Page 48 of The Mortal Queen

“If the mortal queen can outride me, as you say, then Galad would grow dizzy watching the circles she rode around him,” Rian bit back, shoving the sapphire-eyed knight in the shoulder.

“If only you were all there to witness her nearly outrace Peitho,” Gilrel said, speaking to Cathan and Einri as well now, who had leaned in to join the conversation.

“She started half a field behind and passed Peitho still,” Galad added, daring a glance at the fae princess too far down the table to overhear their conversation amidst the chatter and music of the hall. This despite her incessant glances at Lir and Aisling.

“What stag did she ride?” Einri asked, his hair tied away from his face in a loose bun, exposing sharp cheekbones and deep-set amber eyes.

“Faolan,” Galad replied, shoveling another mouthful of pudding pie.

“A stubborn, willful old brute,” Rian said, leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms. “That beast listens to no one. Would rather graze than be ridden.”

“And how does a mortal queen learn to ride more proficiently than a member of the Sidhe?” Cathan asked, lowering his head to look at Aisling.

“Forgive me, but I hardly believe it. Galad is known to exaggerate the truth and Gilrel is her lady’s maid.” Einri waved his hand dismissively before lunging across the table for anotherloaf of bread.

To Aisling’s surprise, both Gilrel and Galad flared in their seats, opening their mouths for the rebuttal.

“I saw it myself,” Lir piped first. “She was more spirited than Faolan himself, an energy the beast recognized. Animals respond to fearlessness in their masters; they seek that courage.”

Lazily he leaned back in his chair, his body tilted to the side as he stroked the intricately carved arms of his throne. Every lean, elegant finger was bedecked with fine rings.

“Courage to ride a stag?” Cathan scoffed.

“When you’re as small a mortal as she, capable of breaking every bone in her body should she lose her dominion over Faolan, fall and be crushed upon impact,” Lir growled, “then yes, there’s courage in riding a stag.”

Cathan and Einri shrank at Lir’s tone, tails between their legs, their goblets suddenly quite fascinating.

“Such courage will prove useful in the days to come,” Filverel interjected, flashing Aisling a taunting smile.

“In the days to come?” Aisling asked, eyes darting between the fair folk around her.

Lir leaned toward Aisling, the smell of him encouraging Aisling to do the same but she willed herself steady.

“Do you remember what I told you earlier about the Unseelie?” Lir searched her expression.

“Yes, the agreement you struck with their kind, now rendered obsolete by our union, puts Annwyn in jeopardy of their wrath,” Aisling summarized, cautiously looking around the table for some indication as to what this was all about.

“Not just Annwyn. All of the Sidhe,” Lir added, petting the stem of his goblet, a gesture that was wildly distracting.

Aisling tore her attention back towards the discussion at hand. “But you’ve made progress with the Unseelie during this time you’ve been away?”

Lir exchanged glances with his knights.

“Not quite,” he said, licking his lips. “The Unseelie are…difficult.”

“That’s putting it mildly,” Rian interjected.

“Such creatures don’t respond well when they feel slighted,” Lir continued. “Often they refuse to speak with us and when they do there’s little progress to be made.”

“Elusive beasts.” Galad shook his head.

“Can’t you command them? As their king?” Aisling asked, uncertain why they suddenly chose to speak of the Unseelie in her presence, but too curious to risk them stopping.

“The same way mortals command the weeds growing in their gardens? No, they simply pluck whatever deigns to acknowledge their self-assigned authority from their path; would you have us do the same with the Unseelie?” Cathan’s eyes narrowed, his words designed to cut Aisling where she sat. But she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction, so she sat still, unprovoked, unbothered by his misplaced rage.

“Such a strong hand could cause a revolt on their part if it hasn’t already,” Lir said, tilting his head down to meet her gaze once more. “I can’t risk them spilling Sidhe blood to make a point.”

“And what of the mortals?” Aisling asked.

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