Page 61 of Prisoner of Darkness and Dreams
“Now, let’s talk about the task at hand.” She straightens in her seat. “We’ve got a queen to kill.”
LEON
“Get used to the staring,” Alastor murmurs. “It’s only going to get worse from here.”
The streets of Agathyre’s capital aren’t like anything I would’ve imagined. There are paving stones underfoot, but they’re loosely laid, thick grass and moss sprouting through the gaps. On either side of us, the houses look like they sprouted out of the forest—low, thatched buildings, mostly made of wood. But behind them, shining towers soar up. Their spires are tipped with silver, and their tall glass windows glint in the sunlight.
While I’m taking in the architecture, all eyes are on us.
It would be almost comical if the Agathyrians didn’t seem so disturbed. Each dryad we see stops in their tracks, as if they’ve seen a creature with three heads and not simply a band of foreigners. When we pass a father with his little boy, the child bursts into tears.
“Not exactly a warm welcome,” Mal huffs. He’s more visibly irritated than the rest of us.
“Haven’t they ever seen a human or fae before?” Tira asks.
“The children haven’t, no. But most grown dryads have worked abroad,” Etusca says. “They’re just not used to seeing your kind here.”
She looks nervous, and I wonder for the first time what this trip is going to cost her. Everyone knows that the dryads keep to themselves. Even when they’ve left their own borders for a stint in Trova or Filusia, they never fully integrate into our societies.
They prefer it that way. While the Agathyrians take their duty to heal those in their care seriously, they’ll always be set apart from human and fae. We live in a world they can’t understand, where violent crimes happen every day. To them, we must seem cruel and brutal. I imagine that’s the reason for the shock and fear on their expressions now.
Etusca leads us to the center of the city, toward the tallest tower of them all. Its spire looks like a huge spear pushing upward to pierce the sky. Ironic for a society that prides itself on peace.
“It looks like a falling star,” Tira says, pointing at the building. I see it then, of course—the long, diamond shape transforming in my mind’s eye into a silver star plummeting earthward.
“This is Aquila Hall, the home of the council,” Etusca says as we turn into the avenue that leads to the impressive structure. Already, there’s a group gathered in front, waiting for us in sage-colored robes.
“They’re expecting us?” Ana asks, surprised.
“I left a message before I came to meet you,” Etusca says. There’s a note of guilt in her voice. “I had to give themsomewarning before they got it from the Miravow.”
“What do you mean?” I ask.
“The council regularly communes with the forest,” she says. “It would’ve told them we were coming.”
Despite Etusca’s anxiety and the crowd watching our approach, I don’t feel too concerned. Given their vow of peacefulness, we’re by far the most dangerous people in this city. I look to Ana and sense she doesn’t seem worried either. In fact, she appears calmer the closer we get to Aquila Hall, some of the tension of our journey melting away.
By the time we stop in front of the building, there’s a growing crowd behind us. They hover at a distance, too curious to resist following us but still wary. Their expressions of shock and concern are preferable to the dour look of the council members in front of us.
One of them steps forward, a man whose long hair hangs down to his waist. He glares at Etusca before turning to Ana and me.
“Greetings, Your Highnesses,” he says, and he and most of the Agathyrians behind him bow.
That’s something, I think. Even if they’re unhappy about our presence, they’re at least willing to acknowledge Ana’s position. That should make negotiations easier.
Nevertheless, I notice a short man toward the back of the group staring at me. It makes no sense, but it feels as if he can see all the violence I’ve committed just by looking at me—all the blood I’ve shed and lives I’ve taken.
The long-haired dryad is speaking again.
“You must turn back at once. Your guide led you here under false pretenses. None of you should have come.”
Chapter 21
Morgana
“Ididnotlead them here under false pretenses, Diomi,” Etusca says, her voice forceful. “I already told you what they want. And it’s in our power to give.”
He looks at her, seeming disappointed more than angry. “That’s not for you to decide.”
