“I’ll go with you,” he decided, regretting it as soon as he said it. He should keep her within the estate, but if these men were immune to magic . . .
He turned to Tavish. “Have Slàine send her people forward, and have the mages fall back. Try to buy us some time.”
Tavish nodded, then hurried down the stairs ahead of Maarav and Ealasaid.
“We’ll leave through the back of the estate,” he explained as they descended. “We must not be seen if we hope to make it to this unknown force unhindered.”
Ealasaid’s boots clicked down the stairs beside his. “I think it’s in the forest to the west, opposite where the Aos Sí are supposed to be.”
He nodded as they reached the courtyard, then took her hand and hurried across the grass. “Do you think you can beat whatever this thing is?” he panted as they ran.
“I have to,” was her only reply.
Not terribly heartening, that.
They darted around the far side of the estate, toward the outer buildings on the southwest end. Maarav led her to an area he had earlier noted, where a building stood near the outer wall. From the building’s roof, they could hop to the wall, and down the other side into the forested area beyond where it was unlikely enemies would be lying in wait.
He tugged on Ealasaid’s hand to slow her as they approached their destination. A stone staircase climbed up the exterior wall, leading to a small balcony on the second story, bedecked with vine-covered trellises. Ealasaid was light enough to easily climb the trellises. Maarav hoped he could follow quickly enough to not topple the fragile wood.
“Where are we going?” Ealasaid whispered, her gaze darting around for what had stopped him.
He pointed to the stairs. “You first. When you reach the second story, climb the trellis to the top and get onto the roof. It’s just a short hop to the ledge of the wall.”
She whipped her startled gaze to him. “And how will we get back down from the wall.”
He motioned for her to get moving. “There are trees. Don’t worry, I’ll help you.”
She watched him for a moment more, then rushed off, quickly mounting the stairs, then scurrying toward the trellis as he came up after her. She climbed the trellis easy enough, then pulled herself onto the roof.
Once she was up, he tested the trellis with his hands and frowned. It was not meant to hold much weight, and he probably weighed almost as much as two Ealasaids . . . or at least one and a half.
Knowing he had little choice, he pulled himself up onto the trellis and scrambled upward. Not taking time to find proper handholds, he propelled himself toward the roof. Once he was within reach, he pushed off. The trellis toppled down, slamming against the side of the lower wall as the vines refused to loosen their grasp.
“Well so much for getting back down when we return,” Ealasaid muttered.
He glared at her. “We’ll worry about that later. Time is short.”
She nodded. Spurred by his words, she hurried toward the edge of the roof near the wall.
Maarav tensed, hoping she would not hesitate.
Without waiting for further instruction or help, she leapt across the gap, braving the two story fall that awaited her should she slip.
Maarav held his breath until she touched down safely on the other side of the wide ledge. He exhaled relief, pleased with her performance, then jogged to the edge of the roof and took the jump just as easily. He joined Ealasaid as she leaned against the low parapet to peer down into the forest.
“Those trees aren’t anywhere near the wall!” she hissed.
It wasn’t entirely true. There were a few new growth trees nearer the wall than the rest, they just weren’t tall enough to reach the edge of the parapet.
“I’ll drop down first onto that tree,” he instructed, pointing to a sturdy looking pine. “Once I have a good hold I’ll be able to catch you.”
She gave him a speculative look, but before she could argue he hopped off the wall, falling like a squirrel onto the highest branches of the nearest tree. The impact stole his breath, but he managed to hang on. As soon as he could, he found a foothold on the branch below him, then twisted his body to face Ealasaid. He locked his leg around another branch just above the one he stood upon, then held his arms up toward her.
“You’re mad!” she hissed, still clutching the parapet.
“Yes,” he agreed, “but you’re going to jump anyway.”
Shaking her head, she mounted the edge of the parapet. Keeping her balance, she swung her arms a few times for momentum, then launched herself toward Maarav.
The impact of her body slamming against his stole his breath again, but he held on to her even more tightly than he had the tree.
“Can you climb down?” he asked as she panted in his ear, trembling.
“I climbed plenty of trees as a girl,” she whispered, “but never quite like this.”
Despite her words, she released him in favor of the nearest branch, then slowly began the climb down. Soon enough, they were both safe on the forest floor with the sounds of distant fighting.
He peered into the darkness. “Do you still sense whatever it is protecting An Fiach?”
She nodded. “Follow me.”
She took off at a jog, her small feet almost silent on the pine needles beneath her boots.
He followed after her, just as silent, his eyes constantly scanning their surroundings for danger.
“It’s somewhere near,” Ealasaid whispered, then halted so abruptly that her boots skidded across the damp pine needles.
Maarav caught her before she could fall, then whipped around, sensing danger.
Several paces away stood a woman in a black dress with long, crimson hair. She titled her angular face at them, pretty, if slightly masculine. “Why hello,” she purred. “I hoped I’d find you here.”
“Do I know you?” he asked, confused at why this woman was in the woods all alone when a battle was going on.
“Not you,” she replied, stepping forward. She extended a long finger, pointing past him. “Her.”
He tried to step in front of Ealasaid, but she pushed her way to his side. “She’s the one I sensed. She’s protecting An Fiach.”
The woman smiled. “Very good, though the battle is of little consequence to me. You’re my only quarry.”
“What do you want?” Ealasaid demanded.
“I want what you want,” the woman replied, stepping even closer. “I want the mages to win the war to come, and you are the key to making it happen.”
Maarav’s hair stood on end. He could always feel when Ealasaid summoned her lightning.
She held a hand out toward the woman. “Stop protecting An Fiach or I will kill you here and now.”
The woman laughed, throaty and seductive. “Quite bold, for a farm girl. I like it.”
Ealasaid flicked her hand and a lightning bolt exploded near enough to the woman to spatter dirt on her boots.
She didn’t so much as flinch.
“This is your final warning,” Ealasaid growled.
Maarav debated just flinging a dagger into the woman’s throat, but he suspected if she could deflect attacks from an entire army, she could easily deflect them from herself.
The woman flicked her long red hair over her shoulder. “I have no intention of fighting you. My name is Keiren, and with my help, you will become queen.”
The name was familiar to Maarav, though he couldn’t quite recall where he’d heard it. Perhaps from one of their companions?
“Finn warned me about you,” Ealasaid growled. “I know what you did to Àed.”
Maarav’s skin prickled seconds before Ealasaid shot a bolt of lightning right at the woman, but she was suddenly no longer there.
She blinked into existence again, a few paces to Maarav’s left. “Impressive,” she mused. “A worthwhile power to be sure, though few things can defeat the power of air.”
Ealasaid launched another bolt at her as she blinked out of sight, then re
appeared behind them.
They both whirled to face her.
She inspected her fingernails, not worried in the slightest. “The power of air is the power of illusion, the power of second sight, and the power of warding. Even if you managed to strike me with one of your bolts, it would not penetrate my defenses.” She tilted her head as if listening to something far away. “Unfortunately I can only maintain so many enchantments at once.” She curled the corner of her lip. “Your mages might just survive.”
Ealasaid glanced at Maarav, clearly confused.
“I told you, I am not your enemy,” the woman continued. “In fact, I am your greatest ally. The Aos Sí have come to kill the human queen that hopes to lead the mages to victory. They have come to kill you.”
Maarav’s breath hitched. Slàine had expressed suspicion that Ealasaid was the human queen from the prophecy, but he’d disregarded her warnings. She was powerful, but nothing like Finn.
“Ah,” Keiren said, observing him. “So you already suspected?”
“What are you talking about?” Ealasaid spat. “I’m not the queen from the prophecy. If anything you are she.”
Keiren sighed. “Unfortunately, no. I was not born under the proper alignment of stars, and I have lived for far too long for it to be possible. My magic dwindled, with all the rest. Then, eighteen years ago, something changed. My power began to return full force, even more so.” She looked Ealasaid up and down. “You look about eighteen. Is the anniversary of your birth ten days from this evening?”
Maarav watched Ealasaid’s jaw go slack. She hadn’t mentioned that her birthday was coming up.
“Y-you’re lying,” she stammered. “This is all a trick.”
Keiren shrugged. “If you say so. Denying it will not change what must be done. Oighear the White yet lives, and she has sent her Aos Sí to kill you. If she fails, Finnur will come for you next.”
“She would never,” Ealasaid gasped. “Finn is my friend!”
Keiren clucked her tongue and shook her head. “She is no one’s friend. She is the Oaken Queen, and she possesses the Faie Queen’s shroud. She will give her magic to the inhuman races until they extinguish human life entirely. Our only hope of survival is our human queen. Your very existence supplies us all with greater power.”
Ealasaid began to back away, then it was as if she hit an invisible wall.
“You must accept your birthright,” Keiren explained, then waved her hand in the air.
Ealasaid stumbled back, as if the wall had disappeared, and Maarav was so stunned he almost didn’t catch her.
As soon as she’d regained her footing, she pulled away from him, wiping at the tears in her eyes. “If all you say is true, then why attack the mages? Why side with An Fiach?”
“I told you,” Keiren hissed. “My powers are those of illusion and defensive magic. I stood little chance of entering your estate on my own amidst all of your mages and assassins.”
Ealasaid wiped her wet cheeks and shook her head, but did not reply.
“What is it that you want, exactly?” Maarav asked. “If the Aos Sí are coming for her, then we need to see to preparations.”
“I want to help,” Keiren explained. “I will be a valuable ally. Now that Finnur has the added power of the shroud, and Oighear has regained her full health, you need all of the allies you can get.”
Maarav readied himself to reply, but Ealasaid held up her hand.
“Come with us to the northern end of the burgh,” she demanded. “Call off your men. Then we will speak.”
Keiren smirked. “They are An Fiach. Now that they have the scent of mages, they will not relent.”
“Then we have nothing more to discuss,” Ealasaid snapped, then turned to march off.
“I can, however—” Keiren began, halting Ealasaid’s retreat.
Ealasaid turned back to Keiren with a hopeful eye.
Keiren began again, “I can, however, shield your mages instead of An Fiach. You want those men dead, do you not? You want to receive your vengeance.”
“How do you—” Ealasaid began, but before she could finish, Keiren started tapping a finger at her temple as if saying, think.
“Powers of air, remember?” she explained. “I can see many things that others cannot, and I can explore the in-between, the realm of dreams. I know your desires.”
Ealasaid looked like she wanted to reach out and slap the woman, but balled her fists at her sides instead. “Fine, protect my mages, then we will talk.”
Keiren grinned, then joined Ealasaid as they walked toward the sounds of battle.
Maarav followed, staring at their backs. He didn’t like that grin one bit. Women like Keiren didn’t do things for the good of many, and they definitely didn’t care about the desires of others.
He followed after them, wishing his brother and Finn had never left, or at the very least, that they would have taken them along on their journey.
Chapter Fifteen
Ealasaid couldn’t help the trembling in her hands as she took in the moonlit battle field. The shielding Keiren had promised her mages had been unnecessary by the time they reached them. Once the shields had fallen from An Fiach, they’d attempted to retreat. Perhaps some of them had made it, but not many judging by the corpses littering the muddy streets.
Her eyes fell upon a corpse she knew, one of her mages, an older female. She quickly averted her gaze.
Keiren stood silently at her side, and Maarav at her other, both towering over her.
“We should return to the estate,” Maarav muttered, “assess our losses.”
“Yes,” Keiren agreed, “let us be off.”
Ealasaid whirled on her, fury blurring her vision. “This is all your fault!” she screamed. “None of them would be dead if it weren’t for you!”
Keiren smirked. “You gathered the mages together. You knew An Fiach would come.”
“But you protected them!” she growled. Yes, perhaps An Fiach would have come either way, but they would not have attacked so boldly, and would have turned back when they realized what they were up against.
Keiren rolled her eyes. “Yes, I gave the men a fighting chance. This is war, my girl. You must be prepared for much worse. You will face the Aos Sí next, and they will not need a ward to protect them.”
Ealasaid balled her hands, longing to hit Keiren. Anything to rid herself of the horrible feeling eating up her insides. The horrible feeling that said it was all her fault. She did know An Fiach would come, and she had gathered the mages together regardless.
“Ealasaid!” someone called out, drawing her attention away from Keiren.
Ouve trotted toward them, bedraggled and bloody, but alive. “We were worried when we couldn’t find you at the estate,” he panted upon reaching them. “Ealasaid, I don’t know what happened, but we won!”
She peered around at the bodies, illuminated by the moon and still burning fallen torches. “Did we?” she questioned distantly.
Maarav stepped to her side and wrapped his arm around her. “You need to rest,” he muttered. “Let us leave the funeral pyres to the soldiers.”
The trembling returned first to her hands, then to her entire body. She was grateful when Maarav turned to Ouve and instructed him to find Keiren a room at the inn. They could deal with her later.
She allowed herself to be led back to the estate, trembling incessantly. This was all her fault. She’d grown too big for her boots, and now everything would come crumbling down.
“Don’t let them see you cry,” Maarav whispered, his arm still wrapped around her.
She felt too numb to reply, and instead continued moving along, counting the bodies as she passed.
Once they were back within the estate walls, beyond the view of mages and assassins, Maarav scooped Ealasaid up into his arms, her limp legs dangling. She did not cry. She did not speak. Looking down upon her sad, still face, he feared something had broken inside her. She’d seen battle before, in Uí Néid, and she’d seen the b
odies in Migris, but this was different. These were people she knew.
A few of Lady Sìoda’s guards eyed them as he made his way back toward their allotted quarters, but did not speak, probably glad the battle never made it to them. He debated telling them to just wait for the Aos Sí, but kept his mouth shut for Ealasaid’s sake.
Soon enough they reached the proper building and entered, passing his room and heading straight toward hers. Upon reaching it, he set her down to her feet. Her trembling body wavered, unsteady as he opened the door. Fearing she might collapse, he swept her up again into his arms and carried her inside.
Leaving the room dark, he set her on her bed, lying her flat, then returned to the door and closed it.
“Some leader I turned out to be,” she muttered at his back.
He shut the door softly then returned to her, kneeling at her bedside. “You saved them all by finding Keiren and negotiating with her. You did a fine job.”
Her eyes glistened as she stared up at the ceiling, her curly hair popping out from her braid to splay across her pillow. “She’s wrong though. I’m not powerful enough to be,” she hesitated, “queen of the magic users, or whatever she thinks I am.”
He lifted his hand to stroke a puff of hair out of her face. “It doesn’t matter what she thinks you are. It does not change your course.”
She turned her head toward him. “And what is my course?”
He smiled. “To band the mages together before they can be picked off one by one, and to teach them to protect themselves from whatever comes next.”
“The Aos Sí,” she sighed, turning her gaze back up to the ceiling.
“Yes,” he replied, the danger heavy on his mind as well. “We should at least hear what Keiren has to say. We may not be able to trust her, but if we can use her power to save our own, we must at least consider the option.”
“Just like with Slàine?” she asked weakly.
He nodded.
She groaned, lifting a hand to rub her eyes. “I feel like we’re in a den of vipers. Make one wrong step, and everyone dies.”
He stroked her hair again. He didn’t like seeing her so morose, but was glad she was coming to terms with reality. This was the way war worked. She needed to be prepared for it.
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