Chapter Seventeen

Bronwyn POV
The queen released a heavy sigh once she'd exited the throne room. Rubbing her forehead with her fingertips, Bronwyn walked in silence aside from the echoing of her own footsteps and her mumblings to herself. "So, it's beginning. The Hunt has returned her to us.. " Bronwyn muttered, as she trodded to the archives. She needed to inform the scholars staying in the castle that they were to help that woman however they could. And she had to pull the records for all Royal families that had ever existed on Loslosach.
35 years ago, the Runeglow family had been chased out of the realm. They'd not been exiled from Loslosach, not by the ruling of the courts at least. The enemies of the family had torn it apart from the inside out. Some people didn't believe in the balance of magic, and they'd done their best to exterminate the family. If the members of the family didn't die by extreme measures, they were trapped within the human realm. The Runeglow estate had been left empty since.
Bronwyn wasn't sure where they had ended up within the human world, but if the Hunt had brought a human woman here because they believed her to be Fae, then Bronwyn had to be sure whether or not this woman was connected to the family. Rylia, the Runeglow Queen, had been pregnant when her family was split apart. Could she be that lost child? The successor to the Runeglow family, and the key to balance in Loslosach? The visions Bronwyn had were too vague for her to know without assistance. And it just so happened that Bronwyn's records were the only ones that hadn't wiped the Runeglow family out of them.
Wynne POV
When Bronwyn had left, servants flooded the room. With the doors opening and closing rapidly, Wynne had caught the faint scent of salt water and warm sea air, mixed with the smell of sweetgrass. But, she had no time to analyze where the smell came from, and it was quickly forgotten. A young servant girl approached her and Arandir, a soft smile upon her face, despite the fact she held her head down and had a demure demeanor about her. "M'lord, Lady, " she addressed them, giving a small curtsy. " I've been sent to show you to your room, and I'll be the one to assist you; should you want for anything. "
The young maid turned quickly, beckoning for the couple to follow. They soon left the throne room and the servants cleaning up melting snow behind. Before she knew it, Wynne realized that they were again walking through the twisting halls, their footsteps against the stone echoing loudly in contrast to the relative quiet of the castle. Here and there, that faint smell wafted through the corridors, and it had seemed that Arandir had caught it as well this time.
He and Wynne shared a silent look, both faces muted in a similar expression of confusion. In silent agreement, they continued to follow the woman, waiting to discuss their thoughts when they were once again alone. It didn't take long for them to reach their destination, and they found themselves entering a room grander than the one Wynne had awoken in when she'd been brought to Loslosach.
The walls were carved of pure marble, soft gold veins flowing through the slightly blue tinted stone. There were no windows in this room, but the surroundings distracted one from the absence of natural light. There wasn't much of the wall exposed for them to see, instead it was covered in tapestries of breathtaking beauty. Each depicted a different scene of nature. Candles lit the room, either from stands or from the ornate chandelier hanging from the ceiling. They bathed the room in a blue glow, the light emanating from them obviously produced by a form of magic.
The furniture was made from what appeared to be ironwood, but grains in the wood would sparkle as the light hit it. Wynne assumed that the wood they used was something native to Loslosach. In the entrance, there sat two lovesests, upholstered in a sky blue fabric, soften than velvet. Between them, a coffee table, already set with a tray for tea. The teapot in the middle, empty cups arranged, and cream and sugar placed to the side. Under their feet, covering the hard, harsh coldness of the marble floor, a plush rug of speckled grey fur.
It seemed there was another room attached to this one, giving way to what appeared to be the bedroom, and Wynne could see a door in the wall inside the room from where she stood. Bathroom, perhaps? It made Wynne wonder if people in Winterbridge had regular plumbing, or if they still used chamberpots. The maid said something to Arandir, but Wynne wasn't paying any attention to their conversation. She was too busy taking in their surroundings.
Plants hung from the ceiling and sat upon the open flat surfaces. Their colors were dazzling, an array of oranges and yellows, pale pinks and some reds. There were even various blues and purples, among the green leaves of the flowers blossoming here. It wasn't until Wynne heard the door click behind her that she was snapped back to the conversation. Back to paying attention to the man who had welcomed her to this world and brought her here to this city to find answers.
Arandir stood near one of the loveseats, his gaze warming Wynne from the inside out. Wynne was captivated by his lavender hues. She found herself returning his smile before she took a seat, pouring herself a cup of the piping hot tea. Mint, from the smell.
"What was that smell, do you think? What should we do about it? " Wynne asked him, curiosity seeping from her from the bond they'd begun to develop. Wynne was intrigued. The only other scent she'd experienced as strong as that one was the one she could smell from Arandir.