Kingdom of the Western Wind

by Clara Martin

  I shrugged. “I’m intelligent, resourceful, and full of vitality?” I offered. I carefully avoided looking at the pile of ash, still shaken.

  Charles laughed slightly and pressed a kiss to my forehead. “That, you are. I’m glad you see it.” He glanced over at Elena, who was still pressed against my side, her eyes round. “So, this is Elena?” he asked.

  “Yes.” I turned slightly so I could see her. “Elena, this is Charles, my boyfriend,” Charles, this is Elena.” I smiled at her. She stared back.

  “Hello, Elena,” Charles said gravely, sticking his hand out.

  She stared at it, unsure, and then released me to bow slightly. “Good afternoon, monsieur,” she said softly.

  I looked around, shifting uncomfortably. “Your Highness,” I said, “Can we…leave?”

  The king looked over from where he was talking quietly to his guard. “As long as you take a messenger,” he said distractedly. “I need to know if Lord Eamon communicates with you.” He frowned. “Strange that he’s been so quiet.”

  I shrugged. “I’d tell you if he had anything to say, Your Highness.”

  King Matthieu nodded and went back to speaking with his guards. I took that as permission to leave and set out, still holding Charles’s hand and towing Elena. Ambassador Watkins and the rest of the embassy followed silently.

  “I’m furious, impressed, and deeply in love with you, just so you know,” Charles said conversationally as we walked.

  I blinked. “Oh? Why?”

  “Eileen, only you would walk – I assume you walked – from the embassy to the castle to support the violent overthrow of a regime aimed at overthrowing the government of the United States. Only you would then ask for custody of a slave girl and then protect her in the midst of battle. I’m furious you put yourself in harm’s way, but I’m deeply in love with you all the same. And if you think this touchy-feely shit is easy for me” –he took a deep breath – “you have another thing coming.”

  I laughed. “Charles. You came for me,” I said in amazement. “You got me out of fae country, in the Kingdom of the Northern Sun, you got me help, and then…you came for me.”

  “You came to rescue me as well,” he reminded me. “You refused to leave me behind.” He squeezed my hand.

  “I don’t know what to do now,” I admitted, my voice low. “I’ve lost all the jobs I ever had after the Army. I just – I feel lost, Charles.”

  He squeezed my hand again. “What do you love?” he asked quietly.

  I sighed. “I love art,” I admitted quietly. “The hospital taught me how much I love painting. And I used to love art history back at the university…”

  “Eileen,” Charles said, “You’re at seventy percent disability from the VA. You have a pension. Why don’t you just take some time, get some therapy, and pursue art? See where it takes you?”

  I frowned. “I feel like I should be doing something,” I said doubtfully.

  Charles stopped and turned to me, putting a hand on each shoulder. “Eileen, you will be. You’ll be healing.”

  I sighed. “I’ll think about it.”

  He smiled. “That’s all I ask.”

  “Mademoiselle,” Elena said quietly from where she stood next to me. “Mademoiselle, am I really going to the United States?”

  “Yes, Elena,” I said gently. “Yes, you are.”

  Her eyes grew round. “Maman, too?”

  I nodded. “You must go and get her, and have her meet us at the American embassy.”

  Looking dazed, Elena nodded and trotted off. Watching her go, I smiled.

  “I want to free them all,” I murmured. I turned to Charles with a rush of passion. “It’s wrong that we make treaties with fae kingdoms that enslave us!”

  “I don’t disagree, Eileen,” he said, taking my hand in his and resuming his walk. “But we need Western Winds. Otherwise, we face Northern Sun alone. And if Northern Sun has allied with the Northern Wild,” he said grimly, “we need all the help we can get.”

  I swallowed. “What do you think will happen next?” I asked softly.

  “Well, for one, Faolain invades,” Eamon said. I looked up. He was walking next to me, looking grimmer than I’d ever seen him. “My troops are now reinforcing Western Winds at the border,” he added, “but that’s not where they’re really needed. Faolain’s begun movement to the United States. My spies are reporting that he attacks at dawn.”

  “Dawn?” I gasped. Charles gave my hand a hard squeeze. “How is he moving so quickly?!”

  “He’s been reinforced by the wild fae from Kingdom of the Northern Wild,” Eamon said. “Where’s the ambassador? This needs to be passed on to your government as soon as possible.”

  I nodded, turning, and waved to Ambassador Watkins. He’d already begun hurrying up to me when he saw Eamon appear. I repeated the message, and Ambassador Watkins whitened.

  “I see,” he murmured. He quickened his pace, almost running. He flicked his hands, sending out a streak of white in front of him. I recognized acommunications spell. “Harry,” he said into it, “Code red. This is not a drill. Code red, code red, code red.” He flicked his wrist again, ending the spell.

  “That’ll let Harry erect the defensive wards,” he murmured. “They’re not permitted under thetreaty unless we’re under direct threat. This most certainly qualifies.”

  We rushed back to the embassy to find it surrounded by a bubble of shining power. Elena and an older woman, perhaps thirty, but careworn, stood nervously outside it. When Elena saw me, she rushed to me. “Mademoiselle,” she said, her eyes wide, “Can we still go with you?”

  “Of course,” I said with a smile. “We’re just taking extra precautions.” She nodded and returned to her mother, taking her hand. “I’m Eileen,” I said, extending my hand. “It’s a pleasure.”

  The woman gave me a wide-eyed look and bowed deeply. “Mademoiselle,” she said. “I am Isabelle. Isabelle of Western Winds.”

  “Enough,” Ambassador Watkins said impatiently. “Come. I need to hold a door open in the ward for us to pass through.” He paused, evaluating Isabelle and Elena. “They may pass as well, though, in the future, Eileen – be very, very wary of making promises you can’t keep.”

  I frowned, but the ambassador had already turned to the embassy, holding his hands wide. A hole rippled open in the wards, just wide enough for one person to pass through.

  “Go,” I urged Elena. With a glance at her mother, she passed through. Isabelle passed through next. Then Charles gave me a gentle push, and I walked through. Harry and Maria stood on the other side, waiting for us.

  “What happened?” Maria asked, eying me assessingly. “I saw fae marching through the streets – I went out to look for you, but two fae sent me back to the embassy.”

  “I…didn’t realize they could do that to members of the embassy,” I said slowly.

  “Technically,” she said with a snort, “they can’t.” She eyed me. “So, now what?”

  “Now,” Ambassador Watkins said, “I call Washington, DC.” He looked at us. “You’ll all need to be there for that. You included, Ms. O’Donnell,” he added with a warning look at Charles.

  We walked into the ballroom, where Harry was standing next to the Sending machine. It was active; a small cloud sparkled next to it. At the sight of it, Charles started next to me. “I thought,” he rumbled, “that there was only one person at headquarters who could operate the Sending machine.”

  “And you believed me?” Ambassador Watkins returned coolly. Charles scowled darkly but said nothing. I glanced at him out of the corner of my eye. His fists were opening and closing reflexively.

  “It’s ready, Ambassador,” Harry said, stepping back. Ambassador Watkins nodded and stepped forward. “This is Western Winds calling Washington,” he said clearly.

  “This is Washington,” the cloud responded.

  “We have information that Northern Sun will be invading the United States at dawn,” Ambassador Watkins said. “This
information was provided by Lord Eamon of Northern Sun via Eileen O’Donnell.” He glanced at me. I swallowed.

  The cloud went silent and then crackled again. “Do you know where?”

  “Negative,” the ambassador replied.

  “Did the source report troop strength? Disposition?”

  “Nothing save that he has allied with the Kingdom of the Northern Wild.”

  “Understood.” The cloud crackled again. “Eileen O’Donnell is to return to the United States immediately and report to the Department of Homeland Security.”

  Charles stepped forward and cleared his throat. “Eileen O’Donnell was taken from a mental hospital against the wishes of her doctor,” he said. “She should have nothing to do with the Department of Homeland Security.”

  “Mr. Talbot, stand down!” Ambassador Watkins said angrily.

  The cloud crackled once more, cutting him off. “Eileen O’Donnell will be assigned liaison duty, nothing more,” it said. More drily, it added, “we already have a lawsuit on our hands, Mr. Talbot. We don’t need more trouble.”

  Reassured, Charles subsided.

  “All others, await further orders,” the cloud continued. “Washington, out.” The cloud disappeared with a pop.

  “All right, Eileen,” Maria said, stepping forward. “Harry is going to activate the arch – you’re going through now with your two friends here. I’ll be coming with you. I already have your luggage packed.”

  I nodded and turned to Charles. “Be careful,” I whispered.

  He pulled me to him, crushing me against his chest. “Eileen,” he whispered back, “I love you. Be safe. Please.” He gently kissed me, once on each cheek and then, as gently as a bird’s wing, on the lips. I drew back and smiled at him.

  “Eileen,” he said huskily, “will you do something for me?” I nodded. “Paint something for me,” he said in a rush. “I don’t care what it is. Just – paint something.”

  I nodded, puzzled. “It won’t be very good,” I warned him.

  “I don’t care,” he whispered. “Just paint it.”

  “Eileen!” Maria called sharply. “The arch is open.” I turned and saw the blue archway in front of me, spitting with power. I nodded reassuringly at Elena and Isabelle, cast one last look at Charles, and walked through.

  I emerged on the other side to see the same room I had left from – but Garrett, Anna, and Jenny were waiting for me. “What are you doing here?” I asked, puzzled. Elena and Jenny walked out of the arch, looking dazed.

  Garrett and Anna exchanged glances. “Eileen,” Garrett said gravely, “we’d like to offer you back your job with the NVRA.” Anna nodded. Jenny looked sulky but nodded as well.

  I opened my mouth to say yes – then I frowned. Paint something for me, Charles’s voice whispered in my ear. I remembered seeing the Degas in Western Winds – painting in the hospital – the feeling of relief I’d had when the paint had flowed from my brush.

  “Thanks,” I said. Maria,who’d just joined us, smiled broadly. “But I’m going to have to decline.” Her smile vanished. Anna and Garrett looked stunned. Jenny’s smug look deepened. “I’ll be a little busy,” I continued, “but I do truly appreciate it. I loved working for you.” I frowned. “There was one thing. When I was in Northern Sun, Faolain said he had an associate working for him – someone in the NVRA.” I looked straight at Jenny. “Do we know who that is?” I asked pointedly.

  “Yes,” Anna said sadly. I looked at her, surprised. “I don’t know how to tell you this, Eileen,” she said, “but it was Rima. Rima betrayed you.”

  I frowned. “That makes no sense. Rima knew where the safe house was.”

  “She didn’t have all the details,” Anna said. “She didn’t put all the pieces together, I guess.” She shrugged.

  “Did she confess?” I asked.

  Anna shook her head. “No. We found her dead. Suicide. There was a note next to her, in her hand, confessing to what she’d done. She couldn’t live with the guilt.” My mouth dropped open. “We had the note analyzed, Eileen,” she added. “There’s absolutely no question that it was Rima’s handwriting.”

  “I can’t believe it,” I said numbly with another glance at Jenny. “I still don’t buy it, at all.”

  “Neither could we,” Garrett said. Anna still looked sad. “Are you sure you won’t come back? We know you’ll be working as a liaison with the Department of Homeland Security; you can do that from the NVRA.”

  I shook my head. “I plan to negotiate a part-time gig there,” I said. “I need time to rest.” The queen’s face, screaming in pain, jumped to the forefront of my mind. I banished it with difficulty.

  Garrett nodded. “You have our cell numbers. Call us if there’s a change.” He turned and walked out of the room, followed by Anna and Jenny.

  Maria and I watched them go. “I’m surprised,” she said. “You really loved that job.”

  I shrugged. “Things change.” She nodded, and turned to Elena and Isabelle. “All right, you two,” she said briskly. “Come along.” She beckoned.

  I blinked. “What?” I asked stupidly.

  She shot me an impatient look. “Surely, you didn’t think they’d just be allowed to leave? We need to debrief them.”

  I crossed my arms. “Unacceptable,” I said flatly. “I negotiated for their release from slavery.”

  “You brought them through the embassy,” she countered, “which, technically, according to the treaty, is not allowed to take runaway slaves.”

  “They’re not runaway,” I pointed out. “The king gave them directly to me. They belong to me.” I stared at Maria, and she threw up her hands.

  “All right,” she said grudgingly, “but don’t expect this to be the end of it. Take your slavesand go home, then.”

  “And just how am I supposed to do that when you brought me here from the hospital?”

  Maria sighed, but a flush crept to her cheeks. “Call a taxi,” she snapped.

  “Which, I trust, will be reimbursed by the government.”

  “Yes,” she said grudgingly. “Yes, we will reimburse you. Just – just go home, Eileen. Be here tomorrow, at nine hundred hours sharp.”

  I gave her a crisp salute. “Yes, ma’am!” I turned and smiled at Isabelle and Elena, who were huddled against the wall. They smiled back hesitantly. “Ready to go?” I asked brightly.

  They slowly walked over, looking overwhelmed. “Yes, mademoiselle,” Isabelle said quietly. “We’re ready.”

  “You know I’m not your owner, right?” I asked as I pulled out my cell phone to call a cab.

  “I understand, mademoiselle.”

  I smiled gently. “Don’t worry. We’ll take care of you.”

  “Head’s up!” someone called from the computer. “Check out the satellite feed!”

  “Lady of the Lake,” someone breathed.

  “Just a moment,” I told Isabelle. I walked over to the computer and looked down. I swore. The border between Northern Sun and the United States was pulsing with red magic. “What is that?” I whispered.

  “That,” the analyst sitting at the computer said grimly, “is a battle shield. No one can go in – people can only go out. It’s the first step of an invasion.” He hit a key, expanding the view. “It goes all the way up to the Northern Wild.”

  I swallowed. “What does the Northern Wild look like?”

  He glanced at another analyst. “Brad?”

  “Same thing,” Brad said, jabbing a finger at his screen. “Battle shield is up. Nobody is getting in that way. Western Winds is still open – fortunately – but if they get overrun, it’s anybody’s guess what’ll happen. And with most of our troops tied up in Afghanistan and Iraq…” He sighed. “We’re toast.”

  “Don’t be so pessimistic,” I said bracingly. “We’ve still got troops here in the States.”

  “Not enough to fight Northern Sun and the Northern Wild,” he said. “Northern Sun has shapeshifters. And crazy, bad-ass fae with crazy, bad-ass powers.” H
e sighed again.

  I frowned. “If we can break the alliance between Northern Sun and the Northern Wild, we might have a fighting chance.”

  The analyst snorted. “That would take a diplomatic or military miracle. The Northern Wild chafe at the treaty as much or more than Northern Sun does. With this? They’ll be unstoppable.” Dispiritedly, he returned to his work.

  I went back to the front of the building to call a cab. I frowned, tapping on the screen. “No cell reception,” I muttered. Stepping outside, I held the cell to the sky. It was at times like this that I cursed my lack of magic; it would have been far easier to cast a communication spell.

  “Eileen,” a voice called softly. I spun around, searching for the source. No one was there. “Eileen,” the voice repeated.

  “Hallucinations again?” I spat. “I’m on higher medications!”

  “No, Eileen.” The voice wavered. “I don’t have much time. This is Severine. Do you remember me? I warned you, you and Charles, about the fae. Before you were kidnapped. I’m Adaline’s half-sister. Do you remember me?”

  I frowned. “How are you talking to me?” I asked cautiously. “How do I know you’re not a hallucination?”

  The voice sighed impatiently. “I’m under an invisibility spell, Eileen. I’m right here.” Suddenly a woman was there – just as beautiful and svelte as I remembered – before she disappeared again.

  “I’m Charles’s ex-girlfriend, too, if you’ll remember that,” she said teasingly.

  “I remember,” I snapped. “What do you want?”

  “I want to help you. I’ll call you. Don’t call me. But expect to hear from me – and soon. I have valuable information about the Northern Wild.”

  “What? How –”

  But she was gone, like a passing wind. I stood there, stunned for a moment, before pulling out my cell phone. Reception had miraculously returned.

  It was time to go home.