Why had she come? To condemn him? Or...no, he daren’t even hope for such a thing. But Nulthir couldn’t help it. She was the light at the end of every tunnel. Maybe she could save him from his mother’s plans for him.
Chapter Eight
“Iraine?” Amal shouted. The white light surrounding them made it impossible to see the Guardswoman. Amal had heard her at the start of this whole falling thing.
“Present and accounted for, and I’m not enjoying the experience. I now know how a raindrop feels on its way to the ground. I hope we won’t splatter when we hit bottom. Any ideas about how to prevent that eventuality? I have good bones, and I’d rather not shatter them.”
“No, I don’t. Do you have any idea where we are?” Amal hoped the Guardswoman did since she’d brought the leaf that had sent them here.
“I was just going to ask you the same question.”
Not helpful, but this sort of thing didn’t happen every day, so Amal gave the Guardswoman a pass. “All I have is a guess.” Amal flapped her wings, but she couldn’t extend them fully. Gravity pulled her down too fast, creating a wind shear stronger than she was. Not good. “Do you still have that leaf?”
“Yes. Is there something I should do with it?” Iraine asked, sounding unruffled by their predicament. “I’m way out of my depth here.” But the Guardswoman didn’t sound like it. Well, she was a Guard. She must regularly find herself in deep trouble. There wasn’t even a hint of panic in her voice, but she must be feeling it.
Hell, Amal could fly, and she was more than a bit panicked by their situation. But showing it wouldn’t help, so Amal shoved all her fears down. “I am too. Nulthir is the magical one. He always has an idea.”
But he wasn’t here. Amal still couldn’t believe she’d lost him. How would she explain that to her mate? ‘Sorry, honey, I lost your best friend.’ Yeah, that would go over real well. Thing would probably do something crazy to get Nulthir back. Just what she needed after a night and a morning fraught with demons and other magical mayhem. What have I gotten myself into?
In answer to her unspoken question, the falling stopped, and Amal staggered when her feet hit the ground. Pain flashed up her legs only to be quelled by the warmth suffusing her. So that’s what healing magic felt like. Amal patted herself down just to confirm all of her was accounted for and breathed a sigh of relief when no part of her hurt.
Beside her, a woman-shaped shadow sat down hard on something that crinkled—leaves maybe? Amal dug her claws into them, searching for soil to confirm that she really was standing on firm ground again. One uncontrolled fall per day she could handle. Two might prematurely gray her fur.
“Oh, thank God the falling finally stopped. Are you alright?” Iraine’s silhouette inclined her head in Amal’s direction. It was still too bright out to see much more of the Guardswoman than that.
“Fine now, and you?”
“I’m okay, but my legs feel like someone replaced them with jars of jelly. I’m sure that’ll fade if I just sit here a moment and collect myself. I’m normally quite tough, but ...” Iraine trailed off and heaved a sigh.
Amal patted her shoulder. “Don’t feel bad. That fall unsettled me too, and I regularly jump off things. Take as long as you need. I don’t think we’re going anywhere anytime soon.” Not that there was anywhere to go. White light drowned out everything else.
“Thanks. That makes me feel better.” Iraine squeezed her hand then let go. “Do you have any idea where we are, or why we’re here?”
“No, but I hope someone will explain that.” Amal withdrew her hand, so she could shield her eyes from the intense light. Iraine copied her.
Maybe that was the signal, because the light dimmed to a less blinding level, but neither of them lowered their hands. There was something comforting about keeping it at the level of her eyes. The light retreated into a thousand-foot tall silver tree, but she stood far enough back, so they could behold her full glory.
“The Queen of All Trees,” Iraine said in shock.
“Indeed.” Amal let her arm fall back to her side, so her wings could drape over her shoulders like a feathered cloak.
The Queen of All Trees’ trunk was one-tenth her height in diameter at the very least; she was that massive, but she had to be to contain all that power. Her branches dripped with silver leaves just like the one Iraine held reverently on the palm of her hand like an offering, and all her leaves glowed, garbing this Queen in a shimmering raiment.
“This makes twice in one day.” Iraine shook her head unable to process that, and Amal echoed her shock.
“For me too. But why?” What did this august creature want? Amal fiddled with her feathers, alternatingly smoothing and fluffing them as if that would make a difference. The Queen of All Trees didn’t care about looks.
“Beats me, but I’m sure she’ll tell us.” Iraine rose for a proper greeting and dusted herself off, though there was no need. Her uniform was crisp, and every braid was in place. By the surprise written on her face, Iraine had not expected that. The Queen of All Trees had restored her as well.
Amal patted the stunned Guardswoman’s leg. “I think we all received a boon earlier. Just go with it. We’ll figure out what that means later.”
Iraine nodded, but she still looked a little star-struck. It wasn’t every day you met a mythical creature who could smite you where you stood if she was so inclined. But Amal didn’t think the Queen of All Trees was. Every legend about this Queen painted a more merciful picture of her unless you were her enemy, then all bets were off.
“Should we bow or something? What’s the proper way to show obeisance?” Iraine smoothed imaginary wrinkles from her blue uniform.
That was a great question, but not one Amal had an answer for. Animals didn’t bow or scrape. “I don’t know. Nulthir would know, but…” Amal let the sentence hang because there was no good way to finish it unless... but that was impossible, wasn’t it? Amal raised her gaze to the Queen of All Trees’ crown where, if that radiant creature had been human, her eyes would be. Had the Queen of All Trees taken Nulthir?
Amal turned to Iraine. “What brought you to our door?”
“She did.” Iraine waved to the Queen of All Trees. “I asked a friend to find you.”
“Using magic?” That shouldn’t have surprised Amal because they did live in a country that was mostly covered by an enchanted forest, but it did. Iraine was a Guard, and magic was illegal.
Iraine folded her arms. “Are you going to report me for breaking the law?”
“No, of course not, don’t be silly.” Amal waved a hand to strike that question from the air between them.
Iraine balled her hands into fists. “Then stop looking at me like I’m a hypocrite. I needed to find Nulthir, and magic was my only option, so I took it. I didn’t expect her to hijack that plan.” Iraine nodded to the Queen of All Trees. “But I’m glad she did. This is way more interesting than my Mondays usually are.”
Movement in her peripheral vision caught her attention, and Amal turned away from Iraine. Enchanted trees crawled on their roots. They were a moving wall of bark and leaves like soldiers ready to do their Queen’s bidding. The Queen of All Trees waved a silver branch, and rank upon rank of trees stopped. But their wickedly sharp branches were poised for an attack.
Surely they didn’t think she or Iraine would be that stupid? Amal exchanged worried glances with the Guardswoman.
Iraine raised her empty hands in a gesture of peace for the fifth or sixth time in the last twenty-four hours. “We mean you no harm.”
“So, we’re back to that again?” Amal planted her fists on her hips. This wasn’t going well.
“Looks that way. I’m a dangerous woman, you know.” Iraine grinned at that. At least someone was getting her jollies.
“I’m also dangerous.” But Amal didn’t bare her claws. “I don’t think she brought us here for a fight.”
“No, I didn’t. Forgive them. They’re a little too diligent sometimes,” the Queen of All Tre
es said. She made no move, but she didn’t have to since she stood hundreds of feet taller than her sentries. They lowered their branches, and their crowns in deference to her.
Amal bowed and gestured for Iraine to do the same. That seemed like the proper thing to do. It took the Guardswoman a moment to catch on. At least they were back on a more formal footing. That was good, right?
“Why did you bring us here?” Amal relaxed her stance, so those trees had no reason to skewer her. She drew herself up to her full two feet in height. Every inch counted when facing such a tall opponent, especially if there were any flights in her immediate future.
“There’s one more thing I would ask of you,” the Queen of All Trees said as a woman appeared in her bark. Light armored the woman, reminding them that she was a battle-tested queen in the distant past. All that light also veiled her face, making her features hard to discern.
“What is it, my Queen?” Amal stepped forward. She just hoped she wouldn’t regret asking that.
“Is what the warlock says true?” The Queen of All Trees’ warrior avatar gestured to her right, and the silver tree shining behind her, moved a branch, mirroring her movement.
To their left, the enchanted trees stepped aside revealing a young man in his twenties. “Nulthir, oh thank the Creator and you, my Queen, I thought we’d lost him,” Amal said. Relief made her giddy, but she tamped it down as she scanned her friend for any sign of why the Queen of All Trees had captured him.
Nulthir knelt on one knee, head bowed to his Queen. There was a familiar furry lump in his hands.
Amal gasped. “Furball? What are you doing here?”
Want Friend Nulthir back! Furball shouted in her mind, but aloud he said, “Neep!”
“So do I, but you’re not supposed to teleport without permission.” Amal started for her wayward grandchild but stopped when branches shot into her path, barring her way. What was this?
Nulthir hadn’t moved at the sound of his name. That was odd. He remained frozen in place with far too many branches pointed at him. One false move and dozens of branches would impale him. Would they avoid Furball? Amal covered her beak in shock. Oh, my Creator, no. I must stop this. Come here, Furball, now. This isn’t a game, Amal sent.
No, want to stay with Friend Nulthir. Furball glowered at her.
You’re in so much trouble, mister. Just wait until we get home. Amal glowered right back. She’d had enough of Furball’s recalcitrance to last a lifetime. Get over here now. It’s not safe where you are.
Furball shook his head and spun around on Nulthir’s palm to put his back to her. Oh, when they got home, Nulthir was putting a magical leash on that kit upon arrival. Amal just had to save him first.
“Why are you holding them hostage? I don’t know Nulthir all that well, but he seems like a stand-up guy.” Iraine nudged Amal with her leg. “Do something.”
“What can we do?” Amal waved to the sharp branches in their way then turned to the only person who could save her friend and her stubborn grandkit.
The Queen of All Trees had already healed Nulthir. His uniform was as crisp as it had been when it’d come out of the wash. There wasn’t a mark on it or him. That must count for something. Amal steeled herself to bargain for his life.
“You know this man?” the Queen of All Trees asked as her more human-looking avatar approached them. She glowed sun-bright, making it hard to behold her. “He claimed you as family. Is that claim true?”
Amal straightened her spine and shot Furball a mental warning, be quiet. Let me handle this. Furball didn’t reply, but Amal took that as acquiescence. Thanks to the monkey in her, she could walk on two legs. There was too much raptor in her soul to enjoy the experience, but she held her head high anyway. “Yes, he’s part of my family.”
“Why does a member of your family bear the devil’s mark upon his body? It’s a doorway to evil.” The Queen of All Trees’ avatar regarded her intently.
Ah, so that was the problem. Amal should have known. Anger flared within her heating her blood and her face. Nulthir wouldn’t pay for his mother’s crimes, not while Amal still drew breath. She clenched her fists then shook them out. Anger had no place here only logic would sway the Queen of All Trees. “He didn’t put that mark on him. His mother did, and she didn’t stop there. She wrote her nefarious plans on his skin too. We almost lost him to them. Without your intervention, that witch would have won.”
“His mother wrote a curse on his skin?” The anger and shock in the Queen of All Tree’s voice gave Amal pause but only for a moment. If she could sic this warrior queen who had an army of enchanted trees at her beck and call on Nulthir’s mother, so much the better. That crazy crone deserved what she got.
“Yes, she did, and her plans are vile.” Amal took a careful step forward. The branches in her way didn’t budge, but they didn’t attack her either. That was progress, right?
The Queen of All Trees’ avatar vanished into a bright flash as the world went white again. This time Amal didn’t fall. In fact, she felt nothing at all as that silver glow enveloped her and a too-quiet Iraine as they fell again.
“Neep!” Furball screeched. Want to stay with Friend Nulthir, he added mentally at full volume almost deafening Amal.
Before she could even think of searching for her grandkit, she felt tiny hands pull her feathers, and a quivering body pressed against her breast. Amal closed her arms around the scared kit on reflex. Hush little one. He’ll be alright. But would they?
“Where are we going now?” Iraine asked with remarkable composure.
Did nothing rattle this Guardswoman? Amal couldn’t tell if Iraine’s calm attitude was a mask because the Guardswoman was a gray silhouette in the light, but her presence was comforting.
“Back home I hope,” Amal said finally. In her arms, Furball calmed.
“What about Nulthir? I still need to talk to him.” Iraine’s silhouette folded her arms.
“That’ll have to wait until she’s done with him.” If the Queen of All Trees was ever done with him. Somehow, Amal doubted that august creature ever would be, and she had the same feeling about herself and Iraine too. But that feeling was fading along with her the meeting and the request the Queen of All Trees had made.
Desperate to hold onto that, Amal grabbed a handful of Iraine’s pant leg. “When you met her before, what did she ask of you?”
“She who?” Iraine’s silhouette touched her brow then she dropped to her knees as the ground suddenly materialized under their feet.
“I don’t remember. What were we just talking about?” Amal had to fight to get each word out as she fell beak-first into forgetfulness until it was time for those memories to resurface. She thought she heard an imperious ‘neep’ right before the world whited out again.
Chapter Nine
“Why did we fly off like that? The Sarn we knew wouldn’t hurt anyone.” Crispin dropped onto a stalagmite to rest his wings.
“That was a while ago. Humans change.” Thing circled the stalagmite. There was no sign of Sarn’s magic. Thank the Creator, his magic was always a vibrant green that stood out against the gray stone of this mountain. “We shouldn’t linger here. We don’t know how far his magic can reach.”
“You never answered my question. Where do we go from here?” Crispin rolled his shoulders to stretch them. He’d done more flying today than in recent months.
There was only one logical place to go. “The infirmary,” Thing said. Though he wasn’t happy about that. The infirmary was in a well-trafficked area, which meant they’d have to be doubly cautious. Pedestrians would be everywhere, and there was that strange magic that had surrounded the mender earlier. Hopefully, they wouldn’t have to contend with that too.
“Why there?” Crispin stretched his back again.
“Because that’s where the yellow-robed man went. He must have that creature that was in the glass.” And Thing needed to know what that creature was. and how the mender had gotten it out of those shards. The process
must have happened after he’d fought the creature the second time. There had been a moment when his attention hadn’t been on the mender.
“What about Nulthir? Shouldn’t we check on him? We left him in a bad way.” Crispin scanned their surroundings, but there was no convenient ledge high above the floor. He’d have to keep flying for now.
That was yet another difference between them. Thing could fly around all day and never tire of it. He loved flying as much as he loved his family. But now wasn’t the time to ruminate on that, so Thing pushed all such thoughts to the back of his mind. But they kept creeping back, and he had a niggling feeling those differences were important.
“Dad? Did you hear me?”
“Yes, have faith. Your mother will find a way to keep him alive and contained until we figure this all out.” Because the answer was somewhere in this mystery. To save his friend, Thing had to get to the bottom of it, and he was closing in on it. He felt it in his bones.
“How do you know that? Have you talked to Mom? I tried reaching Thistle, but our link isn’t as strong as yours and Mom’s.” Crispin gave him a sheepish look.
“Give it time. That link will grow.” Thing swooped down and patted his son on the shoulder. There wasn’t room for the two of them on that stalagmite, so Thing flapped for the ceiling. Maybe his son would follow.
Crispin folded his arms. “Well, did you ask her?”
“Her who?”
“Mom. Are you even listening to me?” Crispin glared up at him.
“Oh, no, she’s busy, and I don’t have any answers for her only questions. You know how she hates that.” Thing waved his son's questions away.
If Amal needed him, she’d call. Since he hadn’t heard any calls from her, all must be well. Then again, he could open his mind a little. Thing had kept his shields up and his mind pulled inside it since the last battle with that creature. With his full shields in place, Thing couldn’t casually skim minds as he usually did. Nor could he hear anything other than his own thoughts and the ones Crispin sent unless he lowered those shields.
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