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JUST AS TEAGAN’S SMALL party reached the edge of the road that led to the palace gates of Breena, they were swiftly surrounded by twenty fierce looking Fae warriors. Instead of drawing his sword like Teagan had expected him to do, Aidan put his arm around her protectively and pulled her securely against his side. Teagan stood, shaking with anxiety.
In a loud authoritative voice Aidan said, “I am Aidan McInnis, and this is Teagan McKenna. We have been granted an audience with the Queen through Aria the guide. I am a Guardian of the Fae, son to Aria.”
Teagan noticed some of the warriors lowered their weapons tentatively in respect, while others kept theirs draw, still on guard considering them intruders.
“No human shall be admitted into Breena.” A massive fae warrior at the front of the line yelled at them.
“She’s no human.” Aidan spoke back forcefully, “She’s granddaughter to Nuala, High Priestess and First Council Royal to the Queen.”
As Aidan spoke, Teagan tried to hold her head higher and stand a little straighter.
“...And she is the Daughter of Aisling, granddaughter to the queen herself.” As he finished his announcement, every one of the Fae warriors fell to one knee while crossing their arms over their chest. Their weapons were forgotten at their sides. Teagan heard mummers through the crowd.
“She looks just like Aisling,” She heard one warrior say.
“I didn’t know Aisling had a daughter,” another replied in awe.
“You can’t deny it is true, do you see her aura.” This comment was repeated several times by numerous warriors.
“She is Fae,” yet another acknowledged with a nod of his head.
“The queen’s granddaughter?” a few of them asked in a stunned whisper.
Aidan nodded satisfied with the warrior’s responses. Teagan was glad that the warriors had accepted her for the Fae she was, it meant there would not be a fight. She stood speechlessly at the edge of the magical forest with the beauty of the palace shimmering down on her, as each warrior waited his turn to show his respects to her. One at a time, the warriors approached Teagan, touched her hand reverently, knelt before her, and swore an oath to her in a language she couldn’t understand. When the last warrior finished, Aidan and Teagan were escorted by the guard to what they called the palace proper. The large warrior, that had first spoken, told them they were being taken to the royal council chambers. It was the seat of the throne, and the queen would be there.
The palace was more extraordinary than Teagan remembered from her childhood. She had only ever seen it from a distance, and up close the beauty of it was mesmerizing. It gleamed in the sun so brilliantly that Teagan had to momentarily shield her eyes. As they approached the gates, they passed through what Teagan assumed was an invisible shield and she shuddered with excitement at the thrill of magic that passed through her body. Teagan could feel the strength of hundreds of souls alive within the shield. She was awed by the power and the rawness of such magic and hated to think of what it would do to an enemy that was dumb enough to try to pass through it.
As the small group walked through the halls of the palace, Teagan tried not to gawk. When she realized her mouth was open, she closed it quickly not wanting to look like a simpleton. Inside, the palace was as extraordinary as the outside. Everywhere Teagan looked there was gleaming marble. It glistened from the floor to the domed ceiling overhead. She felt like she was walking through a tunnel of light. Gold and silver trimmed the doorways and windows in a brilliant array of Celtic, knot-work. The artistry of their craft everywhere she turned.
In every crevice, in every curve, and in every available spot, green-leafed vines with vivid star shaped purple flowers, which bore a close resemblance to the ones in the forest, grew. The vines twisted and twined themselves around everything in sight. It was spectacular. Teagan had never seen anything like it. Several times she caught glimpses of what looked like massive tree trunks growing up from the floor and through the ceiling and her eyes widened in wonder.
Teagan dallied in her observances and Aidan took her hand, pulling her along the hall gently. As the party slowed, the group of warriors along with Aidan and Teagan were met by another Fae warrior at the entrance to a large private chamber. The chamber sat off to the side of the Royal Council Chambers. The Fae stood regal and held his head high. Teagan could see instantly that he was a man of power. His silver hair hung long and straight past his shoulders and his eyes glittered brilliantly.
The staunch Fae in front of her arched his brow in a distaining manner when he looked at her. As he took in her appearance, obviously unimpressed, Teagan’s face turned red with embarrassment. Clearly, she wasn’t dressed appropriately to meet the Queen of the Fae, and this one did not approve. Unfortunately, she had not even considered that fact before they had left Aidan’s house. Despite his apparent distaste, the Fae warrior bowed deeply to Teagan and crossed his arm over his chest in the formal greeting to Fae Royalty.
“I am Cather, First Champion of the Queen, Son of Nuala, and the late Council member Dougle. I welcome you to Breena in the name of the Queen and the High Priestess.” He introduced himself proudly and looked directly at Teagan as he spoke.
As she processed the words he spoke, Teagan’s eyes widened with understanding. “So, that would make you my half-uncle then?” She asked him excitedly and he raised a brow at her.
“Although I would place a slight recalculation on your incommensurable words, you are correct.” He said stiffly.
His words of agreement were all she needed to hear before she launched herself at him and threw her arms around him in an enthusiastic hug. Family members were greeted with warmth where she came from. Teagan’s uncle obviously did not quite know what to think of her actions, and he stood there stiff as a board while she hugged him. Teagan babbled cheerfully at him undaunted by his stoic response and heard Árdghal clear his throat noisily in the background.
“I know. I know. Fae don’t hug.”
“Take them to their room and prepare them,” the Fae said.