Mere moments after he felt Elena find it, which was mere moment after she spoke her words, he followed her there.

62

The Dance

Prince True

The Antlers Pub and Inn, Five Miles from the Lights

WODELL

“The royal summons has been received, and we shall go, but only if the gnomes do not sit in front.”

True did not hear Áine speak.

He was busy sitting in his chair at the back of the pub, as away from the music as they could get (which was not very far), watching Farah twirl around with Wallace, Luther and Florian.

The beat of the drums, the quick notes of the flutes, pipes and strings meaning the tempo of the dance was lively, bringing color to her cheeks. Her eyes were lit, and her smile was bright.

She had lost her cares in that moment and was simply…

Happy.

“My prince, did you hear my words?”

He turned his head and looked down to Áine, the fairy spokeswoman of the Keeper of the Lights, who sat beside him. Her copper hair flamed in the bright lanternlight of the pub, the glittering ribbons in it twinkling, all of this framed by the iridescent wings that shown gold and honey that she had opened behind her. But her brown eyes were sharp on him.

“No, I’m sorry,” he admitted his rudeness. “What did you say?”

She glanced at the dancing then back to True. “I said that we shall go to your wedding, but only if the gnomes do not sit in front.”

He fought back a heavy sigh. “Áine, your peoples are two to three feet taller than the gnomes. They would not be able to see if they were not sat in front.”

“You can give them cushions.”

“Is it really that important where you’re seated?”

She straightened her shoulders and he knew her well enough to know what was coming.

“The fairies—”

He interrupted her. “I know the fairies have stronger magic. I know the fairies consider the sacred places they keep safe to be more important than that of the gnomes, pixies and sprites. I know the fairies were brought forth by the Green Men, the gods who created the forests that are Wodell. Though I’ll remind you, the gnomes, pixies and sprites also came of the Green Men, just after the fairies. And last, I know that the gnomes are at least two feet shorter than you, the pixies even smaller and an elderly person with bad sight might not even be able to see a sprite. What I also know is that, in the end, we are all one in Wodell and it matters not who sits where at a wedding.”

“You say this, and the gnomes will hold it over our heads for a century.”

“Áine, the gnomes can’t reach over your head.”

Her eyes grew wide and then she tipped her head back and laughed her bell laugh.