A Court so Cruel and Lovely

Chapter Ten

I spent the next day at the Grand General's house. Madoc and Oriana had gotten so used to me staying over, they had a whole room set up just for me. Half of my clothes were in their house while the other half was at Hollow Hall. Tonight, we were going to a revel hosted by the High King – my adoptive father.

As the daughter of a High Lord, Rhys and I sometimes attended revels hosted by our father – usually at the House of Wind or Hewn City. I always hated Hewn City – it felt devoid of life. I feigned sickness when my father asked me to come to Hewn City and my mother would stay with me.

The High King's revels, however, were far better and far more magical. At times, I feared I might get swept up in the music and dance myself to death but I always managed to pull myself out of it. I was just as susceptible to dancing myself to death as a human.

The way inside the palace always made me anxious. You had to ride there and then you had to go through what appeared to be a stone wall between two trees. Obviously, the stone wall was just a glamour but still I felt the effects. It made my eyes mash shut and my body locked up. When I reopened my eyes, we were inside the hill. There were faeries everywhere – laughing foxkin, pixies, green skinned faeries that looked like grasshoppers.

The Fae are twilight creatures and I had become one too. We woke at night and slept through the day. Sometimes, though, I'd fall asleep at night and only remember I had lessons to attend after they were over.

Madoc was waiting to help me down from my horse but I dismounted on my own. My boots hit the ground with a soft thud. Oriana was giving Taryn and Jude a talk about being careful. It was obvious that they'd heard the talk multiple times.

Shortly after, they rushed inside to greet the High King. Being his adopted daughter, I really didn't have to greet him but I did it anyway.

I spotted Dain and Balekin talking to one another near a drink table. Madoc and I both walked over to them. Balekin raised his hand in greeting.

"Selene, it's good to see you in good spirits," Balekin said. "You don't show up to my revels anymore."

"Yes, well, I've decided to sober up," I chirped. "My brother Rhys wouldn't approve."

"He's worked up quite the reputation," Balekin said. "What with the mind-shattering and all."

"Well, like father, like son," I joked. "Unfortunately, it seems to have passed on to me, too."

"Indeed," Dain said, looking amused. "Well, as long as you don't go shattering the minds of the entire court."

"I would never," I said. Partially a lie. If it would mean I could go home, I absolutely would. But I can't tell them that.

"You should go enjoy the party," Balekin said.

So I did.

***

I stayed at Madoc's stronghold after the revel. At dinner the next evening, he revealed that Eldred was abdicating because he had grown weary with age and was willing to enter the Promised Land. I assumed the 'Promised Land' was their euphemism for the afterlife.

"Are you saying he's abdicating because he's old?" Jude asked.

"I have made war in Eldred's name. I have killed courts that refused to follow under his banner," Madoc said. "But he is growing old. His control over the lower courts is weakening. It's time for a new ruler."

He looked at me for a moment. "If you were truly a Greenbriar, you would make an excellent High Queen."

"Would I? Or do you think that because I have experience with ruling," I asked, quietly. "Princess I may be, but my brother was always the one with the brains and charm of a ruler. Why do you think he's the High Lord?"

"I'm sure Madoc meant no offense," Oriana said, the constant peacekeeper.

"Perhaps, but I can understand the jab," I said. "I'm not stupid."

Oriana went quiet. Jude started asking Madoc about the Tournament coming up and talked about knighthood. Madoc denied her request for knighthood but told her to ask again after the coronation of the new High King. Jude skulked the rest of dinner.

The idea of a coronation for a new High Ruler made me anxious. It meant I could possibly be chosen. I didn't want to be chosen. Though, the Folk were very particular about tradition and the last High Queen was Mab, Eldred's grandmother.

A sense of foreboding prickled under my skin. The coronation might not go well.

***

I distracted myself with my spy work for Dain. Apparently, Jude had been introduced into the Court of Shadows and now worked with us. I was more than happy to show her the ropes. The Roach had brought her in and I nearly freaked out. In a good way, of course. Jude might as well be my little sister.

I, much like Rhysand had done for me, trained Jude in the fine art of swordplay. Madoc taught her well, but I taught her Illyrian techniques. When we finished the Illyrian techniques, we started working on Valkyrie techniques. I had trained with Valkyries before the War. They all died during the War, leaving me saddled with a legacy that weighed heavy on my shoulders.

Jude and I practiced in Madoc's yard. The objective was to cut the ribbon tied to the wooden post so Jude could be legitimately crowned a Valkyrie. So far, she was doing well. She hadn't cut the ribbon yet but I hadn't cut the ribbon until after several years training. Jude was close to cutting it.

After training, we sat and did cooldowns. Locke and Taryn came over to us.

"Fun session?" Locke asked.

"She's doing phenomenal," I responded, out of breath.

"I still haven't cut the ribbon," Jude countered.

"I didn't cut my ribbon until a few years after I started training," I retorted. "Compared to me, you're doing great."

"Really?" Taryn asked.

"Yes, really," I snorted. "My ego was bruised after that."

"You Illyrians and your egos," Locke clicked his tongue.

"You Fae and your unnecessary hatred for humans," I retorted.

"Don't lump me into that group," Locke rolled his eyes.

"Alright, Fox Boy," I scowled.

We all laughed at that.