The people of Illiador needed me, my people needed me, and this time I would not fail them.
Iris
Dawn had arrived.
I finished packing my little leather satchel; I didn’t have much to take with me. I carefully sheathed my daggers and strapped the sword Rafe had given me on my hip. “I’m ready.”
Santino walked me to the gardens where the fae and their griffins were waiting. I stared in awe at the mighty creatures, their gold feathers glinting in the light of the rising sun. The fae-warriors paced in front of their massive mounts, eager to get in the air.
They stopped when they saw me. Tristan’s eyes darkened as he looked me over. “I am glad you had the sense to change into appropriate riding attire, Princess.”
I glowered at him. “I’m not completely new to this, you know.”
“You could have fooled me.” He turned to check the saddle on the griffin. “We must be on our way—the longer we are away from Elfi, the longer the kingdom remains unprotected.”
“Modest much?” I muttered under my breath.
Tristan turned and glared at me.
I rolled my eyes. Of course he could hear me with that immortal fae hearing of his.
“So, who am I riding with?” I looked around. Aiden ignored me, and I was glad for that. Cade and Farrell smiled and got onto their mounts.
“Griffin riding can be dangerous for an inexperienced rider like yourself,” Tristan answered. “Your mount has been arranged.” He jumped onto his griffin’s back in one fluid motion.
I drew my brows together. “My mount?”
Just then, a musical tinkling voice filled my head. “Do not fret, little princess, I am here.”
My heart leapt, and a broad grin spread across my face.
Snow!
I looked up. The white pegasus flew out of the sky, her iridescent wings bigger than before, and landed amid the griffins, stamping her hooves and shaking her magnificent mane.
I ran to Snow and hugged her neck. It was so good to have her back. “I missed you,” I said through our bond.
“I did too, little princess,” said Snow. “Get on, these griffins look like they are raring to go.”
I smiled, and Santino gave me a leg up as I jumped onto Snow’s back. The fae had fitted her with a beautiful light leather saddle, which was far more comfortable than riding bareback as I had been doing until now. I said goodbye to Santino and waved as Snow broke into a canter, spread her massive wings, and shot into the brightening sky. The griffins leapt into the air after us, quickly getting into formation around Snow and me.
We flew over the vast deserts of Brandor and onward toward the towering Wildflower Mountains surrounding Elfi. The wind whipped through my hair as Snow easily kept pace with the powerful griffins and their riders.
I told Snow all that had happened, and she updated me on what she knew about the state of affairs in Eldoren. It was much more convenient speaking to Snow in my head; we were traveling so fast our voices could not be heard over the sound of the wind. “Has there been any news about Aunt Serena and Erien?”
“Not that I’ve heard.”
“And Rafe?”
“The prince got back to the palace a day ago. He was the one who informed me where you were and sent me to you.”
“Is he all right?”
“He was when I saw him.” Snow soared on the wind as we rose higher and higher into the clouds. “He also sent word to your grandmother about what happened. When you removed your amulet, we could sense your exact location. That is how the fae-warriors and I found you. Prince Rafael has been worried about you and wanted to make sure you got to Elfi safely.”
My heart shifted and the familiar ache returned. I missed Rafe and his cheerful confidence. He was my anchor in a sea of troubles, and when he was around I knew he always had my back. Even when he was far away, he watched over me. I wished I could go back and help him.
We left the desert behind us, the endless sand dunes of Brandor giving way to patches of foliage and tufts of trees as we approached the base of the Wildflower Mountains. The slopes spread out in all directions as far as the eye could see, guarding Elfi from the outside world.
The sun had started to set as Snow and the griffins climbed higher over the towering peaks, soaring through the clouds and flying into a narrow gorge past thickly forested mountain slopes. Finally, we emerged in a lush valley covered with a carpet of wild green grass and heather, strewn abundantly with wildflowers.
In the middle of the hidden valley, the brilliant fae capital city, Iris, came into view. It was the most breathtaking sight I had ever seen. The Crystal Castle was built into the face of the mountain. Slender towers spiked through the night sky and glittered brilliantly as the moon rose overhead, dazzling the whole city with its silver light. Clear streams cascaded down from the mountains around it, sparkling as if the water itself was filled with stars.
A gigantic wall enclosed Iris, protected by powerful magic. The fae-warriors could not fly over the city. We landed in the valley outside the city gates where twelve proud centaurs stood at attention. Half man and half horse, the fae creatures bowed low when they saw who rode the griffins. Most of them had their long hair tied back from their rugged faces, and each of the centaur guards wore two massive swords strapped to his back alongside a quiver of arrows and held a huge yew bow. Six of them moved forward to open the city gates for Izadora’s elite band of warriors.
As the great golden doors to the fae capital opened inward, the fae riders got off their griffins. I did the same with my mount; the griffins and the pegasus were not allowed inside the city.
“I will be
