Autumn Rebel Page 3

  With the conversation loud, the laughter strident, the food and alcohol flowing, no one else heard her, or so I hoped. I didn’t know much about her, but from the little I had seen, I could only imagine her reputation wasn’t so pristine.

  Neither was mine.

  I let myself fall into her trap and leaned closer to her over the table. She started talking about her father, who had been a well-known White Knight under Cade’s rule, then shifted the topic to me.

  “I hear people calling you the rebel prince,” she said almost purring. “I like rebels.” She went on, but I didn’t really hear much else of what she had to say. Every time I tried to focus on her mouth, on what I would have her do with it in an hour or so later, my mind took off in another direction, toward someone I promised myself I wouldn’t think of again.

  Who was I kidding?

  I always thought of her. Even when I was busy with training, fighting, entertaining my men, she was always in the back of my mind, waiting for her turn, taunting me, making me miserable.

  With a heavy sigh, I leaned back on my chair, my interest in the silver-haired fae gone. My hand rested on the dagger fastened to my belt, a habit I couldn’t shake.

  Suddenly, the conversation and sounds around the table stopped. Movement to my left caught my attention, and I turned to find out what had made everyone so quiet.

  Mahaeru walked into the dining hall.

  Everyone rose, including Cade, Amber, and I, and bowed to the goddess.

  Her long, black hair fell like a curtain behind her back, and her black gown gave the impression that she was always ready for a funeral.

  “Mahaeru,” Amber said, taking a step closer. “What brings you here?”

  “I have important news to deliver,” the goddess said, her voice plain.

  Cade braced himself. “What is it?”

  Then, Mahaeru’s eyes found mine. “Prince Redlen, I’m afraid you must go back home.”

  I frowned. “What for?”

  “Sea elves’ ships are approaching the coast.”

  My stomach dropped. No, this couldn’t be. I glanced at Cade.

  He nodded once at me. “You must go.”

  Lennox placed a hand on my shoulder. “Let’s go.”

  I gulped the sudden anxiety brewing inside of me. After so many years away, it seemed I was going home.

  4

  Blair

  The palace whirled with activity.

  The queen didn’t receive the news well, and almost fainted. Libra, her handmaid, rushed into the sunroom and helped her to her chambers, where the palace’s healer would be waiting for her. The princess and Willow followed the queen. My mother wanted to go with them, but she was sent home—she wasn’t happy about that. Lugh had told me to go with my mother, but I had insisted on staying so I could help him.

  While Lugh went to the barracks to talk to his soldiers and issue orders, I stayed back at the palace, where I instructed the staff on how to proceed—they all grew tense and agitated with the news. I also called on capital officials and asked Lugh to spare me a few soldiers so we could do something about Masarn. Though the capital was far from the coast, news of the incoming enemies would spread like wildfire, and agitation would follow. We had to contain the news, keep the fae calm, and assure them we had a plan.

  I had studied the history of the Autumn Court, of all Wyth, for all my life, and I couldn’t remember one time when the sea elves had invaded our kingdom and pushed inland. As far I as I knew, they had never been close to the capital, but of course, if it came to that, we would evacuate the capital. And for that, we needed preparations well ahead of time.

  There was no rhyme or reason behind the sea elves’ attacks. At least, no one had found one yet. All we knew was that their land was a miserable place, unsuitable for a quiet, peaceful life, and every so often they came to Wyth, to the Autumn Court specifically, wanting our lands.

  King Linden had died after a battle with the sea elves many years ago. He had been successful in sending the enemies back to the sea—the ones who had survived the bloody battle—but he had succumbed after. It wasn’t even because he had been injured by the blade of a sea elf. It had been because of the sea plague.

  Some sea elves carried a virus that was inoffensive to them, but quite deadly to us. During the contact in battle, the virus spread. Most of the fae infected died.

  When King Linden passed away, Queen Aurelia shut down, and Lugh, being the crown prince, assumed the kingdom's reign. In the beginning, he kept telling me it was temporary. Only until his mother recovered from the shock and sadness, but Queen Aurelia never recovered, and Lugh never backed down.

  He was a king without a crown.

  He didn’t need one, though. The Autumn Court fae adored him, and his soldiers admired him. They would give their lives in an instant for their prince.

  As would I.

  That was why I had sent Jora home to grab my armor and my sword. When she came back, I went into one of the many washrooms in the palace, and changed my dress into leather pants, a tunic, and a vest, and attached the less bulky pieces of my armor—vambraces, rerebraces, and fauld. I also fastened my sword belt to the fauld. The rest, I kept inside the leather satchel so I could put them on later. Thankfully, my armor was much less complicated and heavy than most soldiers.

  After getting ready, I went to the barracks with Jora and Sage trailing my steps. Perry had long ago left me to help get the palace ready for an attack.

  Just where the path leading to the barracks ended before opening to the main training grounds, Lugh stood with General Barric and the other captains, talking in hushed tones. Behind them, a wave of soldiers rushed to ready for battle.

  General Barric was the first to see me approaching. His eyes rounded and he bowed his head at me. “Lady Blair.”

  Lugh turned. His eyes found mine and a deep knot adorned his brows. “What are you doing?”

  “I’m going with you,” I said, deadpan.

  The knot deepened. “No, you’re not.”

  “That’s not your choice.”

  With a huff, Lugh glanced at the fae behind him. “Excuse us for a moment.”

  The fae dipped their chins and walked away, out of earshot, and Lugh walked closer to me.

  “I know you’re going to the coast to see exactly what is happening, and I want to go with you.” My voice remained calm, but firm. I wouldn’t give him a chance to tell me no.

  “Blair, I don’t know what we’ll encounter there. I can’t risk having you with me.”

  “Like I said, this is not your choice,” I repeated. “Why can the future king of the Autumn Court risk his neck, and the future queen can’t? I want to protect this kingdom as much as you, and you know I can fight. I can defend myself, and even help, if it comes to it.”

  “Please, Blair, don’t put me in this position.”

  “What position? Lugh, I’m not trying to undermine you. I’m trying to help. Please, let me help. Let the fae see how united we are, how we even fight our battles together.” I fought the urge to put my hands on my hips—that would seem childish. “Besides, you can’t really stop me. If I want, I’ll grab my horse and follow you. I’m going either way. I just thought it would be easier if you agreed and let me go by your side.”

  Lugh groaned. He closed his eyes for a second, then looked at me again. “Fine,” he said, his voice tight. He didn’t seem pleased, but I was relieved. I thought I would have to argue with him longer. “But stay close to me. And at the first sign of trouble, I want you to flee. Got it?”

  I wouldn’t flee. I was going to help, but right now, I would agree to anything. “Yes,” I said, feeling a little exhilarated.

  “All right.” He glanced up and down at my armor. “I see you’re ready. We’re leaving in thirty minutes.”

  Lugh and I rode at the front of the long procession of soldiers. More had been called from the reserves situated across the kingdom, though the orders were to stay quiet about what was happening.
The last thing we needed right now was panic spreading and creating chaos.

  Thankfully, I had convinced Jora to stay back—having her pampering me while I was worried about a battle would be too much. But I didn’t even try to talk to Sage about it. After all, protecting me was his life’s job.

  We rode for two days, as fast and with as few stops as the horses could take. A few elite soldiers went ahead of us in their fox forms, to scout and to set up camp, if we ended up needing one.

  Finally, on the morning of the third day, we entered the wide road that led to one of the coast outposts—these outposts were small fortress with tall towers and strong walls. From there, soldiers watched the sea.

  We passed through the camp as it took shape, and rode closer to the Mor Caer, the fortress from where the sea elves had been spotted this time. The tension in Lugh and the soldiers grew with each step our horses took.

  “My prince,” General Barric said, bringing his horse to Lugh’s side.

  “I know,” Lugh said, his voice tight. His eyes were on the tall tower in the distance. The sun rose from the sea, illuminating the brown stone fortress and making the red vines growing over its side shine like blood. “The soldiers should have been back already.”

  I frowned. “The soldiers who went ahead.”

  “Yes,” Lugh said. “I’m hoping they were detained by some quick matter, other than sea elves.” Lugh raised his closed hand. The entire battalion stopped two seconds later. “And the scouts sent to the sea?”

  “Those came back, your highness,” General Barric informed him. “And they said the ships are a good way from the coast yet. If we wanted, we could make a stand on the beach to stop them.”

  Lugh’s brow furrowed. “It has been days since we were informed of their approach, and they are still not here?”

  “You think it’s a trap?” I asked, thinking the same.

  “I hope it isn’t,” he said. “I hope I’m mistaken and that for some reason the sea elves are still waiting on others and that’s why they haven't come ashore.”

  “Your highness, the scouts said they ran the beach north and south for several miles and didn’t find any foreign ships or vessels,” the general assured him. “I don’t think it’s a trap.”

  “One can never be too careful.” Lugh still stared at the tower, as if seeing something we didn’t. “We’ll go to Mor Caer’s gates and check it out, but we can’t risk taking all of my soldiers into the fortress.” In case it was a trap—I could hear his unsaid words in my mind.

  “I can go with a small group, your highness,” General Barric said.

  “I’ll be going too,” Lugh said.

  “What?” I asked, incredulous. “If it is a trap, then you need to stay back.”

  “I agree with Lady Blair, my prince,” General Barric said.

  “I can’t appear weak in front of our enemy.” Lugh glanced from the general to me. “I’ll be going with my soldiers.”

  I held tight to the reins in my hands. “Then I’m going with you.”

  Of course, Lugh argued with me about going with him, but I didn’t care. Once again, I reminded him, he had no say in what I did.

  Sage was another one who complained about having to follow me into Mor Caer. As we approached the fortress, he grumbled that he would have preferred staying behind with the other soldiers, prepping our camp, a couple of miles back.

  Lugh decided to take only a hundred soldiers with us. General Barric went ahead and called for the gates of Mor Caer to be opened. Slowly, the heavy wooden gates were pulled up and a line of Autumn soldiers appeared behind them—all dressed in dark brown and burgundy uniforms. The soldiers stepped back and allowed us to ride in the fortress.

  Lugh glanced around, at the small open area between the tower and the first houses inside the fortress. “Where’s your magistrate?”

  “Here.”

  We turned to see a figure walking out of the tower, his uniform ill-fitting, and his face pale.

  Too pale to be an Autumn fae.

  Lugh and I realized what was happening instantly, but it was too late. We drew our swords as the gates closed behind us, cutting us off from half of the soldiers who were supposed to be here with us, and the soldiers who had opened the gates for us turned, their weapons at ready.

  These weren’t fae. These were sea elves. They had dressed in our clothes, dyed their hair so it was darker and looked like ours, and even stolen our weapons.

  My stomach dropped.

  If they were here, if they had taken the fortress, what had they done with the fae who were supposed to be here?

  The soldiers who had entered with us formed a circle around Lugh and me. Sage stayed by my side, tension rolling off his body in waves.

  The sea elf who had pretended to be the magistrate walked closer, as close as he could without being pierced with a blade should a soldier try to stab him, and smiled at us—a defiant grin that sent shivers up my arms.

  “My dear prince,” he said, his thick accent filled with disdain and sarcasm. “I was starting to wonder if you would show up.”

  I glanced around as the sea elves revealed themselves. They were tall and slim, with long limbs and unusual fair skin, almost white in the sunlight. Their ears were pointed like ours, but longer, and their hair was white or light blond and cut in different styles. Their eyes, thin slits on their angular faces, were either yellow or light orange. Some of them sharpened their teeth, and I often wondered if they ate fae flesh too, or if those were for show.

  “You seem to know who I am,” Lugh said. “Perhaps I should know who you are?”

  “But of course.” The sea elf bowed his head. “I’m Ta’hun, one of the chiefs under our leader, Su’jin.”

  I didn’t remember any Ta’hun from the history books I had read depicting the sea elves’ invasions, but I did remember a Su’jin. He had been one of their chiefs in the last invasion, the one that killed the king.

  Lugh's brow furrowed. He had realized that too. “I suppose there isn’t anything I can offer you for your retreat.”

  Ta’hun shook his head. “We’ll stop once we have claimed Wyth.”

  I clenched my hands into fists and clamped my mouth before I spoke up and created more problems. I wanted to ask them why they seemed so invested in taking our lands. Why they kept coming back, even though we defeated them every time. There had to be a reason. History books mentioned their own land was inhabitable, but the truth was, no one knew that for sure. We had never captured a sea elf alive who was willing to tell us the details of their land.

  All we had were guesses.

  “I thought you would say that,” Lugh muttered. For a brief moment, his shoulders sagged, as if he was tired of this battle already, and it had barely started. Then, he straightened and faced Ta’hun. “You know we won’t go down so easily.” Lugh raised his hand and the soldiers around us readied themselves.

  “Oh, I expect that, my prince.” Ta’hun offered us another wicked grin. “But don’t worry. This time, our plan won’t fail, and soon, your Autumn Court will be ours.”

  “Not if—”

  In the blink of an eye, Ta’hun grabbed a spear from one of the other sea elves and threw it at Lugh. It was so fast, so unexpected, no one had time to react. Before I realized what had happened, Lugh had a spear deep in his chest and he slid down his horse.

  “Attack!” General Barric cried.

  Shouts and the clank of metal echoed through the fortress, but my mind, my focus was locked on the crown prince. Pushing down my panic, I jumped from my horse and rushed to Lugh. Sage was beside me, and with his help, I grabbed Lugh’s shoulders and eased him to the ground.

  On my knees, I hovered over him, my eyes on the giant spear protruding from his chest and the copious amount of blood seeping from the wound.

  “By the chilly wind,” I muttered. My vision blurred with tears. I cupped the crown prince’s face. “Lugh? Can you hear?”

  “Blair,” he whispered, his trembling hand
reaching for me. His eyes blinked fast, as if he wanted to clear them up so he could see. “I’m …” He coughed and blood dripped down his chin.

  Oh, no, no.

  The woosh of wind sounded over my head. In a flash, Sage was up and pushing back the blade that had come for my head. I dared glancing around and the pit of despair that had opened in my chest the moment Lugh fell only grew deeper.

  Ta’hun and his sea elves were cutting through us like we were weeds. The fae soldiers on the other side of the gates were doing all they could to open it. When they were able to lift it up by a foot, they placed something underneath it, and a few slipped inside to help us.

  But the bodies were piling up around us. They shouldn’t come in; we had to get out.

  When Sage knelt back beside me, I said, “Help me.” I hooked my arm around Lugh’s and tried hoisting him up.

  “Lady Blair,” Sage said, his tone grave.

  “Don’t Lady Blair me,” I snapped. “Just help me.”

  “Blair,” Lugh whispered. More blood came from his mouth. “Stop.” He took my hand in his. “There’s … nothing you can do.” He pushed his sword toward me. “Sage. Get her out of here.”

  “What? No!” I held Lugh’s arms, but his head lolled back and his eyes closed. His arms fell to his sides. I stared at him in utter horror. “No, no.”

  Ta’hun was right there, standing by Lugh’s head. He smiled at me and swung his sword. I didn’t move. I watched as the blade came for me. Suddenly, two pairs of arms took hold of me and pulled me back. I didn’t see much of what happened next—only that somehow I was holding Lugh’s sword and retreating from the fortress.

  Leaving Lugh behind.

  When I finally came to my senses, I was atop my horse, watching as the sea elves surrounded Lugh’s body. Standing with a foot on top of Lugh’s chest, Ta’hun smiled at us, teasing. Taunting.