Page 7 of Straw and Gold
I tilted my head, studying them further. Each guard was draped in a deep blue with golden swirls embroidered on their jackets. Swords draped at their hips and each sported long hair tied back at the top of their heads. The most surprising thing was that each of them had one eye of blue and one of gold.
“Are you…” I started, stepping back to take a better look. “Are you brothers?”
The youngest seeming one piped up again. “Yes! Good eye, my queen!”
He was jostled again in the ribs.
The oldest spoke up. “Please allow me to introduce myself and my brothers.” He pointed to himself and bowed. “I am Tairyn, second to Captain Fedir.” He gestured to the next one. “This is Zarif, and this is Cordyn. We have been tasked by his Royal Highness King Killian of the Citrine Cliffs to escort you and your belongings into the castle so that you may settle before the ceremony begins in one hour.”
I nodded slowly, taking in their names and doing what I could to commit them to memory. “My trunk is on its way to the castle. I didn’t want to wait for it to get here before I arrived.”
The man I knew was Tairyn led the way toward the castle doors while his brothers continued guarding the gates, bowing ridiculously low as I left.
I surveyed the structure as he led me through a well kept courtyard. The last blooms of summer struggled to stay on their vines and the wide trees hinted at autumn with their orange tipped leaves. The castle was long and rectangular, each end sporting a tall circular tower with a pointed pinnacle. The stone was gray, but each tower top glimmered in a coppery shimmer.
“These are beautiful grounds,” I commented.
Tairyn nodded, adding, “His majesty takes great pride in employing many of his subjects at the castle. There are twenty gardeners who I will pass along your compliments to, princess.”
“Please do!” I squealed. This was happening.This was really happening.
“Oh!” he exclaimed as we came to enormous, wide-open copper doors. “His Majesty has sent Captain Fedir to guide you to your rooms. I will leave you, princess.”
I gave my thanks and stepped into the castle, my hands clasped in front of me with a wide grin and wide eyes as I surveyed the elegant foyer. Brilliant flourishes of gold overlaid the woodwork of the doors and stairs. Gold was even inlaid into the wooden floor. I spun around in awe, admiring my new home.
“Princess Morella?” A man stepped casually from beside the door.
I gasped, clutching my chest. “Yes?”
He stepped forward. “You’re Princess Morella?” He glanced over my wings and red gown, stopping at my honey gold eyes. “Morella, Ravenfae Princess of the Brackish Wood?”
Confused at his insistent questioning, I answered yes again.
A hefty, stuttering laugh escaped his chest. Followed by another. And another until his hands pressed to his knees and he wheezed in fits.
Awkwardly, I peeked out the doors, sure that Tairyn had been mistaken.
“I’m so sorry, Your Highness,” he wheezed, struggling to recover.
“I don’t understand,” I stated, irritation rearing its head. “Have I done something funny?”
“No, no.” He waved a hand, rising to his full height. “You’ve done nothing.” He wiped his eyes. “I just owe someone a very large sum of marks.”
“Oh,” I murmured, taking him in as he regained his composure.
Not quite as tall as my brother, he was built similarly so with strong arms and a lithe body. His dark skin paired handsomely with his low-cut curls, but the most surprising of his features was that his fingers ended in golden skin. Not a tanned gold like Seraphine when she’d been out collecting Moonstone in the summer, but actual shimmering gold.
He caught me staring, and held them out in front of his body for me to get a better look. “Have you ever seen a Changlingfae, Your Highness?”
I shook my head.
“Well, it just so happens, I’ve never seen a Ravenfae. So please,”—he bowed deeply, sweeping his hand out in front of his chest— “allow me to properly introduce myself. I am Fedir, Captain of the Guard to his Majesty, King Killian of the Citrine Cliffs.” He rose, taking my hand and planting a light kiss on my knuckles. “It is a pleasure and my honor to meet you, Princess Morella. I look forward to serving as your Captain as well.”
I took my hand from his and inclined my head. “A pleasure.” I turned, once again admiring the castle. “May I ask you something, Captain?”
He bowed once more. “Of course, Your Highness.”
I took a deep breath. “Will the king react as you did when he sees me?”
