And Less Than Kind

by Mercedes Lackey

  Still, conscience warred with the need of her body, with the tautness of her breasts which brought her upstanding nipples into suggestive contact with her night rail, with the unmistakable sensation that her nether mouth was hot and wet. Her arms dropped down Denno's back, pressed on his buttocks so that his hips were driven forward. Unfortunately he was too tall and the pressure came against her belly. She rose on tiptoe to rub against him.

  At the same time, conscience won enough for her to say, "I think I need to talk to Da about those who answered my summons."

  Denoriel laughed softly. "And so you shall, beloved, when you can give more than a small part of your attention to what he will have to say. We are Underhill, love. I shall spread the hours so that we have all the time we need." And he picked her up and carried her up the stairs to the wide, soft bed that—because Sidhe did not sleep—was only used for making love.

  The bed was well used that mortal night. With all the time Elizabeth and Denoriel had for love, it was nearly not enough. Each time they were done loving and resting and made to rise, one or the other would remember this would be the last time for love for neither knew how long.

  Fear drove Elizabeth as much as passion. She had no real idea of how Mary would greet her, whether she was going to be acknowledged as her sister's heir or seized to be executed as a danger to the peace of the realm. Oddly the fear did not diminish her lust; it lent so special a savor to her Denno's caresses that, even sated, just dozing in his arms woke her appetite for more.

  Denoriel was storing in his body, in his memory, every sigh, every breath, every murmur of her need and her desire. He had always hated when she went to Court because she loved it so. She said she missed him and that she thought of him . . . but that was after she had left the Court. The glories and wonders of Underhill had never drawn her as they had drawn Harry. The English Court might be coarse and crude and dirty by comparison, but to Elizabeth it was real and important.

  Although he was no FarSeer, Denoriel knew that some day Elizabeth herself would be the Court and he only a small part of her life, a distant, pleasant dream of the past. And each time he thought of losing her, he made love to her again, determined that no human would ever rival his skill at bringing her pleasure.

  It was fortunate that a cheerful whistling from below and a shout for wine roused them from a brief rest and warned them that Harry had come home. Elizabeth was ashamed to linger longer abed. She laughed, gave Denoriel a large smacking kiss on the cheek, and slid from under the light cover. Denoriel laughed too, curbing the desire to pull her back. He knew it was necessary to return to the mortal world very soon or the twist he would need to give time might have unfortunate side effects.

  Thus Denoriel quickly gestured them both into clothing, and they hurried out onto the stair landing to see Harry, still in the square entrance hall talking to the air.

  "Nectar too," he said, then hearing some sound looked up and saw them. "Drinks?"

  "I'll have whatever wine you are drinking," Denoriel said, smiling. "It's all very good. I know. I import it."

  Harry laughed.

  "Ale for me," Elizabeth said. "I'm thirsty but I want to keep a clear head." She saw the gun holstered at Harry's waist and the silver sword too. "Whatever have you been doing?" she asked.

  Harry gestured toward the parlor and Elizabeth went in. Elidir and Mechain were standing near the fireplace where multicolored flames danced over crystal logs. Elizabeth smiled at the fire, remembering that it had once irritated her to have a fire Underhill where the temperature suited itself to each person and the clothing that person wore. Now it was a familiar thing, designed only to be beautiful—as so much of Underhill was—and dear to her as everything related to her Denno was dear.

  Elidir and Mechain greeted her with cries of joy, commenting on how long it had been since they saw her. Elizabeth sighed.

  "Life has been very fraught. My poor brother is dead—"

  The two elder Sidhe nodded sadly but without surprise.

  "And the duke of Northumberland tried to set aside my sister and myself and put Jane Gray on the throne."

  Elizabeth shivered and both the Sidhe came to her. Mechain stroked her hair and Elidir put an arm around her shoulders. "You can always come here," Mechain said.

  "No, she cannot," Elidir snapped. "She has a great purpose to fulfill."

  His hand dropped as if to touch his sword hilt and Elizabeth suddenly noticed that he carried not only his sword but a strange looking whip with a thick handle and a lash that was more like a coiled ribbon than a punishing strip of leather. Mechain was also armed. Elizabeth looked more closely at the Sidhe, but they did not have the fragile transparency that spoke of much use of magic.

  "It appears that your lives as well as mine have been busy and dangerous," Elizabeth said.

  There was a wavering in the air and suddenly a small table stood beside the elder Sidhe with flasks and cups for the nectar and the wine and a substantial mug with ale. Mechain, Elidir, and Elizabeth helped themselves to drink and to a few of the tiny sweets from a gold plate.

  "Busy, yes. Dangerous, no," Harry said, coming in and taking a cup of wine before settling down on the short sofa that faced the fireplace. "Denno is going down to his workroom to bespell some amulets. Didn't he tell you that something very, very strange has happened in Alhambra?"

  "What does he want the amulets to do?" Mechain asked.

  "Locators for opening Gates into the mortal world," Harry said. "It is possible that Elizabeth will be away from her own houses for a time and Denno wants to be sure that he can reach her if there is a need."

  "Oh, we know a trick or two to make the Gates open easily," Elidir said. "Will Denoriel mind if we go to his workroom?"

  "I'm sure not," Harry said. "He left the stair open. Likely he would welcome any help. He's only started to study magic seriously in the last few mortal years."

  The elder Sidhe took themselves out of the parlor carrying their nectar to where a stairway going down now yawned in the middle of the entrance hall. Elizabeth sat down beside Harry and raised her brows.

  "All right, Da, what is it about Alhambra that Mechain and Elidir don't want to talk about?"

  "I'm not sure I want to talk about it either. It makes me damned uncomfortable. I'm surprised Denno . . . No, it's true that I've hardly seen him since . . ." He put an arm around Elizabeth. "I'm sorry, love, I know you cared for Edward."

  Tears suddenly filled Elizabeth's eyes. "I should have guarded him better. I tried, but my shield wasn't enough. I should have covered him instead of myself—"

  "No! Absolutely not! And you are not at fault. It is Vidal Dhu who sent an assassin to kill you my love. That an accident caused him to touch Edward instead is not your fault."

  "I suppose so," Elizabeth sighed, "but I miss Edward. Even though we did not see each other often, we wrote to each other. I miss his letters. He was always interested in what I was studying . . ." She sniffed and wiped her eyes. "The gun and your sword . . . and you are trying to divert me from Alhambra. What has happened there?"

  "The Evil is gone! The iron sigils we placed to control Its creatures are missing. But there is not a sniff of them or of It. Now we must search more carefully."

  "Oh, Da, be careful," Elizabeth said, clinging to him for a moment.

  He kissed her again and freed himself, smiling. "Now, now, there is nothing to worry about. You know that the Evil has never tried to force me—It only offers silly temptations—and Elidir and Mechain are ready with shielding if It should change Its mind."

  "It has pretended to be gone before, and then sent out a new plague when you were less prepared."

  Harry shook his head. "I think It is really gone this time, and that is what troubles me. We thought, since It did not flee when we destroyed Its minions, that It was somehow fixed in Alhambra. We hoped to bind It with a spell . . . but Sawel has not yet perfected a binding strong enough. We hoped to send It to the Void. And now It is gone." He sighed. "T
here are so many places It could go and when we are not watching grow strong again."

  "How can you find It? Oh Da, I don't like the idea of you hunting for that Evil." Elizabeth clutched at him again.

  He stroked her hair. "It was my idea to drive It out of Alhambra, so it is my responsibility to see It does no harm. The elder Sidhe and I will search. If we have any suspicion of where It is—Its creatures will surely try to attack us—Hafwen will be able to sense It. The last time she came to Alhambra, none of us could feel It much, but Hafwen showed us where it laired before she nearly fainted and Pasgen had to carry her to the Gate."

  "Can you not wait until matters are settled in England, please?" Elizabeth begged. "If I am afraid for you as well as for myself, I will go mad."

  "What?" Harry sat upright, hands going to the weapons he bore, but even as he touched them he realized that weapons would be of no help and he embraced Elizabeth again. "Why should you be afraid for yourself?" He leaned back to look into her face.

  "Because to Mary I am Ann Boleyn's daughter."

  "That is true," Harry said, "but Mary has mixed feeling about you. She wants to have a sister to love. No, Mary would not harm you for that. And Rhoslyn is with her. Rhoslyn will warn us if the queen threatens to turn on you. But why should she?"

  "Because she will try to make this realm Catholic again and subject to the pope. I am not only my mother's daughter but also known to favor the reformist rite. Those of that persuasion might prefer to see me on the throne. Thus Mary or her advisors might decide I am a danger to her and to the stability of her reign."

  Harry made an exasperated noise. "This business of Alhambra distracted me. Once Mary was proclaimed on the strength of being our father's daughter and the Act of Succession, I put England temporarily out of my mind, thinking Mary would reign as long as she lasted and then you would be crowned. There was no Protestant faction in my time. Hmmm. No. No, it will not be so easy."

  "Mary is now on her way to London."

  Harry sat silent for a long moment, obviously considering alternatives. Finally he said, "Yes, and you must meet her."

  "You do not think she is likely simply to seize me?"

  "No." He frowned then added slowly, thinking as he spoke, "I do not believe there is any reason to be afraid. From what Rhoslyn has said, Mary is too happy just now to do anyone any harm. After all, she has not even condemned Northumberland and she has freed Courtenay. True, he is not named in the Act of Succession, but he is male and has a good claim to the throne. Still," his frown deepened, "be careful, my love. Be very careful that you give no sign of planning any act against her."

  "I almost wish I could stay on my own lands."

  "No, you must not do that. When the glow of being chosen queen fades, Mary will remember that you could be a danger to her. Others may speak against you and Mary will be quick to believe that you are hiding so that you may foment plots against her. You must show Mary and the Court that you are a dutiful subject and a loving sister."

  "She will press me to convert to Catholicism."

  Harry was silent, biting his lower lip gently. "I think you will need to agree to that and go to Mass. Just do it as privately as possible or in the presence of those who are already Catholics—and I do not mean those who have converted to keep their offices. I mean those closest to Mary and those who you are sure clung to the old rite even while they attended reformist churches."

  Elizabeth shuddered and tears glittered in her eyes. "I always loved being at Court. Even when Somerset glared at me and tried to make me unwelcome, Edward and I would manage to exchange a few words and laugh with our eyes. Now, I dread it. There will be no one to laugh with."

  "No, love, I fear there will not. At least, not anyone safe. And if Mary is determined to make England Catholic again, I greatly fear there will be nothing to laugh about."

  "I am frightened," Elizabeth whispered.

  Harry shook his head. "Do not let yourself be frightened. Fear will drive you into making mistakes, into hiding yourself when you should be standing boldly beside the queen so the Court and the people see you as her heir. Think of the fact that Mary's nature was always gentle and kind, and she remembers how much you loved her when you were a child."

  "Let me at least know you are safe, Da, not chasing Evil."

  "No, no. Do not trouble your head about me. And remember that you are never really alone. Aleneil will bind an air spirit to you that can summon us if you face any real threat. Denno is making amulets so that we can come to you, wherever you are." Harry touched the gun and the sword, his good-natured face suddenly hard and grim. "You have nothing to fear. Da will protect you."

  Chapter 13

  Albertus's fears that Vidal or Aurilia would detect his desire to see Elizabeth on the throne were wasted. It was not until August that Vidal arrived at Otstargi's house prepared to interest himself in the affairs of England. A strange eruption of trouble, of domains damaged and deaths Vidal would not have ordered, had kept him busy Underhill.

  To Vidal's intense surprise, the perpetrator was Dakari, hardly more than a shadow before the cataclysmic event that had changed him. Nor was Vidal pleased to learn that he was the indirect cause of Dakari's new power. Vidal understood from Dakari's description of the symbols scribed on the stone in the inner chamber of Alhambra and later defaced that the large stone had been an altar.

  "Oh it was a wonderful thing," Dakari said, licking his loose lips and staring boldly at Vidal. "I had sent Wahib and Wahiba away and at first I was afraid, but later there was a scent to it as sweet as putrid meat. The stone had turned pale, as if it were weak." He laughed. "I suppose then I was more afraid of you than of what was under the stone or in it. I went close and spoke to It, telling It what we had done and what we wished to do for It, but It would not answer. So I got angry, and I slapped the stone. It struck back like a thousand bolts of earthly lightning."

  A wild laugh rang out and Dakari's hand, suddenly elongated and tipped with three-inch-long claws, swiped at Vidal. The master of Caer Mordwyn did not even flinch, only lashed out with a rope of force and caught the arm above the wrist and above the elbow. Vidal had eons of practice in dealing with inimical creatures.

  He remembered how he himself had been captured by the mist. It was not because the mist was so strong and he was so weak but because he had been so surprised that for just that crucial moment he had not resisted. Vidal was not sure just how strong the Evil that possessed Dakari was, but he could see no point in an open confrontation with an enemy of unknown strength. While the Evil within Dakari was shocked by the failure of Its attempt to harm him, he sealed It into a self-reflecting shield. Now whatever force the Evil projected would reflect back upon Itself.

  In fact, Vidal had been considerably amused by the various shocks and wounds It inflicted on Dakari—he had not been amused by Dakari's new found power and insolence when he first caught him. But the punishment soon stopped; apparently the Evil was Itself subject to the pain inflicted on Its host. When It was quiet Vidal thought it might be useful to learn how the Evil had moved itself.

  "So you laid your hand on the altar. What happened then?"

  "The world ended!" Dakari breathed. "Then It was born anew in lightnings and thunders—and I too was born anew. I had such power! I threw away Aurilia's stupid amulets. I dealt with Wahib and Wahiba and others, too. I will deal with you when I get loose."

  To that Vidal made no reply. Apparently the Evil was as stupid as Dakari. But Vidal knew he needed time to consider the best use for the Evil, and he had time enough now that the once-shadowy Sidhe was under unbreakable bonds. A fine resource, but not to be used in haste, without thought, lest it be wasted.

  While Vidal hunted Dakari, he had become aware that the emanations of anguish and anger from the mortal world were sadly reduced. He had barely been able to draw enough power to fix the spell on Dakari. Vidal had forgotten that for a while after Mary's accession, everyone would be joyous and the power coming from fear and m
isery would diminish. It was time and more than time to visit the mortal world and make trouble.

  Once he turned his mind to mortal affairs, Vidal remembered Albertus bringing news of Mary's victory; he was amused all over again by how possessive Aurilia was of her silly mortal. But as he stepped from the Gate in Otstargi's house, he frowned. That mortal bore a sense of ill will. Vidal grinned; imagine that helpless creature daring to feel resentment. When he was ready—and Aurilia had annoyed him enough—he would squash her pet like a bug.

  The good mood that thought engendered was reinforced when he went to the table in Otstargi's office and found half a dozen messages from Rich and one from Ambassador Renard. At first Vidal considered ignoring the messages from Rich, but the man was active among Mary's Council. He might still be useful. It was from Rich he had learned of Mary's dependence on the Imperial ambassador. Rich might have lost much of his power, but he still knew what was going on at Court and could pass that information on. Vidal sent a message with a civil apology, saying he had been abroad unexpectedly, and making an appointment with Rich for that evening.