by H. A. Harvey
“Mother, I beg you.” Riona pleaded without rising, “Let me explain to him. The Emissary does not know, he is from a sheltered life, more even than my own.”
The queen’s music rolled through the clearing briefly, still bearing a sharp, painful key to it that made Nian wince. Slowly, she dimmed and sank back to her floral throne. Riona stood shakily, brushed her dress clean with her fingers, then gave a curtsey to the queen before coming to help Nian to his feet.
“The fair folk have never involved themselves in the wars between the Immortals, nor especially with any dealings with this foe. They fear its touch, like a cat does water, or a bird the gaze of a serpent. Do you know how Fae have a reputation for wild emotions, and for letting that be manipulated as badly as they toy with others?”
Nian nodded.
“I think that has something to do with their relation to the fair folk. Fairies are creatures of emotion and desire, whimsical. Some are very powerful, but I think they are all very vulnerable without the guidance and protection of their mother. It’s why they don’t stray far from one of the courts, and probably why the queen prevents memories of sorrow or anger in her courtiers. I think the corrupting touch of this enemy’s power can turn fair folk easily into something dark and dangerous. It’s something they don’t remember, but I’m certain she does. She sounded angry just now, but there was something else; immeasurable sorrow that I can’t begin to picture.”
“Like a mother who had to destroy her own children.” Nian murmured, realizing what he had asked of the queen. He turned to face the queen again. “You can make them forget, but you can’t forget. And recalling the ages when you last knew these enemies must already have been painful. I am so sorry.”
The queen’s tone returned to normal, replying in a harmonic melody. Riona nodded and gave Nian’s hand a squeeze before returning to her post next to the queen.
“You are forgiven,” Riona explained, sounding relieved herself. Nian realized that if things had gone badly for him, in the queen’s thrall, she would have been able to do nothing but watch. “But that is the extent of what she feels you were brought here to know.”
“Then if you are willing, your majesty,” Nian addressed the queen directly, trying to summon up his best impression of Kolel’s mannerisms, “I wish to ask if there is some way I might earn the freedom of Riona. She is a valued companion in my quest, and also a friend dear to me. I regret the intrusion before my arrival, and while it was not a purposeful invasion, I hope to make amends without surrendering one of my friends.”
Nian felt he did well. Not only did he feel like he’d managed to avoid tying his tongue in knots, but Riona blinked at him in surprise. She was apparently so distracted by his change in manner that the queen had to repeat her reply before the girl noticed it was her turn to speak.
“Ah, she said that, had she known when we, that is Rowan, David, and I, entered unbidden, that we were your vanguard, we might have been received differently. Were it a matter of a mortal girl being lost in normal times, she would happily return me with no more than an apology from the Emissary for the breach in protocol.”
“But?” Nian asked apprehensively.
“However,” Riona paused and blinked at the queen briefly in surprise before stammering a bit and continuing her translation, “W-with the return of old evils, she must think first of protecting her court. An awakened mortal, such as all but two of your company is comprised, is an indispensable asset, especially one who is also Talented, like her . . . er like me. S-she plans to train me to act as sentinel for her lands and children.”
“What if I return once my task is done and take her place?”
“She believes that you would wish to keep such a pact, but knows that such a course may not be up to you. Once Creation sets you in motion, it can be impossible to truly stop.” Riona’s voice took on a soft tone, “But I thank you for even making such an offer.”
“You wouldn’t be stuck here if it wasn’t for me.” Nian took a moment to think, “Spireward, there is a kingdom devoted to protecting wild places. If you release Riona to us, we can tell them of this place. I’m certain that many of their protectors would come to your aid.”
Riona shook her head as the queen replied. “She says that even if you succeed in your quest, the time is coming that each land will have to stand or fall of its own merit. She would welcome respectful friends, but prefers a champion of her own to a thousand borrowed defenders.”
There was a weighted silence while Nian tried to think of any other solution. However, nothing seemed to be coming to mind. After the clearing had sat in silence for a long while, the queen chimed a strange note.
“There may be one thing.” Riona said happily. Then she turned a deep red as the queen continued.
“Anything, short of trading one of the others’ freedom.” Nian waited for Riona’s explanation, but it didn’t arrive even after the queen apparently repeated herself. Suddenly, Riona jumped with a small yelp like she had been swatted on the backside.
“She . . . would happily trade,” Riona paused and swallowed, “For a sentinel born to her.”
“But doesn’t she have that already?”
“Not a pure fairy,” Riona stated carefully, “A fairy child born from a queen’s womb, but also gifted with the resilience of an awakened mortal’s blood . . . a child of an Emissary.”
“Wait with me?” Nian was sure he was more than matching Riona’s complexion almost instantly, “How would that eve-“
Nian stopped abruptly, as his argument of convenience was answered. The queen’s light shimmered and grew, seeming to flow like water until a woman just shorter than he was stood before the flower. The queen’s skin was dark and lustrous as polished ebony while her hair and eyes seemed white, but shimmered any of a thousand hues with every movement. The slender, elegant form of her face and body were statuesque, almost impossibly well formed. A sheer gown of white hung loosely from her right shoulder. About her head, neck, wrists and ankles were circlets of silvery metal that looked like starlight spun into the shape of vines, flowering with dozens of precious gems of every sort. She walked toward Nian so gracefully that she might as well have floated and stopped just in front of him. Her soft, sweet scent enveloped Nian, who took a step backward to gather his thoughts. The queen’s lips parted and an almost hypnotic contralto voice carried her strange melodic speech.
“She said that if her form is not pleasing, she can be any woman you desire.” Riona was making an obvious, if unsuccessful, attempt to seem at ease with her task. “She assures you that . . . she said our, child will be more than a weapon, it will know love and joy. She will cherish it for all time as her rarest and most wonderful of children.”
“I didn’t say yes.” Nian objected uncomfortably, directing his reply to Riona more to keep his gaze off the queen than any other reason. “But even if I did, I wouldn’t want her to look like anyone else. That would add a lie to it.”
“Nian,” Riona argued, “You offered to take my place without hesitating, but you don’t want to do this?”
While Nian tried to find a way to explain, the queen turned and sang a brief melody. Riona’s expression was odd, and Nian wasn’t sure what to make of it. He waited for her translation, but none came.
“What did she say?” He finally asked aloud.
Riona answered sharply. “It wasn’t for you.”
Nian balked a moment, then looked back at the queen. He struggled with where to look. He hated to be crude and fixate upon her body, but the light of her eyes seemed dangerously hypnotic. Finally, he settled on her chin, she and Riona probably still thought he was looking elsewhere, but he felt a little better at least.
“Is there anything else?” Nian asked pleadingly.
Nian could feel the queen staring at him. He silently wished she would at least back away. In his mind, part of him argued that Autumn had made it
clear she wanted nothing to do with him, and Riona would never be free unless he agreed to go along with the queen’s request. However, for some reason, it didn’t feel right. Nian quietly resolved that his own pride wasn’t worth Riona’s freedom. If there was no other way, then he decided he would agree to do as she asked. Unexpectedly, the queen stepped close and placed a soft kiss on his lips, then turned and returned to her flower. The lovely blossom seemed to have grown at some point, and the queen gracefully perched upon a floral throne.
“She respects what she sees in you, Nian.” Riona interpreted the queen’s angelic song. “So she is willing to offer you, and me, a chance to win my freedom instead of . . . instead of the other thing.”
“Win?”
“All, fairies love contests, games and tricks,” Riona smiled, “Even the queens.”
“I’m listening then.” Nian nodded, “How do we win you back?”
The queen smiled. It was an odd smile that reminded him of a little girl who just smelled her favorite treat. It was alluringly innocent and playful, but disturbingly carried a distinct twinge of greedy hunger. As the queen’s melodic voice danced around him, Nian again found himself reminded that stories with fairies in them always ended badly.
“She says I can come with you on your quest, on one condition.” As the song continued, Riona paled visibly. “Nian, no. Give her what she wants or just leave me. I’m not unhappy here and it will cost less.”
“Just tell me the condition, Rio.”
Riona looked at the queen, who nodded. “The drakes of her valley have long served as a shield against mortal pillaging. She indulged their presence because they are little more than beasts. They only hunt to eat and do not remember the song of fire. Um, time is hard to translate, but a new one arrived somewhat recently. She is larger, and more clever than the black drakes that have always lived here. This drake will kill whatever enters the territory she claimed, which she steadily expands. She also seems to slay out of spite and even from boredom. This newcomer brought the song of fire into the valley, and wields it without restraint. However, her worst offense is that her behavior is contagious, and the others are beginning to emulate her. The mother has realized for some time that she will soon have to sacrifice many her children to remove this beast’s influence from the valley.”
“She wants me to kill the dragon that Rowan saw.”
The queen quickly ululated an addendum, which Riona dutifully repeated, “Drake, you would be no contest against a Dragon. She says that true Dragons she has not seen for . . . the lives of ten oak trees, which I guess is a while. She also said that she doesn’t require the creature’s death, only that her influence, all of it, be removed from the vale and prevented from returning. And she does not require that you act alone. Your other friends and I can aid in your cause.”
“I agree.”
“Nian you can’t-“ Riona was cut short as the light shining down into the grove grew swiftly to almost blinding brilliance. When the light faded, Riona gasped and toppled forward onto the grass. Ignoring the queen for the moment, Nian rushed to her side. The young woman lay prostrate, gasping with sobs. When Nian gently helped her sit up, Riona flung her arms around his shoulders and buried her face in his neck. He awkwardly held Riona as she wept, while hot tears streamed from her cheek onto his collar bone. Nian looked at the queen, wondering what she had done to his friend. The fairy gazed at them with a sympathetic expression, and he slowly became aware of a soothing contralto hum filling the air.
“S-she released me.” Riona finally whispered once her sobs began to subside. Yet she did not loose her hold on Nian. “It all came back at once. Everything she had held at bay.”
Nian tried to imagine every sorrow, every moment of rage in his life all at once. His mind would not allow it. Even cascading the few moments in recent memory caused his breath to catch in his throat and his eyes to moisten. Nian squeezed Riona tightly. It was some time before she released her hold on him and stood shakily, still needing his help to do so. Finally, when Riona seemed steady enough to stand on her own, Nian kissed her lightly upon the brow and stepped back.
“We should go.” Riona said quietly, “Phoenix’ influence is limited here, and Time doesn’t flow the same for the court as it does outside. The others could be close to thinking you lost as well by now. My things will be waiting on the way out.”
Nian nodded and gave Riona’s shoulder a reassuring rub, “Alright. You go first though, I’ve decided I have one more thing to ask the queen.”
“I can stay.” Riona offered, “How else will you understand the answer?”
“I think I can handle a yes or no in this case, and I would prefer that it be alone.”
. . .
“At least wait until Abomination heals.” Xain insisted. “We all go together to have better chance against pixies.”
“Strength of arm, or numbers won’t matter in there anyway.” Rowan rebutted the Dwarf as he rechecked the supply of clovers, midsummer wort, and red verbena. “It has been three days already. If anyone was coming out by now, they would have.”
“Nian said to wait,” Autumn recited her mantra for the last three days, “Just trust him. A necklace of daisies and pouch full of flowers is not going to do any good against a fairy queen. You’ll just make her angry and that won’t be good for anyone already under her sway.”
“We have to do something, Dryad.” David argued as he checked his sword and scooped handfuls of wild grains into two small rabbit-skin pouches. He handed one to Rowan and nodded. “You might not care, but Nian is our friend, so we’re going. Karen may already be impossible to catch, but she will be for certain if we delay any longer.”
“Nian is coming.”
Rowan spun toward the new voice from the grove. He let his satchel fall in surprise at the sight of Riona stepping out of the canopy’s shadow in bare feet. She wore a revealing gown of sheer silk and was carrying a bundle of clothing and her silver-trimmed blade in her arms. The girl smiled at him, though it looked like she had recently been crying. Rowan and David rushed over and nearly smothered Riona in a happy embrace.
“Did he trade places with you?” Rowan asked, suddenly remembering his own share of fairy lore.
Riona shook her head, “He offered, but she said no. I told you he’s coming. He should be here shortly; well, shortly as a fairy court counts things. He’s agreed to a challenge instead.”
“What sort of challenge?” Autumn asked warily.
Rowan didn’t like the concern on Riona’s face as she stepped back from the embrace. “I think I should let Nian explain. In the meantime, if you don’t mind, I’d like to change. This dress is a little chilly outside the grove.”
Though he wanted to press the issue, Rowan was relieved enough to see Riona and know that Nian was safe that he let the details of the fairy challenge drop. He nodded and stepped to the side.
“There’s a patch of heather by the brook down that way.” Rowan gestured down the Gateward slope through the trees. “You can change there.”
Riona giggled, “I know, thank you. I think this forest at least, I know better than you now.”
Rowan stared after Riona as the girl made her way down to what had served as their bathing blind of late. There was an oddity to her gait that hadn’t been there before; an almost impossible grace mixed with a hint of timid caution filled her form as she walked barefoot through the leaves and branches. Rowan couldn’t help but compare her to a doe wandering through the underbrush. As Rowan stared after Riona, he heard Kaesa murmur something and Xain burst into laughter immediately afterward. Puzzled, Rowan turned to face the two still sitting under the elm.
“What’s your problem?”
“I was yust wondering,” Kaesa answered with a smirk, “If ye two plan on keeping yer flowur armur. It’s very pretty.”
David and Rowan looked at each other sheepishly. They d
id look a little ridiculous. Both wore a long garland of fresh daisies coiled around their neck and shoulders, and had sprigs of red verbena tied into their hair. They both quickly unwound their garlands, but were still in the process of untangling all the verbena when Riona returned dressed in her travelling garb, though it was in somewhat better condition than Rowan remembered. She had folded her dress into a neat, compact square of cloth, but still wore the laurels in her hair. David emptied out his rabbit-skin pouch and gave it to her to store the precious gown.
“What are all the seeds for?” Riona giggled, “Were you planning on baking bread in the grove?”
“They were for decoys.” David answered earnestly.
“Decoys?”
“In case we had to drag Nian out with fairies chasing us.” Rowan explained, “If you drop a bunch of sand or seeds, they have to stop and count them.”
Riona laughed before hugging Rowan tightly and giving him a kiss on the cheek. “No they don’t, but they’d probably have been upset at you making a mess and wasting food.”
The day wore on through morning and into the afternoon. Kaesa seemed to have a fascination with the fair folk, and spent most of the morning trading stories with Riona. Her new friend didn’t seem to tire of sharing descriptions of the fairies in the grove and their ways, and was equally interested in tales of different sorts of fair folk that dwelled in the icy wilds of Nilheim. Riona would sit and talk with Kaesa for a spell, then wander off to dance and hum some nameless tune. Rowan slowly became convinced that she was still under some manner of enchantment.
Rowan, as well as Autumn and David, spent most of the time watching the grove in silence. Though everyone started to grow anxious again when Phoenix started her descent, Riona remained calmly confident that Nian was returning. In the early afternoon, Xain’s interest seemed to become piqued when Riona fluttered past humming to herself. He claimed to recognize the melody from the histories of Caer Dunan.