by Phil Parker
Tears welled up in her eyes, trickled down her cheeks; I reached up and wiped them away with a finger, put it in my mouth and tasted its saltiness.
‘I love you too, my lord.’
Suddenly the world crashed in on me. Reality struck a blow so great because it was delivered by the woman smiling at me.
‘I am not your lord. Do you hear me? I am Keir. That’s what you must call me.’
My words came out too harshly, she blinked and retreated, shook her head as she tried to decide what to say.
‘I’m sorry, I’m sorry!’ I had ruined things already. ‘But…’
Her eyes held such sadness that I wanted to scream my frustration from the top of the palace battlements. I knew the problem. She was a slave. I was the High Lord. We might be able to abandon our roles in the privacy of my bedroom, but that was as far as it could ever go. She watched me process my thoughts, waited until I arrived at the inevitable conclusion. My brain, rested from its holiday while my hormones had taken charge, returned to work at precisely the right moment.
I was the High Lord. I had the power to make changes. People did as I said.
I threw my arms around her, pulled her on to my chest, it hurt like fury but this was a gesture that needed to be done properly.
‘As High Lord of the Dark Court, I decree that you are no longer a slave. You may, if you so wish, adopt the role of my assistant for which you will receive a weekly wage. You will need to spend a great deal of time with me in this role, including at night.’ I grinned. ‘Do you think you’d like to apply for this job?’
Her eyes widened like soup dishes.
‘But can you…? What will people say...?’
I kissed her, to shut her up partly.
‘My darling Darcel, I am the most powerful man in the Dark Court. I can have people executed if I want. I’ll have the paperwork drawn up in the morning. What do you say?’
‘What must I do to apply for this work?’
I sighed dramatically and shrugged. ‘I’m afraid the interview involves you having sex with your new employer.’
‘Oh my!’ she gasped, placing a coy finger on her bottom lip. ‘When does the interview take place?’
I gave her a wolfish grin. ‘In about five minutes, when I’ve got my breath back.’
We laughed and kissed, we stroked and caressed and I felt my hormones perform a swift and painless coup d’etat on my brain. Blood started flowing south again.
Until the door was flung open and footsteps marched across the stone slabs. Darcel let out a little squeak of alarm and grabbed a bed sheet from off the floor and draped it over us.
It was Lord Taranis.
‘Forgive the intrusion,’ he said without a hint of apology in his voice as he approached my bed. ‘But I instructed your manservant to inform me the moment you woke.’
That was someone who’d be out of a job shortly.
‘He assumed the noises he heard meant you were back in the land of the living.’
The old man leered at Darcel. She reached down and scooped up her clothes from the floor and slipped into her cotton shift.
‘If you will excuse me, your highness,’ she said and skipped out of bed and across the floor to the bedroom door, watched the whole time by Taranis’ lascivious expression. When she’d gone he grinned at me.
‘Glad to see you’re fully recovered, sire. Mab’s idea of wearing chain mail under your robes paid off, didn’t it?’
He sat himself on the end of the bed as though he was one man having a casual conversation with another.
‘And if you don’t mind me saying, I’m relieved you’ve finally fucked a woman. I was starting to worry your interests lay in the same direction as your half-brother. Never knew what you were going to see when you walked into his room.’
He shook himself as though physically shrugging off unwanted memories.
‘Now, sire, to urgent matters. We need you in front of the public quickly. While you were unconscious stories of your death travelled far and wide. We need to stem the instability. Your people are fearful. Oberon’s and Llyr’s insanity eroded their faith in the role of the High Lord. The attempt on your life, in such a public setting, made matters worse. You must appear healthy and strong to provide reassurance. To that end I have arranged for you to ride with me in your coronation coach through the streets, tomorrow morning. It will be the return trip from the Great Hall we were denied. We will have you looking resplendent and healthy and in charge. Good.’
As though I’d agreed to his arrangements.
‘Next, regarding Rowyn. The old man claims no knowledge of his foul crime. He maintains he awoke when knocked to the floor by Mab’s unit. His interrogation confirmed it. I can only conclude that, somehow, the High Magistrate’ actions were controlled by someone else. It’s a delicate and dangerous situation, if the assassin can access someone like Rowyn, then anyone can be a potential threat to you, sire.’
I expected to be scared by the news. I felt anxious, even resentful of the trouble this was causing me, but not afraid. The old Keir would have been, he’d have been imagining a load of scenarios where murderers leapt out at him. That wasn’t me though. Something had changed and I knew what it was. As Taranis droned on about increased security measures I could only think of Darcel and my desire for her, one this old man was frustrating.
He pulled out a scroll from his jacket and laid it in front of me.
‘This execution warrant for Lord Rowyn needs signing, sire.’
He held out a pen and expected me to comply. The old Keir would have done so.
‘Why does he need to be executed?’
Taranis blinked his confusion. ‘Because he committed high treason when he tried to kill you.’ He sounded like he was explaining things to a retarded child.
‘But he didn’t, did he?’
Now I got a frown, I could guess what he was thinking, my near-death experience had affected my mind. Well I could be patronising too.
‘You’ve just told me Lord Rowyn had no memory of the crime, someone else was responsible for the attack. The old man was the tool, like the dagger he used. Are you going to execute the dagger as well?’
More blinking.
‘A better plan is to make public that we have a secret assassin who is manipulating people in this way. Let him know we’re on to him. And let us also show compassion for a man who has served the Dark Court faithfully throughout his life.’
I smiled now. I wanted this murdering bastard to realise I’d changed.
‘Finally, First Minister. I want the High Magistrate installed in an apartment in the palace. I want him monitored very discreetly, I want the guards to be virtually invisible. You can guess why, can’t you?’
He couldn’t, he was trying hard to keep up and still not certain if my brain had been starved of oxygen while I was unconscious.
‘One part of our assassin’s plan went wrong, didn’t it?’
Taranis nodded, he’d finally caught up.
‘Rowyn was prevented from killing himself as he was supposed to do.’
I gave him my most patronising smile.
‘He may not remember anything now, but our secret friend will worry that those memories will return at some point. He’ll come back to kill the old man.’
Now Taranis had a smile like a wolf before it kills.
‘And when he does, we catch him.’
I’d looked in to those eyes many times and been intimidated by them. Now I saw something new: respect.
‘I have severely underestimated you, sire. Your resurrection appears to have changed you.’
I didn’t react, not even a smile at his patronising words. I tore up the execution warrant and flung it on the floor instead. Now for the final gesture.
‘As you leave, Taranis, tell Darcel to come back to me. You interrupted us earlier.’
He couldn’t hide his astonishment. He stood up in a daze.
‘Oh, and one final point. Next time you seek an audience
with me, arrange an appointment with my assistant first. I won’t tolerate anyone bursting in to my bedroom, it could be mistaken for an attack and I don’t want you bleeding to death on the floor.’
The dazed look had vanished, now there was badly disguised animosity. The honeyed tone of his voice remained.
‘And who is this personal assistant you mentioned?’
‘You’re about to tell her to come back to my bed. I’ve rescinded her position as a slave. You’ll need to organise the paperwork and arrange a salary for her.’
I lay back on the bed and stretched casually, listened to his footsteps as he left the room and grinned to myself. I liked being the new Keir.
‘What did you say to him?’ Darcel asked as she stripped off her clothes and jumped on the bed. She knelt at my side, eyes flashing with mischief, though mine were drawn to her breasts.
I told her and she giggled.
‘You have changed, my lord.’
I rolled my eyes at her and she giggled even louder.
‘Is it time for my interview, my lord?’ She exaggerated the title.
Later, much later in fact, she lay with her head in the crook of my shoulder as we cuddled. I was hungry, starving in fact. Sex made you work up an appetite. I called one of the servants in and instructed food to be brought up to us. I could do that now, I was the High Lord. While we waited, as we lay together enjoying the warmth of each other’s bodies, I began to find ideas springing up in my head. Ideas that would never have occurred to me before my metamorphosis.
I was the one-time slave who’d become the High Lord of the Dark Court. I could be the instrument of change in this world. I’d freed Darcel from slavery, but I didn’t need to stop there. I could free others. I could abolish slavery completely if I wanted. I could prevent people being beaten and even killed by others simply because they had the power to avoid justice. Ideas buzzed around my head like bees. I could make a real difference.’
I realised Darcel was watching me.
‘You’ve got a strange expression on your face, my love. What are you thinking?’
I leaned over and kissed her mouth and felt my blood pumping yet again. If they didn’t deliver the food quickly they’d get a shock when they opened the doors.
‘Just thinking of a few changes I want to make around here,’ I said.
Chapter 17
‘Are you sure? Quite sure?’
Clodagh turned her eyes to the floor and shook her head. I was asking a question for which there was no definitive answer, we both knew it, we understood the reasons. All the same, the question had to be asked because the implications for the Light Court were enormous. For the whole race.
She looked up to search my face for assurance, the most powerful form she could supply was to look me straight in the eye. We’d been friends since childhood, thrown together through mutual rejection by the other girls in the Light Court, honesty and friendship remained our strongest bonds and they were what she relied on now.
‘Without knowing what Taranis did, all I’ve been able to do is reverse engineer his work using the mother and baby’s blood. You can double check my findings, your Highness, if that helps?’
‘Oh for goodness sake, Clodagh. Stop using titles and just call me Filidea. I’m your best friend and nothing changes that. As for checking your findings, you’re a much better scientist than me, you always were. If you think you’re right, then I believe you.’
I got a tenuous smile but before I could provide the necessary clause to that statement, she beat me to it.
‘But it doesn’t mean everyone else will. I know.’
I pulled her to me and gave her a hug. It was more than a gesture of reassurance, I’d forsaken her while Nimue had prepared me for my role as First Minister, I felt guilty for leaving alone so much. She’d done what I would have done in her position, thrown herself into research. It was where we’d always found satisfaction as girls, while the others had teased young men and sparkled at dances, Clodagh and I had poured over dusty tomes to discover the hidden secrets of the universe.
We parted and she gave me a warmer, genuine smile.
‘Sadly, the evidence is going to show itself in front of our eyes in the years to come, there won’t be any doubt then.’
I nodded as I struggled to work out how to prepare people for that day. It wasn’t a problem like grandmother’s apple blossom petals. Quite the reverse.
‘Does Sibeal know?’
I could see in Clodagh’s expression how difficult a conversation that had been.
‘She’s a scientist as well, Filidea. I couldn’t have hidden it from her, even if I’d wanted. She provided enormous help because she wanted to be certain too.’
‘So she’ll back up your findings?’
‘Yes. Her reputation can be the credibility we need.’
Poor Clodagh, she was right. Hers was the discovery but she wouldn’t receive the credit. She stared at me with a look I knew well.
‘Don’t you dare give me that sympathetic look Filidea! Are you listening? This isn’t just another scientific theory, we’re talking people’s lives here.’
‘How long until the effects become apparent?’ I asked, to change the subject.
‘Minor changes in the quality of her skin and hair will occur first, probably in the next two or three years, they’ll be most noticeable to anyone who sees her only occasionally. She’s quite fit, so other changes will take longer as entropy takes effect.’
‘So rather like happens with human beings, that kind of timescale?’
‘Perhaps a little longer, her Fae blood will sustain her for some time but we’re talking probably no more than another sixty or seventy years. It’s a terrible price to pay for a child.’
I could only shake my head in abject sadness. ‘Some women will disagree.’
I worried how Oisin would react when he returned and found out his sister had so short a time to live, it would only deepen his need for vengeance.
A polite cough broke me out of my gloomy mood, Islene stood in the doorway of my study. She looked fierce and intimidating in her fighting leathers, despite her petite frame, I smiled at her increased subtlety in letting me know I should be elsewhere. I turned back to Clodagh.
‘I suggest we meet with Sibeal and discuss how we handle this situation, I…’
The cough was much louder this time. I turned again, ready to glare at my ill-disciplined personal security guard until I realised something was wrong.
‘I need you to come with me Highness,’ she said. ‘Now.’
The subtlety had vanished. The final word was a command. A second later Petroc and three of his soldiers burst in, breathless, sweating. I took a deep breath, readied myself for whatever was to come.
‘Highness,’ Petroc gasped, ‘you need to come with me.’
Islene glared at him as she recovered from being pushed against the door but remained silent.
‘What’s happened?’ I asked.
‘A security issue has arisen, Highness. I need you to come with me so I can ensure your safety.’
It was Islene’s rolling of the eyes that gave me pause. Petroc wasn’t one to panic but I’d learned to trust Islene’s instincts too. I could see she was in two minds about saying something, it wasn’t a satisfactory state of affairs for my security to have divided opinions over what to do. I needed to sort that out, but it would happen later. I turned to Islene.
‘Speak to me.’
She swallowed but didn’t look at Petroc, she kept her eyes firmly focused on me.
‘Robin Goodfellow is at the gates. With the human soldier. It’s caused some people to panic.’
Petroc stiffened at the slur. Usually he waited for permission to speak. Usually.
‘The man has been exiled from this realm. Human beings are our enemy. I fail to see how not reacting, even letting these two men into the palace, as you suggest, is a good idea. We secure them first and then we start asking questions.’
They gl
ared at each other, fists clenched, one snarl away from a fight.
‘Stand down Petroc,’ I said firmly.
He turned to look at me with open astonishment on his face, the slightest of glances at the other soldiers told me I’d humiliated him. I’d need to sort that out later too.
‘Mister Goodfellow is an ally of ours. My grandmother trusted him completely and…’
Petroc didn’t give me chance to finish. I had never known him to interrupt me or be anything other than completely, totally and utterly professional. I think I gasped.
‘The man murdered the High Lord of the Dark Court. He was exiled from this realm for his crime. That decree has not been rescinded. Therefore, he remains a criminal, regardless of your perceived level of trust, Highness. It is my duty to protect you, a role I have carried out for most of my military life. If you are informing me that you choose to ignore my experience and its subsequent wisdom, that you prefer to place it in the hands of a Pixie who you’ve only just met, then I must tender my resignation here and now.’
His dark skin was so flushed as to be a deep chestnut colour, his eyes burned with the kind of ferocity I could imagine he had in battle. I took a deep breath, tried to remember what grandmother would have done, as nothing came to mind I reacted in a way that was right for me. I felt Clodagh at my side, I wasn’t sure when she’d moved there but she was so close I could have reached out and taken her hand, she was telling me to trust my instincts as well.
‘I do not intend discussing palace politics when a security issue exists. That will happen later at a time of my choosing. To say I am annoyed is an understatement. However, events are need my attention now. On this occasion I feel confident that, despite his current status, Robin Goodfellow is an ally. I also believe, from what you’ve told me Islene, that he may have information that is vital to us.’
‘Exactly!’ Islene spoke, still glaring at the back of Petroc’s head.
I rolled my eyes so she knew I wanted her to shut her mouth.