Dark Fae

by Shannon Mayer

  The distant hammering was a continuous sound, so when it stopped I sat up with a bolt. I’d fallen asleep in Bres’ arms and the night sky had faded to early dawn, the last of the stars winking out above the clearing.

  I touched his face gently, waking him. “They’ve stopped,” I whispered, not wanting to break the spell that had stolen us from the world of battles and death for a short time.

  Bres sat up and ran his hand through his hair. Giving me a last lingering kiss, he stood, holding his hand out to me. “Let’s go see what they’ve got for you.”

  We made our way back down the path, the way lit by fireflies and the faded, distant twinkling of the stars above our heads. I could see my mother here, could see her living out her days in this peace and stillness away from the troubles of the world. I only hoped she would come here and not make me give some other form of payment to the Smiths.

  The forge fire was still lit, and its light filled the main clearing like a bonfire. In front, stood the three Smiths, Angus just ahead of Wil and Paddy. Across his arms lay a sword covered by a white cloth.

  “Quinn, daughter of ta oracle.”

  I walked towards him, stopping only a few feet away. This had the feeling of a ceremony, something I didn’t want to screw up. “I am here.”

  “We have forged for you a sword of power. Wield it wit honour and justice, do only ta harm you must and no more. This is the creed of the blade. Carnwennan.” He spoke the name as he placed the hilt into my hand and the cover was drawn from it.

  It was still the hilt that my dagger had borne, bone, nearly white with wear. That was where the similarities ended. Just above the handle, set into the cross guard of the blade, was Aednat’s stone. The gem was inset so that it was showing blue on one side and green on the other. The actual length of the sword was just enough for me, not the massive blades that Luke and Bres carried.

  I held it lightly, feeling the weight of it, feeling the connection between me and it. Lifting my eyes, I couldn’t stop the tears that fell. This was the weapon I would kill Ashling with, that Aednat’s soul now resided in. Bres came up behind me and circled me with his arms.

  “There’s still a chance. You have to believe, Quinn.” He whispered into my ear.

  Wil stepped forward. “He be right. Don’t give up. Not on love. Your mama, she had you and Ashling because she believed in ta prophecy and knew it needed to come to pass, if our worlds would be mended. She laid her heart on ta altar of sacrifice, to save ta world. Can you do any less?”

  My throat closed up. I knew he spoke true and it shamed me to know how Darcy had been forced to give up her own dreams and the love of a man who cared for her, to fill a stupid prophecy.

  “No, I won’t do any less,” I said.

  It was Paddy’s turn. He came forward with a belt and scabbard. “Here you go. Put this on. When ta blade’s gem shows blue, you’ll be cloaked in shadow, unseen by friend or foe. Pull ta blade and the shadow will be lifted.”

  He cinched the belt around my waist, helping me adjust it. Turning the blade so the green gem winked outwards, I slid it into the scabbard.

  “Thank you,” I said, running my hand over the hilt. Gods, how was I going to do this? How was I going to kill Ashling, even if it was just her body?

  Wil took my hand and slipped a ring over my right thumb. “Give this to Darcy. She’ll know what it means.”

  I nodded. “Of course.”

  On an impulse, I hugged each one of the three Smiths, catching them by surprise. Angus cleared his throat as I stepped back. “Well then, I guess we’d best be seeing you two off. Come on to ta stables round back. There’s no way you’ll get past that army wit out a little speed.”

  Leading the way, Angus marched around to the back of the house where indeed there was a stable, like any other. The creatures inside, however, were another matter all together.

  They looked to be two large black horses, but they had fangs and their eyes were more like a cat’s than a horse’s, with a vertical slit that narrowed as we came into sight.

  “They’re mean bastards,” Paddy said. “But they be fast, and they’ll kill anyting tat is in your way.”

  “What are they?” I asked.

  It was Bres who answered me. “Aughisky. I thought they were all dead, died out in ta last great battle between Fomorii and Tuatha. They’re like ta kelpie only more vicious. I don’t know that this is a good idea.” His tone was enough to make me back away from the big black beasts.

  Angus let out a breath. “Phaw, don’t be a sissy boy. These two know that their lives depend on coming back here. It’s ta only safe haven tat they have. Right my lads?” He swatted one on the rump.

  It turned its head and bared its teeth, letting out a low growl. Definitely not a horse sound.

  Angus and Wil ignored the growls and saddled up the two Aughisky. Bres pulled me aside and whispered in my ear. “If we get anywhere close to salt water, I want you to throw yourself from its back.”

  “What? Why?” I asked as he pulled me a little further away, his face grim.

  “They drown their riders and eat them.”

  “Then maybe we shouldn’t be doing this!” I said, feeling a wave of panic. “And I haven’t ridden a horse in years, how am I going to stay on if we’re riding full tilt to stay ahead of the Fomorii?”

  I didn’t have time to ask any more questions. Wil grabbed me about the waist and swung me up onto the back of the first Aughisky, ignoring my squeak of protest.

  There were no reins, only the slick black mane that felt reminiscent of seaweed. I gripped the hair until my knuckles were white, and took a deep breath. The beast trembled below me, its sides shivering as if flies were landing on its hide.

  Bres mounted the other Aughisky, mounting as if he’d been born to the saddle and not the water.

  Angus patted my leg. “Don’t worry lass, these two boys will get you past ta Fomorii, wit out a doubt. You only have ta tell them where it is you want ta go.”

  Licking my lips, I nodded. “Nuadha has a camp, somewhere on the Island.” I glanced over at Bres who gave me a small nod. “So we’ll have to go to Fianna first to find out where Nuadha is. Unless you know?”

  The three Smiths shook their heads in unison. “Nope, to ta Banshee Queen it is, then, boys, then you’ll take Quinn and Bres ta their next destination, then come straight back home. No hunting.”

  The Aughisky below me let out a snort and Bres’ mount actually chuckled. This was seeming like less and less of a good idea.

  Before I could say anything else, Angus slapped the rump of my Aughisky and we bolted out of the stable, Bres and his mount hot on our heels. I gripped the mane as tight as I could, feeling the strands slide through my fingers. I had to settle for gripping the front edge of the saddle.

  The Aughisky was smooth, its gait was one that was easy to sit, but the speed was terrifying. The trees blurred by, which was bad enough, but when the mound we’d entered through rose up as if it were a living thing and opened, the creatures we rode dove into it. I couldn’t stop the scream that escaped me. Hunching over the saddle, I buried my face against the neck of the Aughisky. The scent of the ocean surrounded me, and I actually looked up expecting to see water.

  But there was no water, only the exit out of the mound into the base of the ravine where the Fomorii army waited for us.

  We burst out of the mound, startling the Fomorii guards. My mount struck out with its fanged mouth, snatching a pound or two of flesh as it ripped by the Fomorii. From the squeal behind me, I had no doubt that Bres’ mount had done a follow up.

  Splatters of blood flipped back towards me as the Aughisky threw its head back to swallow the chunk of flesh. Flesh eating horses were not my idea of a good, safe ride, not that I had any choice now.

  The Fomorii were in an uproar as they scrambled to stop us, but they were too late; we were already climbing the shale hill, covering it with a speed that left the army in the dust. At the top I yelled “Stop!” and, remark
ably, my mount froze, obeying my command.

  Bres and his mount had caught up to us. I stared back the way we’d come, my eyes searching for a sign of the strawberry blonde curls that would give Chaos away. But there was nothing. She’d gone to ground.

  In a burst of anger, I screamed across at the Fomorii. “Tell Chaos, she is DEAD!”

  My mount gave a snort and I was certain that he approved. “Let’s go.” Leaping forward, the Aughisky ran, retracing our footsteps the way we’d come, bursting through the waterfall and covering the Hall of the Dead in no time. Bres kept trying to get my attention, to get me to speak to him, but I was buried in my own thoughts and wanted to stay there.

  It wasn’t long before we were at the edge of Cathedral grove, the Banshees’ Enchanted Forest. The Aughisky slowed their mad pace to a simple canter, and the world no longer was blurred around us. We weren’t stopped by the Banshee guards, but we were followed as we made our way deep into the forest to find Fianna.

  We didn’t dismount, which I was glad for. I didn’t think I’d ever be able to walk again. The muscles in my legs and butt were aching, and I was certain I had a blister on my ass despite the smooth movement of my mount.

  Fianna raised a hand in greeting to us and we shared our request. “Nuadha has chosen to camp on the far side of the island, where the ocean meets the shore. We cannot go with you now, but when the time comes for the battle between you and Chaos, the Banshees will be there.”

  The Aughisky spun on their haunches and I shouted my farewells. This was going to be a long ride, even at the speed that our mounts could manage.

  Quinn, love, talk to me. Bres’ words whispered across my mind and I finally relented, letting him in.

  I’m going to have to do it. It’s just hit me that this is the weapon I’ll use to take her head. The words were painful, and I hadn’t even said them out loud.

  I glanced over at Bres, his face pale with the shock of my words. You don’t know that.

  Turning my face into the wind, I hunched over the saddle, the hilt of Carnwennan digging into my side. The problem was, while I wanted to believe I could save Ashling, everything was pointing to her death being the only way to save the world. How could I tell people I gave up the world for a single life? Even if that life was the whole world to me?

  12

  The Aughisky did just what the three Smiths said they would. They ran at a speed that no one could match, taking us all the way to the West coast. It was early morning, just as dawn was breaking through the cloudy skies when we reached the coast. The scent of the ocean reached me and my mount at the same time.

  “Quinn, dismount. Right now,” Bres said, his words brooking no argument.

  But my body was sluggish after a night in the saddle and it didn’t want to obey me. My mount snorted and spoke, shocking the hell out of me.

  “Lady of the Sea, dismount. I cannot contain my urge to take to the water much longer.”

  I slid off, my knees buckling when my feet touched the ground, but it was enough. The Aughisky bolted towards the water, bucking and tearing the saddles from each other’s backs. We watched as they dove into the water, their sleek black bodies disappearing under the waves.

  “Thank you,” I said, knowing that they couldn’t hear me, but saying it anyway.

  Letting out a groan I tried to stand. “I’m so sore, everything hurts.”

  Bres chuckled, mimicking the three Smiths. “Ah, it weren’t so bad, lass.”

  I took a swat at him, though it was only half-hearted. “Don’t tease, we have to find Nuadha.”

  The sound of multiple swords being drawn from their scabbards was the only warning we had. Bres spun, pulling his own sword, barely in time to parry what would have been a fatal blow.

  “Put down your weapons, Fomorii!” our attacker cried out. His armor was polished to a sheen and reflected the weak light of the morning in bright flashes.

  “Stop!” I yelled, foolishly thinking that they would listen. Others slipped up behind us, and I did the only thing I could think of—I flipped a Barrier over Bres and me, protecting us from the men who’d surrounded us.

  “Drop your Barrier, Quinn.” I recognized that voice, but not because I’d ever met him in person. Slowly I turned to face Nuadha, leader of the Tuatha de Daanan. His hair was shorn, not the long silver braid it had been at his battle with Balor where he’d cursed the Fomorii.

  “Nuadha, we aren’t here to fight; we’re here to help,” I said.

  “Then drop the Barrier.” His eyes showed no warmth nor malice.

  A glance over my shoulder to Bres for some sort of indication of what we should do only gave me a half shoulder shrug to go on. I don’t know, Quinn.

  Damn. Where was Cora now? Nowhere. I couldn’t even feel her. A hitch in my throat caught me. Now? She abandoned me, now?

  I dropped the Barrier. “You see, we are on your side . . .” The men swarmed over Bres, but when I went to aide him, he shook his head. “No, it’s what I expected.”

  Nuadha strolled up beside me. “He is a traitor, two times over. Why would you protect him?”

  I frowned up at the silver-haired man. He was everything Luke had been when I’d first met him, arrogant and cocky, only compounded by years of truly believing that he was the best.

  “I trust him, with all my heart,” I said.

  The men around us laughed, as if I’d said something dirty. Nuadha just grunted. “Take him to the stocks. The Council will deal with him.”

  He grabbed me by the arm, his fingers tightening painfully around my bicep. “And you, Quinn, what are we to do with you?” He yanked me alongside himself as if I were a child. I jerked backwards, forcing him to let me go or get in a tug of war.

  “I am here to help you stop Chaos. That’s it. You can keep your stupid leadership spot; I sure as hell don’t want it,” I snapped.

  His lip started to curl upwards, but he stopped it mid-rise. “Again, I believe that we shall let the council deal with you.” He gave a sharp whistle. “Guards, take her to the stocks with her pet Fomorii.”

  Three guards rushed me and I didn’t know what to do. These were supposed to be the good guys, the ones who stood with me, as I faced down Chaos.

  Bres tried to calm me. Don’t fight them, Quinn. Luke will get us out. They don’t call him the Charmer for nothing.

  His words didn’t soothe my anger, but they kept me from lashing out, which would have been a disaster with the strength of not only my power, but Card’s too.

  They hauled us off down the beach, over a sand dune and into the sparse edge of the forest. Carnwennan was taken from me, but I wasn’t too worried. I could feel the bond with it even more strongly than I had when it was only a dagger. I had no doubt I could Call the weapon to my hand when I needed to.

  We were tossed onto a rough patch of dirt and sand; individual Barriers were put around us, each with our own guards.

  “Well ain’t this a kick in the ass,” I muttered. So much for being the Chosen one.

  I looked over at Bres, who just smiled. “This isn’t my first time in trouble with Nuadha. He’ll come around.”

  Laughing, I said, “Somehow it doesn’t surprise me that this isn’t your first time.”

  He leaned back against the Barrier, his eyes sparkling with devilry.“First time with you.”

  Heat rushed up my face and I shook my head. Flirting at a time like this? What was wrong with us?

  The guards turned their backs to us, taking their watch seriously. Of course, I took the opportunity to Call Carnwennan to me the moment they turned around, and bury it under a thin layer of sand. The sun continued to rise, and the heat in my Barrier was increasing faster than it should have been, as if I was in a hot house and not just sitting on the sandy beach. By noon, I was panting; the need for water was beyond anything I’d previously experienced.

  A thought trickled through my mind like the water I so desperately craved. Reaching out with my senses and Card’s power, I found a seam
of water deep below me. Calling it upwards, I coaxed the fresh water into my prison until I had a bubbling spring that I could drink from. The water was icy cold, a bit gritty from coming through the sand, and the best thing I’d ever drunk in my life. Drinking my fill, I splashed the water over my face, the back of my neck and chest. My guard glanced at me once, frowned, and then looked away. All the better. Now it was time for Bres. Pulling on the water again, I coaxed and cajoled it into rising below Bres, creating a spring for him.

  His eyes widened. I gave him a nod. At least we wouldn’t die of dehydration. Dying of something else, say a sword thrust from Nuadha —that, I wasn’t so sure we’d be able to avoid.

  Down the beach I could hear shouting—screaming actually. I rolled to my side, my head propped up on my arm, my fingers resting just over the hilt of Carnwennan. It was the most effort I was willing to make, even for a scuffle.

  A petite figure was screaming into Nuadha’s face, body cloaked, but obviously feminine. I sat up. Twice she screamed my name, asking where I was, and what had been done to me.

  “Mom?” Her hood slipped back revealing the curls both Ashling and I had inherited. I stood up. “MOM!”

  She spun, saw me and started to run across the sand. Even at this distance, I could see tears tracking down her face.

  Nuadha yelled at her to stop, but she didn’t listen. I had a split second to see and understand what was about to happen. Nuadha raised his hand, with power circling around him as he prepped a power bolt.

  I Called Carnwennan to my hand, sliced through the Barrier and ran towards Darcy. “Get down!” I yelled. The glint in Nuadha’s eye told me everything. This was a setup. Darcy dropped to the ground as Nuadha’s power bolt skimmed over her head and straight to me.

  With everything I had, I threw a flat Barrier up, deflecting the power bolt, bouncing it back towards a wide-eyed Nuadha. He dropped to the ground, the bolt whipping out past him and into the ocean with a tremendous thump of water and air.

  Running to my mom’s side, I helped her stand. “What are you doing here?”

  “Looking for you. The visions, they’ve changed,” she whispered. “There is a chance that you can still save Ashling.”