by Nesa Miller
Freeblood walked around the throne, his gaze locked with hers. His fingers danced over her skin, sending vibrations through them both. Faux waited in silence. He turned to the demon girl posed seductively in the chair, her eyes full of mischief. A smirk lit his lips as he crouched next to the chair and trailed a finger along her perfect cheek.
“It's not often I find a kindred spirit.” He took her hands in his, pulling her up with him, his eyes caressing her face, her lips, and traveling down the sumptuous body that drove him to insanity. “And what a spirit I have found.” He held her tightly to him as he spun them around, making her giggle at the ending dip. “Mom and Dad should be home soon.” In complete control, his hand glided up her back, bringing her to him. A snap of his arms pressed her against his body. “Shall we make plans for a hellish homecoming? Surely the two of us have been left alone far too long.”
“You don't suppose they've come to trust us, do you?” she asked, more than a little breathless.
He spun them again and laughed. “Dar and Etain, trust us? You must be mad, woman.”
15
Conveyance of Swords
The sound of laughter drifted on the breeze as the two travelers came into the courtyard. Etain smiled, eyes bright. “I haven't seen the children in so long! I hope they remember me.”
Seth, the oldest of Inferno and Spirit's offspring, yelled at their approach. “Etain! Linq!” he hollered, waving his arms, leading the charge. “Hallo!”
Three-year-old Tegan, the youngest, did her best to keep up with the older children, pumping her chubby little legs as fast as she could. “Tain! Ink!” she shrilled, laughing when she fell. She picked herself up, jumping and squealing with excitement, letting Etain and Linq bridge the gap.
Etain waved. “Hey, kiddos!” She and Linq suffered through an onslaught of boisterous greetings and hugs. Seth, Molly, and Dylan, ranging from age five to nine, happy and full of questions, kept close on their heels as they walked toward the back garden. Etain scooped the smallest of the four into her arms. “Hi, Tegan. You've gotten so big.”
“Tain,” she giggled, taking Etain’s face into her small hands. “Me miss you.”
“I missed you, too,” Molly yelled, ensuring she wasn’t overlooked. “You didn’t say ‘bye.”
“I'm sorry about that, Molly. It wasn't that I didn't want to see you.” She stroked the little girl's soft brown hair. “You know, you have a new uncle. His name is Dar.”
Molly’s blue eyes lit up. “Mama says he’s handsome.”
“Ugh, girls,” Seth grumbled, making a face. “Da says he's a great warrior and has two black swords. Can I see them, Auntie Tain? Can I?”
His little brother joined in the chant. “Me, too. Please? Can we? Can we?”
Inferno walked up. “Good to see you back. Spirit’s in the kitchen.” He took Tegan from Etain's arms and set her on the ground. “Get on, kiddies. Have ya seen the dogs?”
“No, Da,” Seth answered, frowning. “We been looking, but can’t find ‘em.” His siblings mimicked his frown.
“It’s getting dark. If they don’t show up during the night, we’ll look again in the morning. Time to get ready for bed.”
“But, Da…,” Seth started to argue.
“Get to it, boy. There’ll be plenty of time to talk over breakfast.”
The children stomped into the house, grumbling amongst themselves.
Etain waited until they were out of hearing distance before she asked about the search for the dogs. Watching his small army of imps disappear around the corner, Inferno told them the hounds, as well as Zorn, had been missing since the night of her wedding.
“No sign at all?” Linq asked. Inferno shook his head.
“Oh, Inferno.” She touched his arm.
“Don’t worry, lass. Zorn can take care of himself, and I’m sure they’re together. They’ll show up soon.”
In the kitchen, Spirit gave Etain and Linq a hug, and offered each a whiskey to warm their insides, which they accepted with grateful smiles, then led the way to the living room. Inferno followed, a mug of ale in his hand, asking why they’d not sent news ahead, saying he would’ve met them in his Hummer and saved them the walk.
Linq answered before Etain had the chance. “We didn’t walk. One of us has a new task and is hell-bent on seeing it through as soon as possible.”
Sitting on a sofa close to the fire, Etain’s eye roll ended with a glare. Linq’s grin confirmed his strategic move, both knowing it would set Inferno on the warpath.
“Task?” Inferno asked, mug in hand.
May as well get it over with. “To find my brother. He’s alive.”
Brew sputtered out of Inferno’s mouth. “Your brother?” Using the back of his hand, he swiped at the golden beads in his beard. “Fucking hell.”
Etain wrapped both hands around her glass, hoping things wouldn’t go downhill. “They say he lives not far from here.”
“They?” he echoed, swatting at the dribble down his shirt.
“Alatariel and her wizards.” Etain kept an eye on him, wary of what he may do next.
“Damn elves. They couldn’t tell ya this five years ago?”
Linq answered on their behalf. “We thought Etain knew he was alive, but chose not to search him out because of the circumstances.”
“‘Because of the circumstances,’ he says.” Inferno turned on the elf with a disgruntled snort. “Could ya not ask? Do ya have any idea how this girl’s suffered, thinking her whole family dead?”
“Inferno, don’t yell at Linq. It’s not his fault.” Etain tried to smile. “Besides, there’s more to it.”
“Not much goes on with the elves that he isn’t in the middle of,” he said, jerking his mug at Linq, sloshing what little ale remained. “There’s no excuse for keepin’ ya in the dark all this time.”
Etain took a deep breath. “You should sit down.”
“For fuck’s sake. What else?”
“Love,” Spirit said, “let the girl talk. It’s best to know what we’re up against, rather than going off half-cocked.”
“Ain’t nothing half about me cock.” He set the mug down and crossed his arms over his chest. “And I’m damn happy to stand.”
“Then stand.” Etain downed the rest of her whiskey, stood, and walked around to the back of the sofa, strategically placing it and its twin between her and Inferno. “The night my parents were murdered, Robert told me to run, so I ran. At first, he was behind me.” Visions of that night raced through her head…the brutal murder of her parents, cut down before her eyes, and her brother’s attempts to drag her out of the car. She remembered the evil threatening to blast her head apart and how she ended up running for her life. The whiskey felt warm in her belly, giving her the courage to continue. “Since he didn’t come for me, I thought he was dead, too.”
“Hmph.” Inferno’s shocked expression changed to stubborn disbelief.
“Where’s he been all this time?” Spirit asked.
Inferno shifted. Etain brazenly gazed into the eyes burning into her. He knows it’s not good. “The assassin took my brother.” She bit her lip, unable to say the words.
Linq sighed. “The boy was taken to Midir.”
Inferno’s glare gravitated to the elf. “Are ya bloody daft, man?” He stormed around the sofas toward Etain, who moved a safe distance away. “After all we’ve been through. After all you’ve been through. I’m tellin’ ya, lass. Leave him be. He’s tainted. It won’t be the reunion yer hoping for.”
“He's…my…brother.” Etain fisted her hands at her sides. “I don't give a damn where he’s been. He's the only family I have left.”
“I suppose yer wanting to bring his soddin’ ward into me home?” Etain’s silence angered him further. “Goddamn it, Etain! For once, think of someone besides yerself! Children live here, and not just ours. What about me clan and their families?”
At that moment, the children rushed in, dressed for bed, cheeks rosy, full of stories, a
ll chattering at one time, telling tales of their adventures to find Ruby and Felix.
“A rabbit came from nowhere, Da!”
“Tegan saw it first.”
“Seth and Dylan tried to catch it.” Molly giggled.
Tegan laughed and danced around, singing, “Me first! Me first! My wabbit!”
The scowl on Inferno’s face melted into smiles for his children.
“The rabbit got away,” Seth said, looking from his da to Etain.
Spirit laughed, relieved by the intrusion. “Then we’ll have to make do with pot roast for tea tomorrow.”
Molly sidled up to Etain and grasped her hand. “Mum, can we stay up for a little while? Please?”
The other three echoed her plea. “Ya wee devils,” Inferno said. “Not tonight. We have grown up things to discuss. They’ll be here in the morning, ya can talk then.”
With the children tucked in their beds, Inferno revisited the previous conversation concerning Etain’s brother. “What does Dar have to say about all this?”
Etain ran a hand through her hair, shot a sideways glance at the elf, and returned Inferno’s gaze. “Dar’s busy with other things, right now.”
“He doesn’t know, does he?” Inferno barked, the color in his face rising. “Why am I not surprised?”
Sitting on the opposite sofa, Spirit leaned forward, placing a hand on Etain’s knee. “How is he?”
Etain did her best to ignore the looming threat at Spirit’s side. “Not well. Midir haunts him with his twisted lies. I hope the elves can help.”
“Was leaving him the right thing to do?” Worry lines creased Spirit’s forehead.
“I don’t know.” Etain looked away, staring into the fire. “Alatariel thought it best I leave. My being there seemed to make him worse.”
“I hope she’s right, lass.” Spirit squeezed her knee, tilting her head to catch her eye. “No matter what it may look like now, yer a comfort to him. If she's wrong, things could go bad for everyone.”
Etain met her gaze. “I have to believe we're doing what's best for him. In the meantime, I intend to find my brother.”
Inferno looked ready to burst out of his skin, but sighed. “What is it ya need me to do?”
Relieved by his resignation, Etain told him of her plans to take Dar’s black-bladed scimitars with her and the need of a scabbard that would hold both blades. Something she could strap across her back, but also be serviceable for Dar.
Inferno considered the request, rubbing his chin. “I’ll do some sketches before bed, but it’ll take a few days to make it. Are ya sure ya want to be taking both? They'll be safe enough here.”
“I know, but Dar's persnickety about his swords.”
“Hmph. I doubt his blades are on his mind,” Inferno said, motioning his wife over so he could sit. “Ya said yer brother’s not far. Where is he?”
“Deudraeth,” said Linq. “I think going the back way would work to our advantage.
“Aye,” Inferno agreed. “I’ll lend ya a couple of my best horses.”
“Where does that leave yer husband?” Inferno leaned back, crossing his arms.
“That leaves Dar to get well,” she snapped. “I don’t need him to find my brother.”
“No, just his blades,” he mumbled. “Ya have a lot to learn about being married, girl. Ya’d be better off going back to yer husband and let this brother of yers be.” He turned on the elf. “And you…encouraging her.”
Linq shrugged. “Who am I to tell her no? Dar would have my head on a pike if I let her go alone.”
“If I don't do it first, damn elf.”
Etain bit her tongue and took a deep breath. “Inferno, Alatariel said it would be best if I left, so I did. I can't sit around doing nothing.”
The man exploded off the sofa. “Ya could go home, girl, and forget this madness.”
Having held her emotions in check for so long, Etain jumped to her feet. “Home to Faux and Freeblood? No, thank you! I'd end up killing them both.”
Inferno’s face turned red. “It’s not that place I’m talking about. I meant your home…in Texas. Get away from the Alamir for a while.”
“What the hell do I have in Texas?” She slapped her hands on her hips. “Like you said, Inferno, Dar’s my husband, my family. My life is with him – for better or worse.”
“Yer right there, but ya got no idea how long it’ll take him to recover…if he does at all.”
“Don’t say that!” Her aura sparked like fireworks. “He will get better.”
Spirit got to her feet and touched her husband’s arm. “Love, please. I like me lounge the way it is.”
Inferno huffed, nodded, and cleared his throat. “Then ya can stay here with us. Help with the clan and the kids until he shows up.”
The sparks faded, but her stance remained stiff. “I have to find my brother.”
They stared at one another for an interminable moment. Inferno scrubbed his face with his hands and blew out a long breath. “Aye. I hear what ya say, lass,” he conceded. “It’s a bloody bad idea. However, if yer determined to walk into a snake pit, it’s down to me to see yer ready.”
After an early breakfast, Etain grabbed one of Spirit’s cloaks and wandered out into the back garden, which had become a frosty faerieland overnight. The cup of hot tea in her hands helped keep her warm as she walked down to the forge where she found Inferno and Linq leaning over a messy stack of papers. Upon her approach, Inferno shoved sheets of rough drawings under her nose. Setting the cup down, she made a quick study of the design.
“This is amazing, Inferno,” she said, her eyes full of admiration.
“Isn’t all me. The elf here made a few improvements.”
Grabbing her cup again, she sat to the side, watching the men heat the metal, hammering and bending it to their will, sometimes arguing over this and that, then shoving the piece into a barrel of water and starting over again.
Halfway through the process, Inferno looked up, his face soot-smeared. “Lass, we need to make sure of the fit. Would ya get the blades?”
“Sure. Be right back.” She faded in a blue shimmer.
Sight of the small cottage unleashed a flood of memories. How safe she had felt cradled in Dar’s strong arms, standing before the threshold, and a door too small for the groom to carry his bride though. She smiled, remembering how they’d crossed over in a shimmer. Dar had set her down, then rushed off, soon returning with a beautiful rose. She stood in the spot where they undressed one another for the first time as husband and wife, his elegant fingers gently unlacing her dress. Her eyes closed, remembering the warm touch of those fingers as they trailed over her skin, his loving embrace, the proof of his desire pressed hard against her backside.
She walked into the bedroom to find the rose, looking as fresh as it did that day, sitting in water on the side table. The bed made, and the room tidied, there were no signs of the struggles from four days ago. Is that all it's been? She saw the black medallion next to the vase and thought of the day Dar placed it around her neck. Midir’s last day of life.
“How could I forget this?” She walked to the mirror, admiring the flames finely etched into the metal by Dar’s hand. “If it weren’t for his love, I’d be lost.”
The wardrobe door was ajar, as if in invitation. She found her wedding dress on a padded hanger tucked safely within a zippered bag. Next to it was Dar's Day Star, sheathed, the belt wrapped around the rod. Etain draped it over her shoulder, the strap crossed over her chest so the sword lay on her back. She searched for Burning Heart until she remembered he’d not worn the blade on their wedding day.
It must be in our room at Laugharne.
She walked through the cottage, making sure she had everything. In the front room, a package in one of the chairs caught her eye. At first glance, it didn’t seem familiar, but upon closer inspection, it dawned on her. She scooped up the elven cloaks, given as a wedding present from the elven queen, and shimmered from the cottage, taking her bi
ttersweet memories with her.
Back at the forge, she handed Day Star to Inferno. “Burning Heart is upstairs. Do you really need it for a fit?”
He inspected the sword. “Aye, lass. I need to make sure the two fit without rubbing and can be drawn easily.”
“Drawn? I don’t plan on using them.”
“So you say.”
She sighed, but knew he was right. Plans always had a way of changing. “Be back in a sec.”
Once they had both blades in hand, the men became absorbed in their task to the exclusion of all else, including Etain. She lost herself in the hypnotic repetition of their work and soon felt her eyes beginning to droop. Rather than give into the urge for a nap, she headed into the house to see what distractions Spirit could offer.
Etain got Seth and Molly off to school, helped Dylan and Tegan get dressed, then threw herself into menial household chores to keep her mind off the interminable wait for Inferno and Linq. It wasn’t until the grandfather clock struck noon that she realized the morning had come and gone. After lunch, Etain lay the little ones down for an afternoon nap to give Spirit her own quiet time, then went back to the forge.
Once out the back door, she found Linq trussed up in the contraption, leather straps crisscrossed over his chest, one belted around his waist. Inferno carefully inserted the swords into leather sheaths riveted to a curved piece of metal on Linq’s back. “How’s that feel?” Linq shifted the weight on his shoulders.
Looking up, Inferno saw Etain approaching. “Look, lass. We’ve done it.” He beamed with pride.
She circled around the elf, inspecting their handiwork. “It looks a little rough. How does it feel? Is it comfortable?”
“Takes some getting used to, but I can move easy enough.” He flexed his arms and twisted his body, showing his mobility.
Inferno instructed Linq to draw the swords. He reached for the hilts and drew them in a smooth presentation. “It’s almost perfect, Inferno. There’s a drag from the right side, though.”