by Amy Sumida
But the crowd was too riled up. Trying to stop a riot once the first strike has been made is like trying to stop a wave from hitting the shore. The mob closed in as if they were tired of projectile attacks and had decided to get more hands-on with their approach.
Daxon grabbed Killian's shoulder and yanked him out of the way as he lifted a hand to the sky. The air crackled, then boomed as clouds formed above us. The thunder startled everyone but it was what came afterward that set them to cowering. The gathering storm—that had no right to exist below ground but didn't seem to care—drew together into a menacing shape. It wasn't a specific animal but rather a collection of creatures, as if every bestial nightmare had been pulled into one body. The monster lifted its shaggy head, trailing black mist around it, and roared as it lashed out with a clawed paw. But just as the fairies started to tense to bolt, it disappeared, exploding into vapor.
The Prince still stood before the band of thugs. He was the only one—besides my husbands and me—who hadn't even twitched at Daxon's display. I glanced at the stage, then did a double-take; he was still there as well. I looked back and forth between the identical men. Twins? It couldn't be bilocation; that was a psychic ability limited to extinguishers.
“Raul's mór is the Cinn,” Daxon pronounced the word as keen. “It's a multiplying magic.”
“He can make duplicates of himself?” I asked in surprise. I'd never heard of a mór like that. “It's a lot like bilocation.”
“Yes, psychic abilities often mimic Fey magic, but with the Cinn, Raul can make more than one copy of himself. However, the more he makes, the less they can do.” Daxon stepped through the crowd, taking me with him. “Every replica divides his attention.”
My other husbands formed a shield around me and our knights drew in around them. Daxon's scare tactic had grabbed the crowd's attention and passed it along to us; we'd been recognized at last. Fairies made a path for us, bowing as we walked by. Tadashi scurried to the front of our group, then settled into a more distinguished stride, his staff striking the ground with every step as if to announce our arrival. He led us to a set of stairs alongside the stage, then stepped aside and bowed as we passed him. Once we were on the stage, he set himself firmly in front of the stairs, his staff set beside him.
Prince Raul's face—both of them—went slack in relief before he started shouting at the gathering, “Look at how you've behaved in front of Their Majesties! Shame on you! You deserved to feel King Daxon's wrath!”
“Shame on you?” I chuckled under my breath. “He must be a parent too.”
“He is,” Daxon confirmed. “His wife just had their first child three years ago.”
“I just hope he doesn't try to put everyone in time-out,” Killian drawled.
“Now, please allow our guests to come forward unmolested,” Raul went on. “They came here at my request.”
The “guests” were still flinging bits of fruit and veggies off their shoulders but they followed our path to the stage. The citizens of the Underground glared at them as they passed, but the men lifted their heads and endured the scrutiny as if it were a badge of honor.
“Thank you so much for coming, Your Majesties and Your Highness,” Prince Raul said in a low tone as he hurried over to greet us, then he bowed to my men and me.
“Of course.” Daxon shook his hand. “It looks as if our timing was good.”
“Nearly bad.” Raul grimaced. “But yes, you arrived just in the nick, as the humans say.”
The ruffians came onto the stage and our knights immediately stepped between us.
“All right, that's enough,” I said wearily to our knights, shocking them and the approaching men both. I waved our guards aside and went up to the man at the head of the thug group. Holding out my hand, I introduced myself, “I'm Queen Seren of Fairy.”
The man looked at my hand as if it might bite him.
“My limbs don't turn into snakes,” I said casually. “That's my husband's thing.”
The man burst out laughing and shook my hand. “I'm Belino, Your Majesty, and these are my friends.”
I nodded to the other men and they bowed to me. Well, more like inclined their heads. They didn't look too accustomed to bowing. Belino, however, executed a full court bow.
“So, you're the bad guys,” I noted.
Belino's stare flicked to either side of me, and I glanced there as well. My husbands had formed an honor guard and were glowering at the “bad guys.”
“Don't mind them,” I said blithely. “My daughter has just recently developed an ability for premonition and she had a vision about me that's put them on edge.”
“In that case, congratulations to your daughter and I hope you survive whatever it is she foresaw, Your Majesty.”
“Thank you.” I glanced around again; the crowd below was watching us avidly.
In fact, every eye was on us, even those belonging to the fairies onstage. I assumed they were Raul's Guard.
“Do you believe you deserve their anger?” I asked Belino.
Belino went somber, then sighed deeply. His gaze skittered away, over the crowd, and he nodded once. There's some satisfaction in your persecutor acknowledging that they wronged you. The fairies gathered below started to murmur to each other in surprise.
“Well, that's a start,” I said gently.
Belino's gaze swung back to me, just as surprised as the residents of the Underground. “Of what?”
“Redemption, Belino. If you want it. Fairies live a long time which means you have every opportunity to remake yourself. And there's no time like the present.”
Belino gaped at me.
“My apologies, Your Majesty,” Prince Raul stepped up. “I should have been the one to introduce you.”
“Not at all. I should have acknowledged your greeting first, Prince Raul,” I apologized. “But I let my irritation get the best of me. I hope you don't mind.”
“I understand, of course, Queen Seren. My guards often annoy me as well.” He grinned conspiratorially.
“Congratulations on your child. Is it a boy or a girl?”
Raul blinked, gaped, then stuttered, “A girl.”
“What's her name?”
“Juliana.”
“How beautiful. You must be thrilled.”
Daxon cleared his throat.
“Yes, I know,” I huffed irritably. Then I lifted my voice to dramatically ask, “What's going on here, in your Underground, Prince Raul?”
Raul knew I knew the answer but I hadn't asked the question for me. He nodded in understanding. Ruling is often about making a show for those you govern. The play is the thing, after all. People love stories, especially Fey people. Put on a good show, and you'll have them eating out of your hand.
“The Fey of Brazil have sought sanctuary here, Your Majesty,” Raul lifted his voice to be sure everyone heard. “The humans are slaughtering each other so I refused to turn fairies away, no matter their past. But a lot of my people are angry with me about this. Our guests aren't allowed proper boarding and are being ostracized and even attacked.”
“That is a shame.” I looked at Daxon. “What shall be done about this, King Daxon?”
Daxon grinned at me knowingly before he stepped forward. This was his domain—his kingdom—and I wouldn't make a ruling for him even though I was his Queen. Daxon's position wasn't like Raza's or Tiernan's; he had been appointed by the Councils so I felt as if this was more his job than mine. I didn't want to undermine his authority so I'd offer my opinion and give him my support but that's all.
“Hatred is never appeased by hatred, nor is fear appeased by violence,” Daxon strode to the edge of the stage to speak to the crowd of fairies. “I understand your fear and your hatred. And if we were in the process of clearing this underground, I would stand beside you and help you force these men out. No one wants the Undergrounds to return to what they were. I swear to you that I will not allow that to happen. Have faith in my vow and take comfort in it. I don't expect you t
o house fairies who once hurt you. I don't even expect you to be kind to them. But I do expect you to behave better than them.”
The crowd suddenly looked like a bunch of chastised teenagers—partly ashamed and partly resentful.
“These men are still our people,” Daxon went on. “You don't know their hearts. You don't know what path they've had to walk that made them who they are today or what road they'll choose tomorrow that may change them in the future. I have walked in darkness for most of my life and it wasn't an easy journey. But then a star pierced that darkness and guided me home.”
I went to stand beside Daxon and take his hand. I smiled adoringly at him before addressing the Underground, “Danu once told me that there are pieces of her inside all of us and that she loved all of her children dearly. As most of you know, my uncle, the last King of Unseelie, did horrible things. He murdered my mother and tried to murder me many times. But Danu told me that he wasn't evil, that he had a purpose and his actions had been necessary. Without him, I would never have become Princess of Twilight and Queen of both Seelie and Unseelie. Danu told me there is a balance that must be maintained and Uisdean was a part of that balance. She told me that I didn't have to forgive him or love him as she did, but I didn't have to hate him either. I should accept him and what he had done as a necessary step toward my own purpose.”
I let that sink in and glanced at Daxon. I didn't want to steal his thunder.
“Keep going, sweetheart,” he whispered. “I'm in fucking awe of you right now.”
I kissed him, just a quick, chaste press of lips, but it softened the fairies even further. When I looked back at them, I found their faces full of rapt wonder. As I said, the story will get them every time, and every story needs a little romance.
“I never did forgive Uisdean,” I continued, “but I did understand him in the end, and I found peace in that understanding. I want that peace for all of you: the knowledge that what you've judged to be evil may have had a good purpose. You don't have to forgive the people who hurt you, but I urge you to try to accept them. Accept that they have touched your lives. Their touch may have been brutal and it may have left a scar but it's up to you to either make that scar into a weakness or a strength. To see it as something that broke you or tempered you. Look where you stand now and look where they are. What fate would you prefer? Would you rather be the hammer or the blade it forges? I know what my choice was and will always be. I am the sword and I have been struck so many times that I am virtually unbreakable.”
The fairies applauded and when the sound died away, Daxon took over.
“I was blessed by our Goddess even though I live on Earth like all of you,” Daxon said. “Danu can still touch our lives and draw us together, even when we can't hear her voice. Feel that piece of her inside you and let her guide you now. Take her counsel if you won't take mine. Would she cast these fairies out or would she accept them?”
Fairies gaped at the Underworld King who had a reputation for being deadly and ruthless. Yet here he was preaching tolerance and asking them to listen to their hearts. Hell, even I was a little surprised; it seemed like a complete turnaround from what he'd been saying about the humans and their riots. I understood then that we couldn't have stopped the humans, but Daxon had the chance to stop the Fey. Hopefully, Danu was listening and gave him a little help.
Slowly, expressions changed, and the anger that had been brewing faded.
“There she is,” Daxon said confidently. “I see Danu in you now. Hold onto her and remember that even the darkest of hearts was born pure, with that same piece of Danu inside it. That piece of our goddess ensures that every hear can find its way back to what it once was. Today's criminal can become tomorrow's hero. Perhaps amid this adversity, we can lead a few hearts back to their beginning. But that depends on you.” He leveled a heavy stare at the fairies gathered before him—all sorts of races, from hulking Red Caps to tiny Callicantzarois. “You are in no danger here. I've assigned Prince Raul to look after this Underground because I'm confident in his ability to do so. And if you are safe, what risk is there in sharing your sanctuary temporarily?”
“These men have done bad things,” Prince Raul added as he stepped up beside Daxon. “But I ruled on their crimes and decided that banishment from the Underground was enough of a punishment. They were soldiers following orders, not the leaders who gave the orders. I won't allow them to stay forever, but I won't cast them out to die either. You will not have to open your homes; I will have temporary housing constructed for them. But I ask that you support me in this and please, just leave them be.”
“I came here today full of anger and fear,” Belino said as he stepped up on my left. “I know that I've wronged many of you and those actions haunt me. They make it difficult for me to face you. But King Daxon and Queen Seren have given me the courage to speak my mind. I know my words will hold little weight with you, but I do want redemption so I will speak them anyway. First, I offer you my apology, even as I expect you to refuse it. Next, I will make you a vow. I cannot promise to be a good man, I know that will take time. But I promise to behave like one until I become that man. I will speak with the others and do my best to ensure that their behavior matches mine. And when it's safe for us to leave, I swear that I will do everything in my power to ensure that we leave the Underground peacefully.”
The fairies went silent. Utterly silent.
“Night has fallen on Brazil,” Daxon lifted his voice into that silence. “But stars need the darkness to shine and our Twilight Star has been called here by Anu himself to help the humans. I know that some of you care for the humans here and want to go above ground to help them too, but you need to stay here and look after your families. Extinguishers and hunters are guarding the world above; trust them and us to take care of the humans. And let's show those extinguishers how Fairies react to a crisis; how we band together instead of tearing each other apart. Let's show them what it means to be the children of Danu!”
The Brazil Underground vibrated with the roaring applause of its citizens.
Chapter Forty-Five
“Stars need darkness to shine?” Killian chortled. “That was some poetic bullshit. You trying to lead them or seduce them?”
“Ruling people is very much like a seduction,” Daxon shot back.
The crowd had dispersed and Prince Raul had sent his men to gather the unsavory fairies and take them to the barracks to await the construction of their temporary lodging—AKA tents. Belino had gone with Fred to help with the roundup, but he gave me a grateful grin before he left. No, I don't believe everyone is worthy of forgiveness, but I don't think every crime should be held against a person forever either. People can change—I've seen it happen—and I knew that if we lost sight of that, our race would suffer. Fairies can be naughty, it's in their nature, but they can also be exceptionally kind. Just like humans, I suppose.
Once the riot had been averted, Prince Raul took us back to his palace for some refreshments. He had claimed the home of the last King of Brazil—prior to Daxon ruling, each Underground had its own King or Queen—and it was damn impressive. More of a traditional palace than a unique, Fey structure, it had a colonnaded front with enormous statues of Sidhe serving as the columns. From the balconies—of which there were several since the palace went up five stories—plants overflowed, making the palace more green than white.
Raul took us into the dining room where his wife Marcia (pronounced Mar-cee-ah) and his three-year-old daughter, Juliana, waited. After exchanging relieved hugs with his family, Raul introduced them, and his wife presented us with an impressive spread of food.
We were seated around the table, enjoying the food and taking a moment to celebrate the rare win.
“It was just what they needed to hear,” Prince Raul loyally supported his liege. “I can't thank you enough for your help. Thank Danu you were here to offer it.”
“I'm grateful as well,” Marcia said as she wiped her daughter's face clean of her lunch. �
��I could have lost my husband today.”
“I doubt that.” Daxon grinned at Raul. “I'm sure he would have gotten everything under control eventually.”
“So, you are tracking the man who did this?” Raul asked.
“Trying to.” Killian grimaced. “I can't use my psychometry with him, the Cintamani blocks me. We're reduced to waiting for a surge of magic to find him.”
“That doesn't sound proactive,” Raul noted.
“It's not,” Raza growled. “It's definitively reactive but there's no way for us to change the situation.”
Little Juliana made a small noise, her eyes widening on Raza's angry face. He had shifted back to his ebony-skinned, dragony self—minus the wings—for our trek through the Underground, but when he saw Juliana's fear, he abruptly transformed his face into that of a floppy-eared puppy. He shook his ears at Juliana until she giggled, then he shifted back and winked at her. It was a trick he'd perfected with Shahzadi. Although, our daughter had never feared her father. She seemed to know from birth that she had him wrapped around her little finger.
