Page 111 of A Deception of Courts

“You can do it,” I hissed, scanning the surrounding area for threats besides the tangling of tall, stemmed flowers around my ankles. “Come on, we are so close. I told you to take us to Aldrick, it’s important we–”

“I… I can’t.” Daveed’s back arched as he spluttered his excuse to the ground.

“Robin, give the boy a moment.” I cringed at the ice in Duncan’s tone, then at the memory of my own.

“We don’t have a moment,” I snapped at him, wide-eyed. “He was supposed to take us to Aldrick. Does this look like we are in…”

“The gardens.” The young boy muttered, breathless and meek. I choked on my reaction as I saw smudges of blood leaking from his ears. “These are the gardens set at the back of Rinholm Castle.”

I threw my gaze across the expansive view around me. Much like the sea of daffodils that Daveed currently lay among, there were other patches of colour spread across the flat landscape. Towering crimson tulips bowed in the slight breeze. Lilac hyacinths swelled among one another like bunches of ripe grapes ready for the picking. Ahead, I could see stone walls that had been built into a partition of arches. Vines draping with colour pulled at the ancient bricks, leaving little of the natural stone behind the vivid green and dew-wet flowers.

“Then we are closeenough.” I scanned the garden, knowing deep in my gut this was not the destination we needed. But I couldn’t take out my panic on the young human, not after everything he’d done for us.

I forced a smile, letting my frustration simmer deep inside of me.

Daveed lifted his face and stared directly through me. His skin was almost grey, his wide eyes rimmed with red, irritated veins. “I’m sorry, but I can’t do it anymore.”

I laid a hand on his shoulder, softening my expression. “You’ve done excellently, Daveed.”

Duncan spoke too in a voice laced with understanding. “Rest now. When you get your strength back, I want you to return to Aurelia. The fey waiting there will keep you safe. Can you do that?”

Relief smoothed all the turmoil from Daveed’s face. He gritted his teeth as his arms shook to keep him from falling face-first into the bed of flowers. “If you want to reach the Hand, you’ll need to walk north from this point.” Daveed’s worn gaze travelled in the direction he spoke of. “You will hear Rinholm before you see it. Aldrick is in the old king’s throne room. In his room of mirrors.”

“Room of mirrors?” I asked, cringing at the thought of seeing my reflection again, or what lurked beyond it.

Daveed nodded, lifting fingers and wetting them on the blood at the side of his face. “He never leaves it.”

“Then that is where we will go,” Duncan said, looking north, a determined scowl set into his brow. With a great heave, he shrugged Kayne’s body over his shoulder into a better position before looking in the direction Daveed had spoken of. “You’ve done well, Daveed. Be safe.”

The human boy looked at me, and the softness dissolved into something harder. Perhaps he waited for me to add my thanks. “Your name will be celebrated when this is over,” I said.

Daveed’s lips twitched into a smile. “I’m only glad I was given the grace to allow myself to choose the right side of history.”

I knew he referred to the other Hunters who never got the chance. Those we’d killed during our rampage through Aurelia. I swallowed the tang of regret, my nose tickling as pollen invaded it. With each swallow, I felt the sticky residue cling to the back of my throat with defiance. Spring was beautiful for many, but not for me.

“By sundown, Aldrick’s poison will no longer threaten another life again. Yours, your family’s or my family’s.” My heart hammered in my chest, threatening to break free. “Rest now, just as Duncan said. Then return to the fey. Thank you, Daveed, for everything.”

Lucari chirped, perhaps sensing my discomfort. I tugged on the leather band tied around her claw, which I’d gripped around my fist like a leash.

“Good luck,” Daveed called out, voice cracking with youth.

“You, too,” I replied, walking ahead, carelessly stamping over unnamed flowers, which bled across the dark leather of my boots. Duncan kept up the pace behind me, his silence propelling me forward.

Daveed was right; I heard Rinholm before I saw it. As I traversed the sprawling glades of flowers, each neatly arranged and separated into patchwork sections throughout the garden, I caught the rumble of thunder. At least, that was the only thing to explain it. Except, there wasn’t a single cloud in the bright sky, nor was the sound Duncan’s conjuring.

I slowed to a stop. Duncan joined me at my side, his arm brushing mine only slightly.

“Is that...?” he asked, voice buried beneath another explosion of sound.

We both looked up to the pale skies around Rinholm’s crown. My mouth dried as horror washed over me. “It is.”

The three monstrous Draeic circled Rinholm like birds enclosing prey. Tension snapped at the leather cord as Lucari attempted to take flight. Her small wings were powerful enough to cause me to wrestle against her.

“At least there is no doubt Aldrick is inside,” Duncan said, tightening his hold on the corpse across his shoulder. “We’re close.”

My power rose as I watched the creatures twist through the sky in a never-ending loop. Something drew them to Rinholm, and deep down, I sensed it, too. A pulling influence that I didn’t wish to pay attention to. Reminiscent of when I left Icethorn and recognised its siren call. This feeling was similar but much quieter. Less like the pounding of a drum in my chest than the soft, lulling whisper-like waves lapping against my soul.

“We should’ve expected nothing less,” I said, biting down the fear I felt for the Draeic’s presence. “Let’s continue. We don’t know how long the Mariflora will last, and since you gave up your final dose, it’s better we end this before you put our efforts at risk.”

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