were two of them.
“Your doors are nicer than anything I've ever owned,” I declared as I hurried after him.
More giggling came from the gathering of faeries at the base of the steps. Behind us, Kardri's Guard fell into line, following us inside.
“If you like the doors, wait till you see your suite,” Kardri drawled.
I didn't have to wait for my suite to be impressed, the first room we stepped into was enough to make me gawk. I craned my neck to see the painted ceiling—clouds and birds spotting a faux sky. Arching columns swept down from the artwork to border the hall, while supporting columns formed two lines down the length, splitting the space into quarters. The floor was polished wood, inset with stone designs of flowers, and the walls were painted to look like a forest—I mean, a jungle. Massive lanterns hung from the ceiling in the shape of stars, casting brilliant light over everything.
“What the actual fuck?” I whispered. “What is this place?”
“The entry hall,” Kardri said with a chuckle.
“What do you do here?”
“I . . . I greet people. Well, I don't do that, Ames does, but guests are greeted here.”
“This is a waiting room? Are you fucking kidding me?”
The servants were coming in behind us, and my question sparked another round of muffled laughter.
“No, guests wait in one of the sitting rooms.” Kardri waved his hand toward an archway that gave a glimpse of another room—one with more furniture than artwork.
“So this is a useless room?” I looked around and scratched my head. “I don't get it.”
“What?”
“The point. I don't get the point of making a room this beautiful and then not using it.”
“The point is that I can.” Kardri grinned smugly.
“Yeah, see that right there?” I pointed at his smirk. “That's the part of you I didn't like. It's growing on me, but it's still obnoxious.”
Kardri rolled his eyes. “Come along, Tristan. We've entertained my staff enough for one day.” To his knights, he said, “You have half an hour before we leave.”
The Leopard Lord's Guard bowed to him and left.
“My lord?” Ames hurried up to Kardri. “Would you like refreshments sent up to your suite?”
“No, thank you, Ames,” Kardri said. “We'll be leaving soon for the Royal Palace.”
“Speak for yourself,” I huffed. “I'm starving.”
“There will be food at the palace.”
Ames waited, unsure what his orders were.
“No refreshments, Ames. Thank you,” Kardri clarified.
“Not even a drink?” I whined.
“Tristan!” Kardri snapped.
“Fine,” I huffed. Then I turned to the group of faeries who were waiting for their lord to leave. “Nice to meet you all. He's really not a jerk, I promise.” When I waved this time, they waved back—down to the last faerie. Yes, even Ames.
“Tristan!” Kardri snapped again.
I turned around, but he was gone.
“Over here,” Kardri called.
I found him inside the left wall. That is, in a small room in the left wall, whose doorway was within the painted trunk of a tree. I could have sworn it wasn't there a second ago—the room, not the tree—and the space was small enough that it was more of a closet than a room.
“What are you doing in that tree?” I asked as I went over to him.
“Just get in.” Kardri rolled his eyes.
I stepped into the strange space. It was lined in polished wood, probably to go with the tree painting, and had a panel on the front wall with numbered buttons. As soon as I was standing beside Kar, he pressed a button and the door shut. On its own. And it slid out from the wall as if it was a part of the wall.
The room started to move, and I shrieked, “What the fuck?!”
Kardri laughed his ass off. He laughed so hard that he bent over and had to prop himself up on his thighs.
“What is this?” I demanded when he finally stopped laughing.
“This is an elevator; it moves people from floor to floor so they don't have to climb the stairs.” He pointed at my face. “And that was for embarrassing me in front of my staff.”
“You little shit!” I exclaimed even as I laughed. “Fuck, Kar, you're so rich that you don't have to walk up stairs?”
Kar laughed again. “Elevators are a common luxury here.”
“A magic box that moves people from floor to floor is common?”
“Yes.” His grin broadened.
“That is so awesome!” I shouted just as something dinged and then the door-panel-thingy slid open. I rushed out, excited to see the next great faerie marvel. “What else you got? Is the