The second floor was not what I expected. The curved hallway was wide, and lined with carpet. I stopped to take my filthy boots off before walking down the hall in my stockings. Paintings of fae, many who looked like Thain, lined the walls. Each door was a different color, and near the far end I found a bright red door, the frame of it was painted with small blue flowers.

The door opened for me and I found a room the size of my cabin in the mountains. On a platform in one corner was a plush red and white canopy bed. Next to that was a beautiful carved wardrobe large enough to climb into. The ceiling was painted to look like a bed of roses. A small table and two red velvet armchairs held my sack of belongings, and my other axe was propped against the wall. I took the good axe off my belt and put it with the other. A vanity with a matching red chair was near the double doors that had been left open to show a balcony. The wooden rails were covered in ivy and a bench formed from one of the oak branches dipped down onto it.

'Caw'

Puko landed gently on the ivy railing and began preening his wing. I left him to it and explored more of the inside. A thick door by the wardrobe opened to a bath room. If the bath at the outpost was a dream, this one was a heaven.

The room was carved stone. The bath was sunk right in the floor and the water nearly filled it to the brim. Steps brought you down into the steaming water and trays lined the edge with soaps and lotions. Unlike the concealed pipe at the outpost that poured water into the bath, the water here fell from the mouth of a brass unicorn that kneeled over the far corner of the tub. A nozzle to the side of it turned the water on and off. The wall held shelves of red towels, and the north wall was one giant mirror.

I shut the door behind me and stripped immediately. I barely had my last stocking off before I reached the steps that took me into the blissful water. In a few short days I had become dependent on a hot bath, which I had never even had until I met the fae.

I was content to soak for what must have been an hour before actually cleaning myself. I was scrubbing my hair when a gentle knock came through the door.

"Miss Wren, don't be alarmed. I am laying some clothing out on your bed and will be gone in a moment. Please call if you need anything." Wairen said.

"Thank you, I will." I lied. I took plenty of time cleaning myself so Wairen would be gone before I climbed out of the bath. Wrapped in the large red towel, I peeked through the bath room door to make sure I would be alone.

Four dresses had been laid out as well as underthings. Matching slippers sat on the floor next to where I left my dusty boots, they all looked like they would fit. Each piece made from materials I had never felt before, and I decided to dry and comb my hair before trying them on.

I had worn simple dresses before. They helped me blend into the larger settlements and cities, but they were never required. These dresses though, these dresses were different. The fabrics were light and expensive looking, the colors were vibrant. I was able to try them all on, but how to fasten them I wasn't sure. More lacing and ties similar to the shirt Schula put me in to train, but different enough that I didn't know what I was doing with them. Two of them I could see right from the start would be far too low on the back and reveal my magic seal. Another was too low in the front, and while I wasn't usually so shy about my clothing I wasn't ready to be so bold in an unfamiliar city. Perhaps if I had the same plump curves that Schula had, but I didn't.

That left me with one dress. A deep purple one that covered me high on the back, gathered across my chest while still covering it, and swept to my ankles. The sleeves covered to my elbows and clung tightly to my arms. There was still the matter of tying the lacing at the sides, but for now I was at least covered.

I walked around my room several times. The dress swayed around my legs, leaving me with the feeling of nakedness. With breeches my thighs never touched each other, the dress would take getting used to.

I went out to the balcony to find Puko gorging himself on a bowl of dried cherries that Wairen must have left. I smiled and sat on the oak bench, watching him. The fae below were easier to watch from outside. I wasn't directly over the street, but I could still see it. I don't know how long I sat there watching and thinking and braiding my hair. When I spotted Thain I smiled and went back inside.

I could hear him come in downstairs as I walked through the hallway. When I reached the top of the stairs I could see him talking to Wairen, then he looked up.

"Wren, you look lovely." He nodded to the birch tree fae and walked toward the stairs.

"I'm not sure about these lacings though." I shifted, uncomfortable in the new clothes.

"I think I can manage that, if you don't mind?" He reached the top of the stairs and held a hand out. I turned and let him see the first side.

"Is all the clothing from Thanantholl so complicated?" I asked.

"This is newer fashion, and very much to Eberon's taste." He growled. "Tomorrow we find you clothing that you are comfortable in. But for what it's worth, you do look nice in that color. Turn."

I showed him my other side and he repeated the process. "Thank you. I don't know that I've said it enough lately, but I have a lot to thank you for."

"Don't mention it. Any fae would have done the same in my situation." I could have sworn he shifted his eyes off of me, but only for a moment. "I'm glad it was me though."

"So am I." He finished and I turned to him. "I spent most of my life in fear of your, our kind. Some of it still scares me, but there is so much beauty in the wyldes, I couldn't imagine a life without knowing about this place. Not anymore."

"Wren,-" Thain's face hardened a second before I heard a knock at the door. "It's probably one of the others."

He strode down the stairs but Eberon let himself in before Thain could reach the door.

"Wren, that suits you well." A smile spread across his lips, his fangs bared. Eberon had changed into much nicer clothing than what he traveled in. Golds and oranges complimented his neat red hair and his leather boots were well polished.

I walked carefully down the stairs, not tripping over the slippers or dress. I tried to walk with a sway, like Schula did. I felt ridiculous, so I stopped.

"I need to get changed. I'll be right back." Thain nodded to us as he went upstairs.

"I hope you're hungry, we have a table at the River's Edge." Eberon swept to the fireplace and took a decanter from the mantle. "If you liked the pecans from earlier, you'll be in for a real treat. The chef is a master with fresh ingredients from the Autumn lands."

A knock at the door drew me away. I could see Schula through the window, and I let her in. She glided through the door in a silver corset and a full black skirt. She was dressed to break hearts and smile about it. I felt an instant pang of jealousy, but I brushed it away.

"You look amazing." I said.

"You clean up well yourself." She winked. "Where is Thain?"

"Getting dressed." Eberon had poured himself a glass from the decanter and was leaning back in one of the armchairs by the hearth.

"I am done changing, and I see you haven't been here for ten minutes and you're already in my brandy." Thain came downstairs wearing stunning blues and silvers. His usually tousled hair had been tamed into a ponytail better than I had ever seen it on the road.

"A testament to your good taste in drink." Eberon flashed a smile before draining the glass. "Shall we go then?"

Thain brooded and Schula rolled her eyes, but we all followed Eberon out the door.

Eberon led us through the streets towards the grotto. As the sun began to dip low, fireflies sparkled like stars fallen on Thanantholl. They were on everything, adding a magic glow to the already astounding city.

The grotto was open on one end, and how far back the cave went I couldn't see. We passed close enough in front of it that I noted the glass ballroom floor and orchestra pit just begging for a party. Servants bustled around with decorations and brooms.

"The palace is in there, beyond the opening." Schula watched me as I took in the scene. "King Baeleon is fond of dancing. I'm sure you'll find out for yourself soon enough."

"There is the River's Edge up ahead." Thain pointed to a bend in a small arm of gently flowing water. Tables dripping in white decorations were illuminated by candles. An overhang away from the water held more tables, and a building beyond that smoked from three chimneys where the kitchen must be. We entered the yard through a gate and were escorted to a table by the water.

"Is everything in Thanantholl this beautiful?" I took a seat and stared at the enormous bouquet of white mums, sprinkled with fireflies on our table.

"I like to think so." Eberon winked. "If we charm you here first maybe you won't have the heart to leave."

"Let's get through dinner first." Schula elbowed him in the ribs.

A short fae with hair that moved like she was underwater drifted towards the table. Her aqua skin was covered in bumps.

"Well if it isn't my favorite triquetram, back from the border." She leaned in closer to me and sniffed, her eyes widened. "And who is this?"

"This is Wren." Thain said, seemingly undisturbed by the stranger smelling me. "We found her living with the humans. I'm not going into detail but I'm sure you'll hear soon enough what the King wants everyone to know."

"How old are you?" She whispered at me.

"Nineteen." I was as quiet as I could be, but a few heads turned to us form neighboring tables anyway.

"Let it go Marila. We're here for dinner, not gossip." Thain growled.

"I understand." She gave me a warm smile and squeezed my shoulder before turning to Eberon. "The special tonight is duck or salmon. Both pair well with the house sweet red wine, or if you prefer, our fresh barrel of cider."

Schula ordered one of each special for the two of us so I could try them both before choosing. She said she would like either. From the water, we watched the sun dip below the treetops, setting the city in a blaze of pinks and reds. I drank my cider and let the conversations around me buzz through the background. There was too much to see to distract myself with chatter. Maple leaves still fell, and crickets came out to serenade Thanantholl.

The food came and went. Each plate before me was better than the last. Schula had to cut the duck and salmon in half in the end. I couldn't decide on one, so we both had some of each. The cider went to my head by the time we were finished eating.

"Wren you look flushed, are you alright?" Thain slipped cool fingers onto my forehead and frowned.

"I'm not sick, but I think the cider is getting the best of me." I brushed his hand away. "I'll be fine if I stop now."

I was brought a glass of water despite my protests, and once I had finished it Thain took my arm to walk us home. Schula and Eberon stayed, and said their goodnight to us there at the table.

Eyes still darted to me as we passed groups of fae, but it was starting to get too dark for it to bother me. The path to Thain's house was still a twist of roads and bridges I wouldn't be able to follow again without help. The cool night helped sober me up, but I still focused on my steps in the foreign slippers so I wouldn't fall. After a long silence I couldn't take it and I spoke.

"I'm sorry if you left early because of me."

"No, if anything I should be thanking you. I can't stay out celebrating nearly as long as Eberon can." Thain gave me a half smile. "Even just the three of us wains on me after long."

"Can I ask you about a word I heard earlier tonight?" We walked under a lattice of roses and he led us down a new road.

"That depends on what it was I guess, but ask away." His large hand was steady warmth on my back as we walked. If I stumbled he was right there. It was comforting.

"What's a triquetram?" Our server had called them that.

"Ah, that." He gave a low sigh. "Magically, I told you we do things in threes, right?"

I nodded. He turned us onto the street where I finally saw his house.

"It's not just for preforming magic. That is even true for those of us born with magic, the fae. Somewhere out there, you have two..." He frowned. "Two soul-mates? Two other people with magic that can match, oppose and balance your own all at once. That is your triquetram, and some go their whole lives never finding any of their set."

"That's, kind of sad." I said. "But Schula and Eberon are your triquetram?"

He took a moment to answer. A sadness crossed his face but it was gone when we reached the yard.

"Eberon is. Schula hasn't found any of hers yet, so she fills our third spot. We've been together like this for years now." Wairen opened the door as we reached it. "And with that, I think you should get some sleep."

We said our goodbyes at the foot of the stairs. By the time I reached the top I looked down to see Thain in an armchair with his decanter of brandy. I went to my room to find a night dress lain out on the bed. I left my purple dress on the floor where it fell and climbed into bed with the cotton dress pulled down to my knees. I would have stayed up into the late hours to think, but the cider brought me to sleep before I could fight it.