ent

stray hair out of her face and rested the basket against her hip as she surveyed the courtyard. She dropped her

an egg is disqualified. The person with the most whole eggs wins. Today’s prize is a cake baked by Arithen which

ing all to yourself. Your choice entirely. And all you have to do to be the winner is to collect the most eggs. Now, I’m sure that I’m going to win this cak

n. “No smashed eggs,” she repeated, deliberately torturing them by k

ed back onto her heels laughing at the spectacle, as chickens flapped and scurried in

oduced by the chickens did not equal their need for food and the seed supplies in the cellars were diminishing. She wanted

ed them, for the eggs, or to kill them f

e looked down in surprise, wondering why the boy had abandoned his hunt and c

sed the Fae workmanship on the ornate carriages. The pennants flown and the embroidery on the gambesons gli

ssed her hand to her chest, her heart seem

our. Could he be in a carriage? It would be so unlike him… Her eyes lifted

that we have Fae guests approaching. Tell them to secure the wine cel

er braids. She released them, using her fingers to comb her unruly hair to order. She

it

h the crumpled walls of the outer courtyard. She saw the knights and men-a

in. Their long hair and intricate hairstyles, their flowing robes and adornments confused her eyes for a moment as they picked thei

ch the Lord and Lady of this… place. Have the servants prepare baths, a meal, and rooms. We ha

yered silk robes, to his straightened and waxed hair that she was not entirely sure was

Sylvin’s wife?” His eyes travelled from head to

ll see to your needs, but I am, oh,” she laughed as a group of children approached. “Well done! I am afraid My Lord,” she said to him. “

e said, b

told him. “When food is s

and the men and women who were gingerly edging their way to

accustom yourself to it, not much has changed in the last five

,” he told her, sounding su

s and saw the truth in his expr

e were unaccustomed to the sentiment, and not entirely comfortable with it. “And we won. T

rose, threatening to overwhelm her. “Is he…?” She could not finish the quest

g entertained by the royal family. The festivities are expected to take weeks, as is his due. We are sent in advance to prepare th

d up at him. “What do y

through several emotions. “It… Well, look around yo

, and she bowed her head ben

hought she should already know. “Value My Lord Sylvin highly, My Lady. The Royal regard for his

chest like shards of glass. “I will speak to my serva

watching as she followed

t of pain, the sound that tore through her teeth somewhere between a whimper and a wail – utterly foreign to her ears, so that for a moment

in against her shoulder before sobbing in her breath and scrubbing her face with her s

rd up his meal,”

unloaded and she saw treasures the like that Elliard had never possessed spread out across the less-than-clean flagstone

l and walked up the stairs t

rd and hall below carried up through the open shutters drawing his attention and i

he bed at his side. “The war h

vin?” He

e is… He is well, father. Celebrating his successes with the royal family. He sent ahead… oh, treas

han she wanted him to. “He wi

“Guests…” She laid her hand on his brow and tried again to use her power to heal him, feeling as if he

hand with his own. “Som

e to believe that. Don’t even think th

thing but an unseasonab

although no Fae had eve

ought off the scream that threatened to rise from the heart shaped box that

er you,” her expression was sympathetic. “But what are we to feed these n

I guess we have seen the last egg hun