The Shattered Mirror (Winter's Blight Book 4)

by M. C. Aquila

  “Um, a little.”

  “Were there any interesting books?”

  James looked at her. “Deirdre, what are you doing?”

  “Huh?” She blinked, then gestured to the flame in her hand. “I’m just playing around with Fire Magic. It’s safe. I promise.”

  “That’s… that’s not what I—” He broke off with a sigh. “Forget it.”

  When she tried to ask him what he meant, he just grunted and gestured vaguely.

  It’s like talking to a brick wall… Summoning a few more flames and beginning to twist them around into a snakelike shape, she thought, If he feels like I do, like how Lonan is underestimating me… that doesn’t mean he can’t talk. I mean, I still talk to Lonan. Though… Lonan and I haven’t fought like James and I have—

  “Are we cooking wrong or something?” Cai asked loudly, not looking up, making everyone jump.

  Making everyone start again (and Deirdre tumble out of her seat), Nikias appeared from the darkness, replying to Cai, “How did you sense me? If anyone could sense me, it should have been her.” He glanced at Deirdre, who blushed, her flames dying. “Unless of course, it’s some trick you picked up during your long, long lifetime.”

  “Actually yes, but I’m still younger than you technically.” Cai sat up, grunting and rubbing his back.

  “Is anything wrong?” Iain asked, standing.

  “The Court and army have fully assented that your claims”—he nodded to Iain—“have legitimacy. They are now taking measures to stall the approach of the army—”

  “So you’re saying that he was right?” Cai asked, smiling thinly.

  Nikias ignored him, though his face spasmed before he continued, “I have sent out a cluster of soldiers to create Earth Magic barriers to stall their progress without damaging the land.”

  Deirdre and Iain glanced at each other, both holding back grins.

  “These barriers will just block their main roads, forcing them to either turn back or take alternative, significantly slower routes.” His hand gripped the small blade at his waist as he continued, “At least that was the hope.”

  “Did something happen?” Iain prompted.

  “Even though the barriers are stronger than human explosives, the army is still breaking right through. Even if they had a few special explosives of immense power, they should have been used up by now.” He folded his arms, looking at Iain. “The explosions appear to just be normal human technology, but my soldiers are sensing that they are laced with magic. The smaller barriers are taken down by… All I can say it is a mix of all sorts of magic. It’s similar to what you brought to us but far weaker and less corrupt.”

  “They must be collecting magic in that machine again, I bet.” Iain briefly made eye contact with Deirdre. She hugged herself, gulping.

  “Did you try any larger barricades?” Cai asked, leaning forward intently.

  “Aye. ’Tis clear the human soldiers don’t realize it, but they are being destroyed by the exact same type of magic you brought to our attention.”

  Iain stifled a curse, prompting Deirdre to ask, “What type? Was it different than that machine?”

  “Sort of.” Iain hesitated before replying, “Alan somehow—he’s absorbed its magic and he’s using it himself now, it seems.”

  Deirdre’s hands flew to her mouth and she stepped back. Alan’s using my magic. That was what he used to hurt Cai too! She felt sick to her stomach, her head spinning.

  “There’s no way he can use it indefinitely, right?” Cai asked. “How many more large barriers can you make?”

  Nikias shook his head. “There’s a new problem: Unseelie monsters, which have been rampant all over, are targeting my soldiers out there. Not so much to kill them as to distract them from stopping the army’s advance. At this rate, the army shall only be delayed a day or two.”

  “So what does that mean?” Kallista looked at everyone, ending on Nikias. “They’re coming here? They’ll break in?”

  “That will not happen. We have time to prepare and will meet them five miles from the barrier and have a proper battle in our territory. Any closer would be too close, but within that distance from the barrier, it will be easier to repair any damage done to the land. The land around the barrier is more malleable in its magic, due to being so close to the realm.”

  He paused, then went on in a lower voice. “I was wondering if these humans may have some other witchcraft at work. The other day, a small hole was opened in the barrier, just small enough for a human to pass through. It caused no damage at all to the barrier, and the prince was the only one who sensed it happen, as the magic used was exactly the same as his.”

  “Maybe it was a fluke.” Cai raised his open palms. “The prince can’t have perfect control of his magic, right? Maybe some went wild. Though it is a concern that it occurred with the army approaching.”

  “Agreed.”

  “Sounds like you have your hands full then.” The knight frowned. “In the meantime, with the soldiers out making barriers, are you going to—?”

  Nikias held up a hand to stop him, though he was smiling faintly. “You don’t want to bore them with all that. We can discuss strategy for a bit if your ancient back is up to taking a turn around the clearing.”

  “You’re hilarious,” Cai muttered, though he got to his feet. “And for the record, I have no problems with boring anyone.”

  Suddenly the faery warrior addressed Deirdre. “The army will most likely arrive in two days’ time, the same day as your test. I heard you will be facing the army?” All eyes flew to her, and she raised her chin and nodded before Nikias continued, “Very well. Your test will be observed by the king and queen, and you will be expected to retreat in a timely manner, with their majesties. The king does not ride into battle unless it is against the army of the Winter King, and the queen most often detests battle and hunt. So they shall be there for your test, along with Lonan, but expect no aid. Is this clear?”

  After Deirdre nodded, Nikias and Cai stepped away, beginning to talk out of earshot of the camp. Letting out a breath, she leaned back, glancing over to Iain. In one accord, they reached out and clasped hands, Deirdre drawing strength from it.

  It’s fine. I didn’t expect help anyway. As long as I have Iain, I’ll be fine.

  * * *

  A grim shadow had fallen over the group present at Nikias’s news. However, James seriously doubted anything could pierce through the magical barrier protecting the Summer Court. Not without powerful magic.

  Iain’s brow was creased, his movements robotic as he ladled stew into everyone’s bowls. He’s probably still thinking about… Dad and the army and all that, James thought as he watched his older brother. Iain smiled confidently when he noticed him watching. Since the Wild Hunt, the Noble faeries interacted with Iain differently. They did not exactly see him as equal, but they acknowledged him in a way they had not before.

  James’s chest warmed with pride that Iain was his big brother, even as he envied him desperately for the respect he garnered. But maybe one day, once I prove myself and save Mum, we can both be respected… like equals. Like how Cecil sees me.

  His stomach sank at the thought of Cecil and the last glimpse of him he’d had before the scrying spell ended. And the fading words he’d heard.

  Cecil must have thought the spell had already broken when he had called James his brother and when he had admitted to defying the Winter King with his actions by using all his magic to save James’s life. He wouldn’t be on that battlefield in two days’ time. While James wanted the army and the Winter Court to fail, he didn’t want anything to happen to his friend in the process.

  The sound of clinking dishes startled him back to reality.

  “So, you and Alvey have been spending some time together, yeah?” Iain said as he handed a bowl of stew to James and sat down beside him, beginning to eat and raising his eyebrows.

  James muttered, “Shut it, Iain.”

  “What?” Iain asked thro
ugh a mouthful of stew. “I just made an innocent statement!”

  “It’s… it’s not that. It’s your face. You keep making that stupid face.”

  “This is just my face!” Iain said, lowering his bowl to point to his face. He distorted his features in an exaggerated manner. “Are you saying my face is stupid?”

  “Y-yes,” James sputtered, snorting a laugh. He tensed and pressed a hand to his bruised ribs, willing himself not to laugh any harder. But Iain wasn’t helping.

  Iain let out a loud gasp, clearly pretending to be offended. “If that’s how you feel,” he said, holding back his amusement with difficulty, “then I’ll keep shoveling food into my stupid face, and I won’t bother you.”

  “Thank you.” James started eating, asking in a casual tone between bites, “You and— Um, you went exploring today, right?”

  Iain nodded. “Deirdre and I scouted out the area we’ll be stationed at. She told me about how you and Alvey helped her out.”

  “Really?” James struggled to swallow his next spoonful, his mouth suddenly dry. “How did it go? I mean, you won’t be in the actual battle, will you? Deirdre shouldn’t… She’s not—”

  “We’ll be fine, James.”

  Gripping his bowl tightly, James stared at the fire, thinking hard about his last conversation with Deirdre and wishing that it would not be their last.

  There was an odd thud behind him and to his right, like something falling over. Immediately Cai was running across the darkened field toward them, as James turned, Iain shooting up beside him, to see Mum collapsed on the ground.

  Cai was already helping her to stand when James remembered he could move. As he made his way over to them, Mum was clutching her hand against her chest, her eyes screwed shut, and she let out a strangled cry. She was not on her feet long before her legs gave out, but Cai held her fast, not letting her fall again.

  “Mum?” James croaked. All he could do was stand there staring, helpless.

  “Is it your hand again?” Cai asked her, his voice gruff. Mum managed to nod, gritting her teeth. Then Cai snapped his fingers to get James’s attention, ordering him, “Your mother has herbs for pain. They’re in a pouch with her things by the fire. Get them now.”

  James staggered toward the fire, dropping to his hands and knees as he searched for the pouch on the ground. Frantically, his chest heaving, he found the herbs in a pouch by a stump and delivered them to Cai.

  “Cai…,” Mum said, more lucid now. “You have to do as you promised. Soon. I saw… I saw him. And this pain—it’s connected somehow. I know it is.”

  “What is she saying? She’s not making sense,” Iain said, his brow creased. He took Deirdre’s hand in his own as she sidled up to him.

  Cai shook his head, grunting something in response. He led Mum to sit down in her place by the fire again. Mum instructed Iain how to prepare the herbs in a tea, and as he followed her directions, James sat beside her, not knowing what to do.

  Even in this state, Mum offered him what she must have hoped was a reassuring smile, but it wasn’t convincing.

  By the time Iain prepared the tea, Mum had recovered enough to where she could focus and speak. Her hand was trembling as she raised it up to look at it, letting out a breath, her shoulders slackening with relief.

  Mum took the tea from Iain when he offered it, and once she had finished it, she looked around at everyone staring at her and scoffed. “Do not look at me like that, all of you,” she said. “I am fine now. The pain has nearly passed.”

  “Mum, what’s going on? Has this happened before?” Iain asked, kneeling beside her.

  “Yes. Yes,” she said, waving her uninjured hand dismissively. “It is just a symptom of stress. It caught me off guard this time. But these herbs I have been taking have helped.”

  “You need to have someone look at this, Mum,” he insisted. “This isn’t normal.”

  Mum raised her eyebrows and was clearly about to argue with him when James took hold of her good hand. “Mum,” he pleaded, “you have to go to a faery healer. I’ll go with you.”

  “All right,” Mum agreed reluctantly. “I will see if they have any recommendations, yes?”

  “We’ll go tomorrow, okay?”

  “All right, Jal,” she said. “Tomorrow.”

  She gave him a long, meaningful, and familiar look. She studied him like she was trying to memorize the features of his face. He couldn’t place when she had given him that same look before, but he did not dwell on it.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  A few hours later, Lonan arrived with the intention of training for a few hours near the river where the Court had first convened days ago.

  “Actually”—Deirdre stepped in front of him as they walked along a cliff overlooking the river—“could we go and practice outside the barrier for the night?”

  Lonan shook his head. “’Tis much too dangerous. Nikias told you about the Unseelie monsters stalking the area, I believe?”

  “Yes, but I really, really think I should tap into that area at night. The army is going to be miles away from the border! If I’m going to do this and keep a safe distance from the army, I need to know what to expect.”

  Lonan smiled. It was kind, but for some reason it irked her, especially as he said in an all-too-understanding voice, “You are still weary after last night. It would be unwise to—”

  “Then we’ll go for just half the night! Please?” Deirdre frowned at him. “I want to pass this test, and… and I need to do this.”

  He hesitated. “Very well, but be on your guard.”

  The first few hours went smoothly. In addition to scoping out a few miles south of the border, both on foot and by tapping into the magic in the area, she was able to send out wisps of Shadow Magic, fluid shadows on the ground that moved in swift silence, to find and decay objects at increasing distances.

  When she shared that with Lonan, he commended her success but also warned, “Such feats are more easily done at night. I suspect the army will come during the day when Light Magic is more dominant.”

  “Right. Light Magic.” She folded her arms, looking up as the sky cleared and the moon and stars shone down on them. Light Magic was faint at night, but she could still sense it. As she had not connected yet to it, Light Magic was like a stranger in a room where she knew everyone else.

  Settling down on a low-hanging limb of an ancient tree, Lonan asked, “How much have you connected with Light Magic thus far?”

  Deirdre rubbed the back of her head. “I’ve… been kind of ignoring the Light Magic.” When Lonan just stared at her, she continued, “You told me that it’d be really hard to do because my primary is Shadow.”

  “But I never said to ignore it or any magic.”

  She stomped her foot and burst, “You didn’t help me connect to it like you did the others! I—” Deirdre cut herself off, reddening, realizing how immature she was being.

  “I suppose you are right,” he said, looking away. “You caught onto the others so easily—”

  “No, no.” She shook her head. “I’m acting like a child.”

  “It’s all right, Deirdre, I—”

  “No.” She sighed into her hands. “It’s not all right. Yes, I’m nervous about this test and the army and… and everything, but I can’t blame anyone else. I’m not a little girl.” She couldn’t help but grin as she asked him, “You know that, right?”

  “I do. Yet…” Lonan smiled at her, his eyes lighting up. “When I look at you, it’s like looking at the little child who we had to send away all those years ago. I know that’s not reality anymore, but…”

  Deirdre sat beside him on the tree branch. “Do you see Alvey as a kid when you look at her too?”

  “Oh, most certainly.” He laughed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. “Especially since she lost her eyes. I know what I feel is not normal for Noble faery parents. Most see their children as whatever their true age and skill are—they are different from human parents that way. Perhaps it
was because I was Unseelie…”

  “No one’s perfect.”

  “Indeed. Even their majesties.”

  “Especially them.”

  “I promise I shall not tell them you said that. If…” He looked at her with raised eyebrows. “You do not tell Alvey I see her as a child. She would be rather upset.”

  Deirdre laughed. “That’s an understatement! So…” Standing, she swung her arms and said, “I will try connecting to Light Magic on my own, like I should have. But before I do, any tips?”

  As they walked onward, Lonan eagerly launched into an explanation on the topic. Deirdre listened, finding it strange and wonderful how, even though nothing had changed yet, knowing she had his attention and support could make her so much more confident in herself and the challenges ahead.

  If this is what it means to have a father, then it’s definitely worth being seen as a little girl from time to time.

  * * *

  The next morning, a robin-like Dryad arrived and led Kallista and James into the forest to the faery healing house. The house was built in the trees, and the spiral staircase formed with twisting, elegant roots with Flora Magic brought them into a large, open, circular room. They entered a room with many windows that let the sunlight and a pleasant breeze inside and were asked to sit.

  As they waited, James speculated aloud what types of magic or Fae had built the house, what it might be used for, and trying to make sense of the carvings in the walls of Fae and animals. Eventually Kallista stopped him by clearing her throat.

  “Jal,” she said, tilting her head to meet his eyes, “I will be fine. I am fine.”

  James blinked. “I-I know that. I didn’t say otherwise.”

  “You did not have to.” Kallista cupped his face in her hand. “You always used to talk or ask a million questions when you were anxious. It’s how you cope.”

  “I guess.” James shrugged. “But I’m not worried. If anyone has a solution, the faeries do. Their healing is much more advanced than ours, you know.”

  She gave him a warning look, but she was amused as she asked, “Are you saying they have better nurses here than me?”