Page 44 of Amidst the Insidious Courts
Kitarni shakes her head. “Most money-making opportunities in this city come with a catch. Don’t be tricked into any bargains. Just keep to yourselves. As knights of Elfhame, your room and board are paid for by the city, so you’re covered as long as you stay out of trouble.”
“Shouldn’t be hard,” I mutter. “It’s not like we have much to talk about with do-gooder fairies, anyway.”
Kitarni’s frown sharpens. “Do not, under any circumstances, mistake the seelie for good simply because their magic is peaceful and they believe in honour. They are still fae. Their methods are just as—if not more—insidious than their unseelie counterparts.”
I shrug off her words, focusing instead on the shadow I just saw slither through the water. Shifting closer, I blink in surprise as a giant cream and gold scaled eel slithers through the water. It has a crimson splotch in a perfect circle on its head which glitters in the sunlight before it disappears beneath the bridge, followed by a second, orange companion.
“The giant eels of Pavellen are carnivorous,” Bram warns, riding back until his horse is beside mine and fixing me with a pointed look. “Queen Aiyana feeds fae who displease her to their spawn, along with traitors and enemies of the crown.”
He hasn’t spoken much since we joined them. Part of it is just who he is—always in his own head—but I’m sure he’s still pissed about what I did to his sister.
“Dreaming up creative ways to kill me seems to be a realm-wide pastime,” I comment, keeping my tone light. “Pity none of them have worked.”
Shaking his head, Bram scoffs. “Lad, you’re going to have to lose the cocky attitude real fast if you want to keep the immortality the Goddess gifted you and your head.”
“Would you care if I did?”
His eyes lose focus, and he stares at the water for a long second, irises swirling with the presence of his fox. “You’re a fuck up.” His words sting harder than they should. “But no. I don’t wish you dead.”
He doesn’t? Then he must be the only fae in the queendom who can honestly say as much.
“Keep up,” Kitarni chides, breaking the moment.
I realise with a start that she and Prae are already a good distance ahead of us.
Fae bow as she passes, then stare at Bram with open-mouthed disbelief. Between the two of them, they’re causing enough disruption that traffic along the main road has stopped. Urging my mare forward, we rejoin her, following the main road alongside the grand canal. Our path takes us across a dozen decorative bridges and past dozens of weeping willows until we reach a small dock.
Pavellen is a city of concentric circular waterways, bisected by yet more canals that connect them. So it shouldn’t be any surprise when we abandon the horses and clamber into a low-lying boat which has been enchanted to take us the rest of the way.
There is no wall between Aiyana’s court and her people, but that doesn’t mean she’s left her home undefended. A wide moat, filled to the brim with glittering eels, serves in place of a traditional barrier. On the other side, guards in golden armour scan the water for anyone attempting to cross. There’s no bridge either.
I bet I could still sneak over. There are probably all sorts of treasures in there. Enough to outfit a pair of fugitives.
As if reading my thoughts, Bram shakes his head. “See those crystals?” He points at the pillars reaching out of the water at even intervals, topped with glowing yellow crystals carved to look like lilies. “Anyone tries to fly over without one of the matching bracelets, and they’re fried. Apparently, the eels appreciate the crispy flavour, and no, before you ask, glamour doesn’t work.”
Chewing my lip thoughtfully, I shrug. “There’s always a way.”
Rolling his eyes, the prince shakes his head. “You mean, there’s always an idiot stupid enough to try.”
It’s only idiocy if I fail.
I quash that thought and focus on looking like a pretentious fae as our boat bumps against the palace steps on the far side of the moat. Kitarni is helped from the boat by a page, but the rest of us are left to fend for ourselves as we follow her up the steps into the palace.
If there were too many people on the streets, the inside of the spring queen’s home is just as crowded. Servants are scurrying this way and that across the foyer, and what space they don’t take up is consumed by hundreds more fucking flowers.
“Bram!” A loud booming voice greets us as soon as we’re through the great doors. “You fucking idiot! Where have you been?”
Bram’s shoulders stiffen, then relax slightly. “Madoc. I… You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”
A grinning high fae with freckled skin and braided red hair drags him into a hug before he can really finish. The second eldest of Diana’s six sons is built just like Florian, all muscles and probably no brains. A small head pokes around from behind his knees, and I frown at the tiny fae girl.
“Khloe, this is your Uncle Bramwell,” Madoc continues, barely sparing the rest of us a glance. “Bram, this is our younger daughter.” His chest puffs out with pride beneath his bushy beard. “Our eldest is a Hellebore Knight, but she’s… away from the city at present.”
The child doesn’t notice the meaningful look that passes between her father and the other two fae. “I thought Uncle Bram was coming with our auntie?”
Kitarni bends down, smiling. “Your aunt will visit in a little over a week, child. She’s excited to meet you.”
“High priestess,” Madoc bows hastily. “Sorry, I—”
