"You're going to let me wear it today," she asked.
Dirkk looked at her with a startled expression. His hand closed around the dagger, as if he wished to shield it from her eyes. He searched her face for a long moment, then inhaled a deep breath and released the dagger. "I think not. Not yet."
She frowned. "Then why?"
"I wish it to see you become my queen."
He wanted it to see? He's crazier than ever, she thought. Or can the damnable thing see?
"What do I do?" she said.
"You place one crown upon my head, and I will place the other one upon yours." He picked up one of the crowns.
She raged inside. If I don'tshe didn't let him do this, he'll hurt Daniel. She took a step forward and felt him place the crown upon her head. It felt alien, as if it knew it did not belong.
"Regan." The word held a warning.
She picked up the other crown. Dirkk leaned forward and she placed it upon his head.
"It is done," he said, and then cocked his head as if listening. "You wish this?" He unsheathed the dagger and turned to Regan.
She backed away. "What are you doing?"
"Our blood must mingle."
"You didn't say anything about blood mingling."
"I did not know until just now. Give me your hand. It will only be a small cut." He slid the tip of the dagger across his own wrist and blood welled. "See, I feel nothing."
The fenris'ena growled softly and pressed closer to Daniel and Maggie.
Swallowing, she held out her hand. The tip of the dagger slid across her wrist. She winced, but he was right; she felt nothing, not even as she watched the blood form above the thin cut.
Daniel gasped, and she looked up and smiled reassurance. "It's a game, Daniel. We're just becoming better friends. It didn't hurt."
Dirkk laid his wrist against Regan's, held them pressed together for a heartbeat and then stepped back. She looked down at her wrist and, as she stared, the blood faded and then the cut itself. In only a moment, all evidence of the blood mating was gone.
"We are one now, Regan. I feel you within me." He pointed to the fenris'ena. "Return the boy to his room. He is no longer required."
The wolves tightened their circle around Daniel and Maggie and forced them toward the door.
"Momma."
"Go, Daniel. I'll be there soon. I promise." She watched as Daniel and Maggie were herded from the room. The etain’daman slowly followed, with Hades exiting last.
"Sit, Queen Regan. We will eat now."
With resigned anger she did as commanded.
Regan chewed on a sliver of cheese. I've got to swallow it, but I'm afraid I'll choke when I do.
You must sometimes eat at your enemy's table, Regan, Angus's gruff voice prodded inside her mind. She closed her eyes and saw him, his beard sweat-pocked following their hour of grueling sword practice. You've got to keep up your strength, or you will be no good to anyone when the time for action arrives.
She swallowed and reached for a cup of watery herb tea. It tasted bitter, but she took a long drink to wash the cheese down. Again she heard Angus' words in her head. Use the time, and your eyes and ears, to gather information.
"Why did you choose the fairies to form your little helpers?"
For a long moment, she thought Dirkk wouldn't answer her.
"They multiply like rodents, and are as numerous as the vermin on the dwarfish beast you call a dog,” he said.
"Maggie doesn't have any vermin."
Her words trailed off as a thought came to her. Maggie's collar. When Dirkk's Ru'taha and Black Vipers had attacked Raya, Maggie hadn't been affected by his sleep spell. Peter said it was because Maggie was from the other world and the collar the basset hound wore. It was bespelled to repel fleas and had a bit of the Power within it. But the collar was in the pocket of her skirt and it was at the bathing pool. When was the last time the spell had been renewed? Regan knew the Power was still inside of her, just blocked. Like at Castle Cragg. Could she use the magic in the collar to break through to the Power?
"Regan? What is it?"
She took a deep breath and sipped more of the tea before answering. "Oh, I was just thinking about my bath. It was enjoyable. I'd like Daniel to have one, too."
"It can be arranged." Dirkk refilled his cup with tea. "More?"
She smiled. "Why not?" She added sugar to the tea and sipped from the cup. "You know, I did notice Maggie scratching earlier."
He grimaced. "Then a bath for the dog also."
"In the pocket of my skirt is an herbal collar. It will work even better. I'd just taken it off to give her a good scratching when you called to me at the castle."
He snapped his fingers and an etain'daman scrambled into the room.
"Have Hades fetch the collar in my queen's filthy skirt and give it to the boy. Tell him to put it on the beast." The etain'daman turned away. "And burn the clothing when the collar is found.
She pushed away from the table. "I want to spend some time with my son now. Then you must show me the rest of our kingdom."
He stiffened. "You mock me, Regan, but you will come to enjoy both me and your new role in Daradawn."
She did not say anything, just stood and took a step back from the table.
A fenris'ena came through the door. "You may see your son."
Regan gave him a stiff nod and followed the wolf out the door.
*****
Daniel and Maggie huddled together in the middle of the bed. They both jumped to their feet when Regan entered.
"Momma," Daniel cried.
Regan gathered the boy and the dog into her arms and then looked back across her shoulder at the wolf. "You may go."
The fenris'ena moved to the door, and then surprised her by going out it. She pulled away from Daniel and Maggie and walked to the door. may leave us."
No fenris'ena guarded it or the hallway beyond. A token of trust for your new queen, Dirkk, or are you rubbing my nose in the fact that there is no way out of this place for my son or me? But why was I guarded so well before? Regan smiled. Then it's trust, huh? I must be a better actress then I thought. She jerked the crown off and threw it across the room.
Regan beckoned to Daniel and Maggie. "Did they bring Maggie's collar?"
"Yes, I just put it on her."
"Momma, what are you doing?"
"Not a darn thing," she said with a scowl, but then forced herself to smile.
Did the collar need to be on Maggie? She slipped the collar over Maggie's head, then shut her eyes and slipped her fingers beneath it. “Come on. Come on.
"Daddy's magic is in this collar. It's going to help us." She closed her eyes and tried again. Yes, she felt something. She released her breath in a slow exhale. There it was again, a speck of warmth. In her mind's eye she saw a tiny blue ember. Her fingers began to tremble. The shaking spread up her arm and into her shoulder.
"Momma, your hand's bleeding."
She ignored Daniel's frightened cry and concentrated on the blue ember. The blue speck brightened and then dulled again. No. You stay with me. The ember grew to the size of a penny and then a nickel. It expanded to a quarter's size, then stopped. It's all you can give me? Then it'll have to do. She sighed in frustration.
She opened her eyes. Daniel, white-faced, stared down at her hand. She'd dug her fingernails into her palm and blood oozed from the four half-moon shapes. Regan crossed to a jug and poured water into her palm. "It's okay, baby."
"Did it work? Did Daddy's magic help you find yours?"
She wiped her palm down the side of her dress, leaving behind a watery bloodstain. Regan smiled as she felt the Power pulse inside of her stomach. Now let's play, Dirkk. "Yes, it did. Even without your daddy being here, he's still helping us."
She crossed to the door and looked out. The hallway remained empty. Regan moved back to Maggie. "Daniel, hook your fingers under Maggie's collar." She watched until her son did so. "Now hold onto her, and both of you stay behind me.
"
She led them toward the door. Halfway there she stopped, went back and picked up the water jug. It would make a weapon if they needed one.
She handed the jug to Daniel. "Empty it."
With a small smile, Daniel upended the jug and poured the water on the floor. Regan wrapped her fingers around the jug's handle and led them to the door. "Do you know where the door to outside is?"
Daniel shook his head. "I just woke up here."
"Then we will go this way." She led them to the right. Suddenly Maggie growled low in her throat.
Daniel made a small squeak of fright. "Something's coming, Momma." Ahead, the hall curved and she couldn't see around it. She pushed Daniel and Maggie into a pool of dark shadow. "Stay here."
What was coming? A fenris'ena, an etain'daman, or Dirkk himself? She lifted the jug above her head with both hands. She hoped it was Thomas.
A male etain'daman rounded the corner. He stopped at the sight of her. Now let's see if it works again. Regan lowered the jug and with her right hand grasped his shoulder.
A convulsive shudder traveled his frame. He stared into her face and then looked at his hands and arms. His mouth parted and she covered his mouth with her hand. "Don't scream. It'll bring the fenris-ena."
The etain'daman froze.
"Do you know what happened to you?"
"Dirkk did this. I watched as he formed those before me."
"Do you have a name?"
"I am Balor, Regan of Raya."
"You know me?" She was surprised.
"I have been to Raya many times," he told her.
She waved Daniel and Maggie forward. "This is my son and Maggie."
Balor nodded in polite welcome and then bestowed a courtly bow upon her son. She wanted to laugh, but was afraid if she started she wouldn't be able to stop.
"Can you get us out of here?"
Balor shook his head. "I know only the way to the kitchen and to the cages."
Kitchen or cages? The kitchen would have knifes.
"There is a dwarf in the cages," Balor said. "They brought him in last night."
Could it be Angus? But how?
"Take us to the cages then," she said, setting the jug on the floor. She felt for the Power. It felt weaker. Dirkk's magic must be working against it. I don't have alot of time.
They followed Balor downward. As she rounded a corner, the reek of ammonia assaulted her nose. She saw Daniel turn his head and muffle a cough with his arm. His eyes and chest had to be burning, but he marched on without complaint. A heart-wrenching pride filled her.
The cave ended at the huge opening, and she heard Daniel gasp. The cavern full of cages wasn't any easier to accept now than the first time she saw them. Some were empty and she wondered where their occupants were and what they were doing. A low murmur reached her ears, and grew louder as she moved toward the cages.
Regan reached a hand into the nearest cage, but the female etain'daman scooted away from her.
"Come here. I won't hurt you."
But the etain'daman curled into a tight ball and moaned. Regan moved to the next cage, but its etain'daman shuffled away from her also. Damn, I can't do it by single touching. There isn't time. Leave them, her inner voice cried. They don't want your help. Just get out of here, before the Power is blocked from you again.
She hesitated, chewing her lip.
"What are you trying to do?"
The voice came from the right side of her. She whirled to face the speaker. Hades leaned against the open door of her cage, watching them.
Regan touched her son's shoulder. "Daniel, get behind me."
Hades smiled. "If I'd wished it, you would already be dead." She gestured toward the open cage door, then looked pointedly at Regan's head. "Where's your crown?"
"On the floor in the corner of my prison. Go get it if you want it."
Hades' wings fluttered, but she did not rise to the bait. "You haven't answered me. Why are you trying to touch them?"
"My touch releases them from Dirkk's control," Regan said.
Hades' eyes widened. "Then what? You'll never get out of here without a guide."
"Can you get us out?"
Hades did not answer.
"She can, Momma," Daniel said. "She brought me here."
"You guide us," Regan said.
"Why would I do that?" Hades smirked.
"With me gone, you'll have Dirkk to yourself," Regan said.
Hades scowled. "I don't want him. What I do for Dirkk is forced upon me."
Regan snorted. "Then why did you try to kill me?"
"If I am to be a slave, then I want everything I can get. You stood in my way." She looked into Regan's eyes. "Things have changed."
Regan reached out her hand. "I offer you a choice. Will you help us?"
"I know what I have become. Can you change me back?"
"I don't think so," Regan said.
"Not even with the emerald dagger?" Hades said.
Regan shook her head. "I don't know, but even in that shape, isn't freedom better than slavery?"
Hades' gaze locked with Regan's. For a long moment they stared, each taking the other's measure. Then Hades nodded and stepped forward to grasp Regan's hand. As the others before, a shudder traveled her frame, but she did not look down at her body in shock and loathing.
"I will take you to the dwarf." Hades turned and walked away, not waiting to see if they followed.
She led them through a labyrinth of cages. Etain'damans pressed against their bars as they neared. Twice Regan tried to touch a hand, but each time they scurried away from her.
Angus saw them and moved to the front of the cage as they neared.
""Momma, it's Angus. How come he's in there?"
Regan saw the dwarf's skin above his beard flush.
"We'll ask him later. He probably wants to know how we got here, too." She turned to Hades. "How do we get him out?"
She shrugged. "The cages are locked by magic."
Regan touched the bars. They hummed beneath her fingers. She wanted to scream. Even if she could have touched an etain'daman, they would still have been locked up.
She closed her eyes and sought the Power. It glowed a wan blue. She willed a strand to separate from the whole. It pulsed, but remained solid. Regan opened her eyes and called to Maggie. "Mags, come here."
The basset hound came to stand beside her. Regan hooked the fingers of her free hand beneath the collar. She closed her eyes again. The Power's blue hue intensified and she willed a strand to free itself. A thread inched outward, but then dropped back. Regan slid her entire hand beneath the collar. A strand of Power pulled free and climbed into her shoulder. She coaxed it down into her arm. At her elbow it paused.
No. Regan grabbed it with her mind and forced it on. Her legs began to tremble and only her grip on the iron bars of the cage kept her upright. The strand of Power wiggled out into her palm. She unraveled it with her mind. The strands writhed. First one, then two drifted into her fingers. "Come on. It's not as if I'm killing you," she murmured. The fifth was thinner than fine thread, but at last there were five. She sent them put to where her fingers gripped the bars of the cage. The fifth connected, then jerked back. She heard Daniel gasp, but ignored his fear-filled voice and forced the strands forward.
The bars warmed beneath her hands. Regan closed her eyes again. Inside her mind, the Power's pulsing slowed, the blue fading to a translucent blur. The writhing strands became colorless, and the iron bars turned cold once again.
Regan's eyes snapped open, and with a low moan she released the bars, Maggie's collar and stumbled back.
"Momma?"
Regan opened and closed her hand. It tingled, as if it had been asleep and just awakened.
"I'm fine, Baby." She glanced at Angus. "Try the door."
"There is no need," he said, and pointed. The cage door hung from broken hinges. "Not only this one."
Regan looked around. All the cage doors were open, but still the etain'dama
n huddled inside.
"You, you and you," Hades said, beckoning to three female etain'damans. "Come here."
The three hesitated, then came forward.
Hades looked at Regan. "Touch them," she ordered.
Regan grazed an arm of each with her fingers. The etain'damans jerked, then looked around in surprise. One of the fairie women began to cry, and Hades turned and fixed her with a piercing stare. "Silence." She turned to Angus. "Lift me atop the cage."
After he did, Hades turned in a slow circle. "Come," she said. "Be touched by magic, and become free."
First one, then two, and finally all came from their cages.
"Form a line," Hades said.
One by one, they filed by Regan. With each touch upon an arm, the etain'daman jerked and then looked around in dismay.
What do they think of the forms they have now? They are mutants. What will become of them? Damn you, Dirkk.
The etain'daman milled, staring into each other's faces. She watched one male jump and flap his wings again and again.
Tears came to Regan's eyes. You can't fly. You'll never fly again. "We have to get them out of here."
Hades hopped down from the top of the cage. "There are many more to be freed."
"I'll touch them all, but you've got to start leading them out." Regan glanced toward the opening into the cavern. Where were Dirkk and the fenris'ena? How much more time did they have?
"To me," Hades said. "Follow, but quietly. If you are caught you will be put back in the cages."
A low rumble came from the etain'daman.
"And each will be punished with the crystal," Hades added for good measure.
A female's voice cried out, but was quickly hushed. The etain'daman formed a line behind Hades. The only thing heard was their rapid breathing.
She herded them toward the back of the cavern. Regan frowned as she watched them move away, never ceasing her touching as the still spellbound etain'daman filed by. She had no choice but to trust Hades.
"Angus, take Daniel and Maggie and go with her."
The dwarf shook his head. "I will not."
"Take my son and go." She pointed to the line of etain'daman. "We're getting to the end of them. I want Daniel out of here." She saw the mulish expression on the dwarf's face and sighed. "You have to keep an eye on Hades. How do we know we can trust her?"
The Emerald Dagger Page 20
