Page 5 of Heir of Autumn
Behind me, Sylvain arrived with his own dull “Oof,” ass in the grass. I helped him to his feet, watched as his face broke into wonder at the sight of the three majestic creatures. We approached together, which was when Satchel finally noticed our presence. He zoomed toward us in excitement, arms outstretched.
“Real, live unicorns! Can you believe it, you guys? Come on, you have to meet them.”
“We’re coming,” I said, the laughter stuck in my throat, like part of my windpipe refused to believe that this could be real.
How couldn’t it be? We lived in a world where fae princes and pixies existed. But unicorns were likely the most elusive mythical creatures of all, so rarely encountered, even in the arcane underground. The thought of meeting one filled me with glee. Silly little giggles threatened to spill from my mouth.
“Ladies,” Satchel said, “these are my friends, Locke and Sylvain. Guys, I’d like you to meet Vanessica, Gwennifer, and Triffany.”
Their names alone would have blown my head wide open, and then the one with the golden horn opened her mouth and spoke.
“What a pleasure it is to meet you, new friends!”
The three unicorns lowered their heads. I took my cue from Sylvain, making a low bow. He rushed forward as soon as the formalities were over, body fit to explode from the excitement, just like me and Satchel.
“We haven’t seen your kind in so long, even in the Verdance,” Sylvain said, his hand trembling as he reached out, afraid to touch, and yet so eager.
So unicorns were originally from the Verdance, too? It made sense, anyway. Everything from the Verdance seemed so beautiful. I couldn’t wait to go. The one with the silver horn bent her head forward, brushing her muzzle against Sylvain’s hand.
“We find it beneficial to keep ourselves out of sight, you see. It’s been centuries, yet mortals still hold so many strange beliefs about us, quite a few of them very harmful.”
The copper-horned unicorn stepped forward, eyes locked with mine. “But you three, you don’t seek to bring harm to our kind, do you?” She tilted her head. “You may stroke my mane, if you like, Lochlann Wilde.”
Like I needed to be asked twice. I ran my fingers through her mane, desperately holding myself together, unsure if I was closer to bursting into tears or delighted laughter. Dr. Euclidea Fang would never believe me. Gods, where was my phone? Oh. Oh, no. Back in the library, in my backpack, set on silent. My kingdom for a group photo with my new besties.
“How did you know my name?” I breathed. “Triffany, was it?”
“That’s right,” she said, eyes glimmering happily. “My sisters and I have been watching you. Oh, not as closely as you might think, don’t you worry about that. Just enough to know that you are a summoner with a kind heart and strong convictions.”
My eyes flitted around the glade as I put all the pieces together. Headmaster Cornelius and the sticker. Did he know about the unicorns all along? Did they ask him for a favor?
“Yes,” said the silver-horned one, the one called Gwennifer, Sylvain practically in tears as he petted her coat. “We apologize if that seems strange to you, Lochlann, but we needed to know that you would be the right person for the job.”
I blinked. Satchel blinked. Sylvain blubbered. “Job?” I asked. “What job?”
“Our sister,” said Vanessica, the one with the golden horn. “There is a fourth unicorn, but she has become hopelessly lost. What a foolish foal she is.”
“A foolish foal!” the other unicorns cried out. “A misguided mare!”
“Where is she?” Sylvain asked, wiping at his face, more caught up in the experience than any of us. “What can we do to help?”
“The Oriel of Water,” Vanessica said. “That silly filly.”
Again the unicorns echoed in chorus. Meanwhile, the gears in my brain started to turn.
“Not that I’m hesitant to help, ladies,” I said. “But this is some awfully convenient timing, isn’t it?”
Vanessica tossed her mane and snorted. “Whatever do you mean? We’ve been watching you since you completed your trial in the Oriel of Earth. It only stood to reason that you would be curious and adventurous enough to investigate the other oriels as well.”
Satchel folded his arms and frowned. “And how are you so sure that — sorry for being so grim, but how do you know that your sister is, you know, okay? In all that water, I mean. She’s still a unicorn. No offense, girls, but I didn’t know that unicorns could swim.”
Triffany shook her head. “Not in deep bodies of water, no. But this one can. Oh, you should see her coat sparkle with seawater. Truly a wondrous sight.”
“An aquatic unicorn, huh?” I said, rubbing my chin. “Dang. And wewereheading into the Oriel of Water, anyway.”
“We worry for our sister so.” Gwennifer’s eyes filled with tears. “Won’t you help us, oh summoner? You would be so handsomely rewarded.”
My spine straightened, my shoulders squared. A quest, then? As if I needed more incentive to help the most legendary of legendary creatures. And a reward, too? A lock of unicorn hair, perhaps, or maybe a future favor. I knew my answer already.
