“The Avalon Rose? The Lost Princess? The one ye gave the birth blessings to?”
Kerdik’s voice was dripping with disdain at having to have this chat and reveal so many of his cards. “Do you know of any other Avalon Roses?”
“Tha was a cruel blessing. I remember trying to talk ye out of it.”
Kerdik postured, miffed. “The Compass and the ability to hear unknown languages were both adequate blessings.”
“Tha’s not the one I’m talking about, and ye know it. The third blessing. I warned ye it would go south.”
My breathing hitched, confused at the turn in the conversation. I had two birth blessings. No one ever mentioned a third. I tried to grab onto Link, and hoped the material I was fisting belonged to him. I was in two different places at once, and the sensation was completely disorienting.
Brìghde chuckled and tsked Kerdik. “It was a foolish blessing tha would only sink the poor babe. ‘Tha she would only be as beautiful as she was kind’ is a terrible weight to put on a person. Either she’d be a shrewd and capable ruler and dreadful to look upon, or she’d be gorgeous, and would get pushed over at the slightest opposition. Ye cursed her Kerdik. Ye cursed her, and then had the nerve to call it a blessing.” Brìghde let out a loud laugh. “And then ye go falling in love with her? Let me guess, she’s as kind as they come, and she’ll sink Avalon when push comes to shove.”
I could feel Kerdik’s anger rising up. “For living as long as you have, you know nothing about the Fae you rule over. Kindness isn’t a weakness. My Rose is not weak. She’s survived much cruelty, and still manages to be gracious. She rules with her father, using her kindness as an asset – something you will never understand. Avalon is thriving under her rule, and though she is kind, she’s withstood a civil war already, and came out standing tall – beautiful as ever.”
“Oh, I understand a great many things, dear Kerdik. So you found a woman you can’t tear your eyes from. How lovely. And how stupidly brazen to come lord it in front of my face. I don’t need to pretend tha I won’t hurt her, like I did with Tara. Consider yourself put out of your misery. She’ll be dead by morning. Don’t say I never did anything for ye,” she simpered with a snotty smile.
Kerdik held his ground. “You couldn’t if you tried. She has my blood in her. I gave her a transfusion, so you cannot kill her now. I’m not sure anything can.”
I gasped in time with Brìghde, afraid and confused. Too many thoughts raced through my brain, setting my mind whirling with wonder and worry. When Kerdik roused me from the peluda attack, did I somehow become immortal?
Brìghde blew out a loud raspberry. “You’re too selfish to do tha. There’s no way you’d give a mere lass a portion of yourself. Only I’ve ever done tha before, and it weakened me for days. Ye wouldn’t weaken yourself for another. I know the pride in ye runs deep. Ye wouldn’t humble yourself for anybody.”
Kerdik’s voice came out glum. “She already owns my heart. What do I care if she has a bit of my blood as well?”
Brìghde shook her head, vacillating between furious and amused. “Ye really have fallen in love. For some, it takes a lifetime for tha to happen. For ye? It took several, and it seems it’s still all for naught. Poor, frustrated Kerdik.”
Kerdik didn’t appreciate being talked down to. “The Avalon Rose can’t be killed by you. She can only die of natural causes, not from an attack by an immortal, or any Fae other than the Daughters of Avalon. Oh, but I know your tricks of mental torture. If you go after her or her family in any way, I’ll destroy your land. I can access Faîte’s lost magic whenever I please, and won’t hesitate to unleash all the darkness I locked away if you come near her. I came here because I knew you’d find out one way or another, and you’d go after Rosie. I’m telling you today that if one hair on her head is ruffled, or anyone near her, I’ll take Éireland’s lost magic, and set it loose on your people.” He chuckled, and the sound was a brand of psychotic that made my spine shiver. “Oh, the hazards of having a heart that bleeds for your people. You should take a page from my book, and let them burn each other just to have done with it all.”
Brìghde froze. “You’re bluffing. Ye wouldn’t risk any of the darkness bleeding into Avalon. No matter what ye say, ye don’t want your land tarnished. It’s not love tha drives ye, it’s pride. Ye take pride when Avalon flourishes. Ye wouldn’t devastate your own land just to destroy mine.”
“That you still underestimate me just goes to show that you never knew the man you let into your bed.”
Her lips pursed, but she seemed to swallow any tart reply that might spew out, and stuck to the greater issue. “We need the higher magic to stay gone. There’s too much darkness there. Do ye want Vampires and Werewolves prowling about? Do ye think the Fae can handle flight and invisibility again? It would be nonstop chaos.”
“Indeed. Which is why it would be foolish of you to go after my Rosie, unleashing Darkness, Violence and Evil just to spite me.”
Brìghde deflated. “Cailleach has said for a long time tha the higher magic leaving the land was the best thing the three of us ever did.”
“Indeed. The old hag is wise, I’ll give her that. Rosie has too much magic protecting her. It’s set to attack if any immortal tries to kill her – loaded like a spring to cut the hands off any little Éirish rats that try to gnaw at her. I hope you appreciate the courtesy I’m giving you by issuing this warning.” Then his green hand reached out and grabbed Brìghde, crashing her to his chest. “I should be able to touch her how I please, when she finally outgrows the mortal she has affections for now. Undo my curse, Brìghde. Let me be with Rosie without fear of turning her into a monster.”
Brìghde seemed to lose her resolve, panicking at the new information that made her lose her upper hand. “I can’t! Cailleach did the spell,” she admitted, ashamed that her sister had done her homework for her. “I don’t know how it works, much less how to undo it. It was Cailleach who cursed ye.”
Kerdik released Brìghde with a huff of disgust. “Your hag will never give me what I need. Get her to undo it!”
“No! If anything, I’m saving tha poor lass from your affections.” With the tears of a jilted woman dotting her face, she cried out, “You’re toxic, Kerdik! You’ll destroy her, with or without my curse. So much the better if she comes undone at your hands. It’d be just like ye to obliterate the thing ye love. Everything ye touch withers.”
Brìghde’s face disappeared when a hard slap across my cheek brought me back to my bedroom. Link alternated between slapping me and shaking my shoulders, a look of terror plain on his face. When my eyes focused on him, he exhaled loudly. “What was tha? Where did ye go? How do ye know about Brìghde?”
It took a few tries, but eventually I was able to push myself up to sitting. My chest heaved as I tried to put the world I was living currently in its proper order. I was in Lane’s palace with Link. To my left, Jean-Luc had come in however long ago, and was shouting with his mouth closed. His muted words rang like a bell in my ears. “Princess! Did you see her? Where is she? Where is Brìghde?”
I rubbed my temples and slumped against Link’s uninjured shoulder, since it was closest. He rubbed my back in movements too jerky and rapid to be comforting. “Was all that real? Where’s Kerdik right now?”
My father’s voice was deep with worry, and came toward me from the doorway, which was to my back. “I sent him away, so you could have some space. He was going to try and lure the Sluagh away, and then take some time away from Province 9. Are you hurt?”
I shook my head, confused as to which rabbit hole I’d fallen down this time. “I was Kerdik. I mean, I was saying his words and seeing through his eyes. He’s meeting with some Brìghde woman. She’s… She’s not too happy to see him.”
My dad swore, which I’d never heard him do before. “I should’ve suspected he was more serious about you than he let on. Rosie, you’re not to be alone with Kerdik ever again. I mean it. You have no idea what could happen to you.”
“I know, I know. Brìghde and Cailleach cursed him, so that when he has sex, it turns the woman into a dragon. He told me already.” I winced at the gasps that sounded from Link and Jean-Luc. “Maybe that was supposed to be private information. Sorry, guys. Keep that to yourselves. I’m a little turned around right now.” I leaned more securely into Link’s beefy shoulder, grateful he’d loaned me his unmarred one, so I could bury my face there until I felt a little steadier. “You don’t have to worry about that, Dad. I’m with Bastien, and Kerdik knows that.”
“You overestimate Kerdik’s patience. And now he’s trying to undo his curse? He’s doing it for you! Don’t you see that?”
“Don’t yell at me!” I countered. “Did anyone here just have a psychic conversation with two deities? No? Only me? That’s what I thought. Give a girl a minute to catch up. Where I’m from? That’s not normal, and I’m trying not to freak out here.”
Link pressed his wide palm to my spine, which finally calmed me enough to pull in a deep breath. “Easy, lass. One step at a time. Where were they?”
“Where’s Bastien?” I countered, wishing any of my true touchstones were here. Bastien had started to become someone I trusted, and Lane and Judah had earned that rite long ago. “Anyone get word on them? Have they found Lane and everyone yet?”
“Not yet, but tha’s not unusual. They’re probably getting to the castle now. The westward trip isn’t too harrowing.”
My gut screamed at me. “Westward? Did you say they headed west?”
“Aye. Your mammy’s castle is west.”
I stiffened and scrambled to my feet. “But they’re not west. Lane’s dead east. I mean, I can feel her.” I patted my gut twice to indicate that my Compass was very much on the ball.
Urien’s hand on my elbow led me to my bed so I could sit down, in case I got a case of the Kerdiks again. “I don’t understand. Morgan’s note said she was holding them in her dungeon, and to bring you and the ring for an exchange. Morgan’s castle is west from here.”
Dread painted my features, and regret hit me for the millionth time that I could not read a simple note. “I didn’t check my gut. I didn’t even think to ask my Compass where Lane was, and measure it against what the letter said. I should’ve been on top of this,” I said with a cringe that affected my whole body. “Lane’s not there. She’s east. I’d bet her life on it.” I hated the next words that tumbled out of my mouth, but someone had to say it. “The guys are headed for a trap.”
9
A Presidential Sendoff
“Tell me again how you talked me into this,” Urien grumbled. His head only came up to my knee, now that I was mounted on a tall, brown horse.
“We don’t have a military force set up yet, and I’m the only one who can figure out how to find Lane. You’ve got no choice, Dad.” I added the paternal moniker to soften him, which it did.
The hard edge in his eyes gentled, and he gazed up at me with a fierce protectiveness. It was how I’d always wished my father would look on me. “Stay with Link,” he warned us both.
“Aye, your majesty.” We were both sucking up. Link didn’t have to use the formal title, since he was Untouchable. He chose to add in the extra respect so my dad wouldn’t freak out so much. “I’ve got both eyes on her. Nowhere safer than with an Untouchable.”
“Yes, I keep telling myself that. It feels wrong not sending you out with more than these few men. Twelve of you? That’s hardly enough to stand against Morgan.”
“It’s all we’ve got,” I ruled. “Any more, and we won’t be able to travel as quickly, or be as stealthy as we need.”
“And I don’t like you traveling without a ladies’ maid. It’s not proper.”
I shrugged. “Link is my ladies’ maid. He’s super way awesome at braiding hair.”
Link jerked his thumb to his chest. “Super way awesome, sire.”
Urien cast Link a skeptical squint, and motioned for the eleven men to clear out so he could speak to me privately. “You’ve got your canteen?”
I smirked at his cuteness. “You sound like Lane whenever she sent me off for summer camp. I’ve got my canteen, Daddy.” He could see it plain as day, hanging off my saddle.
“And you’ve got enough food in your pack?”
“Enough for the journey there and back, plus extra for everyone we bring home.”
“Yes, this is your home. I’m your home, so make sure you return to me in one piece.” Dad’s eyes blazed into mine, and for the first time, I realized we didn’t have the same eye color anymore. One of my irises was pink now. At least the other one matched. I don’t know why it bummed me out that I looked slightly less his; I guess I was hoping that everything about us would always match.
“I’ll come home to you, Dad. I’ll be back before you know it. I’ve got an idea that might help the people have better access to fresh water, which would mean they’d fight over the wells less often. And make sure you have someone you trust checking in the new immigrants who wander to our borders. Make sure our guys aren’t collecting tariffs. The newcomers have been through enough. They should feel welcome here, not like all they are is a dollar sign to us.” The four of us had agreed on once a year tariffs, but we’d caught one of the men at the gates, who was supposed to be welcoming people and taking a census, collecting entry fees and pocketing them. Not cool to be a d-bag in Avalon. Dad had him hanged, which was his right, though I’d put up a fuss about it when it all went down. “Might want to post a sign or something.”
“Consider it done.”
“Oh, and if Gustav says he needs money to buy flour for the free bread he’s supposed to be providing for anyone in need, give him flour, not money.”
“As you wish. That was good advice, dear.”
“I have my moments. And the women who’ve been snubbed by the province for being left by their men? I gave the list of their names to Aimee. While I’m gone, and she’s got some free time, could you send her out with some macarons or something from the kitchen to take to them? There’s thirty-seven women who’ve been shunned. By the time I get back, I’d love to see that number ratcheted down to zero.”
“I adore you and your heart. I’ll send Aimee out first thing.”
We were still getting to know each other, so I was never sure if I was supposed to hug him, kiss his cheek, or high-five him. As I was on the horse, I settled for reaching out my hand, my heart swelling as he clasped my palm between his two beefy ones. My hand felt small in his, which for some reason put my worries at ease. If Superman was bigger than the things that clawed at me, then maybe we had a chance. “Could you tell Pascal that I…” I swallowed hard. I’d gone with my father to deliver the terrible news, along with Montel’s body. Pascal’s lined face had contorted into sheer horror and devastation that his only boy was no more. I went along so Pascal could have the chance to curse me to my face – Montel had died guarding me, after all. But Pascal shocked me to my core by thanking me for killing the Sluagh, so his son’s spirit could be released to rest in the afterlife.
I didn’t understand how someone could have the presence of mind to be gracious in that scenario, but I learned a lot in that short exchange. Pascal knew who he was, and not even his entire world being ripped from him could change that. Though truly, I think I would’ve preferred he yelled at me. Then his voice could replace the shouting I was doing at myself.
“Now, when you find Lane and the others, make sure you stay back. Let Link go in and get them,” Urien instructed.
I nodded, though we both knew I was incapable of falling back when I should be charging forward. “Tell me it gets better,” I begged quietly.
My horse and my dad replied in unison, “It gets far better.” Urien kissed my knuckles, his trimmed mustache and short beard scraping sweetness over my skin. “One day, I’ll show you Avalon as you’ve never known.”
“I love you, Dad.”
“Don’t say it like that,” he pleaded, his eyes closed. “Don’t say it
like you’re not coming back to me.”
He was afraid, which struck me in waves of preciousness and terror. If my dad was afraid, then did we stand a chance? What state would we find Lane and them in when we got there? “Okay,” I nodded, humoring him. “See you in a few days. When I get back, we’re totally playing baseball together. You’ll love it.” I lowered my voice and cleared my throat, glancing around to make sure no one could eavesdrop. “Dad, did you know about my third birth blessing?”
His mouth drew in a tight line. “I did not. No one did. Kerdik must’ve done that in secret. Though, it’s no wonder you’ve become the most beautiful woman in the land. Your kindness is legendary.” His eyes sparkled with unshed tears, and I knew if I didn’t get out of there, I’d have blood streaking down my cheeks, which wasn’t something I wanted the guys I was traveling with to learn about me. I patted my horse’s mane and spoke with authority to iron out the quaver I knew would come if I didn’t buck up. “Come on, Daisy,” I said to my horse. Her name was actually Coureur Par La Mer Qui Est Rapide, plus about three more syllables I couldn’t remember. She hated her name, so we decided on Daisy. It felt like Bastien was riding with me, which gave me a little more confidence.
Daisy cantered out to where the twelve men were waiting with their chins high and eyes on my dad, who exited the barn behind me. His voice raised to the team, whose chests all broadened at being addressed by their king. “If all else fails, return the Avalon Rose to me unbroken.” He waved his hand, sending us off in presidential style. I felt like Eowyn on her steed in Lord of the Rings, running headfirst into danger without a blink.
10
Girl Talk with Link
The excitement of the chase didn’t die down until the men realized that me sleeping was nonnegotiable. I rode for as long as I could through the province and out into no man’s land, but Daisy was a chatterbox. She’d lived an exciting life thus far, and wanted to impart every piece of wisdom onto me, including where I should sleep, and the softest spots I should lay. I knew she was steadily running down my internal battery, but after being cooped up with Walter for so long, Daisy was a breath of fresh air I couldn’t pass up.
Untouchable Girl_A Fantasy Adventure Page 6
