Queen of Wands (The Tree of Ages Series Book 4)

by Sara C. Roethle

  The woman raised her nose even higher into the air. “I am Lady Síoda, Lord Gwythern’s wife.”

  Realizing she’d found the true ruler of Garenoch, Ealasaid rethought her approach. Lady Síoda would not be frightened into cooperating. She might, however, be bribed with the promise of power.

  Acting much more calm than she felt, Ealasaid began to pace, not allowing her gaze to fall to Maarav, fearing it would make her seem weak. Síoda would not defer to her husband, and Ealasaid would not defer to her . . . well, to whatever Maarav was to her.

  Síoda watched her pace with a calculating gaze.

  Drawing the moment out, Ealasaid took a few more steps, before turning to face her. “Garenoch is a small burgh, is it not?” she questioned.

  Síoda’s brow furrowed. “What does that have to do with anything? I demand you leave our estate at once before you bring the Faie right to our door.”

  Ealasaid resumed her pacing. Out of the corner of her eye she could see Maarav and Slàine, the latter still lounging in her seat, watching her curiously. She stopped again. “I must say, I respect your devotion to such a small, powerless burgh. Truly, I’d expect the likes of you in one of the great cities.”

  Síoda’s gaze narrowed. “I’m still not seeing your point.”

  Gwythern stood and fluttered his hands in the air near his wife, obviously hoping to stay her tongue before the scary assassins threw them all in the dungeon.

  Ignoring him, Ealasaid continued. “You know, though Garenoch is small and would be conquered with ease, I see some potential here. The location is ideal for defense. With the crags to the south, and the forests to the east and west, routes of attack are limited.” She began pacing again, then stopped and spun on her heel. “Of course, any hopes of defense are mere dreams without an army.”

  Síoda’s expression grew thoughtful, though her gaze remained narrowed “And what, your mages would be that army?” she asked skeptically.

  Ealasaid shrugged. “Perhaps, if our terms are met. If you can tolerate magic-wielding scum in your presence, then perhaps Garenoch will not be utterly obliterated when this war begins.”

  “War?” Gwythern gasped.

  His concerns were echoed by the other nobles in the room. Perhaps she’d gone too far with her show of bravado. If she got everyone up in arms about war, they might not be willing to take any risks.

  “Your mages,” Síoda began, silencing the muttering. “How many of you are there?”

  Ealasaid’s knees went a bit weak. Should she tell her they were only twenty? Probably not.

  “Our ranks are growing every day,” she replied cryptically.

  Maarav finally stepped forward, his hand stroking the pommel of his sword menacingly. “And they are protected by the finest warriors,” he added. “Men and women capable of disabling every single one of your guards without you noticing something was amiss until we were upon you.”

  At Maarav’s closeness, the slightest hint of fear sparked in Síoda’s eyes. “I will allow your people to remain within the burgh,” she said evenly, “but not within the walls of the estate.”

  “Not good enough,” Slàine snapped, pounding her palms against the table as she stood.

  Síoda raised a brow at her. “I do not remember inviting you to this negotiation.”

  Tavish snickered. “You didn’t invite any of us.”

  Ealasaid resisted slapping a palm to her face. She had never negotiated a single alliance in her life, but somehow she was still better at it than any of the assassins.

  She stepped forward before things could get out of hand. “We will be staying within the walls of the estate, or we will leave the burgh all together. I assure you, without our presence the Faie will still come, and you will not stand a chance against them.”

  Síoda’s mouth hardened into a firm line. Never even glancing at her husband for agreement, she nodded curtly. “I suppose I have no choice. You have proven our defenses are limited, and I would not allow my burgh to fall to ruin as a result of my pride.”

  Ealasaid resisted the urge to grin. Instead she turned toward Maarav and Slàine. “Bring the guard captains so that Lady Síoda can relay their new orders, then gather the rest of An Solas. We will move onto the grounds tonight.” She turned back to Síoda. “I trust you will not mind if we make use of the outbuildings?” She didn’t want to stay in the main estate no matter what Maarav or Slàine might say. She wouldn’t be surprised if Síoda changed her mind and attempted to knife her in the dark.

  Síoda nodded curtly.

  She turned back in time to see Tavish venture into the hall, then six more black-clad assassins came marching in. “Make sure our Lord and Lady are well . . . protected,” Tavish instructed as he exited.

  The assassins nodded, and Ealasaid was quite sure she could hear Gwythern panting in fear. While she wanted to foster a relatively trusting relationship with the Lord and Lady of Garenoch, she would sleep better knowing they would be watched by Slàine’s people.

  Maarav moved to her side. “I’ll accompany you to gather An Solas. They’ll believe you more readily than they’ll believe me.”

  She almost snorted, then remembered their present company. She turned and nodded to both Síoda and Gwythern. “I bid you goodnight. We can begin to plan our new fortifications in the morning.”

  Síoda nodded in return, while Gwythern stared at his wife like she’d just grown a second head.

  Ealasaid sighed in relief as Maarav led her out of the room.

  “You did well,” he whispered, leaning close to her shoulder.

  They entered the hallway and headed toward the stairs. She couldn’t help but wonder if he was simply being nice. Had she truly just successfully negotiated with the Lord and Lady of a burgh five times the size of her own small village?

  “Do you think they’ll try to turn on us?” she muttered.

  “Oh most certainly,” Maarav said happily. “But I have faith you will lead us past that barricade without huge incident.”

  She stopped walking down the stairs to balk at him.

  He chuckled and placed his hand at the small of her back to urge her forward. “Too much pressure?” he mused. “We could always change our minds and do things my way.”

  She cringed and shook her head. “No, no, I will continue to navigate this new territory myself.”

  Maarav simply nodded and began to whistle a happy tune, giving her the impression that he was perhaps a bit mad. If Síoda only knew the fate Ealasaid had saved her from, she’d be kissing her scummy mage feet for a year.

  “Garenoch?” Óengus questioned. “What in Tirn Ail could be interesting in Garenoch?”

  Oighear sneered at him. She’d drawn together a meeting of her Aos Sí commanders, along with a few humans he did not recognize, likely drawn into her affairs just as he had been. Óengus wondered if the man and woman, both roughly ten years his seniors with the soft skin and delicate hands of the upper class, were from a magical bloodline like himself.

  “There is a human magic user there who interests me,” Oighear explained after a moment of seeming debate.

  “One of the two queens?” he questioned, having already discovered to what he alluded from one of the Aos Sí.

  She glared at him, probably still humiliated to have learned of the prophecy so late. She’d been asleep for a long time, and had missed much as the world of men lived on without her.

  She watched his face for a moment, then smiled. “Yes, I believe you know of her. I would like you to go to Garenoch. Be my human spy, and you will earn that which you so desire.”

  He peered up at her as she rose from her seat, then slunk around the table to stand before him. From within her white feathered cloak she withdrew a rough, misshapen, clear stone. She offered it to him.

  He took it gingerly.

  “Speak your nightly reports into this crystal,” she instructed. “I must know all that happens within the burgh. Even things you may deem insignificant. Keep an eye on any vi
sitors as well.”

  He gazed down at the small crystal as tension ate away at his gut. The only human magic user he could think of was Keiren. Was she one of the queens? He wondered if he should tell Oighear that Keiren would catch him the moment he began to spy, but he ultimately decided to keep his mouth shut.

  He was tired of eternal winter, and thirsted for action. If Keiren did find him, well, perhaps he could play the two queens against each other. They each might be more eager to give him what he desired, in exchange for information on their adversary.

  He tucked the crystal away into a pouch at his belt, then stood. “I shall depart immediately.”

  Oighear smiled, a wicked gleam in her eye. “Yes, you will.”

  As he exited the room, he wondered if his previous thoughts had been wise. Perhaps Oighear wanted him to strike a deal with Keiren. A deal that might end in the sorceress’ death.

  While he held little love for Keiren, life would be much less interesting without her. In addition, while he did not make a habit of caring for the wellbeing of the common folk, even he could admit that even a crazy witch like Keiren was better than the alternative waiting in the room behind him.

  Chapter Five

  Finn shook herself, still not feeling entirely awake. She looked down at the mug of hot herbal tea in her hands, wishing the soothing liquid could somehow wash away the previous evening.

  They’d ridden through the night to distance themselves from the Cavari’s magic, even though Loinnir seemed able to protect them. Finn could not face the Cavari again, at least not yet. Before the encounter, her fear had waned. She’d concluded that since she was their rightful queen and now had the shroud they could not harm her. How wrong she’d been.

  She looked to Bedelia and Anna, thoroughly brushing their horses’ backs that no discomfort would be incurred from their saddles. Next her gaze found Kai and Sativola, sitting on a log while rubbing their tired eyes, muttering quietly to each other. Next, her gaze flicked to Anders sitting alone, waiting to lead them to their meeting with Niklas despite the previous night’s events. Finally, her gaze found Iseult. His sword across his lap, he studiously sharpened it with a whetstone, either not feeling Finn’s gaze on him, or simply ignoring it.

  She sighed. He probably blamed her for the confrontation, for turning back instead of running away, but there had been no other choice. They were using her blood in Kai’s veins to track them. Her mother had been protecting her, shielding her from the Cavari’s magic, and perhaps Loinnir had been doing the same. Yet, neither of those connections extended to Kai. The Cavari had somehow figured out what Finn had done for him, and were now using it against them.

  She turned her eyes back down to her tea, shivering despite the mug’s warmth. Part of her wished her people would take her magic away. They could end her painful existence and give her peace once more.

  She glanced again at her companions, knowing she could not accept such a fate. If she were gone, who would protect them from the war to come? Most of them could protect themselves with weapons, but against magic, they were sorely outmatched.

  She nearly jumped when Kai appeared at her side.

  Gazing down at her, he lifted his brow. “Are you sure you are well?”

  Her eyes wide, she nodded.

  He offered her a hand up from her perch, just as Naoki came crashing back into camp. Anders let out a shrill whimper at the sight of the juvenile dragon, then glanced around nervously, as if to determine whether or not anyone had heard him squeal.

  Fighting her smile, Finn took a final sip of her tea, dumped the rest, then put her hand in Kai’s to stand. Together they joined Anna and Bedelia, now saddling the horses.

  Loinnir eyed Finn as she approached, as if she too questioned her emotional health, and perhaps her sanity. Finn stroked her fingers across Loinnir’s white forehead, just below where she thought her horn was, invisible once again. Loinnir’s sparkling blue gaze bore straight into her soul.

  “Up you go,” Kai suggested, drawing Finn out of her thoughts.

  Feeling oddly like she was still in a dream, she smiled gratefully to him, then hoisted herself into the saddle, tugging up her breeches as they sagged around her waist. She’d have plenty more time to organize her thoughts while they rode toward the meeting place, an encounter she was almost looking forward to. Though she did not trust the Travelers, perhaps Niklas could give her information on what her people tried to do to her.

  Kai climbed up in the saddle behind her, surrendering his mount to Anders. She took comfort in his warmth at her back. Comfort in the warmth they all shared with her. If Niklas tried to take one of her friends as payment for the information she needed, she would kill him herself.

  Anna and Bedelia both climbed into their respective saddles and moved to wait near Finn and Kai. Soon they were joined by Sativola and Anders, the latter of which rode on Kai’s horse. Iseult was the last to mount after dousing their fire and covering it with dirt. She watched him mount, but averted her eyes before he noticed her. He was acting strange . . . stranger than usual, and it made her nervous. As the others guided their horses toward the road, Loinnir began to move forward, not requiring instruction.

  Surprisingly, Anders moved his horse near Loinnir. Flicking his gaze first to Kai, he then settled on Finn, eyeing her expectantly.

  She wondered if there was something she should say. Should she tell him about Branwen? He was yet to mention his sister, but surely he’d appreciate hearing of Finn and Anna’s encounter with her.

  “You’ve changed,” he commented, surprising her further. He smiled, softening the accusation in his words. “Too much time around Iseult, I suspect.”

  “I’m not sure what you mean,” she muttered.

  He glanced around at their companions, slowly dividing into pairs as they conversed amongst themselves, then back to her. “You seem . . . colder,” he explained. “World weary. After last night . . . ” his gaze went distant, as if remembering the event. He shook his head. “You went back and faced them on your own. You were so brave. Today, I’m still terrified, yet the rest of you act as if nothing has happened.”

  She frowned. That’s exactly what she’d thought when she first saw Anders, the world weary part, at least. Not really affected by anything because everything had already happened. “It’s difficult sometimes to remain excitable,” she commented, still wary of his intent.

  “That it is,” he muttered. “I never once thought when leaving my family’s Archive that things would end up like this.”

  “Like what?” she pressed, hoping to gain information on where he’d been, and what he’d been through since they’d parted ways.

  “With my sister gone, and everyone looking at me like I’m a criminal,” he replied. “I’m confused on what I have done to cause everyone to distrust me so.” He eyed her intently. “Especially you.”

  “Except join An Fiach,” Kai muttered behind her.

  She shook her head. “I’m slowly learning that it’s best to distrust everyone until they’ve proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that they have earned it.”

  Anders smirked. “Like I said, you’ve changed.”

  They were silent for a while after that. The group had spread out further with Iseult in the lead. Their horses kicked up road dust in soft clouds around them. Finn knew before long she’d be wishing for a bath, though she wasn’t likely to get one any time soon, at least not until they reached Sormyr.

  Brushing back an unruly tress of hair that had fallen across her face, she glanced at Anders, warring with herself to live by her own words. He had not earned her trust, and Iseult had explicitly instructed her to be wary of him, but . . . “What do you mean, your sister is gone? You never found her?”

  She felt Kai tense behind her, though he did not comment.

  Anders sighed. “No, I never found her, though I searched high and low. The entire reason I joined An Fiach was to hunt down the Faie creatures who took her.” He aimed a glare at Kai.

&n
bsp; Finn cleared her throat, regaining his attention. “And when you did not find her, you departed from their ranks?”

  Anders averted his gaze, making Finn wish she had not spoken. “I left for many reasons,” he muttered. “But yes, Branwen was part of it. After that I met Niklas, and he informed me that my sister was dead.”

  Finn bit her lip. Should she tell him? In truth, there was likely little hope for Branwen, even though her physical body was still alive . . . at least it had been alive when she saw Branwen in the Gray Place.

  “So he informed you of Branwen’s fate,” she began, still mulling over her options, “and for that, you have joined the ranks of the Ceàrdaman?”

  Anders, whipped his gaze up to hers, his eyes wide. “N-no, I have not joined their ranks, not in the slightest. I simply owed him a favor for the information. You know how the Travelers are.”

  Loinnir began to prance beneath her, nearly jostling her from the saddle. Kai wrapped an arm around her waist before she could slip off.

  Finn looked around for what might have startled the unicorn, fearing the Cavari’s return, but their surroundings were still, and none of her other companions seemed alarmed.

  Anders eyed Loinnir cautiously. “I wonder what startled her,” he commented as she seemed to calm.

  Finn cast a speculative eye on Anders. By this point, she was quite sure Loinnir could understand human speech. Had there been something in Anders’ words that alarmed her?

  He’s lying, a thought echoed in her mind.

  She nearly gasped, but managed to stifle her surprise. Loinnir’s peaceful gait resumed. The unicorn turned her head for a brief moment, meeting Finn’s gaze with one blue eye.

  “A favor?” she asked distantly, recalling Anders’ words.

  “Y-yes,” he stammered. “In exchange for the information of my sister’s fate.”

  She frowned, then pressed, “This seems a steep cost for information you could have figured out yourself, eventually.”