Dark Revel

by E. A. Copen

  I pushed away from the table. “How’d she make this fetch?”

  Something like that would take a lot of magic, and I assumed a biological sample, all of which Titania could’ve gotten from me while I was half dead in Summer a few months ago. Just having the power and ingredients wouldn’t be enough or else fae would be making fetches all the time. As far as I knew, I’d never run into one, which meant they weren’t that common. To make a duplicate of a Horseman would probably be even more involved.

  Dammit, I still didn’t know if Bizarro Laz had my Horseman powers too. If he did, that’d be a problem.

  Noelle shrugged one white shoulder. “It takes a lot of time and energy to grow one. Considering the state of Summer these last few years, it’s not unsurprising that Titania has been dedicating her magic to something other than her people.”

  “Hold on a second.” I raised a finger. “Did you say years?” On Earth, it had only been a few months since my last trip to Summer. I knew time passed differently in Faerie, but that was way more different than a few weeks turning into months, wasn’t it?

  “Faerie is a fickle mistress,” said the fae with a mischievous smile. “Decades could have passed on Earth while you’ve been here, or only seconds. It depends on her mood. For us, it has been nearly thirty years since you defeated the Shadow Army for Summer. There are songs about it. Plays, even.”

  Thirty years? And Remy had been trapped in Faerie for nine days. How much time had passed for her while I was trying to get to her? I gripped the metal pipe I’d brought with me. Even more reason for us to launch this attack on the tower now.

  Noelle’s eyes snapped to the pipe in my hand. “You shouldn’t have brought that.”

  “What, this?” I lifted the pipe and studied it. Iron, I realized. I’d brought a weapon that could maim and injure fae in Faerie. Once we were close to Remy, it might even kill them. The pipe in my hands was deadlier than Noelle’s swords. It’d hurt more anyway. And if she got out of hand or tried to betray me, maybe she’d think twice if I had iron in my hands. I hadn’t meant to bring it. It just sort of happened, but hell if I wasn’t going to capitalize on a happy accident. I lowered the pipe and let the hollow end thump against the floor. “This is my new staff. It goes where I go.”

  “Be careful with it. Faerie herself could reject you just for having it here. She’s—”

  “Fickle, I get it. Who else is coming with us to the tower?” I turned my head to address Emma who leaned against one of the walls, arms crossed. She hadn’t spoken to me since she found out what I’d done. “Em, you in?”

  She didn’t answer.

  I glanced at Noelle before stepping away from the table. “Be mad at me all you want, Emma. Hate me if that’s what you want to do. Once this is over and Remy is safe, you can do or say whatever you want, but until then, she needs you. This isn’t about me. This is about saving Remy and Jessica, wherever she is. So, are you in, or are you out?”

  Emma lifted her head, lips pursed. Her eyes felt heavy on my face. “What do you need me to do?”

  THE PLACE WHERE SUMMER and Winter met was both beautiful and terrifying. Gray sky clashed against azure blue. Dead, scraggly thorn bushes brushed right up against lush, green bushes. A small stream flowed from Summer into Winter and iced over just a few feet over the line, freezing fish in place. Snow had fallen in a jagged line, stopping just short of the Summer boundary.

  And in the distance on the Summer side, tucked against rolling hills and crawling vines, stood a single stone tower. It rose high enough to give the guards on the roof a prime view of Winter for miles. The tower was surrounded by a moat filled with spikes. It’d be a fifty-foot drop down into the icy water, ensuring the drawbridge as the only way in.

  With no vegetation for us to hide behind, they would easily see us approaching. I couldn’t approach from the Winter side or they would suspect something, so we’d had to work out a way to get me across the boundary. Noelle almost didn’t go for it, but it was the best plan we had short of cooking up an invisibility spell, which neither of us knew how to do. It’d probably fail in Faerie anyway. Glamours worked well in Faerie, but apparently, she didn’t like other types of illusion magic.

  We came at the tower from the east. There weren’t any trees or bushes for cover, but the patrols were mostly on the western side since the east side of the tower was still under construction. Noelle walked in front of me, the braided rope around her wrists and my pipe at her back. I kept it only lightly pressed against her so it wouldn’t burn her through her dress. Emma walked alongside her, bound just like Noelle.

  “Are you sure this is going to work?” Noelle growled. “What if the fetch is already here?”

  I stepped over a large rock. “Then we improvise.”

  “Improvise.” Noelle gave a very unladylike snort. “Only a human would call that a plan.”

  “Hey, don’t knock it until you’ve tried it. Ninety percent of everything I do is improv. Improvisation has a long and glorious history on Earth with such masters of the art as Colbert and O’Brien.”

  “Colbert and O’Brien,” Noelle repeated. “And their improvised battle plans work?”

  “Totally, but only after eleven. Good improv always gets a little dirty.” I looked up at the tower. We were nearly within range.

  “Stop!” Armor clanked and a shadow peered down from the tower, the glint of some fae metal pointing straight at us. Crossbow. Three more guards joined him, pointing their crossbows at us. “State your business.”

  I spread my arms wide, yanking the rope holding Emma and Noelle slightly. “Guys, it’s me. And I brought a present.”

  The guard squinted down at me. “Is that the Winter Knight?”

  I grabbed a handful of Noelle’s hair and jerked her head back. “Well? Answer the man.”

  She shot me a dirty look. “I am the Winter Knight.”

  “Who’s that then?” The crossbows shifted slightly to the left, focusing on Emma.

  I let go of Noelle to put a hand on Emma’s shoulder. “I brought the knight for Her Majesty. A new toy. But the woman? She’s mine.”

  The guards conversed among themselves. They weren’t buying it. I had to convince them and fast.

  I cleared my throat and shouted up, “The longer you make me stand out here in the sun, the more I sweat, and the more I sweat, the grumpier I get. You really want me pissed off once I get in the tower with you, boys?”

  They exchanged glances. “Lower the drawbridge!”

  “See?” I whispered to Noelle and Emma. “Told you it’d work.”

  “You didn’t have to play the part so well,” Noelle snapped back.

  “Of course I did. They wouldn’t have bought it otherwise.”

  Metal chains clanked and wood creaked. A massive slab of wood lowered from the front of the tower and thudded into the ground in front of us, bridging the space between us and the entrance to the tower. The easy part was over. Now for the hard part.

  I pushed my captives forward. Across the drawbridge, I could feel their eyes on me, but I didn’t dare look up. Looking up would’ve spoiled the illusion. They’d have seen the nerves on my face. I’d never had a good poker face.

  We were home free until a company of guards filed onto the bridge, forming a line of eight men on either side. Who else but Sir Foxglove would stride out, decked all in bright Summer colors? He’d affixed his helmet too. On anyone else, the big plumed helmet would’ve looked ridiculous, but I’d seen Foxglove fight. He was nothing short of badass.

  Walking out to greet us at his side was the Summer Knight, William. I hadn’t seen him fight, but if he was the Summer Knight, he outranked Foxglove, which probably meant he was a certified badass too. Dammit, I hadn’t counted on either of them being here.

  They marched to the end of the column of soldiers. Foxglove drew his sword. “Halt! Come no closer, Horseman, or your life is forfeit.”

  Shit, was my cover blown? Couldn’t be. I’d played evil me perfectly. Guess
I had to keep playing him. I pulled Noelle in front of me like a shield. “Get out of my way, Foxglove!” When he didn’t move, I addressed the Summer Knight. “William, tell your dog to back down. Titania won’t be happy if I turn him into mincemeat.”

  William drew his sword. “We’re not letting you near the girl, Lazarus. Titania entrusted us with her protection, even at the cost of our own lives. That means we must protect her from all threats, even you.”

  “Turn around,” Foxglove snarled. “I’ll give you a thirty-second head start before I come after you.”

  Geez, these guys were serious. Just what had Bizarro Laz done to get them so upset? I couldn’t take either of them. Together, they’d be practically unstoppable. “Why? What’d I ever do to you?”

  “You must be joking!” Foxglove grabbed his helmet and tore it off, revealing a deep, puckered scar over the left side of his face. He pointed at it. “Tell me you don’t remember holding my face against hot iron the last time I stood between you and the princess? I should’ve challenged you years ago, the first time I saw you raise a hand to her.”

  I flinched. Raised a hand to my own daughter? Oh, hell no. Bizarro Laz had gone too far. I would strangle him with his own guts when I found him. But first I had to convince these two that I wasn’t him, and I had to do it without letting the crossbowmen above hear or they’d shoot me dead.

  I pushed Emma out of the way and jammed my metal pipe into the back of Noelle’s neck. She cried out and went to her knees before turning and hissing, “What the hell are you doing?”

  “Improvising,” I growled back through clenched teeth. “Roll with it if you want to live.” I yanked her head back and pressed the pipe to her neck.

  William surged forward but Foxglove held him back.

  “Do you think we care if you kill her?” Foxglove asked. “She is the Winter Knight, servant of our sworn enemy.”

  “She dies on Summer’s soil, there’ll be war. You want a war, gentlemen?” I pressed the iron harder into Noelle’s neck, making her scream as it burned into her. “Do you?”

  “Coward!” William shouted, gripping his sword.

  Foxglove put a hand on William’s shoulder. “What is it you want?”

  “I want a one-on-one fight with you, Foxglove. Give me a chance to finish what I started.”

  He smirked and tore off his mossy green cloak, letting it flutter in the air. “Gladly,” he said and stepped forward.

  I had flashbacks to how he’d spun through the Shadow Army, cutting soldiers down with ease. It’d been mesmerizing to watch. Those had been trained soldiers with armor and swords. I was just a guy with a pipe and a little magic. Against a swordsman like Foxglove, I had no chance. Me and my big mouth.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Foxglove opened with a strong vertical strike aimed at the top of my head. I pushed Noelle away and brought my steel pipe up just in time to catch the blade. His sword steamed and hissed when it struck the iron heavy metal. Foxglove grimaced.

  “I need to tell you something,” I said so only he would hear.

  “Tell it to your god.” He swung up an armored foot and landed a good, hard kick to my groin.

  I don’t care who you are, getting kicked in the family jewels hurts like hell, Pale Horseman included. When that kick is coming from an armored boot... Let’s just say it was damned effective. I curled up, eyes watering, and went down to my knees, unable to breathe, let alone move.

  “Pathetic,” Foxglove spat. “I expected more from the man they call Death.” He leveled his sword against my neck. “Any last words, Horseman?”

  Movement in the sky caught my eye. “One,” I wheezed out in a high voice. “Duck.”

  “Duck?” he repeated, wrinkling his nose. Too bad he didn’t listen.

  A loud roar tore through the valley. Foxglove spun, eyes toward the sky just in time to take in the huge, green dragon as it landed on top of the tower. The dragon’s talons gripped the wall and it shook like a dog coming in out of the rain before belching fire.

  I tackled Foxglove’s legs and get him down just in time to avoid being hit. From on top of Foxglove, I twisted to look behind me. Emma and Noelle were safely out of range of the fire. Noelle glanced up at the crossbowmen who had focused their fire on the dragon perched on the roof, then ran forward and thrust her wrists just above the fire burning on stone. Once the fire singed the rope, she pulled her wrists apart.

  William rushed in, sword raised to defend Foxglove. He swung it at the side of my face. Somehow, I got the pipe up to block. He seemed as surprised as I was, staring at it for a moment. I pushed his sword away and swept the pipe over the ground, taking his feet from under him. William went down with a loud grunt.

  “Dammit, guys, I don’t want to have to hurt you!” I rolled off Foxglove who had found his sword.

  He swung it blindly at me before rolling gracefully to his feet.

  I stepped back. “Listen to me. You’ve been lied to.”

  “Yes, by you!” Foxglove tried for a thrust and caught my vest.

  I stepped to the side and let him rip the borrowed clothing. Better to reimburse Darius than die. “No, by Titania. She’s made a fetch.”

  William’s sword came down, aimed at my wrist. I pulled away, but teetered on the edge of the bridge. Another step back and I’d fall into the water.

  The dragon sent another blast of fire which William deflected with his shield. The dragon seemed to aim for the Summer Knight and Foxglove rather than me. Well, at least I had one person on my side.

  Foxglove was momentarily distracted, trying to get out of the way of the dragon, so I took a swing at him. Maybe a good knock to the head would get him to listen. His hand shot out at the last second and he caught the steel pipe. Slowly, his head swiveled back around so he could glare at me. Uh-oh. Foxglove yanked on the pipe, pulling me toward him. More aptly, toward his sword. I was going to fall right on it and there was nothing I could do about it.

  Until the Winter Knight came to my rescue. Noelle swept in with a sword made of ice and thrust it into Foxglove’s arm. I hit the charred wood of the bridge and pushed myself up. Noelle stood over Foxglove who had fallen, grasping his injured arm. She lifted her sword for the killing blow.

  “No, stop!” My voice bounced off the tower wall.

  The crossbowmen suddenly unleashed a flurry of bolts, several of which found their mark in the attacking dragon. He roared, belched more fire, and flapped his wings to take to the air.

  William turned away from the dragon and threw himself at Noelle, bashing her back with his shield. The ice sword she’d crafted shattered on impact. He hit her again, forcing her to the edge of the drawbridge, just inches from falling into the water. She teetered on the edge, then thrust herself forward to grab William. The two jerked to the side, dancing onto a charred section of bridge that crumbled under their feet. Noelle screamed and let go, but it was too late. Both of them plunged toward the river below, landing with a loud splash.

  I hurried to the edge to see if I could find them, but all that remained was William’s shield, bobbing in the water.

  The feel of sharp steel against my neck made me freeze.

  “Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t cut off your head right now, Horseman,” Foxglove growled.

  I dropped the pipe and raised my hands slowly. “Titania has made a fetch that looks like me. If anyone hurt Remy, it was him. I’ve been chasing him for a week. He damn near killed me twice now.”

  “And I’m just supposed to take your word for it?”

  “You know me.” I turned my head but felt the steel bite in just enough to break the skin. Blood trickled down to pool against the collar of my shirt.

  But Foxglove cut no deeper. “I saw you kill dozens of Shadow soldiers. Saw the murder in your eyes as you let the killing heat your blood. You liked it.”

  I swallowed, too terrified to speak.

  Foxglove sighed. “I also saw you weep with joy the first time you held her.” He withdrew t
he sword. “And I have seen an even greater darkness in my queen’s eyes these last few years, Lazarus. One I do not see reflected in yours.”

  My hand went to my neck and came away coated in blood. “Thanks, I think.”

  “Titania has always been unstable, but the loss of her daughter has sent her into madness, I fear.” Foxglove offered me a bloody hand.

  I took it and pulled myself up.

  Emma finally got free from her ropes and leaned over the edge of the bridge. “Are they...?”

  “Dead?” Foxglove laughed and put away his sword. “Unlikely. We’re a hard lot to kill, courtly knights most of all. Or haven’t you heard? There’s no true death in Faerie.”

  “There is when Remy is here,” I said.

  Foxglove met my gaze with silence.

  I gritted my teeth. “She’s not here anymore, is she?”

  His jaw flexed. “Her Majesty did not want to chance missing the opportunity to present her at the revel. The meeting of the courts at Mardi Gras is a very important custom, Horseman. Traditionally, it is when heirs who have come of age are affirmed. Pacts are made for the coming year. Unions planned.”

  Emma stepped away from the edge of the bridge. “We have to get to her. Please, tell us what’s happened.”

  Foxglove turned his face away. “I am under a direct order not to instruct the Pale Horseman as to her whereabouts. I gave the queen my oath. But I also gave the princess my solemn vow. I promised her my sword as her protector, and I failed.” He closed his eyes and made a fist. “Last time you—I mean your fetch—was here, he struck Princess Remy. They had an argument. Her Majesty wanted to marry her to Roshan to secure her alliance with the Court of Light. He argued that nothing less than the High Court would be good enough. Princess Remy became distressed and declared she would marry neither the High Prince nor Prince Roshan. Prince Roshan took offense after being rejected a third time and I had to physically remove him from her presence when he lost control of himself.”

  “Wait a goddamn minute.” I waved my hands. “Last time I saw Remy, she was a baby. She had barely begun to babble, let alone talk. She couldn’t declare anything.”