With the coming light I could see the surrounding countryside more clearly. It spread out as a series of rolling hills. Some green, some covered in wheat or marked by tilled earth. Cottages dotted the landscape. It was a lovely sight that made me forget my worries for a little while. A large hill loomed in the distance and it appeared to wear a crown of thorns. It reminded me so much of the faery globe my mother had given me when I was a young. The one I broke it in a fit of rage. The one that first opened a portal to Nightfall in my backyard.

"Nightfall Palace," J'Tara announced.

As we rode up the hill I saw that the crown was a long wall stone wall topped with metal spikes both of black iron and shining silver. It was a deadly barrier for both fae and werewolves. We stopped at a pair of large gates made of rusted iron and studded with silver blades. The blades were shaped to form curling leaves and th.o.r.n.y vines. Being that close to so much iron made me feel queasy. I glanced at the other riders and saw them shift in their saddles as well. One thing was for certain, no fae would be able to batter down that gate. I supposed that was the point.

J'Tara lifted her arms and the doors clanked open. I looked to see who was manning the gate controls. On the other side I saw a great wheel with a chain. The wheel turned by itself as it drew the chain and opened the gates. A fae version of an automatic door, I thought.

We rode through. Once we were several paces away from the gates I felt less ill. I looked back and saw the wheels turn in the other direction. The chains were attached to large stone counterweights which dropped into holes in the ground. The weights made large gears spun and the ma.s.sive gates shut with a loud clang. Severin and I were now locked inside.

On the other side of the wall I got a view of the palace. This was different from a medieval castle. It was much larger and spread out like an estate. There were trimmed lawns, fountains, gardens, statues and several pools. It was like something from the Renaissance during the time when the aristocracy had grown tired of living in cramped military forts and longed for comfort and beauty.

There were several large buildings scattered about. They were Gothic in the truest sense of the word, built like cathedrals though I doubt any of them were used for church services. They featured soaring towers supported by flying b.u.t.tresses, tall gla.s.s windows, and the walls were carved with grotesques and gargoyles. It reminded me a bit of my old college campus.

J'Tara led us to one of the great stone buildings. Inside I saw the wooden stalls. We had arrived at the stables. There was hardly any noise or smell .As I climbed down I noticed there wasn't a trace of straw on the floor. With the horses standing silently and motionless in their stalls the place was more like a garage than anything else.

I looked for Severin but didn't see him. I rushed out of the stables and saw him being led away by two of the riders. They were heading to the stone tower at the center of the complex. The one that looked truly medieval; its surface was nothing but rough stone.

"Princess," J'Tara called. "Lord Wolfstriker awaits you."

I wanted to run after Severin. But I thought what point would that serve? I wouldn't do either of us any good locked up alongside him. For both our sakes I had to be strong. This next part I would have to do alone.

"Be safe," I whispered hoping he could hear me.

My heart fluttered as the great wolf head turned in my direction. He'd heard me! Then he was jerked away. I took a few calming breathes then met J'Tara.

"Take me to the king," I said.

J'Tara made an exaggerated bow then led the way. She walked beside me with her guards flanking us.

Past the stables, the hill rolled gently to one side. At the bottom I saw a large town with cobblestone streets and tiled roofs. It looked like something out of a storybook. I noticed the silver and iron spiked wall extended down the hill and around the town. J'Tara noticed my gaze.

"The town of Nightfall," she explained. "We'll have some business there. Later."

We turned and headed up a road made of stone slabs and lined with trees. At the end loomed an enormous structure. Its towers reached for the sky supported by carved b.u.t.tresses. The ma.s.sive wooden doors that swung open for us had to be at least three stories tall.

"The hall of Lord and Lady Wolfstriker," J'Tara announced.

Past the great doors was a gigantic antechamber. There was a pool in the center of the tiled floor that looked deep enough to swim in. In the alcoves were large stone statues of kings and queens in armor. Guards stood in front of the doors to the hall. There was a man with no armor or weapon among them. I couldn't see his face clearly, just his long bone-white hair. J'Tara gave the man a quick bow.

"Chancellor Dashrael," she announced. "May I present the Princess N'Lina Wolfstriker."

I stepped forward to get a better look at him.

"Princess," he said. "The whole kingdom rejoices at your return."

I was taken aback by his appearance. All the fae I had met so far had been pale skinned, resembling porcelain dolls. Each with their own slight coloring. One guard had a light lavender tinge, and another green. Dashrael was more like a phantom. There was something deathly about him. His skin was so pale and marked with intricate designs, like tattoos but not. His eyes were shaped like large almonds and tilted slightly upwards. And when he spoke I spied rows of tiny sharp teeth. Despite all that though my heart sped up a little bit at the sight of him. He was tall and ravishing. He moved with sinewy grace. My unease went beyond his appearance. I felt I had met him somewhere before.

I had many questions. Most of all I wanted to know where my father was. But something told me the best course was to stay silent and listen. I took it as a good sign that no one had yet mentioned Jason Decker. Instead everyone was making a big deal about my coming to Nightfall.

"You shouldn't have made such a fuss," I muttered.

J'Tara threw her head back and laughed. Dashrael glared at her and she quieted down.

"You are of the house Wolfstriker. It is our pleasure," Dashrael said.

Bulls.h.i.t, I thought.

"Shall we meet your mother and grandparents?" the chancellor asked.

It was now that I noticed I was still in my army brat attire. Dashrael and J'Tara noticed too because they paused at the great doors.

"Let's get on with this," I said and supressed a grin.

Dashrael sighed, waved his hand and the doors opened. The great hall beyond was truly grand. The ceilings were cavernous. A gallery ran along the sides. At the end was a raised dais where there was a large gathering. Dashrael announced our arrival as we strode forwards.

"The Princess N'Lina Wolfstriker."

Nina Decker, I wanted to yell. My name is Nina Decker.

I didn't want any of this. They could keep their grand halls and pageantry. In my heart I only wanted my father back not all of this fake royalty bulls.h.i.t. But I kept silent as I walked towards the dais.

The royal family was easy to spot even in the sea of flowing gowns, bright tunics and colored hair and skin. Lord Wolfstriker stood tall and proud. His powerful muscles bulged even through the brightly colored gherkin he wore. His face was hard stone framed with jet black hair much like my own. Lady Wolfstriker stood next to him. She was regal in a jeweled gown. Her dark brown hair was done up. Just beside them was my mother. I looked away when I saw her.

She was beautiful of course. She wore a purple gown and a golden diadem. The whole entourage was dressed the same way, like an extravagant Renaissance party. The only difference was everyone had gossamer wings sticking out of their backs in various jewel tones. Everyone looked young though they may have well been hundreds of years old. Lord and Lady Wolfstriker looked like they were the same age as my mother. If what she told me was true, I would never age either. I suppose other people might have found that comforting or exciting, but not me. It made me feel less human. And I valued my humanity, clutched it like a life preserver.

When I reached the dais I bowed to my grandparents.

The king was inscrutable. His face hadn't changed at all. His wife Lady Wolfstriker however eyed me like I was a piece of dirt. I felt the heat of her gaze. I hoped it was something as simple as my attire. But Lady Wolfstriker's hard gaze had been so intense I sensed there was something more to it.

My mother did not come forward or speak. She stayed where she was while the king and queen performed what I a.s.sumed was the welcome ceremony. Our little reunion would have to wait.

"We rejoice at the return of our granddaughter," said Lord Wolfstriker in a booming voice. "A piece of our family was lost for many years. Now it is back with us. Let all of Nightfall celebrate the return of Princess N'Lina Wolfstriker. Our hearts are full of joy at this momentous reunion."

They were kind words and Lord Wolfstriker's voice was powerful but there was no love in it. This was a politician's speech. I might as well have been a military treaty or a trade agreement not his long lost granddaughter whom he was meeting for the first time.

He paused for a moment and laid gentle hands on my shoulders. That was the first thing that felt like real human contact.

"Rise," he said. His voice was kind but his face was still hard and unreadable.

I did so and stood next to the king. I looked around the royal court and didn't see a lot of friendly faces. Half the lords and ladies present showed no interest at all. The other half looked at me with contempt or hatred. Lady Wolfstriker took her place beside me. Now I was between the king and the queen.

Just as I felt a little bit comfortable, Lady Wolfstriker whispered to me, "Enjoy it while you can."

Her face hadn't changed. She smiled radiantly to the crowd. The threat in her voice had been unmistakable. I was sure Lord Wolfstriker had heard it as well but he gave no sign he had done so.

"We shall hold a banquet in honor our granddaughter," my grandfather announced. "Tomorrow shall be a day free of toil. Our stewards shall make available wine and spirits from our private store so that all may celebrate the day."

They were still making a big deal about me being a returning princess, one of them, the lost heir but in my mind I was feeling more and more like a prisoner.

The formalities appeared to be over and I wanted to talk to my mother. I had no idea how I'd get her alone. But as I searched for her I saw her scurrying away with my grandmother. I was led in the opposite direction by Lord Wolfstriker and Dashrael. My mother looked concerned and a little frightened. I didn't blame her. Though I'd just met her I knew I didn't want to be alone with Lady Wolfstriker.

Dashrael led me to the side where three young fae women in bright dresses stood in a row.

"Princess, these are your ladies in waiting. They will attend to your needs and help you prepare for the banquet," Dashrael explained. The young women were all beautiful like dolls weirdly angled and edged with wings like fine crystal.

The first one stepped forward and curtsied. The thing I noticed about her was her bright lavender hair. I had seen a lot of fake hair color before but this appeared natural which I a.s.sumed it was.

"I am Lady R'Agan," she announced. Her polite smile dropped and she glared hard at me. Her lip curled slightly. I could see R'Agan would just as soon stab me in the back as hand me my comb. She could wait outside my door, I decided.

The second one came forward. She was taller than the other two with long golden locks. Her beauty was exceptional even among the fae. She had the kind of face you see on billboards. The airbrushed kind.

"N'Tasha," she said. She hardly put any effort into her curtsy and didn't even look at me as she went back in line. She scanned the great hall with bored eyes. This wasn't going well.

The last one was the shortest of the three. She had blood red hair and a fox face. She took one step forward. Then she threw her arms around me and let out a high pitched squeal. This sudden embrace shocked me speechless.

She released me and launched into a torrent of words. The girl could talk fast.

"I'm so sorry. But I'm just so happy to have somebody in court who's from the other place. You know everyone here is all Nightfall this and Nightfall that and I soooo just want to talk about the Lakers or Lady Gaga or the last episode of Criminal Minds."

"You're from Earth?" I asked.

She laughed and said, "Like this is what? Mars? I guess it is in a way. Yeah I'm from Earth, the mortal realm. Or as I call it home sweet home. I'm from LA. Well really I was born in Ireland but I live in La La Land now."

"Who are you?" I asked.

"This is the Lady D'Aniela," said a fl.u.s.tered Dashrael, who was obviously not pleased with her outburst.

"Call me Dani, please," she quickly added.

"I believe you should show the princess to her chambers," Dashrael huffed.

"You got it, Dash," replied Dani.

He gave her a cold hard look. "Call me that again, and I will have you deboned like a fish."

Ignoring his threat, she hooked her arm around mine and steered me towards the back. R'Agan and N'Tasha fell in behind us.

"I love your outfit. Very survivalist chic," said Dani. "You're not a real survivalist are you?"

"No," I said.

Dani prattled on. "Okay. Not that there's anything wrong with that. Unless you're like all 'let's blow up the government tomorrow night.' But that wouldn't be you anyway because you're from Vancouver right? Which is Canada. Of course maybe Canadians want to blow up their own government too."

"I don't want to blow up anything," I said.

"Well anyway I'm glad you're from the Pacific Northwest. That's cool we're both from the left coast. I was afraid we'd have an East Coast versus West Coast thing here. But no worries, right?"

I answered with nods and shrugs as we walked, unsure of what to say to this strange woman anyway.

I looked back and saw two guards fall in behind R'Agan and N'Tasha as we headed to our rooms. None of the other guests merited an escort. There was no doubt. I was more a prisoner here than a guest. Not that I had expected anything different.

Chapter 9.

Dani took me behind the great hall where a cross hall led to the royal chambers. I glanced over my shoulder and saw my mother and the queen shuffling off in the opposite direction.

"We have this entire wing to ourselves. Isn't that cool!" Dani exclaimed.

I nodded politely but silently I thought, there went my chance to corral my mother and get some answers. The guards were still following us and there were even more of them in our wing, a pair for every door. The doors at the end of the hall were ornately carved and made out of the bone white wood.

Dani spun around to address R'Agan and N'Tasha. "I got it from here, guys. Go do what you do," she said. "Which is nothing," she added under her breath.

The other two of my ladies in waiting left without a word. They both looked relieved to be out of my presence.

Once they were in their own rooms Dani said, "Now that we're rid of Lady b.i.t.c.h and Madame Buzzkill, Ta Da!"

She threw open the doors to my chambers.

In spite of everything, being a prisoner in a hostile court, Severin being locked away in a tower, not knowing where my father was, when I saw my chambers I gasped. How could I not? The ceiling was high. The walls were covered with fine tapestries. There was a four poster bed next to a fire place. Light flooded in from two large gla.s.s windows. It was the fairy tale bedroom of my young fantasies. I ran my fingers over the sheets. They were silky soft under my touch.

"Gorgeous," I said.

Dani sat down in a large, cushioned chair. "It's definitely easy on the eyes," she said. "The bathroom is in the corner."

I felt a little trepidation as I opened the door considering the rest of the medieval theme going on. But what was inside looked decidedly modern.

Dani explained, "Count yourself lucky. I prodded and pleaded until they finally installed something close to modern plumbing in here. We have running water, hot baths, and most importantly flush toilets."

"Oh that's a relief." I had been dreading that I would have to use a chamber pot or something worse.

"You can thank me later," Dani continued. "There's no TP but the toilet does have a bidet function, which is divine by the way. The banquet is a long way off. I suggest you take a hot bath and relax."

"Thank you. You've been very kind," I said sincerely.

"Don't mention it," Dani returned with a smile. "When I first came here I remembered how I longed to have someone show me the ropes."

She'd been a great help to me so far. But there was much I needed to learn and a lot of it was sensitive. I didn't know how far I could trust Dani. I asked her, "After my bath, suppose I wanted to walk around."

"Just tell the guard outside your room. He'll arrange an escort."

"And suppose I wanted to go someplace without an escort?" Silently I thought, Like the tower where they're holding Severin.

Dani said, "Those guys outside your door answer only to J'Tara or the king."