The man recounts the story of a human village fifty miles from here called Rusthelm that has fallen victim to an illness. Almost all the villagers are sick. They’re desperate, explaining the human’s willingness to appear during the fae court day. As he pleads, I once again notice a shining glint out of the corner of my eye, but when I turn my head in that direction, there’s nothing there. My legs grow restless, and I struggle to pay attention to the man, mind wandering and body aching where it meets the hard and cold chair I sit upon.

“Your Majesty, we’d be so grateful if you could send healers to our village. We need to be able to take care of the children, and almost everyone is too sick,” he says. “I’m one of the only adults who has not fallen ill.”

“Of course,” I respond. “Healers will be sent immediately.” He bows low, thanking me profusely as I scan the room for the next petitioner.

There’s no one left, and my stomach coils with uneasiness. While I’m grateful to finish early, we rarely do. Most court days we have to turn the people away and tell them to come back again later, even after we go hours past the scheduled end time. The lack of citizens gives me pause. Perhaps the Velmaran in the back of the room is planning something, hoping to catch me off guard. Unfortunately for him, I don’t plan to wait around and find out.

“And what about you, Velmaran? Do you have anything to petition me for?” I ask as I obliterate the light surrounding Fionn so that he’s visible to the whole room. He freezes, eyes locked on me in fear and panic. The warrior clearly did not expect to be seen or have the magic hiding him removed. The room around him is just as surprised, judging by the gasps and murmurs that echo through the space.

I wrap Fionn in vines, pinning him to the wall as I study the crowd’s reaction, looking for any threat in the room. Almost everyone has stilled, unsure how to react. A group of several fae males have their shoulders squared off, gazes locked on me with what looks like a predatory gleam. My eyes return to Fionn, sure I’ll find him eyeing that group with a knowing look. But he only stares at me in shock, nothing else—not even a glimmer of annoyance or frustration that a plan has gone awry. Another glint of metal catches my attention from behind me, and when I turn this time four fae males stand there with swords and daggers.