by E. A. Copen
“Tell me, Declan,” I said once I’d cleared the branches and stopped to wait for him, “what’s a good guy like you doing in a messed-up place like this?”
He let go of the branches and turned to me. “Sir?”
“Told you to call me Laz.”
“I’m sorry. It’s just…well, I’m not supposed to address anyone. I’m not used to it.”
“It’s all right.” I patted him on the back. “I’m not going to eat you, kid. Promise.”
He paled a shade until I let him go. “I never did thank you for before, sir…Laz. For saving me from the lashing. No one’s ever stood up for me like that before.”
I studied the young man walking next to me, shoulders hunched, and hands folded. He walked like a beaten dog, someone whose priority was appearing as small and unthreatening as possible. If he stood straight, he’d be at least as tall as me. He had broad shoulders and, while his face was boyish, a beard and the right haircut could make him look more formidable than forgettable.
I waved a hand. “Forget it. No thanks are necessary. I don’t like bullies. So how about it? How’d you get stuck with me?”
He shrugged. “I’m the third son of a minor lord. Normally, that means I’d be someone’s squire and looking at a knighthood myself but…well, I’m not suited for it, sir. I’m not a fighter.”
I stopped walking and turned to him. “Who told you that?”
“Sir?” Declan cocked his head to the side, frowning.
“Who told you you’re not a fighter?”
“I don’t like to fight, sir. I’m clumsy, and I’ve no aptitude for the sword or spear. I can handle a bow, but so can every eight-year-old. Besides, I like helping people, not hurting them. I’d be a poor knight.” He started walking again.
I smiled to myself and followed. “You know, I think the knights around here could use a little more of that attitude.”
“Careful saying so, sir. They’re very proud, the Knights of Summer. They don’t like critique.”
We came around another corner to a great stone staircase with an armored guard on each stair standing still as stone, a spear in every man’s hand. The Summer Palace had more guards than occupants so far as I could tell. All that security hadn’t done the queen much good when an assassin took a shot at Odette.
At the top of the stairs stood two massive wooden doors with a log the size of a tree barring them. Next to the doors sat a literal giant. I couldn’t begin to estimate his height, but he was taller than me sitting down, and I wasn’t short. Bright red hair hung from his hair in braids that melded with the braided mustache and beard. His nose was longer, forehead larger and eyes narrower than a man’s. Even the flowers sewn into his tunic didn’t make him less threatening. He could’ve squashed my head with a thumb.
The giant took one look at us, gave an irritated huff, and pulled up the wood barring the door. With two fingers, he pulled open the door closest to him, all without getting up.
I tipped an imaginary hat to the giant.
That earned me another huff and a stare. I felt the giant’s eyes on my back until the doors creaked closed behind Declan and me.
We stood in a huge, domed room with stairs spilling gracefully down either side and a stone hallway stretching out beyond each stairway. A balcony with rails made of wood that seemed to have grown in place waited above. Declan didn’t even look up, but I had to pause to take everything in. From the floating lanterns above to the rainbow floor below, it felt like walking into a dream. With every step, a ripple of motion traveled through the rainbow as if it were made of water.
There were stories all throughout folklore of men, women, and children being lured away by faeries to a magical realm only to lose years of their life in what seemed to be an afternoon. Standing in the entryway to the Summer Palace, I could see why. Not only was this place beautiful, but it was awesome in the true sense of the word, meaning I was left feeling awestruck. Combine that with the relative lack of physical pain I was feeling, the whole no death thing, and it was easy to see why any human might prefer to stay here rather than return home.
Odette left, I reminded myself. This was her home, and she’d left. She’d told me it was to avoid marrying someone she didn’t care for, and yet now, she was engaged to marry again. Maybe she’d given up and accepted the match, or maybe there was more to why she’d fled Faerie to begin with. She had said she bespelled me so I would protect her. Protect her from what?
“Sir, this way.”
I stopped gawking and picked my jaw up off the floor to follow Declan to a wall of vines directly ahead. It parted at his approach, the vines retreating as if they were self-aware. The throne room waited beyond.
I don’t know what I expected a throne room to be like, but Titania’s was the very definition of grandeur. The chamber was larger than the largest house I’d ever been in with a roof that must’ve been three stories up. A stained-glass dome served as a ceiling held in place by golden, ivy-covered columns. Mossy green carpet softened footfalls on stone as Declan led me toward the thrones in the front of the room. They seemed to be miles away. On either side of the carpet and columns, the wings of the throne room could’ve held six hundred onlookers, but they stood eerily empty.
The entire walk, I felt Titania’s gaze drilling into me. Rather than meet it, I studied the stained glass above. It depicted a clash between fire and snow, armored heroes clashing against a background where one half depicted icy glaciers and the other sprawling green hills. Both the snow and the green held flakes of red that must’ve been meant to appear as blood. An unusually warlike image for the court that all legends depicted as the friendly one.
Declan broke off from my side about halfway to the throne but motioned for me to continue.
The queen’s voice boomed through the room. “Approach.”
I glanced again at Declan who nodded and shrank back between two columns, again using his skill to disappear, forgotten, into the shadows of the throne room.
Titania sat in the throne on the right in a shimmering, honey-colored dress that clung tightly to her shapely body. Sun-bronzed skin flashed as she crossed one leg over the other and leaned on a fist, giving me a bored look. I made sure to walk a little slower.
In the throne next to her sat a dark-haired man with pointed ears. Not the same pointed ears that Declan had. His were more lynx-like. Dark cat-like eyes followed my every movement. He was dressed in a thin white shirt with ruffles, similar to the one I’d woken up in. It hung untucked over loose-fitting pants. The guy looked like he’d just woken up and wasn’t happy about it.
I stopped at the bottom stair, figuring that was as good a place as any, and waited for something to happen.
The queen cleared her throat.
The man at the queen’s side smiled, flashing canines that seemed uncharacteristically long and sharp. “It is customary to bow before a queen.”
I bent myself in half awkwardly, drawing a chuckle and a clap from the man.
“Wonderful!” he exclaimed. “I’ve never seen an ape bow before. It’s like watching a raven among robins.”
“Ravens are smart,” I said standing and fixing my attention on him. He did seem to be the biggest threat in the room. “I heard they can talk and everything.”
His wooden chair creaked as he leaned forward. “And I hear you killed a god.” His eyes sparkled.
“Four actually.” I shrugged. “But who’s counting?”
“Fascinating.” He grinned. “And ironic that a creature barely more than a speck could topple immortals. The universe has a sense of humor indeed.”
“Enough.” Titania stood and the man next to her inclined his head, effectively giving her the room. “If you are indeed still the Pale Horseman, then I may have a use for you. But I require proof. Bring out the prisoner.”
A door on the other side of the throne room creaked open, and I turned toward the sound. Chains rattled. A small form shuffled in dressed in torn, dirty rags. Dark hair hung in lo
ng strands to cover her face. She walked escorted on either side by an armed guard.
“This creature has yet to be sentenced,” Titania announced. “The day before yesterday, she attacked one of my guards and attempted to scale the castle walls to bring information to our enemies. If you are indeed the Pale Horseman as you claim, I command you to deliver this traitor’s soul to me.”
I tilted my head to try and get a better look at Titania’s prisoner. There was something familiar about her, but I couldn’t put my finger on it. Not until she came closer and lifted her face. I found myself peering into deep brown eyes a face with a cute little downturned nose, and cheekbones sharp enough to cut. My heart seized, and an icy chill settled in the pit of my stomach.
“Beth?”
Chapter Three
The first words out of my mouth were, “What the hell are you doing here?” followed quickly by an angry demand to the Summer Queen. “Release her.”
Titania pursed her lips. “I’ll do no such thing. This creature is clearly a Shadow Court spy.”
I wanted to argue with her, but I had other priorities. I turned my back to the queen and stomped across the room toward Beth. The guards crossed their spears, preventing me from getting close enough to touch her. I glared at them. “Move.”
They stood their ground.
I activated my Soul Vision and focused on the glowing green orbs in their chests. How fast were they with those spears? Probably not fast enough to stop me from killing a least one of them. The other might stab me with his spear before I could get him, but I’d already survived being stabbed several times. The idea didn’t even faze me anymore.
“Last chance,” I said, flexing my fingers. “Move or die.”
Silence filled the room.
If the queen wants a demonstration of my powers, then so be it. I swung a fist at the guard on the right but stopped short of connecting, instead throwing my left hand forward and plunging it into his chest. The other guard let out a surprised noise, and that was probably the only reason he didn’t cut me down where I stood. My fingers wrapped around the glowing orb in the guard’s chest. Familiar magic surged into my hand and up my arm. I pumped it back toward the soul, filling it with power. It glowed brighter.
Behind me, the lynx-man surged to his feet, but Titania held him back.
With a grunt, I wrenched his soul free of his body and held it up, green tendrils squirming for all to see now that I’d poured enough magic into it to make it visible. The soulless guard stumbled back, wide-eyed, hands gripping his chest. As if his body were made of ash, it dissolved bit by bit, leaving the armor behind to clang loudly to the ground.
I looked at the other guard.
He wisely threw down his spear and backed away.
Titania clapped, a pleased smile spreading over her face. “Wonderful! Marvelous! Exactly as I’d hoped.” She raised her fingers and snapped, the sound echoing through the chamber.
A red line of sparks appeared in the air around her, stretching from floor to ceiling. In a hard line, the sparks washed over the room, tearing it apart piece by piece. The grandeur of the throne room faded, replaced by a simple forest with stumps instead of thrones. Leaves and moss coated the forest floor. The columns faded, turning into giant redwoods. The man next to Titania transformed into a very large black cat with the same green-yellow cat eyes.
I turned back to Beth and watched the sparks wash over her, removing the chains and her tortured appearance and replacing it with a healthier, cleaner version in a dress of red and orange silk. She stumbled forward a half step, grabbing at her throat and coughing before turning terrified eyes on me.
“What’s happening?” I turned back to the queen whose dress had changed again to a dress of sheer white to match the crown of daisies now on her head. “What did you do?”
“Only what I had to.” She lowered her hand. “I knew you would never use that power to willingly harm someone, especially not your precious Bethany. Not you, noble Horseman.” She descended the stairs, the long train of her dress snaking over the forest floor behind her. “But you will kill to protect and save those you love. I had to be sure. Now, his soul, if you please.” She held out her hand.
I stared down at the wriggling mass in my palm and felt sick. She’d tricked me into killing as a test of my loyalty to Beth. It was all a lie. I’d murdered someone for no reason, and it had been easy. Too easy.
With my head turned away in disgust, I dropped the soul in Titania’s outstretched palm. I didn’t want it touching me anymore. Even when it was gone, I could feel the weight of it pressing down on me.
Titania dropped the soul into a tiny box that materialized in her other palm and then waved it away with a flash. “Don’t feel so bad, Horseman. They’re only soldiers. Easily replaced.”
I turned on her, clenching my fists and gritting my teeth. “He was alive…a living, breathing person…and you made me kill him.”
“I made you do nothing. You made that choice on your own. I simply presented the opportunity.” She smiled warmly, but it made me shiver. “And now I know what you’re made of and how far you’ll go, which is exactly what I need.”
I thought she was bold to turn her back on me, especially since she was within arm’s reach. To keep myself from acting on impulse and killing another Faerie queen, I shut down my Vision. The world suddenly swam in a haze of colors and tilted violently to the right. I hit the floor hard. Dammit, I’d forgotten that Anubis had put a damper on that too. Without my magic to fuel my abilities, I’d have to draw on my own limited life energy to pull that stunt, which meant I should’ve been more selective about using that power.
“I also know now what it costs you,” said Titania, returning to her tree stump throne and petting her cat. “You will not misuse your powers, but you are willing to if the situation calls for it. I’d say one life to know all of that is a fair price.”
Beth was suddenly at my side, helping me stand. She slid my arm over her shoulder and hoisted me to my feet. I didn’t like looking weak in front of a predator like Titania, leaning on Beth like that, but at least I wasn’t lying on the floor in a pile anymore.
“Trick me like that again, and Summer will be looking for a new queen.”
I expected her to retort after my threat, but she just kept smiling. “Unlikely. I didn’t make the same mistake as Nyx. Summer has a clear line of succession. Should I die, Odette will take my place, and her daughter after her. I suppose I should say your daughter, which she will be, whether you choose to claim her or not. Your blood will flow through her veins, and your magic through her soul.”
Bile crept up into my mouth. I swallowed it down. My magic was death, the power to interact with the dead and control them. But Odette was the heir to Summer. What was it Titania had called herself? The Queen of Life. Summer’s power was the polar opposite of mine, power over life itself. This child was as much Odette’s as it was mine, meaning…what exactly? Would she be born with both the power of Summer and Death? Since there was no death in Faerie, at least not in the sense that could fuel necromantic power, what did that mean? The whole thing reeked of a set-up and a power grab, but I had no proof. It could all still be random chance that Odette had chosen to bespell me and not some other schmuck. Maybe Titania had simply taken advantage of the situation. Or maybe she’d somehow set it up from the first.
“What do you want from me?” I spat.
Titania steepled her fingers. “My Knight, William, was gravely injured in the attempt in the garden. If he dies, there will be a tournament to select a new Summer Knight. However, while he lives, such a tournament would be impossible. Someone will have to fill in for him. Temporarily, of course.”
I scowled. “Let me guess. That somebody is supposed to be me? I hate to break it to you, but I’ve got no intention of swearing myself to your court, Titania. My job as the Pale Horseman is to remain neutral. If I’m the Summer Knight, I can’t do that. Even if it is temporary.”
Titania made a
slight movement with two fingers. “For three days I have housed you, tended your wounds, given you the services of my most trusted servant and the use of my healers. You owe me a debt, Lazarus. You will repay it, or you will no longer enjoy the hospitality of my court.”
Fire crept into my chest and I re-thought my policy about not hitting girls. “In other words, take the job or get out.”
She gestured to the forest ceiling. “The magic of my court is the only thing keeping you from completing your transformation into a ghoul. I see no reason to protect someone who doesn’t want to earn his keep.”
“That’s enough, Mother.” Odette stepped out from behind a tree, her hands folded over the top her huge stomach. “You can’t force everyone to do what you want.”
The Summer Queen held her daughter’s gaze for a long moment, eyes narrowed, lip curled into a sneer. “I have extended him the hospitality of Summer. It is fair to expect him to repay that debt.”
Odette pointedly avoided looking at me, choosing instead to stay focused on her mother. “You don’t need him. There are dozens of other knights at court to choose from.”
“But none who have a personal interest in keeping you alive,” replied the queen.
She was right. Any knight could’ve sworn an oath to protect the queen. That seemed like their job, and the one knight I’d met before had taken his job very seriously even when he didn’t want to. Titania, however, wasn’t the objective of an assassin. Odette was. Our child was.
Any number of fae probably thought it would be better if Odette never gave birth. I’d heard the horror in the Shadow Queen’s voice when she called the baby an abomination. There were probably fae everywhere who agreed with her, even some in Odette’s own court. Even if the knight Titania selected was loyal, he could be bought or convinced it was better for everyone if the baby didn’t survive. A misguided sense of patriotism and loyalty could be the end of Odette and a child who hadn’t done anything wrong but have the misfortune of being my blood. She wasn’t safe with anyone else protecting her. As much as it sucked, even I could see that.
