Chapter 35: Royal Pressure

For generations, every year when the sheep in Spring River began to lamb, the queens would gather for a week-long celebration of women only. Illyra had not attended that celebration before, her mother being the last autumn fae queen to go.

Neither Skylar nor Theros had a queen yet, so the tradition had been put on hold. Queen Olive had invited Illyra, and had been most excited about it.

Illyra knew she couldn’t turn her down. When she left Winter Mountain, she instructed her royal procession to bring her directly to Spring River.

The ground in Spring River was soft and muddy. The stag Illyra rode had trouble with his footing. She dismounted and placed her hand on his shoulder, walking side by side.

Every few steps, her feet would get sucked into the ground and she had to yank it out with a loud squelching sound.

If Illyra had thought her forest was full of life…