Page 14 of A Court of Hearts and Hunger
“I thought you would want the King to be informed, my lord,” the Steward drawls, eyes half-lidded.
He doesn’t fool me, and I’m no court ass-kisser. I can be diplomatic when I choose, but at the moment, Idon’tchoose.
“Let’s be honest with each other.” I take a long lick of the peppermint stick I’m holding. “You knew I wouldn’t approve of you disturbing Lir with this matter, yet you told him anyway. You undermined me.” I tap the breast of his robes with the wet end of the candy.
“Well, as it happens, he has not responded,” says the Steward, eyeing the sticky spot on his clothing.
“He hasn’t responded?” Clara frowns. “Isn’t that odd? Louisa said we’d be able to reach them if necessary.”
“It is odd, my lady,” says the Steward. “But journeys go amiss sometimes. Or perhaps he and the Queen were—occupied—and will respond later. Everyone knows our new Queen is rather… insatiable.”
“As are most of the Fae,” Clara retorts, bristling.
“It doesn’t matter anyway,” I say lightly. “I’ve already decided that the fate of the maid is not our problem. When Lir returns, he can decide whether the Tama Olc is a big enough threat to warrant military action. And so the matter is closed. Good day to you, Darragh.”
Taking Clara’s arm, I steer her away from the Steward. When we’re halfway down the hall, I pull her aside into a windowseat.
“If he knew we were leaving, he’d try to stop us, wouldn’t he?” Clara murmurs.
“He would, and so would many of the other Fae in this city. Our preparations must be subtle and secret. And I dare not ask anyone else to accompany us, because—”
“Because you can’t know for sure whether they’d help us or stop us,” she finishes. “And also because you don’t want to ask anyone else to risk their lives.”
“Besides, the larger our party, the more attention we’ll attract from the Unseelie,” I add. “Best to slip in and out with as little noise as possible. Like a nice quiet fuck in the hallway.”
She flushes, and I grin.
“We’ll need more information.” I drag my knuckles down her soft cheek. “And I doubt Lir’s spymaster will take it well if I begin asking him a hundred questions about the state of the Unseelie kingdom. Coming from me, he might consider that proof of treason. I’ll send messages to a friend of mine who might know a few things, if you’ll gather the items on this list, sugar.”
She takes the paper and kisses my cheek before hurrying off; and I pause to marvel at my good fortune, that I have a capable partner I can trust with anything, and also a fuckable lover whose sweet little ass I can ogle as she walks away.
Lucky for me, Lir doesn’t respond to the Steward’s message for the entire day, by which time our plans are laid, our messages sent, our replacements appointed, and our travel preparations completed. I told Andil, Lir’s trusted friend, that Clara and I were going to the salt baths of Kerrishen. Andil agreed to stand in for me, but she looked at me sorrowfully, as if I’d disappointed her greatly by living up to my reputation for irresponsibility.
Without Lir’s word, neither the Chief Steward nor anyone else has the authority to prevent Clara and me from riding out of the royal city the next morning, on two of the fastest horses in the palace stables. If Darragh suspects our cover story is fake, he doesn’t say anything.
We ride northeast for two days, wending through the woods, threading between bluffs and waterfalls, cantering across fields, and trotting over hills. The horses are swift royal mounts, who have abilities similar to the quick bursts of speed some Fae possess.
There are quicker ways to travel, but none that wouldn’t attract too much attention. I’d rather the people of Faerie didn’t know their temporary regent is making a straight line for the Unseelie border. Not a good look for me, as the recently reinstated outcast of the royal family.
Toward the evening of the second day, Clara and I dismount, collect our belongings, and prepare to send the horses back to Beannú.
“Is it all right to just let them run off through Faerie?” Clara asks doubtfully, glancing around at the darkening forest.
“They are trained to head straight home,” I assure her. “These are palace steeds, bred from ancient stock—stronger than most, with their own kind of wild magic.” I rub the nose of the mare I was riding. “Go now, my friend.” She bobs her head and trots off, followed closely by the other horse.
“We’re close to the border now,” I continue, as Clara and I follow the path. “Too close to approach on horseback, since we want to avoid being noticed by the Seelie guards. The border has been heavily fortified since Lir’s ascension to the throne.”
“Would the guards stop us from going across?”
“Possibly. Depends on the mood they’re in. Entering Unseelie territory isn’t exactly forbidden, but it’s frowned upon. Fortunately, there are various clandestine ways of going in and out without having to answer a lot of pesky questions from suspicious guards.”
“And we’re going to use one of those clandestine paths.”
“How well you know me, sugar!” I take her little round ear between my fingers and tweak it gently. Ever since her time in the Rat King’s court, her pretty human ears have three piercings each, and I do love the look of the golden studs and hoops along the edges of those darling, delicate, bite-able ears.
She cuts a sidelong glance at me. “What are you staring at, Sugarplum?”
“Your ears.”
