No, was the only thought Quicksilver could form. No, no, no . . .
My darling friend, I can’t listen to you any longer. My duty is to help you, not to abandon you.
No, Fox. Stay away!
Quicksilver, I cannot bear it—
The pain lifted once again, and the Wolf King nudged her with his foot. “Are you still alive, girl? Give me the bones, and maybe I’ll stop.”
Quicksilver tried to tell him that he might as well kill her now and get it over with, for no matter how much he hurt her, she would never give up the bones again—but she couldn’t speak. She lay facedown on the cold cave floor, and when she opened her mouth, she inhaled icy grit and coughed, which sent her body shuddering once more.
The Wolf King sighed. “Maybe she’ll be more cooperative if we try the others.”
When the Wolf King turned the white wolf on Olli, Quicksilver tried not to listen to his screams. Fox?
I’m here, my girl. I’m not going anywhere.
What’ll we do? I don’t want to help him, but . . . She drew in a shaky breath, flattening her palms against the ground. Fox, I don’t want to die.
And I won’t let you die.
“Here, drink some of this,” whispered a voice.
Quicksilver cracked open her eyes and saw a sharp clasp, a gold chain—and a dark red jewel, glinting in the eerie light. The Lady’s heart jewel.
“Boots?”
Sly Boots helped her sit up and held the Wolf King’s drinking pouch to her lips. The feeling of his hand curling around the back of her neck should have disgusted her, but Quicksilver, her throat raw and her lips cracked, could only feel thankful for the water.
“Listen carefully,” Sly Boots muttered beneath the sounds of—now—Freja’s screams. “The Wolf King doesn’t want to fight anymore.”
Fox’s surprise was vicious. Careful. We can’t trust him.
“Are you mad?” Quicksilver rasped. “Get away from me.”
But Sly Boots didn’t budge. “The Wolf King—his name was Ari once. Remember Anastazia’s story?”
“How dare you talk about her!”
“Listen. Ari wanted to help the First Ones back when they came to him. He truly did. Everyone made fun of him—his family, the kingdom. It wasn’t right, but I understand why he did it. But when he saw what the First Ones really wanted, how bloodthirsty they were, he knew he’d made a mistake. They made him do terrible things, things he wanted no part of. They used him to kill his own family.”
“That’s why you don’t cooperate with evil spirits,” Quicksilver hissed. Lumi, stoic Lumi who missed her sisters, began to scream. Quicksilver tried to stand and winced.
“He was just a child, Quicksilver, just like us, and the First Ones have been using him as a tool. They tricked him. They’re driving him mad, all of them living in his head like they are. It makes it hard for him to concentrate, hard for him to think. His mind’s in pieces. He needs a rest, but he’s been chasing after you so hard that he hasn’t had the chance. And every time he fails, they punish him. If the other two First Ones come back, they won’t need Ari anymore. They’ll kill him.”
“And he’s killed many, so I say that’s fair.”
“But it’s more complicated than that!”
Quicksilver flinched as Bernt began screaming. Would he die? He was old and graying; the climb up the mountain had exhausted him, and yet he had never once complained.
“I’m sorry for what I did,” said Sly Boots. “I was stupid, and I was angry at you, and I wanted to go home to my parents. And ever since you did that mind magic . . . I started hearing his voice. The Wolf King’s voice. He talked to me, said . . .” Sly Boots’s face darkened. He tucked the Lady’s heart jewel back under his shirt and shook his head. “It doesn’t matter what he said. What matters is that I listened, and I shouldn’t have. I’m sorry. I truly am. You may never forgive me, but—”
“Get away from her,” snapped the Wolf King. He kicked Sly Boots in the ribs. “See to the others, make sure they don’t die. Yet. They could be useful.”
Sly Boots limped away and offered water to Olli. Olli, blood dripping down his face, kicked the drinking pouch out of Sly Boots’s hands. The blue wolf holding Pulka gave her another shake. Bloodied white feathers went flying, but she didn’t screech. She fixed her bright eyes on Quicksilver, as if waiting for something.
Waiting for . . . what?
For you, Quicksilver.
Quicksilver’s aching body went still. What do you mean, Fox?
I mean, they climbed a mountain for you. They walked toward death for you. When you’re ready, they’ll fight for you.
“Well?” The Wolf King crouched before Quicksilver. “Are you ready to help me, or not?”
The First Ones spun above her, a black cloud spitting insults: “Nothing but a thief. A puny, miserable, pathetic thief.”
Quicksilver ignored them, gazing past the Wolf King to focus on the coven—Olli, Freja, Lukaas. Aleksi, Lumi, Bernt—and their six bloodied and beaten monsters, trapped by six impossibly strong wolves—
All of them, waiting for her.
Many will be mighty.
The Wolf King grabbed her arm. “I could break your wrist,” he mused thoughtfully.
I’m sorry. The voice was small and clear. A boy’s voice.
Startled, Quicksilver glanced up at the Wolf King to see his eyes wide and clear. A tendril of mind magic stretched between them—nothing like what had happened before. A faint thread, just enough to hear these few, pleading words: Please. Help me.
Quicksilver stared at him. Could Sly Boots have been telling the truth?
But then the wolves began growling, and the Wolf King looked up, toward the entrance to the cavern. Whatever Quicksilver had seen on his face disappeared. In its place curled a triumphant grin.
Quicksilver turned, too—and saw Fox approaching, the pack holding the starling and ermine skeletons in his jaws.
.44.
TWO HEARTS
“Fox!” Quicksilver cried in shock. “What are you doing?”
Fox stood proud, not looking at her. I’m sorry, master. I couldn’t stand to let him hurt you again. I love you too much for that.
Love! This is more important than love, Fox!
You’re wrong. Nothing is more important than love.
The Wolf King glared at him. “Give me the bones, dog.”
“Once I ensure my master is unhurt,” said Fox, “I’ll give them to you, and gladly. But one wrong move, and I’ll disappear and take them with me.”
“And leave your master to a painful death?”
Fox did not flinch. “Even so.”
The Wolf King smirked. “How touching.” The First Ones, drifting above him, also smirked. Their dark, smoky expressions perfectly mirrored the Wolf King’s own. “While you inspect your beloved master, I know you won’t mind if I return to my work?”
And with that, the Wolf King turned and set his white wolf upon Freja. She writhed on the icy ground, and her screams rent apart the air. Olli called for her, his voice cracking.
Fox, how could you have done this? I told you to leave!
We still have these skeletons. All is not lost.
No matter how fast we run, he’ll catch up and steal them back from us!
And then, because everything was going wrong, and they might not survive whatever was about to happen—she kissed Fox’s velvet ears, buried her face in the soft patch of fur between them. With him at her side, her heart beat true once more. Fox, Fox, you stupid dog. I’ll never send you away again, ever.
Quite right, you won’t.
Do you have a plan?
Fox snorted. Of course. We run. Now, while the First Ones are distracted.
Quicksilver’s heart shattered, even as she knew it was the only way. What about the others?
They’ll fight for you, give us time. You know they will.
And if he catches up with us?
He won’t. Not you and me. But we m
ust hurry.
Quicksilver hesitated. She watched Olli strain toward poor Freja, unable to reach her. The rest of the coven lay crumpled on the ground, gasping and shuddering.
The white wolf’s crackling arrow, half buried in Freja’s chest, twisted and turned.
The other six wolves watched, their eyes bright with hunger.
The shadows of the First Ones hovered over Freja, cackling and jeering at her screams.
Quicksilver saw Bernt look toward her. Their gazes locked. He gave her one slight, small nod.
She flattened her palms against the ground and braced herself to push off and run, every muscle coiling and ready—
But then the Wolf King let out a sharp cry. His body jerked to the right, convulsed and went rigid, then collapsed in a crumpled heap. Sly Boots hurried to him, wiping the sweat from his brow.
Quicksilver’s heart sank. She wanted to run, she knew she should run, but—
But we can’t leave Boots and Ari, Fox.
The traitor and the witch hunter? You’re joking.
In a flash, Quicksilver showed him everything Sly Boots had said. I think he spoke to me. Ari. Not the Wolf King, but Ari the boy. He didn’t want to hurt me.
Fox sighed. Wonderful. This makes things more complicated.
A great, misshapen shadow fell over them. Quicksilver looked up.
“Give us the skeletons, witch,” commanded the First Ones, swirling overhead. Their bodies flickered, almost solid, and then shifted back to curling smokiness. They were so close Quicksilver could see the sheer folds of their shadowy robes, the jewels floating around their necks. One moment they had long black teeth; the next instant, their teeth dissolved to mere puffs of black smoke. “NOW!”
The seven wolves slunk toward Quicksilver, licking their chops, their ravenous eyes trained on her.
They had abandoned the coven and their monsters lying on the cave floor—all of them seemingly dead. Sly Boots huddled by the monsters, tending to the shuddering Wolf King.
Then Olli cracked open an eye and winked at Quicksilver.
Freja, pale and bloody, clenched her fist. Her snake raised its head.
Lukaas, Aleksi, Bernt, Lumi—they all tensed, waiting. Their monsters, feigning death, twitched on the floor.
The First Ones reached toward Quicksilver, their dark hands shifting from smoke to fleshy fingers and back again.
Quicksilver looked to Olli. He nodded, once. Go, his determined expression seemed to say, and good luck.
Then he jumped to his feet and cried, “To Quicksilver!”
As one, the bruised and bloodied coven rushed at the wolves, flinging their monsters ahead of them like arrows. Pulka led the way, a churning ball of white streaked with red. Light shot out from each monster, connecting them in a furious web of power. The monsters grew in size—stronger, faster, brighter, hotter. Behind them, their witches raised their bloodied arms in unison and directed their monsters into battle.
Collective magic.
The wolves turned, ears flat, fangs bared, and pounced. Wolves and monsters collided in an explosion of light that sent sparks ricocheting through the cave. The crash shook the rocks protruding from the frozen lake; the ice itself cracked and splintered.
The First Ones shrank back from the noise and dove into the fight, weaving in and out of the fighting monsters, witches, and wolves.
Hurry! Fox nipped Quicksilver’s hand. Now’s our chance!
Quicksilver limped to Sly Boots, gritting her teeth against the pain of her bitten leg.
“Get up!” cried Sly Boots, tugging on the Wolf King’s shoulders—but the Wolf King didn’t move. He lay curled on the ground, covering his ears. Tears leaked from his eyes; his sweaty dark hair lay plastered to his pale skin.
“If you want to come with us, you’d better get up,” Quicksilver said harshly, yanking him by the arm.
“I can’t,” he cried, his voice breaking—Ari’s voice, singular and human and afraid. “They won’t let me!”
A furious roar—five furious roars—exploded from the fight. The First Ones surged out of the chaos, five smoky streaks that sped across the cave, aiming right for Quicksilver.
The Wolf King shoved her away. “Go!”
Sly Boots tugged Quicksilver to the ground and threw himself over her, just as the First Ones surrounded them in darkness.
Hands grabbed Quicksilver. Teeth tore at her clothes. Cold slipped across her skin, burning her like frostbite. Skulls butted against her own. In one moment, the First Ones felt solid; the next, they were merely shadows—dark and raging, choking her like smoke.
“Don’t move, Quicksilver!” cried Sly Boots, his body shielding hers. “I’ve got you—”
He broke off with a pained cry.
“Give us the bones,” moaned the First Ones. “Give them to us now!”
They clawed through her clothes, grabbed Fox’s pack. He yelped, pawed the ground.
“Get off him!” Quicksilver pounded on the dark arms holding Fox. Her fists met cold, clammy flesh—then a cold mist that stung like needles.
Fox’s pack ripped open. The starling and ermine skeletons spilled out onto the ground. Quicksilver and Fox scrambled for the nearest one, the ermine, and dropped it safely in one of Quicksilver’s cloak pockets.
But the First Ones—they hooted and howled in triumph. Five pairs of hands held the glowing red starling skeleton high in the air. Five smoky bodies danced around it, swirling faster and faster.
The Wolf King, lying on the ground at the edge of the fighting witches and wolves, let out a low groan. His mouth opened wide. A thin ribbon of pale smoke unfurled from his gaping jaws. The smoke slithered across the ground, growing larger and darker, shifting into a torso and arms and legs, and joined its five siblings.
Then, as one, the First Ones turned and rushed low over the ground toward Quicksilver, Sly Boots, and Fox.
“Quicksilver,” they hissed, circling faster and faster, nearer and nearer. “You’ve lost. GIVE US THE ERMINE.”
Sly Boots hugged Quicksilver close, and Quicksilver curled around Fox protectively, gritting her teeth as the First Ones clawed at them all.
Six First Ones. Quicksilver squeezed her eyes shut, buried her face in Fox’s ice-crusted fur. Her nose and mouth and ears were filling with stinging, cold darkness. Only one left. If they get the ermine skeleton, then they’ll all be back. We’re doomed, Fox.
The faint sounds of the wolves battling Olli’s coven brought her courage, but she could hardly lift her head against the force of the swarming First Ones, much less rise to her feet and run. Someone screamed in agony—Lukaas?
“Quicksilver?” Sly Boots whispered, his hand squeezing hers so tight it hurt.
“It’s all right,” she told him shakily. “We’ll be all right.” Fox, can you get us out of here?
Yes, I can, came his calm response—too calm, Quicksilver thought. Wasn’t he frightened too? Shouldn’t he be feeling her own fear on top of that? But you won’t like it.
What? Why not?
A pause. Do you trust me?
Of course I do! Whatever it is, do it now! I want to help, but I’m not sure I can—Fox, they’re strangling me—I can’t breathe!
You can’t help. Not this time. Hold the ermine skeleton close. Don’t drop it, no matter what happens. And tell Sly Boots to hold on to you and don’t let go.
Quicksilver did as he asked. Then Fox licked her cheek, nuzzling her. I’m sorry, Quicksilver. I love you. I always have.
All of a sudden Quicksilver felt a sick rush of fear. She tried to look for Fox but couldn’t find him. The ermine skeleton rattled in her pocket. She clamped her hand over it, pressing it close to her chest.
Fox? What are you talking about? Where did you go?
A bright yellow light cut through the darkness, circling her and Sly Boots in a tight ring. The light was blazingly, brilliantly hot. She had to shut her eyes against it. Pain tugged at her heart, making her gasp and choke. She sensed that the magic bind
ing her to Fox was about to break.
But that was impossible.
A monster could not live without his witch.
Fox! Whatever you’re doing, stop right now!
He did not answer. Quicksilver struggled in vain to raise her head. The light was too bright, too close, too hot. It pressed closer and closer, burning and scorching—
The First Ones and their furious cries disappeared. The only thing Quicksilver could hear was her own roaring blood. The pain in her chest was becoming too immense; she was a girl no longer. She was only this searing ache that threatened to crack her chest in two, and the feel of Sly Boots’s sweaty hand, gripping hers.
She searched the chaos for Fox, with her mind and her heart, and right as the light became its brightest yet, understanding came to her in a terrible flash. It smelled and felt like Fox—a burst of understanding, an ache of apology, a warm bloom of love.
You never could control me fully, master, came his faint, smug voice.
Quicksilver remembered, then, leaving the Shadow Fields. How Fox had that sad, confused look about him, how he wouldn’t look at her. How Anastazia had held him back to tell him something, privately.
Maybe, perhaps, to give him instructions?
Fear dropped into Quicksilver’s belly like a boulder, sending a thick, queasy feeling flying up into her throat.
No. No. This could not be allowed.
He was her monster!
She was the witch, and she gave the orders!
No! Quicksilver thought to him, fighting with everything she had to call him back to her arms.
No, Fox! Stop it right now! You can’t do this! I forbid it! Fox, listen to me. She was wrong, she didn’t mean it. You don’t have to do this. I’ll never forgive you for it! Fox? Fox!
And then Quicksilver was falling, her only anchor Sly Boots’s hand. Something deep inside her snapped, slid away from her like a broken rope, and was gone.
.45.
A WITCH IN BLOOD
The world was bright, swirling. Then, darkness. A sharp pain. A faint buzzing sound. They landed on a hard surface.
Foxheart Page 24
