Chapter 129: Homecoming and Emergency

After leaving Jezalin, Squirt darted down the newest addition to the library with a touch of glee.

It was even better than she imagined. A direct line to the library anytime any greenling wished.

It was a beautiful thing, truly. It wasn’t even her indulgence when the lord himself had suggested it.

The greenling space would be relatively small, one hundred of them in a singular, though relatively large, central cavern under the castle. The majority of the ritual had been creating not just the greenling den, but the many varied escape tunnels purpose built for greenlings. They were small, for one. Their entrances were warded and hidden. Anyone who wasn’t a greenling would be known immediately to Lord Everwinter should they use the tunnels—except the one that connected the library, where anyone who used it would be known to him immediately for security reasons. Likewise for security reasons, the lord could cave in certain tunnels, like the one to the library, in an emergency. Certain areas of the library were now behind doors, allowing him an easy way to keep squishy fey like a certain lord prince nice and safe while leaving the rest of the library open to the greenlings.

And best of all?

Two tunnels led directly out to the Wylds beyond the Keep walls.

Those would also let the lord know every fey who used them, greenling or not, for the same security reasons as one connected to the library.

The tunnels themselves were dimly lit with a particular type of glow rock that would last for centuries. When one faded, it just needed to be recharged, which was a feat even a greenling could accomplish.

They were used sparingly in the tunnels, but in the central space—

Squirt paused as the tunnel widened into the larger, communal cave. A sunstone gleamed from the ceiling, illuminating things with a rich, bright light. One large, central place of carved stone. A pair of stairs led up to a balcony with hundred individual small rooms, each outfitted with soft beds of moss, offering privacy to those who wanted it.

Squirt doubted there would be many except those disappearing briefly to fuck where the elders wouldn’t catch them.

The elders never admonished those they caught.

No. Far worse.

They heckled.

Still, it was incredibly effective at keeping the fucking to quiet corners and back alleys and not in the middle of the sleeping pile.

Though that still happened on occasion. Never the same fey twice, oddly enough.

The central room had a large corner dedicated to a kitchen. A fire with the night’s stew was already blazing, a series of counters and cabinets set up as individual islands of different sizes and shapes. Most of the elders gathered around one, gossiping while they peeled potatoes. On the side opposite them were hot springs, natural deposits of warm mineral water and the reason the Keep was built where it was. The fey in the Keep had been using it for millennia to heat their water and the Keep at large with minimal magical input. It prevented the walls and streets from freezing even in the depths of winter.

Now, this resource would be shared with the greenlings. It would keep them warm at all hours and at all times of year.

Plus, it was a place to bathe.

Squirt leaned one shoulder into the rock, watching a couple of older—but not elder—greenlings debating the merits of bathing in hot water, the woman dubious and the man curious.

Funny. She couldn’t smell any rotten eggs. She’d read that hot springs smelled like rotted eggs, but when she brought up the concern with the lord, he’d waived her off with a knowing chuckle and said that Anvanil had that covered.

“Annnnnd here we go!” There was the pest, stepping out of another tunnel while carrying boxes and racing a couple of nameless ones, the children giggling.

Behind them, Squirt heard the call of Puds, “Careful, don’t drop those!”

The pest spun with a grin and called back, “If they do, I’ll catch it!”

Right on cue, the littlest one tripped. But her body simply lifted without her wings, her legs still running on air, the box perfectly balanced, before she was slowly and gently placed back down. Right back into running with a squealing giggle.

“Come, this way to the storage room, and then I’ll show the way to the kitchens!”

He managed to cajole them into the right direction, Puds walking after them at a more measured pace, bringing the box she carried straight to the elders with an exasperated smile.

Squirt couldn’t hear the words exchanged, but it was clearly a warm moment for them all. And oddly, for once, Squirt was comfortable watching from afar.

Puds turned, her eyes staring directly at the shadows where Squirt hid.

“Something wrong, dear?”

Puds studied the shadow for several long seconds before sighing and saying, “Nothing at all, Elder Grape.”

She turned back to her conversation with the elders, something full of clear laughter and familiarity. None of the stilted formalness they gave Squirt. But much like Puds’ femininity, Squirt found herself admiring it, instead of envying.

Why, she wasn’t certain.

Are we going to stand here all day, or are we going to actually converse like civilized fey?

Why are you so eager?

The little ones give the best pets. Quick, before they leave again!

Rolling her eyes at the utter sincerity with which he said this, she waved him on.

He yipped, racing out and growing back to his normal size as he did. As soon as he skidded into the storage room where the children had taken the boxes to, Squirt heard excited murmurs from the kids holding back their urge to squeal, all old enough to know why greenlings spoke quietly to each other, and young enough to know little else.

Straightening, Squirt slapped her cheeks before trotting out herself.

The adults that had been talking all fell silent at once, their eyes fixed on her. Puds noted their attention with a frown, turning back to glance at Squirt. One more quick glance around was all Puds needed, running social calculations in her head the way Squirt could runic.

By the time Squirt reached her, she could tell Puds made a decision. Squirt stiffened slightly when Puds took a step towards her, her box left on the countertop behind her. Squirt got a split second of realizing what she was doing before Puds threw her arms around Squirt’s shoulders and leaned.

Two decades of training was the only reason Squirt didn’t fall over flat, squished by the soft warmth that was Puds. Grunting with the effort, she caught the taller woman as she draped herself over Squirt in easy familiarity. Squirt could hear the smile in her voice as she said in greenling, “Welcome home, friend.”

Squirt’s fingers clung to Puds’ leathers, holding the other woman back. She didn’t speak, not trusting her voice.

Puds pulled back, her hands on Squirt’s shoulders, and her smile warm and welcoming in a way that had Squirt answering with a small smile tucked just into the corner of her lips.

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Smiling wider, Puds used a single finger to touch the corner of Squirt’s lips that were tilted up in a smile. “Copycat.”

Squirt scowled. “You can’t copy a smile. That doesn’t count.”

In a sing-song voice, Puds responded, “Looks like it doesn’t matter anymore.”

Their eyes met again, and both smiled, lost in the nostalgic argument that had played out between them hundreds of times as kids.

Puds put her hands on her hips. “So? What’s next?”

“Next? Next, we finish moving. Then we gather during half-light. All of us. I have some announcements to make.”

A few hours after Jul finally managed to convince Lord Valof to return to the Hunter’s Clearing, Jul dragged himself up the hill to the Keep, intent on informing Lord Everwinter about the situation and the strange rumors about the Queen he’d overheard in the tavern. With any luck, when Jul returned to the Hunter’s Clearing, he’d have some kind of answer to give the head of the infamous Valof Family that would placate the stubborn old man.

The last time he’d heard gossip about the Valof Family, they had interrupted a celebration at the palace when an ill-timed experiment sent viscous pink goo into the air, dropping it on half of the city, a rumor that was noted as being, “another wild event caused by the most troublesome Family.” Then again, that was just a rumor he’d heard, so maybe things hadn’t been as dire as all that.

Regardless, he was fairly certain no member of the Valof Family was allowed to do any experiments within a mile of the palace.

After dealing with the man for a few days, Jul wouldn’t be surprised if all the rumors were true. Lord Valof cared nothing for formalities of any kind, though at least his experimental tech was on the small end of the scale.

Trudging through the castle halls to the lord’s office, Jul was briefly stunned to see Lady Cirn standing across from the door in the hall, her arms crossed, her posture casual. Berry stood by her side, her posture as formal as Lady Cirn’s was not.

Had she been here this whole time, or…?

His steps faltering, he froze when her gaze turned towards him, his heart rioting in his chest.

Gods, she was beautiful.

He swore his cheek still stung from the last time he’d called her that.

Clearing his throat awkwardly and knowing he was in no way hiding the blush on his cheeks, he gestured vaguely at the door. “I, that is… is the lord in?”

The lady straightened stiffly and nodded. “He is.”

“And… you’re waiting for…?”

She didn’t fidget like he did, her gaze shifting away from him and back towards the door. “They are indisposed at present.”

“Ah.” He thought about it. “The ritual?”

She gave a noncommittal gesture.

“Hm.”

Meaning she had been here, waiting, for hours.

He should probably leave. Head back to the hunter’s clearing. He’d missed out on training today when Tobias ordered him to chase after Lord Valof, and frankly, he was startled to realize he missed it. His stealth was steadily improving. Having always been talented with magic, it had been a revelation to find something with which he genuinely struggled.

And the huntress had been right. Twice already in the last week since he’d been back, he had been called on for larger hunting parties, his innate magical strength making up for the failures in stealth during the spring.

Instead, Jul took up a spot on the wall, telling himself he would return with plenty of time to join the trainees practicing their stealth in the Wylds around the clearing. That he had important information on how Lord Everwinter might placate Lord Valof’s interest in the huntress, and on the rumors he heard spoken about in the tavern regarding the Queen.

Things he could share with Lady Cirn and have her pass on.

Instead, the two stood in awkward silence, neither looking at each other. The minutes dragged on. Occasionally, a fey would pass them in the halls on their way somewhere, giving them curious glances before continuing on.

Jul struggled.

Surely his parents weren’t nearly this awkward when they discovered their own fated status?

Though then again, with his mother’s betrayal…

Perhaps it was that line of thinking that had him speaking so suddenly, his voice cracked. “It’s, uh, a surprise to see you still with us, Lady Cirn.” He winced but continued. “I would have thought you’d have returned to the lord prince, by now.”

He’d moped about it for days, actually, before Tobias said she was still in the castle.

She didn’t answer, shifting her stance, one hand on the pommel of her blade, her fingers stroking it. “I… have given my allegiance to Everwinter. Temporarily, at least.”

“Wait, you have?”

“Mm.” The sound was short, less of a hum and more of a single syllable response.

“… was… there a reason?”

“Mm.”

“Was it…” The hope burst in his chest. Had she stayed for him?

Just under the veil, he could see the slight wrinkle to her brow of confusion, their eyes meeting briefly before she glanced back away. “I’m not one willing to abandon my charge.”

It took him several seconds to parse what she meant, his eyes dropping down to Berry by her side. Berry’s stance and expression remained perfectly neutral, not engaging further, leaving the subject of Lady Cirn’s declaration unclear.

But with the protective way she’d stood between Berry and Lord Valof… “Ah.”

Silence fell between them again. Jul wracked his brain, trying to come up with something more to say when the door was thrown open.

There was Lady Kenna, bags under her red rimmed eyes from overextension of her magic, sharp and assessing despite the slightly disheveled appearance.

Both fatas straightened immediately.

She nodded once. “You’ll do. In, now.”

They jumped to obey.

In the room, the lord sat exhausted behind his desk, Lord Anvanil weakly slumped on the right couch looking like he’d just woken from a nap. At their entrance, the lord’s eyes opened. He gave them both a tight nod. “Lady Cirn, can you cast flying magic?”

She stiffened and nodded. “Yes, my lord.”

“And you, Jul?”

“I, uh… I can, my lord.”

“Good.” Reaching into his desk, he pulled out a rolled up map that he then spread out over his desk. Jul paled when he realized the man was, for once, not caring about appearances or neatness, simply spreading out the map over various piles of papers and muddling them together.

Jul stepped close enough to peer down at the map, studying it as the lord pointed to an Everwinter village south of the river. “I’ve just received a beacon call from Telos here. I will send you both there now to provide support.”

“What’s the situation?”

“I know nothing more than the smoke and devastation of the village.” He hesitated, his features grim, but did not elaborate.

Jul paled.

The lord’s commanding air returned, something nameless that was not hampered by the clear exhaustion in his eyes. “I will send you two there now as the forward party. Should there be survivors, your priority will be their safety, first and foremost. Lowvyn?”

Jul glanced behind him to see the attendant appear through the tunnel, followed closely by a greenling clutching a stack of boards and a charcoal pen, his eyes wide with surprise.

“Run down to Quint, ask her for whatever potions we can spare.”

Lowvyn rushed out while Lady Cirn asked, “Lady Jezalin—”

“Has left, and has since been called to another emergency she is attending to now. She servers Fer’ich, not Everwinter. You two are to support Telos in any recovery and aid. Prioritize survivors.”

Jul asked, “And if there are none?”

“Then find some kind of evidence as to what exactly has caused this. You have my permission to remain out for up to a week to investigate any leads.”

Lady Cirn stiffened, her gaze dropping to the greenling at her side briefly before returning to the lord, her posture awkward and deeply uncomfortable. “I, that is… my lord, I—”

“Either take her with you or leave her behind.” The words were not unkind, though the lord was clearly focused on other problems, his eyes staring at the map as if it could give him the answers he sought.

Lady Cirn hesitated, shifting her weight and gripping the pommel of her blade.

The lord glanced up at her, saying bluntly, “You have until Lowvyn returns to decide. Do have everything else you need to travel?”

The lady gave a single nod. Jul said, “I have a few weapons and things at the Hunter’s clearing, but I can go without.” He’d gotten used to being summoned at the drop of a hat, finding wisdom in the huntress’s habit of carrying everything she needed on her person at all times.

There was clear relief on the lord’s tight face at that.

Jul glanced at the wide eyed, conflicted expression just barely visible on Lady Cirn’s face. Taking a step closer, he murmured, “Leaving her behind is safer.”

The lady glared at him, whispering back, “One of her people was taken not two days ago. The redcaps are the only reason there weren’t more.”

“The redcaps?” He’d heard a couple of people muttering things about the redcaps in town but wasn’t sure how they were connected to the greenlings. What had happened while he was doing his duty as a hunter?

Regardless, it was clear Lady Cirn was torn. Being primarily a guard, the idea of leaving her charge unattended was probably counter to everything she’d ever learned in the course of her duty. Especially if she had changed her allegiance to Everwinter just for that duty.

Stepping around her, Jul bent down to be eye level with the calm, collected Berry. She did not look him in the eye, her polite shell unperturbed by the chaotic atmosphere. “Berry?”

She bowed to him. “Yes, my lord?”

He wasn’t a lord, but now wasn’t the time to argue. “Do you want to stay or come with us?”

“Whichever you wish, my lord.”

Jul groaned, rubbing his hands down his face. “Look, we can’t guarantee your safety either way.”

The other greenling appeared at her other side, murmuring something so quietly that, while Jul could hear the sounds and words, he couldn’t seem to grasp the meaning. In response, she gave Jul a single glance, then said something back that Jul also couldn’t seem to understand.

Frustrating though it was to feel left out of a conversation happening a foot in front of him, he was careful to stay quiet.

Finally, the other greenling gave him a bow. “Berry will stay here, my lord.”

Jul gave him a grateful nod, though he wasn’t sure what exactly had just transpired.

The door opened quickly, and Lowvyn returned with a dimensional bag. “Twenty healing potions, a variety of other supplies including shelf safe food and clean water. Turn it inside out when you get there to empty it.”

Lady Cirn accepted the bag, glancing down at Berry, clearly uncomfortable with the separation.

Though she said nothing, Jul was fairly certain Berry was more than a little exasperated with Lady Cirn. Instead, the smaller woman simply bowed as was appropriate, stepping back with the other greenling towards the back corner of the office.

Lady Cirn gave the lord her own bow before regally striding from the room. Jul followed a beat behind. Within minutes, they had found the exit and launched themselves off into the sky.

It wasn’t until after they were in the air that he remembered his insight into Lord Valof and those troubling rumors he had intended to report on about the Queen mating a greenling.

But surely, those were just rumors.