Page 82 of Beyond the Faerie Gate

The púca doesn’t get a chance to reply because Kitarni appears next, on my other side.

Florian raises a brow, and I sigh. I forgot. Kitarni is technically the first under fae high priestess. It’s less obvious, since the Temple has so many under fae among the ranks of the clergy, but no less revolutionary.

Just another quirk of Rose’s already unusual court. One that will ruffle even more feathers among the nobility, who are used to seeing only high fae in positions of power around the Nicnevin.

“This is Kitarni, your sister’s high priestess.”

As one, the knights thud one arm over their chests and bow.

“Your Worship,” Florian intones.

Kitarni smiles and returns the greeting. “Knight Commander, are you excited?”

Suppressing my snort takes a lot of work. Florian is almost as serious as Drystan. She’d have better luck extracting excitement from a rock.

But he surprises us all when he shakes his head and admits, “Nervous.”

Surely not. He’s faced down entire battalions of Fomorians and he’s scared of Rose?

Actually, maybe that makes him an incredibly wise man.

Kitarni grins. “She is as well.”

Of course, that’s when Drystan finally appears with Rose on the back of his horse and Lore riding beside them. I spur my mount out of the way, giving Drystan space to ride between the high priestess and the knight commander so that Rose can meet her brother.

Florian bends his head so low that there’s a real danger he might fall from his horse. The rest of the knights around us go silent, echoing the move.

“My Lady Nicnevin, welcome home.”

I can see the adorable blush staining her cheeks from here.

“Hi.” That one word contains a wealth of awkward shyness.

Florian smiles and glances up, now wearing a gentle expression I’m pretty sure he’s never shown anyone before.

If I needed proof that he was going to be wrapped around Rose’s little finger by nightfall, it’s right there in that look.

Rhoswyn

The huge silver bear of a man staring down at me is so intimidating, my voice elevates to a squeak.

Thisis my brother? How on earth is that possible? We literally look nothing alike. My hands clench on Drystan’s cloak, and I avert my eyes.

Great. Now he thinks I’m an idiot. Or a mouse. Which is worse?

“These are your knights,” Florian continues, as if I didn’t just break his eardrums with my high pitched greeting. “Ascal, my second in command.” He inclines his head towards a high fae female on his left. “Cailu and Elduin, the twins.” He waves behind him at the two males wearing identical solemn expressions behind us. “And on the outside are Merith and Kendel. There are others keeping order along our route, but these are the best of them. I trust all five completely.”

I keep nodding, because I have no idea what makes a good knight. All of them look impressive to me in their gleaming armour.

As a blacksmith’s daughter, I know how difficult those pieces are to make. Even with magic, it must be hard work to get all of the pieces of metal to lie flat in that pattern of perfect overlapping leaves.

“Nice to meet you all,” I murmur, trying for a friendly smile.

The expression blooms into a true one as one of the twins behind me winks. The gesture is oddly reassuring. That same smile morphs quickly into shock as Jaro actually growls at them.

“Oh, the wolf is possessive.” The other one—Cailu, I think—crows, grinning. “This is going to be fun.”

Jaro’s growling increases, but Florian doesn’t have to do more than twist in his saddle to turn their matching mirth-filled expressions sombre once more.

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