Chapter 17

Chapter

Seventeen

T he atmosphere within the castle was tense, and Karalyn could feel it in every corner of the castle and every conversation she overheard. The sea raiders were a tough and resilient people, but something had shifted since their return. The air was thick with anxiety, and a palpable unease set everyone on edge.

They found Harald's friends outside, and he immediately rushed over to them. She admired his desire to keep their spirits high, but even as she slowly flew over to them, she could tell that his presence didn't completely dispel the tension.

After greeting the sea raiders, Karalyn became distracted by a group of sea raiders sparring with each other, their movements more aggressive than she would have thought necessary. She could see the tightness in their jaws, the quick glances they exchanged, and the way they seemed to be bracing for something. She suspected that the sea raiders were no strangers to battle, but this was different. This was the tension of uncertainty, of not knowing where the next threat would come from.

And they did not even know about the shapeshifters.

She forced herself to return her attention to the others. Elton Erewaker, always quick with a joke, was trying to lighten the mood, but even his usual humor seemed forced. His laugh rang out a little too loud, a little too high-pitched, as if trying to mask the worry beneath it.

"I heard so much about the feasts the fairies have been having as of late. It got me thinking… maybe we should throw a feast. Nothing like a good party to shake off the jitters, eh?" Elton asked with a grin.

Harald smiled faintly. "Maybe later, Elton."

Dover Risley, never one to miss an opportunity to embellish, chimed in next. "Do you recall the last time we were this tense, Harald? I swear the sky itself turned red with the blood of our enemies, and we fought off a horde of sirens twice our size!"

Karalyn winced at his choice of words. Sky red, blood… It harkened back to her curse too closely for her liking.

Maggie Brome snorted. "Oh, please, Dover. If I had a coin for every time you added another inch to your stories, I'd be richer than the king," she remarked, her tone dry and unimpressed.

Dover shrugged with a grin, unbothered by the teasing. "A little embellishment never hurt anyone, Maggie."

Bernal Joulon, the quiet and wise one of the group, stood with his arms crossed, his expression thoughtful. "There's truth in the tension we're feeling. Something's coming, something we can't yet see. It's best we prepare and not just with weapons but with clear minds."

Maggie nodded in agreement. "Bernal's right. We can't let our guard down, but we can't let this tension eat us alive either. We've been through worse."

Harald bristled, and Karalyn wondered if he had seen worse, but then again, what could be worse than the possible war looming over them?

Rosella Lenton, her language as colorful as ever, added her voice to the conversation. "Whatever's coming, we'll face it head-on. No need to?—"

"We'll have plenty of pants on hand," Dover said, cutting her off.

"Maybe brown ones," she added.

Harald chuckled, but the humor quickly faded. "While I am glad that nothing occurred while we were gone, we cannot ignore the growing unrest. The men are anxious, and it's spreading. We need to keep them focused and ready, but we also need to find a way to ease this tension before it breaks us."

Karalyn placed a hand on Harald's arm. "The men look to you, to all of you, for strength and direction. Perhaps we can combine Elton's idea with Bernal's wisdom—give them something to focus on, something to remind them why they fight."

Elton brightened at the suggestion. "A feast with a purpose, then? A chance to rally the men and remind them of the battles we've won and the ones we're yet to face?"

Bernal nodded thoughtfully. "It could work, but for now, we have little fish, and we cannot fish more, can we?"

"We will be cautious with the fish," Harald said.

"Perhaps we can have some fish brought down from Fae Falls," Karalyn surprised herself by offering.

Harald's eyes widened, and he patted her hand.

Maggie crossed her arms, her expression hard. "We'll need to keep it disciplined, though. No getting too loose or comfortable. This isn't a victory celebration."

"Not yet." Rosella grinned, her eyes gleaming with a fierce determination. "If anyone gets too drunk or starts whining, I'll kick them right back into shape."

Harald smiled, a genuine one this time. "Then it's settled. We'll call a gathering for tomorrow night, something to focus the men's energy and remind them of what we're fighting for. But we'll keep it sharp. No one gets too comfortable. We've got a storm coming, and we need to be ready."

As the group dispersed to prepare, Karalyn remained by Harald's side. She could still feel the tension in the air, but now there was something else too—a sense of purpose, of determination. They weren't just waiting for the storm to hit; they were preparing to face it head-on.

Harald squeezed her hand, his eyes meeting hers with a mixture of gratitude and resolve. "Thank you, Karalyn. The offer of fish…"

She smiled softly. "Your people are my people. I will not let them go hungry, even if I will not eat the fish myself."

As they headed where the Falls of Ethereia emptied into the sea, the weight of the anxiety that had hung over Tridor seemed to lighten just a little.

The journey to Fae Falls was always a breathtaking experience, no matter how many times Karalyn had made it. The floating isle, suspended high above the sea, was a sanctuary of beauty and power. The waterfall cascaded from the edges of the isle, their shimmering droplets catching the light as they fell into the clouds below. The air was thick with the scent of blooming flowers and the soft hum of nature magic that infused every rock, tree, and stream.

Karalyn lowered Harald to set his boots on the ground, the mist from the waterfalls swirling around their feet. The path ahead led them deeper into the heart of Fae Falls, where the fairies made their homes within the lush greenery and shimmering ponds.

As they walked, Karalyn couldn't shake the feeling that something was different this time. The magic in the air felt more restless, the usual tranquility of the isle tinged with unease. Perhaps Harald noticed it too because his hand rested on the hilt of his sword. Did he expect trouble, even in this place of peace?

But then, how peaceful was this place considering a shapeshifter had attempted to assassinate her here? And the Kingdom of the Skies had banded together to try to take over Fae Falls as well.

"If you can bring me to where I might fish," Harald started.

"Soon," she told him.

She led him to the central grove, where the elder fairies often gathered. The fairies, usually so light and cheerful, flitted around with worried expressions, their wings fluttering more rapidly than usual. Conversations were hushed, and the bright glow that normally illuminated the grove seemed dimmed.

Karalyn's heart sank. The anxiety that had gripped Tridor had spread even here, to the heart of the fairy realm.

She approached a group of elder fairies, their delicate features marked with the wisdom of centuries.

Mirabel turned to greet her with a worried smile. "Princess Karalyn, it is good to see you, but I wish it were under better circumstances."

Karalyn frowned, her concern deepening. "Mirabel, this is my husband, King Harald of the Sea Raiders. Harald, this is Mirabel, one of our elders. Mirabel, what has happened? The isle feels… different."

Mirabel sighed, her wings drooping slightly. "It is good to meet you, King Harald, but… You're not wrong, Princess. The magic of Fae Falls has been restless for days now. We've felt a disturbance, something that's unsettled the natural balance of our home. The fairies are anxious, though we've yet to understand the full extent of the threat."

Harald stepped forward. "We feel it too even in Tridor. The sea raiders are on edge, and there's a sense of something coming, something we can't quite see yet."

Mirabel nodded, her expression grim. "Yes, that is exactly it. The magic here is old and powerful, and it is sensitive to changes in the world. Whatever is coming, it is affecting the very essence of this place."

Another elder motioned Mirabel away, and Karalyn and Harald retreated to a quiet corner of the grove.

"I had hoped coming here would bring some peace," Karalyn admitted quietly, her gaze fixed on her castle in the distance, "but it seems that the troubles we've been facing are just the beginning."

Harald wrapped his arm around her waist. "The world is changing, Karalyn. Threats are emerging from every side, and we cannot even fully trust our allies."

Karalyn leaned into him, drawing strength from his presence. "I just wish we had more answers. It feels like we're being pulled in every direction, with no clear path forward."

Harald kissed her temple. "We'll find the answers, one way or another. For now, we'll focus on what we can do—helping the fairies, protecting our kingdoms, and preparing for whatever comes next."

She inhaled deeply before drawing back. "You can fish now?—"

"I rather thought we should speak with your parents," he suggested.

Karalyn offered him a small smile. "Of course," she murmured. "Whatever you want."

He frowned, tiny lines appearing between his brows. "What's wrong? What is it that you want?"

"I just feel so tired," she murmured. "So very tired."

"Physically?"

She nodded.

"Emotionally?"

She nodded again.

"Do you want to eat first? We can talk to your parents once we wake. We have time."

Karalyn bit her lower lip. "Do we?" she whispered.

"Of course we have time."

She stared off into the distance for a moment before nodding. "Yes, let's sleep. Things will look brighter in the morning."

Hand in hand with her hovering beside him, they made their way to the fairy castle and their chamber. Karalyn felt as if she had scarcely laid down before sleep claimed her.

And then, in the darkness, shadows grabbed her.