by Anthea Sharp
“Names have power in the Realm,” Tam said. “Generally, they aren’t freely given out.”
He poured hot water over the teabag in Marny’s mug and handed it to her.
“Right,” she said. “Than what shall we call him?”
“I’ve been thinking of him as not-Bug,” Tam said.
“Catchy.” Marny shook her head. “But we can do better. Changeling, what name do you use when you’re in the mortal world? Doing, you know, baby impersonations.”
The creature folded his spindly arms. “I am called by the child’s name.”
“Yeah,” Tam said, setting his mug of hot tea on the counter. “Except we know you’re not my little brother. Either you choose something, or we will.”
“Yoda,” Marny said.
“Too obvious.” Tam tilted his head, looking the changeling over. “How about… Bilbo.”
“Nah. If anything, it’s a Gollum.”
“Stop,” the changeling said, baring his pointed teeth. “If you insist, you may call me Korrigan.”
He leaped onto the counter and took a guzzling sip of Tam’s tea.
“Hey, that’s mine!” Tam said. He made a grab for the mug, then reconsidered. “Fine. Drink up.”
A malicious light in his eyes, Korrigan slurped the tea down. He finished, wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, and then squatted on the counter like an evil toad.
“Mortals,” he said. “I cannot set foot over the threshold unless Tamlin is with me. Since I am trapped in this wretched space, what is there to do here that will amuse me?”
“What do you normally do?” Marny asked. Tam noticed she kept a tight grip on her own mug.
“I squall and mewl like an infant. I flail my arms and legs, and lie in the cradle.”
“Doesn’t sound all that fun,” Marny said.
“So you usually pretend to be much younger children,” Tam said. “Why did they send you this time?” He let the comment about his “wretched” house pass.
The changeling frowned—a particularly unlovely expression on its ugly face. “It is how the thing is done. There cannot be a taking without a replacement. Most stolen children are but infants. You brother is a special case.”
“Yeah, a hostage.” Tam crossed his arms.
He was tired of Korrigan, tired of Feyland, tired of his entire life, with a bone-deep weariness that turned the edges of everything gray.
“Tam,” Marny said in a low voice, “did you get any sleep last night?”
He shook his head.
“Go lie down,” she said. “I’ll show Korrigan a few basic Screenie games, ok? That should keep him busy and out of trouble.”
“Just don’t let him onto the ’net,” Tam said.
“Bug’s account is locked-out, right?” Marny glanced to the corner of the living room, where their netscreen setup was.
“Yeah. Log him in to that, it should be fine.” Tam couldn’t help the yawn that pried his jaws open.
“Get some rest.” Marny pushed his shoulder. “I’ll introduce the changeling to the joys of Kart racing.”
“Show no mercy,” Tam said, already heading for the bedroom door.
She gave him an evil grin. “I won’t.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN - THE TWILIGHT KINGDOM
The cafeteria was noisy as usual, which meant Jennet could ask Marny how her meeting with the changeling went without anyone listening in.
It had been hard, watching out the grav-car window yesterday as Marny and Tam headed for the Exe. The ache of not being with Tam clogged Jennet’s throat. Would her dad ever relent and let her see Tam openly? Would he ever understand about Feyland?
Tam and Marny were already at their usual table. Jennet put her tray down, wrinkling her nose at the limp spaghetti sprawled over the plate. The whole room smelled like tomatoes and overcooked pasta.
“How was meeting your first faerie?” she asked, scooting across from Marny.
“Quite the experience.” Marny set aside her roll. “He’s a freaky little creature.”
Tam gave a wry nod. “Welcome to life among the fey folk. Did he ever manage to beat you in Kart racing?”
“Not yet… but Korrigan is pretty fierce. I bet he spends all morning practicing.”
“Korrigan?” Jennet glanced at Tam. “He told you his name?”
“No. Just what we should call him.”
“Right.” Of course the changeling wasn’t going to give Tam and Marny any kind of power over him.
“You guys go up to the compound today, don’t you?” Marny said. “Do you think you’ll get back into the Dim Land?”
A faint smile ghosted over Tam’s lips. “You and the nicknames, Marny.”
“It keeps things from getting boring.”
“We have to return to the Twilight Kingdom, somehow,” Jennet said. “The beta team plays today after school. Tam, I’m allowed to offer you a ride up.”
“How very kind.” There was an edge in his voice.
“Cut the drama,” Marny said. “Say yes, Tam. Or would you rather drive up with Roy Lassiter?”
“What about Zeg?” Tam asked. “Doesn’t he get the offer of a luxury ride to The View?”
Marny shook her head, the ends of her black hair swinging past her round cheeks. “He prefers to drive himself, you know that. Come on, Tam, don’t be stubborn.”
“He wouldn’t be Tam if he weren’t stubborn,” Jennet said.
“Fine.” The bell blared over the din of too many students talking, and he pushed his tray away. “I’ll meet you after school.”
Back in the beta version of Feyland, the testing team split into their smaller groups and parted ways in Stronghold City. Roy offered Spark his arm, which she ignored, and Zeg and Jennet’s dad went off together, talking. Obviously they were building some camaraderie from their adventures.
Jennet and Tam headed for Stronghold Castle. The wide cobbled streets of the city were clean and shining, and a crisp breeze fluttered the green banners at the tops of the turrets. Snatches of music and laughter drifted from the open doorways of shops and taverns as they passed. The setting was completely at odds with her mood, and Jennet let out a low sigh.
Tam’s little brother was a captive of the Dark Court, they had a quest to complete in a place nearly impossible to get to, and the new FullD system featuring Feyland was on track to release in less than two weeks.
Impatience spiced her blood, every heartbeat urging hurry, hurry. But there wasn’t anything she could do about it, except act as though she were playing a simple computer game.
She glanced at the perfectly aligned streets, the flowers that were all variations on a theme, the passersby who took no notice of two real players in their midst. Finding a faerie ring in the middle of Stronghold seemed improbable at best.
“How are we even going to get back to… you know where?” she asked.
“We have to start with the castle quests,” Tam said quietly. “At least make it look like we’re playing how Mr. Chon wants us to. Be patient.”
The tall silver gates of the castle rose at the end of the street. Guards stood at either side, staring straight ahead. They didn’t even glance at Jennet and Tam when they reached the gates—but an NPC stepped forward, blocking their way. It wasn’t Puck in disguise this time. Jennet swallowed disappointment and curled her fingers around her mage staff.
“Welcome to Stronghold Castle.” The green-liveried herald bowed. “State your business.”
“We’re supposed to speak to the princess,” Tam said.
Mr. Chon had instructed them to pick up some simple quests in the city while the techs kept an eye on their FullD equip. The project manager wanted to figure out why Jennet and Tam’s systems had malfunctioned last time they played—not that he’d be able to.
The herald moved back a pace. “Welcome to Stronghold Castle. You will find Princess Paloma in her garden. Proceed to the courtyard, then turn left.”
The garden? That sounded promising. Jennet traded a loo
k with Tam as they strode to the courtyard the NPC had indicated.
“Princess Paloma?” Tam said. “Chon sure went for the cutesy titles.”
“At least she’s not named after a fruit.”
Their footsteps rang on the flagstones of the courtyard, which featured a burbling fountain in the center—statues of mermaids and fish spitting water. A columned opening to their left revealed glimpses of greenery. Princess Paloma’s garden.
Jennet breathed shallowly as she and Tam strode between the columns, hoping they’d be transported back to the Realm. No luck. Instead, they stepped onto a lush green lawn dotted with uniform blue flowers. Before them, a half-dozen court ladies sat on an arrangement of benches. They wore long-sleeved dresses in soft hues of azure and rose and tall, pointed hats with gauzy veils draping off the top.
All except the girl in white, who had a circlet of gold holding back her dark hair.
Tam stepped forward and made her a bow, and the ladies surrounding the princess giggled.
“Your highness,” he said. “We are pleased to find you in good health.”
On their last quest, Jennet and Tam had supposedly found herbs to cure the princess of whatever dire illness she’d had. Good of Tam to remember—but then, he was a pro.
“Greetings, brave knight and fair lady,” Princess Paloma said. “Have you come for your reward in healing me?”
Jennet moved to Tam’s side. “We have.”
The princess looked at them with eyes of deep purple. For a moment, Jennet thought she saw midnight stars hidden in their depths. Then the princess clapped her hands, and a small figure wearing a green tabard came running in from the courtyard.
“Follow my page to the royal treasury. There, you may each select one item in payment. Choose carefully, then return to show me your gifts.”
“Thank you,” Tam said, bowing again. “We will.”
A soft ding filled the air—the signal their quest had begun.
“Come with me, adventurers,” the page said, in a high, familiar voice.
Puck! Jennet tried not to grin too widely as she and Tam followed the sprite through the garden. He had managed to tame back his wild tangle of hair, but his knobby wrists and long fingers stuck out of the page’s livery.
The sprite took them along a gravel path leading to tall double-doors. Jennet desperately wanted to pelt Puck with questions. Instead, she pressed her lips together and let the crunch of their footsteps fill up the silence. Thick hedges grew to either side, and she didn’t see any way out, or anything that looked like a gateway to the Realm.
A few paces from the doors, Puck grabbed their hands and leaped into the hedge.
“What? Hey!” Jennet threw up her arm, fending the sharp branches away from her face.
“Shh,” Puck said. “Be still a moment more.”
He released them, and wove his fingers in strange patterns that left a shimmer in the air. The chime of fey magic echoed around them.
“There,” the sprite said. “You are shielded from sight and sound. Now it will appear you and Tamlin have entered the castle to complete the quest.”
The sprite grasped their wrists again and pulled them through the back of the hedge. Jennet stumbled, and Tam caught her elbow, steadying her.
“Wait, Puck,” he said. “I’m not going anywhere until you tell me how my brother is.”
The sprite cocked his head. “Your brother suffers no harm.”
“Yet.” Tam’s voice was cold.
“Indeed, he is fascinated by the Dark Court, the magic and the creatures that dwell therein.”
“He better not get too fascinated. I want him back safe.”
Jennet rubbed her scarred palm. She’d read too many tales of humans gladly ensnared in the Realm, staying there while time outside sped past. When they finally returned, their families were long dead, their world utterly changed.
“Fear not, Tamlin. Bard Thomas guards your brother as one of his own. He will not let the youngling suffer ill treatment.”
Maybe not—but she had the gnawing suspicion that the Bug would be permanently altered by his stay in the Realm. The sooner they got him back, the better. Which meant getting into the Twilight Kingdom, now.
“Come on,” she said, pushing against the dense foliage. “Let’s get this done.”
They emerged from the hedge into an opening enclosed by the tall shrubbery. White-spotted red mushrooms encircled grass that gleamed silvery, as if touched by moonlight.
“Nice work” Jennet said.
Puck grinned. “Go, go. I will stay here and maintain the illusion of your quest.”
Together, she and Tam stepped into the ring. Golden light rose up in a wave and she doubled over, stomach cramping. Dizziness hummed in her ears, and she blinked furiously. This was no time to be sick.
The vertigo passed, and they stood in a mossy circle bound by white-spotted mushrooms. Tall trees surrounded them, starlight filtering between their leaves. A path led, as one always did, between the pale-barked trunks.
“You all right?” Tam asked.
He laid his arm over her shoulders, his green eyes lit with concern. She pressed the back of her hand against her mouth, then straightened.
“Yeah. Let’s find the circle to the Twilight Kingdom.”
The moment Jennet and Tam stepped over the boundary of red mushrooms, a long howl shivered the night sky.
“Crap,” Tam said. “The Hunt. They must have been waiting for us. That next ring had better be close.”
Heartbeat jamming her throat, Jennet grabbed his outstretched hand and they pelted through the dark forest. Over the sound of her breath, she heard the yips of spectral hounds, the low, mournful cry of a horn.
The Wild Hunt had caught their scent.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN - THE TWILIGHT KINGDOM
The cries of the Wild Hunt grew louder, drowning out the pounding of Jennet’s footsteps. The back of her neck prickled, and she was certain if she looked behind them she would see the horned figure who led the hunt.
Legs burning with strain, she and Tam burst into a clearing lit by the glowing purplish mushrooms. Without stopping, he tugged her into the center.
Cold blankness wrapped around her. The air turned to ice, and for a panic-stricken second she couldn’t breathe.
When sensation returned, Jennet found herself sprawled and gasping on the dark velvet grass of the Twilight Kingdom. Tam crouched beside her, his hands covering his face.
“Tam?” She carefully sat up, her bones aching with the memory of frost.
“Yeah. Just…cold.”
He dropped his hands. The eerie glow of the mushrooms made him look sickly, and his eyes were leached of color.
She grabbed his shoulders and pressed her lips against his, willing him to be all right. It was like kissing a marble statue, and fear crashed through her.
Finally, his mouth warmed beneath hers. His arms came around her, and he started trembling, kissing her like she was the only true thing left in the universe. They clung together, until the cry of some twilight creature broke the moment.
Still, Tam didn’t let go, and she was glad. He rested his lips against her forehead, the warmth anchoring her back into her skin.
“We can’t keep doing this,” she said.
“What, kissing?”
It was a feeble attempt at a joke, and she didn’t laugh. He’d looked terrible just then, like he was about to die. Her fingers dug into his shoulders, as if by holding on hard she could keep them both safe.
“I don’t think humans are supposed to travel between the worlds so frequently,” she said. Or at all.
“We don’t have a choice.”
She wanted to yell and kick things. Wanted to turn her back on the stupid pixilated world of Feyland and the dire magic of the Realm. Wanted to tell Puck she quit. Game over.
But Tam was right. The only option was to go forward—into the Twilight Kingdom.
“We have to find the Elder Fey tonight,” she said. �
��I’m not coming back here again.” Not when it drained them so much.
His arms tightened around her. Then he let go and clambered to his feet, giving her a hand up.
“Time to see where we are.” He floated straight up into the air.
The purplish sky shimmered behind him, the light hurting her eyes, as though they were being x-rayed. As they cleared the trees, she could see the silver slash of the river off to their right. On their left was the orangey glow they had seen last time, illuminating jagged peaks.
“Over there,” she said.
Tam nodded, and they took off. The wind rasped at her skin, carrying a bite that wasn’t quite cold. More like tiny bits of sharp sand grating invisibly against flesh. Her hair streamed behind her, and her mage robes whipped about her legs. Eyes pricking with tears from the flight, she kept pace with Tam. It was too hard to speak, to draw in lungfuls of the painful air.
They traveled over the dim landscape, passing hollows where violet light puddled and the sound of jangled chimes drifted up. Jennet scanned the ground ahead, watching for the telltale shimmer of dusk on water. No way did she want to slam into a wall of air—not at this speed.
When they next reached water, though, it was unmistakable. A huge silver mirror of a lake stretched before them, endless in either direction. The stark mountains jutted up across from them on the far shore, and the orange light pulsed in the air like heat waves.
Tam angled down, and Jennet landed beside him on the satiny grasses of the lakeshore.
She glanced around. “No bridge.”
“Maybe we can fly across.”
He flew to the water’s edge and hovered there, sliding back and forth against the invisible barrier of air. Mouth set in a frustrated twist, he dropped back to the ground.
Jennet paced the shoreline, stabbing at the dark soil with the end of her staff. “Maybe there’s a boat hidden in those bushes up there.”
She didn’t expect there to be, but they had to try something. Impatience flared in her veins. They didn’t have time for this.
“Stupid rule, about not flying over water.” Tam voiced her thoughts. “Alright, let’s try the bushes.”
