My nap aroused no suspicion among the eyes Peyorla had watching us. Or at least, they didn't show any signs if it did. Calming my heartbeat as Spaulder and Schula analyzed the Mother's dream with me was challenge enough. The factor most on my side in this was the waterfall behind our quarters that added enough noise to cover my heart.

So many revelations all at once. That whatever kind of savior I felt the need to be for Thanantholl... it wasn't me who was meant to save it. I didn't realize what fabrication I had my head wrapped around with that notion anyway. It probably boiled down to my need to protect what's precious to me. Mother and Stars know I've lost things before, and now with the power of the Wyldes at my fingertips and the craft of the witches in my mind, I was not going to let things go so lightly ever again.

'The first thing we need to do is assess the state the Autumn refugees are in,' Spaulder commented. 'I could simply fly over the city and have a look for myself.'

We appeared to all the world as though we were a triquetram having a lazy day in the warm grass by the pond. But within, our discussions were of the utmost seriousness. If any of them suspected that Spaulder's conversation could be for our chosen minds and not just to everyone around him, it wasn't addressed. Maybe Peyorla already suspected, but what could she realistically do to separate a dragon from his loved ones?

Other than threaten our people.

I sighed, rolling on my side to look Spaulder in his golden eyes.

'The question then would be if Peyorla would retaliate or not,' I added. 'If she decides it's an act of resistance from us, will she take it out on the Autumn court?'

'She said she wouldn't,' Schula said. 'And I'm inclined to believe her. Fae aren't ones to lie and there was little room to twist the truth in what she said before. Besides, if her true pursuit is to rule as her father had, then she sees herself as the peace keeper of the Wyldes, albeit a twisted version of it. She wouldn't take our actions out on the innocent.'

'If we had outside eyes this would be no problem at all,' Spaulder said with a huff.

My hand went to my pocket where the acorn and the ring still sat. I bit my lower lip, maybe now was the time, though I still didn't know who it was that wanted my attention so badly before.

I wrapped my fingers around the contents of my pocket, taking a calming breath as I looked around the pond to all the Summer creatures that had been stationed nearby. None of them too obvious, but they were there and their intent was plain to me. I couldn't risk pulling the ring out in front of them, but if we suddenly moved inside would that be suspicious?

'Actually,' I started slowly, 'There might be someone-'

Trumpets cut me off. They sounded from down the mountainside, into the open fields we had come from in the first place.

"A returning hunt?" I could hear one of our guards asking her companion in hushed tones. Not quite hushed enough to hide it from me, even with the waterfall behind us. 

'This is no hunt,' Spaulder said, lifting his head and staring down across the city. 'This is...'

From such a high vantage point, there was little he could not see. I could understand why the throne of Yusellia was built here.

The Summer court around us was now on high alert. A mix of curiosity and caution that wouldn't be so prevalent if this were an ordinary occurrence to them.

I stood slowly, reaching over to use the sturdiness of Spaulder's shoulder as I got up.

'What can you see, Spaulder?' Schula asked, also rising to her feet.

'I can see there are no horses, no game is being carried and almost no weapons among them,' Spaulder answered. 

"You three!" It was Hayat, Aithne's more steadfast companion, and he was wearing a scowl as he approached. "You'll need to return to your quarters for now."

"Why? What's going on?" I demanded.

His expression faltered for a moment. "That's not your concern. Return to your rooms."

'Let it go,' Spaulder said. 'We will know in due time, and we have a friend waiting for us in the back window.'

That caught me off guard, and I spoke out loud when I turned to face the great black dragon. "What?"

'Shh,' Schula reminded me. "We will go, Hayat. Good luck with whatever it is."

His expression was as suspecting as ever, but when Schula locked her arm through mine and pulled me with her to open the large door, Hayat relented and went with some of the others, probably down the mountain.

'What friend?' I asked the moment we were relatively alone again. Schula had barely closed the door behind us when I rushed to Spaulder's side. I hadn't mentioned the acorn or the ring, not that I knew who they were from anyway.

'See for yourself,' Spaulder mused. 'Check the upper floor.'

"Caw!"

I looked up the ladder. It certainly wasn't what I was expecting, but it was welcome none the less.

Grinning, I went up the ladder in a flash. From the second floor, I could see through the cracks in the shutters where a fat black raven was sitting on one of the less conspicuous window ledges that didn't face the front pond.

I pulled open the shutters, and Puko flapped into my arms.

"There you are," I murmured, stroking his head feathers and murmuring.

"Puko?" Schula had come up the ladder after me. "Where have you been?"

"Caw!" He wriggled from my arms, flapping over to the window ledge once again. 

"What's on his foot?" Schula asked.

I leaned down to have a close look, and sure enough a small paper was rolled up and tied to his leg with a thread.

Schula and I exchanged a look before I set my eyes on Puko again.

"Where have you been?" I murmured as I untied the thread, taking the paper.

I pocketed the thread as Schula stroked Puko's head feathers, and I unrolled the paper.

"The first wave is a lie, meet me at the hawthorns." I looked up to Schula. "The first wave of what? Who is waving?"

"Meet who at the hawthorns?" Schula asked.

The hawthorns... the grove at the edge of the Summer lands?

I reached into my pocket, pulling out the acorn and the ring. "I was about to tell you two when the trumpets sounded, but I've been left these things by someone since we got here."

Schula frowned, reaching out her hand to pick up the ring and inspect it. Her fingers brushed it when she drew them back with a hiss.

'It's not pure, but that ring has iron in it. Who gave it to you?' she asked.

'I don't know, but I have a feeling they will be the ones waiting at the grove. Let's go see Spaulder.'

'I can already hear you, little ones,' Spaulder answered. 'The first wave. I fear it refers to the ones who arrived, heralded by the trumpets.'

I scooped up Puko, settling him on my shoulder as I climbed down the ladder.

"Who was out there then?" Schula asked, close behind me.

Reaching the ground, I went to the door and opened it just a crack. Enough to see who might still be lingering in the courtyard. There were a notable amount of them missing, but not all.

'I will admit that my sight is not what it used to be,' Spaulder said. 'But from such a distance I could make out a mix of fae creatures.'

'Were they...' Schula paused.

'Dead? No. These were not the work of Bara Khalja,' Spaulder answered and Schula's shoulders relaxed.

'Well, I don't know who is here, but supposedly it's a trick of some kind,' I said.

'Hold on,' Schula protested. 'We still don't know who sent you that ring. You say you don't remember it?'

'I know I've seen it somewhere,' I admitted. 'Many times. But I just can't remember where exactly.'

'Let me see it,' Spaulder said. 'The mind of a dragon does not easily forget, and even if I don't recognize it perhaps I can at least narrow down your thoughts.'

I pulled the ring from my pocket and held it out for Spaulder to investigate. He moved his great head, one eye peering at it carefully as he sniffed the air.

'This ring, I saw it among the elves, though never on a finger,' Spaulder finally said.

My eyebrows raised in surprise. 'You know it?'

His eye rolled up to meet my face. 'I know many things of the ones who were outside of the sea caves that day. That day, the image of each face that followed you two to me will be ingrained in my mind forever.'

'It was one of the elves who came with us?' I asked, then paused. 'Teyber!'

'Captain Teyber?' Schula asked. 'Of course! Around his neck.'

'Indeed,' Spaulder answered.

"Caw."

'That settles it then,' I said. 'If Teyber isn't a trustworthy source, who is?'

Schula crossed her arms over her chest, staring at the door as though she would be able to see through it if she looked hard enough.

'It makes sense. Only the elves had the reputation of being able to sneak under the noses of anything else in the Wyldes. It explains why your pursuer could trail us without being caught.'

I grabbed my bag, the only possession between the three of us, and I pulled it over my shoulder. 'That's it then, we need to find him! I can't imagine what would have brought him all the way here with the danger the elves face if they're found.'

'Hold, little one,' Spaulder said. 'It would not do you well to rush out to him when we still don't know what the first part of his message said.'

'And we still have the matter of Peyorla to deal with. We would have no problem getting away, but the others...'

I sighed, my shoulders slumping. 'You're right. I wish Eberon were here, he'd know how to get us out of this farce of a trial.'

Schula's expression fell. 'Yes, he would, the silver-tongued devil.'

Trumpets sounded again. This time, more of them, and with more urgency.

'What now?' I said.

'It sounds like a battle,' Spaulder answered. 'Though, not much of one. These Summer creatures herald their warriors, but there aren't enough of the other side to resist.'

My heart nearly stopped. 'A battle? Here?'

'That answers the question of who arrived,' Schula said. 'It must be the Winter army, right?'

'Or is it?' I asked. 'Peyorla seems to be at odds with more than one court right now.'

'Wait,' Schula held up a hand, and we all looked at her. 'The first wave is a lie.'

'A warning,' Spaulder murmured. 'This is a false victory for Peyorla.'

'They'll think it's all that remains of the Winter army after Thanantholl fought them,' I said. 'We have to do something!'

'And what do you propose we do, little one?' Spaulder asked. 'I will help how I can.'

I bit my lower lip, looking around the room. What could we do? We were prisoners here, however flimsy the walls that contained us were. And if we left we might risk the refugees we came with. Though, if this was really a trap they would be at risk anyway if Yusellia were attacked.

'If it's the Winter army out there, then DuVarick can't be far. Maybe even Bara Khalja. If we can face them head on, what would happen to their army?' I asked.

'Cleave the wyrm's head, and the body falls from the sky,' Spaulder said. 

'Then we waste no time,' Schula said. 'Let's leave this place and do something about the Winter court.'

'Finally,' I sighed.

If that made us enemies of Peyorla, so be it. We've done what we could here, but I would not be trapped by another crown's madness again.

It was time to hunt two beasts.