"Will you take Sophia with you? She can stay with me if you want," Matt offered.
I frowned. This was a sticky one. If she stayed here she would have Matt and Shamus to protect her, but it would be difficult to reach her in a hurry.
If I left her with Tressa's family, it would mean trusting the Sidhe to look after her. The Sidhe disliked me, but they adored Sophia. And, if need be, Henry could rush us back to her.
Belatedly, it occurred to me that if Sophia stayed here there was no telling how much time would pass for her before I returned. From her perspective, she could be left behind for a year, maybe even more. That was unacceptable.
I looked over at Tressa. When she smiled at me I felt that familiar intuition fall into place. We were finally on the right track. I would find my mother at her ancestral home.
"We'll take Sophia to Tír na nÓg. Tressa's family will take care of her."
"What about me?" Sloan asked. "I want to come."
I clamped my mouth closed to keep from blurting out the biting remark that jumped to mind. I still did not trust this girl.
To show Sloan the hidden threshold to Faery would mean trusting her with information that—if shared with the wrong party—could be disastrous to our well-being. To bring her along we would need to take an established threshold, the closest of which was Niagara Falls. It would add a considerable time to our trip.
"I need you to stay here. You can help with my father; he likes you and remembers you more often than Matt or Shamus," I said, attempting to be diplomatic.
"Come on, that's bullshit," Sloan spat. "If you're going into the Otherworld, there's no way I'm staying here."
"Listen, I don't want to have to worry about you. There will be enough going on without adding you to the list. Tressa can take you on a visit once we find my mother and get things sorted out, but not this time. There's too much riding on this trip."
"But—"
"I said no."
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
TRESSA
Packing was easy for this trip; there was little I needed to bring. Since we planned to go to the King's Castle first, we could get anything we needed there.
My small dagger had been useful on my last visit, so I spelled it to stay hidden and tucked it into the pocket of my jeans. I also took a handful of Swarovski crystals of various sizes and colors. The stones were manmade and had no healing properties, no essence of their own to share. However, some in Faery highly valued them. Their beautiful, exacting cut did amazing things in the sunlight of the Otherworld.
We set out the next morning, carrying little as we hiked across the snow-covered fields. We were bundled up with knit hats, gloves and long scarves wrapped around our faces and necks—the wind had picked up overnight.
The snow, at least a foot and a half deep, slowed us down as we trekked the now familiar path to the northern corner of the estate. We sank into it with each step, making walking a daunting task—especially for Sophia. Before we had gone far, Alexander stooped to let Sophia scramble onto his back. By the time we entered the woods, our pant legs were heavy and wet up past our knees.
Though the snow wasn't as deep in the forest and the trees blocked the worst of the cutting wind, the slippery brush underfoot made it difficult to maneuver. In the past Alexander had assisted me through the hardest parts of the hike. This time he carried Sophia, so I picked my way through by myself, placing each step carefully.
Alexander tugged on the branches that had fallen over the boulder, camouflaging the threshold entrance. The ice and snow had frozen them to the stone, making it harder to pull them away.
Suddenly I heard the crunching of snow behind me. My heart leapt into my throat; someone had followed us.
"Xander, someone's coming!" I hissed.
Without hesitation his right hand flew to the sword hilt between his shoulders. He unsheathed it as he whipped around, ready to confront whoever was approaching. I put my arm around Sophia and pulled her with me as I stepped behind him.
My heart thumped as the intruder came closer. The rustling grew louder—too much noise for one person.
"There's more than one," I whispered. Alexander nodded.
"I hear them now." There was a dull thud as someone slipped and fell to the ground.
"Son of a bitch!" said a familiar voice, loud enough that I was sure Alexander had heard it, but he kept his defensive stance with the sword at the ready.
I thought perhaps he didn't recognize the voice. I started to say something when Sloan, red from the cold, emerged from the woods with Lady behind her. She flinched when she saw us, clearly not planning to show herself so soon.
"I told you to stay home," Alexander shouted at her. He pointed the tip of the sword at her. I watched for a second, mesmerized by the way his aura now engulfed the entire sword.
"I have a right to see Faery," she spat back. "Besides, you can't tell me what to do."
"How do I know you're not up to something, following us like that?"
He took a step toward her. Unintimidated, Sloan strengthened her stance and placed her hands on her hips.
"What are you going to do, gut me? Just because I followed you into the woods?"
Sloan seemed more annoyed than frightened, but the show of aggression from Alexander shocked and terrified me. Lady must have felt it too—she dove between them and snarled at Alexander just as I called out his name.
"Xander! What are you doing?"
The sound of my voice jolted him out of the strange mindset. He shook his head and sheathed the sword before sighing and rubbing his eyes.
"Sloan, I'm sorry. I guess my adrenaline spiked before I realized it was you." He turned to me. "She can't come with us. I'll just worry about her."
"You don't have to," Sloan said, tossing her head. "Once we get there—poof! I'm gone. I can take care of myself."
I looked at this young girl I was just beginning to know. Her aura told me she wasn't among the fallen, but that didn't make her an angel either. The incident with Gobban and the knife had proven that, and her actions very well could get us into trouble. Not to mention the fact that the fae thought lowly of marking one's skin with tattoos; her appearance might provoke a bad reaction to Sloan.
But I had confidence she wouldn't intentionally hurt us. She was learning what it was like to have people to count on, and I didn't think she would jeopardize that. She was a Sidhe who had never been to the Otherworld. It seemed cruel to deny her this opportunity.
"She's here, so she already knows where the threshold is," I reasoned. "We might as well take her. We can leave her with Sophia."
He glanced from me to Sloan, who was now grinning. He shook his head, acknowledging defeat.
"Try to stay out of trouble," he said, glaring back at her. "And no disappearing. I want to know where you are at all times."
I watched Sloan as we walked through the threshold, expecting her appearance to transform as her exposure to Faery restored her fae essence. She didn't disappoint. The change was subtle at first: her skin paled and developed that opalescent sheen indigenous to the Sidhe, making her dark tattoos stand out in stark contrast.
The flat black and gray ink of her tattoos diffracted colors like a black opal. The effect made them appear less edgy and more feminine, almost like she wore an elaborate choker around her neck. Her hair brightened and the violet color grew clearer, richer, taking on a metallic sheen. Her gait became smoother, more graceful.
We stepped out of the cave and into a beautiful spring day. The stream beside the threshold rambled along, cascading over rocks and roots. The meadow on the far side of the water bloomed with fragrant yellow flowers. Alexander put an arm around my neck and kissed my cheek.
"Not winter!" he said happily, and I laughed.
I took everyone's winter gear and placed it in the cave for safekeeping.
Sloan turned slowly, taking in her surroundings. Her gaze went up the tall tree trunks, past their evergreen tops until it rested on the pale lave
nder sky. She closed her eyes and let the sun beat down on her face. After a moment she opened them again. Sophia gasped in surprise-Sloan's dull auburn eyes now glistened like the crystals I carried in my pocket. She was stunning.
Sloan blushed at the attention as the three of us stared at her. "Damn, what's your problem?" she asked. Still the same Sloan on the inside.
Sophia took her hand. "Let's watch the language, Sloan," she said.
I had been so focused on Sloan that I didn't notice Lady until we had taken a few steps away from the cave entrance to let Alexander cover it up.
The dog had undergone a transformation as well. Her rough gray coat had become a smooth, shiny silver. She danced around us before dashing across the stream and into the field of flowers. She dropped, rolled a few times, and came bounding back.
"Your hound's crushing my flowers," a surly voice said behind me. I turned to see the short, squat Leprechaun who lived in the massive tree trunk near the threshold entrance. He glared at us, stinkweed pipe clamped between his teeth.
"Good Day, tradesman. Is this how you greet us?" I asked in my haughtiest voice. Recognition spread across his face.
"My Lady, 'tis you," he said, rushing to put on a more congenial expression. He grabbed the green cap from his head, pressed it to his chest and gave me a slight bow. Then he hurried away, disappearing behind the snarly tree trunk and returning a moment later pushing a cart.
The handle, though waist high for me, was slightly above his head; he leaned forward and leveraged his entire body to push it toward us. Once he had gotten the cart in place, he straightened up and smoothed his shirt. He smiled, showing crooked teeth, taking on the persona of a congenial salesman.
"I thought you may be back," he said. "I have many wares that I'm sure will be to your liking."
Leave it to a Leprechaun to try to broker a deal at any opportunity. Alexander had that itchy look he got when he was in a hurry, but Sloan and Sophia went to the cart to examine what it held. I stood off to the side and called out into the wind.
"Henry, I'm here. Please come to me." I looked back at the group and added, "Bring Zoey."
Sophia chose two tightly woven dragon blankets for Henry and Zoey—a gift, she said, for coming to get us when we needed them. Sloan picked up a pouch filled with uncut caramel colored stones. She took one out and held it to the light.
"An excellent choice, Miss," the Leprechaun gushed. "These stones are notorious for bringing good fortune. You will be the luckiest maiden in Tir na nÓg if you only keep them nearby."
"Yeah, right," Sloan said. The fae frowned, not knowing what to make of her response.
"That's a tuairim stone," I said. "They seem to bring good luck, but really it's because it heightens your intuition and your awareness of the nuances around you. They're also very pretty. We can get them if you'd like; Matt can polish and cut them so I can make you a bracelet or something to wear."
"Tressa, is this really the time for shopping?" Alexander's frustrated voice interrupted the Leprechaun's fervent agreement that the stones were beautiful.
"Aye, well, we must wait for Henry anyway."
The fae's eyes bulged when I handed him the smallest of my Swarovski crystals to pay for the merchandise. Once he knew I had crystals he redoubled his salesmanship. I breathed a sigh of relief when a shadow fell over us, grateful to get away from his persistent bargaining.
Henry and Zoey landed in the field across the stream. I bit my lip to stop myself from laughing when the Leprechaun whimpered. Lady had upset him, but the dragons trampled thousands more of the yellow wildflowers.
To my delight, Keelin slipped off Zoey's back and danced toward us. She ran straight to Sophia, grabbing her in her arms and spinning her around. Sophia giggled, delighted to be reunited with her dance teacher. Keelin set her down and hugged Alexander and me in turn. Her jubilant mood faltered when she came to Sloan. Her brow furrowed as she took in her appearance, grimacing at the piercings and tattoos.
"And who's this?" she asked, keeping her voice pleasant.
"This is our friend Sloan. She's a Lost Child."
Keelin's eyes grew wide in astonishment. She looked at Sloan again, this time evaluating her scooped neck sweatshirt and tattered jeans.
"A real Lost Child. I hadn't heard of any being found for decades. Welcome home, Sloan. It's good to meet you," she said. When Sloan ducked her head and smiled shyly, Keelin's Sidhe maternal instincts kicked in and she hugged the girl, squeezing her tightly. Then she held her at arm's length.
"These clothes will never do. Tradesman, have you no finer wares for this beautiful girl?"
The sudden appearance of the King's daughter had blessedly struck the Leprechaun dumb. However, his face lit up at her words and he found his voice again.
"Aye, I have many fine threads," he said, bobbing his head and knees awkwardly before scurrying away, returning with his arms loaded.
He stood on his toes and reached up to put his new offerings into the cart. Keelin spent a half hour dithering, not with the Leprechaun but with Sloan over what she would wear. She refused anything that resembled a skirt or dress but finally agreed on a pair of fine, soft, light brown leather pants.
Sloan, noticing Alexander's growing agitation, accepted the first blouse Keelin suggested. A good choice: it had sleeves and a higher neckline that covered most of her tattoos.
Then, much to Alexander's consternation, Keelin spent another quarter hour haggling with the Leprechaun over how many of my crystals were a fair price for the clothing. By the time she was finished, even Keelin knew she had worn out Alexander's patience. However, she insisted that Sloan put on her new clothes before we leave. She held up a dragon blanket to give her privacy as she made quick work of switching outfits.
"Well done," I said as Sloan emerged. The new clothing looked wonderful on her, but more importantly—they made her look less foreign, which softened the harsh effect of the markings on her body.
"Well, ladies, do you think we can go now?" Alexander walked purposefully toward Henry. The big dragon dipped his head to him. Alexander made a casual salute in return. "Good to see you, Henry."
"Sophia, why don't you ride with Keelin?" I suggested.
"Are you saying we're going to ride those things?" Sloan asked, the pitch of her voice ascending with each word.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
When we arrived at the Castle at Tír na nÓg, Alexander was impatient to learn any intelligence the King's Guard might have about his family's ancestral home. Keelin offered to take charge of the girls for us. Sophia skipped away, eager to reunite with the children she had befriended during her last visit. Sloan trailed behind Keelin, muttering about not needing a babysitter.
I only knew one person who served in the Guard well enough to ask for that information. I didn't know how happy he and Alexander would be to see each other. However, not having a better idea, I led Alexander to the wing of the castle housing the King's Guard's headquarters, hoping to find him there.
"Tressa, what is a Lost Child?" Alexander asked as we walked. "You always refer to Sloan as one. I thought you were speaking figuratively, but Keelin made it sound like it was something else altogether."
"Sloan is the definition of a Lost Child. A Sidhe living in the Human World, reared by humans and lost to their family. There are many myths surrounding them."
We had reached the military wing when, by some good fortune, Connor Dwyer came walking down the hallway from the opposite direction. Tall and blond, he looked handsome and commanding in his gray and moss green uniform.
"Connor!" I called, getting his attention.
"Jewels?" I tried not to wince when he used the nickname I despised.
He glanced at our jeans and t-shirts, grinning as he approached. "I guess you guys are fresh from the Human World."
He greeted me with a kiss on the cheek. I glanced furtively at Alexander to gauge his reaction; Connor had once fancied himself in love with me and there had been some contention be
tween them. I felt relieved when I saw nothing but a welcome smile on Alexander's face.
"Good to see you, Xander." Connor offered Alexander his hand and the two men shook like old friends. "What brings you here?"
"We're planning to go to Castle Conall tomorrow," I said.
"Why would you take a special trip there?"
"It's my ancestral home. I wanted to make sure it was safe before making the trip," said Alexander.
Connor's eyebrows shot up as he looked from us to the entrance of the King's Guard headquarters. "You meant to take him in there?" he asked. "Tressa, you can't just walk in there with a… a civilian."
"With a human? Is that what you mean?" I asked sharply.
Connor sighed and glanced at Alexander apologetically. "I'm sorry. I wish it weren't true, but there is a general distrust of humans amongst the fae. On top of that, you carry the Claíomh Solais… Let's just say an uninvited visit isn't the best idea."
The muscle in the side of Alexander's jaw worked as he held back his aggravation, the movement emphasizing the scars on his face.
"I'm only trying to keep Tressa safe. What would you say is the best idea for that?" he said with tempered sarcasm.
"Listen, I didn't say I feel that way," Connor said. "You're right, though. We can't let Tressa walk into something dangerous. Let me ask around for you. I'll send word with anything I learn."
Later that afternoon, after freshening up and changing into more traditional clothing, we went to appear before the king and queen. We found them outside in a gazebo at the far corner of a terraced garden. The garden overlooked a brook that cascaded noisily over rounded rocks.
They greeted us warmly as we approached, beckoning us forward and inviting us to join them for tea. I kissed them both on the cheek before sitting, joining them at the table.
"Sophia was here earlier," Aunt Ciara said. "What a delightful child. So enchanting." She smiled, remembering an earlier moment with the girl as she signaled to a servant to fill our cups with tea.
Xander's Folly Page 17
