“Let’s not resort to threats. I’m sure the three of us have significant cards up our sleeves that would result in many deaths.” His eyes met mine, and he very pointedly didn’t look at my friends. Lucky for him. Still, they sensed it, and Yahn…
Belted out in laughter.
Alucard tensed, eyeing his partner askance. Then he smiled, turning back to Oberon, who was turning from one to the other on either side of him. Yahn was leaning forward, rubbing his hands excitedly, and Alucard – between one second and the next – suddenly looked like an entirely different person. His fangs slowly grew from his golden lips, and the ground beneath him began to smolder, his eyes pulsing with golden light.
Oberon grew very still, reconsidering his position.
Mallory muttered something unintelligible, but finally leaned back, folding his arms.
“We’re all badasses. Agree or disagree, brother. None of us have time for anything else.”
The cavern was silent for about thirty seconds before Oberon spoke. “For the price you mentioned, I want to actually see what you brought with you – what I am pretending not to have had within my grasp. The item that set off our alarms.” I waited for Mallory to nod before agreeing. “I also want to know about this place, and what happened between you two before I first met Talon,” Oberon said, indicating Talon and Mallory. “In essence, I need to know the full story if you are asking me to risk my name by ignoring the warnings that all of Fae heard. I will not pretend I am unaware when I don’t know the full truth. And I believe I am owed the full truth, considering it involves me.” His savage eyes met mine, “I’m guessing you’re involved somehow as well, since you hold the artifact…” he muttered.
Then he leaned back. I reviewed my agreement, wondering if there was any risk to spilling the beans. But part of me felt like this was owed. “One last thing. I want you to give me your honest, unfiltered thoughts after… No deviation. I want what you know,” I said.
He studied me, looking as if he was about to salivate. “Deal,” he finally agreed, sounding both excited and frustrated. His curiosity was literally too aroused to ignore any longer.
I finally nodded, pointing at Mallory to cut loose.
With a deep breath, he did, and I spent my time studying Oberon for even a sign of stomach indigestion, in case our world was about to burn to ashes or a horde of goblins were going to rappel down the mountain behind us.
Oberon’s face paled as his brother came clean, and his mouth opened wordlessly several times. But Mallory was only just beginning, telling the story of my birth, and everything else he had shared with me so far.
Chapter 37
Oberon stood and began to pace the cavern, muttering under his breath. Mallory held the hourglass in his hands as proof. Oberon hadn’t liked that one bit, especially when we refused to hand it over to him. I could tell his mind was running faster than it ever had. Trying to find a loophole in the story, but also trying to find a way to get an advantage out of it. He couldn’t retaliate, but he had never promised not to find a way to profit from it.
I also knew he would give almost anything to have that hourglass back, but without knowing more about it, I wasn’t about to consider that. My parents had sought it for a reason, and I wasn’t sure if the Armory had been their ultimate purpose. Not entirely. Because I knew how my father thought. He always had schemes within schemes.
I cleared my throat, a new thought hitting me. A topic not as heavy as my birth story and the theft of all thefts. “What’s the deal with Robin Goodfellow? Are you three the same person? And how are you both here right now? I thought that wasn’t possible, considering Pan wouldn’t enter last time he was here.”
Mallory shook his head. “It wasn’t that I couldn’t come here with you, ever, but that the Invitation didn’t concern me. Meaning, I was explicitly told not to interfere. And… I agreed with that, fearing the consequences should you fail. Also, Oberon,” he said, jerking a thumb with an eye roll, “would have charged me an arm and a leg to remain by your side.” Oberon grunted, but Mallory was smiling faintly.
The two acted like… two brothers ribbing each other.
“Why do you charge him rent to visit? That’s not very… brotherly,” I said, amused.
“I would do the same if he wanted to visit my world,” Mallory admitted, giving me a very serious look. “And I think you should be thankful for that…”
I nodded, thinking about it. Kind of like a checks and balances system. “You didn’t answer the other question. About Puck…”
Oberon finally sat down. “It… is complicated. We are not entirely the same. But we are similar enough that there is bleed over…”
Mallory nodded, eyes distant. “Our stories share many aspects, and since stories are our source of power, sometimes we must learn to share in order to… well,” he sighed, sounding frustrated, “live, I guess. To keep our power, we sometimes lend each other power. When one waxes, another wanes, so we keep each other charged up. To put it in terms your tiny brain could understand…” he added drily.
I rolled my eyes. “Got it. But now I have this dreadful headache.” They smiled at that, and then the silence returned. “So, what… am I?” I asked Oberon in a low tone.
The Goblin King studied me, eyes a million miles away. “A Manling,” he finally said, sounding frustrated. “Who can wield Fae magic, but also your own magic.”
“And you’ve never heard of this?”
“I’m not going to say you are the first Manling born here, but…” he looked resigned, almost guilty as he continued, “you are the first to survive to adulthood, thanks to your parents.”
I nodded. “Is this the reason for my other… affinities?”
He shrugged. “Who the hell knows?” he almost whispered. “If the Queens knew of this… If they knew I knew of this…” he met my eyes, looking concerned for the first time. “I might have to pay whatever Pan charged me to relocate to your world,” he admitted flatly. Then, realizing he had admitted a weakness, he straightened his shoulders. “They stole the hourglass for this Armory… But that can’t be the only reason. I mean, perhaps, but there were other ways to achieve their ends. There had to be another reason…”
I turned to Mallory, giving him a questioning look. He shook his head. “That’s what they told me,” he said offhandedly.
I kept the brief sensation of shock from my face, masking it with a look of frustration. He was hiding something…
Oberon was too busy muttering to himself to notice, thankfully.
Talon finally spoke up, making me jump. He had been dozing, not wanting to remind everyone that he had played a part in this. Although unaware of the story, he had owned a piece of it, and hadn’t wanted to risk Oberon’s displeasure. Understandably. “My apologies for the deceit. Although I don’t know if I would have changed anything if I had been aware of it, the apology still needs to be said.”
Oberon froze, and then slowly lifted his head to study Talon. He looked very… grateful. As if Talon had just stroked his ego. Talon dipped his head one time, and then curled back up to leave us in peace.
I almost grinned. With that statement, he had disarmed a potential retaliation in the future, and redirected the conversation.
“I take it you are leaving immediately?” Oberon asked, eyes latching onto the hourglass.
I debated answering, but wanted to deal with him in good faith. “I might stick around for a bit, or return later…” I said, waving a hand at the cavern. “I want to spend some time here. You must understand that this is just as much of a shock to me as it is to you. I want to get a better grasp on my roots… and my powers, apparently. I’ll likely visit from time to time, and I expect no retaliation for that. I certainly don’t mean anyone here any ill will.”
Oberon looked troubled. “If the hourglass returns, the alarms will go off. Any future visits should be done naked… I cannot make this agreement last forever. One time might go unnoticed, but I can’t pretend nothing is happen
ing if the alarms keep going off on a regular basis…”
I sighed wearily. “Right.”
“And I don’t think sticking around for very long is a good idea…”
My shoulders tightened, and Mallory slowly climbed to his feet, as if expecting a threat.
Oberon held out his hands in a peaceful gesture. “I came alone. But I’m not in the Queens’ good graces. I wouldn’t be surprised if they had someone tailing me.” Seeing the looks on our faces, he held out his hands, calming us. “I swear on my name that I haven’t betrayed you, and I never saw anyone following me. But I know them. It is something they would do… And if they discovered you here,” he said, staring straight at me, “whom they hate with a fiery passion, and connected your arrival with the alarms, no powers will keep you from their fury,” he whispered. I nodded, skin pebbling. He was being sincere, and I had a sudden desire to get the hell home.
Oberon met our eyes. “Something else is off about this place. I think you should very much return to figure out what it is. I will keep the place warded. Because, to be honest, I’m not sure if it’s a danger to my people, or to me. Knowing the depths of your parents’ schemes, I fear to discover it, but I definitely don’t want any unlucky Fae stumbling onto whatever it is about this place that sets my arms to itching.” He grinned guiltily. “Then again, if you wait too long, my curiosity may get the best of me, so I would encourage a speedy return.” Then he climbed to his feet, brushing off his hands.
I locked arms with him in a respectful gesture. “Thank you, Oberon. Really.”
He nodded, looking distracted. Likely at the number of things he had to lie about soon. He appraised me. “I’m not entirely sure how to address you. As a local – of indeterminate power – or as an enemy in my land…”
“Always better to err on the side of caution…” I said in as light a tone as I could manage.
He grunted after a few moments. “For now. Let me be the first Fae to welcome you.”
With that, he dipped his head respectfully, and then embraced Pan in a tight hug, and left.
Not moments later, Wulfra and Wulfric returned – having likely been hiding just outside the cavern, listening the whole while. Which was fine. They could have walked in for all I cared. It hadn’t been a secret meeting, but I was distantly pleased at the sign of respect – to not interrupt midway through a conversation with two kings and a god.
I turned to Mallory. “Spill. What else were you hiding from Oberon?” I asked.
Chapter 38
Mallory sighed. I turned to everyone else in the room. “Sharing time is over. Everyone get some rest. I want to talk to him in private, first. Set up a watch to give the horses a break.”
Alucard and Yahn jumped to their feet. “We’ll go first.”
I arched a brow at Mallory. “Is there a more private room for Wulfra and Wulfric? I’d like to get some sleep at some point,” I added drily.
“We don’t mind,” Wulfra said. “But there will be howls tonight…” she growled, rubbing her head into Wulfric’s chest, which puffed out considerably at the prospect.
“No red rockets for me. I’ll never be able to get that out of the old mental library. You guys get first pick,” I said, shaking my head.
Talon didn’t even stir, either already asleep, or accepting the fact that he would be sleeping first, and hopping to it with alacrity.
Mallory motioned for me to follow him outside. The horses were speaking with Alucard and Yahn, and after a brief discussion, they nestled down to get some rest. Alucard and Yahn walked away to put some distance between themselves and the cavern.
Mallory led me around the cavern towards the cliffs overlooking the ocean.
After about fifteen minutes, we reached the edge, and he sat, staring out at the moonlight reflecting off the waves of magma far, far below us.
“Your birth changed your parents. I only learned this much later, but your parents knew of an upcoming war. They found some very ancient texts in England speaking of an All War. They considered it their duty to safeguard weapons, because they didn’t trust the Academy or the Syndicate with certain items. But they also knew that one would come who would be a Catalyst, as they called it. They didn’t know if it would happen in their lifetimes, but that this person would have ties to Heaven and the Fae…” he trailed off, his silence significant.
I stared at him, taking it in, trying not to throw up. I had both of those things… “Is that why they really came here? Not just for the hourglass, but to gather stories on the Fae? To see if this person was already born, and perhaps building an army?”
Mallory nodded. “Aye.” He turned to me, face pained. “Then you were born. And… when you started growing so rapidly, and showed an affinity for Fae magic, while also showing the spark for a wizard, they changed their plans slightly. I won’t say that they presumed you to be the Catalyst they had sought, but they didn’t discount the possibility, either, knowing how prophecies can sometimes be self-fulfilling. If they hadn’t heard about this Catalyst in the first place, they may never have come to the Fae World…”
I nodded, my throat dry. “And I would never have been born…” I finished for him.
Sensing my distress, Mallory produced a hip flask of booze. I snatched it from his hands eagerly, uncorking it and taking a whiff. Absinthe. Some of the good stuff from back home, judging by the smell. I took a very liberal drink. Then I motioned for him to continue.
He took a drink, staring down at the flask, reliving the memories. “You were such a curious child. You and Talon came home scraped, bruised, and bloody so often that it became expected. Talon taught you the lessons of his people. Of war. And you, all by yourself, began to show talents at tapping into the powers of the land itself. You had the spark of a wizard, but were too young to – or simply chose not to – reveal your skills at wielding it. But born and raised in this place, you displayed… darker tendencies. This was why your parents began to trust me. They wanted to give you time, to see what kind of person you would become, knowing you needed to learn powers here before going back to your world.
“Because if you were raised as a human, and then learned about your Fae talents, they feared the power would go to your head. They considered it more natural for you to learn it from youth, from living it. And then, if they didn’t consider you a danger, to wipe your mind and take you back home, to experience life as a wizard, raised in your world, with no living memories of this place. Until a later date, when they hoped that the two would combine, and not corrupt you too severely.”
I shook my head very slowly, mentally forcing myself not to lash out with my power. Part of me now understood my parents’ position, but part of me still hated them for it. “And if they decided I was dangerous…” I muttered, knowing the answer, “Uncle Pan would take care of it…”
Mallory sighed, nodding his head in shame. He didn’t dare meet my eyes as he spoke. “I won’t justify it, but consider the fact that there was quite literally no one like you. No Manling who wielded Fae magic. Raised in their world of might is right, where power literally called out to you from the very land itself. Like you were a god. Power corrupts…”
“And absolute power corrupts, absolutely…” I finished the saying.
We sat in silence for a time. I let the anger wash over me, feeling the elements around me calling out, begging to be used by me. In order to kill Pan.
I listened to them with an open mind.
And I let their wild, instinctive power roll through me, fueling me. I let the power build up, and then I lashed out at the ocean. A wave of invisible force – a merging of all the Fae magic coursing through my heart – struck the ocean far below like a meteor, sending a geyser up into the air, easily a thousand feet tall.
I let out a shaky breath, and then turned to Mallory, who was watching me warily. “And what kind of man have you deemed me to be?” I managed.
A slow smile crept over his face. “The man worthy to receive a final birthday gi
ft from your parents…” he said, sounding very sad. He pulled out a cube of solid rock, the size of his fist. He set it on the ground before me, and muttered a word.
A stone block the size of my torso suddenly sat before me. I gasped in disbelief. It had to have weighed hundreds of pounds, and Pan had carried it around in his pocket?
I met his eyes. “I know not what it is, but that I promised to either give you a… blade through the heart, or this block if you ever returned here…” he admitted, sounding disgusted with himself. “Your parents said the Catalyst would need it someday…”
Instead of inspecting the stone – although I was itching to do just that – I closed my eyes, reaching out to the powers around me. They replied, eager to be used again, especially after tasting destruction only moments before, even though it had only been to make a splash in the ocean. Instead, I used those powers to assess Mallory. “Give me your hand,” I heard myself say.
He reached out, clasping mine, and let out a deep breath. I called out to Wylde, checking that he had heard everything tonight, because he had been strangely silent. In shock. My parents had essentially broken me into two entirely different people. Leaving part of me here as a wandering spirit, full of memories and unable to inhabit a body. That spirit had wandered the Fae world, likely learning, studying, watching, growing into a man – but a man with no morals.
And no body.
When I had come here the first time, we had been reunited, and had both struggled to control the other. Only through a joint agreement had we realized we could be stronger together. And then we learned the truth tonight.
That we had always been the same person. Victims of a trauma.
War Hammer: A Nate Temple Supernatural Thriller Book 8 (The Temple Chronicles) Page 20