Civisilva disappears into the forest as I cross the border into Canes. King Moritz has made his seat in the city of Suden, on Canes small coastline. It takes me less than an hour to make it to the city, and the sun hasn’t yet begun to set. Suden is built on an incline, the highest point of which is Mortiz’s castle. I only hope Moritz doesn’t take it as a huge offense that I’ve arrived alone and unannounced.
I drop down outside the castle gates, amid a chorus of shouting. The people shriek, darting into alleys and down the road at the sight of me. Soldiers run along the ramparts; crossbows aimed towards me. I shift back into my Fae form and raise my arms to show that I have no weapons.
“I’m King Altair of Alnembra, here to see His Grace, King Moritz,” I announce, shouting so my voice will carry to the soldiers.
A guard in the red armor of Canes’s armies’ jogs towards me. He studies my face and then shoves his sword against my back. I wince as the sharp point of the blade pierces through the leather tunic I wear. He urges me forward through the gates. I drop my arms and eye the soldiers as I pass. They stare emotionlessly at me, a well-trained unit intent on protecting their king.
Inside the walls, the grounds of the castle are nothing but stone. No trees line the walls, no grass grows. The castle is made of gray stone, drab with small windows. I haven’t met with Moritz for a thousand years, since before Maaz cursed me. Our last meeting wasn’t promising.
I’m led through the grand doors and into a great throne room. It’s three times the size of my throne room, with ceilings so high they disappear into shadows above me. Huge columns line the room, holding up the grand ceiling. My footsteps echo loudly as I approach the dais where Moritz is waiting on his throne. The dais is a full head higher than me, I crane my neck to look up. Moritz gazes imperiously at me, wrapped in a heavy red cloak despite the heat of summer.
His golden hair glimmers in the light of the torches that line the walls. His sharp eyes match perfectly with his sharp jaw and slim nose. Delicate and yet covered in hard edges, Moritz looks even more imposing than he did the last time we met. A thousand years my senior, he’s ruled since I was a baby.
He stares down at me, colorless eyes glimmering. “You arrive unannounced outside my castle; in the beastly form you wore for the last thousand years. What is the meaning of this?” His powerful voice is at odds with his slim frame.
I dip my head in a shallow bow. “My apologies, King Moritz. But I have urgent business with you and little time.”
“Come,” Moritz says, rising. He strides down from the dais to stand before me. He purses his thin lips and waves away his soldiers. “Follow me.”
Moritz leads me out of the throne room, towards a small door hidden behind one of the huge columns. He slams through it, not bothering to hold the door for me before it slams closed. Biting back an insult, I push through, following him towards the desk that sits in the center of the small room. I look around, taking in the book cases that line the walls and the various maps pinned to boards throughout. There are no windows, the only light coming from the chandelier above the desk and the blazing fireplace.
I tug at my collar, loosening it as heat washes over me. Moritz looks comfortable in the heat. He drapes his cloak over the chair behind the desk and sits down stiffly. I wait until he offers me a seat before following suit. I can feel sweat beading on my brow as the fire blazes.
Moritz eyes me. “I haven’t seen you since before the curse. I heard you managed to find a mortal woman to break it. A Bloodbane woman.”
“She’s not a Bloodbane,” I say bitingly, lounging back in the chair.
He shrugs. “Enough pleasantries.” I resist the urge to roll my eyes. I can’t imagine what he considers uncomfortable if he insists that our abrupt conversation was pleasant. “Why have you come?”
“I came to personally invite you to my wedding,” I explain. “Verity and I will be wed in six days.”
“Short notice,” Moritz quips.
“My apologies,” I say, dipping my chin again.
“I’m disappointed in you.” Moritz shakes his head. “You seemed promising before Maaz cursed you. Now, I’m not so sure. But so far, I’m less than impressed.”
I bristle. “Circumstances outside my control have forced my hand.”
“You are a king,” Moritz says bluntly. “There are no forces outside your control.”
I inhale sharply at his brusque words. There isn’t time to argue the finer points of duty. “There is a second reason for my visit today,” I say. “A Bloodbane force of fifty thousand is marching on Alnembra.”
“And yet you are planning a wedding?” Moritz’s eyes glitter.
I purse my lips. “It’s necessary. The curse, you understand.” I don’t wait for Moritz to reply before pushing on. “My army can’t protect my people from the enemy forces. We need more men.”
“My men, I presume,” Moritz says. He leans back in his chair, looking thoughtful.
“Maaz won’t stop at Alnembra’s borders – you know that,” I say fiercely. “We need to stop them where they stand, before they grow more powerful.”
“You may find that allies are in short supply,” Moritz says. I narrow
