Burnt Silver

by H A Titus

  I felt my hackles rise. At these times, I really missed Josh's tempering effect on me. "Really? He's the one who got her killed? He only talked to Maira once!"

  Da shot me an annoyed look, then reached out, put his hand on the girl's shoulder. "Sarenna, right? Maira was your grandmother?"

  I winced. Dammit. Why couldn't I just have kept my mouth shut?

  The girl nodded.

  "Sarenna, why don't you repeat for my son what you just told me."

  Sarenna glanced over at me, then at Da, then dropped her gaze to the ground and crossed her arms. "Last night, I was out back packing up a few things. We were just getting ready to leave for the day and make deliveries—Gran has a few customers who buy potions and things from her." Her eyes flicked up to me. "Harmless, you understand. Mostly just herbs and essential oils. The humans go nuts for that stuff."

  I nodded, hoping I'd schooled my face into something resembling encouragement.

  "So I was packing up, and I saw these two humans come in through the front door. Men. Kinda unusual—the few humans we do get down here typically tend to be female. And I recognized them because they'd visited once before. The first time they talked to Gran, they just acted like they were interested in the shop, in having their fortunes told. But this time they started asking about who runs the city, who keeps it safe, that sort of stuff. Then one of them mentioned Eliaster by name."

  I did not like where this was going. I shifted my weight from foot to foot.

  "Gran says yes, she's seen Eliaster Tyrone pass by, he generally wanders the market on most days. They say, have you ever read his fortune, Gran says no. They ask, you ever read fortunes of anyone associated with the Tyrones, and Gran admits yes, a couple of their employees. The smaller guy asks, a scrawny human kid with glasses, and Gran says yes again. And then the bigger guy, he says, we hear you pass along more than just the fortunes. Gran got all bristly and said she doesn't know anything about that, she's just a respectable upstanding citizen trying to make an honest wage, and that she was about to close up shop if they didn't mind.

  "They kept pushing at her, trying to get her to admit she'd passed along sensitive information, and Gran got all mad, saying she was going to put a curse on them if they didn't get out.

  "Now, the thing is, Gran didn't have that much glamour to her name, not anymore, but she had enough to push a nasty curse or two, and everyone knows it. So they left, swearing her up and down the street, and I thought that was the end of it. She was so upset she sent me home early, saying she'd take care of the deliveries, but she never came home last night, and when I checked here …" The girl broke down, sobs choking her voice.

  Crap. I looked at Maira's body again, rubbing the back of my neck.

  Lily reached out and put her arm around the girl's shoulders, gently leading her out the back door of the tent.

  Cormac glanced over at me. "When did Josh last talk with Maira?"

  "Like I told her, just the one time about a week, week-and-a-half ago." I sighed and scraped my fingers through my hair. "I can't believe this."

  I crouched down, studying Maira's body from a distance before shuffling closer. The blood was tacky, the rug stiff to my touch. Blood soaked the front and back of Maira's layered dresses and shawls, but several puncture wounds marred her chest and back. The punctures looked deep enough to have stabbed her through. I held my hand up in the shape of a claw and compared the pattern to her wounds.

  "So, the redcaps yet again," Da said.

  I nodded, stood up. "Yeah, and Angel says he heard something scratching around his place last night too."

  Da looked over at Angel, who nodded.

  "You really think it was a redcap?" Angel asked. "I mean, other than this, what do you have?"

  "One came after Josh the other day, but he's dead, so this has to be the work of a second," I said.

  "Josh killed a redcap?" There was so much disbelief in Angel's voice that it was almost comical.

  I snorted, trying to keep from laughing. "No. I tracked it down and watched two men murder it."

  Da's eyes narrowed. "The same two men who talked to Maira?"

  "Based on Sarenna's description, it sounds likely. Besides, I don't think there could be that many humans who associate with redcaps."

  "Humans," Angel muttered. "Fascinating. Ex-curators, I wonder?"

  "Possibly, but I don't think there are that many ex-curators in existence," Da said. "Even if they stop working in the field, so to speak, they tend to stick to the community. Like tends to stick with like."

  And where does Josh come into that? I wondered. Like tends to stick with like, but Josh isn't fae, and he's becoming … what, less human?

  As soon as I thought it, a chill rolled down my spine. No. That wasn't what was happening.

  I stood up, dusted off my knees, and stepped out the back door. Sarenna sat slumped against the rickety boards of the next building, with Lily standing beside her looking extremely uncomfortable.

  I crouched down in front of Sarenna. "Two questions, and then I'll get out of your hair. Did the two men say where they were from?"

  Sarenna shook her head, wiping her eyes.

  "Okay. Second, do you know who could've told them that your gran had given my friend Josh information?"

  Sarenna bit her lower lip as she thought. "I … maybe Cordella? She's a goblin fortune teller a few blocks away. She and Gran didn't get along very well."

  Of course not, I thought. I stood. "Look, I'm really sorry about your gran." I tried to make it as heartfelt as I could, but I'd never met the woman, and my words rang hollow. I think Sarenna knew that.

  I walked around the outside of the tent.

  Josh sat on the curb, hunched over with his knees drawn up to his chest. He looked up as I approached. "Well?"

  "I think it's the same guys who I saw kill that redcap, and it looks like there are more redcaps out there than we thought."

  Josh winced.

  We sat in silence for a minute.

  "Look," Josh said finally. "I'm sorry I couldn't go in there."

  "It's okay. It was brutal. You didn't need to see it."

  "I … I think I did see it, though."

  I ducked a little so I could look my friend in the eyes. His irises were still a little too bright, making his eyes stand out more sharply and giving his face an almost drawn, hungry look.

  "What do you think is happening to me?" he asked, his voice small and quiet and scared.

  "I don't know, but we'll find out." I reached over and gripped Josh's shoulder. "But like you told me earlier, I'm here. I won't let you walk this road alone. I swear."

  CHAPTER 27

  JOSH

  The ring felt heavy in my pocket as Eliaster and I made our way back to the rath. The weight scared me. It felt more and more like I was carrying the ring to Mount Doom, and I knew how that had turned out for Frodo.

  I'd seen that old woman, dead, before I'd even stepped into the tent. Based on what Eliaster had described to me, I'd seen the scene perfectly. I could've told him where to find every deck of cards, every potion, every crystal in the mess scattered across the floor. I could've told him that there was a crumpled ball of paper spilled from the trash can under her desk. I could've told him exactly how the body lay, and the exact shape of the stain in the rug.

  I did, as we walked. And the more I talked, the more Eliaster's face turned grim, until it was like his features had been carved from stone.

  We stopped outside the gate to the Tyrone rath, and I reached over and grabbed his arm. "What's happening to me, Eliaster?"

  "Do you still feel weird?"

  I shook my head. Once I'd taken the ring off, the little spots of light and shadow had vanished. The strange double-vision, like everything around me had a glamour ghost that wasn't quite disappearing as I looked at it, had also gone away. And I hadn't seen any glowing vines since I'd first put the ring on. But even now, hours later, I still felt weird. There was an itch in my skin that I couldn't g
et rid of. It wasn't the ring, because I had absolutely no desire to put it on again. But something … something had been awakened in me. That was the only way I could describe it.

  "We'll talk to Roe. I'll hunt down those redcaps and the men manipulating them, and we'll figure this out."

  I noticed his use of I. "You can't do that by yourself."

  "At the moment, I'd rather you pursue what's going on in your head."

  I cringed. Great, it was going to go back to that. He'd started trusting me, but he was probably right—who knew what was going on. Maybe I wasn't trustworthy now.

  "Hey." Eliaster jerked me around to face him. "Not because I think you're lying to me, or dangerous, or anything else is going on in that big brain of yours." He poked my forehead. "But I'm worried. This is not normal for a human—at least, not in my experience."

  I smirked. "I feel like that's a sort of backhanded compliment."

  "Sure, we can call it that. Either way, I'd rather we try to figure out what's going on now than have something weird happen that isn't so good for us later, at a vital moment."

  "What about later, at Drake Airgead's gala?" I glanced down at the gravel under my feet, resisting the urge to kick the rocks like a little kid. "I should probably stay home from that, shouldn't I?"

  "Not a chance."

  I looked up, surprised.

  "I told you. I'm trusting you, Josh. One hundred percent. We're a team, and I know we'll need your help at the gala. Besides—" Eliaster smirked. "Aileen trusts you more than she trusts me. And that's important right now."

  I nodded. I still felt a little sick, but it was nice to know that he was going through with his promise. Trusting I could contribute to the problem, that I could take care of myself. He thinks Aileen trusts me more than him? The idea lit a bit of a warm glow in the center of my chest.

  We headed into the house, and Eliaster disappeared almost immediately, leaving me to walk to the library by myself.

  Roe sat in her customary chair by the fire, which crackled and spread the scent of clean campfire throughout the room. She looked up as I flopped into the chair beside her.

  "Long day?" she asked.

  I nodded and leaned forward, cradling my head in my hands. "Yeah. Did you hear about Maira?"

  "Yes. Very tragic, and unsettling, considering your own attack." She paused.

  I glanced up between my fingers. Roe was regarding me with a quiet watchfulness, perched on the edge of her chair.

  "I saw it all, Roe," I said quietly. "Without even stepping into her tent, I saw it. The body, the blood, the wounds, even the things on the shelves, all down to the last detail. And that's not all." I desperately tried to keep my voice steady, but it trembled anyway. "Those dreams, about the glamoured vines? I had another one. But this time I was able to control the vines. And look at this." I pulled the stone disk from my pocket and held it out in my hand.

  It was still mesmerizing, watching the glamour spread a layer of granite over my skin, only for it to crack and crumble into dust. Over and over. Hypnotic. I pulled myself out of the rhythm and imagined a thin glove of glamour between my skin and the stone, pushing my will forward. This time, I could watch it happen. A layer of green glamour instantaneously wrapped my hand, and the disk just sat there, flickering but unable to affect me any longer.

  Roe frowned. "Where did you learn that trick?"

  "I watched Keelin do it once. Once, Roe. And …" I hesitated, then forced myself to keep speaking. I wasn't going to start keeping secrets. I told her how I'd worn the ring, messed with the stone disk while I was talking to Henry. How I'd felt dizzy afterward, and even after Eliaster had made me take the ring off, I'd been tired and fallen asleep in the car.

  I looked up at the older fae woman, feeling a little like a penitent at confession. Roe was staring, not at me, but at the fire, her brows furrowed and her lips pursed. After a moment, she glanced over at me, then reached forward and grasped my hand with hers.

  "I don't know what to tell you, Josh," she said softly. "But one thing I am certain of—you are here for a purpose."

  I smiled weakly. "Yeah? It feels like a cosmic joke."

  "There are no accidents. At times of need, heroes will arise …" her voice trailed away, and she abruptly got up and walked over to the bookshelves. She ran her fingers along the spines of the books, the old leather and cloth crackling and wrinkling at her touch. She picked one out and came back, showing me the title.

  Mort d' Artur.

  I looked up at her. "The Legends of King Arthur?"

  "Merlin, specifically. There's a legend in the British Isles that if they are ever in need, Merlin will come back to rescue them. Some people believe some of their most famous leaders—William Wallace, Churchhill—were reincarnations of Merlin."

  I took the book, weighed it in my hands. "Please don't tell me you think I'm a reincarnation of Merlin."

  She chuckled. "No, but I do ascribe to the theory of heroes rising when there is a need. And I believe that you and Eliaster are two such heroes. Nothing is coincidence, Josh."

  I nodded, looking down at the book in my hands. Knowing Roe cared was the only reason those words didn't make me feel worse. It felt too vague. I need something concrete.

  I remembered the way Aileen had looked at my bracelet. The way that she'd told me to put it back on. She knew something about it. Maybe she knew why I was suddenly able to use glamour.

  I pulled my phone from my pocket and texted her. We got Henry. We should probably meet to discuss plans for your dad's gala this weekend.

  I didn't even have to wait thirty seconds this time before the little typing icon popped up. This is becoming something of a habit of ours. :)

  I blinked. She was using emoticons now? Wasn't quite sure what to make of that. Yeah, sorry.

  Pfftt. Don't be. The Black Dog again, tomorrow morning? Eliaster can come too. I have to leave tomorrow afternoon to get back to New York.

  If she possibly had the answers I thought she did, Eliaster wouldn't just want to come along. The Wild Hunt wouldn't be able to keep him away.

  CHAPTER 28

  ELIASTER

  I sighed heavily and leaned back in my chair, twisting the pen in my hands. Another piece of crumpled paper rolled away from me.

  "Sounds like it's going well," Liam commented from the bar.

  I shot him a glare. The faoladh had already turned his attention back to the TV mounted in the corner. Except for me and Liam, the place was empty. Even though the pack had agreed to shelter Aileen and Cori, they weren't needed for planning what was essentially a heist at Drake Airgead's.

  I rubbed my forehead. A heist. Who would've ever thought that I'd be planning a heist? Josh was giddy over the idea. Not me. I looked up at the TV, trying to see what Liam was watching. "Didn't know you were a soccer fan."

  "I'm not, but it's less painful than watching you."

  I rolled my eyes and dragged out the map that was crumpled under my notes. "Okay, smartass." I spread the map out on the bar. "Tell me, if there was a group of redcaps hanging out in Springfield, where would they be?"

  Liam raised one eyebrow. "Redcaps. Didn't Josh say he was attacked by a redcap?"

  "Yeah. So?"

  "And so now you're planning a one-man vendetta against them."

  "No, I'm trying to figure out who's hiring them."

  Liam's ear twitched, and he scratched it. "Why would you think—"

  The doorbell jingled. I spun around on the barstool.

  Aileen let the door swing shut behind her, then noticed my gaze. She held her hands out. "Didn't know there was a welcoming party. Figured it'd be just me and the wolves today."

  "Faoladh," Liam corrected. "The first thing you need to know about getting along with us—call us faoladh. We're not wolves, and we're not werewolves."

  "Okay, sorry." She glanced around. "Where's Josh?"

  "I dunno, he was running some sort of experiment involving glamour and a video camera last I saw, so …" I shrugge
d. "Hopefully soon?"

  Aileen laughed as she sat beside him. "What's all this?" She gestured to the stuff spread over the counter.

  I exchanged a glance with Liam, then said, "Have you heard about the redcap killings?"

  She wrinkled her nose. "No. There are redcaps in Springfield?"

  "Seems like."

  "Awesome. And here I thought maybe I'd be getting away from stuff like that." She sighed.

  An awkward silence consumed the room. I started gathering up my notes and the map, stuffing it all into my backpack.

  After a few minutes, Liam plunked a beer down on the counter in front of Aileen and leaned on the bar. He started to say something, but the bell jingled again, and Josh stepped into the bar, grinning.

  "Experiment go well?" I asked.

  "Inconclusive. The video camera blew up." Josh shot a grin at Aileen. "Hey."

  She smiled. "So, shall we get started?" She pulled a thin laptop from her bag and opened it. "I could've drawn a map, I guess, but it was just as easy to snag a digital copy of the blueprints to Drake's house. The only one we'll need to worry about is the first floor, anyway."

  "Do you have pictures of the pathstone?" I asked.

  Aileen shot me a look. I couldn't quite tell if it was annoyance, or surprise. "Of course." She picked up her phone and scrolled through the apps, then set it down on the counter between us.

  The screen showed a white granite stone about the size of my palm, sitting on a black cloth surface.

  Josh put his backpack on an empty table and stepped between us, reaching for the phone. "Do you mind?"

  "Go ahead," Aileen said.

  Josh picked up the phone and zoomed in, scrolling through different parts of the picture. "Do you have proof that this is in your dad's possession?"

  "Swipe right."

  He did so. The next picture that popped up was a selfie of Aileen, tongue stuck out, holding the stone up next to her face. Josh raised an eyebrow and shot an amused glance at Aileen. She shrugged, a shy smile on her face. Again, Josh zoomed in, studying the photo, especially around Aileen's hand.