Page 159 of The Shadow Path
Carys felt a bubble of happiness in her chest.
The Shadowlands—at least in Anglia—werehealing.
She and Cadell had flown over the southern counties yesterday. Saris Plain was green again, the water had drained away, and grass grew over the hills where the earth had covered the remains of monsters and enfolded the bodies of the humans and fae who had died.
Flowers had burst from the ground, waving in the breeze as wild horses and unicorns returned to the stone circles and barrow lands.
The fae mounds that had sprouted up across Southern Anglia had not receded, but the sheep grazed over the grass, and sprites and birds rested in the branches of the shrubs and hedges that grew around them.
Though Anglian lives had been lost, with the affirmation of the pact, greater war had been averted, and the new fae king, the first true fae leader in centuries, had retreated to the subterranean halls of Temris to bring the fae of Briton under his command.
Queen Orla of Éire, after over one hundred years of life and decades married to a fae consort, was quickly fading with the death of Prince Cian.
Whispers and rumors said that within months, Princess Finola would be queen.
Laura must have been thinking along the same lines as Carys. “I think Finola will be a good ruler,” she said quietly. “I was impressed by her speech with Harold.”
The young ruler and the crown princess had both addressed the crowds on Lud’s Hill, surrounded by Éiren knights, wild fae ambassadors, and Anglian wolves.
“I agree,” Duncan said. “She’s learned from her mother. Her fae consort is much weaker than Cian. According to Lachlan, he’s a follower and has no desire to lead.”
Carys hadn’t seen or spoken to Lachlan since the ceremony on Lud’s Hill, though she knew he was still deep in talks with Harold, Finola, and Dafydd about the future of Briton.
“Have you heard from Dru?” Laura asked Duncan.
“No.” Duncan shook his head. “I don’t know what’ll happen to his pub now that he has to go and be king and all, but that’s not my problem to solve.”
Carys’s mind went to Naida, but no one had seen the ellyllon for days.
Whatever happened between Naida and Dru, Carys had to take Duncan’s attitude as her own.
It was not her problem to solve.
Nêrys. Cadell was soaring overhead, circling down slowly as humans shouted and ran from the center of the meadow. The dragon gently landed and transformed, walking toward Carys, Laura, and Duncan in human form as scattered humans around him pointed and more than a few clapped.
“Oh, he hates that,” Laura muttered.
Cadell’s cheeks were ruddy by the time he reached them, and Carys didn’t think it was from the wind.
“Hello, Hero Dragon,” Carys said loudly.
“Stop.” He linked his hands behind his back and joined them as they walked, trying to seem inconspicuous, which was nearly impossible for a seven-foot dragon in human form wearing dark green leather armor.
Despite the beautiful day, Cadell’s face was grim.
Carys knew immediately where he’d been that morning. “So you had the meeting with Finola?”
“Yes.”
Carys walked next to her dragon, and she didn’t say a word. If Cadell wanted to tell her more, he would. But she wasn’t going to ask.
“I share her grief over the loss of Éiren life,” Cadell said quietly. “It was… necessary but regrettable.”
Laura slipped her arm under his. “Their deaths prevented greater bloodshed. If you hadn’t broken the enchantment, there might have been war.”
You have to believe her,Carys spoke to his mind.She’s right.
Cadell glanced at her, nodded, but said nothing.
