Wylde Magic | Book 3

Eleven: Eberon's Expertise

Thain and Eberon's embrace on the field below was touching to watch. Schula reached out and held my hand while we looked down at it, and Spaulder even came up behind us and put a hand on each of our backs.

When Thain pointed up the hills to where we stood and waved us down, we began the walk to them.
"How many fae do you think are down there?" I wondered out loud.

"Many. I can feel them, even from here. There is quite a lot of activity down there, actually," Nassir answered.

"Hm. And just how many of them will be glad to see us?" Schula wondered out loud.

"The ones that want war will be glad," Nassir said. "The rest, who knows."

With little left to say on the matter, we finished walking in silence. Thain and Eberon were engrossed in a conversation the whole time, only occasionally looking our way. The closer we got, a few fae started coming toward Eberon. And then more, and then more.

"What's going on down there?" Schula asked.
"It would seem we are about to find out," Spaulder said, and we finished our walk down the hill and onto the flat grassy meadow.

Eberon turned to say something to the fae that had began to emerge from the treeline, and then he and Thain began making their way toward us. They met us at the fence, and Eberon opened it.

Schula! Wren, Nassir. And... who is this?" Eberon came out of the gate and gave Schula a tight hug, lifting her off the ground and spinning her in the air.

"This is, woah!" I giggled as Eberon then put Schula down and did the same to me, embracing me tightly and then finally letting me go.

"Let her speak, Eberon," Thain grumbled.

Schula snorted a laugh, barely hiding her smile with her hands as Thain eyed her.

She cleared her throat. "Anyway, Eb, this is Spaulder. We found him! We found our third."

"Spaulder wore a somewhat amused expression as he nodded his head toward Eberon.

"I have heard much about you, Eberon of the Autumn lands," Spaulder said.

Eberon straightened his appearance and faced Spaulder properly. His expression pleasant, but his eyes trying to calculate what exactly it is he was looking at.

"A pleasure, Spaulder. Welcome to my home. I'm impressed that the three of you found each other. All within a year, I might add."

Eberon smiled, but it was a bit forced. I glanced down and just caught him fidgeting with the black ring on his thumb. A pang of guilt hit my chest. He once had a whole triquetram too.

"So, what do we do now?" Schula asked, clapping her hands together. "Please say a bath. Or food. Or both."

Eberon chuckled and gestured to the curious fae waiting in the field. "Can someone prepare three rooms in the guest house? Or as many rooms as you can find. And dinner, and hot water."

A few of the fae broke off and headed into the trees, presumably to Eberon's estate beyond.

"We need to talk," Eberon said quickly as he walked us through the meadow and toward the people. "Your story has spread like wildfire. There are fae here who are for your cause and want to see justice done to DuVarick."

"That's good, isn't it?" I asked.

"Eberon, exactly what have you embellished?" Thain asked.

"Embellished?" Eberon paused, looking offended at Thain. "I've done no such thing!"

"Then why does it seem like you're briefing us to enter your estate?" Schula asked pointedly.

"That... okay. First of all, Schula, I've done wonders for your reputation," Eberon said. "And the fae here are expecting the outcast bastard of a mad king and her long lost triquetram orphan, the youth who somehow avoided the plague by being outside the Wyldes."