- High Court -

"Impossible. We may not look like it, but the Summer fae do have codes as well. Pride and loyalty is our fealty. Millions of years after that war, we are still healing from our scars. So why now would I choose to send spies?" The Summer King's tone darkened. "Our enemy is trying to drive us apart."

"Indeed. The Summer prick has a point." The Winter King spoke with an air of weariness, "I am afraid our enemy is much stronger this time around." Heavy silence cloaks the council as the information settles. The fear level rose and tension spikes.

Before anyone could voice the ghosts plaguing their minds, they were interrupted by a massive dark form that blew into the room. Everyone froze. The Dark Beast's massive form commands submission and instills fear. Even the High King can feel the waves of power roiling from the ancient beast.

"Sorry for the late intrusion. Please resume the meeting." Suola's Beast spoke softly to the small group of royalties gathered in the small room. He had never once needed to shout. Just his very presence is enough to command the attention of everyone in the room.

"We were discussing our human counterparts. Glad to have you join us." The High King smiled tersely.

"Yeah, I made it. It was a mad decision to travel from my place to here. But with all that is going on, I cannot afford to use a wyse gate." A frown appears on the Dark Beast's face. He is in his human form, dressed in a neat grey pinstripe suit and wearing gold-rimmed glasses. His dark hair neatly trimmed at the sides. The only things that betrayed his heritage were the dark depthless eyes and unnaturally tall frame.

"My seventh Prince has sent me to inform you that the number of hybrids has been rising. They used to be once defected with weaknesses. Now the subsequent batches seem more difficult to...eliminate." The Beast paused as he pondered over the right term to use.

"As long as they are not the Originals from the past, we are already very relieved." It was the Autumn Queen who spoke. "How is the situation at your side?"

The Dark Beast met the Queen's gaze. "Even though they are not like anything from the Originals in the past, they cannot be destroyed easily. There is good news that the princes have succeeded in clearing hordes of the experimented creatures. But we have yet to capture any of the main players. We suspect that the Decays have planted spies among us. No matter how fast we acted, they could escape at the nick of time. It's a fool's war. Our every move has been anticipated."

"Then what of the Dark Queen?" The Summer King queried.

The Dark Beast heaved a sigh. "My Queen still lays in her eternal slumber. Only the princes are ruling over the court and trying their best to gain control over the various dark tribes that live in the Night Court."

"We need a concrete plan. With all these internal problems and spies planted in our midst. It is time we cooperate properly. I suggest that we communicate directly, lest the spies get a hold on our intel." The Day King spoke.

"But how are we going to achieve that? We can't possibly gather here all the time. Our enemies will find out sooner or later." Summer King Brandon says frustratedly.

"We can only wait and see. The involvement of spies has changed the plan. Start evacuating the fae who live in the Human World to the safehouses. I am sure the lords and earls can contribute by opening their lands for refugees. On our side, we will try to root out the spies among us." The High King spoke to the other members as he laid a soothing hand on the back of his High Queen.

"I agree. We will execute the lockdown plan." The Dark Beast said as the other members nodded in agreement. "We will try to straighten our internal affairs and at the same time root out the rebels in our lands. That I can give you my word."

"Indeed. We will all send reinforcements to the Night Court and station more soldiers at the gateways to guard against any imminent invaders sent by the Decays." The High King says as he looked at each of the Kings and Queens before lingering on the Winter King. "Failure to do so and I will personally come to send you to the afterlife."

"One more thing." The Dark Beast reminded the High King.

"What is it Dark Beast?"

"The time has come for the Prophecy. We must get it before they lay their hands on it." The Dark Beast spoke with silent urgency, his black pitless eyes stared straight into the High King's eyes as if he could bore a hole through them.

"We need to send someone. A representative. Preferably a human with the sight."

*•*•*

The Outcasts: Fae abandoned by their courts due to their defects. Most are demi-fae bearing the bloodline of humans, known as halflings. Demi-fae are weaker than full-blooded fae, thus deemed unwanted by their clans. Criminals banished from their courts make up part of the Outcasts as well.

- Pg 76 of Royal Archives. On Outcasts.

***

- Elena -

I pushed the food around on my plate. After all the dancing and singing yesterday, today it should be the celebration for the harvest. Nervousness wrecked my stomach causing me to lose my appetite.

I have never been to the Human World. Not even once. But I have heard stories and tales of Bards. Today I will be heading down there personally to find my sister. I gathered intel that there will be a trading delivery to an earl that lives in the Human World some time in the afternoon. So I will take the opportunity to slip away.

Jacinta tapped the wine glass with a fork. "Ladies and gentlemen. We will now commence the rituals to thank the goddess for our harvest."

Everyone stood up and filed their way out whispering excitedly among themselves.

"What do you think we will be doing for this year's solstice? I wonder what the prince will suggest."

"The last solstice we had to sing a song chain with every last verse of the previous person. The winner was given a golden ticket into their Port."

"I'm excited for this year's solstice. Who knows what new games the Autumn Prince has up his sleeves this time?"

I fingered the small picture in my dress pocket through the skirts of my dress, feeling the small thin object. What are they talking about? I looked around but Keiran isn't here to explain it to me so I had no choice but to follow. Reasons why I dislike going for such public events. Where did he go anyway?

Yesterday night I had been busy copying the details of the portrait onto another blank parchment. I only got a couple of wink time before the birds started chirping and dawn came. Feeling tired and snappy, anxious and restless, I'm not in the mood for festivities.

As we made our way to a large empty space in the courtyard, it took me a second longer to notice the differences.

Gone were my father's favourite roses. They are too precious and are moved away to make room for the row of target boards standing in the middle.

"Great, I made it just in time." My cousin said as his quick puffs of breath sounded beside me.

"Where have you been?" I whispered as the crowd gathered to the front and we stood at the back. Prince Cedric, the eldest Autumn Prince, stood in front of the targets and faced the mass of courtesans, earls, lords and ladies-in-waiting.

"I'm sure everyone can already make a guess what game I have in mind this time." He smiled dashingly. From the side, his siblings walked in with servants behind them carrying bundles of what looked like bows. I have a bad feeling about this.

"I was... just helping a poor maiden." Keiran says winking mischievously.

"Really? Did she swoon and ask for a kiss in return?" I teased him and giggled as my cousin blushed and glared at me. "Wait. Don't tell me she really did?"

"No. She didn't ask me to kiss her but she asked if she could meet me again." My cousin whispered as his eyes darted around in embarrassment. After seeing that no ladies were eyeing him, he visibly relaxed. I wonder if there are any Spring Court ladies who are suitable enough for him. Or maybe not when Keiran is someone so outstanding.

Even I would wish to test every of his suitors to see if they are right for him.

"I knew one day those hazel eyes and dimples will make ladies come swooning at your doorstep." I said as I tried to quell the rising laughter from bubbling out. Keiran rolled his eyes in exasperation.

"One day when it's your turn you will get it from me too. I will make sure to tell him every silly detail." He says grinning as he sees my unease. "Elena's special edition." He chuckled to himself.

"Yeah. Tell me that after my parents arrange a suitor for me. I'm more likely to become a nun than get married with their over-protectiveness."

Distantly, I hear Prince Cedric say something about having an archery competition and for the first participant to come forward. I wasn't paying attention until I heard them call my name. "Why not invite the High Princess as the first candidate? After all, it is her first time participating in the rituals." Zarina, the Autumn Princess I met yesterday gave me a saccharine smile as I turned towards them at the mention of my honorifics.

Frowning, I was about to open my mouth to reject when suddenly, something red flashed and landed in the middle of the courtyard. The crowd murmured in surprise as a guy with a familiar shade of red hair stood regarding us coldly.

"Bro-brother?" Zarina exclaimed as she recovered from her shock. The boy ignored her, his eyes fixed on Prince Cedric. "Are you starting without me?" The eldest Autumn Prince shook his head. "Jeez. Shic what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be on an errand given by our mother?" Cedric crossed his arms, his sigh was apparent.

The boy is younger than Cedric but the way he dresses seems to be more regal than him. A pair of silver earrings hang from his ears, shaped like a diamond with a cross in the middle. The only accessory he wears. "I was bored." He said ignoring his eldest brother as he walked over to study the neat array of boards lined up.

"This is my youngest brother. Prince Shic of the Autumn Court." Prince Cedric introduced him. "I apologize for his sudden appearance."

The murmurs rose to exclamations and the crowd started to gossip.

"He is that Prince Shic?"

"He has been incredibly talented since young!"

"Careful. Don't be fooled by his demure expression. He is a monster."

Keiran and I shared a glance and I shrugged. Of course we have heard of the youngest prince of the Autumn Court. News travels fast. Stories of a prodigy, a boy who is able to master fire elementals way before he came of age has been spreading across the land. There are many rumors blown to epic proportions that enemies kept clear of the Autumn Court.

"I heard he was adopted. Found abandoned and picked up by the Autumn Queen."

"Really? I heard that he is a bastard child of the queen, and she tried to cover it up."

"Hush, he can hear us!"

"A game of archery? What a boring choice." The boy of the rumors spoke as if he heard neither the gossip nor felt the stares directed at him. He looked disinterestedly at the stack of bows and shafts of arrows in their holders.

"Then what do you suggest?" Cedric did not strike me as someone who likes to entertain others, but I was colored impressed when he offered to listen to his brother's request on his birthday.

"Why not make it into a game of hunting?" Prince Shic suggested as he played with one of the arrows. "A hunting game would be more interesting."

"Then it shall be a hunting game to honor Goddess Tessania with our spoils of the hunt. The winner will be the one with the largest spoils." Prince Cedric nodded followed by the whoops and cheering of the crowd.

"A hunting game huh... Been a long time since I participated in one." I said smiling slightly at the memories.

"You can always participate the next time." Keiran said as he ruffled my hair affectionately despite my protest. "How are you going to get out? Everyone can recognize you from a meter away."

"Well... it takes a genius to come up with a plan. Fortunately, I'm that genius." I laughed as Keiran rolled his eyes. "Don't worry, I've thought everything out. You'll see." I reassured him.