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Allie sat stiffly next to Pollineir at the table while everyone ate. As was typical for elves they ate in silence something that usually drove Allie crazy but in this instance was a blessing. She had failed to understand that when Varessial had made the deal with his cousin earlier they had meant for it to take effect immediately. It had quickly become clear though that she was no longer in Sal’s custody and that Pollineir was assuming she belonged to him. The only silver lining in all of that was that they were all assuming her promise to Sal included all of them, when she had been careful to include only Sal and Anna in what she said.
Under other circumstances she might be worried about either of the other two mentioning that detail but Anna had spent the entire evening fending off the grasping hands of the two trow. With Varessial watching her in a way that made Allie’s skin crawl it was clear that the Glaistig had more pressing problems than betraying Allie’s confidence. Cormac could do little about the situation, since the higher ranking Fey were quite likely to just kill him if he annoyed them too much and everyone in the building knew it.
For his part Sal may have gotten what he wanted but he wasn’t any happier than Anna with the situation. As Allie had guessed earlier he was the lowest ranked of his father’s people, so any time anyone wanted something, or had a mess that needed to be cleaned up, or just felt like bullying someone for the entertainment value, Sal was called on. He was currently sporting a split lip, courtesy of the bigger of the two trow, who had backhanded him when he hadn’t moved fast enough to get the man a fresh drink when ordered to.
At least Anna and Cormac know this will be over for them when we leave Allie thought as Sal flinched and jumped up to get his father another serving of dinner, Anna staying at the hearth to stir the stew she’d cooked. Sal is looking at a life of this unless he can somehow work his way up. He’s young so it’s possible, but damn. No wonder most of the older Dark Court men are so vicious if this is what they go through before they get enough power to stop it. And Sal’s really not a bad person, not yet. He could have told them everything I had told him, but he didn’t, because I indicated I didn’t want him to. That was kindness because it’s not like I have any power over him, to enforce my own will.
Next to her Pollineir reached out and rested his hand on her thigh. She fought her reaction to the touch, struggling not to tense and trying to make herself eat something. His emotions were calm, slightly possessive, and that helped her calm down as well. Elves were a very tactile people and deep down she knew the touch was nothing but a way to remind himself and the others that she was his property, like petting a dog or caressing a piece of expensive jewelry one was wearing. Still for her, both as an empath and as a rape survivor, the touch was invasive and upsetting. Okay, I need a plan here because this is bad. Potentially really bad. I’m pregnant he can’t hurt me and I need to use that to my advantage to make sure I sleep alone tonight, because I can’t even contemplate the alternative. I never thought I’d be saying this but for once I wish I was a real Bahvanshee, and I could just use that to defend myself. She felt a twinge of guilt remembering Bleidd kneeling on the floor of their room the one time she’d let her anger control her and had used her ability to lash out at him. Somehow though the thought of Pollineir or Varessial in the same position didn’t make her feel bad, in fact imagining the two Dark Court elves flat on the floor weeping while she stood over them cheered her up, despite knowing it was just a daydream. She had no idea how to use her empathy that way except with people she was bonded to, so it was useless as an offensive weapon.
Okay I know I decided that escape was a bad idea, but things have taken a significant turn here, she thought pushing away the reassuring fantasy. When I talk to Jess and Bleidd tonight I’ll ask them for ideas on how to make this work, but I need to get myself out of this. I can’t wait for them to get here. And for all I know this lot won’t linger here for much longer. If they move to take me further into the Holding, to head for a Road to another Holding…no I do not want to be with them and put Jess and Bleidd in the position of chasing after us on the move. One way or another I need to get proactive. I can’t wait for them to save me, I’m going to need to save myself – even if it means risking the Wildlands.
The hand resting on her leg was a persistent distraction and she wished again that she could use her abilities to defend herself. Pollineir’s fingers pressing down motivated her to decide to at least try, so she closed her eyes and focused. She wasn’t sure exactly what to do so she visualized all of her own discomfort moving out and pressing into him, digging into his aura the way his hand was digging into her flesh. She saw it clearly, her emotions a sharp yellow penetrating into his heavy red aura. Suddenly his hand withdrew and he shifted away from her slightly, turning to ask Anna for more bread. Allie felt a momentary thrill of success, before common sense asserted itself; she had no way to know if what she’d done had worked or if his moving had been coincidental. Still she thought to herself, managing to start eating at last it might have worked, and if I need to I can try it again. If it did work, then I may have a small way to protect myself even with this damn bracelet on.
The silent meal was interrupted by a low but forceful knock on the door. Everyone froze, looking to Varessial then Cormac who frowned. “I ain’t expecting no one.”
Varessial gestured at one of the trow. Both of the lesser Fey stood quickly and went to the door, hands on their daggers. The one Varessial had indicated called through the door, his voice low and grating, “Who asks for entry?”
“Someone you have no right to refuse,” a strong female voice replied. Allie felt her eyes going wide in disbelief. No. No way. It can’t possibly be…
Varessial stood and walked between the door and table. Pollineir joined him, magic swirling subtly around him, confirming Allie’s suspicion that he was a mage. She scrambled up and back, retreating to the hearth with Anna and Sal. Cormac stayed between the two groups, by the wall. With a nod from Varessial the trow opened the door.
Standing in the snow, framed by the doorway, was Allie’s mother. She hadn’t changed at all in the near-30 years since Allie had last seen her. Her hair was still the same color as her daughter’s, a dark honey blond, and it still hung down to her waist. She was as tall as the elven men in the room – a few inches taller than Allie’s five and a half feet – and athletically trim. She wore a dark cloak over a black leather corslet and pants, with black knee boots, bracers, and had her sword at her side; Allie remembered that outfit from when her mother had gone out to fight. If she was wearing it now then she had come here prepared for bloodshed.
Sal was looking at her sideways, and before she could stop herself she mouthed the words ‘that’s my mother’ to him, and watched him pale.
The elven woman stepped into the building, followed by two other elves, Allie’s brother Adarius who looked like a male version of their mother, and a dark-haired woman Allie didn’t recognize. Behind them were four more trow, no surprise to Allie. Her mother was obviously taking this seriously, whatever she thought this was.
Seven more people on top of the eight who were already there crowded the main room of the building, and the press of anxious emotions made Allie wish she hadn’t eaten even the little bit she had.
After a tense minute of silence where each group measured up the other, Allie’s mother finally spoke, “I am Ameralleia of clan Draighean, under-chief of Kevellian in Dailorian’s Holding. I’m given to understand that you are holding my daughter Aliaine here. I have come to get her back.”
The silence was so absolute Allie could hear each individual person breathing. Then Varessial bowed deeply, “Greetings. I am Varessial of Clan Ibardos, lately of Fearilyn’s Holding. There may have been a misunderstanding about the situation. We do have your daughter with us, I believe, but I assure you she has not been mistreated in any way, nor were we aware of her connections to you. My son was under the impression she was someone we were looking fo
r on a matter entirely unrelated to yourself or your clan, I assure you-“
“Enough,” Ameralleia cut in, raising a hand to stop the other elf. “I’m sure you have plenty of explanations about why you dared to touch my child. I can hear them later. Right now I want to see Aliaine. Immediately.”
Oh crap Allie thought watching as Sal’s father bowed again. Is he kissing her ass? Or trying to? Uh-oh. I’m way over my head here then. She must outrank him significantly in the Dark. This is just a disaster all around.
Sal grabbed her arm and tried to urge her forward, but she held her ground, refusing to move. She could feel his panic when she balked. Instead of stepping forward she said, “Hello Mother. I am sorry you had to come all this way for this.”
Ameralleia’s blue eyes sought her out among the crowd, her expression unperturbed but her emotions radiating shock. The black-clad elf moved through the group, who gave way before her, until she stood in front of her daughter by the hearth. Anna didn’t move from Allie’s side, but kept her head down; Sal’s fingers tightened on Allie’s arm and his fear filled her. She met her mother’s eyes, identical to her own, without looking away. Ameralleia hesitated a moment, as if she had expected more of a reaction from Allie, then she reached out lightly, her fingers tracing their way across her daughter’s rounded torso. Her voice was soft when she spoke, at odds with the way she had spoken to the others before, low enough to keep the conversation relatively private even in the crowded room. “Are you alright Laine[2]?”
For some reason hearing her mother’s nickname for her, which she hadn’t heard in decades, set her teeth on edge, but she kept her face blank. She kept her own voice low as she answered. “I have been treated well. Anna and Cormac are good hosts – I owe them a debt for their kindness to me while I have been here.”
Her mother glanced sideways at the Glaistig, then at Sal. “Is he the one who took you? Varessial’s son?”
Sal was truly terrified now, and Allie struggled to ignore him, his feelings pressing hard against her through the physical contact. “Sal was doing what his father wanted him to do. He has treated me well since I have been here.”
Ameralleia sniffed slightly. “You could use a bath and a change of clothes, darling.”
“I’m sure that could be arranged easily Mother,” Allie said. “I’ve only been here a couple of days and I hadn’t asked about bathing, since I was rather hoping to escape soon.”
Her mother’s eyes went wide and then she laughed. “Well enough you certainly are my child, even if you are more well grown than I expected. But bathing should be more of a priority Laine.”
Allie turned slightly to Sal, who was still clutching her arm in a panic, “May I bathe when we’re finished with this meeting?”
“Of course,” he said, so quickly she wasn’t sure he was even aware of what he was saying.
Her mother nodded slightly, “Yes I suppose it would be best to stay here tonight. I will have to discuss this situation with Varessial and decide how to handle things before we head home.”
“I don’t imagine that will be too difficult for you,” Allie said. “And I truly am sorry for dragging you into this mother. I had no intention of doing so.”
“There is nothing for you to apologize for my dear,” Ameralleia said, reaching out to stroke her cheek. “I am proud of you. I was thinking of you as my little child still, and in the meantime you have achieved some renown on your own. Married, and with two husbands which speaks of your worth, already carrying your first child…To be important enough to merit kidnapping by people who don’t even know you are my daughter. And to manage to thwart their attempts on your own for months. That’s impressive.”
Allie bowed her head slightly, thinking of everything that had happened to her in the last year. Several responses to her mother went through her head but she had the sense not to say any of them out loud. Instead she said, “I am curious about how you found out I was here? I didn’t tell anyone to call you or even name my clan.”
“Oh, that’s easy enough,” her mother said smiling. “Your husband – one of them anyway – contacted me and informed me of the situation. As soon as I knew what was going on I used my own contacts to find out where you were being held, which was a simple enough matter. Honestly these males always think they are being so clever but they leave trails behind that a blind fool could follow. Then I came here with all speed, which aided by Brinessiya was quite speedy, to be certain no harm was done to you.”
“Of course,” Allie said, her voice flat thinking Bleidd when I see you again I am going to smack you for this. How could you call my mother? I don’t even know how you managed to find her, but this is across a line. Then she added, “You couldn’t have your only daughter in this situation. It would make you look bad.”
Ameralleia smiled wolfishly, “I think it’s clear you would have gotten yourself out of this without my aid. I arrived expecting to find you either locked up or tied up, and in an unhappy state. Quite frankly I expected to swoop in here and rescue you to be greeted with gratitude and a warm welcome.”
Feeling chastised Allie lowered her head, “I’m sorry Mother if my greeting wasn’t what you expected.”
“Not at all,” her mother said, her emotions nothing but proud. “I’m glad that on your own you negotiated a level of freedom and were planning an escape. That speaks to your cunning. I may have come out here for nothing from that perspective but I am just as pleased to be able to remind Ibardos that they are a lesser clan who needs to remember their place. We can’t, after all, have mere men getting delusions of grandeur and thinking that they will be allowed such power plays, never mind anyone having the audacity to kidnap a pregnant woman.”
“Of course,” Allie agreed.
Ameralleia finally stepped back, turning to the rest of the room with a disdainful look. “Fortunate for you Varessial that my daughter is unharmed.”
“I would never hurt a pregnant woman,” he said stiffly.
“Indeed, and you are lucky that she is or I think I would have found her in quite a different state,” Allie’s mother said, her voice chilly. “So, we shall be staying the night and tomorrow we can discuss this situation and come to terms. For now we will need to make arrangements for the night.”
“I prefer to stay in the same room I have been in,” Allie said, to everyone’s obvious surprise. Then, thinking quickly, “And if space is an issue Salarius can stay with me, on the floor.”
This last seemed to greatly amuse her mother, who smirked and nodded, “If you wish it. Perhaps he could also take you to see to that bath while we work out the rest of the details here?”
Sal bowed low then tugged her arm, heading towards the hallway; this time Allie went willingly glad to get out of that room. Anna scurried along behind them, mumbling about showing them where things were. The trio headed down the hall and past the small bathroom Allie had become familiar with, turning down another shorter hall to reach a door. That in turn opened to stairs leading down. Allie gave Anna a puzzled look but the Glaistig said nothing, leading the way down the stairs.
Allie had expected a root cellar; instead she found herself standing in a stone walled room with a bubbling spring at one end. The spring was contained in a low stone pool that looked like it had been carved into the bedrock. She could feel the warmth in the air and smell a faint tang of minerals, probably obscured in the house above by the musty goat smell.
“You have a hot spring underneath your house,” she stated the obvious, more to break the tense silence than anything else.
“Yes,” Anna answered stiffly. “Few people know ‘bout it but its why we built here. The lady should make herself welcome to the bath and if she needs anything-“
Allie pinched the bridge of her nose, unconsciously mimicking Bleidd, and interrupted, “Anna please do not start calling me lady. I am not a lady.”
“Yer mother-“
“Is not here because I want her to be,” Allie said cutting in again. “You ca
n ask Sal. Despite it all I explicitly did not want her called. This is not my life, not my…anything. I’m a bookstore owner, a merchant, by trade. I like my life the way it is, and I want it to stay that way.”
Anna glanced at Sal, who nodded, “She refused to tell me who her mother was or her clan, earlier, because she didn’t want her family involved in this. Not even when father was trading her to Pollineir.”
Anna’s face softened and she relaxed, although she still seemed unhappy, “Ye could have saved yerself easy just by telling them who she was. It’ll be trouble all around now she’s here.”
Allie shook her head, walking over and starting to undress next to the pool. Normally she wouldn’t have stripped in front of an audience but at this point she really didn’t care anymore. “I couldn’t have though, that’s the crux of it. If Varessial found out who my mother was after I was already here one of two things would have happened: he’d have killed me immediately – and probably you and Cormac as well – taboo about harming pregnant women or no, to save himself from my mother’s anger, or he’d have tried to make a real play for power using me against her. In the first case I’d be dead, and in the second I’d be wishing I was, far more than the way things were going before. At least before I had a chance at escape or being rescued. As a high value prisoner I’d be lucky to get a breath without being watched. And either way Sal would be dead because we all know his father isn’t going to forgive this.”
“Thanks for pointing that out,” Sal said, his face ashen.
“Why do you think I asked that you stay with me, Sal?” Allie said rolling her eyes. “It’s certainly not for your charming conversational skills.”
Anna snorted at that, then ventured a tentative smile, while Sal glowered. “Ye’re a clever one then, what about me and Cormac? Yer protecting him, what about us?”
“I owe you a debt for your kindness to me while I’ve been here,” Allie said, her expression serious as she met the other woman’s golden eyes. “That’s why I made sure to mention that to my mother. If I stress that leaving you unharmed will repay it, she will leave you alone.”
Dark of Winter: A Between the Worlds novel Page 14
