They had come in a rush of cold and a flash of a portal on Samhain eve. The first messengers of the Aen Elle, Red Riders, seeking the land's ruler. A scared crofter pointed them in the direction of the High Court, Nuada's Court...The portal flashed three more times as more riders came through. They road on, leaving a swath of trouble in their wake.

#

Pen frowned into her mug. She'd been somewhat "hiding" from her royal duties for a few hours in the Orb-weaver. Around her bustled the Freehold known as The Court of Thorns. Few if any would have suspected she was the lady freeholder, The Lady Thorn, let alone that she was the High Queen. She wasn't the only one "hiding" today. Nuada and ordained to join her for a few hours.

"Drinks say they find us..." Pen said.

Nuada smirked at her and ordered a whiskey. The strong liquor was more expensive than the Cider she was drinking. This was suspicious as she hadn't told the guard where she was.

"You told them where we would be didn't you?"

"No, I just know the guards well, yours and mine." He said, downing the amber liquid, "...There are rumors spreading, something is coming..."

Troubling reports had come in the last few days, ones that had them here in the tavern to discuss things outside of the hearing of their advisors. They would have to be in agreement before they planed with their advisors.

"I've heard them too, the Red Riders are abroad once more...or so they say." She said. "Whatever it actually is, has more than a few of my fellow humans spooked and spooked good."

He looked about the tavern. Tindel, the Barkeep, was trying to calm down a very frightened young man. Nuada rose, he'd see what was up and try to talk to the young man.

"...I will go see what has spooked the boy." He said, leaning in to kiss her cheek. "And Aethen is near the bar."

She frowned at him over her mug, it would stand the Night elf would find them first as Tindel was his lover. She watched Aethen down whatever was in his mug and rise to escort her out.

"I have to get back to the Guildhall, we are expecting a new class of students..." She got up and set the Trade chits down on the table to pay for their drinks. "I will see you at dinner, Dier and Nod want to see you."

He tipped his head as Aethen followed her out.

#

The Court of thorns officially belonged to the Singer's Guild, at least the Manse that the freehold had been established around did. The manse had been a gift from Nuada as he knew his queen had no taste for the pomp and polish that was the High Court. It was also a retreat, like today as he'd come to "Hide" from his courtiers and administrators for a few hours and spend some time with her. They had settled into a comfortable rhythm of together and apart in equal measure. It also went with the decision to raise their twins away from the intrigues of the Sidhe courts.

#

Pen made it to the manse as the newest class of students had gathered in the main hall. She managed to make herself presentable. She took count of the teachers, and staff they would interact with. There must have been student Archivists as Regis, their resident Higher vampire, Alchemist, and Librarian was present. He made his way over, he was using rosemary, thyme, and primrose to mask his sent today.

"...I see you are back." He said. "Something interrupts your outing?"

"Yes, the guards and a very frightened boy." She said, watching the various students. "I should know more tonight when Nuada comes."

Regis nodded, "...The Table will be meeting tonight, we have a new member and they do not wish to be alone tonight."

"...I understand, fighting the demon cannot be done alone." She said. "You will be begging off the welcome feast then..."

"Yes, but we will raid the kitchen if we need food." He said. "I will see you and our new crop shortly..."

She watched him "fade" into the small crowd nearest them.

"...And here we go for another year..." She said as she made her way to the head of the hall to introduce herself and the other members of the guild.

#

The feast was laid out, Pen sat at the high table. She was Defacto head of the Guild, though Dian ran most of the day-to-day of it. She watched the students form small groups, not much had changed about school since her time. There were those who were more social, she saw a few of the more reclusive. She made note of them, intending to have a quieter gathering for those students.

"...A crown for your thoughts, Atara." Dain said from beside her.

"The most recent rumors are troubling..."

"The sightings of the Red Riders..." He said. "Yes, that is troubling. At first, we thought it just some smart Asses using protections to add a bit of fright to the local hunt. Then we found corpses. The wounds look like the weapons of the hunt..."

"...Could someone have copied the weapons?" She asked. "Lochain told me that the last of the Red Riders went down the straight road a thousand years ago."

"Not unless they can open the army's chamber," Dain said. "We had the secure Archive moved there...not many are going to look through it without us knowing." He frowned. "...if the rumors are true, then we have a Pandora's box that is about to be opened."

~And not only for the Sidhe...~ She thought.

"...I warned those on the road to keep a sharp ear and eye out." He said. "...Atar came to the gates five minutes ago..."

She smiled, "Continue here, I intend to have dessert with your father and the twins."

Dain nodded, "I'll join you at storytime..."

She kissed his cheek and went to meet her husband and king.

#

Nuada was playing with the twins when Pen entered the study. He looked happy being swarmed by the two children. They were still young enough that unless you knew their genders it was hard to tell them apart. Their current insistence on dressing alike added to the confusion. Seeing her, they disengaged from their sire to cling to her.

"...Atar brought the storybook..."

She smiled, seeing the large tome sitting on the small table.

"Did he now..." She said. "...And what story do you want tonight?"

"...'bout the funny dogs."

"The Cu Annwn..." Pen corrected. "The hounds of the Hunt..."

Nuada raised an eyebrow, it was an odd request. Dier was having nightmares about them and to have Nod to ask for a story about them.

~A sign?~ He asked through their bond.

~We ill see.~ Pen sent back.

A servant brought the small brownie square sundaes that were the desert at the High table tonight. The twins light up, their request for a story forgotten for a few moments.

#

The story said, and the twins tucked in gave Pen, Nuada, and Dain a chance to talk. The young singer laid out the reports that had come in the last few days. They said much the same, sightings of riders in red ring mail asking for the directions to the courts. This did not bode well.

"There were sightings near the outer villages, coming this way," Dain said. "I did not mention it at dinner as it would have soured storytime."

"What about the human kingdoms?"

"They have had a few clashes, thus the corpses..." He said. "The singers in the human courts are at a loss since the riders are not from the Sidhe...but is not helping the relations between the enclaves and the kingdoms."

Pen frowned. "How long until they arrive?"

"Four days at most, and they'll come through the high seat rather than the freehold." He looked at her. "You suspect who these new...Problems...are?"

"Yes, but I hope that is not them."

Dain knew of who his mother spoke, the Alder Clans...The clans that gone down the straight road leaving the Sidhe to go into hiding.

"...Pray to the mother that is not them."

"Do not speak in riddles, the both of you," Nuada said.

"Aen Elle..." Dain said. "They appear to have returned..."

Nuada frowned, that was not what he was hoping to hear.