TWENTY- ONE
SINJIN
It felt strange to be back in the Underworld council, albeit in a different location. Though the trip to Faery had not been an epically long one , it had felt far longer than it was, and time worked differently in Faery to how it did here, as did distances, making me unsure how far we had gone and how long it had taken to get there. Before that, I had been in Africa, and there had been barely a day’s breather between the two quests. It seemed like a
very long time since I had sat around a table with these people and I took a moment to savor it.
Though they were not all people I ‘liked’ exactly, I had come to respect them, and the last few days with Chevalier had taught me something about those I struggled to like , but beside whom I fought.
There was Klassje; we had not yet had a chance to catch up , but I was glad to see her and she looked happy, cozied up to Chevalier. I did not think the fop and I would ever be friends in the strictest sense of the word, but I now understood more what Klassje saw in the annoying French Fae. He was ridiculous, but he was brave and honest and strong, and those were qualities I could grudgingly admire. We had been through something together, he and I, and it could only bring us closer. He still did not know, and I would never tell him, that I had beaten him bloody in a fight and then choked the life from him. Of course, it had not actually been him, but the sight of his staring, terrified eyes would remain with me, and I might call up the memory when I became angry.
Odran was another I had re-evaluated somewhat during our period away, though in his case, I thought it was because he had genuinely changed. He had always been proud and expansive, but there was a fresh maturity to him that I welcomed. Now he was no longer king, he had become worthy of the title, and I looked forward to seeing what he might do when this was over. If any of us were still standing, that is. He sat quiet and stoic at the Queen’s side, the flower Fae flitting about him and perching on his head and shoulders.
Then there was the queen herself, Jolie. A woman I was proud to call my queen as well as my friend. As monarch and as mum, she carried herself with extraordinary grace and surpassing wisdom.
It seemed insane to me that she had married Randall of the clan Boring, but even the wisest of women is entitled to one mistake and love usually encourages us to make at least that. Besides, had it not been for Randall the Wanker, then there would be no Emma, and that would be a terrible loss. There must have been something to the man for his seed to produce a child such as her.
I looked forward to the days when she and her cousin, Rowan, would play together. And thinking of that future made me swear I would make it happen.
Mercedes and Mathilda sat together, ever the odd couple of magic.
From what I had learned in my brief time back, they had both played key roles in keeping the people of the Underworld safe during this time of crisis. Bryn had mentioned that she had spoken to Mathilda but she did not elaborate on the topic of conversation. Mathilda’s past was a closed book and I could identify with that. She might have left that past behind, but it had informed the woman she had become; dark deeds can lead to bright outcomes.
I knew that well.
Of all the friend and comrades I was glad to see on my return, there were few I was happier to catch up with than Damek and his girlfriend Dayna, the werewolf. Before I had left for Faery , I had asked them to step up as protectors of Kinloch Kirk, to be faithful to Jolie and to the Underworld. Though Kinloch Kirk had fallen, the pair had done great work, and Jolie had conspicuously sung their praises in the way they had helped with the evacuation, risking their own lives to make sure the elderly and vulnerable made it to the safety of Kinloch Broch.
These were my people.
They were my friends, my comrades, my colleagues. They were my family. To be back among them was a blessing. To be among them that at a time such as this was… it was an opportunity. No one wishes for war (that is not entirely true; the world is full of bloodthirsty idiots, but no one worthwhile wishes for war), but when war comes, then you get to stand by your people and show your worth. Vampires think about death quite a bit. In the end, everyone falls, even Sinjin Sinclair, Master Vampire. The best that any of us can hope is that when our time comes, it will be among friends and for a good cause.
Jolie called the council to order. “This is going to be a quick one. We have been given a window of opportunity that we cannot pass up and it only remains to decide how to use it. Thanks to Sinjin and Dureau, and to our new friends, the Flower Fae,” the mirror portal into Faery is clear. Luce is bound to reinforce it soon, but right now, we can get people out. It goes without saying that the elderly, the children and other vulnerable members of our community are already making the journey into Faery. The flower Fae have generously offered to escort them to the Seelie Court, where Odran has assured me they will get a hospitable welcome from his friend Finvarra. The question is; do we abandon Kinloch Broch altogether?”
Around the room, people looked at each other uncertainly. What was the right course of action ? If we stayed, then we would be no better off than before, staring down the barrel of Luce’s siege with little chance of escape. But if we left… then we abandoned our home. Where would we go?
“If we leave,” Jolie went on, “then maybe we can regroup and attack Luce. But we have no place in which to regroup, no stronghold to defend—this is the last we have. Luce will still outnumber us and I doubt our ability to recruit more people to our cause. Odran?”
Odran shook his head. “Ah dinnae believe the Seelie Court will help oos. An’ in this case, Ah cannae blame them. ‘Tis nae their fight, an’ if they pick a fight with Luce, they start a war in which many a Fae will die.”
Jolie nodded. “I do not expect the Fae to fight with us, and we are grateful to those who have chosen to do so. Besides, all this pre-supposes that we would have the time to get all of our people to the Seelie Court and plead our case. That seems very unlikely.
If we run, then Luce will pursue us with his army. He will be merciless. The Fae may be angry that he’s invaded their realm, but I don’t think they’ll do anything about it if he’s only there to destroy us.” Jolie paused, and I could sense the strain in her, the weight of responsibility weighing down unfairly upon her.
“I have looked at this from every way I can,” she continued, “And I don’t see any way we can win if we leave Kinloch Broch—doing so would just make us vulnerable to Luce. But,” she sighed, “short of a miracle, I’m not sure we can win from within the Broch either. We’re trapped here. If we flee and split up, then many of us might yet survive.”
“But the Underworld would fall,” said Chevalier, darkly.
“Yes,” nodded Jolie.
Odran spoke, and it was the more thoughtful, considered Odran.
“Whit do ye wish, mah queen? The council, an’ the whole o’ the Oonderworld is with ye.”
Jolie looked up, her face as filled with nobility and grace as I had ever seen it. “I don’t want to leave my kingdom. If I’m to die, I would like it to be here, defending my home and my people.
If I were to escape, then I’d spend the rest of my life knowing I walked away and gave my kingdom into the hands of Luce. Into the hands of evil. I know I’m offering you no choice at all, and if there are any who wish to leave then I won’t stop them and they go with my blessing. But, I intend to stay and fight to the last; to die if I have to, but on my own terms. If Luce is to take the Underworld, then he’ll have to fight for it.”
The cheer that went around the room could have brought the mountain tumbling down around us, and I cheered with them.
I am not one for empty sentiment, but I felt every word Jolie said in my heart and in my bones. I did not want to walk away.
But what about Rowan?
#
BRYN
The verdict of the council had been unanimous and the cheers within the chamber had been echoed by all the people of the Underworld on hearing the decision. They we
re not all fighters, but they all recognized when something was worth fighting for. It wasn’t fair, this wasn’t how it was supposed to end. But you
played the hand Fate dealt you, and we would fight. We might be defeated but we would go down fighting.
At the queen’s request, Sinjin and I stayed after the council had broken up and Jolie walked over to us, a sad expression on her face.
There’s a good chance most of us won’t survive this battle against Luce, she started in my mind. You saw his numbers.
I did.
You have to go . Her words landed heavy in my head.
I don’t want to …
Bryn, I know you would never willingly run from a fight, and you’re not running from this one. You’re protecting your little girl.
Rowan .
“Rowan,” she said out loud, a smile spreading across her face on a day when there was little to smile about.
“If I have not said it before,” commented Sinjin, standing behind me, “I really hate it when you two do this.”
“I was telling Bryn she has to go,” explained Jolie. “And that is an order.” She took a breath. “Both of you have to go.”
Sinjin’s face showed his uncertainty. “You need me here, my queen,” he began.
“Impressive a warrior though you are, Sinjin,” chided Jolie, “the presence of one extra man won’t make a difference.”
Sinjin drew himself up in affronted indignance. “When that one extra man is Sinjin Sinclair, Master Vampire, I think you will find it makes a large difference.”
“Enough to change the outcome of the battle?” asked Jolie.
Sinjin deflated a little. “Probably not.”
“Then I would prefer the manifest talents of Sinjin Sinclair to be used in protecting my sister, my niece… and my daughter.”
“Emma?” I repeated.
I stared at my sister. It sounds stupid, but I hadn’t really thought about what this meant to her personally. She was queen and maybe I had some silly idea that her position would somehow spare her any of this. Or maybe I’d just been unwilling to think
about it. But Jolie was thinking ahead and she had no intention of leaving.
Jolie nodded. “I want you to take her with you and Sinjin, I order you to continue playing the role of protector to the queen’s own.”
“You can’t think of staying,” I said as I shook my head. “You have to come with us.”
“I can’t do that,” Jolie said, taking a deep breath. “I am the queen, therefore, I have to fight beside my people.”
“I should be here too,” Sinjin argued.
Jolie looked at him. “I don’t want to repeat myself, Sinjin. I need you to protect my bloodline.”
He frowned but held his tongue.
“Go get Rowan,” said Jolie. “We’ve already evacuated the most vulnerable and the flower Fae are escorting them to the Seelie Castle. You should still be able to catch up.”
“Sinjin,” I turned to him, “will you get Emma ready ?”
His blue eyes flicked between us. “I will.”
As soon as he left, I rounded on Jolie. “This cuts both ways, if I have to leave with Rowan then you have to…”
“Oh shut up!”
I was stunned to silence by the outburst.
There were tears in Jolie’s eyes as she spoke again. “You think I wouldn’t leave if I could, Bryn? You think I want to say goodbye to my daughter, knowing she will grow up without her parents? But Rand won’t leave me and I can’t leave my people. I’m the one who decided we would stay and fight, I’m the one who made the great big speech. I have to stay. So Rand has to stay. Now will you please, for once in your life, do as I ask you without arguing?”
I hugged her, tight enough to squeeze the breath from her. Most of my life I hadn’t even known I had a sister. When I’d met her, I could never have guessed at how close we would become, to the point where the thought of losing her was like having an arm torn off.
#
I blundered from the council chamber, feeling as if my heart was gone, leaving a vacant hole in my chest. This couldn’t be happening. There had to be something I could do. I just… I
couldn’t leave my sister here to face Luce’s army. Not when they were as numerous as they were! My sister’s forces would be decimated!
“Bryn.” The hissed word came from the shadows in the corridor outside the council chamber and Rand stepped out into the light, cautious not to be seen by his wife.
“What is it?”
“I need your help.”
“With what?”
Rand took a deep sigh. “I want you to help me drug my wife.”
TWENTY- TWO
BRYN
For a few seconds, I stood there blinking at Rand as if he were talking Greek.
“I’m sorry… you want me to what ?”
“She won’t leave,” said Rand with a casual shrug but his eyes were panic stricken. “She’s Queen and she’s determined not to leave her people to die while she makes good her escape. Even though we both know that’s not what she’ll be doing. I swear to you, Bryn,” he took me by the shoulder, “I would let her stay, I would be glad to fight and die beside her—at least we could go together—if it weren’t for Emma. This isn’t about special treatment for my wife, it’s about special treatment for my daughter, and I won’t apologize for that. Jolie can hate me all she likes afterwards, but I am not going to let my little girl be robbed of her mum. Not when I can prevent it.”
I took this in. It sounded like extraordinary steps to go to, but also like the ve ry normal behavior of a loving father. I hadn’t been a parent long, but I knew I would do anything to prevent Rowan suffering, that was all Rand was doing. And I was also convinced he was thinking of Jolie, as well. Rand might sacrifice himself, but he would never sacrifice Jolie.
“What do you need me to do?”
Rand relaxed. “You’re a good sister.”
“You’re a good father.” I didn’t say it often enough, but it was true.
Rand shrugged. “She’ll never forgive me for saving her life.”
“Probably not,” I said with a laugh.
#
Back in my room, Sinjin looked up as I walked in. “What’s wrong?”
“Everything.”
He came to me and held me and stroked my hair.
“Rand asked me to drug Jolie.”
He nodded. “Quite a good idea and I was thinking along the lines of something similar, truth be told. Emma deserves her mum and you deserve your sister and we will need a queen to rebuild Kinloch.”
I nodded and breathed out as I thought of what I was doing—
running from the fight and drugging my sister in the process.
“Have you got Rowan’s stuff ready?”
Sinjin surveyed the mountainous heap of baby essentials. “I believe so, unless she requires a kitchen sink. Our child would appear to be quite high maintenance.”
“Takes after her father,” I observed with a smile I didn’t feel.
“Can you throw some things in a bag for me?”
What if Rand didn’t survive? What if I had to tell her as much when Jolie came to? What if she never forgave me?
No, I told myself. She will forgive me because she’ll have her daughter. And she will take comfort in Emma.
I looked up at Sinjin. “I’ll meet you in the Mirror Cavern. I’ve got to go drug my sister.”
#
I found Mathilda busying herself in her room, which always doubled as a workshop where she could work on one spell or another.
“Aren’t you packing?” I asked, distracted from my purpose.
Mathilda frowned. “Why would I be packing?”
“You’re staying?”
“Of course,” Mathilda smiled. “Why would I leave?”
“Well, you’re…” my words petered out.
“I can be of help,” explained Mathilda. “Remember, Kinloch Kirk became my home when I had nowhere else
to go—it would be very ungrateful of me to walk out now. Besides, if I go back into
Faery, then I am that person again, and I would rather die.
Goodness knows I’ve seen enough death, it will be intriguing to experience it from the other side.”
She genuinely did look intrigued by the prospect, but I could feel myself starting to cry again. I wasn’t a crier by nature, but I had a hunch that in the coming days I was going to learn.
Mathilda gave me a hug. “Don’t cry for me, Bryn. I’ve had a long life and for the most part rather a good one. Now, what can I do for you?”
I took a deep breath. “I need a quick -acting sleeping potion.”
“Ah, for Jolie,” Mathilda nodded, apparently unconcerned.
“Has Rand spoken to you?” I asked.
“No, but it doesn’t take a giant intellect to work it out,”
smiled Mathilda. “You and Sinjin, I’m sure, would be excellent guardians to Emma, but she’s old enough to feel the loss of her mother and no one wants to see a child go through that. If you and Rand hadn’t stepped up, then I suspect someone else in the Broch would have.”
She picked up a small green bottle with a white ribbon tied around its stem and passed it to me. “It’s colored so don’t mix it with water. Herbal tea would be best.”
I took the bottle and looked suspiciously at the old Fae. “Should I read anything into the fact that you had this ready to go and on the table waiting?”
Mathilda had a twinkle in her eye as she replied. “I don’t know what you mean. That’s quite a thing to accuse Mercedes and me of.”
“I didn’t mention Mercedes.”
“Well there you go then,” nodded Mathilda. “Your accusations don’t have a leg to stand on.”
“Thanks Mathilda.”
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