by R. A. Rock
Finn bent over the settee as a wave of nausea hit him. He swallowed, trying very hard not to throw up. He focused on the feel of the soft fabric under his hands and took deep breaths.
“I would appreciate my body a lot more if it wasn’t feeling so sick at the moment.”
He managed to stand, making his way to a nearby chair, and eased into it. Nat and Izzie watched him, clearly distressed by his apparent weakness.
“Sorry about that,” Perdira/Tess said, not sounding sorry at all. “Magic’s a little different when you have a physical form. I’ll let you rest a bit.” She disappeared.
After a couple minutes, Perdira/Tess returned and began to speak.
“So here’s what’s happening,” Perdira/Tess said. “The Hundred Years Ball is going on right now. Finn and I need to go and steal back the Scroll and the crown from the King and Dark Queen.”
“I would say that was impossible, if you weren’t—” Izzie stopped. “Wait. Who are you exactly? Perdira’s a common name, but with your powers…”
“I am Perdira,” she said, standing and bowing with a flourish. “Lady of the Swamp.”
Isadore’s eyes got wide, and Nat’s jaw dropped.
“The Perdira? The Second?”
“That’s right.” She gazed on him in amusement as he got to his feet and then bowed low.
“May the Stars shine their light upon you, ancient one,” Izzie said, keeping his eyes on the floor reverentially. Finn watched this with mild irritation. Ancient, Perdira might be, but she didn’t deserve too much respect. She was a crazy nutcase that had almost killed Tess more than once, and he wasn’t about to bow his head to her. “And thank you for healing me.”
“You’re Perdira?” Nat said, shocked. “As in Perdira’s Mire?”
“The very same,” Perdira/Tess said, pleased to be causing such a stir. “Now, back to the plan. Finn, you and I will go and steal the magical objects.”
“How?” She waved away his question as inconsequential.
“You two will stay out of trouble and try not to get caught again. I’ll give you a glamour strong enough so that you can attend the Ball if you wish. But I suggest you leave Summerswind before the Truce spell ends.”
Izzie nodded.
“It would be better if you were already gone when the King and Dark Queen can harm you again. And I recommend staying out of their way for the next, oh… fifty to sixty years is probably a good idea.”
Nat frowned.
“I’m a servant in her court,” she said.
“Not anymore you aren’t, Elf. Not if you value your life.”
Nat seemed dismayed by this, as if the thought hadn’t occurred to her.
“What?” Perdira/Tess said with a snort of laughter. “Did you think she would imprison you and then let you go back to being a servant in her castle? That’s not how Setta operates. She’ll kill you slowly, sister, and you’ll be wishing you were dead long before she’ll let you find that release.”
“I will leave before the end of the Ball,” Izzie said, making another courtly bow. “And I thank you for your advice.”
Perdira smirked.
“I like you, young man. You have the right amount of respect. Not like the rest of them. Plus, you’re cute.”
Isadore blushed and Finn rolled his eyes. Perdira was unbelievable.
“Now, let’s see,” she said and clapped her hands.
Instantly, they were all dressed in fancy clothes appropriate for the Ball of the century.
Perdira/Tess wore a green gown, just the color of the first tiny leaves of spring. It had a gossamer overlayer that was studded with sparkling jewels. Her hair was pulled into a fancy updo that had flowers braided into it. She looked lovely, if only she had been herself.
“Perfect,” she said, admiring herself in the wall of mirrors that covered one side of the room. When Finn looked down, he couldn’t complain. He had never had clothes so fine or so fashionable before in his life.
His suit fit him perfectly. It was made of a fine grey linen that would complement Perdira/Tessa’s dress. But when he examined himself in the mirror, he thought he would look better if his skin wasn’t the same color as his clothes.
“You look great,” Perdira/Tess said, seeming pleased with herself. “Except that you appear to be about to expire.”
Finn shook his head, finding the small movement exhausting. Izzie had a suit of burgundy velvet, and Nat was dressed in a pink dress, also with matching flowers in her hair.
“I also removed the wards on your head,” Perdira/Tess added, a perplexed expression on her face.
“Wards on my head?” Finn said, confused.
“We had to do it to save you in the wyrm tunnels.” Isadore gave a short explanation. “Long story for another time.”
Finn and Perdira/Tess nodded at the same time.
“Here,” Isadore said, taking a pair of lovely elbow-length gloves out of his bag and bringing them over to Finn. “Tess can wear these.”
“What are they?” Finn said, knowing that Izzie wasn’t just adding a finishing touch to her outfit, which was proved by his next words.
“They pull magical objects to themselves.”
“Oh, perfect,” Finn said, smiling at Isadore.
Perdira fluttered her fingers at the gloves, and instantly, they matched her gown.
Finn stowed them in his satchel.
“Thank you, old friend.”
“It will keep you from having to get too close. As soon as you’re within ten feet, Tess can invoke them, and the objects should float over to you. Then you can get out of there… without getting hurt.”
Izzie put his hand on Finn’s shoulder and squeezed.
“Please be careful, Finn, and you and Tess watch each other’s backs. You’re the closest thing I have to a son, and I don’t want to lose you.”
Finn pulled Izzie in for a half-hug and gave him a weak slap on the shoulder.
“I’ll be back, old man,” he said, his voice sounding faint. “Don’t worry. I’m in more danger of dying at your hands than anyone else’s.”
“Finn…”
“Just kidding, Iz. I’ll take care of myself.”
Isadore gave a nod, wiping at his eyes.
“Take care of her, too,” he said, with a tilt of his head at Tess’s body.
Perdira seemed contemplative, an expression that Finn had never seen on her before. But a second later, she clapped her hands, moving on.
“I will put a protection spell on the two of you that will keep anyone from capturing you. But it’ll end at midnight.”
She circled her hand around and around.
“Thank you,” Finn said. It was like the ancient Fae actually wanted to help them. He found it astonishing.
“Now, another thing you need is a glamour.” Perdira/Tess snapped her fingers, both hands together. And when Finn looked at everyone in the mirror, he saw four completely different people.
“I know it will fool everyone else, but will this glamour deceive the King and Dark Queen?” Finn asked.
“Actually, yes,” Perdira said, as if she was a little surprised herself.
“I thought no glamour could fool them,” Finn said.
“No regular glamour could,” Perdira conceded. “But I’m no regular Fae. I am the Second. And I can create a glamour that will fool them for about thirty seconds or so.”
“That’s not long,” Finn frowned.
“It’ll have to do,” Perdira/Tess said, giving him a dark look. “Anything stronger would kill you, and anything less wouldn’t have any effect at all on Fae as strong as the King and the Dark Queen.”
“Got it,” Finn said, leaning heavily on the armrest to help him stand. “Let’s go.”
Chapter 36
By the time they arrived at the Ball, it was already nine o’clock. Three hours until midnight and the end of Perdira’s protection spell.
The Hundred Years Ball was as awe-inspiring as Finn remembered. Elaborate luminescenc
e orbs lit every ballroom perfectly, creating stunning visual effects on the walls in kaleidoscope patterns. Other plainer orbs in a rainbow of colors floated in the air, keeping a perfect light level—not too bright but not too dim.
The Fae, all dressed in dazzling colors, swirled on the dance floor. There was a hum of happy conversation. And Finn felt much more cheerful, probably from the rumored glad magic that infused the air, making everyone who breathed it… well, cheerful. Or depending on their tolerance level, euphoric.
Along the wall were tables filled with food and drink of every kind imaginable.
“So, you look like you’re going to die at any moment,” Perdira said, as if they were chatting about the weather. “And I can’t have that. I need your help and so does Tess. So, I’ll give you an infusion of magic. For a few hours, you should feel like normal.”
“Oh, thanks,” Finn said, surprised at this almost-kindness. “When will you—”
Finn sucked in a harsh breath as his Starlight returned in one large surge of magic. And he suddenly realized how much he took for granted his strength and energy. He vowed to never do that again.
“Ask me to dance,” Perdira/Tess said to Finn. He made a sour face.
“I don’t want to dance with you, Perdira.”
“We need to talk, and the easiest way to do so without attracting notice is to whisper sweet nothings in each other’s ears.”
“I don’t want you whispering sweet nothings in my ear, Perdira.”
“Ask me to dance,” she ordered. “And stop calling me that.”
Finn clenched his teeth together and pasted a smile on his face, reminding himself that she was helping them.
“Would you do me the honor of dancing with me, Tessa?” Finn said, wishing it really was Tess and that they were back the way they had been when they’d made their Joining vow. He wished the events of the past twenty-four hours had never happened.
“With pleasure,” Perdira/Tess said, taking the hand he offered. Finn led her on to the dance floor. They joined the couples that were waiting for the next folk dance to start. Within only a few seconds, the music started, and he and Perdira/Tess moved into formation with their left arms around each other’s waists and their right hands in the air.
“You dance well,” Perdira said after a minute. “I never would have thought you so graceful, Mr. Noble.”
“My family were gentlemen farmers. I was trained in all the finer points of being a courtier.”
Perdira/Tess lifted one delicate eyebrow in mild astonishment.
“You are full of surprises, Mr. Noble,” Perdira/Tess said as they switched arms and began to circle the other direction.
“I try,” he said, attempting to keep up the appearance of flirting.
“My time with you is almost up, Finn,” Perdira said softly, and he met her eyes. “There are some Fae, usually the Dark Queen’s guards, who carry charms against glamours at the Hundred Years Ball, so some may recognize you. Be wary.”
“I’ll take care,” Finn promised.
“Also, remember that glamours don’t tend to work on those who know you. Particularly friends, family, and lovers who are or were close to you.”
Finn grimaced.
“Try to stay away from people you know.”
“Duly noted,” Finn said.
“There will be perils on your way to the King and Dark Queen at the other end of the ballrooms. Be careful. Your failure is my failure. And I don’t take losing very well.”
Finn stared into Perdira/Tessa’s eyes. He knew a warning when he heard one.
“I will be careful. Thank you for all you have done for us,” Finn added, thinking it wouldn’t hurt to express his gratitude. He didn’t care what her motivation was. All that mattered was that she was helping them. “You have been more helpful than I expected.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment and not an insult, Finnley,” Perdira/Tess said with a wry expression on her face. As the dance ended, they separated and bowed.
“We should head into the next room,” she said, and Finn led the way through the crush of people into the next ballroom.
A moment later, Finn swore. “Shadows take me.”
“What is it?” Perdira/Tess whispered.
“My former lover,” he said. “Straight ahead.”
“The one staring daggers at you?” Perdira/Tess asked. “In the purple dress?”
“That’s the one. She’s already spotted me. And she’s tried to turn me in once this Ball. I wouldn’t put it past her to try again.”
“That’s unfortunate,” Perdira/Tess said. “There are guards right next to her.”
They both took note of the Fae couple who were dancing a few feet away, who in spite of their fancy clothes were obviously the Dark Queen’s guards.
“Not all fire must be fought with fire,” Perdira/Tess said, assuming a mysterious tone of voice. “You catch more flies with honey and all that.”
“What are you talking about?” he said.
“Go dance with her,” she said, giving him a shove in the angry woman’s direction. “Distract her. I have to deal with him.”
Finn glanced where she was indicating and saw Nyall making his way toward Perdira/Tess.
Shadows and Chasm. Perdira had been right. Perils indeed.
He strode over to Sanndrah, where she was glowering at him, and wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her tight against him. She gasped, but he was sure she wasn’t upset. Finn remembered quite clearly that she had liked it when he had taken control.
“We’re going to dance,” he said, glad that the Stars had blessed him with a waltz, plenty of chances for him to cozy up to her. “Now.”
“All… all… right,” she stammered, overwhelmed.
Finn took her hand and began stepping in time to the music, spinning her around the floor until she was breathless. He watched as Perdira/Tess spoke with Nyall. And when the dance ended, he kissed Sanndrah long and hard the way he knew she liked it, though he himself felt nothing for her. When he pulled away, she was starry eyed, red cheeked, and breathless.
“That was for old time’s sake,” he said, giving her a rakish grin and a wink.
“Anytime, Finn,” Sanndrah said, putting her hand on her chest. “Anytime.”
Finn didn’t wait around for her to say anything else, merely strode off into the crowd where he had last seen Perdira/Tess. He looked up at the clock that hung on the east wall of each ball room. About two hours until Perdira’s protection spell ended. They needed to get the crown and the Scroll before then.
Perdira sensed that her time in Tessa’s body was almost at an end. It had been glorious, and she was sorry it was over before she got to do something fun like eat or lie with a man.
Without any warning, she felt herself being sucked out of Tessa’s body and back into… nothingness. Perdira felt the injustice of it all and vowed that she would have her revenge on Ransetta. No matter what.
Also, this little taste of having a body again made her want more. But if she wanted a form once more, there was only one person who could help her get it. And she would use the magic of the castle spell flinging her back to her swamp to take a slight detour to see him.
Ransetta had made a mistake when she had messed with Perdira. And after all this time, she was going to make sure that the Dark Queen paid for it.
Paid dearly.
With a rush of powerful magic, Tess felt Perdira leaving her body and had never been more glad of anything in her whole life. It had been like she was trapped in a prison in her own mind.
She had never felt so helpless.
Not even down in the dungeons when she had known that her life was over and she could never leave that place.
It was awful. And she remembered nothing of what Perdira had done while she was in charge.
But now she needed her wits about her. Or everything she had worked so hard for was going to be for naught. They only had one chance to get the magical objects and read the Scr
oll so that they could end the Severance.
It was now or never.
Tess opened her eyes.
And saw Finn kissing Sanndrah.
Tess felt as though she had been punched in the stomach. She lost her breath. She had known that he was angry with her, but to go running straight into Sanndrah’s arms? She hadn’t expected that. Were they really over? Because she hadn’t made that deal with Ransetta? There were a million reason why making that deal was stupid, not the least of which was that Ransetta would never honor it.
And Perdira had said that the family had never been in danger. That it was another one of the Dark Queen’s scare tactics. That didn’t excuse Tessa’s behavior, but it made her feel a little better about the choices she had made.
Tess had vowed to save Finn’s family. And she would. Somehow. But Finn didn’t believe her, and he was clearly still angry. Maybe he had truly meant it when he said he would never forgive her. Tessa felt her heart crack at that thought, but she tried to focus. Everything was hinging on the next few hours. When she looked back to where Finn had been, he was gone.
She turned slightly and was startled to see Nyall standing there, looking annoyed with her, as usual. Tess scrambled to think what might have been happening with Nyall and what she might have done when Perdira was in charge. She decided to go with defending herself, since that seemed the least likely to get her in trouble.
“Look, Nyall,” she said, holding up her hand to stop whatever he was going to say. “I know I messed up, and I probably deserve the tongue lashing you’re going to give me, but I swear I didn’t—”
“Tessa,” Nyall interrupted.
“Please don’t arrest me. Not now, Nyall.” She went on, afraid that if she stopped talking, he’d drag her straight out of the ballroom. “We’re so close to—”
“Tessa,” Nyall said, slightly louder and more firmly. Tess stopped speaking.
“Yes?” she said, afraid of what was to come.
“I didn’t come over here to harangue you.”
“You didn’t?” Tess was surprised. “Why did you come over here, then?”