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The friends may have decided to continue their journey to the village, but they no longer had any intention of travelling by the main road. The kelpie attack had pushed them a ways off course, but they were still only a few miles away and reached it just as the sun set through the trees.
For once, Evie was the first to have seen it. Still brimming with the success of her wolf-attack, she’d insisted upon taking the fae’s usual place at the lead. (There was also the fact that beneath her emerald cloak, she was no longer wearing any clothes.)
“Landi,” she called over her shoulder, frowning at the lights twinkling below, “where exactly did you say the alpine path would lead us?”
“Just to the middle country,” he replied with a shrug. “A bunch of hamlets and villages. We should be able to make our way through fairly quickly before securing passage on a ship.”
The princess frowned, then glanced back at Cosette for confirmation. The younger fae just shook her head. “Don’t ask me. I’ve never been out this far. Everything past the Pengrass Forest is beyond royal jurisdiction. What’s left of royal jurisdiction,” she amended.
“What’s the matter?” Asher asked quietly, joining the princess at the top of the bluff. “What do you see?”
She paused before answering, gazing into the valley below. “I’m not exactly sure.”
Despite the varied locations, most of the villages in the five kingdoms looked generally the same. There was a handful of taverns, a blacksmith, a butcher, a laundress and, if you were very lucky, some kind of healer or apothecary where you could stock up before going on your way.
This...wasn’t like that.
It was as if someone had built one village, then stacked ten more on top of it. Then scattered ten more around that. Then added an arena, a list, a live shooting range, and enough well-stocked bars that the princess could hear a chorus of drunken shouting from all the way in the trees.
The only thing missing was the healer. Although there was a large field of freshly turned dirt at the other edge of the encampment, as if anyone who lost step was thrown into a massive grave.
“Well, that looks lovely,” Freya said with a bright smile. “Shall we head down?”
The others stared at her a moment before returning their attention to the camp. Even as they were watching, a door burst open on one of the taverns and a trio of men stumbled into the alley just beyond. Two were still sober enough to be on their feet, while the third was being dragged between them. Judging from the sharp profanities ringing up from the valley, he was not a friend.
They threw him down in a pile of raw sewage and kicked him a few times before one of them pulled a bow from his back and shot the poor man right in the head. His body twitched twice then went perfectly still as they threw back their heads with laughter, heading back into the bar.
“Yeah,” Asher murmured with a frown, “...lovely.”
“This is a bad idea,” Evie said quietly. “We should stick to the forest, try to—”
“Did you see that bow?”
She glanced up in surprise to see Ellanden still staring down at the valley, a look of open jealousy splashed across his face. Cosette was just a foot behind, looking exactly the same way.
“Are you serious?” she demanded, snapping her fingers in front of their faces. “We just saw a guy murdered in cold blood, and you’re more interested in the bow?!”
Cosette winced apologetically, still unable to tear her eyes away. “It had a rosewood exterior—”
“Listen, Everly...” Ellanden held up both hands, obviously trying to project an air of practicality. “Those men who attacked us probably came from a place just like this, and there are undoubtedly more on the road. It would be...irresponsible of us not to go down there. We need to see what we’re up against for ourselves. And gather supplies accordingly.”
Cosette nodded behind him, her eyes as wide as saucers, but the others were in no way fooled. Asher, in particular, seemed to think it was an absolutely ludicrous idea. He glanced only once between the fae before crossing his arms with a withering glare.
“It would be irresponsible, would it?”
“Yes,” Ellanden replied, nodding seriously, “quite.”
“And it wouldn’t have anything to do with you wanting that bow?”
There was a guilty pause as the fae’s eyes flickered down to the clearing. “You see, Ash, when I said we should stock up on supplies, that sort of implied—”
“Weapons,” the vampire muttered, shaking his head. “Yeah, I got it.”
“Perfect.” The prince smiled brightly, tucking his only remaining dagger into his belt. “So are we agreed? I’m sure at least one of those taverns has to have a vacancy...”
Evie and Asher shared an exasperated look before breaking with a grin. They were securing their own things a moment later. At this point, the princess really wished she was wearing clothes.
“So how exactly do you expect to purchase a room at one of these taverns if we don’t have any money?” She pulled the clasp on her cloak as tight as it would go. “Are you going to sleep with the proprietor, or should I?”
“Well, that depends entirely on the proprietor,” Ellanden answered practically.
Asher glanced up swiftly, but held his tongue. Just a quick look, but it was enough to catch the princess’ eye. She sauntered over to him with a smile, pulling him a few steps away.
“I’m sorry...am I not supposed to make those kinds of jokes now that we’re dating?”
Ellanden lifted his head curiously. “Was that a joke?”
“Not talking to you!” Evie called back before turning to the vampire with a sweet smile. “I could always tone it down a bit. Heaven forbid I make you fret.”
He flashed a grin, pulling her closer by the hips. “Fret? Do I look like I’m fretting to you?”
“You look about a second away from kissing me,” she breathed, tossing back her hair with a mischievous smile. “Not that I can blame you. After all, I am the girl who saved everyone from the kelpies. The same girl who freed you in a daring aquatic rescue, then saved you all over again by offering the blood from her very veins—”
“Yeah, I get it. You’re a hero.” He bent down and kissed her, soft as a dream. “You know, it occurs to me, I never did thank you for any of that.”
She shrugged coyly, stretching up on her toes to steal another. “I can think of several ways you could thank me.”
They kissed yet again, unable to stop.
“I could always get started right now,” he teased, looking her up and down. “Do you happen to be naked under that cloak—”
“And that’s all my gag reflex can handle,” Ellanden declared, clapping his hands briskly before gesturing down the bluff. “Let’s get a move on. The night’s wasting.”
The couple pulled apart with matching grins as the rest of them started heading down into the valley. Ellanden stood at the top, waving them along impatiently.
“That’s all your gag reflex can handle?” Freya scoffed, marching past him. “You’d make a terrible girl...”
* * *
AS IT TURNED OUT, THE settlement wasn’t nearly so bad as it had looked from a distance.
It was much, much worse.
Everywhere you looked, the place screamed danger. Oftentimes literally. There were swarms of roving goblins, packs of towering trolls. A lone banshee was sitting on an empty mead barrel, snacking on what looked suspiciously like a tray of human fingers. While a man with the legs of a spider was perched atop the local card house, ominously beckoning people inside.
But those were the creatures Evie was able to identify. There were many that she wasn’t.
Upon their rescue from the sorcerer’s cage, Cosette had warned the friends that the realm had changed in more ways than one. Not only had creatures of light becomes scarce and disbanded, but creatures of darkness had risen forth to take their place. Carpathians had come out of hiding, vampires moved freely about the land. She saw now, that was just the tip of the iceberg.
There were surely names for what she was seeing, but nothing leapt to mind. After only a few moments, they blended together into a single mindless terror—the kind of thing you’d read about in stories, but never see walking the streets in real life.
Beasts with blood-red eyes and clawed appendages roamed from one tavern to another. A pair of skeletal elk made their way slowly down the center of the road, dragging their antlers in the dust. There were changelings of all shapes and sizes, a clicking insectoid language that stung the ears.
As they stood there gawking, a cluster of wraithlike children swarmed past them in a little pack. Evie’s first instinct was to reach out to them, to protectively spirit them away from such a place. Then the one in back glanced over its shoulder—revealing the face of a snake and a body of pure black smoke. It flashed a bloody smile before vanishing with the others down the street.
“What was the word you used?” Asher asked quietly, watching as the man with the spider legs picked up a passing warlock and tore him in two. “...lovely?”
Freya tried to answer but she was staring in morbid fascination at the banshee, looking like she was going to be sick.
Ellanden clapped a hand over her eyes, steering them towards the tavern. “Come on, let’s get inside.”
* * *
THE ONLY DIFFERENCE between the tavern and the streets beyond was that one happened to be indoors. Aside from that, everything remained exactly the same. The level of noise, the casual displays of destruction. But most importantly, the clientele.
The friends ducked inside then froze, watching as girl with spiked tentacles seized a passing shifter and smashed him repeatedly into the wall. A nearby succubus nodded approvingly, muttering about promises of monogamy as the shifter in question dripped back down to the floor.
“New plan,” Freya whispered, turning around to face the others. “I vote that we march straight back to the forest and find a different way to get to the Dunes.”
The others were tempted to agree with her, but found themselves shaking their heads.
“These people didn’t come from nowhere,” Asher murmured, ducking as a half-full bottle of scotch went flying his way. “The whole middle country must be full of them. I hate to say it, but the fae are right. If we want to stand a chance out there, we’ll need to arm up.”
There was a piercing wail from the other side of the tavern, followed by a splash of blood.
“Tomorrow,” Ellanden clarified quickly, making a bee-line for the bar. “We’ll find some weapons tomorrow. In the meantime, I suggest we get the hell out of the way.”
The princess couldn’t agree with him more. It wouldn’t take much to lose one’s head in such a crowd. Tempers were high, patience was scarce. And everyone had consumed enough alcohol that if one were to simply light a match, there was a chance the entire place might explode.
All the more reason to get to bed.
“Excuse me?” Ellanden leaned across the counter, catching the bartender’s eye. “Who do I speak with about acquiring a room for the night?”
His beauty was enough to get him noticed, but the reputation of the fae provided some degree of protection as well. The other patrons glanced up curiously, but left him well enough alone.
The bartender, who appeared to be some sort of squid, rapped blindly on the wall behind him, mixing a constant stream of drinks with his other arms. A moment later, a bustling man in an apron stepped out behind the bar. He appeared normal enough, except he was ten feet tall.
“What is it?” he demanded, busy and impatient to have been disturbed. The squid-man made some series of beeps in reply, and he turned with sudden interest to the gang. “So, you’re interested in purchasing a room for the evening?”
Ellanden blinked quickly, then nodded his head. “Yes, are you the man to speak with about that?”
“Sure am.”
The man pointed to a sign above him, listing prices. The fae glanced up then emptied the contents of his pocket into the man’s hand. It was the only coin the group had left—stolen off the body of one of the men from the caravan. They stared after it nervously, aching to take it back.
“You got yourself a room,” the man said with a smile, handing the fae a key. “I even put you on the top story, just in case.”
Just in case? Was it somehow safer on the top story?
Her eyes flickered to the ceiling, while Ellanden flashed a tight smile.
“Thank you—”
“Stay a while,” the man interrupted, catching his arm. “You have a room, now why don’t you get yourself a drink? I’m sure there are plenty of people down here who’d love to share the company of such...” His eyes swept over the friends. “...an interesting group of people.”
Interesting? If it wasn’t so terrifying, Evie would have laughed. He works in THIS place day in and out, and he thinks that WE’RE the interesting ones?
Only later would she realize the chilling truth. In such a place, amidst a crowd of such deadly creatures, the little gang of companions stood out more than they would ever know.
Ellanden smiled again, casually extracting his arm. “Perhaps another time. We’ve travelled a long way. All we really want now is a bed.”
“Suit yourselves,” the proprietor chuckled, his eyes lingering as they vanished quickly up the stairs. “To be honest, it’s probably for the best...”
The friends took the steps five at a time, not daring to look down behind them. They’d almost reached the top of the stairs, when Asher cleared his throat softly, ducking onto the fourth-floor landing instead. With a little wink, he pulled a key from his pocket and opened the door.
“What is this?” Evie asked in astonishment as she and the others filed past him. “I thought we were at the top—”
“About fifteen people heard the guy say he put us at the top story,” Asher replied, locking the door safely behind them. “And by ‘people’ I mean whatever was drinking in that bar.”
She folded her arms with a shiver, watching as he and Ellanden dragged the wooden dresser across the floor, wedging it firmly against the rusted doorframe.
“What about the windows?” Freya asked with wide eyes. All the excitement from the bluff had vanished now that she’d actually seen the encampment up close. “Should we prop up the bed in front of them, or—”
“The windows would be our way out,” Ellanden cut her off, with an easy smile. “And you don’t have to worry about any of that. Ash and I will be keeping watch. You just get some sleep.”
Any other day, the witch would have argued. Any other day Evie would have rolled her eyes and Cosette would have sharply reminded him that they were perfectly capable of keeping watch themselves. But there were only a few hours until morning. And they desperately needed to sleep.
“If you’re sure,” she said brightly, jumping into bed. A second later she reconsidered, eyeing the mattress doubtfully before settling on the floor instead. “You’ll get no protest from me.”
Cosette settled down beside her, the blade of a dagger gripped snugly in her hand, while Evie stepped lightly over them and joined the boys at the window. Ellanden was already in his own world, staring in dark fascination at the chaos happening below. Asher’s attention was a bit more directed.
“What are you looking at?” she murmured, resting her chin on his shoulder.
He gestured silently and she followed his gaze.
Two people in dark cloaks were cutting swiftly through the bustling streets, keeping an even stride as the crowd parted before them like water. It was difficult to see much beneath their heavy hoods, but there was something strangely familiar about the way they carried themselves. Like they were floating instead of walking. Almost like—
“Are they vampires?” she whispered, stiffening in alarm.
In hindsight, she wished she hadn’t been leaning against him. He surely felt it when her muscles tensed involuntarily. Just like he heard the secret panic hidden beneath the words.
“Yep,” he said quietly, eyes never leaving them. A strange expression washed over him, followed by an even quieter sigh. “Of course you’d find vampires in a place like this.”
Ellanden flashed him a quick glance before attempting to lighten the mood. “Look around and you’ll also find witches and fae.” He cocked his head ‘discreetly’ towards Evie. “Not to mention a badly-trained wolf I’ve been meaning to speak with you about.”
The princess elbowed him sharply, while Asher flashed a faint smile. The vampires were gone now, vanished through the door of a tavern. Who knew what havoc they might wreak inside.
“All this...and our parents still left.”
The teasing abruptly faded as the others stared out the window as well. It was the thing none of them had been saying. The silent burden weighing constantly on their minds.
Never in a thousand years would such a thing have been allowed to exist under the reign of the young monarchs. They would have delighted in destroying it, doing so with such wild abandon that others would speak of it for years to come. No other such beasts would dare to assemble. The encampment would have been disassembled, allowing the previous tenants to reclaim the land.
“When Cosette saw this place, she didn’t look surprised,” Ellanden murmured softly. “When Freya was talking about the raiders who killed her adoptive parents, she didn’t sound surprised.” He stared a moment longer before turning to the others. “How could they have done it? How could they have given back the crown...and just left the kingdoms to tear themselves apart?”
Evie’s eyes hardened as she gazed out the window.
Since waking up from that enchanted sleep, she’d asked herself the same question. The more places they’d travelled, the more things they’d seen, the heavier it seemed to weigh. A part of her kept thinking there had to be some mitigating circumstance. A spell, or explosion, or anything at all that would explain her parents’ sudden exodus from the realm. They might not often admit it, they might have even lied if asked outright...but they loved sitting at the helm of the five kingdoms.
And it wasn’t just the people or the crown—they loved the responsibility. They loved being able to call the shots instead of being forced to watch things deteriorate at the mercy of others. The realm was precious to them, and there was no one they’d trust better to protect it than themselves.
So why did they walk away?
Evie stared another moment out the window before turning to her friends. “We’re going to ask them. We’re going to ask them that question ourselves.”
She didn’t know when, she didn’t know how. By the time they completed their fateful quest, it was very likely not all of them would be alive to do so. But that question needed an answer.
They would find a way.
“Now get some sleep,” she finished abruptly. “I’ll take first watch.”
