Page 53 of Vicious Fates and Vast Futures
Osmund clears his throat. “I realize I am new here. I know my words may not hold much weight. However, I think it is imperative that you all realize that our main enemy is Olwyn.Many who are in the middle category may have been pressured to act one way or another and will...straighten up and fly right, once the poisonous influence has been removed.”
Slowly, the individuals of the group start to nod. A morose-looking tylwyth, its skin a shade of green speaks up. “Princess Adelaide’s mate, you have been kind and thoughtful since you arrived. We, I mean....” They hesitate, pushing their fair hair out of their face. “The servants have kept an eye on you and the other mates of our princess.”
Murmurs of agreement from the group.
“And Princess Adelaideisours,” they continue. “She’s always seen us. Always been kind and done what she can to protect us.”
My eyes are filling with tears but I’m trying to keep them from spilling over.
The tylwyth says, “You are true mates. You all share the same compassion, the same generosity as our princess. So don’t say you are new here, or that your opinions don’t matter. We’d have you and the others as our kings and queen-consort if the princess wanted the throne.”
They look embarrassed for having spoken so much, but it warms my heart and the tears spill over.
An annwn hound, Colm, whom Ossy knows well, speaks up, timidly. “Do you want the throne, Princess? We would support you if so.”
I stand straighter and clear my throat. “No. While I truly appreciate your confidence in me, I think our world deserves better than a monarchy. Better than a foreign government dictating our movement and magic. Better than the fear that lives in the hearts of all except the most powerful.”
The crowd of servants cheer. I blink, shocked. I hadn’t been intending to monologue. I was simply speaking my thoughts. But the pride on Ossy and Rory’s face says that I wasspeaking. Speaking directly to them all.
Rory claps. “Everyone reconvene in half an hour. Bring any other Fae who will support our cause. Bring any weapons you have. Come in your best, most monstrous, and powerful forms!”
Nairna
MY NATURAL STRENGTHin glamour magic has had various uses over my life, but I never thought it would be needed to bring down a king. I suppose I had also never contemplated being mated to three nymphs and getting railed within an inch of my life regularly, either, so I probably shouldn’t be so shocked.
I hold the magic over Filib easily, part of my brain trained to compartmentalize that energy, like how you can walk and chew gum. Bryn, Weyland, and I slip into hiding spaces in the Center Annex, waiting.
Filib, the big fop, trots about, mane and fetlocks streaming as he prances. Sunlight from the narrow windows catches on his pearlescent black horn. It doesn’t take long for a guard to come check out the clopping noises. I recognize the guard, and his translucent wings fold down in concern. His eyes widen as he sees unicorn-Filib and he turns and runs out the door.
We wait, although not long. King Barclay comes running into the room, his robe flapping behind him, his sleep shirt mussed, and his long, normally sleek hair mad. He freezes as he sees Filib in the center of the room, tossing his head about and posing.
Barclay advances slowly towards Filib, the awe clear upon his face. Filib plays up the horse in him, snorting and lowering his head as he whickers lowly. He steps towards the king but pauses, arching his neck and lifting a hoof to paw at the stone floor. Barclay extends his hand, seeking Filib’s velvet nose.
Generally, touch breaks glamour. But notmine. I grin as the king shakes his head in disbelief as Filib remains the same once his hand is upon him. He starts to stroke Filib’s neck and speaksoftly. I tilt my ears towards them, wanting to know what he’s saying. I catch only bits and pieces.
“...from my dreams, huh, boy? I...how do... you are beautiful...does this mean...step down?”
I grin. Bryn fucking called it. The clever asshole. Filib is close enough to kill the king.This is going to go off without a hitch.
But then something happens. The king motions a guard to come forwards. Filib tenses and stands still, eyes rolling.
The guard approaches slowly but pulls out a blade. I gasp silently. Shit. It’s one of our guards that is part human. He’s wielding an iron dagger.
Osmund
RORY AND I ENTER THEGreat Hall ahead of Adi. She’s pissed about it but lets us do it. She’s holding a staff and looking annoyed as hell. I suppose that is better than looking timid. Following directly to the sides and behind her, are several annwn hounds in their natural form: long limbed, loping on four legs, covered in thin fur. If you were drunk on a moonless night, you’d mistake them for very large dogs. But they are most certainly not.
The crowd of royal court nymphs part as they catch sight of us. Slowly the talk fades, and suddenly the music cuts off. Rory and I head for where Olwyn is sitting, alone at the head of a long table. Farther down that table are Adelaide’s father, Aidan, and her twin cousins. As Adi stops near the dias, the hounds flank around behind her.
My little mate stays on the main floor, glaring up at her cousin.
“Olwyn.”
“That’s Queen Olwyn, Adelaide.”
As Adi stands silent, I can almost feel the servants, the Fae who keep this court running, strategically arranging themselves throughout the room, completely disregarded by the court Fae. My eyes flick back over the room, identifying which tables belong to which houses in each “category” that Rory came up with. As I look, Liam ab Quinn, that jaunty fuck who tried to bed Adi, catches my eye and nods slowly.Good, good. Let’s hope he knows what end of an actual sword to hold.
I stand behind and to the side of my mate, hand on my sword.
