The road wound its way around the Argyle Battery, but Rori spun to her left and jogged up the steep stairs that led to the Upper Ward. From there, she dashed across the cobblestoned courtyard to St. Margaret’s Chapel. The tiny chapel was one of the oldest in Scotland, and a favorite of Queen Eirlys. On certain occasions, it was rumored the Seelie queen would visit the chapel and grant wishes to those she deemed worthy. Rori wasn’t sure the rumors were true—and had no intention of asking her queen to confirm them—but she liked the romanticism of the idea. A faerie queen granting humans a wish. It was something straight out of a Shakespearean play.
“Through here.” Rori held the chapel door open for Therron. “Once we’re inside, don’t make a sound. Everything said in this chapel can be heard in Faerie.” Or so the rumors went. Rori yearned to know whether it was truth or fable. To know exactly who could hear what was spoken within these hallowed walls would be valuable information indeed.
They stepped into the dank space and Rori took care to lock the door behind her. She immediately turned and walked the few feet to another door, one not open to the public. Therron watched her in silence, his eyes glowing slightly in the dark room. With that light, and his face half in shadow, she wasn’t sure whether he was more elven than demon. Heat simmered in her core, settling at the apex of her thighs.
Arse waffle demon-elf! How did he have this power over her? Never in her life had anyone made her think the things running through her mind at that moment. Thoughts of Midna’s dungeons, and Therron—she stopped the thought before it took over her entire focus. She was a spy in Queen Eirlys’ court. She was Aurora MacNair. She did not fall in love. She did not have sexual escapades out of sheer desire. Oh, no. Rori made it a rule: if sex was necessary on a mission, fine. But she never used sex for pleasure. That was a sure path to disaster. It meant relationships and emotions that Rori couldn’t afford. Not if she wanted to stay alive.
Once again, she put a finger to her lips and a flash of Therron taking her finger into his hot mouth caught her off-guard. Her glare could’ve cut marble. The thoughts she threw his way would’ve made a lesser man cry. If he was manipulating her emotions, he’d pay dearly. She’d had quite enough of illusions and deceit for one day.
The small door opened at her touch and she reached out to take Therron’s hand, but hesitated. With her imagination running rampant, she hardly trusted herself to touch him. Yet it had to be done if they were going to make the jump to the Seelie palace. With a frustrated sigh, she grabbed his hand and practically jerked him off his feet and through the doorway.
9
Rori knew better than to be aggressive while making jumps, especially with where they were going. They tumbled onto hard marble and Rori angled herself to protect both the lockets and the sleeping faerie still in her breast pocket. Curses flowed like whisky on Hogmanay from Therron’s mouth, then he fell ominously silent.
She cocked her head, a teasing comment at the ready, but stopped the retort when she saw his face. As pale as the alabaster floor, he looked as though he’d witnessed the slaughter of an entire race.
“What is it?” Rori scrambled to her feet and held out a hand to help him up. She caught a reflection of herself and shuddered. The room was entirely, from floor to ceiling, covered in individual, ornately framed, gleaming mirrors. Thirteen in all. On every side of her, she reflected into infinity.
“It’s her.”
“Who her? There’s no one here but us.”
Except, that wasn’t true.
Therron stood, ignoring her outstretched hand, and beckoned to a young girl.
The girl’s eyes, deep as an ocean and just as blue, studied her with keen interest. She wore human clothing, but something about her was off—it wasn’t her appearance, or the way she kept looking at them as if she’d known them forever. It was something else. Rori couldn’t put her mind on it, but she had the distinct impression she’d met the girl before.
“Caen drath elthniss, Therron.”
“Nygotien tergotten amir.” Therron touched his thumb to his forehead, then to his heart and bent his head low in that way royals did when acknowledging a peer.
Rori stared, dumbfounded, her lips parted in a near gape.
“Esth eamish beforgaltin Eleri?”
Therron’s grunt brought Rori back to the moment, to the bizarre conversation she witnessed. This girl, this child, spoke a foreign language she’d never heard, but the elf understood. Whoever she was, Rori was certain she wasn’t a threat to Faerie, but she stood taller, her shoulders back, hands loose just in case she needed to grasp a dagger in a hurry.
Before he could answer, a commotion on the other side of the room startled each of them. Rori turned toward the door, then back to the girl, but she was gone. Therron’s face had barely regained its olive tone before once more going pale. Clearly, this girl upset him, but why?
“Who or what was that?”
“You saw her?”
“Of course I did.” Dozens more questions sprang to her lips, but the door opened and they were surrounded by Queen Eirlys’ personal guard.
“Should’ve known it’d be you, MacNair. You’ve done it this time. Got orders to take you to the queen herself for sentencing.”
“Still bitter, Dorchmeir?” She eyed his uniform, marking the rank with a smirk. “You always were second-class. Now it’s official.”
“Lieutenant, asshole.” The words were hissed between clenched teeth. It was still too easy to rile him up. That temper was why he couldn’t cut it in spy school.
Rori and Therron were pushed along the corridor, leaving the room of mirrors behind. They didn’t speak, at least Rori and Therron didn’t, but Dorchmeir had plenty to say. He spewed obscenities at her between provocations to meet in the training yard. All of his taunts ended with a promise to kick her ass. This guy had it bad for her, which couldn’t be good.
She pretended to ignore him, all the while studying his gait, the way he held his body, the hand he used to grip his sword. Her mind hastily thought of a dozen combat moves she could make to free them from the guards—none of which she would use. She needed to see the queen and Dorchmeir was her ticket into the throne room. Naturally, she’d hoped it would be under better circumstances that she greeted her queen, but desperate times and all of that.
At the closed doors to the great hall, the group stopped. Therron casually looked up and down the hallway and then appeared to study the huge, intricately carved wooden doors. Rori had never noticed the finely sculpted ivy or the tiny creatures hidden in a forest of trees. In fact, the entire scene was of Faerie and all of her inhabitants. Tucked behind a puff of cloud was a full moon in the upper left of the arched doorway. Fascinated by the detail and talent it took to make such a fine piece of art, Rori didn’t notice her friend Esme until the girl practically threw her arms around Rori.
She stopped just short of a full body hug, instead patting Rori on the upper arms in an awkward greeting. Her long teal gown and matching slippers reminded Rori of why she’d longed to escape the court and adventure outside of the palace. Esme detested anything having to do with dirt, preferring instead to play cards and gossip all day. Rori’s lips quirked in a wry smile. Esme was one of her best informants from the palace.
“Is it true? Did you? Are you? Oooh, who is this?” Esme’s half questions came at Rori too quickly for her to answer, not that Esme needed verbal confirmation anyway. She had a way of sorting a situation with just a few quick glances. Rori was certain Esme knew exactly what Queen Eirlys was going to say even before the queen said it. It wasn’t magic, but it was Esme’s unique gift and Rori took full advantage whenever possible.
“Hello, Es. Palace life treating you well?”
“You are in so much trouble. You’re aware you broke the law, aren’t you?”
“I did? What law? How many?” Rori couldn’t help but tease her friend.
The doors opened and Rori was shoved forward by that pinched-faced demented butt wanker Dorchm
eir.
“Nelson, there’s no need for aggression. You don’t want to lose that stripe so soon after receiving it, do you?”
“Nelson?”
Esme’s face went all soft and dewy. “We’re to be betrothed, if my father approves.”
Rori stifled a laugh and instead congratulated the stupid woman. With her pick of all the men in Faerie, why would Esme choose him? But love wasn’t something Rori would ever understand, nor did she ever want to, so she let it go. If nothing else, she’d get some intel from Esme about the military workings of the Seelie court.
Halfway through the vast hall, Rori began to notice there were far more courtiers than she could recall seeing in one place for anything other than a coronation or presentation. Her confidence slipped a fraction and for a moment, she almost reached for Therron’s hand.
What the bloody fucking hell? Get it together, MacNair.
The queen sat in her hulking chair, watching them with eyes as sharp as any hawk’s. Her long fingers tapped a rhythm on the armrests; her legs crossed and uncrossed several times.
The queen was nervous. Certainly not because of Rori. It must’ve been due to Therron’s presence. She cast a quick glance his way. He walked as if used to approaching queens who may or may not wish him harm. Shoulders back, head held high, but not too high, stride just forceful enough he looked powerful, yet approachable. He reminded Rori of a king.
Eirlys motioned and the guard stopped, but Rori and Therron were beckoned forward. She heard a whispered, “Good luck,” from Esme and a pit formed in her throat. She’d never wanted to be on the wrong side of her queen. Had sworn to protect Eirlys and all of her offspring with her life, if need be. And now Rori stood before the queen, little more than a scofflaw.
“I’m told you and one other left Faerie this afternoon for the human realm. Then, the two of you returned a short time later to my palace.” The queen’s steely gaze went from Rori to Therron. “Am I to assume this is the person you took with you?”
“He is, Your Majesty.” Rori curtseyed low, almost to the floor. “If I may be permitted to explain the urgency of our mission.”
“Your mission? I don’t recall giving you permission to leave Faerie. And if I didn’t command it, then I’m to assume, perhaps, the Unseelie queen did?”
“Of course not, Your Majesty. We needed to reach you with haste and using the doorways was the only way.”
“What could be so important you’d risk exile? And with Midna’s favorite by your side?”
Midna’s favorite? Rori’s mind spun with the revelation. Was Therron one of the Unseelie queen’s sex slaves? She shut down the thought before it could take root and poison her mind.
Rori tucked the leather bag under her arm. If this was all a ruse of Therron’s to get close enough to the Seelie queen to either rob her, or cause harm, Rori would at least make certain the trapped faeries were protected. She suspected Therron had an idea what was in the pendants, but she doubted he understood their importance. Although, he had been following Acelyne at the pub. His story of simply being hired to find Acelyne could’ve been a lie. Everything he told her could’ve been a lie. Yet, that strange woman inside the illusion had told her to trust Therron. So had Meg.
“Your Majesty, can I speak with you privately?”
Dorchmeir stepped forward, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. “I would advise against it, my queen.”
“Advice taken and refused.” Eirlys studied Rori, her lavender eyes penetrating in their search. “Follow me.” Eirlys halted mid-turn. “Only Rori. Keep this one under guard.” She pointed a long nail to Therron. “I trust you will behave yourself?”
“On my honor, Your Majesty.”
Eirlys snorted and swept from the dais to a door behind the throne. Rori followed, her gaze riveted to the queen’s retreating back. She hadn’t expected Eirlys to agree to a private meeting, and relief swept over her with surprising force.
Once inside an antechamber, Eirlys locked the door and faced Rori. “What is it with your family? First Cian, now you! Has Midna infiltrated all of my spies?”
“What? No! Wait, you didn’t send Cian to Midna’s court? Then what’s he doing there?”
“Never you mind about that. Tell me what you didn’t want the others to know.”
Rori swung the leather bag in front of her belly and held open the flap. “Have you noticed any faeries going missing lately?”
At her words, the queen’s face paled until the rich brown hue was a watery ashen color.
“Your Majesty, what is it?”
A spark of tears lit the queen’s eyes, but she blinked them away in an instant. “It is not yet common knowledge, but there have been several instances of fae disappearing. Over the last decade, I’ve counted two hundred at least, which isn’t alarming, but recently that number has climbed dramatically. We’re close to five hundred less fae.”
Something Eirlys said in the throne room tickled Rori’s memory. “Do you know who’s behind the disappearances, or why?” An idea was formulating in her mind. A dangerous scheme that made her stomach roil.
“No. Nor are we any closer to catching the person responsible.” The tears returned and this time the queen let them fall over her cheeks. “My own daughter disappeared from the gardens not more than a sennight past.”
“A week ago?” Rori had been captured four days past. That meant Arianna had been in the locket three days more than Rori. No wonder she wasn’t waking up. “I’m going to tell you something, and I don’t think you’ll like what I say, but please hear me out.” She removed the caskets from the bag and opened each one. The amulets rocked in their velvet beds, but they were all intact.
“What is this?” Eirlys reached out and took one of the pendants gently between two fingers. She peered into the glass and examined the miniature forest. “I don’t understand, Rori.”
“I was trapped in one of these for three days, according to Tug. When I woke, I had no idea where I was or how to get out. It was by sheer perseverance that I escaped.” She let her words sink in while the queen continued her inspection of all the amulets.
“How were you captured?”
“I think I was drugged. I remember being at the Shoogly Dragon, then waking up in a strange, silent forest.” Rori took the crystal Eirlys held. “I believe each of these holds at least one faerie. Drugged, like me, but unable to wake from the potion.”
“But why?” Eirlys’ gaze bore into Rori. “To what end?”
Rori took a deep breath and formulated the words before she spoke them. “I don’t know why, or exactly how, but I think I know to what end. You said your guards alerted you to two people crossing into the human realm and back into Faerie, yes?”
Eirlys nodded, her brows making a deep furrow in her once again rich brown skin. “Yes, you and that thief Therron.”
“There weren’t just the two of us. Each of these holds a faerie or more, but whatever sensors you have in place didn’t trigger them. I believe someone is smuggling fae into the human realm.”
“No!” The queen’s cheeks burned crimson and a lick of fire shone in her steely glare. “That’s forbidden.”
“Meg said there’s a war brewing and I need to make sure you and Queen Midna are at the Vale of Dorn in two days. An enchantress called Acelyne is the one responsible for capturing the faeries. She placed some kind of spell on Tug that Meg’s working to remove.”
“Mad Meg? Surely you’re joking. Why would you trust the word of that woman?”
The change in tone and behavior from Eirlys surprised Rori. “Meg’s all right. A bit kooky at times, yes, but she’s not a bad egg. Besides, if there’s a chance to stop the disappearances, we need to take it.”
“What if it’s a trap? I mean, the two queens in the same place at the same time? That would be a remarkable opportunity for someone wishing harm to Faerie.”
“It could be a trap, but I don’t think Meg would be so foolhardy. I’ve known the woman too long to figure
her for a traitor. Besides, if it is a trap, I don’t think it’s meant for you or Midna. I think Meg means to lure Acelyne out and she’ll need your strength to capture the enchantress.”
Eirlys tapped a nail upon her bottom lip. “If we leave by morning, we can make it to the vale before nightfall. It doesn’t give me much time, but if this Acelyne is responsible, we need her punished.”
Rori reached into her jacket pocket and scooped out the sleeping faerie. She held the wee lass out for Eirlys. The queen’s face immediately softened and fresh tears tracked down her face.
“Where—” The words choked in her throat. “Where did you find her?”
“She was in the amulet Acelyne used to capture me. I’ve kept her near my heart the whole time.”
Eirlys curled her fingers around the sleeping fae and whispered low enough Rori could barely make out the loving words. Rori shifted uncomfortably, unused to seeing her queen in such an intimate, maternal moment. Eirlys made a pocket inside her gown and slipped the tiny bundle inside.
“Now she will be near my heart, but we will never forget what you’ve done for us, Rori. When this is all said and done, you will be commended.”
“I don’t want accolades, Your Majesty. I want the witch responsible caught, and then I’d like to search for the other missing fae.”
Eirlys reached out and stroked Rori’s cheek. “Someday you will be my deadliest weapon, but you are still young, and passion infuses your actions. Yes, you will hunt for the other fae, but first you must go to Midna and convince her to meet with me. I will keep these lockets safe, but take one as proof of what Acelyne has done to betray Faerie. For all we know, Midna hired the witch. If this is the case, you must warn us before the meeting.”
“Of course, Your Majesty.” The queen’s words stung, but Rori shrugged them off. Her passion had allowed her to suss out information more times than she could count. If the queen thought it a flaw, Rori respectfully disagreed.
Eirlys hid the caskets behind a large painting, sealing a heavy slab of stone in front of the leather bag with several wards put in place to protect them from discovery. Whether she planned to move them again once Rori was gone, she didn’t ask, nor did she want to know. It was a rule of hers to never ask more than she needed because then she couldn’t betray her queen under torture.
Relics and Runes Anthology Page 37