“Gwendolyn. Well met. I see you have somehow begun the process of connection for your coronation. It was you who changed the course of the battle, for which we are grateful.”
Gwen frowned.
“It wasn’t entirely me. That last group of fighters, they really made the difference.”
Faint confusion crossed Faolan’s face.
“We still aren’t sure who they are. Nevertheless, if they present themselves, they will have our thanks. But we must set that matter aside. Time is running out, and you must assume your position as queen of the Velvet Woods.”
Gwen closed her eyes. Here it was, the moment she’d been expecting and dreading since Isolde had turned up on her great-aunt’s doorstep. Was it only four days ago? Gwen felt a lifetime older. She thought of her life, and mentally said goodbye to everything: her new apartment, her studies, her favorite coffee shop, the dance class with her best friend Ellie, Sunday dinners with her father, Aidan… but at that thought, she closed off the memories. It was time to say goodbye. There was no point dwelling on them. She couldn’t dwell on them without bursting into an endless ocean of tears, so she didn’t let herself feel. This decision was not for her, it was to save untold people, Breenan and human both, whose lives would be destroyed if the realms ripped.
She had a sudden insight into her request to Isolde back in May, when she had asked for the locket that brought in humans to power the realm. What it must have taken Isolde to give her the necklace, to do something that would hurt the realm—Gwen now understood the enormity of her demand.
It didn’t matter what Gwen wanted. This was the right thing to do. The pure fire of that thought, while it didn’t warm her the way her memories did, gave her enough resolve to open her eyes.
“I’m ready.”
Faolan’s eyes held a hint of compassion, but he waved forward two attendants. One hung a green velvet cape from her shoulders, its edges finished with gold braid. The other held out Gwen’s tiara on a pillow. Faolan took it and placed it on Gwen’s head.
“I have heard it is customary for human rulers to make vows and proclamations upon their coronation,” he said quietly. “Those are unnecessary here. Once you have fully bound with your realm, you will know what is best for it and for your people. The vow you make is an unspoken one, but no less powerful. But you understand that already, don’t you?”
Gwen nodded. She could feel the magic of the realm under her feet, in the air around her, and deep in her core. Her eyes moved from Faolan’s to the door of the room of enchantments, behind the dais in the corner. Its carved wooden door beckoned her. She walked toward it with measured steps.
“Niece! Have you changed your mind?”
Chapter 17
It took a full astonished heartbeat for Gwen to understand the meaning of those words. When the truth dawned on her, she spun around.
Finn and Aidan stood at the front of a crowd of people. Kelan and Nialla were there, along with Fearghus, Mabina, and others from the Forbidden Lands. On every tribeless wrist was a copper bracelet. Gwen’s hand flew to her mouth and her knees wobbled. Then she ran to Aidan and flung herself in his waiting arms. He squeezed her until she could scarcely breathe. She lifted her face to see Finn’s beaming one.
“Shall I go back, Gwen? Would you like to be queen?”
“No!” she blurted out, then let out a hysterical giggle. “No, you’re just in time.”
Gwen couldn’t help herself—she pressed her lips to Aidan’s and he eagerly responded. An earth tremor made him sway.
“Gwendolyn.” Faolan’s voice was sharp. “We have very little time. You must enter the room.”
She disentangled herself from Aidan.
“King Faolan, meet Finn, my uncle and the future king of the Velvet Woods.”
The other rulers gasped and muttered. Faolan fixed Finn with a beady eye.
“It was you,” he said slowly. “You and your followers turned the tide of the battle.”
“It was,” Finn said calmly. “I brought my friends and countrymen with me. They are all people of great power and greater hearts. They are the tribeless ones.”
Silence and wide eyes followed this proclamation. Finn stood quiet and self-assured. Gwen was impressed with his poise and could see him clearly as a king.
“We found a solution for the tribeless ones,” she said into the silence. She looked to Aidan for confirmation.
“Bracelets with the magic-dampening spell on them,” said Aidan. “And tuned to the strength needed for each wearer. It’s permanent and portable.”
“There is no need for the Forbidden Lands now,” said Gwen. “And Finn can rule with his tribeless wife and daughter by his side.”
“And when I am king,” Finn said. “All tribeless ones will be welcome in my realm.”
Queen Ula stepped forward.
“May I see your charm?”
Nialla held out her arm. Queen Ula touched the bracelet for a few moments.
“Ingenious,” she said. “Astounding.”
“But we can’t have tribeless ones running around uncontained!” said King Gavin. “They’re far too dangerous. Wild and out of control.”
“Only without this spell!” Gwen said with heat.
“It might work,” said Queen Ula. “It might.”
“Are you willing to stake the safety of your people on it?” said King Gavin.
“And how did they manage to fight—and win—the battle today?” demanded Gwen. “If they’re so uncontrollable, how did they harness their power to take down our enemies? And now they stand here, calmly waiting for you to accept them. They have as much right to be here as you do, and even if I were taking the throne, you can bet they would be as welcome in my realm as they will be in Finn’s!”
She breathed hard. Queen Ula faced King Gavin.
“It really will work, King Gavin. I’ve never seen its like. The bracelets will work.”
King Gavin threw up his hands. Faolan stepped over to Nialla and touched the bracelet.
“I believe they will. Well, it is your realm to rule as you will. You may have an uphill battle for acceptance of the tribeless ones, but you are free to try if you wish. Now, Gwendolyn, I must give you the spell to transfer heirship.” He placed his fingertips firmly on Gwen’s temples, and the warmth in Gwen’s core was accompanied by a vision of a much younger Faolan with a be-crowned older woman who might have been his mother.
“Now, go,” Faolan said as another tremor shook the floor under their feet. “End this once and for all.”
“Wait,” said Isolde. She hurried to Finn with a coronet in her hands. It was a golden circlet of overlapping leaves with ruby berries sprinkled throughout. “A crown for my brother-king.” She smiled. “Welcome to the family.”
Finn nodded his thanks, and he and Gwen strode to the room of enchantments. The door swung open of its own accord when they approached, and the light from twelve white-flamed lanterns glowed over the threshold. Gwen took a deep breath and walked inside.
***
As soon as Gwen stepped into the room, she felt that same sense of blissful connection she had felt when her hands had touched the ground of the Velvet Woods. She smiled in recognition, and her eyes closed. Now that Corann’s coercive presence was gone, her consciousness could stretch to every part of the realm. Every tree, every sleeping squirrel, every forest family snug in their cottage, every living thing announced its presence with a soft glow to the magic of the realm. It was intoxicating. The magic welcomed her, folding her essence into itself until she wasn’t sure where she ended, and it began.
She opened her eyes. Finn gazed at her with a curious expression on his face.
“You feel the connection, don’t you?” he said. “My mother spoke of it. Are you sure you want to give it up?”
Gwen thought for a moment. She considered the draw of the realm and the feeling of belonging. Then she thought of Aidan. It wasn’t a long moment.
“Yes, I’m sure.” She took a deep
breath and released it slowly, then addressed the room. “I’m sorry, realm, but I have to go. I’m leaving you in good hands, though. This is my uncle Finn. You’ll meet him in a minute.” She turned to Finn. “Are you ready?”
He nodded with determination.
“Yes. You may begin.”
Gwen closed her eyes and brought out the magic from her core in the way Faolan had taught her. The lanterns dimmed, and a warmth flowed over her. The deeper magic of the realm felt confused, searching. Gwen touched her palm to Finn’s forehead, who closed his eyes. The magic found him, poured into him through Gwen, and her back arched as it flowed past her and into Finn, who glowed with a brilliant white light. Yipping and howling, growling and chirping, animal noises of all kinds filled the air. The carved animals on the walls jumped and ran, suddenly alive with the magic flowing through Gwen to Finn. Eventually, the sensation of connection grew less and less, until the last speck of the magic passed out of Gwen and she fell to her knees, empty, drained. The animals froze in their carvings. Finn’s glow faded, and he took a shuddering breath.
“It’s done.” He scrubbed his face and let out a low whistle. “This is life-changing, isn’t it?”
He held out a hand to Gwen, who hauled herself up from the floor. She was shaky and felt a profound sense of loss, but also very free. She had been so distracted by the heady connection to all life that she hadn’t truly noticed the weight of responsibility for everything. Now that it was gone, she felt lighter than air.
“Are you okay?” she asked Finn.
“I think so. And yourself?”
“Never better.” Gwen smiled widely and untied the velvet cape from her neck to drape over Finn’s shoulders. It looked good on him. She plucked the tiara off her head and admired it for a moment. The blue sapphires and emeralds winked in the lanterns’ light. Gwen held it out to Finn.
“Here. Your daughter will need it one day.”
Finn smiled at Gwen.
“I never expected to see this day. Me, a king, and my wife and daughter able to live freely… thank you, Gwen.”
“Thanks for giving me a chance. And for the gift of choosing my own path.” Gwen gave him a swift, spontaneous hug. “Come on, let’s greet your new subjects.”
Gwen let Finn exit first, and applause and cheering greeted him. It started with the tribeless ones, Nialla and Ione at the forefront, but quickly spread to the others present. Even a few of Corann’s advisors tried hard to not look interested. Finn raised his hand in acknowledgement. When the applause died down, he spoke.
“Thank you, all, for your efforts to install a true heir on the throne of the Velvet Woods. I will endeavor to treat my people justly, to defend them when needed, and to protect the realm: stone, animal, and tree.”
Another round of cheering burst out. Gwen took the pause to open a small portal. Would it close? She waited, breath held, until it shrank to a pinpoint and vanished. She sighed with relief, and suddenly the weight of her tiredness descended on her. She looked past the crowd to the open doorway, through which a gentle snow was falling, devoid of harsh winds and uninterrupted by earthquakes.
Faolan approached Finn, with the other rulers close behind.
“Welcome to the alliance of the nine realms, King Finn. Our first order of business is to decide the fate of our prisoners.” Faolan waved at Corann and the other two rulers. “The fighters are being held outside, the ones we managed to catch. As well, there are five strangely dressed humans whom we have captured. As the leader of the wronged party, and a member of the alliance, your opinion is desired.”
Finn nodded.
“Thank you, King Faolan. I would suggest a release of the other rulers and their fighters. No good will come of a fractured alliance, and I’m sure they had their reasons. Of course, they will need to pledge their acceptance of my rule.”
“Of course,” said Faolan.
“And those of the Velvet Woods, those who are willing to live under my rule may go free. Those who are not willing may live in the Forbidden Lands.”
Faolan’s mouth twitched with the hint of a smile.
“As for the humans, I will send them to their home shortly,” Finn said.
Faolan turned to the other rulers.
“Are there any objections to King Finn’s suggested course of action?”
Heads shook. King Gavin stepped forward.
“I’ll keep my eye on King Weylin, make sure he stays in line.”
“Excellent.” Faolan clapped his hands. “We should move while we still have light, but you all are summoned in a week’s time to Wintertree, since conclave ended so abruptly. Saving the worlds is something worth celebrating.”
Nialla slipped her hand into Finn’s with a happy smile. He stiffened, and his gazed turned inward. Then he beckoned to Gwen. She hurried over.
“Gwen. When Nialla took my hand, I felt the realm respond. Do you remember when I said that the tribeless ones’ magic was like that of a ruler’s?”
“Ardra and forest people. One temporary, the other permanent,” said Gwen. “What are you saying?”
“The realm. Do you think…”
Gwen lifted her eyebrows.
“You could use their magic to power the realm’s defenses?” She looked at Nialla with consideration. “Take her into the room and see what happens.”
Finn pulled Nialla eagerly toward the carved door. She followed him into the room of enchantments with a bewildered look on her face. Faolan stepped closer.
“What is happening?”
“Finn thinks he might have a way to power the defenses. The realm is somehow connecting to the tribeless ones. Perhaps because they have powerful Ardra magic that is more permanently connected to the forest? Finn said it was like a ruler’s magic.”
Faolan looked thoughtful. Finn burst out of the room of enchantments, beaming. He hurried over, Nialla still in tow.
“She is connected! Only a little, and nowhere near the connection I have, but I felt the realm grow stronger with her presence.”
Faolan gave him a slight smile.
“Then you have the solution to the question of your defenses. Connect the tribeless ones who are willing, send them to live as stewards throughout the realm, and your realm will prosper with its new power.”
“Tribeless ones! My neighbors and my friends!” Finn shouted out. “Anyone who wishes to be a steward of the forest will be connected to the realm and strengthen the defenses of your new home. Who will come forward?”
A great cheer arose from the gathered crowd, and a press of people surged forward.
***
Isolde slid quietly to Corann’s side in his place beside a wide pillar. He had no guards, as his ropes were strong and infused with protection against magic. Corann looked up at her with bitterness.
“Are you happy now?”
“No,” said Isolde softly. “Nothing about this makes me happy. How did we come to this?” She waved at Corann’s ropes, the occupied ballroom, the dust on the floor and the tapestries askew on the walls. Corann hung his head.
“I don’t know. Everything went too far, out of control. I only wanted you to be safe.” He looked up at her with eyes that pleaded for understanding. “I couldn’t bear to see you sick again.”
Isolde placed a hand on Corann’s cheek, and he leaned into it.
“Thank you for loving me that much. But next time, speak to me first. I promise I will try to listen.”
Corann looked confused.
“Next time?”
Isolde glanced around, but all eyes were fixed on the new king and had no attention to spare for the kneeling prisoner. Isolde slipped a little knife from a small sheath on her belt and neatly sliced Corann’s bonds. She slid a blackened steel tracker ring on his finger, the exact shade of her raven hair.
“When I am with the crowd once more, take your chance,” she whispered in his ear, then kissed him lightly on the lips and glided away.
Corann waited until Isolde blended into the c
rowd. Then he melted into the shadows against the wall and slid to the doors.
Once outside, he took a deep breath, then ran lightly down the steps. No one was in sight, and he kept running through the white forest. His light steps left footprints beside clusters of early snowdrops that pushed through the snow.
From the distance drifted the sound of crackling wood and the murmur of happy voices. Drums began to pound with an insistent throb. Corann paused, undecided. Then he directed his feet toward the promise of the bonfire.
***
Gwen ran to Aidan’s side while Finn spoke with the tribeless ones. He welcomed her with a fierce hug.
“We did it.”
“We did it.” Gwen laughed. “It’s still sinking in. Finn is king, and I can go home. How did you manage with the bracelets?”
“Yes, I want to hear this,” said Bran, who had sidled over to them. “Tell us the whole tale.”
“There’s not much to tell, really. We tried different versions of the healing spell and binding spell, with some spells in reverse, and worked backward to reinvent the dampening spell. We must have walked through the tunnels a dozen times to get past the boundary and test the bracelet. There were dry tunnels, by the way, the Ardra only send new tribeless ones through the lake because they don’t know any better. Eventually we set up camp at the tunnel entrance.” Aidan squeezed Gwen’s shoulders. “But we did it. Nialla was overwhelmed, I think. We all ran back to the village and she and Finn started banging on doors and spreading the news. Within an hour, Fearghus had given us enough bracelets for everyone and we cast the spell on them all.”
Breenan Series Box Set Page 67