Page 110 of Amidst the Insidious Courts
“It’s been lovely sailing with you,” I comment, accepting his bow with a slight nod of my head.
“An honour, Nicnevin,” the faun replies.
With the niceties out of the way, there’s nothing left to do except follow the two princesses onto their glimmering pleasure boat.
The ship is small—clearly not intended for long voyages—and holds only a single burnished throne beneath a canopy of rich purple with nothing on either side to prevent a fall. The oars dip beneath the crystalline waters the second we’re all aboard, and I take the seat before the rocking of the sea can upset my balance.
Still, this is a good start and gives me hope. Eero might not be here, but they’ve acknowledged I’m worthy of a throne, which is more than can be said for Aiyana.
The princesses take stools on either side, leaving my males to stand around us, with Kitarni and Bram behind and Wraith to look balefully at the lack of space before settling at the prow, mouth lolling open. Maeve and Titania keep close to my sides, their translucent bodies wavering in the breeze as they perch on the arms of the throne, forcing me to look through them to address the princesses.
“What an unusual beast,” Ciara comments lightly, giving Wraith a wary once over. “They’re very rarely seen in the south.”
“He’s already moulting.” Máel is less than impressed as she wipes nearly invisible fur from her gown.
“He’s perfect,” I counter, offering my barghest a soft smile, which he returns by going still, ears flicking before licking his lips and turning back to stare at the city.
Both princesses fall silent, and the pause doesn’t take long to become awkward.
Damn it, powers of diplomacy, this would be a great time for you to kick in…
“Forgive me, princesses, I thought our brother might’ve accompanied you.” Bram shifts behind us, and I turn to grant him a grateful glance for changing the subject. “Is Dare well?”
“I believe he remains at the palace,” Ciara says. “The royal day boat isn’t suited to hosting such large groups.”
True, the deck is quite small, as you’d expect of a pleasure craft. Still, that’s disappointing. Madoc and his family were incredibly sweet and welcoming, and meeting the rest of my brothers is one of the highlights of this pilgrimage.
“Does he not have a home of his own?” I ask, confused.
I thought Florian mentioned he had a house out by the water, but perhaps I’m getting him mixed up with Roark, my brother in the Autumn Court.
“Nicnevin, during times of strife, Eero chooses to keep his entire court in residence at the palace,” Kitarni interjects. “Most of his trusted and close family lives within the walls.”
That’s different to Elfhame and Pavellen, where the palaces are personal residences.
“It’s safer that way,” Máel adds. “We have no city wall, but our father is keen to defend his most important citizens from our enemies.”
“Or he has them all in one place, so they’re easier to manipulate and spy on,” Mab murmurs, appearing beside the other two.
She takes their shoulders, trying to drag them away. “We said we weren’t going to distract her, remember?”
Maeve rolls her eyes. “And I told you, we’re not distractions; we’re an advantage.”
Suppressing a grimace at Mab’s analysis of Eero’s motives, I can’t help but feel she might be right. My guides bicker quietly amongst themselves as we approach the city, but we don’t turn for the shore like I expect, and there are no crowds like there were when I arrived in Pavellen. There are no boats at all as we make our way beneath the enormous stone archway. No fishermen. Not a soul on the water.
Strange.
I’ve barely opened my mouth to challenge the princesses about it when water cascades from above us in a waterfall that gradually expands and morphs, falling to the sea below in the outline of a rectangle just large enough for the boat to cruise into. The canopy protects everyone beneath from getting wet as we come to a halt, and Jaro summons a shield to keep Wraith dry as the barghest amuses himself by snapping at the droplets.
A grinding noise makes me wish the canopy wasn’t there. The heavy fabric impedes my view of what’s happening above.
“It’s a marvel of engineering,” Ciara tells me, perhaps sensing my irritation. “Rather than ride through the city and take that risk, all we need to do is wait for our servants to lift the boat directly into the palace.”
Risk? And what does she mean ‘lift it’?
I get my answer a second later when silver chains splash down into the water, spraying everyone close to the edge of the barge, and causing Wraith to shake out his fur with a yip of annoyance. There’s aclunkand the ship jerks, rising upward with a speed that nearly unbalances Bram. His hands grip the back of my throne for a second before he releases it with a murmur of apology.
The sea disappears beneath us, and we rise through the sky like we’re weightless. Now that the initial jolt has passed, the journey is smoother. Enjoyable, almost. I can see miles of beautiful white beaches in every direction, and the sunlight casts them in a hundred shades of burnished gold.
