Melia turned to me and whispered, “Are you ready to meet the dark queen?”
I gulped loudly and squeezed her hand. “I was born ready.”
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Chapter Twenty Seven
I threw back my shoulders and walked proudly down the center aisle next to my grandmother. She didn’t seem nervous at all. Whenever a dark faery crept close to her, she fixed it with a stern look and said, “Shoo,” like she was talking to a bug. Immediately, the creature would flit away. As for me, I could scarcely bear to look any place but straight ahead. The one time I dared to look elsewhere, I saw a creature with a misshapen head and jagged teeth ripping the flesh off an entire sheep leg. Wool and all. Blood dripped off the creature’s chin as it watched me pass. I gagged; totally grateful I hadn’t eaten recently.
Before we reached Phaedra, Melia whispered, “It would be a good idea not to look directly into the Dark Queen’s eyes.”
Oh great, another bit of information she’d overlooked, no doubt with life–or-death implications.
“Why?” I hissed back at her.
“Must you always ask why? Just do as I say.”
Grumbling under my breath, I fixed my gaze on Ryker, who was trying not to smile as his gaze skimmed over my apple-infused outfit. In response, I jammed the apple crown on my head and stuck my nose in the air.
I took Melia’s advice and used only quick, sidelong glances to study Phaedra. A tall, thin woman with blue skin, she wore a crown of dead leaves. Her straight black hair was streaked with royal blue highlights. As we approached, she held out her arms to Melia, who stopped just out of reach. Phaedra said, “Sister, it’s been too long. Will you not allow me to hug you?”
Melia did not mince words. “We are not sisters, as well you know. And, why should I embrace the one who enslaved my people?”
Okay, so much for diplomacy. Ryker rolled his eyes in disbelief, as if to say , not part of the plan. Phaedra waved her hands and glared. “How dare you accuse me thusly? You abandoned your folk. I have cared for them all these years, while you engaged in unholy union with a mortal! You should be grateful to me.”
I couldn’t take my eyes off Phaedra’s fluttering fingernails. Pale blue, they extended over the end of her fingers and curved into sharp talons. With one swipe, she might easily scoop out an eyeball.
“If you care for them so much, you would set them free,” Melia said. I risked a glance at Phaedra’s face. With a sly smile, she said, “But sister, I have only their welfare at heart. Chances are, you would abandon them again.”
Melia’s face flushed to a deep forest green. “Never!” she exclaimed. Melia peered around the great hall. “If you are so devoted, why have I seen neither hide nor hair of my folk since we arrived?
my folk since we arrived?
For all I know, they may be dead.”
Score one for Melia. Phaedra stretched out her neck and hissed, “Out of concern for their well being, I ordered my guards to lock them in the kitchen. During the Lammas revels, the Unseelie Court is not safe for forest faeries and their offspring.”
Melia put her hands on her hips and smirked. “Are you saying the Dark Queen cannot control her own faeries? Perhaps you should return my folk to me for protection.” She paused and stroked her chin. When she spoke again, her voice was soft and beguiling. “When we take our rightful place in the Seelie Court, I would be in a position to plead your cause.” She bobbed her head toward the young woman beside Phaedra. “Your ambition for your daughter is common knowledge.”
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Phaedra turned toward her daughter. As she did so, she exposed her hollow back and dark-blue, leathery wings. She held out a hand to the young woman, who stepped forward. “May I present my daughter, the Princess Oleander?”
Melia hadn’t warned me against looking in Oleander’s eyes, so I checked her out. Despite the hollow back and wings she’d inherited from her mother, she was quite pretty, with wavy brown hair, dark blue eyes and pale, blue skin. She dropped a little curtsy and smiled sweetly. Not to be outdone, Melia grabbed my arm and pushed me forward. “And, may I present my granddaughter, Princess Avalon. Perhaps you’ve heard of her.”
No curtsy from me. I ducked my chin and said, “Pleased to meet you.”
Because I wasn’t looking at her face, I had no way to anticipate Phaedra’s next move. She reached out and grabbed my chin, forcing my head back. In a whispery voice, she said, “Why do you not look in my eyes, Princess Avalon? Are you afraid?”
“Of course not,” I lied. Thankfully, Ryker chose that moment to intervene. He moved next to me, threw an arm around my shoulder and pulled me from Phaedra’s grasp.
“My queen,” he said.
“Avalon is from Boundland. She does not meet your eyes out of respect. Isn’t that right, Avalon?”
He gave me a little squeeze of encouragement. I nodded in agreement, keeping my gaze on the floor.
“Well!” Phaedra huffed. “In the Unseelie Court, it is a sign of disrespect not to look in the queen’s eyes. Please do so at once.”
Okay, rock and hard place. Look or don’t look. Before I could decide I felt Phaedra’s talons scrape lightly across my cheek. I bit my lip to keep from crying out.
“Sweet child,” Phaedra crooned. “Those of mixed blood are always welcome in my court.”
Her voice was low and seductive, lulling me into sweet compliance. Just as I raised my eyes to look, I heard the distinctive whirr of pixie wings, and Maddie lit on the end of my nose. She put her hands on her hips and whispered, “Don’t do it.”
Phaedra’s hand left my cheek, and she made a vicious swipe for the pixie. With a high-pitched giggle, Maddie darted out of harm’s way and flew toward the ceiling.
Higher and higher she flew, all of her attention focused on the scene below.
“Maddie!” I screamed. “Watch out!”
Too late! One of the dangling roots swung over next to her and clamped its long, pale fingers around her tiny body. Within seconds, the dark fae set up such a clamor, all I could do was look around in confusion. Grunts and squeals. Waving limbs. Open mouths. Finally, realization slammed into me and I screamed to Ryker, “They want Maddie. Do something!”
Ryker’s face was grim and pale beneath his tan. He jumped into the melee, extending an arm and yelling, “Me! Me!” One of larger dark fae picked Ryker up and threw him over a table. Melia screamed at Phaedra, “Release my pixie at once.”
Unconcerned, Phaedra shrugged. “Out of my hands. Dark fae are terribly fond of pixies.”
Melia drew her sword fern and pointed it at Phaedra. “Do it now!”
Phaedra gave the sword a disdainful look and laughed. Princess Oleander plucked at Phaedra’s sleeve, her blue eyes brimming with tears. “Please, Mother.”
The sound of Ari’s high-pitched squeal split the air. “My Maddie! My Maddie. Eeeeee!”
I ran down the aisle, pushing my way through clusters of repulsive fae. Maybe I could jump high enough to grab the pixie before she fell into an open mouth. I jockeyed for position under the spectral hand as it swung back and forth over the clamoring crowd. Finally, it stopped over a tall creature with swooping, winged eyebrows and two rows of sharp, pointy teeth. (A bogey, I would find out later.)
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The hand didn’t just drop Maddie into the bogey’s clutches. It threw her like a fast ball. The poor little pixie didn’t have a chance. As she tumbled downward, she made a desperate effort to orient herself. Her wings fluttered frantically, but it was too late. The bogey stretched out an arm and snatched her out of the air. He smacked his lips in anticipation, holding Maddie aloft for the others to admire. Maddie was making pitiful keening sounds, echoed by her sister in my pouch. The bogey lifted his free hand toward Maddie’s wings.
Now, Allie, now! I touched a moon missile to the moonstone still tucked under my shirt, took aim at the bogey’s leering face and fired. It barely nicked his chin, whizzing by without making direct contact. The bogey rubbed his chin and
swiveled his head, trying to get a bead on the offender. Still clutching Maddie in his talons, his malevolent black gaze settled on me. I grabbed another moon missile out of the pouch.
The bogey stepped closer, peeled back his lips and flashed jagged, green-tinged fangs. I yanked the moonstone out of my shirt and touched the smaller stone to its surface. Taking aim at the bogey’s forehead, I wound up and threw the tiny stone as hard as I could.
The missile sizzled through the air and struck the bogey squarely between the eyes and disappeared without leaving a mark. With a bellow of rage, he crumpled to the floor. Maddie scrambled from his limp fingers and flew to me. I snatched her out of the air and tucked the trembling pixie inside the pouch next to her sister. Even though their shrill and joyous reunion made my ears hurt, I didn’t mind.
Phaedra waved her arms and shouted, “Guards!”
Within seconds, I was surrounded by toadlings, their spears aimed at my body. I didn’t have to look into Phaedra’s eyes to figure out she was in a towering rage.
“You dare to come into my court and kill one of my folk?”
“It was trying to eat my friend.”
Silence fell over the Unseelie Court as each and every fae creature eagerly followed our conversation. They were probably hoping I was the next course.
Phaedra turned to Melia. “Your granddaughter cast her spell with great accuracy. Her magic is strong.” She paused and gave Melia a sly smile. “But, tell me, why did you not save the pixie?” She paused and waved her hand. “Never mind. I already know. Over the years, your magic has weakened. It is of no use to you in the Unseelie Court which is why you brought your granddaughter along to fight your battles. But tell me, dear sister, how do you intend to compensate me for the death of my bogey?”
With a loud groan, the bogey sat up and rubbed his head.
“Oops, Mr. Bogey isn’t dead after all,” I said.
Melia reached over the guards and cupped my face in her palms. She looked deeply into my eyes.
“Your spell must have worn off, Avalon.” She emphasized the word spell. It was then I realized Phaedra hadn’t seen the stone flying through the air. She’d seen the movement of my arm and thought I’d disabled the bogey by casting a spell.
I nodded. “Yes, I need to work on that spell. It should last longer.”
Melia stepped away from the guards and turned to Phaedra. “To answer your question, I allowed Avalon to cast the spell. It is good practice for her.” She looked around the room. “However, your folk injured my Love Talker. What do you intend to do about that?”
Ryker! The last I’d seen of him, he was flying through the air. I peeked over the toadlings’ heads and spotted him, wobbly as a newborn colt, staggering drunkenly toward the raised platform.
“My queens,” he slurred. “I am fine.” With that, his knees buckled and he plopped down on the stone floor.
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“Ah, the poor lad fell and injured his head in the melee caused by your pixie,” Phaedra informed Melia who snorted in disgust. “Oleander, go to him at once.”
The princess, looking stricken, glided down the stairs to Ryker. Phaedra said, “Have no fear, Oleander and I will care for the Love Talker. Since we have great fondness for him, he will be coddled and cosseted. He is a privileged member of the Unseelie Court.”
Coddled and cosseted? Sounded highly unprofessional to me.
Somewhat mollified, Melia said, “Now, order the guards to release my granddaughter. I want her by my side as we negotiate the return of my folk.”
I almost laughed. Negotiate? Is that what she was doing?
With a mirthless chuckle, Phaedra said, “Dear sister, I’m afraid that is not possible.” She snapped her fingers. Two faeries with curved horns and goat-like faces ran to her side. “Take the forest queen to my guest quarters.” The goat things grabbed Melia’s arms and marched her away. Phaedra called after her, “Don’t worry about Avalon. She will come to no harm while in my care.”
I said, “I can take care of myself.”
Phaedra ordered, “Guards, take her to the kitchen. It’s time Avalon met her many cousins.”
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Chapter Twenty Eight
The toads marched me through a side door and into a long, cave-like corridor. Dim light flickered from candles widely spaced along the wall. A few steps away from each candle, the light disappeared completely. Totally creepy. I shivered as icy water dripped from the ceiling and ran down my neck. The flapping feet of my toadling guards was the only sound.. Courage, Avalon. I placed one hand protectively over the pouch. The pixies, thank God, remained silent. What a stroke of luck Phaedra had not seen the moon missiles. If she had, the pouch and pixies would be gone. My camouflaged pouch was part and parcel of my bizarre apple tree outfit. Nobody had even noticed it. Chalk one up for Melia.
The corridor curved to the right, and we halted next to small wooden door. One of the toadlings pulled out a large key ring. He held the jumble of keys next to the flickering candle light, searching for the right one, not an easy job when you have teensy arms and claw hands. It took so long, I felt like snatching the key ring away from him and doing it myself.
Finally, the guard fitted one of the old-fashioned keys into the lock and twisted. Wrong key. The other toadlings muttered and fussed while he tried another. Then another. After the fourth try, he found the right one. The door swung open and the guard pushed me through. The room smelled like rotted meat, the odor so foul I gagged and almost lost what little food was in my stomach. I heard the key turning in the lock. The finality of that sound made my heart stutter in my chest. What did you expect, Allie? A suite overlooking the moat? Room service with your very own dark fae server?
I took a cautious step into the long, narrow kitchen, peering through the dim light for signs of life. Where were all the cousins Phaedra mentioned? A huge fireplace dominated one wall. Rubbing my arms and shivering, I crept closer to the fire, hoping to banish the chill that had seeped into my bones. I patted the pouch, hoping the pixies were okay. Until I knew who or what I was dealing with, there they would stay.
Somehow, I sensed the presence of others. It’s hard to explain, but the room just didn’t feel empty. I peered through the gloom. “Hello? I’m Allie. Actually, I’m Melia’s granddaughter. You may know me as Avalon.”
“Princess Avalon!” A chorus of voices.
Dark shapes appeared, moving away from the walls and popping out from beneath the long wooden tables that extended beyond the light.
“Light the candles.” A woman’s voice.
I heard the rustle of movement. A small form crouched next to the fireplace, followed by two others. Each one held a candle to the flame. When the candles caught fire, the three scurried away from the hearth and lit every candle in the kitchen, illuminating all but the dark corners. What I saw fairly broke my heart. The folk stepping from the shadows looked much like Melia. Dark, tangled hair. Forest green eyes. Delicate, fine boned features.
There was one major difference, though. These people had been starved. Hollow eyed and painfully thin, their skin was the palest shade of green and stretched tightly over too prominent bones. In my world history class, I’d seen pictures of the Holocaust survivors. The fae locked in Phaedra’s kitchen had the same emaciated appearance.
A woman with a streak of white in her dark hair stepped forward. She took my hands. “I am Delphine, the mother of Hawk. The forest faeries welcome you, Princess Avalon. Do you bring news 364
of our queen?”
Over a dozen forest faeries crowded around Delphine, anxiously awaiting my answer. When I finally found my voice, I said, “Yes, Melia is here. At this moment, she is meeting with Phaedra to negotiate your freedom.”
The forest fae cheered and clapped, their faces wreathed in smiles. I couldn’t bear to tell them the truth, that the bickering queens seemed more interested in besting each other than working on a real solution. Melia’s people desperately needed hope. Delphine pulled me over to
a wooden bench next to the fireplace. A few more fae crept out of the shadows to join us.
“How many of Melia’s folk remain?” I asked.
Delphine compressed her lips and shook her head. When she spoke, her voice was tremulous.
“Many have died of starvation.”
“But, you’re locked in the kitchen. Surely there’s food here.”
Delphine shuddered. “We provide the labor to prepare the meals for the dark queen’s court. Raw meat. Food boiled in blood. Forest faeries cannot survive on such things. The nuts and berries we require for health are doled out sparingly. What little food we get goes to the children.”
“Children?” So far, I’d seen only adult forest faeries.
Delphine clapped her hands. “Children! You may come out now.”
Six children filed out from behind a large wooden sideboard, lined up according to size. The tallest boy stood at the head of the line. He was followed by a boy and girl a tad bit shorter. Smaller still, another boy. The last little girl held the hand of a chubby toddler. They approached cautiously, their eyes bright with curiosity. Fae parents, their faces alight with pride, held out their arms to embrace their children. I tried to swallow a huge lump in my throat.
“Hey! What’s happening?” The pixie’s shrill voices were muffled but unmistakably annoyed. Quickly, I unzipped the pouch. Maddie and Ari popped out, fluffed their wings and flew to my outstretched hand.
Cries of delight echoed through the kitchen as the faeries crowded in for a closer look. “Can it be? Hedgerow pixies! Fly to me, little pixie.”
Ari put her hands on her hips and frowned up at me. “They look hungry. Will they eat Ari and Maddie?”
I glanced at Delphine. “Are the pixies safe here?”
Delphine’s eyes filled with tears. She held out a trembling hand. “Come to me, little ones. We would never harm you. The very sight of you brings us hope. We will protect you with our lives.”
We were treated to one of Ari’s rare smiles. She pushed off my hand and flew to Delphine. Hovering in the air, she used her purple cape to wipe away Delphine’s tears.
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