the Dryvyd Wood gateway and friend to the Seelie Court. With him is Bran Ardall, the scion of Charles Ardall, the last Heliwr. They entered Annwn with the intent to discover who tried to kill young Ardall in his native city by an assassin cu sith, only to become prisoners of John Lewis Hugo. There is more to this than I can see, events that do not mesh with what we know to be true; our visitors are intertwined in this madness as we are and have just as much to lose.
“As already observed, both Lord Fafnir and Lord Latobius have chosen to disregard the summons I sent them,” the Morrigan continued. “It will take an actual visit from a source both of the wayward lords respect to realize the error of their dismissal; it will take a strong voice to persuade Lord Latobius and especially Lord Fafnir of our mutual enemy—to convince them to leave their mountaintop dens and mobilize for war.”
“Who will go then?” Govannon questioned. “If not you, my Queen.”
“I have chosen McAllister to do what I could not.”
The Lords of the Seelie Court looked at each other and at Richard. No one spoke.
“Will you do this thing I ask of you, knight?” the Queen asked.
Richard met her stern gaze. He had known the Morrigan planned to use him in some way, the request he attend the meeting nonnegotiable. What the Queen of the Tuatha de Dannan advocated made sense; Knights of the Seven held noble status among the Seelie Court and would be given opportunities others would not. No matter how much he wished to walk away from the madness, a part of his heart beat to maintain his knighthood and duty. He may have never met the lords in question—only read about them in ancient books Merle kept safe—but what he knew put him in a strong position. At the very least, the coblynau of Caer Glain would respect Arondight for its past.
If he succeeded, the prospect of gaining a favor from the Queen could not be ignored.
“I will do as you command, Queen.”
“And young Ardall?” she said, looking at the boy. “What of you?”
Richard beheld Bran. Uncertainty deadened the eyes of the boy. It was a choice Bran had to make on his own, one the knight would not influence.
“Home is not an option, is it?” Bran asked Richard.
“It is if you wish to put yourself at risk,” Richard replied quietly. “I may not want you intertwined with what lies in that box, but what Merle said in Seattle is true. Whoever wants you dead will try until it is done.”
Bran stared at the dead griffin on the table before looking to the daughter of Lord Gerallt. Richard did not like the look. The boy truly had gotten himself into more trouble than he’d be able to handle if he had become infatuated with the lady of Mochdrev Reach.
When Richard glanced at her, he was surprised to find Deirdre had eyes only for him.
“I go where Richard goes,” Bran said simply.
“I have every faith Richard and Ardall will return the two Lords of Snowdon to Arendig Fawr along with all the might of the coblynau and dragons,” the Morrigan submitted. “The Seelie Court will be strong once more. Lugh will accompany the knight and his charge on their journey, choosing six warriors from the Long Hand for protection and answering any battle preparation questions Lord Fafnir or Lord Latobius may have. Kegan and one of his sons will share responsibility for the Rhedewyr mounts needed for the trip.”
“See to it, Lord Lugh, the Rhedewyr are not ridden to their deaths,” Aife said with threatening scorn. “Sacrifice them to gain Tal Ebolyon like you did last year at Caer Vyrridin, and I will not be pleased.”
“I will ride them as I deem fit,” Lugh said coldly. “You command me not.”
“If it means regaining my kingdom all the quicker, then let nothing stand in our way—including how we ride the Rhedewyr,” Caswallawn growled. “They will live. This is war!”
“Revenge clouds your judgment, Lord Caswallawn, as does Govannon’s ale,” Aife said, flushing with ire.
Caswallawn stood, as did Lugh, lightning in their eyes.
“All Horsemaster Aife requests is to ride the Rhedewyr with care,” n’Hagr growled.
“What do you know of restraint when you fish the ocean dead, n’Hagr,” Lord Eigion spat, his gills flaring pink in anger.
The room erupted into chaos. Each lord other than Govannon and Kegan were screaming at one another, pointing fingers, gesturing wildly. Richard looked