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I'd forgotten what it was like to travel with Sylos. The black steeds we rode kept up a good pace, but left far too much time for all of his antics. We needed to get to the nearest Faerie Crossing, where we could pick up a trod—a shortcut that would take us from the Wyldes of Nevermore into the Shadow Court.
Given how far from civilization the Dwarf resided, it would be a few days' journey to reach a place where we could travel through the Crossing.
We managed to make camp only when necessary when either the horses or Sylos and I were ready to drop from exhaustion. Otherwise, we pressed on, while he kept up a continuous stream of chatter. When I steered my horse around a patch of shattered glass, Sylos started chuckling.
"Surely you have let go of those childish superstitions, Zanthiel," he teased. "You're a blood knight serving his king, and in line to inherit from them all. I cannot imagine how something as silly as stepping on glass could possibly make you cower."
"It was one time only." I held up a finger. "And I did not cower. I merely avoided walking on it."
His shoulders shook with laughter.
"And, as I recall, a good amount of Faery wine went into that entire situation," I added.
"Is that so? And what about the time you broke Queen Mab's looking glass and you spent the better part of a day collecting each and every fragment?"
"That time was ale. No wait...mead. Point is, I am not superstitious."
His teasing continued, and while at times I wished for a moment of silence, it made the journey pass faster and lessened the weight of her on my mind. What would happen if we didn't reach her in time?
"Hey mate, you still awake?"
I didn't realize I'd tuned him out, and gave a stiff nod. "Who falls asleep on horseback?"
"There is something unnatural about this hold she has on you. It's like an addiction, of the unhealthy sort."
Was she—my addiction? If that was true, it was not a habit I wanted to break.
When I didn't reply, Sylos shook his head. "You want to get the girl back, and preferably in one piece. I cannot blame you. I just have to wonder what possessed you to let her go in the first place. Had you not, at the risk of stating the obvious, perhaps you would not be pining away for her now."
"This is not about that. It's another matter entirely. A personal matter," I insisted.
He merely smiled and nodded in that grating way he did.
"Indeed it is personal, and will be a lot more so should you not save her. Not only will you have your own mother to answer to, but her father as well. Not to mention the whole of Faery who are counting on your union to create peace."
I expelled a sigh. So many misplaced hopes resting upon something that did not exist. Like the Wizard's smoke castles floating in air—one gust of wind and they were gone. No more. I did not want nor need the pressure of their collective hopes. I had my own agenda. I was doing what I needed to do for reasons that had nothing to do with what they wanted. Sylos understood those pressures better than anyone. He'd defected to the Shadow Court not long after I'd been banished there. He was well versed in Mab's wicked ways.
We stopped to rest under a well-shaded willow. It offered the benefit of shielding us from sight, in addition to a cool place to rest and refuel. Wind whipped the grassy fronds to and fro without revealing our hideout. The taste of salt was in the air, which meant we were near the trod to cross over into the realm of the Shadow Fey. I pulled out my canteen, swallowing mouthful after mouthful of icy water. Temperature control was a convenient benefit of being born a Winter Fey.
"I will find her, Sylos. And I will not return to the Winter Court. You may return if you choose, and I would not blame you for avoiding the Queen's wrath. It is long-standing and deeply vindictive. As you mentioned."
But Sylos was already shaking his head. "I would not leave you to perish on this quest alone. We are like one. You know that. Plus, to miss the spectacle of fireworks when you’re caught? Not a chance."
"I will not be caught."
"No, you'll just find the girl and be forced to wed." He held up his canteen in a toast. "I'll dance at your wedding." He laughed, then swigged back a mouthful.
Wedding. I could not let that come to pass either. Our options at the moment were limited. But first things first. I could not save her if I could not find her. The Elf was far too well-connected. He would have help from unseen and unseemly places. For that I was grateful, I suppose, for it meant they could remain hidden longer.
But for how long? Surely it was just a matter of time before his resources ran dry. Offer a large enough sum, and someone was bound to turn them in. One thing monarchs never ran out of were forms of payment. Whether it be an offering of coin, or favor, or position, they could sway even the most staunchly loyal to their side. And when they could not bribe them, they resorted to threats. Or in my mother's case, started with threats, because "why waste precious time negotiating favors from lessor beings?"
I stowed my canteen and tossed my pack across my shoulder. I needed to locate them quickly, and I knew only one expedient way to do that.
"The trod to Oberon's castle is not far up ahead." Sylos pointed through the drifting branches. "Ready to head out?" He lifted his canteen to his lips, tipping his head back to drain it.
"Change of plans," I announced. "We are heading to the Shadow Court, but not to see Oberon."
He sputtered and coughed, spewing our last reserves of water on the ground. "What do you mean?" he barked. "You're disobeying his request suddenly? He'll not take kindly to that."
"I don't care whether he likes it or not, Sylos. I am done bowing to the whims of mad monarchs. I have other plans."
"Do those plans involve having my head on a pike right next to yours?" He kicked his foot into the dirt in frustration. "If it’s not Oberon you intend to see, then who?"
"There's a prisoner there, she's being held in the tower."
His eyes narrowed and he gave me a wary look. "I know which prisoner you speak of. You know, you have never actually told me what exactly happened between the two of you."
"Nothing good," I muttered. "But I am sure that's no surprise. Girl comes back from the dead. Girl becomes an evil demoness. Hijinks ensue."
"So..." he said slowly, "you intend to question her?"
"No." I gave him a dark grin. "I intend to free her.