Page 56 of Kings and Monsters

"He is outside the Court already, meeting with the Hunt. Everyone is assembling there. He asked me to come and collect you."

The streets were filled with people drinking and laughing, all moving through the Night Court's entrances to get to the fields beyond. They were dressed for a party in elaborate gowns and velvet suits, jewels and feathers. Rosa briefly regretted her decision not to wear anything more formal.

"I thought they would be afraid to see the Hunt," Rosa said.

Daesyn steered her out of the way of a rowdy group of warriors.

"They are fascinated. You are a bringer of legends, Rosa Seren Du. First, you arrive with Bleddyn, and now Gwyn of the Hunt. People are starting to think that you have secret powers to convince such powerful men," Daesyn said.

"You know what my secret power is? I'm a cook," Rosa replied with a laugh. Daesyn thought that she was joking until she told him about herself and about how she came to be entangled with the Seren Du family. By the time she was done, they were outside the forest surrounding the Night Court. It was alive with fires, floating lamps, and music.

A flask of hot cider was pushed into her hands, and she let the merrymakers push her along. The Unseelie came in every shape, size, and color. She saw the curve of a horn, a swish of a tail here and there, but everyone seemed happy to sit and drink together.

Rosa wondered if they had been that way before the war with the queen, or if all of these tribes that made up the Unseelie lands had united under a single king for this one desperate fight. There was still so much she didn't know.

Somewhere along the way, she had lost Daesyn, but she didn't mind. Her cousin was a beautiful, charming warrior that everyone knew and seemed to like. He got as many bows and greetings as Rosa did. Between Daesyn and Eirianwen, the Unseelie had managed to resist the onslaught of the Autumn Queen for centuries.

Lost in thought, Rosa didn't feel the presence behind her until strong arms were lifting her up around the waist, and she was spun lightly around so she could face the Lord of the Hunt.

"Lady Rosa, you have been avoiding me," he said, his deep voice cutting through the noise of the crowd.

"That's not true. I've only just arrived," she replied. "Um, can you put me down please?" He lowered her gently back to her feet. "Where's Bleddyn?"

"He's speaking with one of the generals. We have been talking for hours. I thought you would be present at such meetings," Gwyn said, folding his big arms.

"Nope. My bit was getting you here so he could talk to you. I know nothing about planning battles and strategy."

"It has been a long time since I had an alliance with the Seren Du, but I suppose the world is changing once more. My Hunt hasn't had a chance for a celebration for a while, and perhaps it will be good for them to be amongst the living for a night."

"I trust that they will behave themselves and not hurt any of my people," Rosa said, raising an eyebrow.

Gwyn's strange eyes were amused. "They will not dishonor themselves. You don't need to try to give me orders, Lady Seren Du."

"Being bossy is a part of my charm, and I brought you here, so it will be my fault if anything goes wrong."

"I believe it was my horse that brought you here, but it's not my intention to fight with you all evening." Before she could reply, Gwyn pulled back into the crowd of revelers and dancers.

Bleddyn was doinghis best to remain inconspicuous amongst the trees, but he was failing miserably. He couldn't turn left or right without someone being there to talk to him, to wish him well, to congratulate him on coming home to defeat the queen. He was missing Saul, who was always so good at a party. He had been forced to dance with more than one Unseelie noblewoman, descendants of lords and ladies he could barely remember.

To his surprise, he had been flirted with and on two occasions, subtly rubbed against during such meetings.Where was Eirianwen?He didn't want other women's attention. He only wantedherattention, and she was nowhere to be seen. The thought that she could be off with admirers of her own sent a dagger of jealousy through him.

"Why are you hiding back here, Father?" Merlin asked, appearing out of the darkness like a ghost.

"Trying to get some air," Bleddyn replied, accepting the mug that his son offered him.

"You are under the open sky. It is all air. What's wrong? What did Gwyn say to put you so on edge?"

"Nothing of note. We made a plan on how to break the wards that are keeping him out of the Seelie lands," Bleddyn grunted. "He only trusts Rosa to do it. I don't like his attachment to her, and if Bal is restored to us, neither will he."

"If Bal is restored to us, Rosa isn't even going to know Gwyn exists," Merlin shuffled his feet uncomfortably. "I saw something last night. Nimue sent me a vision."

"Why didn't you tell me this sooner?"

"It was in fragments. She was being watched." Merlin held out his hand. "Let me show you." Bleddyn took his son's handwithout hesitation. Flashes of a Seelie crowd dropped into his mind, a fighting pit, a faerie torn apart by a great, shadowy creature of horns and teeth and dripping blood. Bleddyn stumbled backward, releasing Merlin's hand.

"By the gods, what has that insane woman done?" Bleddyn muttered.

"There's something else. You wouldn't have been able to feel it, but I think… I think she was trying to tell me that it was Balthasar. The queen is using him as her personal executioner and amusement."

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