I glanced around. “Where’s Pentangle?”
“She’ll meet us at the Barrow. Now come, dress.”
Standing next to Aeval, Titania, and Myrddin were two attendants. They dried me off and then there, under the waning moon, they dressed me. Afterward, they bade me step into a pair of lace panties, then brought out a shimmering skirt the color of twilight. It floated down around my waist, flowing out, so sheer it was almost weightless. Next, they fit a dusky blue corset with accents of silver and black around me, lacing me into it. The corset pushed my breasts up, spilling out the way a good corset worked. As I lifted my feet, they slid leather boots on my feet and laced them up to my knees. They fastened silver arm bracelets around my upper arms and, of course, I wore the Keraastar Diamond.
I turned to Aeval and saw myself reflected in her eyes. She gave me a sad smile.
“I knew from the first time we met that one day you’d be standing here. You freed me from my prison, and I’m about to consign you to your own—albeit more pleasant. But Camille, it is a prison, and as the centuries roll on, you’ll understand more what I mean. Thank you for stepping up to take the crown. For voluntarily giving yourself over to our world.” She sounded so resigned that I wanted to cheer her up.
But what she said rang true. It resonated with a deep knell that sounded the end of my freedom. To wear any crown brought with it responsibilities and formalities, and while I expected to still love my life, it would never again feel freewheeling except when I was running with the Hunt.
“It’s who I am, Aeval.” As I said it, I knew that it was true. I wouldn’t be happy if I turned away.
“Then come, and join us in Talamh Lonrach Oll and take your place as one of our own.”
Chapter 18
TITANIA SNAPPED HER fingers and the undergrowth rustled as another attendant led four horses through the trees.
Decorated with ribbons and pennants, in the colors of the Barrows, the stately Andalusians came trotting in. A white one bore the flag of the sun, and his ribbons were green and gold. He stopped by Titania’s side, as if they were old friends. The second, a black stallion, bore a flag was that of a silver star against the black background. He dipped his head to Aeval. The third, a bay stallion—golden brown with a dark mane—sported ribbons of red and white, and he came to stop by Myrddin’s side. The Merlin patted his muzzle lovingly. And the fourth—a gray horse—stepped up to me. The pennant on my horse had a deep blue background with a silver crescent moon.
We mounted the horses, the attendant helping me up. I had learned to be comfortable on the horses in Otherworld, and this horse seemed even more compliant than Annabelle. The saddles were thickly padded, for which I was grateful, considering my underwear consisted of a thin lace panty. Titania took the lead, then Aeval, then Myrddin motioned me in line and he swung in behind me.
As we rode onto the path leading back to the Barrows, an escort of armed guards fell in and I realized they had been waiting for us. Eight rode at the front, another eight swung in behind Myrddin. Everything was surreal. I had wings that almost nobody could see unless I let them. I had drunk the Nectar of Life. Everything that I had been building up to the past few months was suddenly very real and happening now.
The forest buzzed with life. Frogs were croaking, insects clicked and snapped, the owls were softly hooting, and everywhere, the undergrowth rustled and rattled with the movement of small animals. The trees themselves were awake and watching, and I understood now just how alive and vibrant this sovereign land was. Aeval and Titania had established not just the Fae Nation, but they had enlivened the land as well. Everything was aware and listening.
As we rode out to the main trail leading to the Barrows, the knot in my stomach began to dissolve. The path was lined with members of Talamh Lonrach Oll and they cheered as we passed, waving ribbons and flags at us. A number of the flags were the same standard as the pennant on my horse, and I realized that these people would be living in and around my Barrow. I would actually be holding Court. Another giddy wash of emotion slammed through me and I struggled not to laugh.
Solemn occasion, Camille. Suck it up and don’t let your nerves win. Consider it payback for all the times you teased Menolly about being a princess. Put your game face on and stop smirking. I finally managed to calm myself and fell into the solemnity of the moment.
We reached the courtyard in front of the Barrow of Dusk and Twilight and I flashed back to Summer Solstice two years before, when Aeval and Titania had established Talamh Lonrach Oll and reclaimed their thrones. We had been here for their coronation, and Queen Asteria had given them their crowns. Our father had been here then, and with a swift stab to the heart, I wished he could see me now—that he could be here to witness me taking the throne.