Fae of every color lined the room from the floor level. Whispers spread like wildfire from lips to ears. Many of the fae were dressed much like Schula and I, which eased my tension, but others were in wild outfits like something from a strange dream. Tapestries dotted the walls and chandeliers sparkled overhead like stars. But nothing I saw in the room commanded more attention, than the fae sitting on the ancient throne.

Blonde, tan skin, tall and muscled. He looked to be forty or so by human years. How old a fae had to be to look like that, when Thain still looked barely twenty five, sent my head spinning. The presence of him shifted the air around him, a golden light of power so strong that I had to leash my terror. I had thought Thain was the most powerful fae I would ever encounter. Thain was still a child to this male. He wore red and orange brocade with golden maple leaves embroidered all over. His crown was a golden laurel, and a ruby in the shape of a maple leaf shone on his ring finger. An obsidian band sat on each thumb.

Thain, Eberon and Schula stepped forward and stopped in front of the lower dais. Thain gave me a look that had me join them, and together we bowed. I took the opportunity to wipe my palms on my tunic.

"Thank you for meeting with us, Sire." Eberon spoke low, but loud enough for the nearby fae to hear.

"If your story rings true, it will be me who owes thanks." His blue eyes flickered to me, then back to Eberon. "Come, come sit over here and let's have a chat."

Thain gently touched my arm and led me to the lower dais where four chairs had been prepared. We each took a seat and I was more than aware of the crowded room, all eyes on me. A pressure of air between the powerful throne and the room of wylde creatures pinned my heart to a stop.

"Is all well, young one?" The king asked.

"Pardon Majesty, I believe the issue here is the crowded room." Eberon inclined his head towards me as he addressed Baeleon. "She grew up among very few people and she doesn't seem to handle a crowd yet."

"That, I can do something about." The king clapped once, and an orchestra that I hadn't noticed in the back corner began to play a light tune. It was merry, and fluttered high and low like leaves on the wind. The courtiers dropped their eyes from me, and began dancing. Servants with gold trays burst from the small service doors and brought delicacies and drinks around the room, starting with the King of course.

"There! Now, I have as many questions for you, as I suspect you have for me." Baeleon smiled, dimples warming his face. He seemed more than likable, for a fae who could probably level the palace on a whim. But there was still a hard edge in his eyes that kept me at the edge of my seat, ready to flee. A primal instinct I'm sure. You probably didn't keep a fae throne this long by being soft.

"What would you like to know, Sire?" I tried to copy Eberon's words and movements and he gave me an encouraging smile.

"Lord Eberon, the fiend, wouldn't tell me much." The king leaned back and crossed his outstretched ankles. "I'm told they found you in the mountains south of the Wyldes, but that's about it."

"Yes, I lived between a few small villages and homesteads. I was raised by a woodcutter named Bryn. We lived in a cabin he built himself, and cut and dried lumber for coin." A pang shot my heart. The sting was dulling with time, but it was still there.

"And you've never seen a fae, or anything else of the Wyldes before now?" The king asked.

"No, Sire. Thain was the first. The people of the mountains still have stories of the fae, but I never expected to see one in my lifetime." I folded my hands in my lap and blushed as Baeleon laughed heartily.

"Well, now you've seen some us." He grinned. "So you grew up as a human, did you know you are something from the Wyldes before Lord Thainalan found you?"

"Yes, Sire." My back itched and I hoped he couldn't sense what was on me. "I have always known, everyone around me knew."

"And you have no knowledge of your parentage?" He took a glass of wine from a servant, who then offered the tray to the rest of us.

"None." A hand was placed over mine, and I looked over to see Schula giving me a wry smile. "As far as I know, I am still half human. I have no glamour, and my appearance is completely human."

"And your ears?" He tilted his head. I could feel Thain stiffen beside me. Wairen had left two thick braids that covered my tips easily, but for the king of my friends and saviors, I would reveal my shame.

"My ears may have been the only hint to my lineage, Sire, but they reveal no secrets now." I took a deep breath, and tucked the braids behind my ears. Several gasps behind me told me that the dancing courtiers hadn't completely given up eavesdropping. With fae eyes, they could probably all see, and a hot blush rushed to my face.

"Hells!" The king leaned forward and slammed a fist on his throne, shattering the wine glass in his other hand as servants scurried to clean up. "Who would do such a thing?"

The scene must have been familiar to the courtiers, because the only one in the whole room who flinched was me.

"I'm afraid I don't know, I was found in the woods this way." I re-covered my ears, shaking from the power behind the king's fury, but keeping my voice level.

"Are you certain it wasn't the humans who found you?" He growled.

"I would stake my life on it, Sire." I folded my hands in my lap again, holding tight to this slander against Bryn.

"My King, the human who found and raised her died saving her life from raiders." Thain said quietly. Baeleon eased into his throne again, nodding slowly with approval.

"My condolences. He must have been like a father to you." He said finally, taking a new glass of wine from a footman.

"Thank you, Sire. He was." My breath shook slightly, but my heart calmed enough to smile for the king.

"I understand you are hosted by Lord Thainalan. If you wish I could give you finer rooms in the palace. You would be well cared for, while you settle in to the Wyldes." He offered.

I hesitated, and he seemed to pick up on it.

"Of course you may stay with Lord Thainalan as long as you wish." He inclined his head towards Thain. "The offer, however, will remain open if you ever grow tired of his dreary moods."

"Thank you, Sire." I said. I wondered how Thain felt about being called 'dreary' but I could see how the King who surrounded himself with courtiers and music would think that. But unlike the king, a quiet house with Thain and Wairen was most definitely my preference.

"Have the courts of these lands been explained to you?" He asked, glancing at the others.

"Yes, some. I know I will want to choose a court, and I will likely need to visit each one to help me choose." I answered, the king nodded.

"Correct. I happen to have ambassadors from each of the other courts here as we speak. We held a meeting last night, as a matter of fact." He waived over a servant with a tray of dried fruits. 

"Circumstances being what they are, all four courts have agreed to a year's time in which you are free to roam the Wyldes, a citizen of all of them until you choose one for yourself. You have all the privileges and protections that each king provides."

"But they haven't even met me!" I squeaked, then I clapped my hands over my mouth.

"Thank you for your generosity." Eberon gave a small bow in his chair. I took his lead and bowed my head too. "I believe what Wren means, is she is still learning of the fae generosity after so long among humans."

I nodded vigorously and the king laughed.

"It is well, young one. You will see soon enough how different from those human animals we are." The king took a long drink from his wine, and I couldn't help but feel a small pang of annoyance that he would disregard half of my lineage so easily. He finished his glass and as another was poured he addressed our party.

"Lords, Lady." Baeleon smiled at the triquetram around me. "You of course are tasked with traveling her through the Wyldes."

"Of course, Sire." Thain gave a rare smile and Schula bowed her head. "We are honored to guard her and guide her."

"And Thainalan, if she has magic, you are to assist her in training her powers. What may not have surfaced in the human realms will surely spring fourth here." He leaned forward, to my horror, and took a deep breath through his nose in my direction. "Ah, and unless I grow feeble in my old age, I'd say she has quite a bit of it under the surface."

Oh no. Oh no no no. My back burned, and I clenched my fists so tightly that my nails drew blood in my palms.

"Yes, Majesty." Thain bowed again.

"Now, with that business out of the way, I'm sure you know of our dire situation." Baeleon gave me a pained look. "Our youth..."

"Yes, Sire. I've been informed." I said.

"Very well, then I would like to know your age and birthday, if I may." He said.

"I am nineteen years old." I mumbled. "And since I was found as a baby, I'm not sure of my precise birthday. But I was only a few months old when I was found in winter, so Bryn and I always celebrated my birthday on the fall equinox. It's close to when I should have been born."

"THE FALL EQUINOX!" The king exclaimed, much of the court stopped to stare, and the music faltered for a moment. "A glorious day! Did you know of this Lord Eberon?"

"No, I didn't, Sire." He gave me a grin. "A good day indeed. Wren, it's the first day of power for our court. I'm only sorry we missed celebrating with you."

"I can promise next year will be the most exciting birthday you've ever had. You'll have to see the festivities in Thanantholl." Schula smiled. "That is, if you want to of course."

"Miss Wren, I apologize for my outburst. To have a birthday on the Equinox is quite a celebration around here." The king smiled and gave me a wink. "And almost always a sure sign that you belong with the Autumn Court."

"I would love to see Thanantholl on the Equinox." I smiled. "I'll be sure to be here for it, Sire."

"Good, I look forward to it." He leaned back. "Now with that business out of the way, let's become more casually acquainted. What do you think of the food here? I'm told Eberon took you to the River's Edge."

We talked for an hour about things to see in Thanantholl, the food, the craftsmanship, the architecture. Baeleon gushed about everything the Autumn lands had to offer. Servants came and went with food, and after a time the orchestra took a break and several important fae came forward to introduce themselves.

Nymphs, sprites, wisps, fae of every kind came to greet their king and steal glances at me. Some were beautiful. Some were frightening. All were strange to me. I had barely gotten used to Thain, Eberon, and Schula, I wasn't ready for a parade of every wylde thing in the palace. Yet here they were.

Another hour dragged on, and then another. Between all the wine and the amount of time the king held me hostage with his parade of lords, I was squirming for the privies. Schula was too, or she sensed my emergency and came to my rescue.

"Sire, may I excuse myself to the washroom?" She stood gracefully and the king nodded before returning to the newest Lord to approach the lower dais. "Thank you. Oh, and Wren, would you like to know where they are? I can show you."

I latched on to her, barely remembering to bow and we left the room. Fae left and right tried to pause us for a chat, but Schula expertly averted each one. The twisting golden halls of the palace echoed our footsteps as we turned further in.

My muscles relaxed with every step away from the noise of the great hall. I nearly sighed with relief when we turned into an empty chamber-way.

"Forgive Baeleon. His social appetite still hasn't been sated, no matter how many centuries he's been indulging it." Schula smiled. "I know it's not your favorite thing, but we all appreciate it. I'm afraid your name is going to ripple through the Wyldes now though."

"I was ready for that." I said. "Um, you weren't lying about the privies were you?"Schula gave a light laugh, like snow dancing in the sky. "No, I wasn't. We're almost there."