Page 144 of A Kingdom of Wild and Power
Adriana had been alerted by the few servants that still lingered within the wyverian castle that a group of travellers waited beyond its gates. King Ozul had departed at first light to inspect the vast army encamped just beyond the castle’s rugged terrain. They would march soon; waiting for Mal, or Kai, or Kage to return had become both futile and dangerously time-consuming.
From the stone steps of the entrance, Adriana observed the approaching company of Fae. At their head walked princess Rio Hawthorne, composed despite the weariness etched into the air around her. There was urgency in the way the group moved, a quiet desperation barely held in check.
Adriana descended slowly, studying the princess with measured caution, uncertain of what storm had driven her here.
‘My land isunder attack,’ Rio said without preamble, the words serving as both greeting and warning. ‘I have come seeking help.’
Adriana inclined her head, grave understanding settling across her features. ‘King Ozul is away this morning, seeing to his army. He will return shortly.’ She stepped aside, gesturing towards the shadowed halls beyond. ‘Come. Let us speak inside. The castle stands rather empty at present,’ Adriana explained, her dark gaze sweeping over the number of Fae gathered behind the princess. It was no modest escort. ‘There will be ample space for you all.’
‘We are grateful,’ Rio replied, the fatigue in her voice threaded with quiet resolve. ‘The road has been long.’ She inclined her head towards a blue-haired man at her side, and without further instruction he began ushering their company through the gates and into the vast stone halls.
‘Before we follow,’ Rio added, her hand lifting ever so slightly to halt Adriana, ‘there is something we have brought. We do not know precisely how it occurred, but we believe witches were involved.’
Another Fae—a woman whose blue hair mirrored the man’s so closely they might have been reflections of one another—hurried to one of the carriers at the rear. With careful hands she removed the canopy of woven leaves.
Adriana approached.
And stilled.
Kage Blackburn lay within as though surrendered to gentle sleep. His features were untroubled, smoothed of the sorrow that had so often shadowed them in life. There was a strange serenity about him, a peace he had never quite possessed in life.
‘We must carry him inside,’ Adriana said softly, her voice composed though something withinher had tightened. She waited for Rio’s subtle nod before the Fae lifted the carrier once more.
Adriana’s stare did not waver as they bore him across the threshold. Her thoughts spiralled in silence, dark and heavy, already turning towards the burden of what must be said and to whom.
‘In here,’ she instructed, guiding them into the cavernous main hall where blue wyverian light filtered through high arches.
When they set the carrier down upon the stone floor, Adriana remained standing above it, her eyes fixed upon Kage’s still form, as though waiting for his chest to rise.
Everyone withdrew, leaving only Rio Hawthorne and the girl who lingered a step behind her, a silent, watchful, shadow stitched to the princess’s heels.
Adriana forced herself from the grip of shock and turned towards the Fae. ‘You must be exhausted. Please, sit. I shall have the servants bring you something to eat.’ She hesitated, grimacing faintly. ‘Fresh food. I will send them to the nearest village at once.’
At her gesture, Rio moved towards the vast stone table and seated herself with unerring precision. It was difficult not to stare. Blind though she was, she crossed the chamber with a grace that seemed almost preternatural, as though she read the air itself and followed currents unseen.
‘One learns to turn a weakness into strength,’ Rio said lightly, a knowing smile curving her lips. She had clearly plucked the thought straight from Adriana’s mind. How, Adriana could not begin to fathom. ‘This is Elowen, one of my attendants. And the man about to enter is Rowan.’
‘My idiot brother,’ Elowen added dryly.
The great doors had been left ajar, and within moments theblue-haired Fae from earlier stepped inside. They were all so young, the three of them. If Adriana’s memory served her correctly, Rio Hawthorne was the fourth daughter of King Florian—no more than nineteen summers—and yet she bore herself with the quiet authority of one already crowned.
The twins, for they were surely twins, seemed of similar age.
The hearth along the far wall crackled, blue flames licking upwards and throwing restless shadows across the dark stone. The light flickered over antlers and pale faces alike. Adriana felt a chill trace its way down her spine despite the fire’s warmth.
It was not long before a servant came scurrying in, breathless and wide-eyed. Adriana issued her instructions at once; they were to ride hard to the nearest village and return with fresh provisions. Many of the castle’s staff had fled after Mal and Ash’s warnings, fearing what might come. Yet a few had remained behind to tend to the castle and to Adriana, Keir, and Cronan. Now that King Ozul had returned, Adriana was certain the rest would trickle back, drawn by the promise of protection and command.
‘The king will wish to know what happened to his son,’ Adriana said quietly.
A pitcher of dark wine had been left upon the table; she poured each of them a glass, the liquid glinting like garnet in the blue firelight.
‘I am certain he will,’ Rio replied, accepting the glass with careful fingers. ‘Unfortunately, I cannot give him the answers he will seek. We were attacked by witches. We found his body afterwards.’
There was no tremor in her voice. Only fact. Only truth.
‘Why come all this way?’ Adriana asked, studying her closely.
‘I do not trust messages,’ Rio answered. ‘I was already travelling when the city of Floridia fell. My sister is in Velunthar with my mother. I thought it wiser to divide us rather than keep all our heads beneath the same roof.’ She paused. ‘Just in case.’
