Page 83 of Whispers of the Elderoak

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

“Well, if she sees your eating habits, she’ll be terrified. Do you think you could fitanymore 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, isthatwhat 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,thatwas 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.

“AndIcould 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 histemples 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.

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