The Torn Wing

by Kiki Hamilton

  “I’d be glad to help you, young man.” His voice was smooth and melodic. The stranger moved closer, his long jacket oddly still in the sudden gust of wind that blew Johnny’s hair back from his face.

  “Is she here, then?” Johnny swiveled his head to look from side to side, but there were only the deepening shadows suddenly pressing closer to him.

  “Johnny,” Fiona’s voice was threaded with fear. She pulled on his jacket again. Harder this time. “Johnny—we should go.”

  “No need to be afraid, dear.” The stranger tilted his head to see around Johnny to where Fiona was half-hidden. “I’ll be glad to help you.” There was something in the possessive way he said ‘you’ that raised the hackles on the back of Johnny’s neck.

  “Now wait a minute.” Johnny held a hand up to stop the approach of the man who was beginning to circle around him, his eyes locked on Fiona. The man was obviously upper class, well-dressed and moneyed, but still—there was something unsettling about him. “You look like a right upstandin’ gentleman and all, but—”

  The stranger held out a hand to Fiona. “Come with me. I will take you to Larkin.” His lips spread in a grin revealing teeth that glittered in the waning light. Johnny glanced back at Fiona. Instead of being afraid, she was staring at the man as if hypnotized. Her eyes were glassy and the look on her face reminded Johnny of those charmed snakes that danced in baskets before a flute player.

  Fiona slowly lifted her hand.

  The killer chuckled deep in his chest as he reached for her fingers. “That’s a good girl.”

  “Stop that!” Johnny cried, swatting Fiona’s hand out of the way. “You don’t need to touch her! What are you on about?”

  Fiona fell back with a small shriek. She grabbed Johnny’s jacket as she stumbled backwards, tugging at him as she tried to put distance between them and the stranger.

  The stranger lunged for Fiona.

  Johnny hurled himself at the man. “Fi, run!” he cried. “Run and find Shamus!”

  The stranger jerked around with a hiss and for a second it looked as though his teeth were fanged. “You’ve made a mistake, my young friend,” he said in a low voice. A sudden gust of wind caught the man’s black cape and it swelled around them until everything went black.

  Chapter Forty-Eight

  It wasn’t long before Tiki was swept into the crowd—everyone wanted to see and talk to her. Larkin disappeared into the swirl of people shortly after introducing Tiki, but Rieker made a point of staying close. Though he appeared relaxed, Tiki could feel the tension coiled in his muscles, ready to defend her, if need be.

  “Tara.”

  The word was a whisper, floating on the air behind her. Tiki recognized the voice and whirled around.

  Dain stood before her, his blond hair slouched over his forehead but the usual sardonic twist to his mouth was missing. His eyes widened as he took in her new appearance and to her surprise, he dropped his head in a small bow. “My queen.”

  “You’re safe,” Tiki blurted out.

  Dain voice was gruff as he stood. “I know my way around.” His usual teasing manner was absent.

  “But Larkin said—”

  Dain cut her off. “That’s why I’m here. I’ve news.”

  Rieker stepped closer. “What is it?”

  Dain flicked a cold glance at him then focused on Tiki. “The liche was spotted in Hyde Park. Apparently someone was calling for Larkin and he answered the call.”

  Tiki clutched at Dain’s arm. “Was he captured?”

  Dain shook his head. “He has escaped back into the Wychwood—”

  “No!”

  Dain held his hand up. “There are others on his trail. Larkin also responded to the call of her name. She is one of those chasing the liche now. We think he will eventually return to Donegal. I only came here because I thought you should know he took someone with him when he ran.”

  Tiki tightened her grip, unaware of her fingernails digging into the fabric of his jacket. “Who?”

  “It’s the young chap who lives in Charing Cross. The one Larkin roughed up to get your attention.”

  “Johnny?” Tiki said.

  Dain nodded. “That’s the bloke. He’s been taken.”

  “Larkin was the one who attacked him?” Rieker said.

  “What can we do?” Tiki cried. “We’ve got to help him.”

  “The best thing you could do is find the bloody Cloch na Teamhrach,” Dain muttered, “but until then you’d be smart to go back to London and watch over the rest of your family.”

  “You don’t think—” Tiki turned from Dain to Rieker, panic blanching her face. “But they’re hidden—”

  “Could they have gone to Hyde Park with this Johnny fellow?”

  Tiki put her hands to her mouth. “I don’t know.” She couldn’t draw a deep breath. She could barely think straight. She’d left her family unprotected. “We’ve got to go back to London—now.”

  Rieker spoke calmly to Dain. They were the same height and looked at each other eye-to-eye. “Larkin brought us over. Where is the nearest gate from here?”

  Dain only hesitated for a second. “There is a gate from the Plain of Sunlight to Hyde Park in London. It’s an easy walk if you know the way.”

  THEY FOLLOWED DAIN from the underground hall back to the sunlit meadow where they had arrived with Larkin.

  “It’s that way—” he pointed in the distance— “follow the river through those trees and you’ll end up at The Ring in Hyde Park. You know your way from there, yes?”

  “Yes.” Tiki said. She paused, her hand on his arm. “Thank you for coming and telling us.”

  Dain shrugged, sliding his hands into his pockets. “Seemed important for you to know.”

  “Be careful,” Tiki whispered. “You do have family who cares about you, you know.”

  Dain’s eyes flicked to Rieker, who stood silently, then back to Tiki, but his expression remained inscrutable. “Once Donegal is off the throne we’ll talk more.” He glanced over his shoulder. “But for now—”

  “You need to go,” Tiki finished for him. On impulse, she slid her arms around his broad shoulders and hugged him close. “Stay safe,” she whispered.

  Dain stood stiff in her arms, but when Tiki stepped back, she caught something raw and painful in his eyes. He nodded at Rieker then turned and disappeared back into the stone opening.

  IT WAS A surprisingly short walk through the trees to reach Hyde Park. Tiki knew they’d slipped from one world to another when the weather suddenly changed from sunshine and singing birds to black storm clouds overhead. The wind blew fierce and harsh as they hurried through the trees and it wasn’t long before she began to recognize familiar landmarks.

  She looked at Rieker in surprise. “Do you really think it’s that easy to go back and forth?”

  “I think when you’re one of them, the path becomes clearer.”

  One of them. The words echoed in Tiki’s head. She thought of the Macanna who had embraced her as Finn’s daughter and the vision of herself without the glamour she’d always known. It couldn’t possibly have all been an illusion—could it?

  They hadn’t spoken of Johnny, or the others. Tiki couldn’t think of anything to say, though her heart raced with fear. She had to get to Richmond and make sure everyone was all right. Then they’d figure out what to do next.

  Rieker glanced down at her. “You’d better change your appearance before we go any further.”

  Tiki put her hands to her face. She’d forgotten. She quietly muttered the words that Larkin had taught them and the smell of clover filled the air. She glanced up at Rieker.

  “All right?”

  He nodded, a glow in his eyes. “So much more than all right.’”

  THE RIDE FROM Grosvenor Square to Richmond seemed to take forever, though in reality it was less than an hour. Every roll of the wheel across the cobblestones made Tiki want to pound on the window and yell faster! It wasn’t yet noon when they pulled up to the m
anor house, but rain was pelting from the skies.

  Tiki pushed the door open before Rieker could get to it and jumped to the ground, unmindful of the puddles that had formed on the gravel lane. She yanked up her skirts and dashed for the entry. She burst through the door without knocking.

  “Fiona! Shamus! Toots! Clara! Are you here?”

  The scramble of footsteps could be heard in response to her calls.

  Toots was the first one in the hallway, his eyes red and his face blotchy.

  “Teek, you’re home!” he cried as he dashed toward her. He wrapped his arms around her waist and buried his face in her skirt.

  Clara was next, her bare feet pattering on the wood floor like the sound of mice.

  “Tiki, Tiki, Tiki,” she said in her high, little-girl voice. “Yer safe!”

  “Of course, I’m safe.” She bent down to wrap her other arm around the little girl, choking back a sob.

  Shamus rounded the corner of the drawing room, his face lined with worry. He reached out to shake Rieker’s hand as he walked in the door behind Tiki. “Glad to see you made it back.”

  “Where’s Fi?” Tiki asked sharply, looking around. Her heart pounded as she waited for their answer.

  “She’s upstairs crying,” Clara said. “She’s been crying since Johnny disappeared.”

  Tiki straightened and looked at their faces. “But you lot are all right, yes?”

  “We’re fine,” Shamus answered. “We thought we’d lost Clara but she was playing in the woods and fell asleep.”

  “Larkin made me stay here,” Clara whispered.

  Shamus’ face twisted with uncharacteristic emotion. “Johnny’s missin’ though.”

  “Let me go upstairs and talk to Fi and then you can tell me everything that’s happened.”

  Rieker reached down and scooped Clara in to his arms. He put his big hand on Toots’s thin shoulder. “Has Mr. Bosworth taught you how to ride yet? Because I’ve been looking for someone to ride with…”

  Toots’ eyes got round with hope. “I’ve been on the bay a few times.”

  “Let’s go in the drawing room and you can tell me about it.”

  IT WAS TWO days later and Tiki sat with Rieker in the warmth of the kitchen eating a bowl of potato soup with some fresh rolls. There’d been no word from Larkin or Dain, no news of Johnny.

  “May I see the ring?” Tiki asked.

  Rieker fumbled at the chain around his neck, pulling it over his head to drop it, along with the Queen’s ring, into her hands. “By all means. Maybe you can see something that will tell us what to do.”

  A familiar tingling warmth infused Tiki’s fingers as she picked up the golden ring and peered into its depths. The flames of the fire danced brightly in the heart of the stone, almost as if the ring lived and breathed.

  Tiki twisted the band in her hand so she could read the inscription inside: Na síochána, aontaímid: For the sake of peace, we agree.

  “I’ve been thinking about it. There’s got to be a clue here.” She tilted the ring to the light. “Did you hear Larkin in the Palace of Mirrors? She said the ring held other secrets.” Tiki slid the band onto her finger and stared into the blood red depths looking for a something—anything. “Finn and Eridanus gave this ring to the rulers of England. Someone’s got to know something.”

  Rieker sucked his breath in with a quiet hiss. “That’s it.”

  Tiki glanced up. “What?”

  “The royals have the stone.” Rieker’s voice rose with excitement.

  “They do?”

  “Of course. It’s so obvious now. Finn and Eridanus believed our worlds had to meld—that we had to learn to live together. It only makes sense that the stone which marks the high kings and queens of the Otherworld is also associated with the high kings and queens in the mortal world.”

  He grinned at Tiki. “Somehow, Cloch na Teamhrach, is connected to the royals. That’s where we need to look.”

  It did make sense. “Do you think Leo or Arthur would know?” Tiki asked.

  “There’s only one way to find out.” Rieker pushed back his chair with a screech and jumped to his feet. “I want to check and see how Leo is faring, anyway.”

  THEY LEFT WITHIN the hour and headed for Buckingham Palace. Tiki sat next to Rieker in the carriage, reassured by the pressure of his shoulder next to hers. The guards at the Palace saluted Rieker as they allowed the carriage to pass. The doorman bowed his head in acknowledgement as he swept the door open for them to enter. It was only minutes before they were being escorted into Leo’s chambers.

  Arthur met them at the door. Though there were tired circles under his eyes, he was his usual neat and tidy self and there was a smile on his face.

  “How is he?” Rieker asked in a hushed voice.

  “Slow to recover but definitely better.” Arthur nodded at Tiki and reached for her hand. “Miss Tara. Always a pleasure to see you.”

  Tiki dipped in a small curtsy. “And you, Sir.”

  “What’s been wrong with him?” Rieker peered over Arthur’s shoulder into the spacious bedchamber. “Is it still the cut on his neck?”

  “The physicians have had a devil of a time getting the bleeding to stop.” Arthur kept his voice low so his brother wouldn’t hear. “Nothing was helping and I finally became convinced they didn’t know what to do—” he lowered his voice— “so I sought Mamie’s help.”

  “Ah, the witch woman.” Rieker nodded as though not surprised. “And what was her suggestion?”

  “The first thing she did was take him off the man-made aspirin the physicians had prescribed and she made some kind of poultice using a concoction of natural ingredients: bilberry, grape seed extract, stinging nettle, witch hazel, yarrow and who knows what else.” He shrugged, then grinned. “He began to improve almost immediately.”

  THEY DIDN’T STAY long in Leo’s room. Tiki was shocked at his appearance. His brown hair looked thin and wispy. Huge dark circles filled the hollows under his eyes reminding Tiki of a skeleton. His skin was like translucent wax and appeared to be stretched across the bones underneath. Though he pushed himself into a sitting position at their arrival, it was obvious that he was still very weak.

  “Leo.” Rieker bent close and grasped the young prince’s hand. “You’re looking spry.”

  A smile stretched Leo’s lips and a weak laugh escaped. “Bollocks, Wills, but it’s bloody good to see you.” He reached for Tiki’s hands. “And the lovely Tara, more beautiful than ever.”

  Leo’s hands were cold when he clasped hers and Tiki held tight to his fingers for a moment, trying to send her own good health to him. “I hope you’re feeling better soon, Leo, because I’ve saved a dance for you.

  Leo raised his eyebrows. “That is all the motivation I need to leap from this cursed sick bed.” He raised his eyebrows at Rieker. “I may yet steal her heart from you, Wills.”

  Rieker smiled but his eyes slid to Tiki. “I hope not.”

  “Yes, well, after your disaster at the Masked Ball last Christmas Leo, we’ll make sure you’re not holding any wine near her,” Arthur said in a dry voice, but his face was lit with a fond smile.

  SOON AFTER, ARTHUR escorted them out of the room. “Believe it or not, he’s made amazing improvements since Mamie started tending him,” the prince said as he walked down the spacious hallway with them. “She was the one who got the bleeding to stop.”

  “Arthur,” Rieker began, “not to sound unconcerned about Leo’s condition, because I am, dreadfully so, but I need to ask you about something else, if you have a minute.”

  The prince glanced over at him. “Of course. What is it?”

  Tiki walked along on the far side of Rieker, staring in wonder at the opulence that surrounded them while she listened to their conversation. Worry for Leo burrowed a hole in her heart. She remembered his gay, infectious attitude when they’d first met at the Masked Ball last winter. The memory of that young man was a far cry from the ailing prince to whom she’d just spoken.
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  “I’m looking for a stone that is somehow important to the royal family.”

  Arthur frowned. “A stone, you say?”

  “Yes. I think it’s something that could be used to name a new king or queen, or perhaps be—”

  “Oh.” Arthur interrupted him. “You mean the Stone of Scone.”

  Rieker stopped abruptly and pulled Arthur to face him. “The stone of what?” Tiki moved closer, wanting to hear every word. Her heart was suddenly racing as if she were running.

  “The Stone of Destiny, of course.” Arthur gave him a surprised look. “Haven’t you ever heard of it? It’s housed in King Edward’s chair.”

  “Do the stone and chair still exist?” Rieker choked out.

  Arthur let out a chuckle. “I should think so. King Edward’s chair is also called the Coronation Chair. It’s the throne on which every English and British sovereign has been seated at the moment of coronation since 1308.”

  Tiki put her hand to her mouth to cover her gasp. Could it be true?

  “The Coronation Chair holds the Stone of Destiny?” Rieker echoed.

  “Yes. It has for centuries. Legend says it came from Ireland originally by the Gaels who settled Scotland.” Arthur started walking again, clearly enjoying the subject. “It’s really quite a fascinating history. They say there’s a connection between our Stone and the Lia Fáil – which is the coronation stone of the Kings of Tara over in Ireland. I can’t say it looks like much more than a chunk of rock, though, if you ask me.”

  Rieker almost sounded giddy. “You’ve seen it?”

  Arthur gave him a puzzled look. “Of course I’ve seen it.”

  Rieker’s words came out in a rush. “Where is it?”

  Arthur clapped him on the shoulder, a smile tweaking the corners of his mouth. “Wills, I don’t know why you find this topic so exciting but it’s in Westminster Abbey, where it’s always been.”