One Night in Spring

Chapter 3

Tamra

After Lucien calmed down, I told him about my next plans. We were still in my room, sitting across from each other and Alis standing next to the door, keeping watch.
“I need to find allies and I think I can find them in the Night Court, but I don’t think, everyone will be pleased with it.”
“You’re thinking about the other High Fae, aren’t you?”
“Yes. As soon as they find out, what happened to Tamlin, they will accuse the Night Court.”
“You can’t know this for sure, Tamra. I know that Spring and Night not always were friends, especially in the last 80 years, but that doesn’t mean Rhysand would ever do something like this. He knows that he would risk a war between the Courts,” said Lucien with absolute certainty in his voice.
“Rhysand knows this, you’re right, but I’m not so sure about the other High Fae. I...”
A knock at my door interrupted me. Alis looked at me with shock in her eyes; she was supposed to warn us if somebody came near to my door.
“High Lady? Am I allowed to enter?” came the voice from outside. With a wave of my hand, I signalled Alis to open the door. In came the High Fae, who spoke for me and helped me becoming High Lady.
“Barin,  what can I do for you?” He was always quiet when the High Fae met with Tamlin, what means he could stand on our side.
“We found out why our beloved High Lord died; he was poisoned.”
I looked shocked and said quietly, “What? How can he be poisoned? Who would do something like that?”
“That’s why I’m here. The other High Fae are already in the throne room. I was send to bring you there. We need to discuss our next steps.”
“Is it like this with a High Lady? The High Fae tell me, when I have to come?” I asked with clenched teeth.
“Tamra” came a warning sound from Lucien.
“Believe me, I don’t like this either, but you have to think about the fact that all the High Fae only knew High Lords until now. You need to give them time to adjust” said Barin. This time I didn’t have to play the shock.
“It was time for a change. Tamlin was High Lord long enough and he was not really good at it.”
I shook my head and said, “Tell them, I’m on my way.”
Barin bowed and went out of the room.
“Tamra, you need to tell them all that you know. They have to know.”
“I know, Lucien, I know. I want you to stand next to me. If they think, I listen to you, they will probably be more likely to do what I ask them to.”
“As you wish, High Lady.”
Together we went back into the throne room and I sat down on the throne. With Lucien on my right and Alis on my left side, I faced the other Fae. One of them stepped in front of me and bowed.
“High Lady, Tamlin was poisoned. We came to the conclusion that it has to be the Night Court.” With a short glance to Lucien, I asked, “Why do you think it was them?”
“Because they always wanted to harm us.”
“Not in the last 80 years and barely before it. We have to stop seeing our own kind as the villains, when there is a real threat against all Courts. The Mortal Queens want to destroy us. We have no time to waste, we need allies. When the humans attack, who do you think will fall first? We, the Spring Court. I know you will not like the following, but we need the Night Court as ally. They prevented a war once, they can do it again.”
Shouts of protest started to grow.
“I knew, they wouldn’t like it” I said to myself. Lucien placed his hand on my shoulder and squeezed.
“You are their High Lady. Say what you want” Lucien whispered.
With those words I stood up.
“Silence!” Immediately, the room was quiet. “I wanted to include you into my decisions. I wanted your opinions and I wanted your thoughts about my plans. But I don’t want you to undermine my authority. You can tell me your suggestions, one after another.” Then I sat down again. My hands were shaking and I had to hid them in my lab.
The High Fae from before stepped again before me. “We think, the Autumn Court would be a better ally. They are next to our borders.”
“That,” said Lucien, “is a bad idea. They would never support a High Lady. What about the Summer Court? They are also next to our borders and more open minded than my relatives.” The other Fae thought about it.
“Is that to your satisfaction?” I asked. They nodded.
“Lucien, send a message to High Lord Tarquin and ask if he would be willing to meet us. Tell him, I have to talk about an alliance against a threat like no one we have ever faced before.”