Chapter 2255

Daniel woke slowly, his head pounding painfully. He was unsure where he was. He thought perhaps he was at the school, but that was wrong. He stretched out and felt his foot thump into something solid. He pulled back his feet and struggled to get his eyes open.

He rubbed at them and finally they cracked open. Light poured in, blinding him and he closed his eyes against the onslaught. He felt like he had been asleep for days. His muscles protested, and a pain went through his lower back.

I'm sleeping on a hard floor.

He opened his eyes to slits and peered out. He looked right at Amy's face, asleep right next to him. He reached out put an arm around her. Her eyes fluttered at his touch.

"Amy?"

"Daniel? What happened?"

"You were captured by the Seelie Court, that's

what happened," spoke an imperious female voice that sounded like Grace."Wake your friends and stand."

Daniel lifted his head and looked around quickly. The rest of their party lay on thick rugs placed over cold, dark stone. As far as he could tell he and his friends were lying in the middle of a spacious courtyard, if he could call it a courtyard.

They were lying on the ground at one end of a large oval of dark paving stones. Surrounding the oval were massive dark and ornate columns, spaced at least thirty feet apart, which rose to support a vaulted ceiling made of the same black stone. Everything was wide open and allowed an unobstructed view of surrounding flowering gardens and groves of laden fruit trees. A cool breeze wafted through the area.

All around them stood dark skinned fae dressed in elaborate clothing. At the opposite end of the oval stood an ornate throne made of shining obsidian, rising high above the rest of the area. Perched on the throne and looking down at them, was a gorgeous fae with dark skin and very white hair. She was dressed in golden

armour and held a large spear in one hand like a staff.

Daniel hurried to his feet, ignoring the throbbing pain in his head, and helped Amy up. Together they shook the others, urging silence, and whispering where they were.

Grace when she awoke, growled, looked past Daniel, and flipped to her feet and strode directly toward the towering throne. Gasps rose from the witnessing Light fae. The ten guards placed below the throne, wearing dark gleaming armour with full helms, stepped forward and lowered wicked looking glaives toward Grace.

Grace strode forward until she stopped twenty feet from the throne."What is the meaning of this?" she declared."The Seelie Court just kidnapped the eldest daughter of Rhiannon de Moroingi. This slight will not go unpunished by my mother, Titania. You open yourself to recrimination. You should know better!"

"SILENCE!" thundered Queen Titania as shestood up from her throne. Daniel was stunned by her height. She was at least seven feet tall. She was resplendent in black plate armour that

seemed to absorb all light but left a sheen like oil on water."The Light fae and the Night fae are at WAR!"

"War?" scoffe d Grace."Not for another fiftyyears, Titania. You know that. It is the cycle."

"Fool," declared Titania."You know nothing,Grace de Moroingi. Twisted mixed breed!We are ALWAYS AT WAR! Fall to your knees and show me the proper respect for my station!"

Daniel was shocked when Grace did just that. The others seeing her actions followed her example. Grace knelt on one knee and bowed her head.

"Forgive me, Queen Titania. I greet you, QueenTitania of the Seelie Court. I am sure if my mother knew I would be here so unexpectedly she would have sent greetings. On her behalf,I extend greetings. I am the eldest daughter of Queen Rhiannon of the Unseelie Court. Peace be upon your court." Grace genuflected on her left knee.

Silence descended with her words. Daniel looked around sideways at the other fae

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hugging the outer ring of the courtyard. They looked... bored? He looked up to Queen Titania. He had never met a queen before, never mind a fae queen. She looked... incredibly hot and sexy. Her black skin shone with a vitality. Her cheekbones were high and sharp and gave an angular look to her black eyes. She gleamed with a hint that promised more than life. But looking closer he caught a madness in her eyes. She looked excited and scared at the same time but regal all the same. A motion behind her caught his eyes and he noticed a male Light fae, standing behind the queen's throne. He was tall and broad-shouldered for a fae, although Daniel had few examples to compare him to. He was bald and his dark scalp gleamed with oils. His eyes were locked on Grace.

He looks anxious, thought Daniel. Or something else?

Titania looked down her nose at the adventurers one by one and then sniffed loudly. "Rise and step forward, all of you, and identifyyourselves to my court. I would know why you dared trespass into the lands of the Light fae. You are not welcome here.”

They rose and looked to Grace for what to do next. She beckoned them forward and when they stepped up beside her, Grace introduced The Circle.

"Queen Titania. I present my adventurer party,all carrying their badge of King Arbuckle's acceptance..."

"I care not what humans accept."

Grace faltered at the interruption. Daniel was certain Grace wasn't used to being interrupted. Even by queens. "On my right is a human known as Jason Jackson. He is a fighter-guru. His partner in life stands beside him, Brian Bitmyth, cleric of Syn and a mountain dwarf. Beside him is Jennifer Jousts, a human paladin of Syn."Grace paused and peered behind her and found Bitty cowering behind her legs. She pulled her in front of herself."And this is Bitty Beatrix, an emancipated gnome and emissary to Daniel Davies."

Queen Titania scowled."I had heard the curse of the gnomes had been lifted. This gnome is the first I have encountered freed of the geas."The queen turned her eyes from Bitty to stare

at Daniel."Why would this human have a gnome emissary?"

Grace bowed her head."Daniel Davies, a human, freed the gnomes of their curse."

Whispers circulated the courtyard. Growing louder until the queen made a motion with a hand and the room went quiet.

"I find that unlikely," declared the queen, stillglaring at Daniel.

"Nonetheless, it is true. Daniel Davies is a giftedspell caster. I would ask the queen to wait until I have explained his nature and his companions. I would add that Glenda Gables and Syn herself have blessed Daniel and his ladies."

"And his ladies? Next you will tell me his ladiesare witches." Daniel was still caught by her glare and saw she already knew the answer and was waiting for it.

Grace paused then spoke."They are, Queen Titania. They are good witches, taught by Glenda herself at the Academy."

The courtyard erupted in cries and screams of fear. Some even fled into the surrounding forest. Amy, Jasmine, and Amber moved closer to Daniel, fear on their faces as they glanced around at the sudden chaos.

Queen Titania rose from her throne and pointed at Daniel and his ladies. Her voice boomed with power."ARREST THEM! BIND THEIR POWERS!"Daniel saw the glee on her face.

The guards protecting the queen lowered their glaives and advanced on Daniel.

"You consort with witches and a bound spellcaster, Grace de Moroingi!You bring disgrace to your family and Queen Rhiannon. Guards arrest them all and throw them in the Pit!"

Grace didn't react. She glared at the queen as the guards advanced slowly toward Daniel and his witches.

"Arrest them!"screamed the queen, her facenow contorted with hatred, all focused on Daniel.

"Grace?" murmured Daniel.

"Easy Daniel. Allow this. This is not over, andthis was... is expected. Trust in me. Go willingly. The queen must appear decisive in front of her people. Witches and bound spell casters are shunned across the Realm. Rest easy, she will meet with us privately. Do nothing for the moment."

Daniel looked at the guards approaching them. Everything in his soul demanded he do something to protect his ladies. The guards were menacing and almost upon them. He looked to Grace and saw her glaring at the queen. He wanted to trust Grace and he did. He just didn't trust Titania.

He glanced to the throne with seconds left. The man behind the queen was staring at Grace with something akin to respect. It was an odd look from a Light fae to a Night fae.

"Daniel," whispered Grace."Do nothing, do youhear me?”

He hesitated and then nodded once."Yes."

"Daniel?" whispered Jasmine, fear thick in hervoice. The sound gave Daniel's heart a stab of pain.

"Girls, do nothing," said Daniel, his eyes on theadvancing guards. Everything in his bones told him to grab his girls and run hard and fast away from here.”Grace says to allow this. Trust her.”He didn't quite believe his own words. He swallowed.

He reached across the bond. We have to trust Grace. She has always been there for us. Always.

The guards halted, six glaives pointed at them, the blades glinting, inches from their bodies and held precisely over their hearts. The man standing behind the throne moved quickly and with a grace that reminded Daniel of Grace herself, and in a moment, he was standing in front of Daniel and looking into his eyes.

"Sorry, young man. We must place thesemanacles on your wrists. They will block your use of magic. Please allow this, it will go easier on you and your ladies."

Daniel peered into the fae's eyes and saw a look

of pleading there. He glanced at Grace, and she nodded once, her face expressionless.

Daniel sighed and held out his wrists. In a flash, the fae placed the manacles on his wrists and Daniel watched the clasp of the manacles meld together until they were seamless bands around his wrists. Then the manacles shrank of their own accord until they were snug against his skin. A deep feeling of separation flooded him, and he felt weak. A feeling of vertigo flooded him, and he stumbled standing upright as the room spun around him. The fae steadied him with a hand on his upper right arm.