“We track them back to their origin from here,” he said. “Much better than trying to follow the gaunts themselves and having them flee or fight us.”
Peirs checked over his shoulder to where the gaunts had disappeared into the tavern. “What if these gaunts aren’t from the same group that’s taking people, or if they’ve come from somewhere different to where they take their victims?”
Roen nodded. “All right then. One of us will follow the tracks, and one of us will follow the gaunts.”
“I’m not as quiet as you for following after the unseelie beasts, but I probably have less chance of following their footprints well. That’s our best shot, since we haven’t tried it before. You track, I’ll trail.”
Peirs held out his hand and Roen shook it before they each headed their separate ways. Roen flicked up the hood of his long leather coat, and began tracking the creatures’ steps.
His thoughts quickly turned to Eloryn and how she was able to follow a path by turning invisible footprints into pure light. He hadn’t been back to the castle in days, but it felt like much longer since he’d seen her. He would have liked her to be by his side now, as he always would, but they needed to find a solution to stop Hayes. And he needed no magic to track the gaunts; it would be easy with the thick mud, as long as it didn’t rain again.
Roen moved quickly, his eye on the creatures’ marks, pausing only briefly when the path forked to spot the way to go. The gaunts had taken a circuitous route that led him under dank bridges and through empty parklands, until he reached the outskirts of the city where tight terraced housing made way for larger estates with mansions surrounded by vast walled in gardens.
The trail led to a building that sat on a small hill. It was hunched and crooked from disrepair. Weeping willows lined the property boundaries with draping leaves that whispered in the wind.
No one seemed to be around, and Roen crept closer to the house, ducking between overgrown blackberry brambles and tumbled stone walls.
A dozen steps from the front door, the movement of figures in the dark made Roen duck for cover behind a cracked marble fountain. A gaunt had appeared from around the other side of the house, heading to the entrance, dragging a dazed girl.
This is it then, the place they are bringing the stolen people.
Roen froze, listening. Did someone just call my name?
The gaunt had disappeared into the house, taking the girl with him, and the door slammed closed.
“Roen!”
It was Peirs calling him. But Peirs was meant to be following the other two gaunts.
The other two gaunts…
Roen spun around in his crouched position. A bright flash of red moved in the dark in front of him- a bright handkerchief against tattered clothes. Two gaunts towered over him, the ones they had seen at the tavern.
As he had tracked the gaunts, the gaunts had tracked him.
One slashed its arm through the air, smacking Roen across the jaw and knocking him onto his back. Roen tasted blood on his tongue, salty and metallic.
Peirs ran up from behind them, still too far away. “Brand them! Brand them!”
I can’t.
Roen grabbed for the iron dagger he carried. The gaunt in front of him stretched its black maw wide and loosed a wailing cry. The cry was matched by others, more and more howling at the intruders.
Hands grasped Memory’s shoulders, shaking her roughly, waking her from sleep.
She struggled one eyelid open and saw Eloryn standing there. She looked so upset that Memory made an effort to shake herself awake. Will also waited next to Eloryn, looking equally concerned. Memory hadn’t seen him for a while. He must have just gotten back.
“What’s going on?” she asked, her voice croaky from sleep. She rubbed her eyes.
“It’s Peirs, he’s returned. But Roen hasn’t,” Eloryn said.
Memory was out of bed and getting dressed in a worried, half asleep blur. Clara rushed in soon after, in her bedclothes, and helped lace Memory into a thick leather corset, designed to provide light protection for fencing. Eloryn had dressed already, and Memory wondered how much magic was used to speed her into the practical dark colored riding outfit she wore.
When she’d done helping Memory dress, Clara brought Peirs in on Memory’s request.
“You found it then?” Memory asked while pulling long leather boots on.
Peirs bowed. He looked ashen. “We did.”
“What happened to Roen?”
“He was captured by the gaunts. They swarmed on him, too many for me to fight, so I fled, to bring help.” Peirs took a knee. “Forgive me, Your Majesty.”
“You did the right thing. If you’d both been taken you’d both be lost to us. At least we know where everyone is now.” Memory helped Peirs stand again then said to Clara, “Get Erec, tell him what’s going on.”
Clara finished winding her wild mass of bed-tangled red hair into a knot at the back of her head, then nodded and left, her white night gown fluttering behind her.
Memory collected her iron knife from under her pillow and strapped it into a custom sheath on her new belt. She also pulled out the hooked awl and pushed it into Will’s hands.
His hands didn’t close around it. “I can’t carry iron. The fae won’t be happy.”
“Things have changed. We know more about Providence. I want you carrying iron from now on. Please do that for me.”
Will took the awl.
Memory looked from him to Eloryn, who stood like a deep breathing statue beside them, then to Peirs. “Peirs, what happened? Where are the gaunts hiding out?”
“They are in an old building, one the locals say is haunted, and is avoided by most. It’s a human’s property, but disused. That’s why we hadn’t been able to find them in any fae territory. It was surprisingly easy to track them there, almost as though they wanted to be found. Roen and I were separated and I was too far back to help when they took him.”
Eloryn looked at Memory. “Could they be luring us in?”
“Does it even need to be said? But there’s only one thing to do with a trap, and that’s spring it. Besides, what else would we do? Leave Roen there? And all the other people they’ve taken? Shyeah right.”
Clara returned, along with Erec. She cleared her throat as way of announcement, then helped Memory slip on the leather jacket that matched her corset.
Erec gave his brother a look that seemed they were speaking silently together, then turned to address Memory. “You’ve found where the children have been taken?”
“We’re going now,” Memory said.
Erec cleared his throat. “If you intend to mount a rescue, Your Majesty, I have to advise against your personal involvement, or your sister’s.”
“You can advise my ass, Erec. I know it’s important for the queen to stay alive, but this is more important. Not just for Roen, but to find out who is behind all these kidnappings, and maybe even more. Doesn’t the king ride into battle alongside his army? Are you going to keep the two most powerful magical talents of Avall from assisting?”
Eloryn shot Memory a look.
I know, I know. No magic for me.
“I’m going,” Memory said.
Erec looked to Eloryn as though for support.
She shook her head at him. “As I am also going.”
“I’m afraid I’m with them, brother,” said Peirs.
“I’m with Mem,” said Will.
Clara stood beside Memory, her fingers on her lips. “I... I’m…”
Memory put a hand on her shoulder. “We need someone here to organize for incoming rescues, okay?”
Clara pouted her full lower lip. “I’m sorry that I’m not brave like you.”
Memory laughed. “We’re not brave. We’re stupid. You’re probably the smartest of us all.”
Clara gave the smallest smile. “Just come back to me, and bring everyone home with you.”
Erec said, “I suppose I’ll have to go to keep you all safe then?
I’ll organize some of my men to join the party.”
“And quick,” Memory said. “It’s time to get our raid on.”
Chapter Eight
The carriage sped through the empty streets of Caermaellan. Over the clatter of the wheels and hooves on cobblestones, Memory heard a nearby clock tower ring for two in the morning. She could also hear the dozen or so guards on horseback escorting them. More empty coaches, larger and slower than the sleek model Memory rode in, were driven behind, in the hopes there would be survivors to bring home.
It had felt like a lifetime since Memory had driven these streets, distant days of going to school or visiting her homeless shelter, or her night with Dylan where he compared her to the moon. Memory wondered where he was now and wondered when her life would slow down enough to go back to school again, to continue her magic classes with Bedevere, to continue with her life.
When the lives of those I love are also safe. That’s when.
“Everyone has iron?” Memory checked again.
Eloryn and Peirs across from her, and Will, beside her, all confirmed.
“Are we dumb to do this frontal assault style? Do we have any other more reasonable plan?” Memory asked everyone.
Eloryn looked out the window for a long moment. “The faster we’re in, the better. If it’s a trap, they are expecting us one way or another. But we’ve got iron, so we’re at an advantage. The property they’ve been using doesn’t belong to the fae, so it doesn’t count as their territory. That means the second they try and attack us, we’re in our rights to defend ourselves and Brand them. Whether the gaunts seduced their victims or not, they are in the wrong by law and it’s our right under the Pact to stop them.”
Memory glanced at Will then back to Eloryn and Peirs. “Well, you two can Brand. Will and I will stick to iron.”
Peirs frowned, but said nothing.
A knock came from the window through to the driver’s seat- Erec signaling they were about to arrive.
Memory looked to each of her friends in turn as she buttoned up her coat, the polished brass slippery under her fingers. “It’s important to find evidence of who is running this place, to find out who Providence is or any clue about what’s going on here, but remember, first and foremost this is a rescue mission. Roen, Maeve, the kids, we get them all out alive.”
They shared silent nods, and the carriage came to an abrupt stop.
Eloryn took a breath so deep her whole chest rose and fell. “I will use my behests to help make all of us faster and stronger when I am able, but my main focus will be on finding Roen, finding the captives.”
Erec opened the carriage door and Peirs stepped out first, followed by Memory, Eloryn, and Will. The team of guards dismounted around them, their horses nickering and restless from the fast ride.
As Erec gestured orders to his men, Peirs stepped up beside Memory. “I know you want to save the little ones as much as I do, but don’t let that lead you to do anything foolish. Stay close by me. Be careful.”
Memory bumped her shoulder into his and droned, “Yes, Dad.”
The house stood silent and grim before them, a shambling mess of grey timber webbed with dead ivy that hung like tattered shrouds. No sound, no movement, no light showed from within.
Memory led the march up the steps to the front door, Will close beside her.
She found herself nose to nose with Mina.
“You? What are you doing here?” Memory said. Providence couldn’t be Mina, no way.
Mina flicked her chin away from Memory, ignoring her. “Will, come with me.”
Will’s jaw twitched, but he spoke calmly. “I’m staying with Memory.”
“No, you come with me, now,” Mina shrieked, and her fiery hair whipped to life. “You are not going in that place!”
Memory stared Mina down. “He said he’s coming with me. Just give him a break, would you?”
“You’re not going in there. You’re not, you’re not,” Mina said. She snatched Will by the wrists, shaking him. “Why are you being so awful? I don’t want you to go in there. It’s not safe. You can’t.”
Will pulled his hands free, stepping away from Mina and closer to Memory. “I’m going wherever she goes.”
Mina’s glow flared, anger shaking the fairy dust off her in tides as her breath caught in sobs. Memory had never seen her so flustered. There was something different, almost hectic about her. Maybe she really does want to protect Will from something, something in that house. As much as I want to protect Will from her…
Mina swiped her arm to grab Will again and Memory held her hands up to calm her. “Will, look, just go with her. It will be okay. I’ll be okay.”
Will looked hurt. “Mem?”
Memory leaned closer to him and whispered. “I don’t want to see you hurt. It’s okay, go. Go and find out what firefly has buzzed up this girl’s butt. She clearly knows something we don’t.”
Will gave a single, slow nod, but his eyebrows were low and darkened his bright eyes.
Mina snatched his hand in hers, and the two of them vanished in a shower of fairy dust and swirl of Veil mist.
The confidence Memory had been feeling a moment before vanished with him.
More and more she wanted Will by her side. It felt right. It felt like home.
I’ll just have to get through this so I can see him again soon.
Memory waved a signal to Erec, who took half of his men at a sprint ahead of her and barged through the splintered front door. Her heart started pounding as the door broke through. No turning back now.
Memory, Eloryn, and Peirs went next, the rest of the guards taking position behind them.
A dull, earthy odor like old mushrooms hung in the air inside. The entrance hall was narrow, and doors to each side had been barricaded off, leaving only one direction to travel. All who could cast the light behest did, and the darkness gave way, showing wallpaper hanging from the walls like sloughing skin and a carpet littered in dead leaves and rodent carcasses. Portraits of the past human residents still hung on the walls, their faces slashed away by claw marks.
“Onwards,” Eloryn ordered, and the group moved forward down the long tunnel. The ceiling above them had collapsed, leaving a gaping hole to the second floor.
Memory looked behind them and found the front door almost out of sight. The hall continued on much farther than she thought it would, leading them deep into the cavernous house.
“We’re being forced along. Can we break through any of these doors? Search the rest of the house?” she asked the guards.
One of the guards lifted a small battering ram from his back, and held it between him and another man. The first strike at the door beside them seemed to shake the whole house.
“We’ve rang the doorbell now,” Memory muttered.
Peirs grunted, “Where are the blasted creatures?”
The guards struck the side door again, and the frame began to split, a crack of space showing into the next room.
“Up front!” Erec called.
With disjointed movements, a mass of gaunts stepped up into the light. Memory counted at least six before shadows hid any more that stood behind them. They hissed at Erec.
“And behind,” a guard at the rear replied.
Whipping around, Memory saw her fears confirmed. More gaunts. They’d been blocked off on both sides in the narrow passageway.
Eloryn held her wisp light high and walked to the front to face the gaunts. “Back away. Let us through or be Branded.”
A soft scraping sound echoed down the hall, like dry leaves blowing across dirt. As it built, Memory realized it was the gaunts, all of them, laughing at them.
The gaunt closest to Eloryn snatched for her. Erec pulled her back out of reach.
Eloryn gasped, and grabbed the iron arrow head she wore on a necklace. She tore the necklace free and held the iron out defensively.
Erec spoke in a tone cold and quiet. “Bronmarbh Aileadh.”
The gaunt howled br
eathily as the mark appeared on its forehead. Its companions joined the cry and surged forward in attack. Long, wiry limbs flailed, swiping at any human within reach.
The guards at the back of the group rushed at the gaunts behind them, and those in front followed Eloryn forward, striking at the other assailants. The cries of dark fae and men, and the putrid smell of iron burning fae flesh filled the space. The guards used their daggers, unable to draw their swords in the small space, and the gaunts struck back with sharp talons. The unseelie fae from behind had broken through the guards at the back and fought with them up and down the corridor.
Memory tried to move forward, but was pinned between the backs of men, fighting gaunts on either side. Peirs kept shifting backwards, keeping her behind him and against a wall. She could hear him grunting as he clashed with the slashing gray arms of the creatures.
Eloryn and Erec were pushing forward with the main group, making headway with the iron they wielded and Eloryn’s behests.
Memory saw a gap in the fighting, and ran to join them, but the body of a guard flew through the air straight at her.
Peirs stepped in front of her, taking the full force, but the momentum knocked him into Memory and they both hit the door beside them.
Already weakened by the attempts with the battering ram, it smashed inwards, and they fell into the side room and into darkness.
Memory fell hard on her back and her head cracked onto the ground. Her vision darkened and blurred and she widened her eyes and tensed, trying to fight off the black pull of unconsciousness.
The sounds from the corridor grew quieter as the fight sprawled further away into the house.
Memory strained to sit up, pushing away the sharp broken wood and crumbling wall that fell around her. She couldn’t get her bearings in the dark room. She almost called a light behest before stopping herself.
“Peirs, can you cast some light?”
He coughed, and spluttered a raspy, “Àlaich las.”
The wisp lightened the room, hovering beside Peirs’s hand which was limply draped on the ground. They were alone, everyone else had spread out into the rest of the house. The room they were in had been cleared, all its furniture stacked around the edges, blocking windows and other doors. On some walls, holes had been broken through, claw marks showing on the sides. Holes just large enough to squeeze a person, or fae, through.
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