At Shaeu’s howl e, Duke Vulpatrius curled his lips into a sly, affronted smile. “Is that any way to greet someone ing to yrand unveiling?” He turo Prince Shaetanao, eyes glittering with barely cealed malice. “It seems you do not know how to discipline your unruly half-breed of a child. I had hoped the talk of her maturing thanks to my efforts were true, but it seems that as always, rumour is simply that.”

  “Duke…” the colossal giant Duke Formor rumbled disapprovingly, while I grabbed hold of Shaeu’s arm tightly. She turned, seeming to e to her senses a little, fshing me a grateful smile, before she gnced bad unleashed her fury once more.

  “Thanks to your-your efforts? I hardly think attempting to have me murdered after engineering my fall and exile is aid, you wretched fox scum!” Her words came out ced with venom. “Where is Risha? That-that traitor who corrupted my maids arayed poor-poor Klena! I want her returned, now!”

  Yeah, this is not good, the dignitaries of the Court are watg, and Shaeu’s losing respeent to moment. Squeezing her wrist reassuringly, I decided to step in. Before I could though, the fox got in another provocation.

  “Who? I am quite sure I do not know who you mean, little girl.” He sniffed, before turning his attention to Anna, who was gl at him murderously. “Risha? Risha. No, the name does not spark any recolles within me. Who does… Shaeranna, you are looking rather lovely as ever. For a weaselkin you are a fine warrior. Such a shame that your fool of a father put a stop to our union. Breaking an Oath, how base, how… beh a Pri is hardly too te though, simply say the word and I shall be more than happy to show you my love. I do adore a warrior!”

  What a jackass. I see what Anna means now, it’s hard to believe a level-headed and polite fox like Taisha is desded from such a bastard. “I think that’s quite enough.” I decred. “You obviously enjoy riling Shaeu and her family, but it reflects poorly on you as well. As for Risha, we’ll set that aside. For now.” I turo the seething Shaeu. “Now isn’t the time for this. Besides, letting him spoil the moment of your triumph means he wins.” I whispered to her, my voice barely audible. “Why not crush him in another way, one he ’t refute?”

  With an expression of pain on her face, she forced a nod. “Yes, ter. As for my father’s broken Oaths… they were not-not broken, merely superseded.” She said, every word a struggle to remain calm. Turnitention to Duke Formor, she managed an approximation of a weling smile. “Duke Formor, I bid-bid you wele. The forces you have sent tor for training have been most-most useful in keeping the peace. And as one-one of the stau members of the Aggressor fa, you should-should be here to see the decration of our final victory over the Myids, the Spriored!” She then took a deep breath. “Duke Vulpatrius. Take-take a seat.” Her brevity and ck of warmth was an insult in itself, but one less overt.

  “Yes, there is no time for the usual Beastkin infighting.” Primal Forest rumbled as the giant and foxkin asded to the ptform on the ke, the wooden pontoon swaying uhe giant’s heavy tread. “At least not now. We have many guests…”

  The foxkin Duke looked around curiously, though his expression twisted to an angry one when he saw Urakaze, whose amber and red eyes were eyeing him as though she wished she could dissect him. Duke Formor was searg for someone else, and when he couldn’t see him, he asked a question. “Where is Grulgor? I would have thought he would be here, sihis was his triumph too?”

  “Oh, yeah, it’s not a slight against him.” I promised. “It’s just that Grulgor is busy. His ability te with and manipute stone, as well as water now… oh yes… even Grulgor is able to master new elements.” I boasted on his behalf. “He’s even more of a powerhouse now, and eager to smash some Unseelie, but timing is everything. For now he’s helping out with some crucial stru work.” Now that we use Ling t people and spiritual beings in both dires, our pns have gained a boost. And with Grulgor assimiting into the dig site, our cavern and tunnel stru is going an order of magnitude better. He’s not cut out for b, but when we expi was training tthen his elements as well, he was all for it…

  “Grulgor did?” The smaller, well-spoken giant that was apanying the Duke said, amused. “I had thought his brain was naught but solid sto seems I was mistaken. I owe him an apology.” He caught sight of Hyath, who was gl at him, and nodded shamelessly. “I see you as well, dear gift. In fact, I think a huge amount of the credit for your victory should go to us.”

  “How shameless.” Shaeu managed, having calmed down a little, my touch reassuring her. “But I am not-not oo lie. Unlike some.” She s Duke Vulpatrius. “Yes, Grulgor and dear-dear Hyath were instrumental itle, and Hyath in the restoration afterwards. Though your i was not-not to help but to harm, I have put aside my ahis…” she took a deep breath as she met my eyes, before looking at her family, Asha and Hyath. “…is a celebration. The first-first of its kind.”

  “I think that’s everyone, right?” I asked. Several other Dukes, Earls and other ranks of Seelie Nobility had arrived behind the two Dukes, waiting awkwardly, and after they were seated, it seemed that was the case. Looking out over the sea of Fae nobles, many different types represented, I wished that Hinata and the others could see this sight, but… It’s not like they aren’t having fun in their own way, which Shaeu probably wishes she art of. Hoping I wasn’t blushing, as my overpping senses were presiding over a se also entailing water, I shook my head. “In that case, wele, honoured nobility of the Fae, and the esteemed San, who I’ve heard tell of a number of times.”

  At that the burly redhead nodded. My gaze was drawn to the Lady of the Lake beside him, and though she was veiled like Tsukiko used to be, I could tell she was enting underh. Eleanor was captivated too, meeting such a being from the myths of her homend. “We also have guests from the mortal world, Princesses of great noble lines.” I introduced Eleanor and Yukiko-san. “As well as envoys from the Hyakki Yagyō, the famed Night Parade.”

  “Charmed, I am sure.” The four-tails said nguidly. “Both Urakaze and I are quite familiar with the Fae nds, as some of you are no doubt aware.” She blew some smoke from her pipe zily. “Many of the Fae have traffic with us.”

  “Yes.” Shaeu pined. “A certain fox did hire them to assassinate me, I have not-not fotten.” She couldn’t resist o jab at her hated enemy.

  “Suder. I hardly deny I have dealings with the Parade. But that is hardly a crime, or having suvoys here would make us all plicit.” Duke Vulpatrius smirked. “Besides, you yourself are a Yōkai now, are you not, little weasel, and your mother most certainly is.” He was enjoying her disfort, and my opinion of him, already ro, was dropping further. “But dealings is all I have. I certainly never instigated such a cruel request. If I am guilty of anything, it is simply making closer ties, just as your father did. More successfully perhaps, but then, Shaetanao is hardly fit to rule.”

  “You fug shit-eating furbag…” Anna growled, only for Shaetanao to silence her with a gre from his menag blue eyes.

  “Shut-shut up. We will discuss politics ter. First… daughter, son-in-w, do not let your annoya this pestilent thorn in my paw distract you. There is time-time for that ter.”

  “Son-in-w?” the San asked. “Is t’little one here eloping? Then this be a happier event than we expected, noble dy Nimu?, aye?”

  “Yes, uh… well, we’ll talk about that ter too.” I said, embarrassed by the attention. Though ever since I accepted Shaeu as well as Eri, I knew marriage was on the cards. She’s a princess, after all. We hardly live in sin forever, as my mom would say. “After all, just like Oaths, happy events are better in threes.” I quipped, and some of the Fae did seem amused at that. “For now…” I turo Shaeu, who puffed out her chest, looking around with pride.

  “It is a great-great shame noble Queen Ariel and King Orio-not here to see this.” She began to speak, and I admired how far she had e, from the bratty tsundere weakling, to a powerful, fident and proud princess and Duchess. Though she still has a sharp temper, that hasn’t ged at all. “The Spring was taken from us so long-long ago. I am told it was very beautiful.”

  “It was.” Primal Forest rumbled. “Many trees towered tall. Rhyming Trees, teo by the daughters of Orion…” he nodded slowly at Asha, who was listening, the hint of tears in her yellow eyes. “…flowers, dang with Sylphs, Pixies, Sprites and more, f sweet gdes. All gone, all reduced to rot and dirt. No, not all gone.” He amended, his words crawling. “O remains. A miracle.”

  “Not a miracle.” Asha said, wiping at her eyes, looking at us fondly. “Destiny. I was saved by princess Shaeu, Akio and the others, and my Tree and another yet lives ohier than ever. But I will never fet my fallen sisters, nor what I had to do to survive. I do not wish to dwell edy though. For like new shoots breaking through the soil, sparking new life, a new beginning, we are here to celebrate.”

  “The Spring too. This once-sacred site, waters as precious as even-even your ke, Lady Nimu?…” Shaeu pronounced, and the Lady nodded behind her veils, agreeing. “…befouled and choked with toxic-toxigus, the walls and menhirs above us crusted so thick they were bck-bck, the sacred moonlight and Spirit Water ruined, plundered by evil.” She looked up at the shining moonlight reflected from the crystalline walls, bathing us in a beautiful silver and purple glow. “But no-no more. We triumphed, and evil was vanquished. But-but…” she smiled, though it faltered a bit when she saw Duke Vulpatrius watg. “…defeating evil is sometimes just-just the easy part. Rest, no… improving… what came before, what was-was lost, that takes more effort.” She gestured, and suddenly Tillyae started dug, her musis joining in, and the sounds of mortal musiiquely Japanese, souhroughout the hall. As that song pyed, the nterns oalls were joined by a profusion of others, lit up like stars, and the staff Shaeu had recruited hurried to their positions. Great barrels of wine, whiskey and more, pallets of beer and cider, racks of bottles of sake and spirits, all were rolled to the edges.

  “The tune’s a little off. Not that anyone would notice.” My sis remarked to Yukiko-san, whed, her face red.

  “This is embarrassing. I ’t help but feel this is a cultural and diplomatic exge, and we’re pying anime songs as though it’s Mozart.”

  “What-what es before should never be fotten.” Shaeu said, and Asha came forward, taking her hand, while I took her other. “Asha is the e to the past. But-but simply recreating the past is a fool’s-fool’s endeavour. For those who lived and loved the past-past are lost, goo their rests, uhe moon.” Shaeu tinued poetically. “Instead we embrace-embrace the future. But not-not because the old was wrong, or the new superior. No, we ot-not halt the tides. As children of the moon, we should-should know that.”

  “It’s something we humans wrestle with as well.” I took over, looking at Yukiko-san and Eleanor, thinking they’d uand. “Every culture has things they’ve always done, always accepted. And losing those hollow out what it means to be such a nation. But not all that makes up a culture is good, or ’t be ged. The trick is, taking the best of others while accepting aaining the best of ourselves.” I turned my attention to the Fae I loved, Asha, Hyath and Shaeu, my expression warm. “It’s not been long since I first met the Fae, and while not everything has been good, I’ve weled, there’s so much I’d never ge, not even if I was reborn a huimes.” Shaeu and Hyath were blushing at that, while Asha looked on with a polite yet delighted smile. “But just because the Fae are magical, mysterious… that doesn’t mean that a bit of mortal iy and progress won’t work wonders.”

  “Yes. I had no-no wish for the Spring merely to be restored to flories.” At Shaeu’s words, Primal Forest let out a slow, ponderous chuckle, remembering. “Asha here, she agreed with me.”

  “Yes, I trust those who saved me. And they have not allowed my sisters nor the other fallen to be fotten. I think they would be happy, seeing the Spring as it is now.”

  “The Spring was lost-lost, and is now recovered.” The music behind us finished, and Tillyae and her pyers unched into a Fae song this time, the trast well-timed. Shaeu tinued her speech. “So just as the Fae have been worn down by loss-loss and war, I wished to rehe Spring, make it more-more than just a pce of beauty. I wished it to be-be a pce of use, as well. So now we have orchards, fields of crops, and hives that produce sweet-sweet hohose hives are not-not of the Fae, but of friendly Yōkai. For this Spring is not-not just for us, but for all who wish to see the neorld together.” She gestured to all of the guests. “For where we have Fae, Yōkai and mortals, all-all together as one. We o longer be isoted. Dahreatens us all-all, we must stand together or fail-fail apart. But it is not-not all doom and gloom. For we must also prether.”

  Servants dressed in various mortal fashions as well as more traditional Fae clothing brought over the booze, and soon the dignitaries were presented with a dazzling array of drinks and delicacies. As they looked at them with some fusion, Shaeu cpped her hands, and the music stopped. “But do not-not simply take my word for it. This day, true Mortal Engineering es to the Spring.”

  A white s was unfurled on one wall, and a projector was set up. Shaeu had told me this pn, and I was rather amazed by her ing. S electricity was something I had sidered difficult, but Ixitt’s batteries had easily been able to work, though there were a few acts. Getting the voltage reguted led to a few bits of kit being burned out. It’s all good experimental data though…

  “Behold, my daily life!” Shaeu said, and suddenly the Fae were gasping in shock, as moving images of the mortal world were dispyed on the projector s. Shaeu met my eyes, a grin on her face, and I rubbed her head gently, whispering in her ear. "That’s it. You’ve got them!"

  ********

  “Har. Har. Har.” Primal Forest boomed, his massive branch-like arms hefting a half-empty barrel of brandy. I winced a bit at the cost of it, but it was all a loss-leader for diplomacy, and the price of what we could obtain from the Fae, be it allies, Etherites or other treasures, could hardly be measured in mere money. Besides, the factory pn is proceeding very rapidly now. Hopefully before the New Year we have the first produ lines rolling, and start taking in recyg for profit…

  “This is mighty fihe taste is stro not unrefined.” He tinued, and I thought even the leaves and moss dotting his body seemed shinier.

  “I like the sweet stuff…” Estalian fpped her wings happily, her face red. Around her, perched on the shoulder of Primal Forest, were dozens of small, winged Fae, all equally drunk as they gulped dow sake and sugary ciders from small thimbles. “Fae wine is ofte, but…” she staggered and nearly fell, several other Sprites pulling her back. She peered at us, blinking her eyes. “So, I felt the resonance. Your Spirit Water is strong. Strohan mine. Ugh…” she made a cute hiccup, flushing before c her face. “My apologies. So… Spirit Water is a mysterious thing. I daresay you have simply scratched the surface…” she puffed out her small chest proudly, taking another long drink, her mouth smeared with alcohol. “…whereas I was one of the first to tame such Waters. I daresay I could teach you a lot.”

  “I’d be honoured.” I said, holding in a grin at the antics of the very cute yet tiny Fae. “But there’s another who has it, a panion of ours, Daiyu. She also has some good insights. Perhaps you’d like to meet her?”

  “Fine, fine.” She waved one hand, and seeihimble was empty, I filled it for her. “My thanks. It seems your chosen husband has good manners, Duchess.” She giggled drunkenly. “This music… it seems like it would put our musis and sio shame.”

  We were pying musi a set e speakers, also powered by Ixitt’s batteries, as well as images on the big s. Shaeu offered a rebuttal though. “Hardly. There is much-much to be said for a live performance. Indeed, mortals are more-more rabid for their favourite performers. I too greatly ehe performance of Red and White, Tamami was quite-quite enting. Again, we enhanot-not repce.”

  “It be quite a miracle.” The San said, joining in on our talk. “Why, there be naught like this, ba my day. If ye had told me t’bards and singers could be repced by magic like this, I ae say I’d have believed ye.”

  “It’s not magic.” Eleanor said, frowning. “Simply sce.” She addressed me then. She wasn’t drinking, opting to keep a clear head. “It’s certainly an impressive dispy. But what do you seek to achieve?”

  “It is as we said.” Shaeu replied. “The union of Fae and mortal ideas. For we are not-not alone.” She looked at where Raidre was being ered by Prince Morioth, before turning back to us with an amused snort. “Profit too, of course. For such mortal treats should not-not be taken franted.”

  “Speaking of…” I addressed the San.

  “What I be doing for ye, kinsman?” he asked, having decided that as I was half British, it ted. Though I’m fairly sure from when he was still in what is now Sd, they hated what is now the English…

  “Now might not be the best time, but… you’re close with the Queen, right?” I asked, notig that Lady Nimu? was also listening, though she was looking at Eleanor seargly.

  “That be nay a gentlemanly thing tae ask, ye ken?” he chuckled. “But aye, I be the favoured courtier of t’Queen, noble Ariel, may the Gods quell her suffering.”

  “I see. In that case… the King’s injury. I’ve heard it’s not improving much.”

  “Aye, and what of it? T’Queen will see him back tae health in time.” The San answered.

  “Yes, but… it so happens I’m quite a talented healer.” I said mildly, and Eleanreed.

  “It’s true. He saved my brother who was gravely injured, and I have heard stories of his other exploits. The woman Shiro arently scarred and afflicted with an evil power which made healing it near impossible. It’s hard to believe now, sidering how fwless she is…”

  “There be nae way we allow that.” He shook his head. “T’King has the fi healers already. Why, the stoatkihere, Selensha…” he the white furred Fae who was apanying Shaeu’s brothers, enjoying the images dispyed on the big s. “…she be one of them.”

  “Yes, Selensha is very good.” I agreed. “But with Shaeu and me, as well as Bintara… she’s one of the Night Parade and a master healer… I’m certain we could make a difference.”

  “You would allow outsiders to tend to our noble King?” A harsh voice set my teeth on edge, and I saw it was Duke Vulpatrius. He had been watg and listening to the shoensive expression on his face, but he had availed himself of the booze and food Shaeu had id on, without g that it made him look a hypocrite. Now he had wandered over, and his expression was mog. “Such disrespect.”

  “Outsiders?” Shaeu sneered. “Are you a blind-blind fool, fox? I have not-not met a fox yet who is not a troublemaker.”

  “How rude.” The four-tailed fox sighed nearby after hearing it with her keen ears, swigging from a bottle of sake idly, but we ignored her.

  “I’m not an outsider.” I insisted. “I’m going to be married to a Duchess of the Seelie Court.”

  “What about this Bintara?” Duke Vulpatrius scoffed. “You would let her he vulnerable King? Surely the risk ot be tenanced.”

  “Fi was just a suggestion, but if the King was to be healed…” I began, only for Lady Nimu? to cut us off.

  “I fear that would be most uhough I uand your sideration is genuine.” Her tone was melodic. “Dear Ariel…she waits and waits for the moon to rise again. But the time is not now.” She looked at me and my Eye fred instinctively, peering through her veil, but uh the Diviner, I didn’t get a clear look at her face, what was below was shrouded, as if by fog. Though I could see a smile beh. “You are like me, you see the future reflected in the moon, though I sense a fn power. You are…” She raised one hand, wearing a white glove, aly touched my cheek. Shaeu looked surprised, eyes wide, while Hyath, who had been very mujoying serving the distinguished guests of the Seelie Court, though she had to pretend not to see the expressions of some of them, let out a wicked giggle. Somehow I don’t think she’s ing onto me…

  “…not using yift well. Not at all.” she scolded me, and Eleanor chuckled.

  “I think this was worth ing for.” she told Sir Arthur. “Seeing a figure from our myths chastise him makes me feel rather happy. “

  “There’s o be petty, Princess.” He said mildly. “It does not bee you. Yrandmother would be disappointed.”

  “Oh, I’m not so sure of that. Grandmother liked him, I admit it, but she does enjoy a little humour at the expense of the pompous.”

  Pompous? Me? Surprised, I replied to the Lady of the Lake a little abruptly. “Yeah, sorry about that. I know I have to sleep to use it, but I’ve been so busy retly, sleep’s been the first thing to be sacrificed.”

  “Maybe you should have speime with your women?” Eleanor tio jest, and Shaeu puffed her cheeks in annoyance.

  “Such is not-not a sacrifice we are willing to make!”

  “Pathetic.” Duke Vulpatrius snorted mogly, and I resisted the urge to hit him. Duelling him here would be a political disaster, he’s likely egging us on to cause trouble, hopiake the bait. And annoyingly, he’s strong… He was Tarōbō css, at least. Speaking of… Haanōbō was fasated by the music, face close to the speakers despite the loud noise, as if eager to find out how it was done. My sis was with her too, perhaps trying to find out more about her new rival. Typical Aiko. At least it’s amusing Eri as I tell her about it. Her brother, of course, was simply indulging, and he was especially keen on whiskey, rum, vodka and the like.

  “I see. But the foretelling of the future is the most difficult of all challenges. Far easier to crush an army, or shatter a mountain, or rule a try…” she g Eleanor then. “…than to sift the threads of what might be, what will be, what must not be. The moon often shows what will be. And it came to you for a reason. Perhaps…” she shrugged, her silken gown rustling. “…I should guide you, fellow seer of the moon.”

  “Actually…” I said, having a sudden fsh of inspiration. “I received this from another, a true Diviner, you would say. If you were to share advice with anyone, I’d like it to be her.” Tsukiko’s happy to be alive again, but she’s still a bit lost, finding it hard to adapt. Maybe this could help…

  “Three seers, three fates, three moons, three treasures.” Lady Nimu? said, suddenly animated. “It is just as I said, is it not, San?”

  “Aye.” The burly man ughed. “Ye win, Lady. hat I ever doubted ye. If ye ken there be two others who see truth in t’moon, and a Princess who be shouldering t’fate of these blessed isles, who be I tae tell ye otherwise?”

  “I seldom leave the Lake. I have too much to guard. But… the time is now. That which is, I see. But that which must not be, and that which might be… Three trials, three treasures. A Quest…”

  At the word Quest, I could see her appraising Eleanor. She reached out, and with a surge of deep violet, she pulled a ed bundle of cloth from seemingly empty space, and uned it. What was within was a rusted tip of some straal, broken off a rger whole, a few inches long. My Eye fred, and it revealed it as Shattered Fragment Of Avalon.

  No way, is that a sheath? Avalon? Lady Nimu?… On seeing my surprise, she nodded, before passing the shard to Eleanor, who took it, curious. On doing so, she nearly dropped it, as a surge of aether and powerful water element boiled forth from it, though it quickly faded. “Is this…?” she began, only for the Lady to agree.

  “Yes, it surely is. A fragment of Avalon, the sheath of immortality. To recover this took fifteen hundred years. As, the rest is gone. Yet…” she looked up at the moon. “Without such, the cursed Eye that was taken from your care will burn brighter than the moon, aru will shine over the nds of the Fae. A Quest calls… a Quest calls.”

  A stolen eye? Burning? The prophecy from Tsukiko… As Eleanor looked on in a mixture of shod awe, I g Shaeu, who had a troubled expression on her own face. Yes, this was ued, and just as we were about to swing our preparation to the phase…

  ShipTeaser