“Katy! Peter!” Firin Reaghan appeared at their sides. His eyes grew large when he took in Peter’s state. “We have to go. You can help him along the way.” But even as he attempted to pull one of Peter’s arms around his shoulders, a bolt of lightning crackled above their heads, making Katy and the firin stumble. More screams sounded from the people who were trying to climb their way out of the valley. Many were injured from the battle, but that didn’t stop them from trying.
“I’ll fly with him.” Katy glanced up. Even as she did, though, she wondered just how she was going to lift him that high that fast. The sky was growing darker by the second, and she would be flying blind.
But Peter gently pushed her away. “I can’t move,” he whispered.
“I’ll move you,” she started to put her hands under his knees and behind his back again, but once again, he pushed her off. “The only reason I’m breathing,” he rasped, “is because I’m on the ground. If you move me from it, I’ll suffocate.
Katy became rooted to the spot. Then she had an idea. She turned to Firin Reaghan. “Can you see well enough to find Aisling?”
Firin Reagan looked doubtful, but he nodded once.
“Good! Go find her! Please!” Katy looked around frantically, as though that would find him. Then she turned back to Peter. “Stay with me,” she whispered.
Since she had learned that Peter was still alive, Katy had longed for Peter in a way she’d never longed for anyone else before. She had yearned for freedom from propriety, to touch and be touched without rules and Gertrude’s ever watchful eye. If only she could reach out in the night to know she wasn't alone, to kiss him whenever she wanted for however long they chose. Freedom like they’d had in the innocence of childhood.
Peter broke into coughing so hard that he slid down the wall to where to he was nearly lying on the ground. Katy tried to help him up, but he just shook his head. As the coughs racked his body, she could see red on the back of his hand that covered his mouth, and her breathing hitched.
William and Sebastian shouted from somewhere behind her, but Katy ignored them. Instead, she gently lifted his head and shoulders onto her lap. This can’t be it, Atharo! I can’t lose him! Not like this! Not after you just made him mine!
“But I need you with me.”
He shook his head. “Atharo will give you what you need. If there’s anything I learned in the Chronicles, it was that.”
“I need you!” She bent down and kissed him as softly as she could. His lips tasted bitter, and they were covered in what felt like ash.
“Katy! Peter! We have to go!” Firin Reaghan shouted.
“Did I ever tell you how beautiful you are?” he tapped her nose.
“Save your strength,” she whispered.
But he just shook his head and smiled as he reached up and tangled his fingers in her hair. “The first time I saw you, I told my father you were the most beautiful thing Atharo had ever made.”
Katy’s chest heaved as she held him more tightly against her chest. Tears ran down her face and dripped onto Peter’s chest.
“You were so little.” He coughed until he choked. “I asked my father who was going to take care of you. And he said, ‘Well, why don’t you?’” Peter’s eyes were too bright but his smile was bigger. “I decided then and there that it was my duty to take care of you.”
“You never told me that.” Katy choked out a strangled laugh.
“I’d forgotten about it.” He took her hands in his and squeezed. “Now it’s your Katy girl. You have to promise me you’ll take care of yourself.”
“No!” Katy shook her head. “No! I won’t let you can’t leave me!”
“I love you,” he whispered. Then his head rolled onto his chest.
43
Trail to the Heart
“Katy!” Katy looked up and saw Aisling. Firin Reaghan was not there. In fact, the little valley was deserted with the exception of a few stragglers who were scrambling out as fast as they could. And it was a good thing, as the sky was nearly black, and thick, heavy clouds had begun to descend into the valley itself. The top of the tree was no longer visible. Aisling rushed to Katy’s side, laying one hand on her and the other on Peter’s chest, which by now was barely rising or falling.
“I’m sorry!” Aisling shouted above the sound of the storm above. “I caught wind of one of Donella’s schemes, but by the time I realized what she was planning, I wasn’t able to make it in time!”
“There’s an antidote!” Katy called back. “There has to be! We can take him—”
But Aisling just shook her head, her face pale. “If you move him, he’ll die. He’s too weak.” She looked down at him. “I’m afraid the only way Peter will live is if you save him yourself here and now.”
Katy balked. “I don’t know how to save him!” She held up her hands. “I destroy things! You said so yourself!”
“I also said you need to trust Atharo!” Aisling called, falling back a step as the wind moved faster again. “Now which is it?”
Was now the time to use her gift to its fullest extent? If she killed Donella, could Peter be saved? Could anyone be saved?
Peter was Katy’s everything. He took the bloody nose when all the other children called her names. He was her partner for reading and numbers. Peter was a quiet soul to fish with down on the river, and a word of warning when Katy was blissfully unaware of the dangers around her. He was laughter in a horse race and the adventurous knock on her door far too early in the morning. He was the star by which she navigated the choppy waters of life. He was her constant reminder that Atharo was good.
And now Katy’s world was coming crashing down because of Donella. And the coward hadn’t even stayed to look Katy in the eye. Part of Katy wanted very much for Donella to die, and her hands warmed as she thought about a hundred ways she could do it.
And no ways by which she could save Peter. There was only one place left to turn.
Atharo, she prayed as she cried over his chest. I don’t…I don’t even know where to start. I’ve been stubborn and angry and I thought you didn’t care. But you did. Katy’s sobs came harder and faster as the fog grew too thick to see Peter anymore, even though she was grasping at his clothes. If you didn’t care, he wouldn’t ever have been mine. She paused. And I never would have known you.
How had she been so blind? Peter had been right. But then again, he usually was. Atharo had been there all along. So many times, she had sought to push him away, and yet, he had always come back with a vengeance. And she could ignore him no longer.
Just…just don’t take him, she pleaded. Not yet. I beg you.
Why would he give her so much power and yet allow her to lose Peter? She not only tasted death on a daily basis—she gave it. The bitter taste of…
Katy sat up so fast she nearly spilled Peter off of her lap. Bitter. His lips had been bitter and felt as though they’d been covered in ash, just like the flower petals had become.
“Aisling!” she shouted over the storm as she tried to put her flash of inspiration into words, her mind racing faster than her mouth was able to keep up with. “I destroyed poison once, when Tearlach attacked one of Peter’s knights! Do you…do you think I could destroy this?”
“Perhaps!” Aisling shouted above the wind. “But it would take the utmost care. One wrong turn of your mind, and you would kill him in an instant.”
“But he’s dying already!”
“You’re right. Try it! Do it now!”
Katy closed her eyes and placed one hand on Peter’s chest and the other on his mouth. In her mind, she did her best to locate the magic. This strange poison was far more difficult than any magic she had ever tracked with her mind, and the storm around them made it even harder. Peter’s magic was strong, and finding magic within magic felt nearly impossible.
But not quite. When she and Peter had touched during the battle, there had been a new connection between them, and something, though Katy couldn’t say what, had slid into place
. It had felt as though her life were a puzzle, and for some reason, that touch had filled in the missing piece. Her power had come under control in a new way. Not only could she control it now, just as she had after her manifestation, but it bent, spiraled, and flexed at her will. She felt as though she could merely think it, and she could melt a single snowflake as it fell, or destroy an entire ship at will.
And with it, had come the unmistakable essence of Peter. His magic had a certain flavor to it that was as familiar as her own face in the mirror. So all she had to do was search inside of him for the kind of power that wasn’t—
Katy let out a shriek.
“What’s wrong?” Aisling gripped her arm.
“It hurts!” Katy gasped. “The poison cuts like a knife!”
“Katy, be careful. We can’t lose you, too!”
But Katy kept her eyes closed and shook her head stubbornly. “I can do this.”
“Katy.”
Katy opened her eyes when Aisling yanked her hand from Peter’s chest. She couldn’t see her, of course, but she could hear.
“You cannot sacrifice yourself,” Aisling cried. “The people need you!”
For the first time since they’d arrived at the isle, Katy felt a perfect peace come over her. “You said I needed to trust Atharo in everything,” she called. “Not just the good.” She found Peter’s arm and squeezed it. “I’m entrusting my most precious gift in the world to him now.” Katy smiled as she traced his face with her fingers. “Atharo gave me a gift that brings death. But I…I think it can bring life too! I just need to try!” She closed her eyes one more time and reached out.
The poison was easier to find this time. It wasn’t an easy path, moving through his body with her mind. She tried to imagine his bones to guide her, but the poison was in pollen-like grains rather than a smooth ribbon that led straight to the source. But Katy eventually followed the trail of darkness all the way to his heart.
“I can see it.” She leaned down and whispered into Peter’s ear. “I’m so sorry. But this is going to hurt.”
Then, before she could contemplate what she was doing or how much she would hate herself for hurting him, Katy set the trail of poison on fire.
Peter cried out, and Katy had to hold him down. Hot tears rolled down her face as he thrashed. His screams would echo in Katy’s heart forever, but she merely clamped her jaw shut and forced the magic out until every trace of foreign magic was gone. When it was done, Katy fell backward, wanting to never move again.
***
But before she could catch her breath, she felt Aisling tugging on her arm.
“He’s breathing deeply again, which means we need to move him now! The cloud will only get thicker!”
Katy started to ask just how Aisling planned to get Peter out of the valley, but before she could finish, Aisling grabbed her hand and lifted Peter with the other. Katy wouldn’t have thought it possible for Aisling to carry him, except that she realized that it wasn’t Aisling carrying them, but the wind was wishing them away once again.
Stunned, Katy let herself be carried along. She wanted to ask questions, but the wind’s roar had grown too loud. And yet, knowing that Peter was safe, she was satisfied to simply allow herself to be carried along. It was enough for her that Peter was getting adequate air to breathe. Aisling could turn have turned him purple and Katy wouldn’t have cared as long as it meant getting him to safety.
They flew through the wet darkness for several minutes before Katy was able to see her hand in front of her face again. When they finally broke free of the oppressive fog, they were within view of the harbor. Horses and people alike raced toward it as the cloud slowly crept after them. It continued to grow, but not nearly as fast as it had begun. If it continued at its current pace, it wouldn’t reach the harbor for several hours. At least, that’s what Katy hoped. With a sigh of relief, Katy tried to see Peter.
Peter looked rather unchanged. Aisling, however, had shed her white cloak and was pulling them along with her own set of lacy, glass-like wings. She caught Katy staring and smiled. It wasn’t until they were safely at the harbor, however, anyone dared to speak. And by then, Katy was too interested in Peter to care.
Katy was on her knees beside him the instant they were safely on the ground. And as she saw his chest fall and rise, she began to laugh and cry at the same time. She took his face in her hands and kissed it all over until he groaned, which only made her laugh again as tears rolled down her face.
“Do you know what you’ve done?”
Katy looked up to see Donella shouting from across the road. Two of Captain Emory’s men tried to hold her back, but she broke free and lunged for Katy. Before they could catch her again, however, she crumpled on the ground in a coughing fit.
“I was wrong about you,” she hissed between bouts of coughing. “You are a monster! Anyone who would threaten the tree—”
“Perhaps I am a monster.” Katy got to her feet and stood erect. “But I also understand mercy, which is what I’m going to give you now, as I could kill you this very instant and no one would care.” She locked gazes with the older fairy. “But cross me ever again, and I will consider you a permanent threat. And you will never see the light of day.” Katy paused. “Speaking of which, where is your antidote?”
“I told you! I don’t have one!”
“He won’t need it.” Aisling looked down at Peter, her eyes full of wonder. “He’s getting more color by the minute.” She looked at Donella directly for the first time. “Antidote or no, you have much to answer for.” She beckoned several of the palace guards over. “Take her back to the main path. I will take care of her from here,” she told the men. Then she glanced around at the small crowd of humans and fae gathering around them.
“Oh,” Aisling said loudly, “and tell anyone else who wishes to speak with me that they would be wise to gather their things and go. There’s no time for delay. The veil will close soon.”
“Yes, milady.” They bowed, and Katy watched in awe as they obeyed without question. She’d known that Aisling was a revered name, but she hadn’t understood the depth of respect the fae and even the soldiers’ adoration until she watched them flock to do Aisling’s bidding. Likewise, the crowd was dispersed within seconds. Katy could still feel eyes of passersby on them, but for once, she knew they weren’t staring at her.
“You needn’t worry about her ever again,” Aisling said, calling her attention back.
Katy looked at her in surprise, then grudgingly up at Donella, where she still argued with her guards farther up the path. “Do you need to see to her now?” Katy cringed at the idea of saying goodbye after just learning that there was far more to Aisling than she had earlier believed. But she couldn’t be the one to stand in the way of justice.
Aisling rolled her eyes. “She’s the one that created this mess, so she can wait. I only have a little time before you have to leave, thanks to this early cloud. But,” she said sternly, “I promise that I will see that she never bothers you or anyone else again.”
“Thank you,” Katy said. “That’s a great relief.” Then she paused, feeling suddenly shy. “But how did you know all that? And…” She looked pointedly at Aisling’s wings. “I’m supposing your father wasn’t simply a guardian of the isles.”
Aisling knelt beside Peter and gestured for Katy to do the same. Katy obeyed readily.
“My name truly is Aisling,” she said, “but I’m afraid I wasn’t completely honest about what I am. Before you become angry with me for telling falsehoods, though, let me assure you that I told you as much truth as I could.”
“Like what?” Katy asked, tracing Peter’s jaw.
“Well, for one, the Autumn Fairy and her husband did not adopt me. I’m her daughter.” Aisling took a deep breath and watched Katy warily. “And my true father was the first High King.”
Katy’s hand froze. She raised her eyes slowly to meet Aisling’s. “What are you saying?” she asked, her chest suddenly as though all the
air had been knocked out of her.
Aisling held her gaze. “I’m saying that my parents were human and fae. My brothers were the first five rhins.”
Katy gasped. “So that’s how you know so much about Peter!”
Aisling gave a little laugh. “My brothers were every bit as savage and mischievous as I described. But they were also good men, and I am proud to share their bloodline.”
Katy couldn’t help staring. “Did they have wings as well?” If Peter ended up growing wings, it might just drive him mad.
“Well,” Donella looked down at her body and smoothed her dress, “I’m the only one that got wings. And I was born with them as I was my power. I never manifested. We never understood why the boys got marks like Peters’s, and I had wings. But…” She gave a little shrug, “Now you know.”
Peter wasn’t alone. Katy could have jumped for joy if Peter’s head hadn’t been in her lap. Then she thought of something. “But why weren’t you mentioned in any of the prophecies?” Katy asked.
“Unfortunately, not much was written about either my mother or me. I’m not all sure who recorded the history we have, but it certainly wasn’t anyone who knew our family.”
“What about in the Chronicles of Atharo?” Katy asked. “I’ve never read them, but Peter has. Do they record that anything about your mother?”
“A little more than man’s general tradition tells, but still not much. In fact, I’m not even sure if they mention her at all.”
Katy stared at her, still trying to take it all in. Then she gasped. “You…You’re the reason there are six towers at the palace, rather than five!”
Aisling’s smile grew ornery. “You don’t think my father would forget his little girl, do you?”
Katy was glad she was already sitting, for she was sure her knees would have buckled by then. “So your parents—”
“Were able to have children. Yes. No intermarried couple has since then, but once…” Aisling nodded, her voice dropping to a near wince. “There were six of us once.”
The Autumn Fairy of Ages Page 36
