Foxglove

by Aaron McQueen

  Kidhe said, “There’s still time.”

  “There better be,” Maddie replied. “I’ve still got a mountain of junk food to introduce you to. Take care of yourself, okay?”

  They held hands for a long moment before Theresa coughed. “Kidhe,” she said. “It’s time.”

  Maddie let Kidhe go, and he vaulted up into his saddle. He and the princess flew up into the canopy. A moment later, the entire flock took flight. Maddie reached into her bag, took out a vial of her stone throwing potion, and popped the lid off with her thumb. She drank it and shut her eyes, feeling the magic seep into her body. There weren’t many rocks by the stairs, but the cobblestones on the street would work just fine. She felt her senses draw her surroundings in as the magic brought her the feeling of hard, flat rock.

  “You know, it’s really attractive when you do that,” Finn said.

  “And you’re not intimidated by the fact that I’m a super weapon?”

  Finn nodded, wrinkling his chin in deep thought. “I could date a super weapon,” he said.

  Maddie rolled her blackened eyes and said, “Faerie men are weird.” The magic in her voice boomed and echoed as she spoke. Maddie felt her dignity crumble as the soldiers around her chuckled. One of the men behind Finn gave him a light thump on the shoulder.

  “What’s it going to be like?” Maddie asked. “Fighting, I mean.”

  Finn drew his sword and shook his head. “I don’t know. I’ve never done it.”

  They stared down the ramp. A short while later, the enemy marched into view. The bright white Aster uniforms caught the firelight from the square. Heavy armor and spear points glistened while white banners fluttered over the approaching mass like a swarm of ghosts.

  Maddie heard a thump. A javelin embedded itself into the shield of a man not six feet away.

  The queen bellowed, “Shields!”

  The crowd stepped forward and formed a wall six layers deep, shields held high to guard the line. Rose lifted her sword up over her head and brought it down.

  “Loose!”

  All around them, hundreds of archers emerged from their hiding places in the branches above, and a thousand arrows rained down onto the steps. Pain burst in Maddie’s chest, followed by the sharp sting of metal and wood in her shoulder and cheek. She grasped at her robes, gasping as the first screams rose from the throats of their stricken enemies. Her pulse jumped, and her heart clenched as Maddie covered her ears and closed her eyes to shut them out, but the images and feelings continued to pour in. Her knees buckled, and she collapsed onto the ground.

  Finn knelt down and held her. “Maddie?” he shouted. “What’s wrong?”

  Maeve knelt down beside him. “Did you take the Earth Sight?” she asked urgently.

  Maddie shook her head, flinching. “No, but I… I can’t keep them out! What’s happening?”

  Maeve gripped Maddie’s shoulders and leaned in close. “It is the Foxglove,” she whispered. “Your true self must sense the danger. Its power is bleeding out, but you must keep it under control. Focus on your spells, and concentrate.”

  “I can’t!” Maddie said, gripped the sides of her head as tears forced their way onto her cheeks.

  Maeve slapped her. The blow stunned Maddie back into her own senses.

  “You must,” Maeve said. “There is no time.”

  Maddie nodded, gritting her teeth as she pushed the sensations out and the feelings down, and Finn helped her back to her feet. Maddie focused and brought up her hands. As she did, cobblestones the size of manhole covers rose into the air. Maddie tensed her fingers and they trembled.

  Maeve stepped back. The enemy continued to press forward through the hail of arrows only a dozen yards away, grim determination on their faces. Maddie’s eyes reached across the shrinking distance. There was only one thing left to do.

  In storybooks, there was always time for reflection, time to resolve the conflicting emotions of war and become inspired by the people and the cause. But this was no story. There was no time to learn to become a warrior. There was only the sound of drums, the thunder of her heartbeat in her ears, and the bitter taste of adrenaline at the back of her throat. For the next few hours of darkness, Maddie Foster, human girl and witch in training, would have to be enough.

  The enemy charged, and Maddie thrust her arms forward. The stones flew as a hundred spears and shields smashed together in a roar of battle and blood.

  Rising Tide

  The deadly point of a leaf-shaped spearhead flashed out from the darkness, its cold edge glimmering in the windblown torchlight. Maddie twisted away, sweeping a hand in front of her body as a huge flagstone flew around from her side, smashing into the woman’s ribs. She tumbled away and the spear wavered, falling to the ground as her lungs heaved against the blow to her chest. Maddie felt her choking, and she gasped.

  The impressions of the Foxglove continued to pour in. To her left, Finn ducked a deadly strike and drove into a soldier with the point of his sword. The faerie’s green blood flowed over the blade as she grunted and crumpled onto the ground. Cold fear broke into Maddie’s thoughts for an instant before the press of the battle lines trampled the woman underfoot, and the feeling disappeared.

  A storm of blood and metal swirled on the city’s doorstep. Maddie clenched her teeth and hissed across blackened gums as the soldiers of Aster continued to push. After more than an hour of rage and combat, the strength of the volunteers was beginning to fade.

  But Maddie had never felt so alive. Her heart surged in her chest. Adrenaline and magic rippled through her body like liquid fire. Her muscles pulled against their joints and her skin was hot with sweat. Electricity crackled in her throat, and every one of her senses tingled with power.

  “Are you alright?” Finn shouted.

  Maddie answered with a voice like a demolition blast. “I’m fine.”

  Finn ran over to her and grabbed her by the shoulder. “You don’t sound fine,” he said, examining her eyes.

  “I’m fine!” Maddie said, shaking him off to stare at the frothing battle.

  Aster was closing in. With each passing moment, the enemy pushed further and further up the steps, while above, the air was so full of birds that Maddie could hardly see the branches overhead.

  “There are too many of them,” she said.

  Finn stared up at the shrieking flock and answered, “I know.”

  Steel crashed, the line fractured, and a dozen enemy soldiers burst through the gap. Maddie threw her hands up and pressed them forward, shouting as a barrage of stones barreled into the advancing pack. Their bodies were hurled back into the swell of their comrades, and the city’s volunteers jammed themselves into the breach.

  Maddie’s chest rumbled with exhilaration as blood, pain, and magic mingled in her mind. She stuffed her hand down into her bag and grabbed another potion. Maeve had instructed her to pace herself, but in the middle of the battle those instructions were impossible to follow. She’d been pounding vials of her stone-throwing potion like shots of liquor, and the effect was beginning to take hold. A great hunger swelled in her belly, and the rising temptation to drink in steadily greater amounts of the magic’s sweet, sickly perfume was almost impossible to resist.

  “Look out!”

  Maddie cursed, snapping her eyes around. A tall faerie woman leapt over the shield wall and dove towards her. There was a glint of steel. A long blade flashed, and Maddie fell back, arms spinning. Her stones scattered as her focus broke. The back of her head smacked against the street, driving the breath from her lungs as the woman brought the blade down towards her throat.

  Steel rang against steel. Maddie looked up as Rose leapt in front of her, parrying the blow with her giant sword. She shifted her weight and rammed into Maddie’s attacker with her shoulder, knocking the woman back as she brought the weapon around to strike. The woman lunged away as a tangle of woody vines burst from the ground, catching her arms and legs.

  Maddie rolled her head to see Maeve, whose bl
ack eyes and firm jaw revealed an expression as hard as stone. Rose’s sword slashed across the woman’s stomach and she fell, bleeding as her body went limp and lay still.

  “That was too close,” Rose said, pulling Maddie up off the ground. “Are you alright?”

  Maddie fought to catch her breath. “I could have died,” she said.

  “You were reckless,” Maeve said, approaching. “I told you to be careful.”

  The enemy began to fall back. Rose eyed the shrinking lines as they retreated around the trunk and out of sight. The weary volunteers leaned on each other and sat on the ground, stealing a moment to catch their breath.

  “Are they leaving?” Finn said.

  Rose answered, “Impossible.”

  Maddie felt a strange sensation overtake her legs. They twitched, rapidly tensing and flexing as though eager to dance across the ground. Her toes curled in her shoes like talons.

  “Rose…” Maddie said. “What’s going on?”

  Rose stood beyond the line, eyes probing the darkness as the sounds of combat began to fade. A rattling, clicking sound grew into the air.

  “What is that?” Maddie asked.

  The queen retreated, sheathing her sword. She picked up a spear from the ground and grabbed Finn by the shoulder. “Get her out of here,” she said.

  He stared at her in confusion. “What?”

  “Do it now, my son. We’ll cover you as long as we can.” She shouted to the volunteers. “Reform! Quickly! Maeve, cover the ramp!”

  They scrambled. Maeve reached into her bag and hauled out a large, green jug. She gulped it down and turned to the broad stairway as she brought up her arms. All around her, vines and branches sprang from the ground, snatching up crates, stones, and barrels to barricade the gap.

  Rose pushed Maddie into Finn. “You must go, now. Find Brynna and Ida. They will get you to safety.”

  “But what about you?” Maddie said.

  “We’ll be fine, but we cannot allow you to be captured.”

  “But what’s happening? It’s going to be okay, right?”

  The queen turned away and hustled back to the front of the line.

  Maddie grabbed her arm. “Rose?!”

  Finn began to pull her away as a high-pitched squeal rose up from the steps. A shot of fear clamped around Maddie’s throat as a black mass of legs, jaws, and glistening shell came around the corner. Beetles the size of elephants hurled themselves forward, their riders wielding long spears and bows. Six-foot pincers, sharpened and plated with metal, framed hungry jaws dripping with saliva. They smashed into Maeve’s makeshift barricade. The wood shuddered.

  “Go!” Rose shouted.

  Finn yanked Maddie away, racing up the street towards the lifts. Maddie looked over her shoulder as they ran. The defenders were shuffling backwards, tired and terrified, but each unwilling to be the first to turn and run.

  Maddie stopped running.

  “Maddie!” Finn said. “What are you doing? We have to go!”

  “Running won’t help,” Maddie said. “There’s not enough time.”

  She reached into her bag and drew out the bottle of Earth Sight unguent. The top was sealed with a wire frame. Maddie chuckled in spite of herself. In case of emergency, break glass.

  She grabbed Finn’s sword.

  He barked. “Hey! What are—”

  Maddie slashed the blade down the neck of the bottle, and the top snapped off with a rigid crack. With one hand, she emptied the potion down her throat.

  “Maddie…” Finn said.

  Her voice rumbled as the mixture burst in her gut and a black shroud fell across her vision. “Stay close to me,” she said, returning his sword. A witch’s task is to safeguard others, she thought.

  Finn stared at her in wonder. “Maddie? What are you doing?”

  Maddie’s vision flew out into the night, and the war poured in. “My job.”

  As the battle line exploded, the black horde came pouring through the gap.

  Fight or Flight

  Maddie threw a building at them. Ten tons of rubble broke over the steps, crushing shell and armor as the insects and their riders howled in fear. Pain flashed across Maddie’s skin like hot steam. Her bones cracked and her heart stopped beating as the deaths of a hundred soldiers lashed like burning whips across her mind.

  “Shit!” she hissed, doubling over as she cried out.

  Finn grabbed her as her knees hit the street with a crack.

  “Maddie!”

  Maeve was right, she thought. I wasn’t ready. The next wave of the enemy crested over the pile of stone, descending like an avalanche as the city defenders readied their spears in futile hope.

  The vision of a thousand insects, soldiers, and civilians poured into Maddie’s head. She searched through them wildly, looking for any sign of Maeve and Rose as the scything jaws of the beetles cut through the volunteers like blades of grass. Maddie’s stomach wrenched as the power of the Earth Sight brought her the full weight of every sickening sensation. A thousand brutal deaths, a thousand howls of agony, and a thousand anguished cries and final breaths. Maddie experienced them all as Finn dragged her away.

  The market was in pandemonium. Thousands of faeries flooded the street, desperate to escape to the safety of the palace. The cable cars creaked, ropes straining, as the people heaped themselves aboard and clung desperately to the sides. Finn elbowed their way to the front and climbed the platform, where a thin ring of soldiers fought to organize the chaos. Brynna and Ida were among them.

  “Where is the queen?” Brynna shouted.

  “Still at the front,” Finn said. “We have to get Maddie out of here!”

  Ida reached forward. “I’ll take her,” she said, gesturing to the soldiers. “These are our personal guards. They’ll hold the platform until we’re safely away.”

  Maddie lifted her head, a swirl of chaos playing inside her eyes. “Finn? Come with me?”

  Finn leaned in and held her head. “I have to find my mother,” he said. “You go. Ida will take care of you.”

  Maddie felt her feet leave the ground as Ida threw her over her shoulders.

  “Can you get her out of the city?” Finn asked.

  Ida stepped onto the cable car with a grunt. “My birds are standing by. I promise, I’ll do everything I can. Any word on the Erlkin?”

  “Still no sign,” Finn said. “You should take some of your guards.”

  “No, they’re needed here.”

  “But Finn’s right,” Brynna said. “We have to be ready for anything.”

  Ida paused. “One guard,” she said. “That’s all.” She grabbed the nearest soldier and climbed aboard with Brynna as the carriage lurched into motion. Maddie’s shoulders relaxed as the fear and desperation of the city grew distant and the sounds of the battle began to fade.

  “All those people,” Maddie whispered. “They’re going to die. They’re going to die, and it’s all my fault.”

  Brynna took her down from Ida’s shoulders. There were no empty seats on the crowded car, so she laid her on the floor. “They won’t all die,” she said. “There are rules in war. Once you’re safe, Rose will order her soldiers to lay down their arms. Aster will have to accept a peaceful surrender.”

  Small comfort, Maddie thought. She will have lost everything because of me.

  Citizens of the city packed the palace courtyard when the carriage arrived at the top. Rain stood in the middle of the panic, directing traffic.

  “Where are your birds?” Brynna asked Ida.

  “The roof,” she answered. “We’ll go to the throne room and have them meet us on the balcony.”

  Rain came running over. “What’s happening?”

  “Rose called a retreat,” Brynna said.

  Rain’s face fell. “No…”

  “We knew it was a possibility. We’re getting Maddie out of the city. Rose will hold the ground as long as she can.”

  Fear and regret splashed into Maddie’s chest as Rain turned and
embraced her. Her friend’s sorrow was like boiling water pouring over her mind.

  “I’m sorry,” Maddie said, spilling tears as she held her. “I’m so sorry for all of this.”

  Rain sniffed and squeezed her tight. “It’s alright. Everything will be alright.”

  “We have to go,” Ida said. “There’s not much time.”

  They raced through the packed corridors and up to the throne room. Ida shut the door behind them as Brynna made her way to the balcony. It was locked.

  “I’ll take care of this,” Brynna said, picking up a chair.

  “That won’t be necessary,” Ida replied. “We won’t be leaving.”

  Maddie felt Ida’s arm tighten around her.

  Brynna slowly turned around, fingers tightening around the legs of the chair. “What?”

  Greasy smoke rose from Ida’s body, hissing as it twisted into the air. A black surge of eagerness and triumph caught fire in Maddie’s head as the image of a dread, familiar face flashed into view.

  Maddie struggled, pressing her arms to pull away from her. “Let me go!” she shouted.

  Ida held firm as the trickle of smoke became a river, filling the air with a sickening fog as the woman’s clothing and armor disappeared and her skin peeled away, revealing ivory-white flesh, dark robes, and hollow, impenetrable eyes.

  “Gwynedd,” Brynna murmured.

  The pale witch tilted her head with an icy grin.

  Brynna lifted the chair. “Where is Ida?”

  “Dead in the woods,” Gwynedd replied. “Since before she even arrived. By now, her corpse will be food for the insects, along with the bodies of her guards.”

  Maddie’s eyes flicked to the guard from the square. She was gone. Moira stood in her place. “You’re monsters,” she said.

  Gwynedd pursed her lips. “Tut tut, Foxglove. Or have you forgotten? I am the queen of the Erlkin. You are the monster.”

  “I am not!” Maddie said, yanking at her arms to get away.

  Gwynedd’s grip tightened around her wrist. “But you are. I built you to be a monster—my monster—but you betrayed me and destroyed the civilization you were created to protect. You owe my people a debt, and I will have it, even if I have to kill every man, woman, and child in this wretched Veil.”