Page 72 of The High Mountain Court

Cary’s words speared through Remy even though she had heard them before. She remembered what Hale had confessed to her about how King Norwood had treated his mother.

“After the Siege of Yexshire, Hale was . . .” Carys couldn’t find the words to continue.

“An inconvenience,” Bri said, angry for her friend. “An obstacle standing in the way of Belenus’s ascension to the throne.”

“He’s sent you on so many fool’s errands over the years,” Talhan said to Hale, “and you’ve proved him wrong every single time. But this . . . going up the Rotted Peak just the two of you . . .”

“He hopes I will never come back down,” Hale finished.

Anger rose in Remy’s veins at the sad, deflated look Hale tried to hide. He had thought if he completed all his father’s impossible missions that he would earn his love. But the pride his father showed after each accomplishment was short lived. How convenient for the King to have his eldest son die a hero and, in doing so, both bring him glory and pave the way for the son he wanted as his heir. Remy hurt for him in a way deeper than she ever hurt for herself.

She threaded her fingers through Hale’s, giving his large warm hand a squeeze. He looked at their hands and gripped hers in return. As he removed a piece of the wall he’d built around himself, Remy glimpsed the pain that thrummed below the surface.

“Well, the King was right about one thing,” Remy said. The four of them all turned to her. “I am a red witch, and I am more powerful than he knows. I do not fear Mt. Aelusien.” Carys pressed her lips together as she gave Remy a grateful nod. She knew how Remy spoke the words directly to the prince’s broken spirits. Remy believed the truth in her words too. The red witches placed the amulet in Mt. Aelusien, but only the fae had ever sought it out. Remy would be the first with red witch magic to try. If anyone could succeed, it would be her. Her only regret was that they could not come with her. “I will miss all of you.”

They were her friends, Remy realized all at once. These fae warriors she had once only admired were now her friends. She couldn’t bring herself to make another tearful goodbye.

Talhan gave her a small smile. “We’ll sort out Falhampton in no time and get those people to safety,” he assured her. “And then we’ll come find you on your way to Yexshire.” He said it like it was a simple, straightforward thing.

But they all knew that they may not see each other for a long time, perhaps never again. Bri uncorked the bottle of wine by her side and poured it into the jumble of random mugs before her. She passed them around to everyone, keeping the bottle to drink from herself. The prince held tight to Remy’s hand, reaching with his far arm for the mug being passed his way.

“To the red witch and our prince,” Bri said, raising the bottle, “May the Gods bless your journey.”

“Hear, hear,” her twin said as they clinked mugs.

They fell into relaxed conversation, telling jokes and stories, eating from the tray of fruits and cheeses. The stars sparkled over their heads, the constellations shining bright in this darkened part of town. Every time they drained a bottle of wine dry, another seemed to appear out of Talhan’s bag as if by magic.

Hale pulled a fur blanket over himself and Remy, holding onto her hand through the night.

* * *

The promise of morning sun lay pink and golden in the far clouds as Remy stirred awake. She felt Hale shifting beside her. She had fallen asleep sitting against that stone wall after laughing and drinking long into the night. A blanket covered her up to the shoulders. She rested her head against the prince’s shoulder, feeling his heat radiating into her cheek. Winter would be here within a couple of months, and the mornings were turning icy.

Remy didn’t want to open her eyes. She didn’t want to move at all. The bottles of wine last night had done her no favors. Her head squeezed under an invisible force. Her brain was spinning and scattered. She could not grab on to any line of thought, and she wanted nothing more than a few hours of sleep, hoping it would bring her more coherence.

The prince shifted his head down to hers. His lips swept across Remy’s temple and hovered at her ear.

“Time to go,” he whispered. His warm breath in Remy’s ear made her finally open her eyes.

He was smiling at her like he was trying to hold in a laugh.

“What?” Remy narrowed her eyes at him.

“Your eyes are glowing red.” Hale smirked.

“Oh,” Remy said, “Oh!” she said again realizing what he meant. Her eyes were glowing red because of that whisper in her ear. That whisper made her want to pull his lips to hers, headache or no.

Remy’s cheeks heated, but the prince was already moving. Last night had felt somehow even more intimate than that night at the card game in Ruttmore. There was no blaming it on getting caught up in the act today. It was honest and slow.

The prince packed the blankets with stealth. They made to move to their packs by the hatch door, and as they did Carys reached an arm up and gently squeezed Remy’s ankle.

It was the only acknowledgement the tired fae gave her before she dropped back into sleep, but Remy knew what it meant: goodbye and good luck.

Bri didn’t open her eyes either as she mumbled into her blanket, “Don’t die, Rem.”

Remy touched the hilt of her new dagger she had belted onto her waist and smiled as she descended the ladder.

Small city stables sat at the back of Lavender Hall, fallen into near disarray. Two horses waited in the stalls. Remy watched as Hale made quick work of saddling them. He set them in the same configuration as they had on their ride through the Southern Court: one carrying their two packs and one for both of them to ride.

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