The Emerald Dagger

by Barbara Hodges

  She cut across Talix's palm and watched his pale-pink blood flow. Dirkk turned the fairie's hand over and the blood dripped into the bowl.

  "I am curious to see if this blood will stop its flow as yours did." The blood continued to drip.

  "Enough," Regan said.

  Dirkk glanced at her in quick anger, but then smiled. "You are right, my queen. Why waste an etain'daman? We will need all for the battle to come." He curled Talix's fingers against the palm of the fairie's hand. "Now stir the blood with the dagger's tip."

  She stirred the pink into the purple.

  "Say the words," Dirkk said.

  She looked at him in question.

  "Say them. They are now known to you."

  She opened her mouth and words came. They fell upon her ears and were just as quickly forgotten.

  "They are of a secret language, long forbidden and thought dead by all except me," Daraodh's voice whispered inside her head.

  "Look," Dirkk said.

  The blood smoked and bubbled, then calmed to a glassy surface.

  He pointed at Talix. "Dip him inside."

  She lowered Talix into the bowl. For a moment, the fairie stood poised upon the still surface and then, inch by inch, sank into the blood. They watched in silence as his head disappeared beneath the surface.

  "Won't he drown?" Regan said.

  For answer, Dirkk reached in to pull the fairie free. Blood coated and dripped from his naked frame. Dirkk sat Talix on the floor before her.

  "Watch."

  From the floor came an anguished shriek. A popping like hot grease sounded. The fairie's torso lengthened, broadened, then the arms and the legs. The neck stretched, growing upward, and the head swelled. After what seemed an eternity to her, the shrieking and popping stopped, and a new etain'daman stood before them.

  She felt sick inside. How could Dirkk do this over and over? She fought to hide her revulsion as she stared into the etain'daman's face.

  Its pupil-less eyes stared back at her, and then it asked. "What is your command, my queen?"

  "Join the others," Dirkk ordered, but the etain'daman did not take its eyes from Regan's face. Dirkk reached to touch the dagger, and frowned when his hand closed on nothing but his belt.

  "Can you hear me?" Regan mind-sent.

  "I can."

  She sought the mind of the other etain'daman, but felt nothing. Is it because I created this one?.

  "You are Talix. Do you remember?"

  "Yes, I know who I was."

  Regan felt sick inside. "Do the others remember?"

  "We all do."

  She felt her knees begin to shake. "I'll make it up to you. I promise."

  "Can you change us back?" Talix sent.

  "I don't know, but I doubt it. Dirkk's creatures remain as made."

  Talix smiled bitterly. He turned his gaze on Dirkk and she felt the hatred burning inside of him. "I see."

  Dirkk looked from her to the etain'daman and back again. Suspicion clouded his eyes.

  "Go," she said, pointing toward the front of the cave. "Join the others."

  Talix turned and walked away.

  "Did you mind-speak to him?" Dirkk demanded.

  Regan forced interest into her voice. "Can you mind-speak to the others?"

  "Just the fenris'ena," Dirkk said.

  That surprised Regan. Why could she mind-speak with Talix? It had to be because of the Power and the dagger together. "I can hear the fenris'ena in my mind." She moved toward the front of the cave.

  "Regan?"

  She glanced back. "No, I did not speak to the etain'daman. I tried, but there is a wall around his thoughts. In time, I believe I can break through, and that will be an advantage to us, but for now, no." She turned and continued toward the front of the cave, not looking back to see if they followed.

  As she neared outside, the thoughts of the fenris'ena flowed over her, hunger, lust, and rage at the mind-leashes restraining them. She felt their combined wills press against the boundaries of her control.

  She wanted to soothe them with the promise of freedom, but how could she release them? She shook her head. It was something she would have to work out later. She clutched the emerald dagger and felt their minds calm to resigned submission.

  In the clearing, Talix stood in the midst of the etain'daman. For a brief moment, their gazes locked and he nodded slightly.

  Thomas came up beside her. "You will call the dragons now," he said, making it an order instead of a question.

  She turned to meet the challenge in his eyes. He was more dangerous than the wolves. She faced Dirkk. "What is your plan?"

  "To take Cinnard and overthrow Tessa."

  "How?"

  "A siege?" Patrick said. "Hafgan does not store enough wares to feed an army for any length, and you have added many mouths to feed with the stolen etain'daman."

  Thomas shook his head. "No, we will crush them. All will be slaves or die. Summon the dragons."

  Regan ignored him. "A siege would work. Hafgan is a miser. In a few weeks, he would be willing to throw open his gates to us."

  Dirkk and Patrick nodded. Thomas' face flushed, and he stepped between her and Dirkk. "They will summon more to their cause. We must strike now."

  "How? We will have them surrounded," she said. "If we wait, we will not have to sacrifice our army."

  Thomas glared from her to Dirkk. He drew his lips back in a snarl. "She is one of them."

  Regan saw the decision in his eyes a moment before he lunged toward her. From the sleeve of his robe, a blade appeared. She dodged and at the same time she commanded the fenris'ena.

  Already enraged at their leashing, six fenris'ena sprang. One grabbed Thomas' leg, another an arm. He screamed, a strident sound that changed to a struggling gurgle as a fenris’ena's jaws clamped around his throat. He fell, and still more fenris'ena joined the fray, snarling and snapping. A fenris'ena looked up, its eyes wild, its mouth stained with blood. It backed from the group and, with fur bristling, edged toward Dirkk.

  Dirk backed away. He cast a searching glance to Regan. "Why do you just stand there? Use the dagger. Stop him."

  She clutched the emerald dagger, indecision warring inside her. Regan closed her eyes and sought the Power. She saw it, encased within a shroud of green. It pulsed at her summons and a crack veined the length of the glowing wall.

  The wolf snarled and her eyes flew open. Kill, its thoughts begged.

  An order formed in her mind but, before she could give the command, Dirkk screamed

  She spun around in time to see him drop to his knees. His hands clutched his throat and blood pumped through his fingers. His unbelieving gaze sought hers for a moment, and then he pitched forward. The fenris'ena moved forward, sniffed the prone body, and then turned away.

  Above Dirkk, Talix stared down, blood stained the ends of his talons. The etain'daman's look met hers. "It is done."

  "No," Patrick screamed. "No." He looked wildly from Dirkk's body to Regan. His hands clenched into fists. Regan released the dagger and again sought the Power. It flared and surged outward into her hands. She felt the dagger rage, then submit. It's stronger than the Power only when I am touching it.

  Patrick took a step toward her, his face tight with rage, then he turned and fled into the trees. Three fenris'ena leapt to follow, but she stopped them with a silent command.

  She looked at Talix. A jumble of emotions warred inside her, relief, anger at being deprived of killing Dirkk herself, and panic at having the emerald dagger tucked into her waistband.

  "Why?" she said.

  Talix waved his hand toward the etain'daman. "Who had more right than I?"

  She looked from Thomas' lifeless body to Dirkk's. They are gone, she thought, really gone this time. Daradawn is free. Her knees began to shake, and she stumbled to an oak and leaned against it. Tears flooded her eyes and ran down her cheeks. She could go back to Peter and Tessa and tell them it was over.

  Regan wiped her face and stood, loo
ked at the milling fenris'ena and etain'daman. What was she to do with them? She couldn't leave them here, but how would Tessa and Peter react if she brought them to Cinnard? Would they think she and Dirkk were attacking? Of course they would, and how many would die before she could make them understand? I have to make them listen.

  She frowned. There was one way. She closed her eyes. "Zara, Thea calls." She readied herself for a battle of wills but, to her surprise, an answer came immediately.

  "I hear."

  "I need your help and the help of your younglings, please."

  "We listen," the golden dragon sent.

  "This is what we must do.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Peter leaned toward Tessa, his cheeks flushed. "No, I say we attack now. We do not wait for them to come and hold us hostage. I will not have it as before."

  Queen Tessa sighed and looked around the room. "What say the rest of you?"

  Angus turned and stared at Kelsey. "What does the Queen's-Commander say?"

  She looked away from his probing gaze. She'd watched the dwarf's face as Peter told of Regan's choice to be with Dirkk. He doesn't believe it. I hate this. Can I tell them the truth? Is it too soon? "The keep is defensible. We don't know how many we would be riding against."

  "My queen?" a voice spoke from the doorway.

  "Yes, Lord Hafgan," Tessa said.

  "Before a decision is made, you should know my provisions are low. I have enough to feed my people, but you have brought an army, and there are the fairie things to feed also."

  "Things?" Tessa snapped. "They are not things. They are my people and you will respect them as such."

  Hafgan lowered his head, but not before hatred lit in his eyes.

  Unease swept through Kelsey. If I were really expecting a battle, I wouldn't trust him not to join with Dirkk. "The etain'daman will fight with us," she said. "They hate Dirkk as much as we do. I've seen them fight. They are a big advantage."

  Peter stood. "True, they add to our numbers, even more of a reason to take the battle to Dirkk."

  Kelsey took a deep breath. "If the dragons are with Regan, leaving these walls removes all protection from their fire."

  Tessa rubbed at the back of her neck. "If the dragons have joined with Regan, then things look very bleak."

  Angus stomped to stand in front of Kelsey. "By the dark god's horns, I have heard enough. Now you will tell the truth. What is it Regan does? Do not tell me she has joined with Dirkk, for I do not believe such." He glared at Kelsey and waited.

  She stared into his angry eyes. "You know as much as I do. You heard what my sister said to Peter. What do you think we should do?"

  "Bah. I will have no part of this stupidity." He turned and strode toward the door.

  "Angus Bladeheart," Tessa said. "You are the champion of the House of De'Amberville. You will turn away from me now?"

  Angus halted, his back rigid. He turned, his weathered face pale with fury. "I serve you, my queen."

  "Rourk, what say you?" Tessa said.

  Rourk shook his head. "You see a battle ahead. It remains to decide how it will be entered into." He looked from Kelsey to Peter. "I say to remain behind the walls is most wise."

  "No," Peter snapped. "I will not have it."

  "High Mage, you will—"

  "Let go of me, you pig swill." A strident voice stopped Tessa's words.

  "Patrick?" Rourk said, heading toward the door.

  Three guards came in dragging the boy behind.

  "What is the meaning of this?" Tessa demanded.

  One guard snapped at quick salute. "We found him sneaking in through the back garden."

  "I was not sneaking." Patrick faced Rourk. "Father, I have news."

  "News of what?" Tessa said. Patrick squirmed within the guards' holds. "Release him."

  "Of Regan and Dirkk."

  "What? What do you know?" Peter said.

  Patrick rubbed his throat. "I am parched. Some wine will do."

  "Get the boy some water," Tessa said, and a guard scrambled to do as ordered. "Now tell us what you know."

  "I saw her form Talix into an etain'daman."

  Angus rounded from the fireplace. "What?" He stormed toward Patrick. "I will choke the lying words from your mouth."

  Rourk stepped between the dwarf and his son.

  "Desist," Queen Tessa ordered, and waited until Angus stomped to a chair and flopped into it. "How did you see this?"

  A guard thrust a goblet into Patrick's hands. The boy sipped before replying. "I was there. Regan now bears the emerald dagger. It has chosen her as its queen." He cast a quick glance at Peter. "Daniel is with her."

  "What?" Peter said. "You are sure?"

  "I saw your son myself."

  "Damn her," Peter said. "She warned me she would have our children. She will pay for this." He turned to face Tessa. "We must fight and, if you say no, then I will fight alone."

  Rourk moved to tower above his son. "Why were you there?"

  Patrick's face went white. He dropped to his knees. "I was be-spelled," he said with a wail. "I did not know what I was doing." The goblet dropped unheeded from his hand and water spread across the floor as he crawled to Tessa's chair. "Forgive me, my queen. I fell beneath Healer Kerry's magic. I did not know he was the evil Thomas until it was too late."

  Tessa stared at the top of his head. "And how did you break Thomas' spell on you?"

  Patrick settled back on his heels and dared to look into Tessa's face. "I did not. It was broken when Regan ordered the wolf demons to rip Thomas to pieces."

  Peter groaned and then turned and walked toward a far wall.

  "Dirkk's new queen does not tolerate questions of her actions," Patrick said. "I feared being next, so I turned and fled into the forest. She sent the wolves after me, but I escaped."

  Patrick scrambled up onto his knees and placed his forehead on the floor before Tessa's feet. "I ask only to serve you, my queen. I will spend my life in redemption if you will have me."

  "Did you see the dragons?" Tessa said.

  Patrick looked up. "No, but I heard her summon them."

  Kelsey's eyes narrowed. "Heard? You heard Regan talk to the dragons?"

  The boy's gaze darted to her and then back to Tessa. He gulped before saying. "Well, no, I did not hear her, but she told Dirkk she had summoned them."

  "Enough," Peter said, coming toward them. "It is to be war."

  "Against three dragons?" Kelsey said. "Are you crazy?"

  He whirled to face her. "Then you suggest surrender?"

  "It's Regan, your wife and the mother of your children. She has killed Thomas. Maybe Dirkk has given up his hate of Tessa," Kelsey said.

  Queen Tessa laughed bitterly. "It will be a cold day in hell before such happens." She pushed her chair back and stood. "Rise," she said to Patrick. "I will see to you later." She looked from Peter to Kelsey. "I will not go as a sheep to slaughter."

  "Then we fight?" Peter said.

  Tessa's lips tightened as she nodded. "Ready your spells."

  "Kelsey?" Regan's voice rang in Kelsey's head. She started to touch her pendant in answer, then let her hand drop. "I will be in my rooms."

  As she moved to the door, her gaze collided with Angus'. His look told her he'd almost seen her touch the pendant.

  "A word, Queen's-Commander," he said. "I will walk with you."

  "Kelsey." Regan's voice came again, this time loud with impatience. "You got me into this. Now answer me."

  She almost ran down the hallway and heard Angus following.

  "Kelsey," Angus called. "I want the truth."

  She whirled around. "Then come to my room." She gripped the pendant. "I'm here. What's going on?"

  "Dirkk and Thomas are dead."

  "Dirkk too? I know about Thomas."

  "How?"

  "Patrick. He didn't mention Dirkk. Did he see it?"

  "He saw, and then ran away," Regan said.

  "Patrick told us. Peter is going crazy knowin
g you have his son."

  "He's my son too," Regan sent.

  "He knows." Kelsey was at her room's door. She opened it but, before she could close it, Angus came through. The dwarf opened his mouth, but she waved him to silence. "Angus is here," she said out loud. "I can't lie to him anymore."

  The dwarf grunted in response.

  "What did Patrick tell Tessa?"

  "That you killed Thomas, you have the emerald dagger, and it has chosen you as its queen."

  "Not the dagger itself, but Daraodh, the demon inside of it. It's as if the Power recognizes Daraodh as its other half. I am stronger with both of them, but the demon hasn't accepted the Power as an equal. There is still a battle of wills going on."

  "Where are you?"

  "I am coming to Cinnard."

  "You're coming to Cinnard? With the fenris'ena and etain'daman with you?"

  "She must not," Angus broke in. "Tessa will see it as an attack."

  Kelsey waved him to silence. "Don't do it, Regan. Peter and Tessa are preparing for battle."

  "What about the dragons?" Angus said.

  "What about Zara?" Kelsey asked.

  "They should be above you about now."

  "No." Kelsey ran to her balcony doors and rushed outside. From below she heard panicked shouting and then brass horns bugled a warning. She looked up. High above, three dragons soared. "Regan, what have you done?"

  "They're not going to do anything. They're just going to make Tessa and Peter listen to me."

  "And if Peter uses the Power against them? Then what? You think they will not respond?" Kelsey turned to Angus. "Find Peter. Don't let him use the Power."

  Angus ran from the room.

  "Regan—"

  "I couldn't leave them all by themselves. And I won't let them be killed by Tessa's guards. The dragons are the only way. Tessa has to see she can't win against three dragons. She will have to listen to me."

  "Tessa doesn't know Dirkk is dead. She plans to fight until none are left standing."

  "Then you tell her, Kelsey. The threat is over. I see Cinnard below in the valley. Kelsey, how is Maggie?"

  "She's bruised and sore, but she's going to be fine."

  "I'm glad to hear it. I'll be with you soon." Regan broke contact.

  "Damn," Kelsey said, sprinting from the room.