Page 60 of Prince of Never

I patted Melaie’s neck.‘Stay here,’ I told her, then headed towards it.I stepped into the water and it slid up my shins, my knees, deeper with each step until suddenly it was over my head, pulling me under.With the next step, I was emerging from the cold depths again, though I was completely dry.

Before me stretched an enormous fig tree, towering far higher than any mortal tree should, with a canopy that could have easily sheltered a small town.Perched amongst the tangle of branches were structures, rooms, connected with precarious staircases driven into the trunk, lit by the steady glow of fae lights.Below, dark water stretched to the horizon in every direction, perfectly still, reflecting the whirling galaxies above.The sky was brighter and clearer than I’d ever seen at night in any other realm.

I blew out a breath and approached the tree warily, wading through the water and expecting the ground to drop at any moment.But it remained shallow, barely reaching my knees, lukewarm and still.Shadowy coils rose above the surface as I drew closer, like the body of a giant serpent turned to stone, and it wasn’t until I ducked under one that I realised they were roots.

When I reached the tree itself, I hesitated before climbing the first step out of the water.I had encountered Dhrigada once only, when she had read my name and my fate, both of which had caused me nothing but grief for most of my life.There was a deep-seated uneasiness winding around me at the thought of what catastrophic information she might bestow on me this time.

I followed the narrow staircase round and round the tree, sometimes having to jump from one step to the next with nothing but air between them and a single string of wire acting as a handrail, which I resented more and more the higher I climbed.The stars were reflected below so perfectly that it felt like climbing through space itself, and I couldn’t shake the sense that falling wouldn’t mean meeting the ground, but instead plunging eternally through endless galaxies.

No wonder no one visited the wretched woman here.

When the staircase finally led me to one of the structures I’d seen from the ground, I all but threw myself onto it, which made it wobble dangerously for a moment.I almost overbalanced, teetering on the edge of the platform as I scrambled for a branch to catch myself, managing to take one in a white-knuckled grip just in time.When the platform felt steady enough for me to let go of the branch, I picked my way across it more cautiously.It was nothing more than a sort of porch that led to a blue door with a bright gold handle moulded in the shape of a closed eye.Approaching the door, I raised my fist and pounded on it three times, before folding my arms and waiting.A flicker of movement caught my attention, and I looked down to realise that the eye had opened, that the handle was not made of some kind of metal but flesh.The yellow iris of the eye glistened with starlight as it rolled around, seeking, before finally fixing on me.It narrowed as I shuddered in disgust.

The door clicked and swung open, which I took as an invitation.The eye continued to watch me closely as I walked past, until the door slammed shut behind me of its own accord.Muttering about unnecessary theatrics, I surveyed the room beyond.It was a sweeping space, long and wide, but windowless except for a single round skylight in the centre of the room looking down on a rickety chair.The walls were lined with shelves crammed with clutter and curling with vines, and there was a long table running the length of the floor littered with mobiles and instruments that whirled and puffed away, occasionally belching bursts of vapor or sparks.

A door opposite me was wrenched open, and Dhrigada herself stood blinking at me with her pale eyes, a frown scoring her face.She was draped in layers of fabric in a vast array of patterns and colours, obscuring her shape, and between that and the wild spirals of hair surrounding her, she appeared to take up more room than she should.

‘You,’ she began, squinting at me, ‘are not supposed to be here until Tuesday.’

‘It is Tuesday,’ I said, nonplussed.‘And I didn’t know I was expected.’

She looked up at the ceiling, her lips shaping words under her breath as she counted out something on her fingers, before suddenly demanding, ‘Who rules the Sun Court?’

I raised my eyebrows.‘Solas Fionbhar.’

‘Hmm.Then it is the wrong Tuesday.’She swayed into the room and went to her table, talking to herself in a low mumble as she lifted the lid on a feathered orb, releasing a plume of orange smoke.‘But you’ve always pulled your threads tight, prince of night.And there are too many of them wrapped around your neck.’She dipped a finger in the orb and it came out glistening with something dark that she stuck into her mouth, before waving that same finger at me.‘You cannot expect me to track them all.’

This is why I hated talking with oracles.They were always having conversations with themselves.‘I’m not here to have my fate read.I’ve—’

‘Come to meddle,’ she cut in, grinning wickedly, displaying a set of very pointed teeth.‘Then you must sit for me.’

I frowned at the rickety chair as she gestured towards it.‘I’m in a hurry.’

‘Sit.’The word came out almost a snarl.

Huffing a sigh, I did as I was told.She walked a circle around me, head cocked to the side.A small, furry face stuck its head out from her hair, whiskers twitching as it sniffed the air before withdrawing out of sight again.

‘You’ve not worn your path well.You’ve walked it like a bow-legged mule,’ she chided, pinching at my ear.

‘I don’t know what that means.’I jerked away from her pincer fingers, turning to keep her in my sight.

‘And now you think you can change your stars,’ she continued, ignoring the comment, ‘and you thinkIwill help you do it, eh?Arrogant boy.’Her hand darted out again and slapped me lightly against the cheek, causing me to bare my teeth at her.She clucked her tongue and stood before me with her hands on her hips.‘Come on, then.Tell me what it is you want.’

‘I thought you already knew.’

‘You see the nerve on this one, Kali?’She stroked her fingers against her hair, and the little face popped out again to glare at me with beady black eyes.‘Comes to me uninvited on the wrong day and gives me cheek in my own home.’

‘I’m sorry, Dhrigada,’ I said, trying to keep my voice even, ‘I was sent here by—’

‘You mother,’ she interrupted.‘I know.’

‘Thenwhy did you ask me?’

‘I didn’t ask you who sent you.I know how the Unseelie Queen expects to use me for her schemes.’

I closed my eyes.Counted backwards.Opened them again.‘Then what is it that you would like to know?’

‘I want to know how committed you are to throwing away a gift of fate.Because I can see several futures laid out before you, and I’m undecided which to prod you towards.’She leaned closer and peered into my face with her unnerving eyes, so pale blue in contrast with her dark skin.

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