“I thank you, Colm. We’re grateful for any help.”
Colm led them to the coven’s lair. The pirate ship was still there, but there was no sign of Vampyres. Of course, they didn’t expect there would be. They watched from a hiding spot to see who went near the ship. If they could find thralls, they could possibly be led to the pirates.
While Simon and Colm were about this task, Aranck and Calana wandered closer to the beach. They chatted amiably about the ship and other boats.
“Are you seafarers?” a light Faery asked.
“No. Our pallor gives us away as landward types,” Aranck replied. “But I’ve promised my lady here to take her on a short cruise one day.”
“You’re not from here,” the man said.
“No. I’ve traveled to many places,” Aranck replied. “I may make this my home.”
“Many travelers lately,” the young man said.
“Not surprising for a port.”
“But not usual for here.”
“Indeed? Why not?”
The young man shrugged. “The port is only recent, and made for locals. The big port at the river’s end is a more profitable place.”
“So then, why have people come here?”
The young man licked his lips and looked to make sure no one was nearby.
“If you ask me, it’s evil doing.”
Aranck nodded agreement. So, the townsfolk had noticed. It wouldn’t do to be too interested in questioning this young man or he’d become suspicious.
They bid him good day and started on their way.
“If you want a day cruise,” he called out, “see Captain Anemone. He’s the best.”
“Where can I find him?”
“Usually at the Frond Inn.”
Flynn, Caeli and the others went off in search of the Human village to feed. When they returned to the Faery village, they kept a low profile, listening to conversations at one of several inns. It wouldn’t do to be seen as a large group. Flynn, Caeli and Luke were enough to be remarked on.
“We’re passing through on our way to the big mountains,” Luke said when a barmaid commented that she thought she knew everyone in the village.
“Where do you come from?” she asked.
“Across the sea,” Luke replied. “We’ve heard lore about them and thought it would be good to see them before we were apprenticed.”
“You must come from wealthy families.”
“We’ll pay back the loan when we’re journeymen. Besides, my friend here is the son of a collector of teeth.”
“Ah, so you’re going into the family business, then?” she asked Flynn.
“I haven’t decided yet,” Flynn replied.
“It would be foolish to turn down those riches,” she said, and Flynn nodded.
“A point we’ve been trying to convince him of,” Caeli replied.
“We’ve seen a good many travelers lately, but you’re the first who have frequented us,” the barmaid continued.
“Other travelers? Where else would they go?” Luke asked.
“I don’t know, but I don’t like the look of some of them. Be careful.”
With that she went off to get their order of dandelion.
When Shauna Faun reunited that night and compared notes, they were convinced Artemis himself had crossed the sea. It gave Simon some satisfaction to think of the discomforts Artemis had to endure to cross the sea in a Human ship, not to mention the necessity of feeding on Humans, since his retinue were the only Faeries on board. Now his band of Vampyres would not go unnoticed if they fed on light Faery, since they were vicious and would kill without regard to hiding the evidence. A large number of deaths would be remarked upon.
Flynn felt sorry for those who might lose their lives to satisfy Artemis’s appetite, but he had no wish to be captured by the ancient Vampyre, either.
He trained hard with the others. He knew he was their weakest fighter, being the least experienced, and didn’t want to shame them. Simon had trusted him enough to allow him to come on the venture, even though he suspected that Simon and a few of the older Vampyres thought he’d be in the way rather than helpful. He needed to prove himself worthy of their trust.
Caeli gave him tips on methods the male Vampyres wouldn’t consider.
“They may snicker, but you’ll be alive to hear those snickers,” she said.
XVIII
Colm had spoken to several of his coven, and they believed they knew where the pirates would likely hide. They’d have to wait until the next evening to search. Flynn wanted to be in the search party, but Simon refused.
“You’re one of the one he wants,” Simon said. We’ll keep you well out of sight.”
“Then what’s the point of my being here?”
“Keep a low profile and listen to what the light Faery have to say. Gather any information you can. Caeli will be with you whenever you leave Colm’s lair. Don’t contradict that order. We’re on foreign shores. I can’t guarantee your safety otherwise.”
Flynn sighed but obeyed. He knew Simon wouldn’t exaggerate the danger.
Flynn and Caeli wandered about the market place as it was closing for the evening. Here and there they heard remarks about folk disappearing. That meant that the pirates were feeding on villagers. As they wandered toward a tavern, conversations they overheard wandered to other, darker doings and strangers who might be up to no good.
They entered the tavern, ordered mugs of dandelion and sat in a booth where they wouldn’t be noticed. They chatted and pretended to drink, listening to the conversations around them. The more they heard of dark doings, the more convinced they were that the Vampyre invaders were being careless. But they heard no one who sounded like Artemis. If he was here, he was keeping well away of the townsfolk. The pirates seemed to be doing their damage near the pier.
After they had been there a while, Flynn and Caeli left to find Simon and report what they’d heard.
Simon, Colm and several others went off to a low line of caves where the land rose up from the cove. Spread out and silent, they heard voices coming from inside.
“So, you think you can barter for your life?” Artemis asked.
“Why have you taken me particularly?”
“You would question me?”
“I don’t know who you are. But if you’re making such an event of it, I would like to know why.”
“You deserve nothing. But I’m feeling generous. As you said, you’re the son of the High Priestess. She’s the sister of Zoe, Simon Mallow’s woman.”
“Who is Simon Mallow?”
“He styles himself the leader of Shauna Faun,” Artemis sneered.
“Zoe isn’t my mother’s sister. Her sister is Jessica, who has nothing to do with Shauna Faun.”
“Then Moira Holly is no more?”
“Not these past three years. She was my grandmother.”
“Still, you are connected to the Vampyres, Vampyres who are above themselves. Vampyres who murdered my vassals. Vampyres who don’t respect their betters!”
“We don’t involve ourselves with them. They don’t involve themselves with our kind other than musically. They certainly don’t care about me. I know that for a fact.”
“That is unfortunate. Still, they will be blamed and the ensuing war with the light Faery will decimate them. The survivors will desert Simon, if he survives.”
The light from the cave opening dimmed and Artemis looked up. Simon and Colm stood in front of more than a dozen Vampyres. Artemis flicked his fingers, and two of his henchmen started toward them.
“You have something of mine,” Simon said.
“And what would that be?”
“Something of Zoe’s, then.”
“The light Faery disavow all of us. Besides, you took two of mine.”
“Self defense. They were trying to kill us. If you wanted Flynn badly enough you could have come for him yourself.”
“This time I have. And I demand payment with interest.”
>
The two charged at Colm and Simon, who moved quickly, as expected. They altered the expected movement and landed behind the two henchmen. Before they could react each had an arm around the neck of one of Artemis’s two, and in tandem they wrenched their heads, breaking their necks. They let them drop to take care of their ultimate demise later if they could.
Artemis grabbed Hugh and bent his head to the side, preparing to bite. Simon reacted to grab Artemis, but Colm was faster. He had a silver dagger. Artemis saw it at the last second and managed to avoid it. He let go of Hugh in the process.
Hugh scrambled to a corner, knowing the Vampyres wouldn’t let him escape. For now it looked like a war between Simon’s group of nearly a dozen and almost the same number of Artemis’s band. While Simon had the initial element of surprise, the others had recovered. Snarls and snapping jaws made the fight sound like wild animals fighting. He tried to remember Shauna Faun singing, but these same Vampyres might have been different creatures entirely.
He didn’t see Zoe in the melee as he inched his way toward the other captives. Artemis had taken five in all. Hardly worth going to war for, Hugh thought.
Ear-splitting screams – or perhaps only one – echoed off the walls of the cave. The shriek of agony as a Vampyre fell, a silver blade in his chest.
Silver, medallions, all of the things he knew but didn’t. He hadn’t worn a medallion in several years. He didn’t believe it had any power. His world was safe, and he thought he needed no help from the goddess. If he survived this, he’d never be without a medallion. If he didn’t, he’d destroy himself before Artemis could make him a slave.
With fighting so fierce in such close quarters, the other light Faeries feared they’d be killed by accident. Hugh felt himself jerked back, and tried to fight.
A woman’s voice close to his ear whispered, “Come with me. Bring the others.”
He knew the voice. Zoe was leading them to what he hoped would be freedom. He beckoned to the others who followed along the cave wall.
Once outside, they flew to a small boat in the cove where more waited.
“What about Simon and the others?” Hugh asked once they were out to sea.
“They can take care of themselves,” Zoe replied. Her face didn’t reflect her voice.
When they reached their home shore, a lighter grey streaked the sky.
“We can’t take you back to your homes. I’m sorry. We have little enough time to reach our own. I trust you can find your own way?” she asked Hugh and the others.
“Yes,” Hugh replied. “Thank you, Zoe. We’re forever in your debt.”
“Forever is longer than you have, Hugh. Go to your mother. I know you’re tired, but she pleaded in your defense. You owe her that.”
“Yes, of course,” he said.
Zoe barely waited to hear his reply. Then she and the other Vampyres were gone.
“How do you know Vampyres? How do they know your mother?” Conor asked.
“Zoe was my grandmother’s sister,” he said. “I didn’t know until recently. But it’s not something our family wants known.”
“Of course. The sooner this horror is over with, the better.”
They parted company, Hugh to his mother and the others to the Celestial village.
Aoife looked relieved when she saw Hugh. Despite his disheveled appearance, he was alive and well. She insisted he stay in the House of the Priestesses that night, and he didn’t object. Time enough tomorrow to learn the details. Simon had brought her son back from certain death.
XIX
The fighting raged on. Colm was deadly accurate with his daggers. Still, one of his coven was killed, his head ripped from his body. Luke, who was supposed to stay behind with Flynn, had come and now lay injured, his arm severed from his body.
Artemis was skillful, being far older than the others. Still, some had more speed, if not his strength, and avoided his deadly blows. Three of Artemis’s men lay immobile, arms, legs or heads severed. Their misery, if Simon had his way, would end at dawn.
Simon didn’t know how much longer he could hold out against Artemis. The constant defense against such strength, and his knowledge that the prisoners were safely away sapped his drive. Still, once Artemis realized the prisoners had escaped, he wouldn’t stop until all of those with Simon were destroyed.
Artemis lunged at Simon once again, and as Simon blocked, Artemis’ eyes went wide. His mouth opened to an O, but no sound emerged. He crumpled to the ground.
As Artemis fell, Simon saw the dagger sticking out of his back: silver through the spine, possibly into the heart. He fell to the ground twitching. His vassals stopped and stared. Holding their hands up, they stared at Simon and looked frightened.
“We surrender,” they said.
It took a moment for the rest to stop. Simon and Colm looked puzzled.
“You surrender?” Colm asked, mystified.
“We’ve been forced to be vassals of Artemis. You have no idea what it is to be ruled by him. Hurry, let’s burn his body,” one of the fiercer Vampyres said.
The suggestion motivated them all. The former vassals quickly brought wood and made a fire ring. Once everything was prepared, the fire was lit and they threw Artemis onto it without pulling out Colm’s knife. They didn’t want to risk the absence of silver to allow him to return to animation, even though none of them believed that would happen. The fire popped and he ignited in a burst of flame that soon fizzled out. They picked up the other lifeless bodies and added them to the pyre with the same result.
Artemis and four others of his band had perished. Two of Colm’s and one of Simon’s were gone. Luke lay injured. For the survivors, the business was grim but necessary. They took more care with Colm’s coven mates, and the member of Shauna Faun. Still, there was mainly silence until the task was finished.
“What should we do with them?” Colm asked at last.
The remaining members of Artemis’s band stood forlornly as if they expected to be thrown on the dying embers.
“What have you to say for yourselves?” Simon asked.
“We’ve been as slaves to Artemis,” one said.
“What is your name?”
“Atheling,” the other Vampyre replied “When the others failed to return you and yours, Sigismund and I were placed to the left and right of Artemis. He keeps those he trusts least closest to him.”
“Did you never try to escape?”
“You have been to his court. It is impossible. We would now make amends.”
“What of the rest of the court?” Simon asked.
“They will know immediately the freedom from his bonds. His cronies will flee in fear. The others? I know not. Perhaps they will be rogues in twos and threes.”
“But you would make amends?”
“We did not wish to capture the sailors. Artemis wanted to change the one in particular to anger you to confrontation. But he thought you wouldn’t come here. He thought you’d go to him where he could easily capture you and yours.”
“He wanted Flynn.”
“Yes, and you. And if not you, Zoe. He said the one we captured would especially anger the priestesses and turn them against you. He desired your ruin.”
“And what say you?”
“I would join you if I could.”
“Freely?”
“Freely. I don’t know independence, and wish to be part of a coven.”
“We are musicians. And we feed only on humans.”
Atheling winced.
“That would indeed be awkward for us.”
“I’ll give you letters of safe passage to a coven near where Artemis held court.”
“I would be afraid the cronies would attack me.”
“He could stay here,” Colm offered. “My coven is short by four. But you must forswear pirating.”
“I’m no very good pirate. I would easily and gratefully foreswear.”
“And the rest of you?” Colm asked. “Simon can have the musicians.”
“I see you got the prisoners safely away,” Colm said to Simon.
“Yes, let us hope. Dawn comes.”
They all returned to Colm’s lair for the day.
XX
Aoife was loath to let Hugh go anywhere.
“Does this hurt your position?” he asked, aware that Dandriloc hadn’t yet rendered a decision about her position.
“When I tell him the Vampyres rescued you –”
“But I was taken because of the Vampyres.”
“Not Shauna Faun. They didn’t take you. He must learn they have good in them.”
Hugh looked startled.
“Yes, Hugh, Vampyres can have good in them just as light Faeries can be evil.”
“Will he believe that? Won’t he see the kidnapping as proof that we’re not safe?”
“I will force him to see that your safe return was possible only because of the peace we have maintained with the Vampyres here.”
Hugh and his mother spoke long into the morning about what he had gone through, how he had been saved and what her strategy would be in defense of her position as well as of the Vampyres. He fell asleep and she left him there until he awoke the next day. She thought he needed to regain his strength, but he insisted the rest had restored him.
Aoife kept him as long as she could, but Hugh had to return to the Celestials.
“I must show my captain that I am safe, and let the others know. And there is also Meleri. What she must be suffering!”
“The other captives have returned. All will know through them that you are safe.”
“That is cowardly, Mother. Would you keep me from Meleri?”
She acquiesced and he left her.
Hugh’s shipmates were delighted to see him. When he arrived at Meleri’s home, her parents were surprised.
“We feared you dead,” her father said.
“I might have been except for friends who came to our rescue. All of us who were captured have been rescued safe and sound. If only those who were killed on shipboard could have been saved.”
Dark Faery III: The Celestials Page 8