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“The Solgavia Mountains,” I told her easily, not knowing any reason I shouldn’t, my gaze straying to her webbed hand on her hip. “Why are you living so far from Morodon?”
“Why are you living so far from the forests of Lumeria?” She quirked a dark red brow at me, a deeper shade than her hair.
I laughed. “Many reasons.”
“I see. Same for me.”
“I’m Murgha,” I told her, reaching out a hand.
She shook it. “Jessamine.”
The outer door opened. Jessamine stiffened but then relaxed when she saw the two wraith fae step into the tavern. Actually, when the tiny female removed her cloak, I could see small black wings tucked against her back. Like Vallon’s. She had the dark gray complexion of a wraith fae and two delicate horns curling back over her fine black hair that was cut short.
The wraith fae male she was with was big and brawny, wearing black armor and silver bands on his four horns, designating him of some importance. One of his horns was broken.
“Back so soon,” Jessamine called to them.
The one with the broken horn looked her way, smiling brightly, revealing he was missing an eye. Despite his scarred face, he appeared a gentle soul. That knowledge hummed in my breast, making me feel at ease.
“Just passing through, Jessamine. Heading back to Silvantis.”
Jessamine turned to me. “Be right back with your breakfast.” Then she walked over to the newcomers who had settled in a booth on the wall opposite from me.
“Tea or ale?”
“Ale for me,” said the broken-horned fae. “Tea for Hava.”
Vallon stepped back through the door, his gaze shooting to me first and then the new wraith fae. Rather than dart them murderous looks as I’d expected, his expression relaxed, a small smile quirking his lips.
Jessamine marched away, passing Vallon on her way back into the kitchen. Rather than rejoin me, Vallon walked over to the two newcomers.
“Well, well. Didn’t expect to see you in this neck of the woods, priest,” said the broken-horned one.
They knew each other then.
“Keffa.” Vallon nodded at him. “You either. On an errand for the king?”
“Just left him at Windolek Castle.”
Vallon grunted. “I heard the queen is healthy and thriving after giving birth to his heir.”
This was new news to me, but I smiled at the memory of having met Princess Una once, now the Queen of Northgall and Lumeria. It felt like a lifetime ago that she’d passed through our village in Myrkovir Forest during the Autumnal Solstice celebration, when I had scried my first true vision. I’d never told Tessa because I couldn’t quite believe it myself. I’d been given one of the greatest gifts from the gods—the ability to see prophecy.
When I’d tried to tell Tessa that I believed my magick, which hadn’t shown up before then, might be that of a seer, she had told me it was impossible. Wood fae didn’t have that kind of magick. And though she knew as well as I that I wasn’t a full-blooded wood fae, it seemed to dishearten her that I might be so different from her.
So I stopped talking about it. Perhaps my feelings were nothing more than paranoia. Or basic intuition.
It didn’t matter. I never had to tell Tessa again because I had never had any other visions after that single time I’d given one to Princess Una. But I could feel the magick stirring again, that same deep well of energy, an overflow of force. Like it was waiting for something.
“She is doing well,” the female with the broken-horned fae said excitedly. “As is their babe. All are fine and healthy.”
“I don’t believe you met my mate before,” the one named Keffa said. “This is Hava.”
“We weren’t mates then,” the female said teasingly to Keffa.
Vallon dipped his chin. “Greetings, Hava.” He turned back to Keffa. “I’m surprised you didn’t stay with King Gollaya.”
“He needs me in Näkt Mir. Tending to business while he’s away.”
