Maarav led them around the main estate, then through a massive garden in the back, eventually leading to one of the many outbuildings. Climbing a set of exterior stone stairs to the second floor, they entered through a heavy wooden door into a long hall. No one bothered them along the way, except for the occasional wave of greeting to Maarav. They all seemed to trust that he would not bring dangerous guests into the estate.
Bedelia felt as if she were walking in slow motion down the long hall toward Keiren’s room. When she’d escaped from Keiren’s fortress in the marshlands, she’d been thinking only of survival, not the next time she’d see her ex-lover. Keiren had finally confided in her about her mission to free her mother from the in-between, and Bedelia had thrown it in her face by running away.
Of course, Keiren had taken her against her will. She couldn’t really blame her for running . . . though she undoubtedly would.
They reached a heavy wooden door at the end of the hall. Bedelia glanced at Àed, wondering if he was as nervous as she, or as angry. While Keiren had locked her away in a room with a cushy bed, he had been rotting in a barred cell with no comforts and little food.
Maarav knocked on the door, then waited for a response.
Nothing.
He knocked again.
When he was once again met with silence, he turned toward them with a shrug. “I was not alerted of her departure, but she tends to come and go as she pleases.”
Muttering to himself, Àed skirted past Maarav and pushed on the door handle. The door swung inward freely, and he did not wait before barging inside.
With a deep breath, Bedelia aimed an apologetic look at Maarav, then followed.
The room inside was clean and sparse. Just a bed piled high with blankets and pillows, a wardrobe, a washbasin, a cushy chair, and a floor-length mirror. Spotting something white on the burgundy-draped bed, Bedelia stepped forward while Àed rummaged through the drawers of the wardrobe.
She reached the bed and lifted a perfectly folded note. Ealasaid’s name was scrawled on the front of the paper. Before Maarav, who’d stepped into the room with them, could see it, she quickly unfolded the note.
It read:
Urgent business has taken me away. Please forgive my abrupt departure. When you are ready to consider your true options, meet me in the in-between.
Bedelia stared down at the note, wondering what it might mean. What true options? What was she trying to manipulate Ealasaid into doing?
She sensed a presence at her back, then turned to see Maarav hovering over her shoulder, reading the note.
Finished, he sighed. “She wants Ealasaid to help her destroy the barrier to the in-between. We suspect that has been her intent from the start.”
Bedelia lowered the note, then let it flutter to the bed. “Yes,” she muttered distantly, “that is indeed her intent, but for reasons other than what you may think.”
“Which are?” he questioned.
She turned to face him, then shook her head. “That is a secret I’m unwilling to divulge, though I know my loyalties are displaced in the matter.”
He stared at her for a moment, then nodded. “You must be tired. I’ll find someone to prepare rooms for you both, though it may not be wise to stay for long with an army on the way. I imagine Kai will see to Anna.”
Bedelia nodded her thanks, having already forgotten about Kai and Anna. Kai was likely receiving the tongue-lashing of a lifetime right that moment, especially with Anna already emotional from parting ways with Eywen.
“We should speak further before we rest,” she sighed. “There is much we must tell you.”
With a nod, Maarav led the way out of the room. At least they were able to carry out Finn’s wishes as messengers, even if they were late with the direly needed information, but Bedelia couldn’t quite bring herself to care. She’d thought she’d been finished with Keiren many times over, but she realized in that moment that perhaps the struggle had only just begun. She’d told Ealasaid to meet her in the in-between. She knew there would be no other way to find her. She’d never been to the in-between herself, but if Keiren did not return, she’d follow her even there.
Kai darted out of the way as a well-aimed book hurtled through the space where his head had been just seconds before. It was lucky his reflexes had improved, else Anna would have knocked him unconscious by now. He’d taken her to his rooms in hopes of discussing things more calmly, but her ire had only increased with the privacy.
“You mud-brained fool!” she growled, retrieving a pitcher from beside his washbasin and chucking it toward his face.
His hands darted up reflexively to catch the pitcher, but this only seemed to make Anna even more angry.
“You should have told me!” she hissed, her face pink with rage. “Instead you ran off like a coward! Until today, I didn’t even know if you were alive our dead!”
Another projectile whizzed his way, which he deftly caught and set aside. “And you shouldn’t have schemed with Finn to help me,” he countered calmly. “I was entitled to make my own choice, and I did the only thing I could think of to keep you women from attacking me and forcing another sliver of Finn’s immortality down my throat.”
“We would have given you a choice,” she snarled, but he’d already noted a moment of hesitation in her ire. There would have been no choice.
He crossed his arms, hoping she would not throw something else while he was unprepared. “There would have been no choice, and as you can see, I’m not dying.”
Anna looked him up and down. “No, not dying, but you forget I can see more than what meets the eye. You’re turning into one of them, one of the Dearg Due.”
He rolled his eyes, wishing he felt as confident inside as he was trying to be outside. “Male Dearg Due do not exist, and I highly doubt I can fully turn into one when I was not born that way. Finn’s blood likely saved me from the worst of it.”
Her shoulders fell as the last of her anger seemed to seep away. She slumped onto his unmade bed. “Perhaps not, but we do not know what you might turn into. Eywen believes the Dair cannot become Dearg Due, and humans turn into rotting thralls.”
He shook his head. “Bitten humans turn into rotting thralls. I was not only bitten, but given the blood of the Dearg Due to heal me.” He waited for her outrage, but she showed none.
“Finn told you everything then,” he sighed.
She looked up to steadily meet his gaze, her dark eyes full of judgement. “Yes, and she told me of the changes you were experiencing. And you’re still changing, aren’t you? Do not lie to me.”
He frowned, knowing she’d see through any lie he tried to tell. “Yes,” he replied, moving to sit on the bed beside her, their shoulders touching. “At first I was so ill with fever I thought I was going to die, then things began to change. I only felt weak and ill during the day, at night I felt incredible. I’ve become more agile and quick, even during the day now, though the sun stings my skin and eyes like fire.”
She turned her dark eyes to him, her gaze knowing. “Their blood gave you some of their magic, just like Finn’s blood. Blood from two different immortal races now runs through your veins.”
He nodded. “Yes, and there’s nothing I could do about that. All I could do was prevent Finn from weakening herself further in an attempt to help me.”
Anna sighed, then leaned her head on his shoulder. “I understand.”
Tension he didn’t know he’d been holding leaked out of him. It was nice to have a friend simply understand . . . finally.
“What will you do when the army arrives?” she questioned tiredly.
He shrugged, keeping the movement small to not push her off his shoulder. “I never intended to stay here in the first place, but Ealasaid and Maarav insisted. Eala managed to take me with her to the Gray Place last night, and Móirne found us there. She believes our departure has doomed Finn, that we were the reason she was holding onto her humanity. She claimed that Finn giving me more of her blood would have
been a good thing for us both. So basically, I have messed everything up yet again.”
Anna took his hand and gave it a squeeze. “There is still time for things to turn out alright.”
He wanted to just believe her, but too much had happened for him to be so naive. “Finn is marching with the Faie to prevent An Fiach from harming Ealasaid. No one knows what Oighear is planning, but I doubt she’ll let the opportunity of a battle weakening her enemies pass. As far as I’m concerned, everyone is about to collide, and there’s no saying who will live to tell the tale.”
She was silent for a moment, then replied, “Eywen is on his way toward Oighear’s domain to see if any more Aos Sí would like to declare Finn their new queen, and there are still the Travelers to be concerned about. No one knows what role the Ceàrdaman might hope to play, but I doubt it will be in our favor.”
Kai soaked in the additional news. With all that was happening, he hadn’t even thought of the Travelers. He gave Anna’s hand another squeeze. “At least you’re here.”
She laughed. “Yes, surely together we can survive this latest disaster?”
He chuckled. “The disaster to end all disasters as far as I’m concerned.”
“That it is,” she sighed. “That it is.”
Kai smiled. While he still felt the end was near for them all, at least he’d go out fighting with his best friend by his side, just like she always had been.
Iseult had sensed someone watching them all day, though he did not think it was Sugn. Sugn had said what he’d needed to say, there was no need for him to spy now. No, someone else watched them from within the cover of the dense forest, though he had not alerted Finn of his suspicions. She had enough to worry about.
Sparing a brief glance at her, riding at his side, he turned his gaze outward. They were roughly another day and a half away from Garenoch, judging by the changing trees and vegetation. Far behind them now was the mud and coarse grass of the marshlands, traded in for dense fir trees, brambles, and other deep green foliage.
He sensed something again. Someone was definitely watching, yet he could not spot them. Various Faie flitted and scurried around in the periphery, but it was not their magic he sensed.
“I’ll scout ahead,” he muttered to Finn. “I’ll return shortly.”
She nodded, her expression still trapped in some distant thought.
Reluctantly, he urged his horse to a trot and rode away. He hated leaving her alone, but he could admit she could probably take care of herself. If not, she had Loinnir and the surrounding Faie to protect her.
Focusing on his senses, he veered his horse to the right, toward where he’d sensed eyes on them. Seeing nothing out of the ordinary, he rode on. Soon enough he bordered on a distance he no longer felt comfortable traveling from Finn. He halted his horse and scanned the quiet woods. He still sensed a presence, but could see nothing.
“Your senses are better than I’d given you credit for,” a female voice purred from behind him.
He tugged his horse’s reins to turn toward the woman. “Keiren,” he observed.
She arched a red brow at him. “Have we met?”
He eyed her cooly. “Fiery haired woman in the middle of the woods, wearing silks instead of traveling clothes with no horse or provisions. Forgive me for reaching my own conclusions.”
She laughed. “Very well, I suppose it’s only fair you know who I am.”
“What do you want?” he growled. As far as he was concerned, this woman was the enemy.
She began to pace across the dry needles littering the forest floor, though her feet made no sound. “I want to help you.”
“By trapping Finn in the in-between?” he questioned, rage bubbling up at the memory. “Or will you try to steal her immortality in this realm now?”
Keiren stopped her pacing to glare at him. “I gave up on that plan as soon as I learned she’d shared her immortality with another.” She looked him up and down, not including his horse in the gesture. “Though I see she did not give it to you. What a shame.”
Iseult’s feet itched to urge his horse forward, past the sorceress and back to Finn. This could merely be a distraction while Keiren had her attacked.
He forced his nerves to still. “Say what you must, then be on your way.”
She sighed. “You’re far less fun than your brother. As I said before, I want to help you. I’ve learned that I will personally benefit from Finnur winning this war. I need her to be the surviving queen.”
His hands flexed on his reins. “Why?”
Keiren took a step toward him. “Let’s just say that I’ve learned some new information on the prophecy. There are three possible fates for us all. I would like the fate that Finnur would bring about.”
“Which is?” he questioned.
“Now, now,” she chided. “I cannot tell you everything until you have accepted my help.”
He knew this was likely a trick, but what if she really did have information on the prophecy? “Speak your terms,” he said evenly.
Keiren smiled. “I want you to arrange for me to speak with Finn the morning after next, but not with the Cavari around. They cannot be trusted.”
It rankled that they actually agreed on something. “And how do I know this is not just another ploy to pull her back into the in-between?”
“You have my word,” she offered.
“Not good enough,” he growled.
Her cornflower blue eyes narrowed. “Then name your terms.”
“The only way I can ensure the Cavari are not present is to meet with them myself,” he explained. “And I cannot allow you near Finn when I am unsure of your intent. Prove to me that a meeting with you would be to her benefit.”
Keiren seemed to think about what he’d said, then smiled. “Tell her to wear the ring Niklas gave her. It will grant her in-between magic, making her even more powerful than she is now. She will have nothing to fear from a meeting with me. If I prove trustworthy, I will find you on the second morning from now. You will not need to seek me out. Now you should run off to find her. The Cavari have moved in during your absence.”
Cursing under his breath, he kicked his horse into a gallop, rushing past the sorceress without another word.
Finn glared down at Sugn, walking on foot beside her unicorn with a pleasant smile on his face. He’d shown up mere seconds after Iseult had ridden off, proving he’d been watching all along. She wished Naoki was there to bite him, but she hadn’t seen her little dragon for quite some time. Long enough that she was beginning to grow worried.
She pushed thoughts of her lost friend away. “I do not require an escort,” she said for what felt like the hundredth time.
“A queen should not be left unattended,” Sugn replied, aiming a wry look at her. “I am simply doing my duty as your loyal subject.”
His words dripped with sarcasm, and she knew he was far from loyal, so what was he playing at? Was he there just to irritate her?
“What do you want, Sugn?” she asked tiredly.
“I want to know what my future holds,” he replied. “Surely that is not too much to ask. I was a mere ghost in the night for one hundred years because of you. You cannot blame me for fearing such a fate might befall me once more.”
“I have no intention of becoming a tree again,” she snapped.
“That I believe,” he replied. “You seem to have developed a fondness for the world of man. One man in particular. Funny, considering what they did to you.” He aimed a knowing smile at her, then added, “and what you did to them.”
“That is the past,” she muttered. “It does not concern me now.”
“Doesn’t it?” he questioned. “Do you no longer care what happened to our daughter?”
“She was never yours,” she hissed. “Do not pretend to care for her.” Where in the gods was Iseult?
“You know the humans will turn on you eventually,” he continued as if she hadn’t spoken. “They fear what they can never understand. You will use
your power to save them, then they will destroy you. The human queen will drive a dagger straight through your heart.”
Her magic suddenly surged through her, making Loinnir prance nervously.
“Finn,” Iseult’s voice called out.
She turned to see him riding toward her, but her magic was like water rushing across her ears. She had barely even heard his voice. She ached to lash out at Sugn.
Taking a deep breath, she aimed a glare at him instead.
Unfazed, Sugn flicked his gaze to Iseult as he reached them, then back to Finn. “Or perhaps he’ll kill you first,” he whispered. “Who wouldn’t want to avenge their kin against a monster like you?”
Iseult’s horse stomped between Loinnir and Sugn. All Finn could see was his back, but she knew the sort of gaze Iseult now aimed at Sugn.
With a laugh, Sugn turned and walked off.
Iseult turned his attention to her. “Are you well?”
She fought the tears stinging her eyes. Her magic still thrummed through her body, pushing for release. She was determined to use it for good, to help her friends, even if, perhaps, she did not deserve them.
Iseult leaned over, bridging the gap between their mounts to place his hand on her shoulder. “Let us take a moment to rest.”
She shook her head, still fighting tears. “Time is short. We must make it to Garenoch.”
“A few minutes will not make a difference,” he countered, then dismounted his horse before she could argue.
With his reins looped around his elbow, he loosely held onto her waist to help her down.
She grasped his arms as her feet hit the ground. Her magic was beginning to rescind into the depths from which it came, and it left her feeling unbearably tired. Perhaps that had been Sugn’s intent, just to make her even more miserable.
They stood staring at each other for a moment, then Iseult pulled away, guiding his horse toward a nearby tree.
Finn watched him, then a warm force pushed against her back. She turned to observe Loinnir, poised to nudge her again, as if encouraging her to near Iseult. Suddenly she felt awkward. The wall between her and Iseult had finally toppled down, yet, now she wasn’t quite sure how to act.
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