Page 187 of Mountain of Mirrors and Starlight
“When I’m not afraid for my life? Usually.”
Cerridwen walked over to him and pulled the cloak around his shoulders. “Sleep,” she said, as if she saw through everything, knew how afraid he was, how terrified, how lost and angry and sad and confused. For Aislinn, for Caer, for Dillon—for himself. For all of them living on borrowed time, unsure if they’d live until tomorrow. “It’s all right to be afraid.”
But when,Beau wondered,was it all right to show it?
Aislinn slept, but the sleep did not feel restful. She dreamed she was lost in a forest filled with fog. Caer was screaming her name—but she could not find him. She started to run, her hair whipping back and forth, half blinding her.
She ran straight into Aeron.
“You,” she hissed. “What do you want from us?”
Aeron smiled, and said nothing. He pushed her back. Aislinn fell to the floor, but the earth had been replaced by glass.
It shattered beneath her, and she fell down, down—
Into the dark.
Someone was shaking her awake, someone rough and grey-haired. Flora.
Aislinn bolted upright, grabbing her arms. “Caer—” She twisted towards him.
Flora patted her arm. “He’s all right,” she insisted. “Or at least, no worse. Get up. Something’s going on at the gate.”
Aislinn blinked. “What’sgoing on?”
Flora shrugged. “Couldn’t get close enough, but I think another party has arrived at the gates. They’re demanding entrance.”
Aislinn shot up. It must be a significant number if they were being barred entrance—or else Aeron had increased security in the last few days. The latter made more sense.
But for more outsiders to be coming at this time…
Had their parents really got their message?
Her heart leapt, but she reined it back, refusing to be hopeful. She scrambled for her knives and cloak.
“Stick to the shadows,” Minerva started from her seat on the floor. “You still stick out like a—”
Aislinn couldn’t stick to the shadows, not during the day, when there were too many people, when time was of the essence. Instead, she shot up a nearby house instead, leaping over the rooftops, sliding towards the great gates. Guards were lined up, not letting anyone pass.
Aeron was making his way through the streets, flanked by dwarven guards. Whoever was on the other side, he didn’t want them to know about the mortal soldiers in the city.
Aislinn slowed, waiting behind a chimney breast. She had a good view of the scene, and the noise carried well.
Beau caught up to her just as Aeron reached the door. “Vines,” he panted, “would it kill you… to slow down… just a little…”
Aislinn held up her hand for quiet, as Aeron ordered the doors open and dropped into a low bow. “My apologies for keeping you waiting, Your Majesties,” he said. “We’ve had reason of late to be cautious. I am Aeron, emissary to the Queen.”
Majesties?
A small procession stepped through the doors. At the head of it were Juliana and Hawthorn.
Aislinn’s heart leapt, and it took all of her restraint not to bolt from her spot and race right towards them. Her parents. Her parents were here. If she could just get to them, speak to them, explain what was happening—
Beau squeezed her trembling hand, and she held on for dear life as her parents gazed around Avalinth in awe, before settling on the fae in front of them.
“We did not expect to find one of our own in such a place,” Juliana said. “No doubt you have some tale as to how you came to be here.”
“We all have our tales, Queen Juliana,” Aeron said, half-smiling. “I’m sure you have one as well as to how you came to be here.”
