The Tattered Lands

by Barbara Ann Wright

  They wouldn’t be in time. Vandra didn’t know if there was enough water in Parbeh to put out a fire so massive. All they could do was hope to save the houses around it.

  “Maegwyn, Burani,” Lilani whispered.

  Vandra glanced at her. Those weren’t the names of any of the seelie around them. There must have been two more in the burning house. “Oh, sweet gods.” After years without communication, the seelie had finally come to Parbeh, and it had killed two of them within a day.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Vandra’s mind raced as she tried to think of a way to stop the blaze. She grasped Lilani’s hands. “I’m so sorry.”

  When Lilani gave her a stricken look, Vandra clenched her jaw. She might not be able to fight the fire, but she could find out if anyone made it out alive. The commander of the human guards was shouting at the bystanders, demanding to know what happened, but Vandra couldn’t hear him, so she grabbed her own passerby. “Did any seelie come out of that house?”

  When he only gaped, she repeated the question, turning and addressing several people. The question passed through the crowd, and people shook their heads. Fieta followed her lead while Pietyr stayed with Lilani. They heard several stories of humans being injured by smoke or cinders, but no one had seen any seelie.

  But the seelie could have been invisible. Vandra moved back to Lilani. In a short time, her face had gone from stricken to stone.

  “No one saw them,” Vandra said. “But that doesn’t mean—”

  “We set a meeting place among the shanties.” Lilani said, so softly Vandra almost didn’t hear. She scanned the crowd, brows drawn. “If they survived.” Her voice choked.

  Vandra wanted to hold her, but with so many people watching…

  Screw it. Maybe the gods would shield her. She put an arm around Lilani’s shoulders. “I’m so sorry.”

  Lilani leaned into her, and her magical field rushed over Vandra like a warm breeze, comforting and tingling all at once.

  When Lucian gestured toward them, Lilani pulled away. Vandra stepped back reluctantly, missing the feel of Lilani’s body, her light scent of jasmine. The seelie guards were eyeing the street as if memorizing the exits. Vandra’s heart thudded. Were they thinking of running? Would they ever come back? She opened her mouth to ask, but the human captain butted in.

  “You’re all coming with me.” He took a deep breath as the seelie regarded him coolly. “Honored guests, please. We don’t know what happened, and we need to ask questions. The five monarchs will have other…accommodation for you.”

  Vandra frowned. The way he paused before “accommodation” could mean another house or a prison cell.

  “We must find out if my attendants are alive,” Lilani said, glaring. Everyone else shuffled as if preparing to square off.

  “We’ll look for them,” the captain said. “One of your guards can come along.” He glanced around. The crowd seemed torn between watching the fire and whatever was happening with the seelie. “Please, I’m very sorry, but we have protocol.”

  Instead of bunching up as Vandra would have suspected, the seelie took a few steps away from one another, loosening their circle. Lilani cast one look at Vandra and smiled sadly; she seemed on the verge of saying something, but before she could, one of the human guards took a step toward the nearest seelie guard, reaching for her weapon.

  All the seelie vanished.

  The human guards leapt back almost in unison. Even Vandra froze, and she knew what the seelie could do. She felt a rush of wind as someone dashed past, and she had to keep from shouting. If the alternative was capture, the seelie had to get away. The palace guards brought their weapons up and waited, but the seelie didn’t strike. Vandra could barely breathe, her lips clamped shut. After a few long moments, the guards probed the air with their weapons. Nothing. The seelie were gone.

  The captain swore and turned on Vandra, eyes blazing. “Where did they go?”

  Vandra shrugged, not wanting to lie, but she didn’t know the whole truth. She did know that Lilani had left her. There might not have been any choice, but it stung.

  “We know as much as you, Captain,” Pietyr said.

  The captain turned his glare on Pietyr, proving a lack of intelligence; he should have been more concerned with Fieta standing behind him. “You’re coming with me,” he said. “Don’t run.”

  “We’re stuck being visible, Captain,” Fieta said.

  The captain whirled around, gave her a glare, and pointed back the way they’d come. “If you please,” he said through gritted teeth.

  For the next few hours it was questions, questions, questions in a tiny room deep inside the Courts of Law. With her, Fieta, Pietyr, and a handful of guards, the room didn’t have air. Vandra grew tired of repeating herself and very tired of hiding what she couldn’t say. Yes, she knew the seelie could vanish; she thought everyone knew that. No, she didn’t know where they’d gone. It was partly true. She didn’t know exactly where the “shanties” were that Lilani had spoken of, but she could guess.

  She wouldn’t guess, though. She was bad enough at lies of omission; she didn’t want to try to invent something. As it got later, it was hard enough to keep the facts straight. One kept bubbling to the surface, though: Lilani was gone.

  Vandra didn’t want to see her locked up and questioned. And Lilani had seemed stricken; she hadn’t wanted to leave. Still, her absence left an ache in Vandra’s chest, even though moping wouldn’t help anything. As if fine-tuning a formula, Vandra turned her depression into anger, a much more useful emotion.

  When the seneschal came in, Vandra thrust her scarf at him and told him about the attack during the ball, adding that they hadn’t reported it because they hadn’t been sure what had happened. The seneschal stuck his hand through the hole in her scarf and seemed lost in thought. Finally, he gave the scarf to one of the guards, and the questions went on.

  Vandra’s anger carried her until the third hour, when she wanted to scream. She was tired, worried about Lilani, trapped in a closet, her intelligence was being wasted, and she still hadn’t been allowed to work on the gods-cursed pylons! She rubbed a hand down her face and tried to control her rising temper. Under the table, her leg bounced like a piston, and she wished the vibrations could shake the building down.

  “Why did the seelie flee?” the seneschal asked.

  Vandra couldn’t keep the sarcasm out of her voice. “I suppose they didn’t take kindly to two of them being murdered.”

  “Who said anything about murder?” The seneschal waved casually. “More likely, it was a cooking accident from someone unfamiliar with human homes.”

  “Right,” Fieta said. “They took the wood out of the stove and built a campfire in the sitting room.”

  The seneschal kept his oily smile, but his eyes seemed to be thinking about murder even if the rest of him wasn’t. He turned his gaze to Pietyr, who smiled blandly and shrugged.

  Vandra fought the urge to pace. “This is a waste of time.” She wanted to be with Lilani, comforting her, working with her, talking with her, demanding an apology from her for leaving, anything but this.

  The seneschal stared for a few moments until another guard came in and had a word in his ear. He smiled wider. “This way, please.”

  “Thank the gods.” Vandra nearly leapt out of her seat and followed him, more than ready for some fresh air, but he led them to a room where the five monarchs waited. Vandra’s stomach lurched to the side.

  “Fuck,” Fieta whispered.

  Vandra didn’t even have the energy to reprimand her for such a serious swear word. She could only hope the monarchs hadn’t heard.

  The head assemblyperson, Nata Rahvi, asked questions this time while the monarchs listened. They looked almost as tired as she felt. And they wanted to know the same things, all about her involvement with the seelie and how close she was to them. As if she’d ever betray her own kind!

  But as she went through the entire story of that night again, Vandra di
dn’t shout or swear or even invoke the gods. Even Fieta’s and Pietyr’s answers were less flippant in the face of royalty. They deserved medals. The thought nearly made her howl with laughter. She didn’t think it was possible to be so tired that she’d risk breaking into hysterics in front of the leaders of the entire human race.

  Rahvi stared at Vandra as if able to read her mind. If by some magic she could, Vandra hoped she appreciated the humor.

  “What progress have you made with the pylons, Professor Singh?” Rahvi asked.

  Vandra blinked, mind racing to catch up. An actual question about her work? Would they mind if she did cartwheels? She cleared her throat as another wave of anger drove away some of her fatigue. “My tests on the tattered metal were inconclusive, but if I might be permitted to resume work, I would be grateful.” She put on a smile that she hoped didn’t look too fake.

  Fieta nudged her and frowned, giving her head a little shake.

  Vandra sighed and let her face go blank. The smile must have looked very fake indeed.

  The monarchs bent their heads together and whispered, all except Shyn Harra Rhys, who stared at Vandra with an unreadable expression.

  Nimah Pentari had a word with the seneschal, then the monarchs left.

  The seneschal gestured for Vandra and the twins to follow, pushing them out into the street before closing an iron-bound door behind them.

  Vandra breathed deep, put her arms over her head, and stretched. The sky was lightening with the first hints of dawn, and she reveled in it, feeling as if she’d been buried alive for the past few hours.

  “Come on,” Pietyr said. “Let’s go home. I hope the seelie made it out all right, the non-murderous ones, anyway.”

  Fieta snorted. “I second that.”

  Vandra sighed, hoping any nearby gods would keep Lilani safe. To argue with later? Yes, among other things. “When we go back to the pylon, we can find them again.”

  Fieta gave her a pitying look. “Van, they’re not going to let you work on the pylon anymore.”

  Vandra stopped, stomach clenching. “What?”

  “Did you miss those looks, the whispers? They think we’re part of some seelie plot. They’re not going to let us anywhere near the pylons.”

  Vandra looked to Pietyr, expecting him to disagree with their sister, but he gave her a sorry nod.

  The ground seemed to fall away. Vandra clenched her hands, willing the street to stop going in and out of focus. “But surely they wouldn’t throw away knowledge just because of…” She’d been about to say “a few setbacks,” but the death of two seelie and an attack on Vandra’s life was more than that.

  Ariadne was more than a setback.

  Vandra shook her head. “People have died, but even more will die if we do nothing. Who else will the monarchs get? Anyone from the university would consult me.” She felt a sting of pride, but this was more than that. This was common sense. “Surely…surely…”

  The twins kept their apologetic looks.

  “No.” Vandra stalked toward the university, her mind on fire. When she reached the grand building with its delicate spires and welcoming atmosphere of learning, she skidded to a halt. Guards waited at the doors, studying every early riser who passed.

  She tried to look as if she was supposed to be there. Confidence was key when you were going where you didn’t belong; Pietyr had taught her that. And she did belong here. She had only ever belonged here.

  One of the guards looked at a sheet of paper and barred her way. “I’m sorry, Professor Singh.”

  Dark red spots swam in Vandra’s vision, and she nearly screamed. Her hands began to cramp as she curled them tight. Pietyr pulled her away. Vandra’s breath came in gasps as the twins guided her back home. She couldn’t go to her apartment. That was university property, too. They’d be pawing through her things, boxing them up. They had her equipment. They had the tattered metal. There was nothing for her.

  Tears almost broke through her rage. The world was still at stake, and they were going to force her to do nothing?

  At home, Papa made her a cup of tea, but she didn’t hear anything he said, didn’t acknowledge Mama’s embrace. As soon as she could get away, Vandra slinked to her old room at the top of the stairs, changed into a nightshirt, and crawled into a bed that now belonged to a sister who wouldn’t need it until nightfall.

  Sleep wouldn’t come, no matter that Vandra was exhausted. She wept for a while, clenched her fists, and railed inside her mind, but no amount of emotion could quiet her brain. This was another in a string of dismal failures. The university would fire her; they wouldn’t want her scandal clinging to them. One of the mining corps might take her. She’d spend her days figuring out how to wrest syndrium from the ground and waste it on whatever scheme the corporation dreamed up. But even that wouldn’t last for long, not with the pylons going out.

  Ariadne was dead, sacrificed and buried in bureaucracy.

  Lilani was gone, never to be seen again.

  And the world was still ending.

  Vandra pulled the blanket over her head, trying to shut out the light along with the thoughts. And someone wanted her dead. Gods supreme, they wanted to murder the entire human race.

  Vandra sat up. That was insane, as twisted as that creature from the tattered lands with a face in its mouth. And feeling sorry for herself wouldn’t stop it. She balled a fist and struck the mattress. If everyone but her had gone mad, so be it. She wouldn’t let the pylons fail.

  She knew what her family would say: she’d done enough. Others could figure it out. She needed rest. But they didn’t understand. She could find a way to stop this, and if it could be done, it had to be done. Everyone else might be content to talk; she would act. She’d find Lilani. She would save the gods-cursed world.

  Vandra threw off the covers, rubbed the grit from her eyes, and donned the clothes she’d left there the day before. A glance in the next room revealed that Fieta and Pietyr had fallen asleep, no dark thoughts keeping them awake. They were used to getting sleep whenever they could when they pulled back-to-back shifts. She watched their peaceful faces, torn between the desire to have their help and let them rest. If she woke them, Fieta would grumble, and Pietyr would make a sensible argument about why they should stay in the house, but if Vandra insisted, they’d come with her.

  Vandra shut their door quietly. She’d have to beg funds from her parents for some ingredients and equipment, but they would oblige. Hopefully, it would be enough. And while she was out, she’d make a quick stop in Lowtown to see if she could spot the seelie.

  More likely, they’d spot her first. Lilani might have left her a message. Vandra was the first to admit she wasn’t an expert at translating feelings, but something had passed between them. They’d almost kissed. That was a fact. Even the thought of Lilani could bring heat to Vandra’s cheeks.

  And Lilani would probably want to apologize for leaving so suddenly and dooming Vandra to be questioned by idiots all night.

  After borrowing money from Papa’s satchel, Vandra hurried out of the house. She kept thinking of her cut scarf—which she hadn’t gotten back—but it was light out, and Parbeh had never been so unsafe that people feared walking the streets in broad daylight. She’d be quick in Lowtown, surrounding herself with people the whole time, and then she’d buy what she needed in Parbeh. Even if Lilani hadn’t been able to wait or leave a message, Vandra knew she’d end up back in the Seelie Forest. All Vandra had to do was get there and Lilani would come.

  Simple.

  * * *

  Shrouding had been the easy part.

  After Lilani had let her magic flow over her, she stared at Vandra’s shocked face and wished they could both vanish and run away together for a little while.

  Then Faelyn touched Lilani’s arm, and she ran. She hadn’t thought of anything but escape, blocking out Vandra and the fact that Maegwyn and Burani were likely dead. The streets of Parbeh looked so different after dark, but Lucian’s touch steered her. When
they’d gotten a few streets away from the fire, he’d pulled on her arm, slowing, no doubt getting his bearings.

  They’d gone slowly then, seeking to remain silent as they slipped around the few people who stumbled into their path. Once the fear wore off, Lilani was left with grief and anger. Why would the humans do this? Or had it been a seelie? The one who’d sought to murder her, or the one who wanted to murder Vandra?

  In the dark streets, Lilani felt alone even though she was surrounded by seelie. They walked for hours. Lilani began to think they were lost when the gates to Parbeh finally appeared out of the gloom. She wanted to cry out in relief until she noticed the gates stood closed.

  Faelyn cursed. Lilani was tempted to do the same, but she was too tired. Even the emotional intensity of the past few hours wouldn’t help her hold her shroud much longer. Cramps wandered from her belly and down both legs. It wouldn’t be long until pain vibrated up her knees all the way to her neck.

  “Here.” Lucian tugged on Lilani’s sleeve, leading her into a deeper patch of darkness, an alley off the brighter street.

  Standing so close, she felt him drop his shroud. She did the same, her magic not so much fading as oozing down around her. Not a good sign. The others followed suit, but Lilani could barely see them in the dark.

  “Do we climb over?” Faelyn asked.

  “Too high,” Selgwyn said.

  “There must be a way through.” Alonse’s voice. “What do the humans do if there’s an emergency in the night?”

  “I think the gates are to keep the emergencies out,” Lucian said. “Carisse, get a closer look at that smaller door set in the gate.”

  Lilani felt her move past. She was happy all the guards were so capable, but it made her miss Maegwyn and Burani. Even though she hadn’t known them well, it felt as if there was a hole in their group. Lilani took a deep breath and wondered if she’d grieve every time she paused from now on, if only exhaustive running could keep her mind occupied.