Hecate stared at him for a moment, then nodded. “The Earth Mother is nurturing and sustains us all, yes. But she’s also the force of the hurricane, the devastation of the earthquake. Gaia tore the world apart and put it back together again in a new mosaic.”
“What did you do when you realized what had happened?” Greta asked. “Freya once told us that when Gaia rained her anger on Midgard, the Elder Gods decided it was time to return from Valhalla and Asgard.”
Hecate nodded. “We came back into the world, and when we saw the other pantheons were doing the same, we convened and agreed to form the Convocation of Gods. We claimed the Peninsula of the Gods, and other spots around the world. We divide our time between countries and continents. We adapted, and as the cities rose out of the ashes, we shifted to match their nature, to remain accessible.”
She smiled. “You see, times change. The earth changes. But the Elder Gods continue, and so do the people of this world, be they Were or shifter, Fae or human. Or—now—Theosian. We all continue, even though we may have to alter our plans.”
Without us realizing it, Hecate had eased the tension in the room. None of us knew where we were headed, none of us knew what would happen next, but she had given us the one thing that forever kept people going: hope.
She stood. “Leave today. Go to the Arbortariam. Take Kendall and Tyrell with you. Make your way back to Seattle. By the time you arrive, expect Lyon to be in control. There will be so much chaos, no one should notice you slipping in.” She smiled.
“How long do you think before one side wins out?”
She gave me a wry look. “Not long. Lyon and the Order of the Black Mist are far better at causing havoc than the Regent is at controlling it. There’s one key to remember during the upcoming battles. The powers that be—the current governments—are so arrogant that they’ve grown bloated and lazy. That will be their downfall.”
She crossed to the door, pausing to glance over her shoulder. “We must stop them—and Lyon—before Gaia takes action. There’s no guarantee that if she shifts the world again, she might very well decide that the planet would be better off without humans, or Weres, or any of us. And if she comes to that conclusion, she has the power to wipe everyone and everything off the face of the earth.”
“Before you go, is this just happening here? What about the rest of the nation? The rest of the world?” I had an awful feeling that Seattle hadn’t been singled out as a target.
“The world is poised under a hanging knife. I honestly am not sure what’s going on, but we should know more soon. As for the Conglomerate, the government only holds onto power because it focuses on the areas it can control. Do you realize how quickly revolution would occur if the Conglomerate tried to force its way into the Wild Wood? If Seattle falls, they’ll start shoring up their other cities. They aren’t going to send out rescue missions. Seattle may be a port city, but there’s always Frisco-Bay, and why risk everything when you have a backup?”
With a wave, she vanished.
Jason was the first to speak. “She’s right. The Conglomerate may be greedy, but they know when to throw in the towel. If Lyon wins, they’ll back off, at least until they can figure out a way to retake Seattle with the least amount of loss. They value the real estate and products far more than the people, so they won’t care who gets hurt in the process.”
“Hecate wants us to leave for the Arbortariam tonight. I suggest we talk to Kendall and Tyrell, and get moving.” I glanced at the clock. It was going on nine a.m. “I want to be on the road by ten. If the storm subsides, we should make it to the bridge over Idyll Inlet by ten tonight at the latest. Maybe faster, if we keep to a good pace.”
“Then we’d better hurry up—” Jason stopped at a sudden commotion from the hall. There were shouts and the sound of feet running along the hardwood floors. He jumped up and peeked out, then motioned for us to wait while he disappeared around the door.
I wasn’t always good at following directions. I waited for a moment, then followed. As I leaned over the railing, looking down over the main floor of the inn, I saw a figure sprawled at the bottom of the stairs. It was Dorn, and by the position of his neck, he wasn’t ever going to stand up again. Kendall and Tyrell were by his side, both of them looking horrified.
I pushed through the crowd that had gathered on the steps, catching up to Jason. Tera was kneeling beside him. She looked up at us, shaking her head.
“What happened? Did he trip?” But I knew full well what had happened. Odin had struck. But I wasn’t going to make any big announcement.
“I don’t know. He was heading downstairs in front of us and it was as though a shadow moved between us. Dorn lurched forward and went tumbling down the stairs. I don’t know if he tripped or what.” Kendall was shaking her head.
“Well, he’s gone, poor fellow.” I motioned to the pair of them. “Come on. Tera’s servants will take care of him. We need to talk to the pair of you.” I glanced up at Jason, who nodded. “It’s important.”
They followed us up the stairs, and Tera tagged along, leaving Dorn to her servants. Kendall was pale and drawn; Tyrell, grim and silent. We returned to the room, where they glanced at the rest of us.
“Please, sit. I know you’ve had a shock, but we need to tell you something about Dorn.” As Hans brought in chairs for them, I turned to Jason. “Why don’t you run down and examine the body after they carry him away? Find out if he was wearing a feed? If so, disable it and tell them to leave the body out in the woods for the wolves. We don’t want anybody tracing him here. We might be too late, but if we’re lucky, he was just taking notes to send back to them.”
“Right. Be back as soon as I can.” Jason slipped out the door, shutting it behind him.
“What on earth’s going on?” Tera asked.
We told the three of them what we had found out. “So Dorn was a spy for the Devani.”
“Well, I can tell you this much. If he was wearing a live feed, it failed the moment he set foot in the village,” Tera said. “This village, like most of the Fae villages out in the Wild, mutes all electronics until we give the access code. We’re well-versed in keeping the Conglomerate out of our business.”
“A spy. That explains a number of things,” Kendall said, her eyes widening. “We wondered why he was so twitchy when we mentioned returning to the Peninsula of the Gods. He kept saying we should go talk to the Regent first.”
“That would have been a one-way trip for both of you,” I said. “I hate to imagine what would have been waiting for you.”
Tyrell rubbed his chin. “So you think Odin pushed him down the stairs?”
“If not Odin himself, then he engineered it. At least that’s one worry off our hands. And both of you—your gods are staying here.” I told them the rest of what Hecate had revealed about the Elder Gods choosing sides. “This will change the face of how the Elder Gods play into our lives. And how they work with one another.”
“I dread to think of the pantheons splitting into factions, but that’s none of our say. But I’m glad we’re staying. I want to fight for my home.” Tyrell straightened his shoulders. “I’m in—whatever you need me to do, just ask. The Regent and his golden dogs have to be stopped.”
“We’re not just fighting a corrupt government. Have you heard of the Order of the Black Mist?”
Neither had. While we waited for Jason, Greta and the others gathered our gear together and I filled Kendall and Tyrell in on Lyon and the Black Mist. By the time I finished, we were almost ready to go.
Kendall looked dazed, but determined. “We’ll gather our gear and meet you back here in a few minutes.” They headed to their room.
As we sorted out what would go into packs on the horses, I decided to forgo the cloak. I layered on two shirts and slid into a clean pair of pants I’d borrowed from Tera—they fit me better than Elan’s—and then zipped my leather jacket snug. It made it easier to slide Xan’s sheath over my shoulder.
I strapped my dagger t
o my left leg, on the outside of the pants. I still couldn’t use my whip, at least I had easy access to my other weapons. Tera had offered me a pair of snow goggles, which would keep my vision clear, and a cap. I pulled on my boots and a pair of gloves and I was ready to go by the time Kendall and Tyrell returned with their things.
Jason dashed up the stairs shortly behind them, and we were ready to head out. We broke the news to Shevron and Leonard—who was pissed as hell—that they would be headed to Verdanya, and then hit the road.
Tera had given us plenty of food to eat along the way—thick sandwiches and containers of hot soup and coffee. We left shortly after ten, and by noon, it felt as though we hadn’t ever set eyes on Eleveanor. The snow had stopped falling but a cold wind bit into our bones, and I regretted my decision about the cloak. It was packed deep in the saddlebags, so I decided to just tough it out.
By one, we found the road and the traveling grew easier. We were out in the open—the road was a two-lane highway—and made faster time. On the downside, the lack of vegetation and close trees opened us up to the wind. I wrapped a scarf over my head, around my neck and my face, leaving just enough of a slit to see through. I was pretty sure we were in prime hypothermia weather and so I tried to walk as fast as I could to keep the blood flowing.
The road was built up with snow and ice, but it was easier than cutting cross-country. Nobody talked. We were all too focused on keeping our balance.
“Gaia’s having one hell of a party,” I muttered as another strong side wind caught me and almost knocked me off my feet. I staggered against the horse that I was walking next to, and steadied myself. The mare whinnied softly, turning to nudge me with her muzzle. I patted her nose and found an apple in my pocket, which I fed to her.
“She is at that. Have you noticed the winters are getting colder?” Elan asked. She had fallen back to walk beside me. We were building a friendship of sorts, and I had gone from thinking of her as aloof to enjoying her company.
From a few steps ahead, Jason turned around. “They are. I’ve heard we’re on the verge of a little ice age. The climatologists all say that in another fifty years, famine will be widespread across parts of the Russian Empire and the Asiatic Union. Also, the Icelandia Glacial Fields are encroaching into the Canadian Empire.”
“I wonder how long it will last.” I didn’t have a lot of time to pay attention to the meteorological patterns of the world.
“They’re speculating it could move into a major ice age in another thousand years. But the little ice age? At least a century until the world warms again. Unless Gaia has other ideas.” He fell silent, walking in step with us.
Elan cleared her throat after a moment. “I wish I could show you Verdanya. I’d like you both to meet my people. Or rather, to see a true representation, rather than what you experienced with Shay and Tera.”
“I’d like very much to visit,” Jason said, and once again, I could sense a spark of hope. But this time, it didn’t fall on deaf ears.
Elan smiled. “Then after we’re done, after this mess is taken care of, why don’t we take a vacation there? I know by then I’ll be able to use it.” By her smile and the warmth in her voice, I guessed she had made up her mind.
I took hold of the horse’s bridle and slowed my pace, allowing them to walk on ahead. Once they were several yards in front of me, I whispered into the horse’s ear, “You thinking what I’m thinking?”
The horse whinnied and nudged me with her massive muzzle. I laughed and patted her head.
We met with no cars, nor any obstructions as we walked through the afternoon and into the evening. We stopped briefly for lunch at around three, but otherwise kept to a steady pace and were well into the Edge. The difference was subtle but noticeable. The Wild Wood’s forests loomed large and dark to the east, while the Edge was more open, with younger trees and more open grassland and meadows—albeit covered with snow.
As we passed a farmhouse setting in the middle of what looked to be prime agricultural land, I slowed. Lights flickered within and smoke rose from the chimney. I gazed at the idyllic snow-covered scenes, wondering what it must be like to live that kind of a life. I had never aspired to be a country mouse, as an old book once put it, but here, in the midst of winter, as we struggled through the cold, I thought it would be lovely to stop in and drink hot cocoa and maybe have a bite of stew or fresh bread. Instead, my own life seemed bleak and ashen—filled with monsters and battles, with fire and bone and blood.
“What are you thinking about?”
Startled, I looked around to find that Tyrell had joined me. He was pleasant enough, though I was wary given how little we really knew about Kendall and him.
“Oh, just wondering what it’s like to live there.” I nodded toward the house. “To be a farmer…or a farmer’s wife. To not always be on the run, chasing monsters.”
His gaze flickered toward the farm. “I don’t know. I doubt if any Theosian knows, unless they’re directly yoked to an agricultural god. Your days are spent in battle. My days are spent steeped in music and dance. Yet I also learned to fight. If I’m ever maimed, the Dagda will retire me, and set me aside. All Theosians belonging to the Dagda must be in their prime when young, and entertaining when old.”
I bit my lip. “Do you like your work? What do you do?”
“I’m a singer with the Pacific Sound Opera. All of the Dagda’s Theosians must have perfect pitch. Most of my time is spent in training my voice. I’m not allowed to shout or scream. I can’t smoke or breathe in anything that might harm my throat.” He cocked his head. “The funny thing is, I love music so much, but I don’t like that it’s my business. It makes it a chore. But we do their will, you know.” After a pause, he asked, “And you? Do you enjoy your work?”
I thought about the question. It wasn’t one I often had to answer.
“I do, yes. But it’s hard, demanding. I work out four times a week, for hours. Lives rely on me. If I don’t catch an Abom in time, it will kill, and not just kill but suck out the souls and feed on them. Aboms are terrifying creatures. If I can transfer them to the Crossroads to fight them there, it’s easier, but then I’m wrung out for days. I’m lucky to make it back here without passing out. Jason’s had to carry me home more than once after a fight, when I’ve been too weak.”
That made me think of Tommy Tee. A street musician in Seattle, he was one of the Broken. He lived his life in an Opish haze. At least he was currently living in UnderBarrow. I missed him. More than that, I missed my routine.
“We both have our trials.” Tyrell waved toward the house as we left it behind. “It would be fun to try on a life like that, like trying on a new outfit, but I don’t think either one of us is cut out for it. Do you?”
I laughed, shaking my head. “No, I think you’re quite right.”
The conversation moved on to other things as we marched through the night. The storm picked up. We were all weary, but shortly before ten, reflectors flickered in the glow of our flashlights. To either side of a one-car road, they marked the juncture where the path toward the Arbortariam split off. We silently turned west, and headed toward the bridge.
Chapter 8
Another half hour saw us to the bridge. There appeared to be no guards, but the moment we set foot on the cobblestone walkway, a tangle of winter holly wove across the entrance, so thick and prickly that it was useless to try to slip through it.
I looked around the sides of the covered bridge until I found a bell. It simply read “Ring Me” over the top, so I reached out and pulled the chain. A faint tinkle sounded, barely audible over the winds. But seconds later, a figure appeared.
“Zhan!” I was never so happy to see a familiar face in my life. The hedgemite was leaner than Tam and branches rose from his head like antlers, surrounded by long shining locks. He was quick and silent, and as he approached, he inclined his head, a smile breaking out on his face.
“Fury, we meet again.” He spied Tam. “And Bonny brother. You bring fr
iends.”
“Zhan, we must talk to Jerako. Hecate said she would send word.” I didn’t want to seem pushy, but I wanted out of the storm. It wasn’t like the Arbortariam was covered, but there might be some sort of shelter. “We’ve been on the road since early morning.”
The hedgemite considered my request. I waited, silent. I knew better than to hurry these creatures—or their masters. After a moment, he took another look at the rest of our party, then held up one finger.
“Wait here. I’ll be quick.” He headed across the bridge, blurring into the gate of holly and vanishing as he passed through it.
“A hedgemite,” Elan said, her voice low.
“I thought they were extinct,” Laren chimed in.
“They aren’t. The Greenlings saved their race. I doubt if there are many of their kind left, but I like them and hope that they can make it.” I turned to Tam. “Do you think they’re Fae?”
“Oh, they’re part of the Fae, all right, but they aren’t like most of us. They’re almost like a cross between nature itself and Fae—they’re not vegetable matter like the Greenlings, but they’re so entwined with the natural world that they would die if taken into the city.” Tam slid his arm around my shoulders. “I think that’s what happened to them during the Weather Wars.”
“I don’t think I’d like living in that kind of a world.” The thought of living in a world where most of the land was consigned to concrete and glass made me sad. Seattle was a city, but it was bordered by nature, and even within the city, there was the Wandering Ivy and the Sandspit and the Bogs. Gaia snuck her tendrils in everywhere.
“I don’t think we’ll ever face that possibility.” Tam paused as Zhan returned.
The hedgemite returned, sporting a smile. He motioned for us to follow him. The holly branches unwound, pulling back to allow us passage. We followed Zhan, with Tam and me in the front, Hans and Greta behind us, Jason, Kendall, and Tyrell next, and in the back, Elan and Laren. I glanced back as a whisper of noise signaled the branches re-weaving the barrier.
Fury Awakened (Fury Unbound Book 3) Page 11