by Amy Miles
Tris folded her arms across her chest and jutted out a hip, clearly annoyed with me for dodging her question.
“He’s in less pain now that the Chinois Root is in his belly, and his fever is back under control. Ya satisfied? Now tell me what in devil’s name happened. Ya went there to find Taryn and ya came back with the bloody Royal Seal?” Her voice rose at the end, but she was still whispering when she did. It made her sound like a mouse.
“It’s a long story,” I began.
“Give it to me in three sentences or less. Any story worth tellin’ can be shortened that way.”
“Um, well…first off, I made it to the manor house, where I was the only reaper there over the age of twelve.”
Tris shot me a look that let me know that information wasn’t news to her, but she didn’t want to interrupt.
“While there, I looked for Taryn but found Alana instead.”
“Alana?” Tris gasped. “How…why…what was your sister doin’ there?”
“Second,” I said, trying to finish my story before she asked more questions. “My dead sister danced with Taryn’s playboy prince.”
Tris’s jaw nearly hit the floor with that news.
“Then, I found the prince, punched him, Taryn found us, we kissed. Finally, Aed told me to leave and gave me the seal to fix Seamus if I did,” I finished.
Tris looked at me for a moment, only blinking for a spell. “I think this story might need a bit more than three sentences.”
“Aye. It does.” I laughed quietly. “Can I tell it to you in the morning, though? I’m bone-weary.”
“Right. Of course. Ya must be knackered. There’s a bed laid out for ya right here.” She gestured to the corner of the room where there was, indeed, a small area of hay and blankets arranged. It was as crude a bed as one could find, but right now it looked heavenly.
“You should sleep, too. You can’t nurse him back to health if you’re dead on your feet.” I paused and chided myself for using that expression.
“I have nodded off here and there while you were gone. I’m fine. Now that you’re back, and we have this seal, my mind can allow me to rest, but I won’t be doin’ it anywhere but by his side.” She knelt beside his bed and laid her head on his chest.
There would be no convincing her to move, so I nodded and went to lie down.
“Until tomorrow,” I said. I closed my eyes against the craziness of the day and knowing that more of the same waited for me when I awoke.
Chapter 19
Taryn
“You have a lot of nerve coming to me for help. Especially, at this early hour,” Queen Morrigan said when a guard ushered me into her room.
She wore a dressing gown of the finest crimson silk. Her hair fell in beautiful waves of matching fire around her shoulders. Though the sun had not long risen, she appeared to be wide awake. I had never taken her for a morning person, so I wondered if she’d been to bed yet.
Floor-to-ceiling curtains shifted in the morning breeze beside the queen’s bed. The covers were still crisp and folded from the day before, proving my theory correct.
“Aye,” I said. “Believe me, if there was any other way, I would’ve taken it.”
The queen motioned for me to sit. I almost smiled as I sank into the plush armchair across from hers before the fire. Even in the face of her enemy, she still felt the need to play to social niceties. I doubted it would last, though, as soon as the maid finished emptying her chamber pot. Gossip was one thing the queen did not abide.
“That will be all, Fiona,” Morrigan said when the maid did not take notice of the tension in the room.
The plump maid dropped into a curtsy and then hurried out past the guard, who still stood unsure in the doorway. A single flick of her hand sent him away, too. Morrigan held her tongue until the door closed. Then she counted an additional ten seconds of silence before she pounced.
“You know nothing of the way of things. How the order is kept. How ladies are expected to behave. How dare you twist my son’s mind to your ways?”
“First of all”—I held up a finger—“I’m not the one who asked to be in his life. He’s the one who forced the issue. Why, I’ll never bloody know. So don’t ya go blamin’ me for that. I wanted no part of your son or you for that matter. Your husband is the one who put us all in this blasted position in the first place.”
“Likewise,” she snapped. Her nails dug deep into the cushion of her armrests, but her face showed no sign of her anger.
“And second of all, I canna change Aed’s mind any more than you can. He’s got a thick head. No lass is gonna be changin’ it any time soon.” I glanced towards the veranda where I’d snuck across the night before. “Well, there is one.”
This time the queen’s lips pursed. “So, you know of this girl’s affections for my son?”
I laughed. “You’d have to be blind not to.”
Morrigan scowled. “That you would.”
“And that brings me to the meanin’ of why I’m here.”
She raised her chin. “I had so hoped you would get to the point.”
I leaned forward. “I need men.”
“Excuse me?”
“Ya ’eard me. Men. As many as ya can spare.”
“So my son is no longer enough for you, is he? Now you need several?” Morrigan laughed in that cruel tone that made me want to claw her eyes out and feed them to the sea.
“Not those kinds of men.” I knew she was baiting me. We both knew it was working. “I dunna ’ave a need for…that. I need soldiers.”
“You never cease to amaze me. How dare you come in here and make such ridiculous demands of me? Demands you know very well I have no desire to meet.”
“Aye.” I grinned at her. “But I’m not askin’ without offerin’ somethin’ in return.”
The queen tilted her head. She thought about this for a moment. “Go on.”
I knew I had her. Perhaps, she too, was dangling by the very noose I’d hung around my neck, but she was there, all the same.
“Alana is a problem you dunna want—”
“That goes without saying,” she cut me off.
I nodded in agreement. “We both know I’m only one step better than the lass. What if I could assure ya that both of us would be movin’ on?”
Morrigan sank back into her seat. The stiff upright position had made her look all the more regal, but she was past pretenses now.
“And how do you propose to do that?”
“By takin’ the girl through Hollow Earth,” I said.
The queen’s eyes popped open wide. “You’re a daft fool if you think I’ll be agreeing to that. No one goes over the Wall and survives. I won’t be wasting good men on the likes of that wretch.”
“I have survived it.”
Her expression froze. “I don’t take your meaning.”
“Not over the Wall, per se, but around it. I’ve seen what’s on the other side. I know what’s lurkin’ in the wasteland. The lorcan are changin’, like I said. They are becomin’ somethin’ more. A hybrid of what they once were. Monsters taller than any man and as broad as two standin’ side by side.” I paused to see how much of this was sinking in. When I realised she was resisting the urge to fidget in her seat, I continued. “It’s only a matter of time before the hybrids spread into our lands. Soon enough they will have an army that we canna contain.”
“We?” She arched an eyebrow.
“Aye. I won’t be waitin’ for a reaper to save my arse when the fightin’ begins.”
By the thinning of her lips, I wondered if she was thinking about seeing me in my leathers. I’d sure given her an eyeful that night, but I refused to apologize for it. A warrior was whom I was born to be. It was why Aed bonded with me as he did. It was about the only damn thing that might save my life in the days to come.
“Then why walk into Hollow Earth if there are such horrors there?” she said.
I moved to sit on the edge of my seat. “I know you dunna like me.
That’s fine. But I’m no coward. If there is to be a fight, I want in. Your husband canna keep lyin’ to the people about the reality of an impendin’ war. Death is about to spill over that Wall, the likes of which we’ve never seen before. Who do you think they will come for first? The peasants, or the ones who enslaved them in those hollow lands?”
Morrigan’s skin leeched of colour, but she said nothing.
“There is one among the lorcan that is leadin’ the way. He is larger than the others. Intelligent.”
“This creature frightens you,” she whispered. “I can see it in your eyes.”
“Aye.” I nodded. There was no sense trying to deny it. If I’d had many dreams since I’d seen him, I reckon he would’ve filled each of them. “I’m drawn to Hollow Earth and what lies beyond. I canna explain why. I have these…feelings.”
Her fingers flinched against the armrests. “Feelings? Don’t tell me you’ve gone soft on a beast, too.”
I glared pointedly at her. “It’s not like that at all. I’m connected to them somehow. I can hear them talkin’ in my mind.”
If I hadn’t seen it for myself, I wouldn’t have thought it possible for her to grow any paler. The hue of her face went translucent.
“You’re lying.”
“I’m not.” I lifted my chin in defiance. “Not that you’ll ever believe me, but it’s the truth. I can hear them.”
“What do they want?” she asked.
I blinked. That hadn’t been a mean-spirited jab or a blow to my ego. It had been an outright question of concern.
“I canna say. The closer I get to the Wall, the louder the voices become. In the beginnin’, I could only feel their rage. But now…there’s intelligence mixed in the likes of which we’ve never experienced before. Things are changin’ and not for the better.”
Morrigan swallowed hard. I watched as her chest rose and fell in small pants. She was working to control whatever emotions she kept locked behind her emotionless mask. If that was what she expected of me as a lady, she could forget about it. I needed my emotions. They kept me alive and kicking. Devlin and Aed taught me that.
“We are runnin’ out of time to get Alana to the Isle of Glass. The nearest port with a seaworthy ship lies beyond the Wall. That’s where I’m headin’.”
Her eyes narrowed as she contemplated my words. “You seek to steal a ship from the Cathal port to bring the girl to the Isle of Glass.”
“Aye. I do. It’s the quickest route. We both know ya want her out of your hair. And I want her to be at peace. This suits both our needs.”
Cathal was not a popular destination spot by any means. Only the highest paid sailors were willing to transport the worst of the lorcan to this port. There, they were tossed off the boat by a great catapult from the safety of the sea. None of them cared if the impact hurt the beasts. They were quick to be rid of them.
I wasn’t even sure I’d find anyone alive when we reached Cathal, or that there would be a ship in port at all. Eivin said he’d seen the sails of a ship headed north, but that was a couple of days ago. Anything could have happened by now. Still, I had to try, for Alana’s sake.
The queen rose from her seat, pacing several steps only to return once more. She did this for several minutes, making me feel a wee bit dizzy and annoyed. She may have felt like she had all the time in the world. Each second we delayed was another one closer to losing Alana.
“You will never make it that far,” she mused, almost to herself.
“On my own, I stand a good chance, but not with the lass. She’s unskilled and weak. That’s why I bloody well need your men. To ensure her safety until we reach the port.”
Perhaps it was the play in the light, but I would have sworn I saw the flicker of a smile on her lips.
“Why do you care for the girl?”
“She was my responsibility. I brought her through the veil and I’ll bloody well see her to the end.” I crossed my arms over my chest, daring her to tell me that what I felt for Alana was less than noble. “Plus, whether ya like it or not, I care about your son. And he cares about Alana. I would see him saved from the pain of her vanishin’ from body and mind. I would think, as his mother, you would do the same thing.”
“And in return”—she turned suddenly to face me—“you will take the girl away, never to return?”
“Aed tells me she only has days left. We both know the road back to Eimear will be treacherous at best with your guards huntin’ us. Even if we do arrive, our chances of boardin’ her onto a ship bound to the Isle of Glass are slim to none. Cathal is the fastest route.”
Morrigan laced her hands in front of her. “I assume this was my son’s foolish plan.”
“His plan has flaws. I improvised on it a bit. Always the cautious one, he is.”
Now she did smile. “But not you. You are the rash-minded fool who thinks only with her heart and not with her mind.”
“Hey, now.” I pushed up to my feet. “I’m doin’ ya a favor.”
“And how is that exactly? You’ve yet to tell me what I get out of all this. The girl will be gone within a week, one way or another. Aed will forget her. It’s for the best.”
“For the best? What sort of mother are ya? To let your son’s heart break like that, even if it’s only for a few days. He deserves the proper chance to know that she’s at least alive somewhere. He knows he canna be with her. He’s accepted that. Have you no heart to at least give him the peace of mind that she’s safe? Besides, don’t ya be forgettin’, if I take her, you get rid of me, too. It’s a perfect win for ya.”
She blinked several times, no doubt trying to see the hole in my plan. “You do not plan to involve my son in this fool’s errand?”
“No.” I looked away. “I canna put his life in danger. He is the future of our people. I will not see him harmed.”
The queen gave me an appraising look. “Perhaps I misjudged you.”
“Aye. You bloody well have,” I snapped back.
Her small laughter shocked me. I’d never heard it before. It sounded so weightless and nice.
“I know you must think the worst of me, Taryn. I have given you no reason to think anything less. But, believe it or not, I was not always this cold.” Her gaze took on a far-off look. “I love Aed more than life itself. I have loved all my children from the depths of my soul and will do whatever it takes to keep them safe.”
I understood that feeling only because of my own da’s devotion. My ma, on the other hand, was less enthusiastic about selfless love.
The queen moved towards the window. It shocked me when she turned her back on me. I guessed she felt safe with her guards standing outside her door. She must have, at least, suspected that I carried a blade. No warrior would move throughout the day without something small to hand. She did not look like she felt threatened by me, however. Probably because I still needed a favor from her.
“Aed means a great deal to you, doesn’t he?” she asked.
Now it was my turn to fidget. This wasn’t a topic I cared to talk about with her.
“I care enough.”
She laughed again. “Now is not the time to be modest, Taryn. It is the depth of those feelings for my son that will weigh heavily on my decision.”
I swallowed and then threw caution to the wind. “I dunna love him, if that’s what you’re askin’.”
“No?” She turned back to look at me over her shoulder.
“Well, not in the way a woman should. I know that now. He’s a close friend. Someone I respect and admire.”
“But your heart belongs to another.”
I hissed in a breath at her blunt observation. Had I been so transparent when it came to my feelings for Devlin?
“I suspected as much when you kissed my son. No woman would be that bad at kissing a man she loved.”
“Then why did you bloody hell rip into us that night?”
She turned to face me now. “I make no apology for my efforts to keep you two apart. My reasons are my own.
The fact remains that you are ill-suited for my son. There is, however, one who is.”
“Hadley,” I ground out.
“Yes. A woman of fine breeding and impeccable manners.”
“And she’s a right horse’s arse as well,” I snorted.
The queen’s earlier smile vanished. “I do not need your approval of who I choose as my son’s bride. If you wish for your endeavor to have my blessing, resources, and protection, I assure you, I will expect payment in full.”
“I have nothin’ to give.” I held out my hands. “I have no means, thanks to your husband.”
The queen smiled, but the cold calculation was back. “Then your hands are tied, whereas mine are not. I will give you the men you require in exchange for your absence under one condition.”
“I dunna understand.”
“It is really very simple. Aed must wed. With Alana and yourself out of the picture, he will have no choice but to pick Hadley.”
“You’re a fool.” I moved towards her. “Aed could never love Hadley.”
“Love?” Morrigan laughed. “No one ever spoke about love. Duty is far more important than weak sentiment.”
“I should’ve known you’d think only of that.” I shook my head. “Wasn’t being forced to marry the king bad enough for ya to not force that same misery onto your only son?”
“How dare you—”
“Oh, I do dare.” I marched up to her. When her gaze flickered towards the door, I laughed. “I’m not gonna be drawin’ a weapon on ya, my queen. I am no fool. I like my head right where it is. But I canna stand here and let you ruin Aed’s life.”
“Ruin? Hadley is an excellent match. It’s not as though I’m forcing him to wed an ogre. Ruin? How dare you suggest it?”
“Aye. Ruin. Do ya even know your son?”
She blinked rapidly. A flush rose in her face. “Of course I do. He’s my son.”
“And when was the last time you talked with him without yellin’? Or asked him what he wanted? Or even asked what his time on the Wall was like? Do ya even know that he wakes in the night screamin’ from nightmares?”
She paled. “I…”