“Una you are being ridiculous,” Dawn said quickly.
“Perhaps I am,” she said glancing at her daughter. “But preemptive measures and caution are the best tools to prevent a disaster.”
Dawn walked down the circular hallway alongside her mother. The high walls of the corridor were smooth white stone. Opposite them were windows overlooking the forest of their lands. If she wanted to Dawn could press open one of those windows and jump right into the forest.
“But una, to forbid me from leaving the castle without an escort of guards. I’m not a child. Even more so the threat of the nil has been almost nonexistent for the past three years.”
“So, you believe that means we should lax our guard,” her mother asked.
“No una. It means that I should not be watched and hovered over. I am not some frail child. I fought in the war alongside everyone else.”
“I am very aware. I do this to protect you, my lela, and also my grandchildren.”
Dawn turned around to face her mother and glared at her, her own eyes tinged with red along the edges. “Do not use my children as an excuse to justify your fears una.”
The two women stopped just shy of the staircase and stared at one another. And it was like looking in a mirror. Her skin was the same ethereal white as her daughters, her hair swept to the side was white as snow, and her eyes a deep sapphire blue. Her features were like her daughters but sharper and angular as if chiseled from crystal.
Around her throat was a simple necklace of a circle with a diamond in the center with four diamonds within it. She moved with a grace befitting of her station and pressed her fingers together. She wore a simple dark blue dress with a translucent shawl around her shoulders. In contrast, Dawn wore a sleeved dress that was a pale off white.
The silence stretched between them and Dawn took a slow breath. She continued to breathe until the red in her eyes faded away into a more docile orange teetering on blue. She looked at her mother and stood straighter, calmer.
“Our relationship used to be icy,” she said softly. “But we’ve grown to a place that I almost never thought that we could find.”
Her mother sighed her eyes tinted orange as well, “Indeed, we have Dawn. And the last thing I want is to jeopardize that. I do not want anything happening to you my lela.”
Dawn paused as she looked at her mother, “What could possibly have happened to make you take such pause?”
“I am the faerie queen and this is our kingdom. We cannot be too careful,” Her eyes returned to blue as they walked. “I will elaborate more of this during the meeting this afternoon.”
“Another meeting?” Dawn asked exasperated. They both moved and entered the spire of the spiral staircase taking it down a flight. “How can there be more to discuss? We spoke for nearly half the day yesterday.”
“There is always more to discuss my lela,” she said and then motioned to the doorway.
“I simply wanted a relaxing day to spend with my family,” Dawn said more to herself.
They passed through stepping on soft carpet and there were many more voices here. Workers bustling back and forth doing their morning chores to clean and maintain the castle. As they walked through the hallway they entered the dining hall and things only got louder. It was a massive room with three long tables that could seat everyone who worked in the castle and then some. Like many places within the castle there were large windows at the far side of the hall letting in the sunlight. There was even an open area where tables could be set up to eat outside.
A few people were eating already who Dawn waved and greeted. The queen and her daughter walked to the head table, a long oval shaped one. It was always maintained with clean silverware, glasses, and plates. As the pair of them approached a servant came forward lowering his head.
He was as pale as the two women before him with equally white hair. He smiled at the pair of them, “Lady Dawn. Queen Madeline. It’s wonderful to see you this morning. We’ve just made a fresh batch of bread and have tarts in the oven. Unless you request something different?”
“That all sounds wonderful,” Dawn replied smiling easily her eyes shifting to orange again. “I know that Sefirin is going to want more tarts than we can rightfully eat. Though I know that we’re introducing more solid food for Silva. Oatmeal and whatever fresh fruit you have on hand for her please.”
“I believe we just received a batch of strawberries,” he said bowing his head. “And what of you, your majesty?”
“Bread and fruit will suffice for myself. And a jug of cold water.”
“Right away,” he bowed again and disappeared to the kitchen.
Madeline closed her eyes, resting her fingers together and she went still. Loosely Dawn could feel her magic sweep over her. She was overlooking the castle in one fell swoop. Checking on her domain as if she had eyes in the sky to overlook it all. A spell that could only be cast by the queen of the kingdom.
“Ah your majesties. I didn’t expect you to be here this early but I’m glad to see you.”
Madeline didn’t open her eyes but Dawn turned to the familiar voice and gave a tired but still embarrassed smile. “Al I’ve told you many times. You don’t’ have to refer to me that way.”
Alastor was an average height man with curly black hair that he made constant efforts to smooth. He had thin brown eyes, a broad nose, and a wide mouth oftentimes in a relaxed and knowing grin. He wore a black shirt, tucked into brown pants and black boots. In one arm he had a notepad currently a few pages flipped over. “Oh, I know. But it’s personally funny.”
Dawn puffed out her cheeks which just made him laugh all the more, “What brings you to breakfast. Don’t you normally eat in your room?”
“I do but we have a meeting this morning. And I suspect it’s going to be an extensive one,” he glanced at Madeline and bowed his head as she opened her eyes.
“As one of my lela’s friends and sharpest minds, your presence is required and opinion valued,” Madeline said.
“You’re too kind your majesty,” Alastor dipped his head again. “I just do my best to see the big picture. And to wrangle in my unruly friends.”
“Speaking of Lightning. Is he going to be present?” Dawn asked arching an amused eyebrow.
He was already shaking his head his expression deflating to mild irritation, “Thankfully no. We don’t need a blunt instrument right now.”
“I take it then you know the occasion for this meeting then?”
“Calling it a meeting is being generous,” he said his tone growing serious. “But there’s been troubling reports across the country. I don’t want to alarm you but I fear what it could mean in the near future.”
That made Dawn sit a little bit straighter and glance at her mother. But she gave nothing away with her expression. Dawn looked closer for any hint of what her mother may have seen or heard, especially to tell her to not leave the castle, but there was no giveaway. Frowning harder she glanced at Alastor who was looking around at them.
“So where are my sister, Nero, and the kids?”
Dawn glanced at her hand and stared at the golden band on her finger. Covering it she closed her eyes chanting under her breath. Her ring warmed and she could sense the two of them. She couldn’t see exactly where they were but she could feel them near the castle and they were getting closer.
“I think they’ll be here soon,” she said and even now she felt the shift of her eyes from orange to pink in excitement. “Very soon in fact. I’m going to go greet them.”
She got up leaving the table and went straight to the window. Waving her hand, it opened wide letting in bird song and a chill breeze. Spreading her arms, she took a deep breath staring at the open area. They had had parties out here a few times out here, weather permitting. This also wasn’t the first time that an early morning flight led to breakfast.
Nero and Sefirin came down first stumbling from their momentum. Nero hopped as he landed and spun around as Sefirin glided into Dawn. She caught him and spun around. “Una! Una! I flew! I can fly real good now! I flew with mommy and I was super fast! Mommy couldn’t catch me at all!”
Her eyes turned to a brilliant pink as she looked at him, “Oh really? Is that a fact?”
Nero walked past, kissed her lightly, and smiled at him, “I can’t say for sure. I arrived late. Though he’s much better at sneaking up on people.”
“I did. I snuck up on daddy,” he said proudly
“That he did,” Nero winked and she only smiled wider.
“I’m impressed. Now go sit with your q’una,” Dawn turned and set him down on the ground. He wobbled slightly, spreading his wings for balance and then started running inside. Nero started to say something when his excited son flared his wings out mid step. “Go catch our ola.”
Lily landed next walking forward as Silva turned around staring at Dawn. Silva reached out to her and Dawn took one of her hands shaking it gently. She looked back at Lily beaming up at her. “She stop being fussy?”
“Yes. It took a lot of flying to get there,” she leaned forward rubbing her nose against Silva’s as she giggled again. “And as you know once Nero got there it was like magic.” But she turned to look at Dawn and tilted her head to the side. She adjusted Silva and then reached out stroking Dawn’s cheek and across her neck lightly. “You okay baby?”
Dawn reached up and took her hands pressing and rubbing her face against Lily’s palm. She sighed looking back at her the pink of her eyes turning green for a moment, “I don’t know luza. Una won’t allow me to leave the castle without a routine of guards. Some. I don’t know. Premonition she’s had. It’s ridiculous.”
“I’m sure she has her reasons that will be discussed in some sort of meeting,” Lily rolled her eyes giving her a teasing grin. Dawn made a face at her but smiled. Leaning down Lily kissed her gently pressing her forehead against hers. “Let’s get breakfast and then worry about potential problems later baby. If we’re lucky these meetings won’t take the whole day.”
Dawn blushed her eyes turning pink bordering on white, “You know how to cheer a girl up.”
“I’ve had a few years of practice,” she winked walking back inside.
They all sat around the table, Dawn still sitting beside her mother but she had Silva on the other side of her. Lily sat on the other side of Silva and between the two of them they could make sure that she ate properly without making too much of a mess. Of the few traits she could inherit, she inherited her brother’s messiness while eating. Alastor sat beside Lily, Nero at his side with Sefirin between him and Madeline.
He sat up high in his chair, his wings only half spread as he had been called out by his parents once now about spreading his wings at the table. But he leaned over to Madeline and stared at her with wide brown eyes. “Q’una. You can fly. You can fly right?”
Madeline looked down at him and it was one of the few moments her eyes ever changed colors. The deep blue of them bleeding away to a soft pink that blended together with the blue. “Yes Sefirin. I can fly. In much the same way as yourself.”
“Like me?” he looked over his shoulder then stared at her with wide eyes. “You have wings? Really? For reals?” he asked gripping the table cloth tightly for balance. But as he stared at her he screwed up his face trying to understand the obviously missing wings. “Where are they?”
She chuckled shaking her head and held out her hand. Sefirin stared at it confused for a moment then placed his tiny one in hers. She pulled him forward gently out of his chair and he walked closer to her. Kneeling down she let him touch her jacket. The material was soft and thin, almost like it wasn’t even there which just confused the child more.
“It’s a jacket?” he asked.
Madeline shook her head and tapped his nose gently. “No o’ola. Concentrate and see with your eyes.”
“With my eyes?” he repeated confused and glanced back at his father.
Nero smiled and winked at him and understanding dawned on him. His eyes widened but then his stomach growled. Just in time waiters came through from the kitchen. One came with a large platter of fresh tarts and pies while another brought in a fresh plate of bread. Finally, another came with a small bowl of oat meal and fruit, handing it to Dawn who placed it down in front of Silva. Lily took a spoon while Dawn got a napkin around her neck in preparation.
Nero reached over, taking a tart, a triangle of a pastry and Sefirin took one for himself. He ate it in two big bites glancing at Nero. Nero was doing the same thing and as they both finished, they smiled at each other. However, Nero reached over and wiped at his mouth cleaning it of jam. Fed, he turned back toward Madeline who was cutting an apple into slices.
Curling his hands into fists he stared at his grandmother closely. It was subtle, like the first drop of rain on a cloudy day. Most people missed it but all three of his parents noticed it immediately. A small spike in magical energy entirely his own. He looked at Madeline, really looked at her, and blinked hard.
When his eyes opened, he stared at her and his eyes went wide. He pointed a shaking finger and said, “Feathers! Your jackets made of feathers!” he shouted. And as he looked closer he could see the jacket hover off her arms and form wings behind her. Turning around he looked at Nero and Dawn. “Daddy. Mommy. Una. Q’una’s got wings.”
“Yes she does little one,” Nero said smoothing his fingers through his hair.
“Well done o’ola,” Madeline said holding out an apple slice for him.
He took it chomping down proud of himself. Sefirin stared at his father next for a long moment, as if he could see something and blinked shuddering. The yellow draconic eyes he was showcasing disappeared and he plopped down into his seat. “I’m tired.”
Alastor looked at his sister and Dawn surprised but they shared the look, “I didn’t think he was developing that fast.”
“Neither did we,” Lily said then flinched as something wet splotched at her cheek. She managed to catch the oat-soaked strawberry as it fell. Turning around she glared at her daughter whose messy hand oozed for a second and she burst into a giggling laugh. Even Dawn couldn’t hold back a few giggles.
“Come on lela. Don’t throw food at mommy,” she said taking a napkin and wiping off her hand.
Nero snorted trying not to laugh and Lily glared him. He blew her a kiss and she rolled her eyes and popped the strawberry into her mouth, “I swear she takes after her father more and more every day.”
Dawn giggled nodding, “That I agree with. We’ll have to work extra hard to make sure that doesn’t happen permanently.”
The Harlequin Library 