GAISCE (Call to Arms, Book 3, Part 1 in Baile Series)

Chapter 5 The Seelie Court

April

I woke early, sitting up in the bird like nest to look out over the brilliant blue sky.

"Your partnership is a strange one blood woman."

I looked up to meet the eyes of Oriel, who sat perched on the edge of the nest.

"Are you hoping to form a treaty between your two peoples?" She asked curiously.

I glanced at Alick, who was sleeping heavily a few feet away. "I don't believe in petty rivalries." I replied. "I hope to mend the divide between our species'."

"Admirable." Oriel smiled. "I wish you well with the task."

I opened my mouth to thank her but stopped when Alick woke up with a loud yawn.

"Who knew sticks felt so good?" He stretched much like a cat.

"My girls have collected safe fruits and rodents for you to feast upon before you leave." At Oriel's proclamation, Harpies dropped a pile of various coloured and shaped fruits, along with a few rats and even a rabbit with antlers.

"Thank you." I finally said my thanks before picking up a bright red fruit the shape of a pear, and with the skin like an orange or strawberry. Alick picked up a bright green fruit the shape of a star and we exchanged a nervous look before taking a bite at the same time. The sour flesh exploded in my mouth, a refreshing relief from a lack of food and blood. Alick and I ate our fill before gathering our backpacks to leave.

"Where are you heading?" Oriel questioned.

"The Seelie Court." Alick replied.

"My girls will take you there. It will be a much faster journey."

We bid Oriel and most of her Harpies goodbye before Alick and I, were lifted by our shoulders by a Harpy each, carrying us away from the nest and over the tree tops. Gradually the forest began to thin, towns became more frequent, built in the trunks of trees themselves or on boats navigating a winding river or lake.

Alick and I were lowered to the ground on the outskirts of the Seelie Court after a few hours, which happened to border a large expanse of water.

We thanked the Harpies, watching them fly away quickly.

"We better find Isla here." Alick declared as we began following a white-pebbled path. "Cause I have no idea how we'll get back."

"With the magic stick." I shook the Shillelagh in my hand.

"Oh yeah." He said as if he had forgotten.

"What the hell?" I faltered in my walking, my eyes widening at the sight of so many men, women and children with pastel blue hair and even more vibrant blue eyes. The Faeries of the court sent Alick and I curious glances as we continued to follow the path, circling a large fountain to gaze up at a palace cut from various gems, vines and insects.

"Is that a Unicorn?"

I followed Alick's eyes to see a stunning white horse with a horn protruding from the middle of its head, its mane braided with wildflowers as it drank from a well.

"Beautiful, isn't it."

I whipped around to stand face to face with a woman who had to be the Seelie Queen. Her pastel blue hair fell down her body, pooling behind her feet on the ground beneath a crown of gold, crystals and butterflies. Her dress resembled molten gold, embroided with intricate and mind numbing designs.

"My name is Rian Rhionnan, Queen of the Seelie Court." She spoke with regality, her tone English and deep. "How may I be of service?" Her head tilted to the side like that of a small bird.