by Jocelyn Fox
“Bargains upon bargains,” said Titania in an undertone, her face thoughtful.
“So I did not execute the bone sorcerer before returning with the Lethe stone,” said Tess. “Niall volunteered to remain in the mortal world to guard Gryttrond and to oversee the establishment of a base in the mortal world.” She paused and lowered her voice. “He also wanted to ensure that Ramel survived.”
“Both Mab’s Vaelanbrigh and the fendhionne remain in the mortal world?” asked Titania.
Tess nodded.
“Tell us more of Mab’s spell upon Ramel and her order to Molly to kill you,” said Vell, placing her elbows on the table and leaning forward intently.
“Ramel had been acting strangely from the beginning,” said Tess. She felt a spark of anger as she remembered Mab’s cruelty to one of her oldest friends in the Fae world. “He didn’t seem like himself. He acted…robotic.” At the curious looks from the Fae around the table, she searched for another word. “He acted like a puppet, like he was being controlled, and he never took off his armor, not even when we were soaked in the storm. Molly came to me that night. She told me that Mab had placed a spell on Ramel, allowing her to directly control him and see through his eyes while he was in the mortal world. And as the price for her own life, Molly had been commanded to kill me.”
“I was there,” said Calliea. “I heard the words as well.”
“Why?” asked Vell, shaking her head.
“Why did Mab order her to kill me? Perhaps she thinks that I am allied with you,” said Tess, touching the silvery marks on her throat where she had been touched by the White Wolf.
“I’m the High Queen,” said Vell. “If the Bearer is allied with the High Queen, perhaps that is not such a bad thing.”
“The Bearer has always been asked to remain neutral between the Courts,” said Titania softly.
“But that was in the days where there was only Seelie and Unseelie,” replied Tess. “And if there was enmity or even competition between your Court and the Unseelie, it would only make sense for the Bearer to be a separate entity.”
“Now there is the Vyldgard,” said Vell, the Crown of Bones shimmering against her dark hair. “The Wild Court is not allied with the Seelie or Unseelie.”
Titania drew back her shoulders. “So now the Bearer is allied with the Vyldgard?”
“Even if I were,” said Tess calmly, “that would not tip the balance between Seelie and Unseelie.”
“Mab doesn’t think of it that way,” said Finnead.
The Queens both looked up at him, Titania in surprise and Vell with an expectant look. He took a breath and continued.
“From what I have heard during my visits to the Unseelie Princess, Queen Mab is sinking deeper and deeper into what might be called madness,” he said somberly. “Ramel succeeded in restoring Molly’s memories. We attempted to use the same method on Princess Andraste, but it did not work.” He paused and gathered himself; talking about Andraste seemed to cause him physical pain. “I suspect that Queen Mab punished him for his failure by inflicting her controlling spell upon him. He somehow prevailed on her not to kill Molly outright, but she still used her as a tool to disrupt the balance between the Courts. She most likely thought that if she killed the Bearer, she would stand a better chance at prevailing against Queen Titania in the struggle for power.”
“And so now we come back to this dark subject,” said Titania. “What are our responsibilities if Mab is indeed mad?”
“How did she control Ramel?” Vell asked Tess.
“She used razor sharp metal to inscribe a rune into the inside of Ramel’s breastplate,” said Tess. She heard the anger and hardness in her own voice. “It was blood sorcery. Every time he moved, his breastplate cut the rune into his flesh and preserved her hold on him. There were runes on the outside of the armor, too. Runes to injure or kill anyone who tried to break the spell or remove the armor.”
“And so how did you manage to break the spell, Lady Bearer?” asked Titania with genuine interest.
“I didn’t break the spell,” said Tess. “Vivian, one of the other mortals in the house, threw a spell-orb that they’d confiscated from Corsica at the bone sorcerer during the battle. The blast almost killed Ramel, but it damaged his armor enough to break Mab’s spell.”
“But he survived?” asked Finnead in a gravelly voice.
“He was alive when I left,” said Tess softly. “Molly was tending him, and Niall said that he would do his best to help heal him.”
Finnead nodded and looked away, the muscles in his jaw standing out as he swallowed hard.
“Ah, my good-hearted Niall,” said Titania with genuine affection.
“So, you did not execute the bone sorcerer, but you do have the Lethe Stone,” said Vell.
Tess nodded. “Yes. And now I suppose the question is how we are going to use it if Mab is set against us now.”
“I think that it has become even more important to restore Princess Andraste,” said Titania, “if what we are told about Mab is true.”
The air in the pavilion stilled as everyone waited for Queen Titania to finish her pronouncement.
“If the Unseelie Queen is truly mad, is it not our responsibility to remove her from her throne?” Titania spoke each word precisely, shifting her gaze between Vell and Tess.
Tess heard indrawn breath from several different quarters, Finnead and Merrick among them. A strange calm descended on her. “To be clear, we are speaking of overthrowing a Sidhe Queen.”
Titania met Tess’s eyes. “Yes.”
“This is not a decision that can be made lightly,” said Gray.
“What would make us any different from the rebels that Mab exiled to the mortal world?” asked Vell.
Titania smiled. “I am Queen of the Seelie Court, and you are High Queen. That is what makes us different.”
“Just because we possess the power to overthrow Mab does not mean that it is within our rights to do so,” replied Vell.
“And what if Mab doesn’t allow us to restore the Princess with the Lethe Stone? What then?” asked Tess. She felt a sickening sensation of speed, as though they had slid down an icy hill and now they were gaining momentum, hurtling toward some unknown destination.
“Then we will have to decide whom to make their Queen,” said Titania, unruffled.
“This is a dangerous path,” said Tess. “This would be civil war.”
“No,” replied Titania calmly. “This would be a war to remove a cruel despot from her throne.” She turned to Liam and arched an eyebrow. “I believe you could tell your Queen tales of such wars from your own world.”
Liam’s face darkened but he didn’t reply.
“And it was the First who baptized us as monarchs of our realms,” continued Titania inexorably. “Through the Crown of Bones, you are her heir, Queen Vell, and thus it would be within your rights to choose the next monarch of the Unseelie.”
“I have no wish to play queen-maker,” replied Vell, her golden eyes hard and flat. “I want to find a home for my Court, and White Wolf willing, rebuild my people.”
“The future will never be as the past was,” said Titania. “We cannot pretend to be blind to the evil rising up in the Unseelie Court.” She pressed her lips together and held up one hand, her white sleeve falling back to reveal the silvery scars around her wrist, now almost invisible. “I was blind to evil once, and it made me its prisoner.”
“Queen Titania has a point,” Tess said almost grudgingly to Vell.
“So now we are the authority to decide who lives and dies, who rules and who falls?” Vell demanded.
“Our responsibility to each other did not end with the fall of Malravenar, High Queen,” said Titania. “If Queen Mab will not see reason, it is our duty to protect her people.”
“You dislike the Unseelie,” said Tess in a quiet, thoughtful voice. “Why are you speaking up for them now?”
“As I said, Lady Bearer, I was blind to evil once,” replied the Seelie Q
ueen. “I will not turn away from suffering and cruelty again.”
“What do you suggest, Queen Titania?” Liam asked.
Titania raised her chin. “I suggest that we come up with a plan to rescue Princess Andraste before her sister sinks so deeply into madness that she sees her as a threat.”
“If she sees her as a threat,” said Finnead in a low voice, “she will execute her.”
“This will sound hard-hearted,” said Vell, leaning back in her chair, “but if we are simply going to decide who will hold the Unseelie throne next, why must we risk our people to rescue the Crown Princess? Why not just depose Mab and go from there?”
“I believe that if we place Princess Andraste on the throne, the majority of the Unseelie will see it as a legitimate claim,” said Queen Titania.
“And what if we cannot restore her memories? What if she remains trapped in her madness and Mab spirals down to join her?” demanded Finnead hoarsely, his drowning-blue eyes blazing.
“We will deal with that if it happens,” replied Titania.
“And I still must ask this question again,” said Vell, shaking her head. “What gives us the right to interfere in Queen Mab’s Court? That would open the door to interference with the sovereignty of any Court in the future.”
“We have just cause,” replied Titania.
“What evidence do we have of just cause?” asked Gray.
“I did not think that the High Queen and her Three would be so resistant to justice,” said Titania, her composure beginning to wear thin.
“My lady,” said the Seelie Vaelanbrigh. Ailin managed to sound respectful but urging his Queen to caution. “Your passion is evident and I, for one, cannot deny the truth of your words. However, I believe that Queen Vell and the Lady Bearer may need more time to recognize the necessity of your plan.”
“We may not have much time,” said Queen Titania.
“We cannot act alone,” said Gawain, matching Ailin’s tone. “I have no doubt that Queen Vell and Lady Tess will see the truth in your words, but we must ask you, my lady, to have patience, for the love you bear us and the love we bear you.”
Titania looked at her Vaelanbrigh and her Vaelanmavar, meeting their pale eyes with a searching gaze. Finally she nodded. “The men who have served me for so long know my heart,” she said. “And I trust in their counsel.” She paused. “So what shall we do in the meantime, High Queen?”
“If we are to pursue your plan,” said Vell heavily, “we must have evidence. I must know exactly what is happening beyond the walls of the Unseelie encampment.”
Haze stepped forward and bowed with an elegant flourish. “My lady, I will rally my brothers and sisters to gather the knowledge you seek. The Small Folk in your service will not fail you.”
“I am grateful for your loyalty,” Vell said.
Haze bowed to Titania and then turned to Tess. “Lady Bearer, I humbly ask to be released from my vow to accompany you, in order that I may reenter the service of the High Queen.”
“Thank you for everything, Haze,” said Tess with a fond smile. “Be safe.”
“There is no glory in safety,” replied Haze with a cheeky grin, and then he leapt from the table into the air, his bright aura trailing behind him as he sped out of the pavilion.
“Sometimes the Small Folk speak the truest words,” said Titania.
“Indeed,” agreed Vell. Then she put her hands on the table and stood. “I think we have discussed more than enough for this council, Queen Titania, and I would like to welcome the Lady Bearer back from her journey into the mortal world.”
“Of course.” Titania gracefully stood.
“I will send a messenger if the Small Folk return with any significant information,” said Vell.
“And I shall alert you to anything that I receive as well,” replied the Seelie Queen with a nod. Ailin and Gawain followed her as she swept out of the pavilion.
After a long moment, Vell sighed heavily. “Gods, does it never end?”
Tess raised her eyebrows. “Depends what you mean by ‘it.’ Life? Hopefully not. Queenly things? Not my area of expertise. Power struggles? Not when you have two Queens like Mab and Titania.” She shrugged and smiled.
Vell chuckled. “It’s good to have you back, Lady Bearer.”
“Good to be back, High Queen.”
“Come on then,” Vell said, standing. “Let’s go get you and your band of travelers some food. I’m sure that trapping bone sorcerers and travelling between worlds builds quite an appetite.”
“It does,” admitted Tess.
“And while you’re eating, you can tell me more details about this attempt on my little sister’s life,” said Liam, walking beside Tess as they followed Vell out of the pavilion.
“There’s really not much to tell,” said Tess truthfully. “Molly didn’t want to do it. Ramel had restored all of her memories, so she remembered being my best friend. She acted crazy so that Mab wouldn’t kill her outright, and she told me that Ramel convinced the Queen that he still needed her to perfect some methods of spells that could be useful on the Crown Princess.”
Liam shook his head. “Are you sure that Molly is, well, within her right mind?”
Tess frowned. “As far as I could tell.”
“It was only one future,” Gray said to Liam, touching his arm briefly in reassurance.
“What future?” demanded Tess. “You had a vision about Molly?”
“Like Gray said, it’s only one future,” her brother replied. “I’ll tell you later.”
Tess looked at him searchingly for a long moment before she nodded. “Fine, but only because I’m really hungry.”
“Facing down Mab must have taken a lot of energy,” said Liam teasingly.
“There was a lot of concentration involved,” replied Tess. “It was pretty intense.”
Her brother slung an arm around her shoulders. “You handled it well. Relax for a few hours at least, and then I’ll read you into the dire possibilities for the future.”
“Sounds like a plan,” said Tess with a sigh. She twisted and searched the group until she saw Luca. He walked with Merrick at the rear, speaking in a low voice with the Wild Court navigator. Kianryk had disappeared, presumably to go hunt or find the other wolves. Probably both, she thought. Then Luca looked up and met her eyes. He smiled at her and she found her own lips curving in reply.
“Tell me more details about the Exiled,” said Liam, reclaiming her attention. “How did they survive for so long in the mortal world? From everything that Gray has told me, they should have been dead a century ago.”
Tess smiled at her brother’s insistent curiosity. She took a deep breath and gathered her thoughts as she looked up at the soaring pale walls of the White City. It felt good to be back in Faeortalam with the people she loved most in the world…even if the threat of civil war loomed on the horizon. She firmly put aside thoughts of Mab and began describing Tyr and Corsica to Liam, the Caedbranr’s power shifting restlessly behind her breastbone as they walked the paths of the White City where Malravenar’s creatures had once roamed and where the Queens of the Fae realm now trod.
Chapter 5
Vivian walked into the living room, trying to ignore the sting of the fresh cut on her forearm. It was a small price to pay, she told herself firmly, to help Tyr. And then she saw Niall. Suddenly her thoughts turned to the price he had paid to save Forin’s life. Peripherally aware of Ross standing behind her, Vivian padded closer to the couch. Niall lay on his back. She watched him with wide eyes for a long moment until she saw the movement of his chest with his breath.
“He wasn’t this pale last night,” Ross said quietly.
“At this rate, our world has chewed up and spit out every single one of them,” murmured Vivian. She remembered how Merrick had looked after activating the rune-trap, the gray pallor lurking beneath his skin and the blue tingeing his lips. “He looks like Merrick did, before they put the runes on him.” She glanced at Ross. “What should w
e do?”
Ross considered. “Try to wake him up, I guess. See if he can tell us anything about how to help him.”
Vivian stepped closer to the sofa and reached out with her good hand. The Seelie man wasn’t huge and brawny like Luca, but he still carried a fair amount of muscle on his tall frame. He looked lethal, even in still, pale sleep. “I feel like I’m going to poke a sleeping panther,” she whispered. Leaning back slightly, she laid her hand on Niall’s shoulder. He didn’t stir at her touch. She gently shook him. A slight crease appeared on his forehead. As she watched his eyelids flutter, she noticed that his eyelashes were very long and very pale, almost white. Then his silvery eyes met hers, sending a shock through her.
“Good morning,” she said. “I…we…just wanted to make sure you were alright.”
He blinked and grimaced slightly. Vivian became acutely aware of her hand still resting on his shoulder. He took a deep breath and didn’t reply, gazing into the distance. Or at the ceiling, she couldn’t really tell.
“Are you alright, Niall?” Vivian ventured again.
After another long moment in which Vivian stared at him and he stared into nothingness, Niall drew a long, shuddering breath and closed his eyes briefly. When he opened them again, he actually looked at Vivian.
“It takes longer to reach the Queen,” he said in a gravelly voice, pushing himself into a sitting position.
Vivian hastily retracted her hand. “Reach the Queen…as in, communicate with her?”
“In a sense,” said Niall heavily. His long pale hair had escaped its braid and he pushed a strand of it behind his pointed ear in irritation. “I can’t speak to her with words. But our bond exists even here, even stretched between the worlds.”
“You didn’t answer my question,” said Vivian. “Are you alright?”
Niall smiled humorlessly. “Do I look like I am alright?”
She looked down, stung by his flippant reply. “You don’t have to be sarcastic. I was just trying to ask whether there is anything we…anything I could do to help.” She pressed her lips together, biting down on words that she would probably regret later.