by Jocelyn Fox
“Most of the time,” said Robin.
“Most of the time,” agreed Sage. “Though I could blame my lapse on the fugue of returning from a long spell under white shroud.”
Calliea looked at Merrick. “Did Queen Mab ever take any of your memories?” she asked softly and seriously.
“I cannot rightly say,” he replied. “I am younger than Finnead and Ramel. From what I know, they were not present at the time of the rebellion.” A crease appeared on his brow. “It’s strange. I had forgotten all about the rebellion, everything I’d heard as a young apprentice navigator, until Sage mentioned it again, so it is possible that our blood oath to Mab gave her the ability to…obscure…certain parts of our past that she did not want us reexamining.”
“Why?” said Calliea. “What good does that do?”
“Come now, Laedrek,” said Robin, crossing his ankles as he leaned back in his chair. “Surely you’re sharper than that. Think about it.”
Calliea considered and then spoke slowly. “She was afraid that the rebels – the Exiled – would be martyrs. That their cause would live on even after their banishment.”
“From what I can remember,” said Merrick, “after the disappearance of the Princess, the Queen was…different. Colder. Crueler.”
“And now she is crueler still,” said Calliea, thinking of what they’d heard at the council of the Queens only hours before.
“Tell me,” said Sage, “did you encounter them?”
“Yes,” said Merrick with a nod. “Their names were Tyr and Corsica.” He frowned. “I know that I should know something about Tyr. The name is familiar. But when I search for the memories, there is only a blank space in my head.”
“What kind of Queen pulls things from her subject’s minds in such a way,” said Calliea. She hadn’t particularly liked Mab before, but knowing that the Unseelie Queen had erased parts of Merrick’s memories…the thought of Mab prying into Merrick’s skull and selecting threads of recollection to destroy made her skin crawl and her heart beat faster in anger.
“One who is willing to do anything to secure her power,” said Sage. He paused and then continued. “From what I remember, Tyr was the leader of the rebellion.”
Merrick stared down at his hands, his eyes unfocused. Calliea watched uneasily as he grimaced. “I can remember nothing, but I know that I once knew about him. I just don’t know what.” He sighed in frustration and sat back in his chair.
“He was a bard,” said Sage. “He had a sister once…I don’t remember her name. But he and his sister traveled to the North and studied with the ulfdrengr. They wished to be released from their Court to make their way back to the North, and Mab refused.”
Calliea nodded slowly. “Gray told me once that Mab and the ulfdrengr king had fought over her refusal to release any of her people from her Court.”
“How is it that Mab accepted the Vyldretning baptizing me, then?” Merrick said with wide eyes, as though he was hearing all of this for the first time. Which he probably was, Calliea thought grimly.
“We’ve been so preoccupied with the war, and then with the bone sorcerer…we haven’t had the time to properly discuss everything that could impact the future of the Vyldgard,” she said. Merrick looked stricken, Sage nodded and looked thoughtful, and Robin shifted in his chair.
“I think I am beginning to understand the gravity of this morning’s council much more now,” Merrick said dazedly. “I had always just assumed that…I was beneath Mab. Beneath her notice, and therefore not a loss.”
Calliea made a sound of disagreement that was almost a growl. “I don’t believe that for one second.”
He shrugged and smiled at her. “You’re a bit biased, I think. I was only caught up in all of this because I was at the right place at the right time, really because I convinced Tess that she needed a navigator while traveling to Brightvale.”
“The same could be said for all of us,” Calliea pointed out. “If I hadn’t been at the Saemhradall, Tess wouldn’t have saved my life. And I wouldn’t be here right now.”
“All our lives are merely a series of fortunate coincidences,” said Robin with a smile.
“Or unfortunate coincidences,” said Sage.
Robin shrugged. “It depends on your perspective. I like to think that we choose our path.”
“In any case, all we’ve really managed to establish is that Queen Mab is much more dangerous than I realized,” said Calliea.
“How did you not think that a Sidhe Queen wasn’t dangerous?” demanded Sage incredulously.
“I said that she’s more dangerous than I realized,” repeated Calliea. “As hunters, what’s one of the first lessons we learn about the most threatening animals that we track?”
“You’d better take them down with one shot, because they’re even more dangerous when they’re wounded and cornered,” murmured Merrick.
Calliea nodded grimly. “Perhaps Queen Titania is right.”
“Right about what?” Robin asked, hunger in his green eyes as he stared at Calliea.
She realized too late that she’d already said too much and cursed herself silently. “I cannot say any more.”
“You know you’ve already said more than you should,” Robin said.
“And, of course, you would point that out,” she replied, irritation stirring at Robin’s irrepressible cheek.
“So why not just finish the deed?” He grinned. Sage chuckled and shook his head.
“Well, it’s good to know the two of you aren’t letting this concern you too much,” Calliea said with an arched eyebrow.
“You should know as well as anyone that at times looking danger in the face with a smile is the only way to stay sane,” said Sage.
“That’s true,” admitted Calliea, thinking of all that she had seen and done in the past days that she would have once deemed impossible or too perilous to survive: flying on a winged faehal, battling a dragon, skirmishing with dark creatures conjured from their deepest nightmares, and facing the final forces of Malravenar himself. She sighed and then gathered herself. “I promised Niamh that I would look in on Selaph.”
“I’m sure the other Valkyrie will be happy to see you,” said Sage with a nod.
Calliea forced a smile. “I’m glad to see that you’re healing well, and you don’t lack for company.” She nodded at Robin.
“We still practice every morning in the courtyard, Quinn and I,” said Robin. “I hope to see you both tomorrow morning.”
“I’ll let Luca and Tess know,” replied Merrick.
“Welcome back,” said Sage.
Calliea thought as they walked down the aisle of the healing ward that, all in all, it hadn’t been a very warm welcome back into Faeortalam. Even though they’d defeated Malravenar, now they faced another potential war looming darkly over the horizon. “Will it never end?” she said quietly, mostly to herself, as they walked toward the Valkyrie’s paddocks, skirting the exterior of the great cathedral.
“Hopefully it never will,” said Merrick. “Because if it ends, I think that means you’re dead.”
Calliea chuckled. “Well, thank you for that bit of levity.”
“I do my best,” replied the dark-haired navigator without any conceit. On impulse, Calliea whirled and kissed him thoroughly. After a little sound of surprise, Merrick enthusiastically returned her attentions.
“And your best is always more than enough for me,” Calliea murmured against his lips, reveling in the hot rush of fire roaring through her bones.
“I will always do my best for you, lady dragon slayer,” Merrick said, smiling as he kissed her once more, gently. She sighed and let him hold her for just a moment, listening to the beat of his heart as she laid her head against his chest.
“All right,” she said, disentangling herself. “I really do have to go check on Selaph and the others.”
“I’m happy to accompany you,” said Merrick. “I have no other pressing business at this moment.”
“I’m
sure Vell will summon you soon enough,” said Calliea.
Merrick chuckled, and together they made their way toward the paddock in the shadow of the great cathedral, its spires white and brilliant in the sky above them.
Chapter 7
“Does V know you’re watching her?”
Ross didn’t even turn to answer Duke. “I don’t know. If she looks back here she’ll see me. I’m not trying to hide or anything.” She sat on the couch with a paperback book in her lap and a large glass of iced tea in her hand, glancing every so often through the window at Vivian and Niall on the front porch. Vivian seemed as though she was meditating, her legs folded beneath her, her good arm extended, palm up, and her eyes closed, though the crease between her eyebrows gave away her intense concentration. Niall watched her silently, leaning back against one of the porch’s pillars. To Ross’ practiced eye, Niall still looked alarmingly pale. At first glance, she’d guess that he was one of the Unseelie, not a tawny Seelie Knight.
“Didn’t think you’d be okay with reading a book and relaxing,” Duke said.
“I’m not relaxing,” Ross replied automatically. “I’m waiting for call-backs from CPD, NOPD and LPD.”
“LPD?” Duke wrinkled his nose.
“Lafayette Police Department. Just over the bridge on the lakeshore.”
“Ah, okay. No hits online?”
“No,” said Ross, shaking her head. “I don’t know whether they would have filed any kind of report on the incident, since the girl might have been returned less than twenty-four hours after her disappearance. She might not have met the requirements for a missing persons report.” She glanced out the window again. “And with Niall out of juice, we’re stuck relying on police reports or news flashes to clue us in to where the bone sorcerer might be.”
“Good ol’ fashioned intel gathering,” muttered Duke.
“How’re Ramel and Molly? And Tyr?” said Ross. She checked her watch. “It’ll be my shift soon anyway.”
“You might not need to watch him,” said Duke slowly. “After V gave him some of her blood, Tyr is really doin’ a lot better. Might even consider him out of the woods in a few hours.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “Wish I could say the same for Ramel.”
“Maybe Molly will let me watch him and give her a break,” said Ross. The half-Fae woman hadn’t been very forthcoming since Tess’s departure, but Ross supposed that was only natural. From the story she’d been told, Tess and Molly had been best friends before they’d both crossed into the Fae world.
“I already offered,” said Duke with a shrug.
“Well, I’ll at least make her some lunch,” said Ross. She looked out the front window again, just in time to see a faint blue glow gather in Vivian’s cupped hands. She straightened and Duke stepped closer to the couch with a low whistle.
“I’ll be damned,” the wiry operator murmured as they both watched the ephemeral wisp of blue light strengthen into a fiercely glowing little fireball resting in Vivian’s palm. Niall smiled and touched Vivian’s shoulder; she opened her eyes and the expression of shocked joy on her face almost overcame Ross’ instinctual doubt in the so-called magic lessons. With wide eyes, Vivian raised her hands, staring in wonder at the swirling globe of blue fire. Ross couldn’t hear Niall’s words, but he gave Vivian instructions in a low voice and the redhead nodded, lowering her hands and closing her eyes again. The blue fire sank back into her palms, glimmering for an instant beneath the translucent skin of her wrists before disappearing entirely.
“Hopefully she doesn’t hyperventilate with excitement,” said Ross. “And I say that fondly.”
“Of course you do,” chuckled Duke. “But from her perspective…all this is probably literally something from her wildest dreams.”
“You don’t think that having you back is something from my wildest dreams?” This time Ross did look at Duke, and the long, silent look they shared ignited a little flame low in her belly.
“Well, I happen to know a thing or two about your wildest dreams, darlin’,” drawled Duke, “and yes, I accept the fact that I’m a part of ‘em.”
Ross chuckled. “I like how you entirely sidestep the fact that I was referring to you being officially dead for the better part of a year, and then all of a sudden some cosmic vortex spits you back out into the bayou of southern Louisiana.”
“First of all, it was a Gate, not a vortex,” said Duke. “And second of all, Tess said that you were the tether that pulled all of us here. I was the only one semi-conscious when I got sucked through, I guess. And the last thing I thought of was you.” He smiled. “How much I wanted to see you again. How I hoped you were happy.”
Ross took a deep breath. “I was getting there, I guess, but I still missed you. Every day. Every night. Every time I thought about the last time I was really happy.”
“Well, you don’t have to think about the last time anymore,” said Duke, sliding onto the couch and gathering her into his arms. He kissed the top of her head. “I’m not leavin’ you again. Ever.”
“I thought we agreed you wouldn’t make promises like that,” she said, leaning back into his solid warmth.
“That was before,” he replied. “That was when I couldn’t control where I was sent or what I was gonna be doin’.”
“And now it’s different?”
“One of the few advantages to being legally dead,” he said wryly.
Ross surprised herself by chuckling. “I guess so.” She twisted in his arms to look up at him. “I mean, since everyone thinks you’re dead I guess that means you really can’t ever leave, whether you want to or not.” She grinned.
“When you put it that way, it sounds much less romantic and a lot more crazy-aunt-locked-in-the-attic,” Duke replied, looking down at her and raising an eyebrow.
Ross laughed and kissed him. She pulled away as he tried to move her onto his lap. “Careful,” she protested, righting her glass of iced tea before it spilled onto the carpet. “At least let me put this down.”
“So practical,” he said with a grin.
“This isn’t my house, it’s Vivian’s,” Ross replied seriously. “I’m just a tenant.”
“I doubt she’d cancel your lease over a spilled glass of tea.”
“I have no desire to find out,” countered Ross, raising her eyebrows. She crossed the living room and deposited her tea safely on the kitchen counter as the front door opened. May barreled into the house, gleefully greeting Duke on the couch and then romping over to Ross.
“Ross,” said Vivian breathlessly. “Ross, you won’t believe what – oh, sorry, Niall, let me get the screen door – Ross, you won’t believe what just happened!”
“I was watching through the window,” said Ross, smiling at her roommate’s excitement. She had to give it to Vivian, the younger woman had a way of infecting everyone around her with enthusiasm.
Vivian closed the front door after ushering Niall through the doorway. “Then you saw it! My taebramh!”
“The glowing little ball of fire? Is that what you mean?”
“Yes! That’s exactly what I mean!” Vivian grinned and gestured with her good hand. “How are you not absolutely ridiculously excited like I am?”
“I don’t know, V, maybe it’s because you’re the queen of nerds in this house,” teased Duke.
“Hey,” said Vivian, pointing severely at Duke, “I prefer the term geek.”
“All right, queen of the geeks,” amended Duke in an amused drawl.
Vivian turned her attention back to Ross. “Seriously. Nothing?”
“I’m excited for you,” said Ross. “But I don’t really think that I have any sort of talent for throwing fireballs.”
“You wouldn’t know until you tried,” argued Vivian, hands on her hips.
“Actually,” said Niall, “some mortals don’t have any talent at all. So Rosalyn may be right.” He smiled tiredly at Ross, who looked at him suspiciously.
“I don’t think I ever told you my full name,” s
he said, narrowing her eyes. He didn’t reply, but something like amusement flashed through his pale gaze for just an instant. She was distracted from her scrutiny of the Seelie man by a globe of light that sailed into the room, trailing neon sparks.
“Speakin’ of fireballs,” drawled Duke.
“Forgive me for interrupting your conversation,” Farin said, whirling to bow to each of them in turn. She spun to face Niall again. “My brother has awakened and I felt it safe to leave him for a moment, so I had to find you and thank you once again for saving his life.”
“No thanks are necessary,” said Niall. He looked genuinely uncomfortable under the fierce Glasidhe’s gaze.
“Your efforts to save him were extraordinary,” Farin said firmly, her beautiful little face alight with passion. “And you cannot tell me otherwise, though you may be one of the Summer Queen’s Three.”
“I did what I knew to be right,” said Niall quietly. “Forin was helping to guard the bone sorcerer. If I had been the one on watch, I trust that everyone here would have expended similar efforts to save my life.”
“But not all would have given up their taebramh,” Farin said earnestly, drifting closer to the Seelie Knight. A profound silence followed her words. Mayhem panted into the stillness. Vivian looked stricken, and Niall closed his eyes briefly. Duke raised his eyebrows and glanced at Ross.
“Farin,” Vivian said in an uncharacteristically quiet voice, “you just said that Niall…that Niall gave up his taebramh to save Forin?”
Farin took in their shocked faces and her hands flew to her mouth. Her incandescent wings fluttered in agitation. “Oh,” she said softly, looking back to Niall. “I am sorry. I would not have told them, if I had known that you did not want me to.”
“I am not entirely certain that is the price,” said Niall, his voice carefully neutral. “I do know that at least for a time I will be without my taebramh.” He shifted his gaze from Farin to Ross and Duke. “I can still handle a blade, and I will help in any way I can to defend this house and those within it.”