As was the norm with most of the palaces I’d read about in fairy tales, there was a wall that enclosed the capital; a tall, impenetrable layer of stone that we thankfully didn’t have to scale. We strolled right out the rear gates with no drama, no questions, and there was even a little bounce in my step because it all seemed so straightforward.

It was the next part that made me regret my life choices.

Typically, the stories also mentioned a moat, or a dense forest, or mountains that enclosed a kingdom, protecting all subjects inside—separating the nobles from the common folk, more like. Well, this place had all three.

Prime location.

We had to cross a bridge, trek three miles through unforgiving undergrowth, then fly over the final hurdle. What fun. We could have skipped the walking part altogether, but Cair couldn’t extend his wings since the gaps in the trees were only just wide enough for us to pass through, and because he’d have the added weight of me—despite his insistence that I was light as a feather—I’d refused his offer of taking us over the top.

I preferred it if he conserved his strength for the mountains.

Though we’d done it before, I was very slightly apprehensive about that part, and having him falter at the peak because I’d been too lazy to do some brisk exercise would totally ruin my day. I wasn’t exactly scared of heights, and flying with Cair was exhilarating and beautiful. I loved it, but keeping it as risk free as possible—even just in my own head, considering Cair was a pro—was preferable.

So, three-mile trek it is.

The journey would take about a week in all, with Cair transporting us over the mountains. That was three days less than if we had to use the path around. I felt kinda bad for all the non-winged creatures or unmated Fae who traveled to the capital whenever they wanted passage through the Veil. Why make it easy and add a portal or some shit when it could be as difficult as possible, right?

We could’ve reduced those seven days by half if I’d accepted Cair’s suggestion of teleporting closer to my father’s homestead, but while that idea suited my impatience, I really wanted to see more of the Otherworld and its people. Well, I did before the forest hike, anyway. We’d see if that desire still stood after the fact, but for now, walking was the plan.