Free Midnight Frost by Kailin Gow Page A

dad's the bull. My mother's from Beyond the Crystal River.”
    Logan and I traded disgusted looks, but decided not to pry much further into the physiology of the situation.
    “I think we're not going to bother killing you right now,” said Kian, looking with wonder at the small, puppyish Minotaur. “As brave and strong as you undoubtedly are.”
    “Thank you,” said the Minotaur in a small voice.
    “But I shall demand something in return,” said Kian. “Something a great, brave, strong hero like yourself should be glad to provide.”
    The Minotaur sprang to his feet. Once free of Logan's amused stomach-rub, he looked infinitely more dignified. Not a full-grown Minotaur quite yet, I reasoned, but certainly with the potential for making a strong one one day.
    “I owe you my life,” said the Minotaur. “I owe you any service you wish me to provide.”
    Kian smiled. “My dear Minotaur,” he said. “Have you ever heard of the Midnight Knight?”
    And thus did Barnaby the Minotaur join our band.
     

 
     
    Chapter 9
     
     
    A t last we reached Vineseed, Barnaby and Cary in tow. They had both proven strong and loyal allies – Cary had vanished the previous morning to fell a dragon on his own, returning with a load of valuable dragon scales in tow. “Worth a hundred gold pieces each,” he said, removing the scales from his saddlebag.
    Our trip to Vineseed had done us some good. Minotaurs and Centaurs alike had begun to hear of our exploits – the felling of dragons, the appearance of the mysterious figure in the black armor with a familiar sword and a famous steed – and by the time we arrived in the village, we were the subject of numerous looks and whispers. “Is that the Midnight Knight?” we heard a group of young girls whispering among themselves? “Has he really come with his band? Is that the Red Wolf at his feet?”
    Kian and I smiled at each other. Our plan was working. Before long, we knew, the rumors would hit Feyland that the Midnight Knight was returning – rumors that would strike fear into the hearts of the heartless Dark Hordes and joy into the spirits of all loyal fairies, just in time for us to make our arrival. It was still difficult to be so far from the Summer Court – every ounce of magic in my being seemed to beckon me there, to call me to my spiritual home and to the fight for its survival. I wanted nothing more than to be back there, to kiss the stone floors and marble steps of the palace, to stand at the balcony of the throne room and watch the battle. But I knew that the best work I could do for Feyland was here – and although I missed and feared for my father I tried to put it out of my mind.
    Barnaby and Cary proved firm and friendly companions. Cary's strength and poise made him a valuable asset – he had agreed, furthermore, to send his clan of Centaurs to fight for the Midnight Knight. He may not believe in fairy wars, he told us, but he believed in heroism, in doing the right and honorable thing, and there was nothing more honorable in these dark days of Feyland than to bring forth a peace that would help all magical races. For his part, Barnaby was a willing – if somewhat impulsive – addition to our group. He may have lacked the fighting experience of the rest of us, but he more than made up for it with his eagerness – he hunted animals and speared fish with his horns for the rest of us to eat, carried the heaviest loads of our pack, and otherwise served us faithfully and well. He was a far more dignified being than we had given him credit for, we discovered, for although he had a notable weakness for tickling, he was willing to brave all kinds of creatures – including minotaurs – to defend us, and lapped up the praise we afforded him at his brave deeds.
    When we reached the center of Vineseed – a tiny village with little more than a main square – we decided to stop for the night at a local tavern before proceeding the next day to Jeremy's manor, a few miles