for each other?
“Brea.” Faolan gave her a curt nod as she approached. “Good. You’re home. Do try to stay close to the palace, darling. We don’t want to lose you too.” Her words were kind and motherly, but she was utterly absent, just saying the things she thought she needed to say.
Awkward silence hung between them, and Brea just wanted to escape.
“Er—how will you look for them?” she asked.
“We’ve sent several scouts to scour the area surrounding the battle scene.” Faolan stood, wringing her hands, refusing to look at Brea. She did that a lot. And sometimes when she did meet Brea’s eyes, she could see the disappointment there. Disappointment that she wasn’t Alona. “All we can do now is wait and hope they haven’t fallen into Callum’s hands.”
“Please let me know as soon as you hear any news.” Brea stepped away from the queens, feeling the awkward much more than usual. “I’m just going back to my room now.”
“We will see you at dinner.” Tierney turned and led her wife back to the throne room.
Brea sighed as she retreated to her room. A warm breeze swept through the open hallway, and parrots chattered in the gardens. The Eldurian palace was so beautiful. She could get used to calling it home—if there was something here to hold onto. More than just pretty rooms, exotic gardens, and strangers for mothers.
But the one thing Brea would never get used to was how boring the life of a noblewoman was. In the human world, she had school to fill her days, therapy appointments, time with Myles, and Netflix. There was always something to do. In the magical realm of the fae, her days were filled with aimless wandering and endless, uncomfortable dinners with her mothers.
If that was the life of a princess, Brea didn’t want any part of it.
“Brea?” Rowena called from her closet. “Is that you?”
“Yes.” Brea sighed, closing the door behind her. She supposed it was too much to ask for an afternoon to herself. Rowena was a kind servant, but she wasn’t Neeve.
“I was just seeing to some new dresses Queen Tierney ordered for you. There’s a lovely new day dress that will match your eyes.”
“I don’t suppose you’ve managed to find me some comfortable pants and shirts?”
“A Lady doesn’t need street clothes.” Rowena harrumphed as she fluffed a pillow to within an inch of its life.
“Good thing I’m not a lady.” Brea collapsed on the couch in her sitting room.
“As long as you live in this palace you will dress and act like a lady.”
“Maybe I should look for my own place.” Brea got a kick out of riling up her maid.
“Lady Brea, your mo—the queen would not allow it.” Rowena’s cheeks flushed pink.
“What do you know?” Brea turned accusing eyes on the maid. No one other than the queens themselves and Lochlan—who might be dead—knew Brea was their true daughter.
“I know that this room is a mess.” Rowena made to dust the spotless dresser.
“Spill it, Ro.” Brea crossed the room.
“I was there.” Rowena refused to meet her eyes.
“Where.”
“The day you were born.” Her eyes filled with tears. “Twas a happy day. For a time. Until the queen asked me to bring you to the Iskalt king.” Rowena’s bottom lip quivered.
“You switched us?” Brea sank down on the nearest chair.
“At the queen’s order. Though I never understood why, I did as she asked. And I loved our dear Alona. Such a sweet child. And a good head on her shoulders, that one.” Rowena polished the brass dresser knobs to a shine. “Always thought she and Lochlan would make a go of it one day. Knew he would raise her up from the serving class to be a proper lady if she couldn’t be our princess.” She dabbed at her eyes.
“And now here you are, come home to us at last. Just as ornery and full of mischief as Alona—in your own way. You could have been sisters, as alike as you are different.”
“You were her lady’s maid?”
“Of course. And I wouldn’t hear of it, letting another care for you.”
“Thank you.” Brea pulled the fussy woman into a hug.
“For what, my Lady?” Rowena returned her hug with gusto, her arms a motherly embrace Brea had never known.
“For caring whether I’m here or not.” Brea rested her head on Rowena’s shoulder for a moment.
“Oh, sweet dearie.” Rowena patted her back. “You listen to Rowena now.” She held Brea at arm’s length. “Your mothers rearranged the heavens to keep you and Alona safe. Give them some time. It can’t be easy to gain one daughter only to lose the other. You’re strangers now, but you won’t always be. One day all four of you will be a family. And a strong one at that.”
“We can hope.” Brea forced a smile for the loyal servant.
“Go rest, my Lady.” She swatted Brea with her dusting rag. “It’s the hottest part of the day. No sense in trying to get anything done till it cools this evening.”
Brea snorted. “Not that I have anything to do but stare at the walls anyway.” She shed her lightweight overgown and retreated to the grotto for an afternoon nap. With nothing else to do, sleep was the only activity she looked forward to these days.
~~~
“Up with you, Lady Brea.” Rowena pulled the blankets off the bed. “And don’t give me any of your tantrums either.”
Brea rolled over, clutching her pillow. “I don’t throw tantrums,” she muttered. “I simply protest the morning.”
“The queen is bringing your breakfast herself. I suggest you get up and comb that rat’s nest on your head.” Rowena tossed a fluffed pillow on her head and went to make a ruckus in the closet.
“Which queen?” Brea yawned as she sat on the edge of her bed. What was the point of living in a palace if you couldn’t sleep all day?
“The queen is always Faolan. We call her consort Queen Tierney to avoid confusion.”
“Do I have time for a bath first?” Brea could use a cold shower to wake up, but the fae didn’t believe in things like quick showers. At least not among the nobles. They believed a bath should be an event, something to enjoy—which she was all for, but a hot bath in the morning did nothing to wake Brea up.
“No. Now get dressed. She’ll be here in a moment.” Rowena tossed a blue day dress on her bed. She was a far cry from the triplets at the Gelsi palace. Or even Neeve.
“Yes ma’am.” Brea stifled a smile for the gruff lady’s maid. There wasn’t anything Rowena wouldn’t do for Brea, but at the same time she didn’t treat her like she was made of glass. Of all the fae she’d met, Rowena had quickly become one of her favorites. Neeve was still her number one, though. She’d give anything to have her with her, not as a maid, but as a friend.
Brea dressed quickly and ran a comb through her hair.
“Do you know what she wants with me?” Brea walked into her sitting room, still brushing the tangles from her hair.
“Just a simple breakfast with my daughter.” Faolan smiled from her seat at the small tea table in front of the balcony. “Please join me, darling.”
“Oh.” Brea forgot how to walk. Her mother made her nervous, especially when her other mother wasn’t there as a buffer. She managed to set her comb on the table beside the settee and crossed the room to sit with the queen.
Too many queens in my life.
Brea swept her long hair over her shoulder. “Wait. Do I smell—?”
“I hear you enjoy Eldur Brew in the morning.” Faolan poured a cup of the rich dark brew. “What do the humans call it?”
“Coffee.” Brea inhaled the heavenly aroma. “Oh, this is even better than the kind they serve in the tavern.”
“What was that?” Faolan poured herself a cup.
“Oh nothing. It’s delicious, thank you.”
“I’ll share a secret with you.” Faolan’s eyes crinkled when she smiled—rare as it was. “The only reason I get out of bed most mornings is for a hot cup of Eldur Brew. It’s popular among the commoners for a reason. I’m convinced it’s the secret answer to all the world’s problems.”
“Your secret is safe with me as long as you share.” Brea sipped from her cup, convinced her mother’s fae coffee was better than the real thing.
“I owe you an apology.” Faolan buttered her toast. “I owe you a good many apologies. But this morning, I’m here to say I am so sorry I’ve been … such a mess since your return.”
“I understand.” Brea took a slice of toast for herself. “You raised Alona as your own. I can’t imagine how you must feel since she was taken.”
“I miss her.” Faolan’s eyes misted with unshed tears. “But that is no reason for me to neglect you when you probably feel like a stranger in our home.”
Brea didn’t know what to say to that, so she shoved toast into her mouth to keep from saying something she might regret.
“It never occurred to me that you might be bored. But why wouldn’t you be? We’ve given you nothing to do. No wonder you prefer exploring the city to sitting here in your rooms.”
“It is kind of like watching paint dry.” Brea focused on the selection of jams rather than meet her mother’s eyes. She didn’t bother to ask how Faolan knew how she spent her days in the city.
“Alona had tutors up until last year. Perhaps you would like a tutor to teach you all about Eldur and the fae world? We can arrange that for the coming months. Though you will soon need to focus all your energies on your magic when you come of age.”
Brea nodded, her mouth full of toast she didn’t taste. Clearly the Eldur queen intended Brea to make the palace her permanent home. She wasn’t so sure she agreed with that.
“Lochlan once told me you grew up on a farm in a small village. He said you seemed to like the horses the most.”
“We had horses when I was younger, but my father had to sell them after a few bad years and failed crops. My friend Myles lived on the farm next to ours. They always had horses.”
“Did you know we have stables here at the palace? And not just for transportation purposes. We raise draft horses and ponies. Landowners from all over Eldur come to our stables for the best horses in all of the fae realm.”
That piqued Brea’s interest. “Where are the stables? I’ve explored all over the city and the palace grounds, but I haven’t stumbled onto it.”
“Behind the palace gardens at the top of the canyon. You may visit the stables whenever you like, but I thought you might like a job there as well.”
“A job?” Brea’s mouth hung open.
“Not that you need a job. You’re not obligated by any means,” Faolan rushed to add.
“When can I start? What will I be doing?”
“You can start today.” Faolan smiled. “One of the guards will escort you there and back. You’ll meet with Master Arturo, and if you’d like, you may apprentice with him.”
“Apprentice? With the stable master? I just figured I’d be mucking out stalls.”
“Master Arturo wouldn’t dare ask you to do that.” Faolan smiled. “He won’t treat you any different than the other hands, but he will teach you horse breeding. He’s a busy man, so he won’t always have much time for you. While you’re there, you’ll exercise horses, watch over the pregnant mares, groom and feed the ponies. They always need extra attention.”
“Sounds perfect.” Brea couldn’t wait to get started.
“I apprenticed under Master Arturo when I was your age. The stables are still my favorite place in the whole city. You get your love of horses and Eldur Brew from me.” Faolan took her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. “And your fair share of my awkwardness too.”
“Awkward?” The queen didn’t have an awkward bone in her body.
“Oh, I’ve learned to hide it behind cool smiles and a queenly facade I’ve perfected over the years, but inside, I’m still the girl who spills her tea and forgets how to articulate a sentence when I’m nervous. But I don’t want to hide from my daughter.”
“Thank you so much for the apprenticeship. I won’t let you down.”
“You couldn’t if you tried, darling. Wherever your future leads, learning under Master Arturo will be good experience. As your mother, I want you to be happy and make your own decisions about how you fit into our family and our kingdom. I know I am not an easy woman to know, but I hope you’ll give me … us time to work our way into a real mother-daughter relationship. And when Alona returns, I do hope you can be friends.”
“I like the sound of that.” Brea squeezed her hand back. It was the most unawkward moment they’d shared since Brea arrived in Eldur.
“I leave you to your morning.” Faolan cleared their breakfast dishes herself and retreated to the hall. “Oh.” She turned just as Brea stepped behind her, and they collided, sending the breakfast tray sailing across the room.
“Oh, darn it.” Faolan stooped to pick up the broken dishes.
“Like mother, like daughter.” Brea laughed and went to retrieve the silver tray. They scrambled across the floor to clean up the mess. “I’m pretty sure Rowena would yell at us for daring to clean this up.”
Faolan rocked back on her heels, laughter dancing in her eyes. “I’m pretty sure we did it wrong anyway.” She stood brushing crumbs from her gown. “I was just going to tell you that you can find me in the throne room most days. You are welcome to visit us there anytime, Brea dear.”
“I’ll do that.”
Faolan paused at the door for a second time. “Not a day went by during your whole life that I didn’t think about you and wish good things for you.” She didn’t wait for a reply before she left Brea standing there with tears in her eyes.
~~~