Page 108 of Amidst the Insidious Courts
“What’s wrong with what I’m wearing?”
He shrugs, as if he doesn’t understand it either. “You’ll be torn apart by those vipers at court if you’re not wearing the latest silks from the Fair Isles.”
Seriously? Elfhame still smoulders, the Fomorians are preparing a full-scale invasion armada, and these high fae aristocrats only care about something so banal?
“A fine way to describe the lords and ladies of summer,” Kitarni reprimands subtly, coming up behind us. “He is right, though. We should prepare for—”
“I want to wear armour,” I decide, cutting her off.
“That’s my girl!” Maeve fist pumps the air.
Kitarni stares, then nods slowly. “That will be a statement. Are you sure—”
“We’re at war,” I say, cutting her off before she can convince me out of it. “It’s time the Summer Court remembered that.”
I turn away, looking back at the arch. “Last time I came here, I burned down a brothel. They’ll talk no matter what I wear.”
I’ve been searching for a solution to prevent myself from feeling so useless, and this is the best I can come up with. If I’ve got to do this pilgrimage, I’m going to do it while reminding everyone of its purpose. This isn’t some flower-studded parade to show off Danu’s blessing. I’m going to use it to drum up support for my home.
If the people believe that defending the queendom is the right thing to do, perhaps they can pressure the remaining minor royals into offering their vows faster than Aiyana.
“Is the crown princess the heir?”
“Presumed heir,” Kitarni corrects. “Eero has two daughters, and fae succession is dictated by the reigning monarch’s belief in their suitability rather than by the order of their birth.”
“So she’s the most suitable.”
“She’s who he favours,” Kitarni corrects. “Eero has never taken a queen, only concubines. His two daughters have claims to the throne, but should the king take a mate and have a trueborn female heir, that child’s claim supersedes theirs. So, to keep his daughters from trying to murder him, he plays at setting the two princesses against one another for his approval instead. Currently, Ciara holds the title, however, I’m told that Máel will always be his true favourite.”
I… I can’t imagine living in such a family. I glance back at the dryad with a grimace. “So she’s coming to meet me to bolster her standing?”
“Either that, or her father has asked her to get into your good graces in order to have some advantage over you,” Titania warns.
“Or she wants your help to overthrow him while she’s ahead.” Maeve twirls one of her daggers as she thinks about it. “If Eero turns out to be another prick, at least he has heirs. We can kill him and pick your favourite to rule.”
“That’s not how diplomacy works,” Titania sighs. “But I’ll admit, there were times when I wished it was.”
Nodding to the two living fae, I disappear down into my cabin to change, cursing when the armoured plates require me to twist in unfathomable ways to get into them.
“Let me help,” Maeve whispers, as I curse the buckles for the hundredth time.
“I’m not sure this is what the Goddess gave me this gift for,” I reply, funnelling Danu’s power to her.
“Danu gave you the power,” Maeve mutters. “But you decide what to do with it. If you want to hold ghostly picnics, that’s your choice.”
I snort at the memory. “I was four.”
She buckles the strap behind my shoulder, securing the metal bustier in place. “You were a tyrant. You made us dance.”
“It could’ve been worse. Imagine if I’d been raised in Faerie.”
“I’m glad you weren’t, kid.” She does the other side and pats my back before fading back to her ghost form. “Necromancers don’t usually survive long. Fae children are a blessing, but who better to swap for a changeling than a babe with unwanted magic? Even if they were kept, children don’t stay children for long.”
Grimacing at the thought of fae abandoning children just for being able to speak to ghosts, I move towards the door, giving a last twirl as I go.
“How do I look?”
But when I check Maeve’s expression, I’m surprised to find the unflappable warrior misty eyed. She wipes the water away the second she catches me looking, then clears her throat.
