Fae's Deception - M. Lynn Page 0,1

to her, hoping for a strong heir—something that was not in the cards for their little family.

“Lady Driscoll will take good care of you, my dear.” Faolan squeezed her hands.

“I think it’s supposed to be the other way around, Mother.” Alona smiled.

“Not yet.”

Her last year as a princess of Eldur would be filled with many ‘not yets.’ Her mothers wanted her to enjoy her last year at court, but Alona wanted to get it over with.

“I’ll be back before you know it, Mother.” She hugged the queens, leaving them behind to comfort each other.

For the first day and a half of her journey, Alona did as she should and rode in the carriage as befitting her current station. But on the afternoon of the second day, she chose to ride with Eamon and his men on horseback. She wanted to catch the first glimpse of Sol Loch’s crystal clear waters and the hot springs there. The air already smelled of sulfur, and the heat of the day caused Alona to travel with a cotton veil over her head and face to shield her from the sand and the heat. Had she been born with the power of the Eldur Fae, the sun would have strengthened her the way it did for all Eldurians. They were the strongest of the Fae, yet they were limited to using their magic only during the day. At night, Alona stood among equals.

“Just a little farther, Alona, and we’ll break for the evening at the hot springs,” Eamon said. “Maybe we can even find one of the mud springs where you and Finn used to have good old fashioned mud fights when you thought I wasn’t paying attention.” His grin was infectious, and so like his son’s. She’d grown up with Finn Donovan among the other children in residence at the palace.

Finn was just two years older than Alona, but most of the time he acted like he was seven—and probably still would when he was seventy.

“If we find a mud spring, I’ll be taking a mud bath. I believe I’ve outgrown mud fights.”

“You know, Lona, pigs take mud baths.” Eamon flashed a mischievous smile at her.

“Oh, you know very well the Ladies of the Eldur court pay good money for that mud.”

“You’re all nutters. Every last one of you refined sort.”

“Well, in a year I won’t be quite so refined.”

“You will always be a refined lady, my Lona.” Eamon’s handsome smile routinely melted the hearts of most of those ‘refined ladies’ at court. “Even covered in mud like a pig.”

“Oh, you just hush now.” She laughed.

“Morgan and O’Mally, ride ahead and find the lady a mud spring. And while you’re at it, put up her tent so she can rest before dinner."

“Yes, sir!” The two youngest soldiers of Eamon’s unit took off ahead, eager to do their commander’s bidding.

“Thank you, Eamon. I shouldn’t allow such luxuries, but I am tired, and I haven’t enjoyed the hot springs in ages.”

“We will get our first glimpse of Sol Loch just over the next rise. The waters there will be soothing this time of year. Hot, but not too hot.”

“Sounds wonderful.” Alona leaned forward in her saddle, eager to set her eyes on the crowning jewel of Eldur for the first time in years. She’d grown up at the palace in the capital city, Raudur, that lay along the rocky cliffs of the Dalur River. It was cooler there and beautiful in its own way. But Sol Loch was breathtaking in its wildness. She would love to spend her days here among the many lakes and hot springs, but it was far too close to Eldfal, the massive volcano in the northern wastelands. The stability of the land here was always in question.

“I would live here in a heartbeat if the land was fruitful.” Eamon gazed across the rolling sandy hills to the oasis that was Loch Sol in the distance.

“And if the water was drinkable,” Alona added. “We could have a little cottage near the springs and live out our days free of palace gossip and Eldur hierarchy.”

“We can dream.” Eamon winked. “If we ride ahead of the carriage, we’ll be there in half an hour.”

“Race you.” Alona dug her heels into her mount’s sides and flew down the hillside, laughing the whole way.

“Alona Cahill, I didn’t help raise a cheater!” Eamon called behind her.

“Finn taught me!” She galloped over the desolate hills and valleys, but Eamon quickly pulled ahead of her. His men surrounded her,