Page 57 of Queen of Thorns
We continue forward to a small pathway lined with shadow maples. Their leaves are shiny black and wave in the gentle breeze. We’ve come out on the side of the castle, I realize. And soon, we come to an open field, filled with ruins. Crumbling boulders and gravel is scattered over the dark weeds.
“This was once our portal field,” the Whisperwood Queen says softly. “This was once the High Court portal.” She points to the largest boulder right in the front. The stones are all dark, nearly black, but a small High Court crest is visible on the side of a stone lying on the ground.
“I’m unsure which was once the Crackling Court portal, but it was here somewhere,” she says, shifting a piece of rubble with her foot.
We stare at the rubble littering the ground, but most of the stones are indistinguishable from the rest.
“The magic to use these portals was disbanded one by one over three hundred years ago, but the structures remained until my father grew frustrated when every attempt he made to strengthen our court left us weaker. Every attempt at communicating with once allies disintegrated.”
Caelynn’s eyebrows rise. “He threw a tantrum and destroyed them all?”
She nods.
“Here,” someone says, and we all turn to the Crackling Court fae. His blond hair falls into his face as he leans over to examine a set of stones. “This was ours.” His fingers grip a large black stone and holds it out. A streak of yellow paint reveals the partial crest of the Cracking Court.
“Can you use anything?”
He shrugs. “We can try. But we have the necessary supplies to build without the original stones.”
The other fae leans down and digs his fingers into the soil. “The magic remains.”
The blond fae nods. “We should be finished by sundown tomorrow.”
I press my lips together and nod. The resurrection of this portal will signal my necessary departure. Something I am not eager for.My stomach aches and I’m not sure the feeling will dissipate until... well maybe never,
“Thank you,” I tell them, but the two fae are already working, maneuvering stones into an area they’ll complete their project.
“The restoration of a portal to a ruling court is... significant,” the queen tells Caelynn.
“It is,” Caelynn agrees.
The queen’s smile is small, but the hope in her eyes is immense. “I’ve always hoped for the return of the royal family,” she says as we walk back toward the shadow maples. “If only to relieve my burden. But no family in our kingdom has held enough power in their blood to make a real difference in... well, longer than I’ve been alive. The magic you hold is more than I’d have ever dared to hope for. But I knew the courts would continue to hate you for your actions. I believed—I believed I’d never see any real progression for our court in my lifetime, but in a matter of days, you’ve changed that.”
Caelynn swallows.
“Caelynn is incredible,” I pull her hand into mine. “I’m glad she’ll have some place where people see that. Where she’ll be truly appreciated.”
“She’ll be more than appreciated,” the queen says casually. We turn around a bend until the city spreads out before us. I blink at the massive crowds gathering. “She’ll be worshipped.”
