by N R Tucker
“You didn’t think we only built one room that swallowed magic, did you?” Dave Roberts, the so-called brains behind the AIB, stood between Ryan and the door as he deliberately clicked the safety off his pistol.
“I had hoped.”
“I’ll take that sword now.”
“No, you won’t.” Ryan’s voice was calm, almost conversational.
“You have no magic in this room, so you can’t create a shield. I have a gun. I know you can bleed out, so you’ve lost.”
Ryan pulled the sword, thankful for Kulvir’s training. “Yeah, about the no magic thing. You should have read the fine print.”
As Ryan marched forward, the sword swallowed the bullets shot at him. Dave looked between his gun, Ryan, and the sword. It was the work of a moment for Ryan to knock Dave out with the hilt of the sword.
*****
Ryan carried Dave Roberts over his shoulder and followed his three aunts through the gate Tempe opened. They exited on the lower level of a two-level platform. On the upper level stood five women. The entire structure hovered above the waves, much like the Central Realm’s residence floated high in the sky above the valley.
“This is the Queen’s Judgment Court,” Saffron whispered in Ryan’s ear as he laid down his burden and covered him in a net Temperance handed him.
The five fae queens had each taken a warrior princess guise, including an outfit so skimpy, Ryan blushed. They all looked the same, same hair, same outfit, same stance, same neutral expression on the same face, and the same staff in their right hands. The only difference was their color. Assuming the queens took their color from their realm colors, Niamh, Queen of the Northern Realm was green, from skin tone to hair color, to eye color. Her outfit was also green, nearly matching her skin color. Queen Ceridwin of the Central Realm was a light purple, although her hair and outfit were a darker shade. Queen Eiddwen of the Eastern Realm was beige and gold, her outfit also matched her skin color, while her hair color was the stark white generally associated with the fae. Queen Weindrych of the Western Realm was light blue, offsetting the aqua tint of her outfit. Queen Shreya of the Southern Realm was black as night, while her clothing, hair, and eye color could only be called flaming red. They stood on the platform, waves rolled in the background.
Ryan had seen two of the fae queens before, and they had looked like regular ruling fae at the time, as individual as anyone else. Ryan also noticed that the wind that blew him, Tempe, and her sisters, didn’t affect the queens at all. Not even a single hair on their heads moved with the wind. This was some sort of statement.
Tempe walked up to the highest step on the platform, dropped to one knee, and bowed.
“Queen Ceridwin, Lady Temperance, Lady Saffron, Ryan, Wielder of the Patron’s Sword, and I bring before you the one who ordered the death of your grandson. His name is Dave Roberts, leader of a band of human outlaws who call themselves the AIB. His crime is ignorance.”
“I’m not ignorant. I see you aberrants for what you are. Evil creatures sent from hell.”
Tempe, still in a bow, barked a laugh, “He is also foolish, but I know of no dimension where being a fool is a crime.” With a whisper, she added, “Although, perhaps it should be.”
Ryan pressed his lips together to keep from laughing.
Tempe raised her voice and continued, “I said ignorance is his crime because he does not know what a fae queen is. He does not understand that the last time a fae queen lost her temper in the Seen, Atlantis fell into the ocean. He does not understand that if a fae queen declares war on the Seen, it will become as devoid of life as the single moon orbiting it.”
Tempe stood to her full height and faced the queens as an equal.
Ryan watched, amazed. Even he knew if the five queens stood together, you didn’t make eye contact. It could be seen as a challenge to one or all.
Tempe’s voice grew stronger still, “I prefer that not happen. I like the Seen most of the time. To keep the peace between the Farseen and the Seen, I present the AIB leader to you. This is the human who ordered the death of Kamden by trapping him in a room of cold iron as a test to see what would happen. This is the human who attempted the same test with Ryan, a shifter of the Alpha Clan, and two daughters of the Southern Realm. Ryan, Wielder of the Patron’s Sword, was able to rescue both ladies without further loss of life.
“This human is yours to do with as you see fit. Those who worked for him will be turned over to the human government, and they can deal with the murderers exercising their laws. If this is acceptable, there will be no war between the Farseen and the Seen. If you require more, I await your demands.” Tempe stopped speaking and once again dropped to one knee with her head bowed.
Ryan’s brow furrowed. Now she gets submissive? She pressures the fae queens, all five of them, and then drops into a submissive pose. He glanced around, and Temperance and Saffron appeared to be as shocked by her words and actions as Ryan. That was probably a bad sign.
The five lords of the five realms appeared on the bottom platform and walked up the steps, each moving in front of his or her queen and dropping to one knee.
Lord Sky of the Central Realm, the only current female realm lord, spoke. “Lady Tempest has spoken true. We would expect the humans to kill the leader of a fae faction and send the other fae to us, to face our justice. I find no fault with her recommendation.”
“I have watched the humans. They have difficulties dealing with crimes involving preternaturals,” Queen Niamh said. She used the business end of the staff to reach under Tempe’s chin and raise her eyes. “Tell me, why should we trust the humans to take appropriate action with the others? You turned this human over to them not long ago, and they released him. Had you killed him then, we would not be contemplating war with the Seen.”
“Humans are still learning about preternaturals. They don’t truly understand the fae or the Farseen. They have never seen the power of a fae queen. In fact, they have no clue as to the power of a realm lord. They have seen the enforcement arm of the Tetrad, the Death Squad, in action, but only in a limited capacity. I request you not punish an entire dimension for the actions of a few. Queen Niamh, you are the one who taught me to look for peace, not war.” The last sentence Tempe directed at her formidable grandmother.
“If we grant your request, what is offered in return, Lady Tempest?” Queen Ceridwin asked.
Ryan narrowed his eyes on Tempe. The queens wanted something from her, but what? Did she know?
“What can I offer that will appease you?” Tempe asked.
Guess not. Ryan remained still, though he wanted to pace.
“Your homeland in the Seen has an adversarial court that includes a jury by peers. We approve, with the following changes. Any trial in the Seen where a fae is either the plaintive or defendant must have an equal number of representatives from each species, fae and human on the jury. Likewise, the trial will be co-ruled by a human judge and a fae judge. A guilty verdict will result in the immediate execution of the guilty party, regardless of species.”
Tempe stood once again and faced the queens. “I have no sway over how the humans conduct their courts. Each government has their own set of laws for dispensing justice.”
“You misunderstand. Any dispute between humans and fae will not be held in human courts, but in a new form of an ancient court, the Seelie Court.” Queen Shreya smiled. “Like the old Seelie Court, warnings, for accidental offenses where no malice is proven, will be allowed, but death is the response for any guilty verdict.”
“We invite the other preternatural species to join the Seelie Court, but that is, of course, up to their leaders,” Queen Weindrych added.
“You, Lady Tempest, will be the Queen of the Seelie Court.” Queen Ceridwin decreed.
“But –”
“Your leadership is not negotiable. As a child of both worlds, you are our selection for this position. If you say no, the fae will go to war with the humans and the Seen,” Queen Eiddwen explained.
> Tempe closed her eyes and ground out the words. “I am left with no choice, for I desire peace. If the leaders of the human governments agree, I accept.”
Queen Niamh looked past Tempe for the first time, staring directly into the camera that Ryan had not even noticed. Her evil smile filled the screen. “This played simultaneously on every device with a screen in the Seen, even screens without your so-called wireless technology and screens that were turned off. If that is not enough of a show of our power, we offer one additional demonstration. All nuclear, radiological, chemical, and biological devices that were built solely to be used as weapons are gone. You can make more, but it will take time, and we will be watching.”
Lady Saffron walked up to the top step and dropped to one knee.
Queen Niamh looked at her youngest granddaughter, “Why have you approached the Queen’s Judgment Court?”
“I bring news from the Seen. The U.N. is agreeable to a Seelie Court under the direction of Queen Tempest. The shifter sovereign, the vampire protectorate, the high wizard, and the supreme of the Council of Sorcery are pleased to join the Seelie Court and find Queen Tempest to be an admirable choice of Seelie Queen.”
Queen Niamh laughed, “Of her suitability, there is no doubt.”
Queen Weindrych smiled kindly, “Excellent. I’m sure the humans know how to get in touch with the Seelie Queen. We are done.”
“Indeed,” Queen Eiddwen agreed.
Queen Ceridwin looked at Dave Roberts for the first time. “Killing my grandson was a mistake. I find myself hopeful the humans learn from it.” Her eyes narrowed, and he caught on fire, turning to ash in mere seconds.
“The Seelie Queen shall return the human remains to his family,” Queen Shreya said.
The queens turned and walked off the back end of the platform, disappearing as soon as both feet were off the platform.
Tempe turned to face the camera, her face grim. Lady Temperance gathered up the ashes in an urn and handed it to the Seelie Queen.
*****
Dave Roberts, Jr. walked into PAC HQ. His human military escort, a concession to his mother, had been polite but even his ears picked up the snide remarks all around him. Some preternaturals blamed him for having a father who led the AIB and attacked the preternaturals. Many humans censured him because his father failed to remove the preternaturals from this world. Other humans criticized him because his father furthered distrust between humans and preternaturals. Thanks to Dad, Dave Roberts, Jr., had a whole lot of hate coming his way.
He had wanted to see PAC HQ. But Dave, Jr., never expected to be here for this reason. His mother refused to come. She feared the shifters and all preternaturals. That’s how the disowned son of Dave Roberts, Sr. came to be the one to collect his ashes. He still wasn’t sure how he felt about his dad. He had yet to reconcile the head of the AIB with the man who taught him to play ball and stand up for what is right. How could his father have forgotten the message he drilled into his son? What happened to his father to make him think killing preternaturals was right?
Dave, Jr., breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Landon and Ryan. He trusted both of them.
“If you come with us, Queen Tempest will see you now,” Ryan said.
When the Lieutenant heading the military escort shook his head, Dave said, “It’s okay. I know you’ll find it hard to believe, but Ryan and Landon are my friends. Queen Tempest introduced us back when we were in college together. Wait here.” Landon walked beside him, and they followed Ryan down the hallway to the shifter wing of the building.
They walked into a conference room to find Tempe bent over her laptop. She looked up and smiled sadly at Dave. “I am sorry for your loss, but his death was the only way to keep Queen Ceridwin from laying waste to this world.”
He looked at the bejeweled urn on the desk but didn’t pick it up. It had to be worth a fortune. “Did you ever find out why he hated preternaturals so much? I looked through all his papers I could get my hands on. I found nothing.”
Tempe leaned back and stretched her back. “I know he had a twin who was killed by a bear when they were teenagers.”
“I know that, so what?”
“He told numerous people that the bear was a shifter.”
“Come on, my grandfather told me that story. Uncle Allen walked into a cave. Dad goaded him into it. The mother bear had cubs, and she defended them.”
Tempe raised her hands in surrender. “I’m just telling you what he told others.”
Dave picked up the urn and looked at it in disgust.
Tempe stood and placed her hand on Dave’s shoulder. “No one knows what will set someone else off. Perhaps it happened as he said, perhaps it happened as your grandfather said. Doesn’t matter. Your father developed a hatred for preternaturals, shifters specifically, and he couldn’t overcome it. Perhaps he’s at peace now.”
“He doesn’t deserve peace.”
“Everyone deserves peace in the end,” Tempe said.
“You’re a good person,” Dave looked at his friend. “I don’t think I could forgive him for what he did to that fae, what he tried to do to Ryan and so many others if I were you.”
“This isn’t my first trip through the compassion quandary.”
“Yeah, I guess not.” He looked at the urn again. “I promised my mother I would stay with her for at least a month. She refuses to leave that house. I hate it. It represents all the lies my father told me.”
“You should try to remember the good.” Tempe handed him a bracelet.
“What’s this?”
“My way of trying to keep you safe. Put it on your arm and leave it. No one else will see it. If you ever have need of me, take the bracelet off, and it will call to me.”
He put the bracelet on and looked at it. “Why?”
“You’ve been my friend since the day we met at the community college. I have no doubt that someone will try to harm you at some point because of that friendship.”
Chapter 50
“The next person who bows and addresses me as the Seelie Queen, Queen Tempest, or any form of address using the word queen, shall be found guilty of stupidity, and I shall behead them.” Tempe stormed into the sovereign’s office for the Alpha Clan meeting and plopped down into the only empty chair.
Ryan pressed his lips together to hide his smile. She was the last to arrive. In fact, the meeting was nearly over. Tempe had been chronically early before the realm queens changed her life. Joey and Fred bowed their heads for the same reason. Phoenix, Eli, and Quill laughed out loud. The rest of the Alpha Clan covered their mouths with hands, drinks, or tablets.
Sage looked over at Joey and Fred, “You guys are dismissed. I’ll expect your reports tomorrow.
Both men beat a hasty retreat.
The door shut, and Tempe glared at Sage, “Have you told them?”
“No, I waited for you.”
Tempe sighed and faced the cameras and her family, “I can no longer serve as the sovereign’s enforcer. Aside from the fact that my dance card is well and truly full, it will be a conflict for a shifter meeting the Seelie Court under charges by the Sovereign’s Enforcer.”
No one said anything as they shuffled in their seats and angled to face Ryan. He stared at Tempe with his mouth open, not sure he was ready for the job. He quickly schooled his face into a mask. Things were changing fast, too fast. First, Ryan becomes the wielder of the Patron’s Sword, and now he’s the sovereign’s enforcer? He needed adjustment time.
Tempe removed the large, oval stone ring from her left index finger and handed it to Ryan. “Sorry. It should have been centuries before you had to take this.”
The ring that looked so large on Tempe’s finger looked small in his hand. Ryan stared at it.
Tempe sighed, “It must be worn on your left index finger. The band will adjust to your size.”
Ryan shrugged and put the ring on his finger. His eyes cut to Tempe, “Did the dragons make this ring?”
“Yes. I was a c
hild. You will have to ask Kyan how it happened.”
Quill, always willing to point out the elephant in the room, leaned forward. “Um, Tempe, are you still part of the Alpha Clan?”
“Of course, she is!” Sage huffed.
“Just as the judges are still members of their clan, coven, etc., I will continue to be a member of the Alpha Clan unless and until Sage releases all of her siblings from active work. I won’t be doing a lot of day-to-day work, but I’m available for emergencies. Since I moved away from the Farseen, my loyalties have been with the shifters. It remains there.”
“No one thinks otherwise,” Lark exclaimed.
Tempe patted her on the shoulder, “Everyone is thinking it.”
“Freakin’ telepaths,” Phoenix said with no heat. “How about a new family rule, no peeking in siblings’ heads.”
Tempe shrugged, “So many with the same thought are hard to block.”
“Enough, I’ll contact you individually to discuss new duties. Tempe and Ryan remain, everyone else, dismissed. Phoenix, send Kyan in,” Sage leaned back in her chair and waited for the others to leave.
Ryan looked at the ring again. He was beginning to look like a girl. He had one of the tri-rings (to find Sage and Star) on his right ring finger, and now he had a ring on his left hand. At this rate, Ryan would be jewelry covered in no time. He glanced at the necklace Kyan wore that identified him as the sovereign’s personal guard. Ryan had expected to wear the necklace before the assassin’s ring, which was what everyone called the enforcer’s ring. Another title he didn’t want.
Although her eyes flashed with understanding, Tempe kept her features bland. “As soon as that ring is seen on your hand, you will be called the sovereign’s assassin. Might as well be prepared for it.”
He huffed but otherwise remained silent.
Kyan entered and claimed a seat between the sovereign and the door, as was his habit.
