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"We can’t stay long--a few hours at most--but we must talk to you and the Queen It’s imperative We have some unwelcome news" I followed Trenyth, trailed by Calances every way as we headed to the carriage

"This is incredible" Chase caught up to me "The air is so clear here I can’t believe how easy it is onAl out, and he had arettes after we broke up He cocked his head "There’s soic" Camille accepted the driver’s hand as he helped boost her into the carriage "You’re feeling the ical down to the core of each ato s"

With a nod, he clie after her The rest of us joined hi with Trenyth Sh the cobbled streets, the horses’ hooves clipped s out the , an expression on his face that I’d never before seen

"You know, even though I’ve seen things that, five years ago, I didn’t even believe existed…I feel like I’ve stepped into Wonderland I feel like Alice, down the rabbit hole" He looked so excited and his face was so lit up, that I couldn’t help myself I reached out and kissed hi at me, then stared back out the

"The houses! They’re so different"

Trenyth s up a sore subject, but has your father been in contact with you at all?"

She hung her head, shaking it mutely

"Why? Did Tanaquar decide she needed a new para that we should, our father is a sore subject Especially for Camille"

"I know, but…" He rubbed his chin and let out an exasperated sigh "There are ruoing around that the A out with Queen Tanaquar and she has tired of his attentions She hasn’t officially labeled him pariah, but reliable sources have told er holds the ear of the Queen"

So Daddy was on the outs with his lover, and his job ht be on the line I wanted to be empathetic, but after what he’d put Cah, it was hard I couldn’t help but have a little niggle of schadenfreude

Ca But a sad smile escaped and she folded her hands in her lap as Sh the streets, the quietude of the city began to settle throughresonating through me like ripples on a pond I missed Otherworld I missed my home…but where was home, really?

"We really are alkers, aren’t we? No true home"

Camille cocked her head "Oh honey, no Windwalkers have no place to call home But e don’t have just one home We have two We’re so much luckier than some people" She leaned across the space between the seats and tookon what she’d said, I stared out the e clattered up thewith alabaster, the palace was elegant in its siardens, the royal courts were as clean and clear as the air The road leading to the palace was spacious, paved with brown bricks It ended in a cul-de-sac, with an island of grass at the end, where an oak tree grew so tall it was hard to see the top A circle of early bloo jaspa flowers--they were a lot like Earthside crocus--surrounded the island, their fragrant white blossoe rolled into the cul-de-sac, stopping in front of the entrance The driver opened the door and helped Ca in Otherworld, too The uard cah the expansive halls, into the throne roo his neck to take in all the sights He paused by a wood carving that ran the length of one wall The bas-relief was etched out of oak and showed a procession of elves in the middle of the woodland, north of Lake Arvanal, where the elves held their sacred rituals The raised edges were kissed with liquid silver, and the lass s of the hall

Chase reached out, stopping a finger’s length before touching the carving "This…there is so ic in here So much history"

Camille joined him "Yes, there is…but don’t touch it That would be considered bad ot with all the frenzy over the Tregarts You have a distant ancestor as an elf Enough, perhaps, for your blood to recognize this place"

He nodded, pressing his lips together, then returned to us Trenyth motioned for us to hurry We followed him into the throne room There, on a throne of oak and holly, sat the Elfin Queen, as old as the world, as young as the spring She wore a gown made of silver and blue, and her hair was bound up in braids like Iris often wore

Even though Queen Asteria was as old as the hills, her hair was still pale and flaxen, though her face was lined rinkles Elves aged so slowly that I couldn’t i--it had to be thousands upon thousands of years ago She isdoh we questioned a few of her decisions, and when she stood, all elves in the room knelt at her feet Camille knelt in a deep curtsey while the men and I bowed low

She motioned for us to stand "Rise, my friends, and rest yourselves in my chamber Eat, drink, please"