Free Caledonia Fae 05 - Elder Druid by India Drummond

back to drugs and orgies, but I guess those things weren’t helping anymore?”
    “As my father rather pointedly said, my life is frivolous. Without Douglas, none of the usual recreations mean anything.”
    “Then find a pursuit that does mean something, even without him. Come to the library with me and search for runes about temporal lore. Begin a record of your efforts. You are the only known temporal faerie. Your knowledge and experience should be recorded and made available to others. We can talk to the Keepers. They will know which scholars you should work with.”
    “Thank you,” Tràth said. “But that’s where Douglas works. The bond…”
    “It would be intense. I get that. When Eilidh’s unhappy with me, being in the same kingdom is too much, much less the same building .”
    Tràth chuckled. “It’s good to talk to someone who understands.”
    “So will you head back to Caledonia? We’re planning to be in the Halls of Mist for another two weeks, but Eilidh would be thrilled to return sooner. She thinks I’m insane to keep Maiya out of the nursery. Come stay with us at Canton Dreich. We’d love to spend time with you, and I can help you get started. I’m sure the Keepers will send anyone we need to work with us.”
    Tràth picked up his glass and drank deeply. “Perhaps that’s a good idea,” he said.
    “Good,” Munro said. “In fact, why don’t you and I leave tonight? I’m sure your father and Eilidh will want to return as soon as possible after the dinner tomorrow night. They’re only staying because Eilidh is worried I’ll ruin Maiya with my Jaffa Cakes and play clothes.” He couldn’t help but grin, but then he turned serious again. “We all want to be there for you.” The two men stood, and Munro clapped his hand on Tràth’s shoulder.
    “Thank you,” Tràth said. “But I think I’ll stay another night. Queen Eilidh has invited me to dinner, and I should go, assuming she hasn’t already made other plans for the princess’ escort. It’s time I started taking on duties befitting a Prince of Caledonia.”
    Munro walked him out of the Druid Hall and said goodbye. As he watched Prince Tràth make his way to the Caledonian Hall, he reflected that Tràth had come around a lot faster and more easily than he had expected. He couldn’t shake the sense that it had been perhaps too easy.

Chapter 5
    Tràth floated in the blissful mist of gahn-seh smoke. Petroc’s voice teased at his awareness, sounding urgent but distant. Sleep invited the prince back into its embrace. For some reason, Tràth’s annoying attendant refused to let him rest. He really should get rid of the boy, find someone older, more responsible, more accustomed to the proper way to treat a prince. But Petroc had lovely grey eyes. They reminded Tràth of…
    Reality threatened to intrude, but Tràth let the smoke carry the danger away. He understood, somewhere in his consciousness, something painful and impossible lurked, waiting for him to wake from his stupor. Maybe he never would. He longed to float for eternity in warmth and comfort.
    Someone slapped him. Hard. The pain shocked him into some level of awareness. When he opened his eyes, his father’s face was about two inches from his own. “He’s awake,” Griogair said. He turned to the attendant. “Get Queen Eilidh.”
    “Pardon, Your Highness?”
    “Now!” Griogair shouted. He pulled Tràth unceremoniously from his bed and propped him up on a seat near his dressing room. He gave instructions to someone else, but Tràth couldn’t understand what he said, not, at least, until hands touched him, removing his robes and fitting him with formal attire. Griogair watched his son in despair, and Tràth could barely stand the shame of it. “You will attend, as you promised when you returned to us, claiming you wanted to take on proper responsibilities. You assured my mate you would do this for her. For Caledonia.”
    More alert, but still strongly under the