Chapter 5

“Good morning, Cowboy.” Queen Mabon glanced at Dylan with a glow on her face.

“It’s morning already?” asked Dylan in a sluggish tone.

“Yes, and we have much to do, especially you.”

“What I got to do?”

“You’ve got to go to the Seelie Court and see if you can find out anything. The subjects are sometimes rather trusting. They might even tell you something useful. They may even mistake you for your brother.”

She walked over to her mahogany closet and took out a red dress with green lace trimming. She slipped it over her head.

“Get dressed and meet me in the throne room. By the way, your clothes are on my vanity.” She pointed to the table. “Gobo washed them.” She swayed her hips from side to side as she walked out of the room.

Dylan stumbled out of the bed. My those hips. I want to touch em’ again soon. He buttoned his crimson shirt and fastened his charcoal pants. Why is it so darn important that I go over there? Is there something she’s not telling me?

He ambled out of the room and strolled down the dark hallway. Dylan stared at a picture of a woman with red hair and one sapphire eye and one violet eye. She had a smooth creamy complexion. Who’s this broad? Pictures of her are everywhere. Dylan reached the throne room and ambled in.

He surveyed a big black table with ten red chairs in the middle of the room. Queen Mabon sat at the head of the table.

“Come, sit down and have some leprechaun bread.” She gestured to the chair by her.

“What in the sam hill are leprechauns?”

“They’re silly little creatures with strange accents, but they can be very greedy when it comes to their gold.”

“They got gold. Is it like what’s at home?”

“Yes, but don’t try to rob one. They’ll hunt you down until the gold is returned. They’ve even been known to kill for it. Their greed’s their weakness. I’ve even tried persuading them to join my court since they have a killer instinct, but they refuse and stay loyal to my mother. I don’t know why though.”

Dylan took a bite of the bread.

“Not bad, it’s like homemade bread.”

“Soko will take you to the border. He can’t go any further unless I give him the power. It’s not time to do that yet. You should go now, so you can be back here by sunset.”

“Alright, doesn’t seem too hard.”

He got up from the table and walked over to her. He kissed her lips softly.

“So long, Cowboy.”

He tipped his hat and strolled out of the room. He ambled down the hallway glancing at more of the paintings. He gazed at one with the same woman who was in the other portraits, but this one had a tall black haired man with red eyes standing beside her. Reckon who he is? He spat on the door three times, and it worked. The door opened, and Dylan walked outside. Soko was waiting for him.

“Mornin’. Reckon you could give me a smooth ride today?”

“Are you still a human?”

“What kind of question is that?”

“By your response, I’ll take that as a yes.”

“Will the ride be bumpy or not?”

“Climb on and find out.”

Dylan climbed on, and Soko jumped with him in the air. When they reached the border, Soko threw him off.

“That’s the answer to your question.” Soko laughed as he disappeared.

“Dang your hide, you varmint!” Dylan shook his fist.

He walked across the border. The sky’s mighty bright over here. He stared at the ocean before him. Are those horses I hear comin’ toward me? He glanced to his left and gazed at two white horses with horns on the middle of their heads.

“You must be Dylan Walsh,” said Sol.

“A talkin’ horse, reckon I shouldn’t be surprised.”

“We’re unicorns, not horses.” La turned her nose up in the air.

Water splashing directed his attention to the ocean where he glanced over at two female creatures. One glowed with white hair, had bright blue eyes and a pale complexion with a petite frame. The other was a human on top with blond hair, green eyes, tanned skin, and her bottom was a fish.

“Who are all you critters?” The brillant glow around them intensified. “Why do y’all glow so bright? It hurts my eyes to look at y’all.”

“I’m Sol, and this is my life mate, La.”

“I’m Sendie, a water nymph.”

“I’m Dimenia, a mermaid. We glow brightly to those who are black-hearted.”

“We’ll take you to the saloon until Queen Morganna summons us. I’ll not allow you to ride me. Those eyes of yours scare me!” cried La.

“Come and climb on me,” said Sol.

Dylan climbed on Sol, and they rode away. Can’t see nothing. Where are we goin’? In what seemed like only seconds, they arrived at a big blue two-story building. The words Seelie Court were written on it.

Dylan walked in the saloon. He surveyed the blue walls and tables. This can’t be no real place. What saloon has pink tablecloths? A sissy must own this place!

He gazed over to the left and peered at a being behind the bar. A short beast, dark and bald, another ugly varmint! Bet he can’t make a decent drink since the sissy’s drinkin’ milk!

“Got anything good to drink here, fella?”

“We have ambrosia. I think you would like orange.”

“Why would I want that?”

“It has a tartness to it. It should suit the condition of your heart. Your eyes give you away.”

“Why you darn critter!” Dylan drew back his fist to hit him.

“I wouldn’t try to fight me. Never fight a brownie, we’re stronger than we look.”

“Forget it! Wouldn’t want to touch nothing here!”

Dylan turned around and stared at a red haired woman with emerald and purple eyes. Maybe my luck has changed? Maybe I can get some answers out of her?

“Howdy, beautiful. Name’s Dylan Walsh. What’s your’s darlin’?”

“I know who you are. The name’s Marta. I’m a vampire faerie, so you better stay away from me. Looking at you makes me sick.”

“Reckon my brother has everyone believing everything he says.”

“Tyler’s pure of heart. We know who the good twin is.”

A little man with red hair and freckles skipped up to him. “Ye better not cause any trouble. Ye wouldn’t want to fight a leprechaun. Me can make ye wish ye were never born!”

“Who in thunder are you?”

“Me name’s Charlo.”

“I’m getting out of here! I’ll wait outside.” Dylan charged out of the saloon.

As he stormed out the door, Dylan glared at a blue eyed child with dark hair. “You’re one ugly kid. Get out of my way!”

Dylan watched the tears well up in the child’s eyes. Mabon would love to know about this ugly kid.

“Leave Samdy alone, you evil man!” Marta shook her finger at him. “Come here, don’t pay any attention to him.” She placed her arm around Samdy.

Dylan glanced in front of him and stared at Sol and La.

“It’s time to go to the palace now. Queen Morganna want to see you,” La said.

“Ride on me, so we can get there right away,” Sol said.

He climbed on Sol, and they galloped away. Dylan gazed at blurs of bright colors as they rode. He arrived in front of a sparkling castle. This glow hurts my eyes.

He climbed off Sol. “Is this Mabon’s Ma’s place?”

“This is Queen Morganna’s palace. You must address her with respect!” Sol demanded.

“Let’s leave, Sol. He’s terrible,” La whinnied.

“Go! I hate your holier than thou attitude!” Dylan duged his heels in the sand.

Dylan marched toward the castle. Little gold critters swimming in that big waterin’ hole. He knelt down. Them varmints are growlin’ at me! Dylan stepped back and kept walking toward the entrance. He observed two beings, one female and the other male. This little critter looks like a fly, and old man time here looks like the last time he saw childhood was in Biblical times. Them varmints don’t look friendly either.

“Dylan Walsh, you have been expected. Come with us,” the male being said.

“Queen Morganna wants to speak with you.” The female-being waved her hand over the door to open it.

“Who are y’all? Ain’t never seen no talkin’ fly or no man who looks as old as you.”

“I’m Pegland the pixie, and this is Marshall Hock. He’s a dwarf.”

“Just walk behind us and don’t say another word,” said the Marshall.

Dylan followed behind them staring at Hock’s fish shaped feet. Dylan laughed out loud. This is the funniest thang I ever did see. They stopped and glared back at him.

“What? I didn’t do nothin'.” Dylan covered his mouth.

They shook their heads. Dylan glanced at the portraits on the walls as they strolled down the hallway. Who are all these varmints? Are any of those critters kin to Mabon? Where did all them dogs and cats come from? Hadn’t seen any yet. They stopped at a room at the end of the hall.

“Go in. We’ll wait for you out here.” Marshall Hock opened the door.

Dylan crept into a room filled with more portraits. He surveyed a table and chairs over to his right. Dylan glanced over to his left and observed an older woman sitting on a throne. Reckon if she’s Mabon’s ma.

“We meet at last, Dylan Walsh. I see Mabon has sent you here thinking someone would talk to you about the prophecy. You have made quite a spectacle of yourself while you’ve been here, a very rude one at that. Insulting him was the same as insulting me!”

I’m in for it now. Can’t believe that weird kid’s her grandson.

“You must be Mabon’s lovely Ma. I’m so glad to meet you.” Maybe this will get me on her good side.

“False flattery doesn’t impress me. I know my daughter’s planning something. I know her all too well. She’s just like her sister, Cydia. They took after their father’s side of the family, unfortunately. I won’t dwell on that. Tell me what you know, and I’ll spare you from punishment for helping in my daughter’s plot.”

“I don’t know nothing! Why should I tell you a thang?”

“Marshall Hock!”

He appeared. “Yes, my Queen.”

“Get this vile and vicious man out of my sight!” She glared at Dylan while pointing her finger at him. “You’ll regret this! I gave you a chance to redeem yourself, but you decided to serve the wrong court, away with you!”

“Come along, now,” Marshall Hock said.

Pegland waited outside the door to escort them outside. They kept a close eye on Dylan as they walked down the hallway. Dylan surveyed some more paintings. Reckon I ought to try to remember some of what I see here to tell Mabon. Reckon what part Cydia plays in this?

When they got to the door, they went outside.

“Sol and La, Sol and La, Sol and La!” Pegland shouted.

They appeared.

“It’s time for you to go back to the border. I’m glad too,” La said with a huff.

“Climb on me, so we can leave,” said Sol.

They galloped away in a blur. In a few minutes, they stood at a piece of land that was bright on one side and dark on the other.

“This is where we leave you. Crossover, and you’ll be in the Unseelie Court,” said Sol.

Dylan climbed off. Before he could say anything, the unicorns were gone.