The Iron Seer

(Bonus) Chapter 26 - Reunion

The throne room was crowded with fey when Rowan and I arrived. Rowan took my hand in his before I could vault off into the mob to search for Ash. I stared at him in surprise as he lifted my hand to his lips. In the confusion surrounding us, we were unobserved by other members of the Court, as if in our own separate world.

"Our contract is over," he said. "But I hope that if you ever need anything, you'll come to me."

Blinking at him in shock, I was only able to get a couple words out. "All right." He bowed to me before turning and plunging into the crowd, leaving me questioning every judgement I'd ever made about Rowan. After all, he'd just offered his help to me - and if that didn't mean friendship, I didn't know what it meant.

Spotting Tiaothin, I waved her over. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Rowan mount the steps next to Mab's throne and suppressed the prickle of bizarre agitation that rose within me when his eyes met mine over the crowd. The mass of faeries rustled with whispers, an excited buzz of anticipation.

I couldn't reconcile my newfound feelings of friendship with Rowan with how I had felt about him when I'd first arrived at Court. But I also couldn't trust him. And it didn't matter now, I told myself. Ash was back and I no longer owed Rowan anything. Nevertheless, a voice nagged at me. Rowan is the only reason you survived, it said. The notion came with a heavy sense of guilt, as if I'd betrayed Ash in some way by accepting Rowan's help - but that couldn't be. I'd done what I needed to do to survive here, and in no regard had I betrayed Ash, I argued to myself.

Tiaothin broke through the crowd next to me, looking perplexed. "What's going on?" she hissed to me, throwing an elbow into a faery's side for good measure as she shoved past them. They responded with a growl, which she ignored.

"Ash has come back from the southern border," I explained to her, receiving raised eyebrows and a cocked ear in response. But I turned my attention toward the back of the throne room, to the doors, feeling a nervous energy rise up inside me at the prospect of whatever news Ash would bring back. That news could mean the difference between peace and war with the Seelie Court. How I felt about seeing him again personally, however, was what was occupying my mind at the moment. My emotions churned from euphoria to petty resentment, and I wasn't sure how I would react when we were alone again, if I'd throw my arms around him and kiss him or hurl a sharp icicle at his face for leaving me.

Mab stood from her throne, her icy presence spreading a hush over the whole room. After a tense moment of eerie quiet, the great doors swung open.

Ash strode through, sword at his hip and bow on his back, followed by a company of Thornguards who were also armed to the teeth. Though I'd been expecting it, I hadn't been prepared to see him - the sight of him knocked the breath out of my lungs and squeezed my heart. His dark hair was messy, and he wore a black traveling cloak. I couldn't take my eyes off of him, scanning his body for injuries - but he appeared intact.

As the party passed, I glanced Sir Dawon in the line of knights, confirming what I already knew: The knight had been called for on this mission as well. The crowd parted for them as they made their way toward the dais. As he passed, Ash glanced at me and gave me the smallest nod, eyes and face stony, making my heart clench for the briefest moment, and continued forward without breaking stride.

He knelt at the ground in front of Mab. Ash removed a scroll from his pocket and presented it to her, head bowed. "Lady Snowfire's report, Your Majesty."

She plucked it from his fingers, untied the violet ribbon, her eyes scanning it silently. The whole room held its breath. "And your conclusion, Ash?" she questioned, handing the scroll to Rowan without looking at him.