Page 60 of Their Queen

“Gentleman, it’s a pleasure to see you again,” Revna said, dipping into a slight bow to us.

“You as well, Chieftain Revna,” Arryn spoke for my men, returning the bow as a courtesy.

“Please, let’s sit. I’m sure that what we have to discuss will take some time.” I offered them the seats, taking my own.

Revna’s eyes darted to my throne before taking the offered chair. She’d figured out what I was doing. I knew there was a reason I liked her. “Thank you,” she said.

“So, let’s get down to business. Why have the Ravens come now? And does this offer of assistance come with strings?” I asked, pulling no punches with my questions. I didn’t have time to dally here if they weren’t willing to help us. Thankfully, my men remained quiet, letting me lead this meeting. Their deference was a message in and of itself.

“Of course. As I’m sure you are aware, I am considered the leader of our people; however, it’s the council that makes the majority of our decisions. It keeps one person from becoming too powerful and ensures the needs of everyone are met. That said, during your stay, I’m certain you were aware that I supported your request, although I couldn’t outright show that support without doing your mission more harm than good.”

I nodded to her. “I had gathered as much.”

She sighed, continuing. “For years, the council has operated under fear. Fear that our people will die out, fear that we will be hunted and found even in our pocket of paradise. They came up with most of the decisions to keep us hidden and removed from the rest of fae society, believing it was the safest option for our people. Fear is a mighty weapon that can lead people to make unreasonable decisions, and I wasn’t happy that we led such fearful lives.

“We are a strong and mighty people, proud of our heritage and lineage. Unfortunately, that pride also led the council to create outcasts of anyone who wished to explore the world outside of the Enclave. They didn’t want our people to mix among the fae, choosing instead to keep our lines pure.” Her words were spoken with disgust and shame, her eyes dipping to her lap briefly before rising to meet Brannoc’s. “I’m ashamed to admit that for the longest time, I had felt the same. That was, until your mother made the decision to leave before she fell in love with a brownie. She had always questioned that need for our people had to remain separate from the rest of the world. She had done her duty, and she wanted to see the rest of the world.”

She smiled fondly at the memory. “It wasn’t until she left that I began to question whether or not she was right. For a long time, I was angry at her for leaving us, leaving me. Then I started to see that same nature in my own daughter.” We all remained silent, allowing her this opportunity to explain to Brannoc and to us the reasons behind her actions. She turned to meet my eyes. “Your visit finally gave me the power to change things. Your news of the land dying and the dire nature of your warnings became the catalyst to a greater fear among our people. If Avalonia dies, we are all doomed. The safety we had clung to for centuries would no longer be available.

“After you left, I was able to convince my people that standing by was no longer an option. It was time that we rejoined fae society. Avalonia was all but imploring us to do so by sending you to us. She wanted us to come here. To help you. Who are we but her faithful servants? We had no choice but to follow, to bring those willing to fight, the best among us, to help you save this land and the goddess that had brought us such safety and prosperity.” Her words finally trailed off, and I sat there, digesting the truth in them.

A tug on my heart, the same one I had listened to when I had left my men behind, told me that this was indeed Avalonia’s plan. Speaking up, I said, “I believe you. Now that you are here, perhaps you can help in other ways?”

“Whatever you need, just direct us. We are your servants in this matter as Avalonia’s Chosen,” Revna swore, a fist going over her heart as Ramund nodded in agreement.

I smiled. “Thank you.” Turning to Arryn, I asked him to fetch the items we had discovered. The Ravens were our best chance at discovering the importance of them. I prayed they’d be able to decipher the inscriptions, providing us with the answers we needed before heading off to this confrontation.

He hurried off, and I turned back to Revna. “So, it has come to our attention that Titania has been searching ancient ruins for decades, if not centuries. Recently, we went to inspect those ruins along with doing some research on them. In an old history book, we were able to find that these ruins belonged to a race known as the Fomorians. They invaded Avalon before the fae even had magic. Their purpose and desires were set on chaos, darkness, and violence. Their King was Balor, and he refused to bow down to Avalonia, refused to share Avalon with the fae. Because of this, the fae rose up and eradicated them from this land, gifted magic by Avalonia to win that fight.

“However, she had seen that one tribe among the Fomorians was not like the others. This tribe was set on justice and honor. She spared them, and they kept the temples. From what we were able to determine, these temples held objects of power that were precious to the Fomorians.” I paused as Arryn came back in with the items I had just been speaking about.

I braced myself for the taunting whispers, my mental shields slamming into place before he could bring them near. Turning back to Revna and Ramund, I continued my explanation. “We split up into three teams. Myself, Lennox, and Arryn inspected a temple in Summer Territory and came up empty-handed. Baer and Brannoc inspected a temple here in Autumn territory and came back with this orb.” Arryn presented it to the Ravens.

Revna hissed when her hands made contact with the orb. “How?” she asked, clutching it to her chest.

Ramund leaned forward to inspect the orb now cradled in Revna’s arms. “It has our markings,” he said, turning to me with a raised eyebrow.

“It does. Not only that, but I believe that Lennox, Arryn, and I failed to find any items because none of us are Ravens. Brannoc’s tattoos reacted to the inscriptions on the temple walls, glowing brightly. He also was the only one able to open the hidden vault that held the orb. Which tells me that the Ravens are not fae at all, they are the Fomorians that were spared by Avalonia, tasked with protecting these items.”

Ramund snapped his eyes back to mine from where he had been trying to peer at the now hidden orb. Revna’s own gaze found mine. “That’s not possible,” Revna said, her mind whirring. “Our history says nothing about this. It’s my duty to protect our history, and I would know if that were true.”

I dipped my head. “So Cyerra has told me. However, I believe that the knowledge somehow died when the fae rose up against you after the humans attacked them. It’s my understanding that many prominent leaders and elders were killed in their quest to rid you from Avalon.”

Revna’s eyes widened. “I was just a girl at the time, my mother chosen as the new Chieftain after the previous one had been killed. Surely, she would have known about something like this.”

“Or the information was guarded in the same way you now guard your history,” I accused her. Her eyes narrowed, not happy at the accusation. “Cyerra told me that she doesn’t even know the history that you do.”

Ramund chimed in, preventing Revna from retaliating. “Say you’re right. Say we are Fomorians. What does that have to do with what’s happening now?”

I sighed. “That’s the big question I was hoping you two could help us with. However, there’s more. Cyerra,” Revna’s attention was drawn back to me at the mention of her daughter, “Callum, and my father Jonathan Whitethorne went to the Winter Territory to inspect a temple there. Unfortunately, while they were there, Titania showed up. They hid and were able to overhear that Titania was needing the item that they had found.” I gestured for Arryn to hand it over.

Ramund took it gently from him, awe shining on his face as he held the tome reverently. “This book is needed by Titania for whatever she has planned. Cyerra reported that Titania said the book would allow her to ascend and become a goddess in her own right, giving her untold power. I can’t see how this is possible, but again, I’m hoping that you might be able to translate the inscriptions on those items.”

I took a deep breath, steadying myself for the reaction I was sure to receive after this next tidbit of information, but there was no way I could keep this from them. They needed to know what happened next and our plans moving forward. Looking to the guys in warning that they should be ready for repercussions, I continued. “Now, I must ask that you both please listen to this next piece without interruptions. It won’t be pleasant, but I promise I will give you all the answers I have.”

Revna and Ramund eyed me warily, their muscles tensing in preparation for what I was about to tell them. Finally, Ramund nodded at me to continue. “After Titania’s arrival at the last temple, they were able to hide successfully. They waited for her to leave empty-handed, but somehow, she had known they were there. When they tried to leave, thinking the coast was clear, Titania’s magic was able to block Cyerra’s smoke form, trapping them all there.” Revna jolted from her chair, anger flashing on her face. Ramund grabbed her arm and tried to pull her back down to sit.

Rushing on, I said, “Callum attacked Titania, getting her drop her magic and giving Cyerra the chance to flee with this book. She’s here, and she’s safe. I promised no harm would come to her, which is why I sent my highest trained consort and my father, who is well-versed in spells, magic, and history.”

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