Gwen stared at him, eyebrows raised.
“What? I’m hungry,” he said defensively.
Gwen examined the berry then shrugged her shoulders and popped it in her mouth. It was slightly tart, but juicy and flavorful.
“Well, I guess we’ll go down together. Thanks for breakfast.” She took a few more berries.
They ate in silence. Gwen was relieved that Aidan was acting like his normal self after the previous night, but she wasn’t sure whether to talk about it or not. How much of what had happened had been because of that strange drink? She was still trying to sort out her own feelings. She certainly didn’t have a clue what Aidan thought.
He broke the silence.
“I need to ask you something.” He sounded nervous. Gwen picked up the empty leaf and started fidgeting with it, her stomach twisting. Aidan hesitated, and said, “What you said last night. About why you don’t like to drink.”
Gwen headed him off.
“I was intoxicated. You can’t take anything I said last night seriously.” She tried to laugh it off, but Aidan looked down at his hands without smiling. Gwen’s forced chuckle died in her throat.
“You told me what you’ve done. I also saw your skin start to glow when we were—you know, before the bonfire went out. I know you told me the truth,” he took a deep breath, “because I’m like you.”
Gwen stared at him, uncomprehending. And what had he said about her glowing? Had she done something strange in the heat of the moment?
He went on. “You know I do magic tricks. What you don’t know is that nothing I do is a trick. It’s all real. I have magic, or whatever you want to call it.” He gulped, still looking at his hands. “That’s why I don’t have any close friends. It’s easy to fool strangers, but a friend would figure it out eventually.” He slowly raised his eyes to Gwen’s. “I’ve never told anyone before. I thought I was the only one.” He looked desperately sad and hopeful all at once.
Gwen let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. She closed her eyes for a long moment, relishing the waves of relief washing over her. She opened her eyes and looked directly into Aidan’s.
“It’s lonely, isn’t it?” She reached out and grabbed his hand between both of hers. After a moment, he placed his other hand on top.
They sat together for a minute, then Gwen released Aidan’s hands, leaning to one side to prop herself up on her elbow. The hand-holding embarrassed her a little, but the feeling was drowned out by the relief and happiness of finding someone like her.
“When did you first find out?” Gwen looked at Aidan, intensely curious. Aidan looked down at his hands.
“I don’t remember the first time. It’s always been like this. Mum was freaked out by it, so she made me keep it under wraps. I learned to control it on my own, when she wasn’t around.” He twisted his pant cuffs, fidgeting. “I never knew my dad. Mum wouldn’t talk about him. I figure he might have been like me.” He looked at Gwen, eyes questioning. “Do you know where you got it from?”
“I never knew my mother,” Gwen said slowly, wondering. “My dad definitely doesn’t have any of this. He spent a week with my mother and found me on his doorstep nine months later.”
Aidan raised his eyebrows, clearly shocked.
“I’ve tried to find her since,” Gwen continued. “But it’s like she never existed. I couldn’t control the—magic—as a kid, but I’ve learned to keep a lid on my emotions. I try not to get too worked up about anything, and the magic doesn’t show up. Too often.”
“That’s no way to live,” Aidan said firmly. “I could show you how to control it, if you like.”
Panic rose in Gwen at the thought of exposing herself to the strangeness, the magic. She said hastily, “Let’s focus on getting Ellie back first.”
***
Gwen and Aidan’s walk on the path was as easy and uneventful as their scramble the day before had been horrendous and obstacle-filled. They walked side by side down the well-maintained path lit by rays of sunlight, breathing in the warm air and listening to cheerful birdsong. Gwen played with her vision, trying to replicate the eye trick that Loniel had taught them. She relaxed and unfocused her eyes, and the enchanted gloom of yesterday’s forest took over her vision. She ducked in panic as a branch fell directly to her left. She heard Aidan laugh and switched back to the beautiful calm they walked through. The branch became a drifting green leaf.
“Dancing with yourself?” Aidan raised an eyebrow.
“Just checking out the enchantments. You can switch back to the old forest if you want.”
“And why would I do that? If I never see that forest again, it’ll be too soon.” Aidan grimaced. “You have to give this queen some credit, though—she certainly knows how to roll out the unwelcome mat.”
After an hour of walking they reached a large grove of poplars, carpeted by delicate bluebells. Gwen spotted a dark mass between distant trees. She pointed it out to Aidan, who stopped immediately.
“If that’s the castle, then we’d better be ready.” He held out a hand. “Can I clean you up? Your dress is dirty.”
Gwen looked at him askance. Aidan’s cheeks flushed.
“I can do it by magic,” he said, avoiding her eyes. She lifted her arms in reply. Aidan waved his hand and a strong warm wind blew her skirts and buffeted her off balance.
“Whew!” She regained her feet. “That was enthusiastic.” She looked down at her dress, clean once again.
“Hey, no complaining. I’m self-taught.” Aidan turned his hand to his own outfit.
“No complaints. I’m impressed that you can use it at all, given my lack of skills.” Aidan looked mollified. Gwen said, “So, do we just try to waltz in like we own the place, or do we sneak in?”
“Let’s play it by ear. Although we did fool them once for being Breenan, so here’s hoping we can pull it off again.”
They continued forward, more cautiously now. The castle appeared piecemeal through the trees, an imposing stone fortress with grey walls that were clean and bright. Crenellated turrets sprouted haphazardly alongside spires and domes, with pennants and flags waving cheerfully from their peaks. Gwen frowned in confusion.
Aidan said, “It looks like the architect didn’t know what he wanted.”
“Or that there were too many different builders,” Gwen said. She let her eyes unfocus to see the castle under enchantment. “Whoa, check it out the other way.”
The castle was a decrepit hulking ruin. Vines climbing up the crumbling walls tore the stones apart. Huge boulders littered the ground in front. Moss crept over every surface, and trees grew close to the walls of the ruin.
“I hope our new vision shows the true condition. That looks like it should be condemned,” Gwen said, switching back out of the enchantment.
“Looks like nobody is manning the doors, so that’s good news.” Aidan pointed forward. “Should we just go for it?”
“I don’t really have any better idea,” Gwen admitted. “Okay, head high, like we’re supposed to be here.” It struck her suddenly that her mother might be here. What if she had been taken to this Otherworld years ago, just like Ellie had been spirited away? Was it possible?
“Righto.” Aidan offered his arm to Gwen. They strolled toward the open double doors, twice as tall as Aidan. As they drew near, music floated toward them on the breeze. They glanced at each other.
“Ready?” Aidan asked. Gwen nodded slowly and took a deep breath. They climbed up the steps and paused at the doorway. Gwen blinked a few times as her eyes adjusted to the dim light of the castle interior.
They were at the edge of an enormous ballroom. The only natural light came from the tall double doors Gwen and Aidan were standing in. The rest of the cavernous interior gleamed in the light of a thousand candles, dripping from wall sconces and swaying on elaborate chandeliers. Candlelight illuminated the people below. There were hundreds of them, almost all in swirling motion as they danced to a waltz played by a small orchestra on
a dais in one corner. They were dressed in highly decorative medieval-style garb, long sleeves and colorful sashes brightening the ballroom floor. Gwen gave silent, fervent thanks to Ellie—her green velvet dress blended in perfectly. Many of the attendees wore masks bedecked with jewels and feathers and horns, winking and glittering as the dancers spun.
Candlelight glinted off intricate sword displays mounted on the walls, interspersed with huge woven tapestries. The nearest tapestry caught Gwen’s eye, its glimmering golden threads depicting a hunting scene. Unlike the tapestry in her classroom in the human world, this one showed a hunt not of deer, but of men. Their open-mouthed terror made Gwen queasy, and when she spotted a child woven into the bottom corner she turned away in horror, her stomach clenching. How did she and Aidan think they would get away with this charade? And where was Ellie?
“Is this all these people do? Dance, I mean?” Aidan muttered in her ear. They edged sideways, trying to remain unnoticed. Gwen’s determination to march in like she owned the place leaked away at the sight of the hundreds of dancers.
“I guess so. I wish we had masks. I’d feel a lot more comfortable with one.” Gwen looked around, but no masks were forthcoming.
“Not everyone has one, so we aren’t entirely out of place.” Aidan’s words were confident, but his voice was unsure. Gwen looked around at the crowd of dancers.
“Do you think Ellie is here? What do they want with her? Maybe we should check for dungeons or something, I don’t know.” Gwen’s thoughts turned to what Corann wanted with Ellie. None of the scenarios she envisioned looked good. She scanned faces for Ellie’s cheerful round features, but also kept the sketch of her mother in her mind.
“Wait a minute,” Aidan said suddenly, scanning the crowd. “Wasn’t she wearing a blue dress?”
“Yes! Blond hair, short, blue dress. Do you see her?” Gwen clutched his arm tightly, trying to follow his line of sight.
“Yeah, I think so. Dancing with the guy in the red shirt, with a bird mask. On the left side. There, she just twirled out.”
Gwen breathed in sharply, hand to her mouth. There was Ellie, unmistakable, her hair still miraculously up in its styling from the ball of two nights ago. She was waltzing, and as she turned Gwen was horrified by the look of misery on her face. Gwen’s grip on Aidan’s arm tightened.
“Are they’re forcing Ellie to dance? Look at her face!” Gwen’s breathing was shallow in fear and indignation. Aidan shushed her.
“Try to look normal. There are Breenan looking our way.”
Gwen tried to compose her features into a neutral expression, but her insides were writhing. She stole a glance around. One or two people in masks had their faces turned to Gwen, but looked away without interest when Gwen calmed. She spoke quietly to Aidan out of the side of her mouth.
“I want to get closer so Ellie can see me.”
Aidan looked around, readjusting Gwen’s hand in the crook of his arm.
“Come on then. Try to look inconspicuous.”
They set out around the perimeter of the ballroom. Gwen had never been so terrified in her life. The eyes of the Breenan peered through masks and over goblets, but no one seemed very interested in them and no one stopped them. Gwen had to remind herself to breathe.
“You know,” Aidan said quietly as they side-stepped to miss a dancing couple, “I thought it might be worse. Being made to dance, well, I can think of worse fates.”
“But did you see her face?” Gwen said. “There’s something not right going on.” Aidan gave her a look. She amended, “Beyond the obvious, that is.”
When they reached the area where Ellie danced, Gwen pulled Aidan close to the wall next to a thick round pillar that disappeared into the gloom of the ceiling above their heads. Aidan looked around surreptitiously to make sure no one watched them, but Gwen had her eyes fixed on Ellie.
Ellie’s look of vacant-eyed misery changed when she spotted Gwen. Her eyes opened wide with disbelief, and astonishment transformed her face. The shock made her stumble, and she grabbed her partner for balance.
The entire ballroom stopped still, and all heads swiveled to focus on Ellie.
Chapter 10
Gwen watched in confusion as the dancers parted to create an empty corridor. A woman appeared at the end, resplendent in a turquoise silk dress and a heavy necklace of glittering jewels. An elaborate mask of peacock feathers and diamonds was affixed to her face, outlining large, dark eyes. She strode slowly down the corridor, stopping in front of Ellie. The man in red gripped Ellie’s forearm to face her toward the lady.
“My queen,” said the man in red, bowing. “This human did not keep the rhythm.”
“What’s the matter, my dear? Is the dance too complex for you?” The queen’s voice was smooth and low, yet Gwen had no trouble hearing it clearly.
“No, my lady,” Ellie gasped out. She visibly shook.
“Is your partner not to your liking?” The queen glanced at the man in red. He gazed back, unconcerned.
“No, my lady, not at all.”
“Perhaps your shoes are too loose. Yes, that must be it.” She waved a hand toward Ellie’s feet. There was a strange ripping noise, and Ellie gasped in pain. Tears sprang to her eyes and she sunk toward the ground, only held upright by the grip of the man in red. Gwen’s stomach turned and it was all she could do to not cry out in sympathy. Was this terrible woman the queen Loniel has spoken of, the ruler that Corann has mentioned?
The queen smiled under her half mask. “There, that’s better. Now we won’t have any problems dancing, will we?”
“No, my lady,” Ellie forced out, head hanging.
The queen turned to address the crowd. Dispassionate eyes gazed out from silent masks at the lady and the limp form of Ellie.
“The humans are fragile things,” she said. The watching dancers laughed. The queen smiled before continuing. “But they are the key to fuelling the protection of our realm. I bring you these humans, and I take what we need from them. I do this for you, my people, for your safety and your comfort. For without my magic and my power, our realm would be overrun by our enemies. And so use this human, take from her what we need, and when she has no more to give, I will provide you with another. For I am your loving queen and I will protect my people with all my power.”
The crowd bowed their heads in obeisance as the queen turned away and the man in red hauled Ellie up. As the dancers took their positions the orchestra began to play once again. The queen climbed a dais on the far side and sat in a carved gilded throne, looking down on the dancing multitudes. Gwen let out her breath, not realizing she’d been holding it. She turned to Aidan.
“We have to get her out.”
Aidan nodded in agreement, his eyes wide.
Gwen’s mind whirled in frantic chaos. How could they free Ellie from the vindictive queen and her terrible court? What did they want with Ellie? Had Ellie not escaped yet because she was punished by magic if she tried? Gwen tried desperately to come up with a plan, but how could she free Ellie from someone whose abilities Gwen didn’t even understand? The rampant magic frightened her and made her feel powerless. What was the queen capable of doing? What Gwen had seen so far made her nervous for what else the queen was capable of.
Paralyzed with indecision, Gwen stood beside Aidan against the wall, watching Ellie dance. Suddenly the music stopped, and all the dancers moved gracefully into a wide circle. The queen stood up on her dais and walked to the center of the crowd.
“Loyal subjects and gentle guests, it is with sorrow that I must announce the departure of Prince Crevan’s company.” A young man with hair as flaming red as Aidan’s stepped forward. The queen nodded to him and continued. “It has been our honor to host your people for the past half-moon. Your father is a close ally and dear friend of our realm. Although we may feel sadness at your leaving, we know you travel to a far greater destination—the sacred mountain, where your children will be reborn into the adults they are destined to be.”
&n
bsp; The crowd applauded, and a large portion disentangled themselves from the others and joined Prince Crevan in the circle. About two-thirds of the group of fifty had red hair, leaving a scant few redheads left in the outer circle. The prince approached the queen to bow and kiss her hand.
As he did so, a Breenan man on Gwen’s left leaned toward them and whispered, “You’d better get moving, boy. You’ll miss your group, and the queen doesn’t take kindly to visitors overstaying their welcome.”
Aidan said quickly, “I’m not with them.”
The man leaned over and yanked at the collar of Aidan’s shirt to expose his left shoulder. Loniel had done the same thing before the bonfire. Gwen wondered what they were looking for, but didn’t ask for fear of exposure. Aidan jerked back.
The man winked.
“Nice try, boy. But there’s none of King Faolan’s fold who are unmarked and living in the queen’s court.” He nodded at Gwen. “Is she one of ours? Is that why you don’t want to go? Can’t say I blame you,” he said, leering at Gwen. Gwen tried not to wrinkle her nose.
“She’s with me,” Aidan said quickly.
“Then you’d best be off. Otherwise I’ll be bound to tell our beautiful queen.” His smile was nastier than Gwen had expected. “I wonder what she’ll do with you. Could be quite a scene.” Aidan swallowed and glanced at the queen. The expressionless mask revealed no secrets. The man said, “My favorites are the toenail extractions.”
Gwen’s eyes widened. She and Aidan looked at each other in horror.
Gwen said, “Look, the prince is leaving. We’d better get moving. Lovely to meet you.” She dragged Aidan toward the double doors which Prince Crevan’s group filed through. The man laughed behind them.
“Bloody hell,” Aidan muttered. “Now what? Do you think he was having us on?”
“You saw Ellie’s punishment,” Gwen said. “I have a bad feeling he meant every word. I think we’ll have to tread very carefully from now on.” They trotted forward to the door. Gwen said, “Let’s try to sneak off once we’re outside.”
Breenan Series Box Set Page 9