by R. A. Rock
“I don’t care what Nyall thinks,” she said quietly, playing with the skirt of the gown. And Finn couldn’t help but glance at her again, wondering what she meant by that cryptic comment.
A few hours later, Tess had gotten drunk. But she had taken the sober pill and they were about to set off the finding spell that would locate the Keeper. The spelled handkerchief began to glow a bit when Tess activated it, and it floated in the air before them.
“Okay,” Tessa said, taking a deep breath. “Let’s go.”
She touched her thigh through the dress where Finn knew she had a dagger stashed—probably checking that it was still there. He clenched his fists, ignoring the images his brain brought up of her shapely legs wrapped around his waist while he—
Finn stifled a groan. Distance. He was keeping his distance.
The cloth began floating away. As it always seemed with finding spells, it went just faster than they could walk comfortably, forcing them to almost break into a run to keep up with it. Finn always wondered if the mages that made the finding spells did it on purpose for their own amusement.
They threaded their way through the crowds, following the scrap of cloth that held the spell. Nobody seemed concerned that someone was using a finding spell in public. And they had been banking on that. It was probably due to the fact that everyone at the festival had already consumed copious amounts of Feeyun and were already starting to dance around the fires, paying no attention to anyone else—lost in their own hazy drink-induced happiness.
The spell wasn’t as annoying as most finding spells were. It mostly weaved in and out of people, although occasionally it tried to go through a tent. Or it flew over a fire, and they were forced to quickly go around or lose it.
Finn found himself constantly apologizing for bumping into people and knocking them aside as he tried to keep the finding spell in sight. Tess, on the other hand, seemed to know exactly what was coming up and where to go as they followed the cloth through the Festival. Finn found it odd but explained it to himself as Tess just being completely on top of everything, as usual.
“Come on,” Tessa hissed at him as he apologized to yet another man when he elbowed him and made him slosh his drink. They arrived at the edge of the Festival and were able to jog and keep up with the finding spell as it made its way along the edge of the tents through the forest.
Suddenly, the cloth stopped and dropped to the ground.
“What the…”
“This spell isn’t sophisticated enough to find his exact location, and using stronger magic would draw more attention than we want,” Tess explained, glancing around at the area of Asmoore where the finding spell had led them to. They were at the point where the festival field met the town. The first buildings had signs indicating that they were a tavern and an inn. She could see more businesses and houses farther in when she peered down the street.
“What are we going to do now?” Finn asked, sitting down on a stump. The smell of the food they were selling at the festival drifted over to him, and his stomach grumbled at the delicious odors of bread and meat. As his stomach growled, he wished he’d eaten more for supper. He’d had only a sandwich from the feasting tables. Now that he couldn’t eat, he wanted to. Of course.
“Well, he could be anywhere in a fifty-foot radius of the cloth,” Tessa said, pacing back and forth in front of him.
Finn found himself admiring her in spite of his resolution to keep his distance. Her skirts swished as she made the turn at the end of each lap, and her movements were agile and sure—the sign of someone completely comfortable in her body. The sign of a warrior. He loved that she was so strong. But she didn’t look like a fighter tonight, and that was what was messing with him.
“Okay. And so we search everywhere within fifty feet?” Finn tried to keep up with the conversation, pushing away his confusing thoughts about Tessa. He glanced around. “That would mean making a thorough search of that inn, which could be problematic. You can’t just go in and do like you usually do, declaring you’re allowed to search it by order of the queen.”
“That’s right. I certainly can’t do that. We need to be smart about this. Besides, if we want to get the Scroll for ourselves—”
“You want to get the Scroll for yourself,” Finn corrected her, but she continued on, ignoring him.
“To get the Scroll,” she repeated, “we need to be smart and figure things out. We need the Keeper. And we need to get to him before Nyall.”
“Fine,” Finn said. “How do you propose we go about being smart and finding him before Nyall?”
“Well, if you were an ancient Fae trying to avoid notice, where would you hide?”
Chapter 30
“If I was the Keeper, where would I hide?” Finn repeated and paused.
The faint sounds of the music and revelry from the festival in Asmoore drifted to Tessa. It was dark, but she could see Finn well enough by starlight. He had an expectant expression on his annoyingly handsome face. His brown eyes were gazing at her with that look he’d had for most of the day—as if he were trying to figure her out.
She wished she could figure him out.
But she couldn’t even think straight with how good he looked right now. He had on formal clothes, which she’d never seen him wear before. And though she liked his usual stubble, seeing him clean-shaven was a new experience. It made her want to run her hand down his cheek. It felt as though there was a constant flow of energy back and forth between them. The tension was seriously killing her.
And she was supposed to think? To figure out where the Keeper of the Scroll would hide? It was too much to ask.
She threw her hands up.
“Yes. Where? If you were the keeper of the most valuable object in Ahlenerra, where would you wait until it was time to drink your Elixir?”
“Seriously?” Finn asked, and when Tessa nodded, he sighed. “Somewhere safe. Somewhere close. Somewhere where no one would notice me.”
“Safe, close, where no one would notice.” Tessa thought hard. She snapped her fingers. “Come on.”
“Where are we going?”
“That tavern. We’ll check here first.”
“Why?”
“It’s close, and no one would notice some old Fae having a pint. And the most important thing?” She pointed above the door. “Like every tavern in the Seelie lands, there are wards over the door.”
“So?”
“So, anyone who meant harm couldn’t come in. He would be safe.”
“Are you serious? They have these at every tavern?”
“Yes, of course.”
“How do you know this about the wards?” Finn asked, suspicion in his eyes.
Tessa searched for a reasonable explanation that didn’t involve telling him that her family had come to this Festival every year for generations.
“I’m the Captain of the Guard, Finn. I prepared for this mission. I was briefed on the Seelie lands and customs. I memorized the map. That’s all.”
“But I noticed it before. It’s like you knew exactly where to go. Like you’ve been here before. Have you been here before?” Finn was gazing at her, perplexed.
“Finn, of course, I haven’t,” she said, keeping her tone calm and slightly insulted that he was questioning her. “I was thoroughly briefed before we left. Stop being weird. Let’s just find him.”
“Okay,” Finn said, but he didn’t seem convinced by her explanation.
Tessa felt terrible that she couldn’t tell him the truth, but she entered the tavern, pushing on toward her goal. There was only one thing to do and that was get the Scroll. End the Severance. And restore the Fae lands to their former glory.
It was the only way she could ever have her life back. Finn would never understand, and she couldn’t tell him until it was all over. If he knew what she really was, he would never forgive her. He might not help her.
That was why she shouldn’t be having those thoughts about how good he looked and how kind and strong he was.
She shouldn’t be letting him hold her when she was upset. She shouldn’t be replaying those kisses they’d shared over and over in her mind before she fell asleep every night. Because even if she told him everything when it was all done, he probably wasn’t going to forgive her for lying to him. He had already told her that he couldn’t tolerate deception because of what had happened to whoever it was that had died because of lies. Plus, there was a goodness in Finn that simply was not compatible with someone like Tessa. She knew that.
So there would be no more dreaming of Finn.
Because there was no way they could ever be together. There was no way she could ever be with anyone. Falling in love with Finn could only lead to heartache.
And the last thing she needed was a broken heart. What she needed was to get real.
Saving their land was the only possible source of happiness and satisfaction that could ever come out of her life now. She needed to focus on that.
Find the Keeper.
Get the Scroll.
End the Severance.
Tessa and Finn stood side by side just inside the door, surveying the boisterous crowd that was here to pass the time until the collection of the Elixir began at midnight. There was the slight smell of smoke in the air from the raging fire in the fireplace and a stuffy warmth in the room that suffocated her.
“There,” Tessa said in a quiet voice. “In the far corner, next to the fireplace.”
“I see him. How do you know it’s him?”
“I don’t. I just have a feeling.”
Finn shook his head, clearly unhappy.
“Let’s go,” Tessa said sharply. “He’s got what we need.”
“What you need,” Finn said, clearly annoyed with her.
Good, she wanted him annoyed. It would be easier to keep her heart safe if he was irritated with her.
“Same thing,” she said to anger him even more and moved into the tavern, leaving Finn to follow behind.
Finn fumed—furious that Tessa assumed he would follow her. He wasn’t her dog, for Chasm’s sake. Unfortunately, he was starting to understand that she had made her way into his life to the point where he honestly couldn’t imagine it without her. And he knew that he would follow her. She knew it too, by the way she didn’t even look back to see if he was coming.
The suspicions that he’d had about her when they’d first met were rearing their ugly heads again, and he didn’t know how to stop the unpleasant thoughts. How had she known about the wards? Was it that she had really been that well briefed?
Or was it that she had been here before?
He didn’t know what it meant if she’d been in the Seelie lands in the past. The only thing he knew was that if Tessa had been to the Festival in Asmoore before, then he didn’t know her at all.
The thought was depressing, and he pushed it away.
Finn pressed his lips together, watching the sway of her hips as she made her way through the crowd. Then with a long-suffering sigh, he followed her into the tavern, hoping that this night wouldn’t end with both of them dead.
“Excuse me, sir,” Tessa said as Finn caught up to her. The old man that was maybe the Keeper of the Scroll was sitting next to the fire with a thick cloak wrapped around him, even though it was hot with the huge fire and the crowd in the tavern. The old man seemed cold, and he shivered when he looked up at Tessa.
“May the Stars shine upon you, sir.” Tessa spoke the blessing with deep respect and curtseyed low before the old Fae. He glanced around as if he was wary, and if the old man was who they thought he was, he certainly had reason to be.
“Stop that,” he said, frowning and tugging at the sleeve of her gown. “Get up. Get up. Just sit down. The last thing we need is to advertise who I am.”
Tess and Finn exchanged a look and sat down at the table with him. The chair was comfortable, and Finn wished he was simply coming to the tavern for a goblet of Feeyun and to enjoy the fire and some company. It seemed like forever since he had been able to just relax and have a drink, like forever since he had been on the run, forever since he had had a normal life.
“I’ve been expecting you,” the old man said. “I’m Jory, and I think you know what I do.”
“Are you the…” Tess leaned forward to say it, but the man held up his thin hand.
“I am,” he said. “But we can’t talk here. The King’s men are looking for me, too. It was unavoidable.”
“Unavoidable?” Tess asked. “What do you mean by that?”
“I had to allow my location to leak in order to get you here,” he said. “But doing so meant that everyone knows where I am. As I said, unavoidable. But necessary. Still, I can’t be caught by the King’s men.”
He leaned in and spoke in a low voice.
“I have a safe place where we can talk. We must go there. We haven’t much time.”
“Haven’t much time for what?” Tess asked, unsure. “And where is this place? And what is—”
“After we’re safe,” Jory said, interrupting her questions.
Tessa’s bewildered face changed to determined as she stood and made her way out of the tavern, followed by Jory and then Finn.
As soon as they stepped out the door, there was a shout, and suddenly, ten or more men and women started moving in their direction. Finn reached into his satchel and flung one of his stones, which contained a Statue spell, on the ground. Instantly, everyone within fifty feet of them was frozen.
“Nyall’s people,” Tessa said, grabbing the old man’s arm and pulling him around the back of the tavern.
“I hope you can run, old man,” Tessa said, sounding worried. “Or the King’s going to catch you after all.”
“They’re the King’s royal guard?” Jory asked, his eyes concerned.
“They are,” Tessa said. “And I have it on good authority that they’re coming for you.”
Chapter 31
Tessa took hold of the old Fae and practically dragged him along as she dodged in and out of tents, around fires, and skirted the few permanent buildings that the village of Asmoore had built for the Festival. Many Fae were still finishing their supper. The collecting of the Elixir didn’t start until midnight.
“Have... to... stop,” Jory said, hardly able to get the words out, he was breathing so hard.
“Finn, we need somewhere to hide so he can rest,” Tess said as they dodged behind a tent. Finn gave a nod and disappeared. Tess turned to the Keeper, who had his arm around Tessa’s shoulders and was leaning on her heavily. “The spell bought us a little time, but not much. Finn will find us somewhere safe to rest till you can go on.”
Jory nodded, his legs sagging.
“Tess.” Finn’s voice came from behind her. “In here.”
She pivoted on her heel, and he nodded toward a large empty warehouse that stood lurking at the edge of the forest. The Elixir was processed there, and it was empty. Tomorrow after the collection was over, it would be a hive of activity while many people worked to process the Elixir. But for now, it was deserted.
Tessa helped Jory through the door, and he collapsed on the floor as soon as they were inside.
“What’s wrong?” Tess asked him.
“I’m coming to the end of my time,” he said, his voice wheezing.
“We’ll get you some Elixir,” Tess said, concerned.
“Elixir can’t save me, Tessa. But don’t worry.” Jory patted her hand. “All will be well.”
“How did you know my name?” she asked. “I never told you.”
“I’ve been expecting you,” Jory said as Finn shut the door, barred it, and came over to them.
“I'm pretty sure they saw us come in,” Finn said, pulling his blades, his voice echoing a little in the large room.
“No,” Tessa said, and he swiveled his head around to look at her. “Not the blades. Not this time.”
She held up a bow and arrows that she had snatched on their mad run through the Festival. Finn’s eyebrows lifted, and he smiled at her, impr
essed. Tessa gave him a self-satisfied look, feeling proud of herself.
“Get back,” she said, and Finn helped Jory move behind a vat. Tessa put the quiver on her back and pulled an arrow. The bow and arrows were her weapon. She had almost forgotten—in her attempt to learn the blades—how skilled she was with the weapons she already knew.
She nocked an arrow and pulled it back, aiming directly at the door.
“Try not to kill them, Tess,” Finn said, his voice quiet. “They’re just doing their jobs.”
Try not to kill them? These were her people. If Nyall was with them, that meant that some of them were her friends. She wasn’t going to kill them. But she would have to be careful.
Fortunately, she was that good.
A minute later, the door flew inward with a loud crash, and five guards stormed through, swords drawn. Tessa’s focus narrowed, and she let fly the arrow on her bow, already drawing another from the quiver. The first arrow hit a guard in the tender part of the arm, guaranteed to cause the most pain but little permanent damage. She twisted her torso, keeping her arms steady, and shot the second, third, and fourth. Four guards were down, groaning on the floor. But she couldn’t see the fifth.
“Tessa, watch out!” Finn shouted, and she dropped her bow and spun on her heel, ducking as the fifth guard swung at her. He was built like a cyclops and had the advantage in size and strength—and of course he had surprised her. That meant that she wasn’t ready when his other fist rocked her head back with an uppercut that made her see stars—and not the blessed kind.
She was launched backward and landed on her back, winded. The guard advanced on her.
For a moment, she couldn’t move. Then she struggled to her feet and lifted her hands to protect her face. The guard sent a big haymaker punch her way, and she ducked again. Surprisingly, he caught her with a left hook that made her ears ring.
Stars alive.
She was slow. Maybe Finn was right, and she shouldn’t have drunk so much Feeyun tonight. Then she remembered that she had used her sober spell, so it couldn’t be the Feeyun. As she took a step forward, she kicked a stone and felt a buzz of magic. Shadows and Chasm, he had put a slow spell on her.
