by Linsey Hall
I raised my hands, drawing a shield from the ether. Tarron’s magic swelled. So did Cass’s.
I peeked out from behind the shield, spotting the ragged clothes of the attacker. She wasn’t firing yet. The branch nearest her head trembled—Tarron getting his magic ready.
“Wait,” I whispered, squinting at her.
“She’s not attacking,” Tarron said.
“I don’t sense dark magic from her,” Cass added.
I didn’t either. “Give me a moment.”
I transported up to the same massive branch where she stood. As soon as I appeared, I crouched behind my shield.
An arrow bounced off the front.
“Watch it!” I said.
“You attacked me first.” The feminine voice sounded angry.
“I haven’t attacked. I want to talk.”
“Why?”
“Because I feel like it?” I peeked out from behind the shield. The Fae looked ragged and just a bit dirty. No dark magic signature. No stink of the false queen’s magic. She had strong features and beautiful dark eyes.
“There’s something different about you,” I said. “From the other Unseelie.”
“No, there isn’t.” The Unseelie spat on the ground far below.
I frowned. “You don’t want to be different?”
“Doesn’t matter what I want. We’re all the same. We were all the same. Until she showed up.”
“The false queen?”
“You agree she is not fit to rule?”
“I do. But it’s more than that. She’s not the true ruler of the Unseelie Court.”
The Fae shrugged. “True or not, I don’t care.”
Suddenly, it dawned. The dirty clothes. The ragged look. “You’re resistance, aren’t you?”
She nodded sharply. “Who are you?”
“Mordaca. I’m here to take out the false queen.”
“Why?”
“She came for me first.” I shrugged. “And she’s a murderous bitch.”
The Unseelie gave me a hard look. “I thought you felt different.”
“You’re good at feeling magical signatures?”
“Excellent at it.”
“Then you can check out my friends and see that they are fine, too.” My gaze went to the other archers in the trees. I hadn’t seen them before—I’d had eyes only for the most obvious attacker—but we were actually surrounded. She’d probably drawn my attention to let her men get into place.
The Fae’s jaw hardened. “We don’t trust you.”
“You don’t have to. You just have to get a feel for our magic to know we mean no harm.” I gestured to the Unseelie who crouched in the trees, weapons drawn. “You could use the help. You look a little ragged.”
“We’re fine.”
“Don’t you want to defeat the false queen? Tear her from her throne?”
She hesitated briefly. “I can’t deny I want that.”
“Then help us. We want the same thing.”
She studied me for a moment, then nodded. “Fine. We’ll go to our village and see what you have to say.”
I hesitated. “My sister is held captive by the false queen. I don’t have a lot of time.”
“We’ll help you get into the castle if you’ll help us take her down.”
“Agreed.”
“Good. Then come with me. We will plan.”
I weighed my options, then nodded. “Fine.”
She waved her hand, and the fighters in the trees lowered their bows.
With the threat gone, I called upon my wings and flew toward Tarron and Cass. The resistance fighter followed me, her lacy black wings carrying her toward the leafy ground.
She landed silently, then stepped forward. “I am Brielle, leader of the resistance.”
“I am Mordaca.”
“Cass.”
“Tarron.”
Brielle gasped. “Your Highness.” She bowed low.
“You aren’t Seelie,” I said, my tone a question.
“True, he is not my ruler,” Brielle said. “But I have heard much of his short but noble rule.”
I raised my brows, impressed.
“Come.” Brielle waved us forward. “We will discuss our options in the safety of our village.” She turned and strode away.
Tarron and Cass shot me a glance.
I shrugged. “We’ll give it a try. I told her that the false queen has Aeri. She knows we’re in a hurry.”
“She could know more about the palace,” Tarron said.
“Exactly.” I nodded. “She could be useful.”
We followed Brielle a short distance to a small settlement in the woods. She disengaged several protective charms placed between the trees, and it was clear that no one would find this settlement if they weren’t already welcome.
“Come.” Brielle gestured us forward, and we followed her to a roaring fire in the middle of a clearing. The smoke wafted up, then disappeared a few feet above the flames. A spell, no doubt, meant to hide them from prying eyes.
All around, hammocks hung from the trees. Some were surrounded by dozens of faerie lights, while others looked like bird nests constructed of twigs and leaves. It all looked as rustic as a two-day novice camping trip, but it appeared some had been here a long time.
Dozens of Unseelie watched us with curious eyes.
Brielle moved away from the fire and took a seat at a rough wooden table, gesturing for us to join her.
I sat, my gaze roving over the entire encampment. “You’ve been here a long time.”
Brielle nodded. “Some of us. As soon as she appeared, we knew something was wrong. Her magic feels strange.”
“Evil,” Tarron said. “Unlike the Unseelie.”
“Precisely.” Brielle nodded. “We use dark magic. We cause problems when we want—it’s our prerogative. But we aren’t explicitly evil.”
No, they weren’t. People often a misunderstanding of dark magic—that it was inherently evil. But it wasn’t. Sure, it was more likely to be used for evil purposes. And some of it walked close to the line in terms of ethics. But as long as it was practiced with consent, it was fine.
The Unseelie were very much like the residents of my own Darklane. They got a bad rap by the outside world, but only a few deserved it.
My mother being one of them.
“So you came to the forest,” Tarron said. “Does that mean that everyone in the city is on the false queen’s side?”
“Many are, but not willingly.” Anger flickered in Brielle’s dark eyes. “She’s polluted their minds with her black smoke.”
Cass nodded. “Mass mind control. And everyone has it?”
“Nearly everyone. You may find an ally or two there. We have them planted. And there are those who are genuinely loyal to her.”
“What is your plan?” I asked.
“Attack.”
“When?” Tarron asked. “With what?” He looked around, clearly unimpressed.
Brielle twitched, looking uncomfortable.
Tarron held up his hands. “I don’t mean it as an insult. Just the truth. You are fewer in number.”
“And the queen grows ever stronger.” Brielle’s face twisted. “We know we’re outnumbered. We’re working on that.”
“We can help,” I said. “If you help me get my sister back, I will help you with the queen.”
Brielle studied me, her eyes keen. “You mean what you say.”
“I do. I plan to take her out no matter what.” Not just because of the threat that she posed to me, but because of what she was doing here. “But I need to get my sister back first.”
Brielle nodded. “This, I understand. And we will help you.”
“Thank you.” I reached into my pocket and withdrew the Aranthian Crystal. I held it out on my flat palm, watching Brielle’s eyes widen at the sight of the gleaming red stone.
“An Aranthian Crystal.” She whistled low.
“What is it?” I asked.
“It can freeze
someone’s magic when it is used against them.”
“How do you use it?”
“Just throw it, as far as I know. When it hits them…boom.” She made an exploding gesture with her hands.
“How long does it last?”
She shrugged. “A few days or weeks maybe? Depends on the strength of the person.”
“Thanks.” This could come in really handy.
“Do you know a secret way into the dungeons?” Cass asked.
“No, but I know someone who does. In town. We will go to them.”
“Can you tell us anything about the queen’s new magic?” Tarron asked.
“Just that it has been rolling through here like a horrible fog. She came back from the last battle with it. We have no idea what it is, though.”
I nodded, fearing as much.
Brielle stood. “We will leave now. Better to get started soon, so we can take her out more quickly.”
I rose, along with Tarron and Cass.
“We’ll go to the edge of the city,” Brielle said. “There, I will find you help.”
“Thank you.” I held out my hand, and she shook it.
All around, the tension drifted out of the people who watched us. No doubt they’d been waiting to see if a fight would go down. We were clearly outnumbered, but it was hard to miss the strength of our magic. The three of us could definitely do some damage.
“This way.” Brielle waved toward the trees, and a dozen Fae jumped down. Each was dressed in an identical worn black uniform. Seven women and five men, each carrying a bow and a strong magical signature.
Brielle started toward the edge of the forest. “Be alert.”
We followed behind her, the guards on all sides. I stuck close to Tarron, whose eyes roved the forest.
“Why don’t you fly?” I asked. “Surely that’s faster.”
Brielle gave a bitter laugh. “It is. But the palace guards like to fly as well. They comb the forest looking for resistance fighters like us, always sticking to the treetops. So we stay down here.”
“The false queen took flight from you, as well,” Tarron said.
Brielle nodded sharply. “She has taken much. But we will get it back.”
I hoped she was right.
That bitch took my sister, and I’d be damned if I wouldn't get her back.
We walked the next twenty minutes in silence. The fighters around us grew tenser the farther we walked, until finally, Brielle said, “We are getting close to the edge of the forest.”
“What’s there?” Cass asked.
“The guards.” She shot me a glance. “Be alert, they are keen and could spot us.”
As if on cue, arrows flew through the air, headed right toward us.
Brielle hissed, “Attack!”
15
As the arrows flew toward us, the resistance fighters faded into the trees, using magic to blend perfectly with the trunks. I could just barely see Brielle’s black eyes amongst the bark.
The three of us sprinted toward trees and each pressing our backs against the bark. The arrows thunked to the ground where we’d been standing. I stood right next to Brielle, and her magic shivered over me.
“Weird,” I whispered, feeling myself sinking into the bark of the tree.
“We’ve learned how to be nearly invisible,” Brielle said. “As we set up the resistance, we must avoid detection.”
Six members of the queen’s guard—dressed in beautiful black uniforms—flew high overhead, their gazes scanning the forest. They were armed with bows and arrows, which were pointed right at us. From their furrowed brows and confused eyes, it appeared they couldn’t see us.
Slowly, Brielle raised her arrow.
“Stop!” I hissed. “What if they are under her mind-control power?”
“Collateral damage.” Brielle squinted up at them, sighting her arrow. “And normally, the ones in the queen’s guard are on her side of their own volition.”
As if he’d heard her words, one of the guards looked toward us, squinting.
I still didn’t like the idea of killing them. I whispered, “Let Tarron take care of them. He can control the trees.”
She frowned, but finally nodded.
Tarron, who was hidden against a trunk only a few feet away, nodded and raised his hands. His magic flared on the air, the scent of autumn blending naturally with the forest. High above, tree limbs trembled.
Then they struck out and clutched the six airborne Fae in their grip. The Fae shouted, but the noise was cut off by branches wrapping around their mouths. Bows and arrows dropped as they thrashed, and I dodged one that headed right for me.
The tree limbs yanked the guards toward their trunks, binding them tight.
Tarron looked at Brielle. “My magic will fade and release them once I leave this realm.”
She grinned. “With skills like that, you’re welcome back anytime, Your Highness.”
He nodded.
“Let’s go.” I stepped away from the tree, my nerves driving me onward.
Aeri waited for us, trapped in unknown danger.
Brielle led us through the forest, her fellow resistance fighters on either side. The air prickled with tension, and I was painfully alert for any further attacks.
By the time we reached the edge of the forest, a sliver of the moon had risen. Thick clouds obscured most of the stars.
“We are fortunate,” Brielle said. “The dark night will help us.”
With a flick of her wrist, she waved her hand in front of her face, and a glamour appeared. A black cloak floated around her, the hood obscuring her face. Her backup stayed uncloaked.
Brielle looked at the three of us. “You need cloaks.”
“I’ve got this.” Tarron’s magic surged, and three black cloaks appeared in his hands. He handed them to Cass and me.
“I’m capable of illusions,” Cass said. “I can make us disappear.”
Brielle shook her head. “There are protections on the city. It will sense that people are approaching. If we are invisible, the alarm will sound. Better that we appear as normal Fae and try to slip through.”
Cass nodded and took the cloak from Tarron. She swept it over her bright red hair.
Actually, that hair was a problem.. No Unseelie had hair that color.
“Give yourself black hair,” I said to Cass. “Paler skin, sharper features. Black eyes.”
She nodded, waving her hand in front of her face as her magic flared. Her looks changed, making her look more Unseelie.
“It won’t work in the palace,” I said, remembering that there was magic on the castle that made glamours disappear. “But it should help get you through the city if we are seen.”
Both Tarron and I didn’t look perfectly Unseelie, but we were both dark-haired and with Fae features. It was close enough if no one looked too hard. I pulled my long hair down so it concealed my rounded ears.
“Come on. We’ll go through the back gate,” Brielle said. “My guards will stay here. It would look odd if a huge troop of us approached.”
I nodded. “Thank you for risking yourself.”
“It’s worth it. You’ll be a valuable ally.”
“I hope so.”
Quickly, she set off across the meadow, taking the path toward the back of the city. Tension prickled across my skin as we walked, and I couldn’t help but scan the sky for the queen’s guard.
By the time we made it to the back city gate, my heart was pounding. One guard leaned against the heavy wrought-iron structure, his long pike at his side.
Brielle made a quiet whistling sound, more like a bird than a human. The guard stiffened, his eyes searching for us.
Then he nodded, turned to the gate, and unlocked it.
Brielle slipped past, pressing something small into his hand as we went. I kept my head down as we walked.
The side of town that we entered was obviously the poorer side. The buildings were shorter here—only two stories—and the decorative architecture was
far less ornate.
“This way.” Brielle cut down a narrow side street, going to a small black door with a single gas lamp flickering weakly to the side. She knocked in a complicated pattern, and the door swung open a few seconds later.
I waited, breath held, as an old Fae blinked out at Brielle. White hair flowed back from her pale face, and her eyes burned a bright, fierce black. They widened.
“Brielle.”
“Maniae, we need the wagon.”
Maniae’s lips tightened, and she nodded. She gestured us inside. “Come.”
We entered her small home, and she led us through to a covered courtyard in the back. On the other side of the space, an alley stretched behind the houses.
Brielle walked briskly to the carriage, as if she’d done this a dozen times before.
“They have a whole secret system worked out,” I whispered to Tarron.
“There is a lot we don’t know about the Unseelie Fae, it seems.”
“Come.” Brielle gestured for us to follow.
The back of the wagon was covered with a huge tarp. Baskets of potatoes sat at the very end, one basket missing to provide an entry into the interior of the wagon.
She gestured to the empty space beneath the tarp. “Get in.”
Tarron climbed in first, followed by Cass. Brielle and I packed in last, crouching behind the baskets of potatoes.
Maniae bustled forward, holding one last basket of potatoes that looked far too big for her. She was about to shove it into the open space through which we’d crawled when I stopped her, holding out a hand.
“How long have you been in the resistance?” I asked.
“Since the beginning and till I die, dearie.” Her black eyes flashed. “I’m not susceptible to the queen’s mind poison.” She spat on the ground, clearly unimpressed. “Now tuck in. I’m driving you to the kitchens.”
Without another word, she shoved the basket in.
I scooted backward into the depths of the wagon, muttering, “Total bad ass.”
“Maniae has smuggled us in and out of the castle since this started,” Brielle said. “We’d be in trouble without her.”
At the front of the carriage, I could hear the clip-clop of hooves and the jingle of a harness. She must be hooking the horse up. Then Maniae urged the animal on.
