They all chuckle at that, and Niam chimes in. "Then I got the rest of us together and made a plan. We'd go looking, but mark our way with coins."
"Great plan," Asher says, "only you were too greedy to use your own."
Niam nods. "True. I believe you covered that expense, Asher."
Zeb points to Levi and Dean. "And then remember, how we found you two, and it was so late, so cold, you two were cuddled up like lovers behind one of the statues?"
Dean shrugs and Levi shakes his head.
"But the best part," Zeb says between drinks, "the best part was when Ace jumped out of the shadows and landed next to us. He asks you where have you been all day, and you say 'stuck in the maze' and he says, 'well why didn't you just fly out?' Then the cheeky bastard hops into the sky and leaves us idiots behind."
Everyone laughs at that, but I frown. "Why don't I remember any of this?" I feel like I've heard the story before, but I have no memory at all of it happening.
My brothers look around at each other, and Zeb pats me on the shoulder. "You're getting old, good fellow. Soon that wolf of yours will have to run the kingdom." Baron whines and lays his head on my lap while the rest laugh.
As the fire begins to die down, so too do the laughs, and though we do not need much sleep, we each retreat to our own space, to think, to ponder, to plan for war.
***
The next morning, our scouts report they found the Fae army, hundreds of soldiers, camping behind one of the forests near the river. "This will be our best chance," I say. "We must strike early, while those awakening are still sluggish, and those on guard for the night are tired and ready for rest. It is when they change shifts that they will be most vulnerable. We travel down slowly, hiding behind the trees, and surprise them."
"We'll be close to the river," Asher says. "Do we not fear the Druid's powers so close to her element?"
"If we move fast enough, and with enough stealth, we'll win the fight before they can muster a counter attack," I say.
The five of them nod in agreement, and we choose the soldiers to head the first assault. The rest of the army will follow behind closely. We stay hidden behind stone and tree, moving silently through the forests, and down the mountain. We span out in a semicircle, some entering through the cover of river, so that we can take out their sentinels before they can react.
Step by step we move forward. All my senses are alert, searching for an ambush. Baron's ears point up, taking in all sounds, his teeth bared, ready to fight.
No one sees us.
No one raises a cry.
It's too quiet.
Too easy.
Something is wrong.
We descended on the camp, and I see the truth.
There are no Fae standing watch.
No Fae sleeping.
The camp is empty.
Levi dashes into a tent, his sword drawn, then comes out, a frown on his face. "There's no one," he shouts.
The others confirm the same.
And then I understand.
We thought we were so clever, going after them rather than letting them attack the castle.
But why would they be here? There is nothing important here.
Everything that is important to them, the thing that is most important to them… is at Stonehill.
Chapter 16
BLOOD AND PAIN
"Long ago, Madrid and Oren, the Fire Druid you met tonight, were Karasi—spirit of the heart. She has waited for his return for many, many years. But Oren made her choose: You—the Midnight Star—or him. She chose you."
—Durk
I pace my room while Yami flutters around me, mirroring my own anxiety. None of this feels right. The armies shouldn't have left to chase the Fae army. Stonehill is defensible. The Outlands are not.
The city and castle feel nearly abandoned with everyone gone. Even Kayla is off raiding. There's a knock at my door, and Julian enters with a tray of food and a mug with something steaming in it. "I thought you could use something to eat and a hot drink to stave off the chill."
She sets it down on my table and walks to the hearth to stoke the fire.
"Thank you," I say, picking at the grapes. Yami eyes the strips of ham, but I glare at him until he backs away from the food. He knows better than to eat when he's being invisible.
Julian stands once the fire is blazing again. "Can I get you anything else?"
"No, thank you though. Where's Kara?"
"She's helping Olga in the kitchen with dinner," Julian says.
"Okay, well, I'm good for the afternoon, so don't worry about me."
She leaves, and I feel a loneliness descend upon me, but I don't want company, not really.
I want Fen.
He shouldn't have left. Of that, I am more and more certain.
If I were the Fae… which, I guess, technically I am… I would just find somewhere safe to hunker down and wait for the battle. Maybe near water or the forest or a fort… or…
A castle.
I drop my grapes back onto the tray and run to the balcony outside my room, my eyes scanning the horizon. I can make out the village of Stonehill from here, and the mountain that connects it to the castle. The gate is sill closed, but there is another way in, the way behind the waterfall. Did the Fae learn of it during the attack on Stonehill?
I look more closely, my heart beating frantically in my chest. Shadows move behind the water.
They are coming.
The Fae army is coming, marching through the passage that was meant to be a safe haven for the village.