Morning arrived slowly.
Very slowly.
Sunlight filtered through embroidered curtains, illuminating what looked less like a royal guest suite and more like the aftermath of a minor war... held backstage at a fashion show.
Silk hung from the arms of a chandelier.
One stocking dangled precariously from a ceiling fan that had absolutely not been designed to hold stockings.
A corset had somehow been draped across the marble bust of an ancient elven general.
Someone's boot rested proudly in a decorative fruit bowl.
No one questioned it.
No one volunteered an explanation.
Near the foot of the bed, a mound of clothing shifted.
A tiny black nose poked out from beneath the pile. Echo blinked sleepily. He looked around, scared.
A ribbon rested across his head.
A glove hung over one ear.
He sniffed once.
Looked toward Jax.
Looked back at the mountain of clothing surrounding him. Then quickly pulled the ribbon over his eyes and burrowed deeper into the pile.
Llandra was the first to stir.
She opened one eye.
Surveyed the room. "...We should probably clean."
Nyxian, still half asleep, cracked open an eye. "...Eventually."
Bunny stretched with a satisfied yawn. "I slept great."
"You snored," Zee mumbled into her pillow.
I do not."
You absolutely do."
"I was... resting enthusiastically." Even Jax laughed. He slowly opened his eyes.
Three different arms rested across him.
Two legs.
Someone's hair covered half his face. He blinked. "...I think I became a pillow."
"You did," Bunny replied. "A very comfortable one."
The room erupted into quiet laughter.
Despite the lingering effects of the Pixie Mead... Despite everyone feeling as though they had slept for only moments... No one regretted the evening.
Not even a little.
Getting dressed proved significantly more difficult than expected.
Nyxian triumphantly held up a stocking. "I found somebody's!"
"It isn't mine," Bunny said.
"Not mine," Zee added.
Llandra shook her head. Nyxian looked around. "...Then whose is it?"
Silence.
Everyone stared at one another.
One of those nights, I guess.
They moved on.
By the time they reached the dining hall... Breakfast was nearly over.
Conversation slowed.
Servants paused.
Several politely bowed.
Others suddenly became fascinated by entirely unrelated sections of the room.
A pair of younger guards standing near the entrance glanced toward the group.
One frowned.
"...Are they all walking a little slower?"
"I think they are."
"I wonder why."
The younger men exchanged confused looks.
Across the hall, two older ladies of the court watched the Vixens approach.
One smiled into her teacup.
"...I remember mornings like that."
Her friend chuckled softly.
"So do I."
Neither woman elaborated.
They didn't need to.
Queen Lysara looked up from breakfast.
A warm smile spread across her face.
"Good morning."
Five sleepy voices answered together.
"Morning."
King Thalorien hid a smile behind his cup.
"You all appear..."
He searched for the proper diplomatic word.
"...Well rested."
Nyxian looked genuinely thoughtful.
"I don't think that's the word I'd use."
Llandra quietly covered her face.
Legos leaned comfortably against the back of his chair.
"So..."
He let the word linger.
"...How did everyone sleep?"
Bunny answered instantly.
"Like babies."
Nyxian nodded enthusiastically.
"The loud kind."
"Those that are screaming every fifteen minutes."
Several nobles nearly inhaled their drinks.
Llandra closed her eyes.
"...Nyx."
"What?"
"...Please."
"I was behaving."
Queen Lysara failed to suppress a laugh.
"So I've heard."
Legos' fiancée took a slow sip of tea.
"...We all heard."
A small silence followed.
"...Quite a bit, actually."
She smiled politely with amusement.
There was perhaps...
Just the tiniest hint of envy she had no intention of admitting aloud.
Breakfast continued with considerably safer topics.
Fresh fruit.
Warm breads.
Honey pastries.
Jax found himself mentally cataloging recipes.
The royal chef noticed.
"You cook?"
Jax smiled.
"I dabble."
The chef grinned.
"We'll have to trade ideas before you leave."
"I'd like that."
As the meal ended, Heiron approached alongside Legos.
Five experienced hunters followed behind them, already dressed for the day's outing.
"Jax," Heiron said, "we heard you wanted to take Father hunting."
Jax brightened immediately.
"I was hoping to."
Legos nodded.
"We leave at noon."
"I'm in."
Legos glanced toward the Vixens.
"Just the men."
There was no challenge in his voice.
Only tradition.
Jax looked toward Llandra.
She smiled.
"You should go."
"We'll keep Mother occupied," Bunny said.
Queen Lysara perked up.
"Oh?"
Nyxian grinned.
"We're taking you shopping in Solmere."
The Queen clasped her hands together.
"I adore this plan."
King Thalorien laughed.
"My condolences to every merchant in the capital."
Shortly before noon...
The hunting party assembled outside the palace.
Twelve riders.
Every one mounted upon magnificent elven steeds.
Elegant.
Powerful.
Beautiful creatures bred through centuries of careful stewardship.
King Thalorien noticed Jax admiring them.
"They're magnificent, aren't they?"
"They really are."
The King gestured toward the empty saddle beside him.
"You are welcome to borrow one."
Jax smiled appreciatively.
"I'd rather ride someone who's already used to me."
He extended one hand.
Shadow pooled silently across the stone courtyard.
The air seemed to grow still.
Dark feathers emerged first.
Then powerful forelegs.
A broad leonine frame.
Finally...
Massive wings unfolded with quiet majesty.
Every horse in the courtyard immediately took a cautious step backward.
One snorted nervously.
Another lowered its ears.
Golden eyes opened.
Gryph surveyed the courtyard...
Then ignored everyone else entirely.
The great gryphon walked straight toward Jax.
Lowered its head.
And rumbled contentedly as Jax scratched beneath its beak.
"Morning, Gryph."
The gryphon answered with a proud chirp.
Silence settled over the courtyard.
Legos was the first to speak.
"...It's beautiful."
A small smile crossed his face.
"...And terrifying."
Heiron slowly nodded.
"I've heard stories..."
"...I've never seen one."
One of the veteran hunters whispered,
"Is it alive... or a shadow?"
The hunter beside him simply shrugged.
"I honestly don't know."
King Thalorien watched quietly.
"No reins?"
Jax blinked.
"...He'd probably be offended."
As though agreeing, Gryph gave an indignant chirp.
Several hunters laughed.
Even the King smiled.
"My apologies."
Jax climbed effortlessly onto Gryph's back.
The gryphon flexed its wings once.
Not enough to take flight.
Just enough for every horse nearby to remember exactly where a gryphon sat in the natural order of things.
The King's stallion shifted uneasily.
Thalorien gently patted its neck.
"I know."
He looked toward Jax.
Then toward Gryph.
A thoughtful smile crossed his face.
"You continue to surprise me."
Jax shrugged.
"I've had good friends."
He scratched Gryph's neck again.
"...He's one of them."
For just a moment...
No one saw a summoned beast.
They didn't see necromancy.
They didn't see shadow magic.
They saw trust.
The King nodded with quiet approval.
"Then let's see what kind of hunter your friend is."
The hunting party turned toward the forest.
Behind them, the palace still buzzed with cheerful whispers from the previous night's celebration.
Ahead lay towering trees.
Ancient beasts.
And a king who would hunt once more.