The crowd that had gathered around the volatile female and the timid male was great.

But it parted instantly when the Regent, his intended and their band approached

But all of them reined in abruptly at what they saw in the opening of the center of the crowd.

The female unicorn brayed her warning at their approach and went up on her hind legs, flashing out with her front hooves threateningly.

The male sniggered and dipped its once proud head, sidestepping away from the wheeling horses.

It was then, it happened.

It was then, the entirety of the realm of Airen changed.

It was then, perhaps, the entirety of the continent of Triton changed.

Maybe even the whole of the earth.

For at one look at those two unicorns, Prince Cassius swung off his horse, walked two steps into the clearing, and stood immobile.

And those close enough to him saw with some shock fierce thunderstorms erupting in his gaze.

Elena of the Nadirii quickly followed him.

Those close heard the faltering, “Cass,” as murmured by the woman who would be their queen, but all who had a sightline saw her touch his arm.

But they would all soon learn there would be no pacifying the Prince Regent of Airen as his gaze stayed locked on the male unicorn with his shorn horn.

And then it happened.

Their prince threw back his head and roared to the sky, the raw fury in the sound moving up and out, blanketing the entire city.

Fearful murmurings and panicked shifting happened amongst the crowd.

For as he did, the sun disappeared.

Day turned to night.

And darkness descended all around.

Queen Ophelia

At the Foot of the Night Heights Mountain Range, Two Hundred Miles East of Sky Bay

AIREN

Ophelia reined to a stop as she felt it, then wheeled Midsummer around and threw up her hand.

The Nadirii behind her halted.

“Good goddess, Ophelia, what could possibly be causing—?”

Agnes did not finish.

The sun left the sky and night fell all around.

“Ophelia!” Lucinda snapped with some alarm.

Ophelia said nothing at first.

This because she did not know whether to laugh or change their direction from tracking Fern to going directly to Sky Bay.

She looked to her lieutenant.

“Someone has made Cassius Laird very angry.”

Lucinda’s head twitched.

Ophelia made her decision and circled her horse back around.

And even if she did not have the energy for it, for hers left her earlier and earlier in the day as each one passed, she called up what she had, and shouted, “We ride!”

The Nadirii rode, through day turned to night, tracking Fern in the Heights.

The People of Airen

Highgate (Eastern Gate into Sky Bay)

AIREN

“Cassius!” the Nadirii princess called urgently.

The crowd watched through the stars twinkling all around, hanging low in the very air, as their Prince Regent strode boldly into the clearing, directly to the female.