I watched Thain tuck away that part of him that became the beast when he went to battle. It took the rest of the evening as we started marching, and then once the sun was falling and Uldur announced that we would walk through the night, Thain was in a better mood for talking. 

Which made one of us. 

Hot, tired, and wishing I had taken a bath before we left, I marched on silently with Puko in my arms. I stroked the bird's feathers gently as the freeloader nestled against me, not doing anything but adding to the weight I had to carry through the trees as the moon rose high. 

Uldur allowed us a short rest every few hours. I wasn't pleased to hear that this would be a constant for the day and a half trip to Thanantholl, but I did appreciate getting back to the city of my heart as soon as possible. The short rests laying next to Thain weren't too bad either. 

Night fell, dawn rose, and night was falling again when Schula fell into step next to me. Schula yawned and I turned my head to watch her expression.

"I'm so tired," she grumbled. "The first thing I want to see when we get back is my bed."

"Don't get your hopes up," Yaz said, walking not too far behind us. "The first thing you'll likely see is the place."

Schula groaned, rubbing her temples. "Even King Baeleon sleeps sometimes."

"He has kept odd hours lately with the war," Eberon chimed in, slowing his pace a moment to fall into step beside Shula and me. "The last time I saw him was the middle of the day right as he was finally going to bed. If I can say anything about King Baeleon, it's that he is dedicated to his court above all else."

A few fae around us nodded in agreement.

Schula sighed. "I guess we'll see what he wants to do when we get there."

"Soon," Heyra's soothing voice called from behind us.

Yaz nodded to the dryad. "Heyra's right, we'll be there soon."

I looked ahead of us, but all I could see was trees. Golden, orange, and red leaves blazed before us. The familiar purple bushes and the dusty blue vines that crawled waist high up most tree trunks. I thought the sight of the Autumn lands so strange when I first laid eyes on them but seeing them again now brought forth tears. 

"What is wrong, little one?" Spaulder's low voice startled me from my right, the opposite side that Schula walked on. 

"Oh, nothing. I'm just being sentimental I guess," I answered, wiping my face. "I've missed this place and we're getting close."

"Ah." Spaulder chuckled. "I see. I have heard so much of this Autumn city, I must admit I am looking forward to seeing it with my own eyes."

Schula hummed, looking toward the sunset that lit the Autumn lands on fire. The light would die out soon, and then we would be left with the blue hues of moonlight and the song of the crickets. 

"I don't know if you can come with us to the palace, Spaulder," Schula murmured. "Or rather, I don't know if you should."

I reached out to hold Spaulder's hand. "Why couldn't he?"

"It's not that he couldn't," Schula corrected herself. "It's just that if anyone in the Wyldes could tell on sight what Spaulder really is, it's going to be Baeleon."

Nassir stepped forward. "That is true. Baeleon is older than me by a good amount, and the days in which the-"

Nassir looked up at Spaulder. "Well, let's just say Baeleon's memory could stretch that far back."

I glanced around. There were a few fae pretending not to be eavesdropping that looked a bit dejected that Nassir didn't let Spaulder's true nature slip. I hid my smile behind my hand, pretending to yawn. 

"Hm," Spaulder mused. "Very well. I would prefer to be left alone regarding my particular situation until I feel back up to strength. What should I do then?"

Schula blinked twice, then turned to Eberon. "Eb! I left you the key to my apartment. Where is it?"

Eberon turned around, he was walking next to Thain and they were conversing softly. "Your key? It's with Wairen."

"At Thain's house?" I beamed. "I've missed them! Do you think we could see Wairen soon?"

Thain nodded. "Soon enough, Wren. I assume you're staying with Schula tonight?"

I blushed, looking over to the white fae who had taken on a sheepish grin.

"Y-yes!" I snapped. "At least, I think I am."

"Well, let's not make hasty decisions," she cackled. "That sounds like a discussion for after the Autumn palace."

I groaned, pressing my hand to my forehead. She just would not let me do this relationship thing at my own pace.

"Caw!" 

I looked up to see Puko overhead, lowering his path until he would meet us and land on my outstretched arm. 

"It looks like the city is just over the hill." Schula grinned. 

I perked up, catching Puko's weight on my arm and bringing him in for a hug as I looked on eagerly. The bump in the path ahead of us hid what I knew would be a drop into the valley of Thanantholl.

We walked on in anticipation, my eyes fixed on the hill until we reached it, crested it, and began the descent. 

The road dipped into a wide, shallow gully with a large grotto at one end. Mirrors of silver pools of water covered the ground between massive trees. Stairs, benches, rooftops and walkways were made from carved wood still on a living tree, or trees shaped from youth to conform to the desired shape. Everything from the ground we stood on to the lattice of vines over the walkways breathed with the life of the Wyldes.

"Oh," Schula breathed, putting a hand over her heart. "I didn't think I would have missed it this much."

Our party slowed to a stop as Uldur was stopped at the gate to the city. He conversed with the guards in hushed tones, giving the rest of us time to catch up until we were a clustered group that blocked the arched gateway to Thanantholl. 

Once the guards caught sight of Spaulder, they got each other's attention and pointed to him.

"Oh no," Schula murmured. 

"Won't being our triquetram be enough?" I asked.

"Let's hope so," Schula sighed. "Because someone's coming."

Spaulder crossed his arms over his chest, looking down at Schula. "I am not leaving you two in that city alone."

"You won't have to," Schula said. "I won't let them deny you. I just need to figure out what to say."

A guard approached. His polished armor gleamed in the fading light, a bright orange maple leaf painted in the middle of his chest looked freshly touched up. He had a wood texture to his skin, though he wasn't a dryad, and his emerald green eyes were set in a firm frown. 

"You, state your name, species, and reason to enter Thanantholl," the guard ordered. 

Spaulder looked amused, the guard having to crane his neck up at the massive dragon looked like a petulant child next to him.

"My name is Spaulder, my species is the business of myself and no one else, and my business is with my triquetram," Spaulder said.

The guard looked taken back by Spaulder's words, and he eyed me and Schula in turn.

"That's not quite enough for me, I've sworn an oath to guard these gates from harm. My love is in this city, my triquetram is in this city, I can't just let any unknown thing through these gates," The guard said, standing his ground.

A midnight blue hand appeared on his shoulder as Thain got the guard's attention. "I vouch for Spaulder. Let him in."

The guard jumped. "Lord Thainalan!" 

I hid my smile. Thain had this effect on younger warriors. 

"Will my word suffice? Who do you answer to, old Bellard?" Thain asked. 

The guard nodded. "Yes, of course, naturally. I mean, the word of Thainalan will do."

Thain squeezed the guard's shoulder once before letting it go. "Good. Thank you for your service, I will need to speak to my companions now."

"Y-yes, right." The guard nodded sharply and returned to his post at the gate where Uldur was finishing up with the guards and we were being ushered forward.

"I guess it's time," Yaz said. 

We funneled through the gate and into the city. Even in the moonlight, it was stunning. Silver poured over the pools of water, casting a night time magic over them. The leaves that rustled overhead in the light breeze shook droplets of rain from earlier in the day down onto the cobbled streets. Fireflies danced, and my eyes hunted across the landscape below for the River's Edge where Schula would surely demand we go dancing as soon as we could. To my heart's content, it was alight with merry diners and lovers. 

"Ugh, Uldur, don't turn left," Schula begged under her breath. 

I looked ahead to Uldur as he was giving orders to the fae around him. At the larger fork in the road that would either take us on a path to the heart of the city, or straight to the Autumn palace, Ulder didn't even pause when he turned left.

"Left," Schula grumbled. "Of course, Baeleon is ready for us."

Thain turned from where he was just a little bit ahead of us and bent his head down to murmur to Schula and me as we all marched slowly.

"I was able to send word ahead to Wairen. Spaulder can wait there for us," Thain said, turning then to the disguised dragon. "If you would like, of course."

"Who is this Wairen?" Spaulder asked.

Thain nodded. "Wairen is the dryad that lives and cares for my family house. It is an old debt that they will not allow me to clear for them."

Spaulder chuckled. "Old debts are powerful debts, fae. It sounds like this Wairen understands."

Thain's lips played with the ghost of a smile before turning serious again. "So, if you would like to wait at my home, you certainly can. I can give you directions..."

"Caw!" 

Puko flapped, taking off from my arms and startling me. He flew in a tight circle ahead of us, then landed on Spaulder's shoulder.

The dragon threw his head back and barked a laugh. "It sounds like I will have a guide after all. Thank you, Thain. I shall take you up on your offer."

Thain nodded, and Spaulder left with Puko, earning the startled gaze of every fae in his path.

"He's going to be fine," Schula said. "Right?"

I reached out for her hand. "Of course he is. It's us I'm worried about."

Schula let out a breathy laugh. "You're right. Let's worry about ourselves first."

The road was direct enough, for a road in Thanantholl at least. It wound and dipped and twisted, but it didn't stray far from the intended destination in the grotto at the end of the gully. Under the rocky cliffs ahead sat the beautifully carved entrance to the Autumn palace. 

And everyone noticed our march. 

Eyes in windows, fae on the streets, even those in the darker crevices of side yards and back gardens noticed us go by. And the whispers spread like fire. 

"Ignore them," Nassir murmured. "You two did nothing wrong, nor did you ask for this war."

"I kind of asked for this war," Schula mumbled. "At least, me versus DuVarick. I didn't expect Baeleon to jump in."

I nodded my agreement, and we passed over the last of the path and under the grotto. A stream of water with an ancient bridge on it guided us to the grand doors of the palace. They were already being opened fully, six guards at attention as Uldur lead us all inside.

My heart began to speed up the closer to the throne room we drew. The last time I saw King Baeleon he had been an intimidating figure, but relaxed. Known for frivolous parties and his eccentric nature, I wasn't sure what a Baeleon at war could possibly look like. 

At least, until the doors to his throne room opened wide.

Brilliant lights kept the room as bright as noon on a cloudless day. Fae creatures of every kind were at the dozen tables, all arguing so loudly that I couldn't pick the words apart. Most wore some kind of armor, and several had weapons on their hips. All wore the maple leaf with a crown over it, Baeleon's symbol, somewhere on their clothes or armor. The tables were covered in various texts, and more than a few maps of the Winter lands and unclaimed Wyldes. 

The throne on the dais in the middle of the room was as eye-catching as anything else, and when I dared look up at it I saw him. 

Baeleon, shirtless with an armored war-kilt. He held a golden trident with an effortless ease that insinuated a vicious familiarity with the weapon. His hair, once pristine and cared for, was wild and less kept that usual. His eyes were wild with energy, and his lips parted in a grin that showed every bit of his fangs as he laid eye on our entry to his throne room.

He raised his trident, slamming it on the dais in an echoing clack that caught the attention of every arguing warrior in the room. 

"At last," Baeleon chuckled darkly. "My heralds of war are here!"