The Emerald Dagger

by Barbara Hodges

  "She takes them away."

  "To where? Maybe she has her own plans."

  Angus glared at her, then grasped Daniel by the shoulder. "You heard your mother. We have to keep an eye on Hades. I make you and Maggie my seconds in command."

  Daniel pulled back. "Daddy isn't here. I have to protect Momma."

  "You go with Angus," Regan said. "It's more important for you to watch Hades. I'm safe here in the cave." She glanced down at Maggie. "Give me Maggie's collar and then I'll have the Power here with me. You know I'll be safe with the Power, don't you?"

  As Daniel bent to pull Maggie's collar free, Angus met Regan's eyes across the top of the boy's head, but he said nothing as Daniel placed the collar in Regan's hand.

  "Now go," Regan said. "I'll be right behind you."

  Angus took Daniel's hand and led him away. Maggie looked from Daniel to Regan and whined.

  "Go, Mags. Protect Daniel." The basset hound hesitated, then turned and ran toward Daniel and Angus. Regan watched until she could see them no more, then turned back to the etain'daman.

  "Hurry up," she said. "Let's get out of here."

  She glanced at the entrance into the cavern again. Dirkk, where are you?

  Chapter Sixteen

  DaKar's trumpeted scream of rage jerked Kelsey from a troubled sleep. She scrambled to her feet with her sword already in her hands. Blinking to clear her eyes, she scanned the area. The sun rode at the trees' tops and cast stripes of white light across the clearing. DaKar stood in the middle of the clearing with his feet splayed and his head lowered toward a thick mass of spiked-leaved brambles.

  Gripping her sword with both hands, Kelsey faced the thicket. "What?"

  "They come."

  She swung her sword, loosening muscles cramped by a cold night and hard ground. "Where’s Rourk?"

  "I'm here."

  Kelsey glanced behind her. He came from the darkness at the other side of the clearing, tightening the cord at his waist as he walked toward her.

  "I saw them," he said.

  "How many?"

  "At least a hundred of the fairie demons, and another hundred of the wolves. Hafgan's healer is leading them."

  Kelsey frowned, but said no more. She stretched, trying to work the stiffness from her body. Her heart thundered as if a herd of horses stampeded within and she forced herself to take deep, even breaths.

  Rourk came to stand behind her and, back to back, they waited. DaKar paced in front of Kelsey, snorting softly and tossing his mane. That and their own breathing were the only sounds in the chill morning.

  Come on. Come on, she silently urged.

  The brush to her left rustled and a figure emerged into the clearing.

  Dark fur covered its female form. Naked except for a loincloth, the fairie-demon inched forward, her fierce silver gaze locked on Kelsey's face. Sharp white translucent wings flared outward to each side as she cleared the brush. Kelsey saw the saw-toothed edges, and felt the knot in her stomach cinch tighter. In a close battle, the wings would slice flesh like a scalpel.

  With a cold smile, the fairie stretched out her arms. Three-inch, dagger-shaped nails extended from each finger and, even in the wan early morning light, each tip glowed obscenely black.

  All around them fairies emerged into the glade. A sudden nerve-jarring howl shattered the stillness, answered by another and then another. DaKar screamed his challenge.

  Electricity seemed to jump from Rourk's back into hers, and a cold calmness came over her.

  The fairies ringed the clearing, their fixed gazes following each movement. What were they waiting for? Why didn't they attack?

  Across from them, the fairies parted and a dumpy man garbed in the dark robes of a monk stepped through. He swept a glance across Kelsey and Rourk. He seemed to be waiting for a response.

  "Do you not know me," he asked finally.

  A memory rose at his voice, but slipped away before Kelsey absorbed it. She shook her head.

  The man circled to face Rourk. "And you?"

  "A healer from Hafgan's," Rourk said.

  The man laughed shrilly. "A healer?"

  At the sound, Kelsey's memory broke free and she swore beneath her breath. "Thomas."

  "Quite right, Queen's-Commander." He followed the words with another mocking laugh. "Did you think you had been forgotten?" He reached to caress the arm of the closest male fairie. "They are called etain'daman, fairie-demon. Do you approve?"

  Kelsey's fingers closed tighter around her sword. Rage burned through her. She wanted to bury her sword up to its hilt in his stomach, feel his warm blood slick her hands or, better yet, separate his smirking face from his fat-creased neck. Rourk pressed his back against her in warning. Anger would only get her killed. She sucked in a deep quivering breath, thankful for his calm action.

  Thomas circled back to face Kelsey. "Dirkk has crowned your sister his queen." His cold eyes probed her face as he spoke.

  She glared back in silence, refusing to rise to his bait.

  "Now you will both die, then the dwarf who waits in the cages."

  A quick lunge and he would be spitted on her blade. Her hand trembled as she lifted the sword.

  Zara's voice blasted into Kelsey's head. "Do you declare blood debt?"

  "Yes." Kelsey cried. "Yes."

  "I honor my pledge."

  Dragons bugled overhead. The trees surrounding them shook, showering them with leaves. Kelsey looked up, watched as three dragons dove.

  "Attack," Thomas screamed.

  The etain'daman surged forward with cries of rage as the dragons bore down on them.

  "Back, back into the brush if you do not wish to die," Zara roared into Kelsey's head, her voice resonating with furious pleasure.

  A dragon body winged between them and the sun and darkness descended.

  "Take cover," Kelsey shouted to Rourk as she turned and dashed toward the safety of the trees.

  A dragon trumpeted again, and the etain'daman nearest her looked up. Kelsey lunged and buried her sword in its chest.

  Soft fur and warm blood brushed her knuckles as she jerked the sword back and pivoted to face another attacker.

  She jabbed and feinted to the left. The etain'daman slipped, and Kelsey hacked downward as it fell beneath her blade. A stream of fire lit the clearing, and across from her three furred forms became screaming torches. Pain scalded her thigh and she glanced down at her smoldering pants leg. An etain'daman charged. Kelsey took a step backward, sliced downward and separated a furry arm from a shoulder. She pivoted and cut deeply into the back of an etain'daman's knees. Then she took another step back, and removed the creature's head with a swing of her sword.

  Sucking air into her lungs, she looked across the clearing. Treetops burned and flaming bodies slammed into each other and then bounced apart like pinballs gone amok. As she watched, a gust of wind formed a blazing tornado. It swooped and ripped still flaming red grass upward. The whirling funnel danced erratically, devouring more grass and bodies as it cavorted. It neared an etain'daman. Fingers of fire leapt from it to its chosen dancing partner. The etain'daman screamed as its fur erupted into a blanket of flames.

  A dragon roared again and she looked up. It was Llyr.

  He dove. Red and gold flames sprouted from his open jaws and fire raked the clearing. The etain'daman were black twisting shapes against the backdrop of blazing yellow and orange. Heat beat against her face and the gagging odors of burning fur and skin made bile crawl into her throat.

  From a shroud of dense smoke another etain'daman charged, twisting its shoulder to lead with its jagged-edge wings. Kelsey dodged to the right, but the toe of her boot caught and she pitched forward. Leaves raked her cheeks.

  She leaned into the fall and rolled as her shoulder hit the ground. Brambles grabbed at her and wrapped around her sword. She sliced and cut until first her sword and then her body pulled free. Kelsey jumped to her feet, scanned the area. A black form crashed through the brush and Kelsey jerked her
sword up.

  "Run," Rourk yelled. "Follow me."

  She drew acrid air into her lungs. "DaKar?"

  Rourk did not answer, just grabbed her arm as he ran by.

  To their right a wolf howled and another howl answered to their left.

  Dodging limbs and spiked vines, they ran. The wolves kept pace. Twice she spotted a giant shaggy body loping just beyond a tree. Rourk pulled ahead of her. What is he doing? Does he think he can protect me? Kelsey forced herself to more speed.

  He threw her an irritated look as she came along side. "Where are we going?" she panted.

  "Hafgan's."

  Knifing pain stabbed into her side just below her ribs as they fled up the hill. She grimaced and pressed her free hand against it.

  At the hill's rim, she paused beside Rourk long enough to gaze into a shallow valley with a walled keep in its center. Without a word, they raced downward.

  Thigh-high grass coated the valley floor, hiding foxholes and rocks. Twice Kelsey stumbled, once going down to her knees, only to scramble to her feet and plunge forward again with Rourk close beside her.

  A horn's strident bugle rang out and she glanced behind. Six wolves charged at their heels. The city's protecting wall still seemed so damned far away. More wolves crested the hill and sprinted after them. Their howls, echoing along the steep walls of the valley, urged her to more speed. Sweat dripped into her eyes, blurring her vision. She blinked, ignoring the sting.

  The stone wall was in front of her now, and she screamed a curse as her unbelieving eyes saw its still raised drawbridge. A rusty shriek filled her ears as the bridge finally separated from the wall.

  Kelsey pivoted. Rourk stood an arm's length from her, ready to fight. She chanced a glance over her shoulder. The bridge extended only a scant six inches or less from the wall. With a screaming vow to gut Hafgan herself if she lived, she planted her feet. Gulping air into her lungs, she double-gripped her sword.

  A wolf broke from the pack and charged. She watched it narrow the distance and when she saw the flicks of saliva foaming its lips, she dodged to the side. The wolf leapt by her and into the moat. She heard the splash and then an agonized wail. Whirling, she stared into the moat in time to see the wolf's head vanish into a teeth-lined maw that would do a great white shark justice.

  Kelsey whipped around to face a new attacker. The second wolf leapt. She'd braced herself, but the jar of the beast's forward leap forced her back toward the moat even as she sank her sword to the hilt in it's chest. Behind her she heard a splash, and another howl abruptly silenced.

  A dull thump sounded as the bridge at last settled to the ground behind her. She pulled and her sword slipped from the wolf’s body. Swinging it before her, she backed toward the drawbridge, praying the portcullis was raised.

  Kelsey felt wood planks beneath her feet. At the same time a fetid smell of rotted flesh and brine assaulted her nose. She spared a glance to her right at the roiling water in the moat. From beneath the muddy surface, a snout appeared, followed by two bulbous eyes. A scaled head rose, black weeds dangling from it. The mouth opened, showing sharp teeth, and snapped shut. The shoulders and chest emerged from the moat. My God, it's getting out.

  The wolves saw, too. They howled in panic, then turned tail and raced back the way they'd come. The thing swung its head toward her. Hafgan, if the portcullis isn't open, I'll slice the flesh from you myself and feed it to this monster piece by piece.

  Fingers dug into her shoulders and jerked her forward. She heard a jarring clang and watched the portcullis slam down into place. A scaly snout thrust against the metal bars and a burst of carrion-sweet breath washed across her face. The walls around her dipped and swayed, and Kelsey sank to her knees and vomited.

  *****

  Regan touched the shoulder of an etain'daman, reached to touch the next, only to encounter nothing. She glanced around the room of cages. They were empty. She turned to look at the last etain'daman. He walked from her, following the one in front without a backward glance. For a moment, anger paralyzed her. They didn't care enough about what she'd just done to even wait for her to join them. She forced the hot feeling away and smiled wryly. They were just fairies, self-centered and uncaring about anyone else. Why should it surprise her? Feeling used and unappreciated wouldn't get her out of here. With a quick glance toward the cavern's known entrance, she hurried to follow the last of the etain'daman.

  *****

  "Damn." Regan reeled back from the low jutting rock she'd just crashed into and rubbed her throbbing forehead. She glared at the etain'daman directly in front of her. How much longer would she have to walk halfway bent over? The etain’daman glanced back. His silver eyes glowed in the dim passageway and seemed to say, quiet, you clumsy human, but he had a good six inches of clearance above him. For a moment, she hated him and all fairiedom.

  She sniffed the air. Gone was the worst of the ammonia reek, but the scent still clung to the etain'damans' fur. They all needed a good bath. Something scrambled across her forehead and down her cheek. Biting back a scream, she swiped at her face and a shudder ripped through her. With the next second, she realized it was her own breeze-tousled hair. She took a deep breath and smelled smoke.

  The etain'daman in front of her quickened his pace. The passage grew brighter. She saw another overhang and this time ducked beneath it in time to avoid another smack to her forehead.

  She saw light.

  Regan stumbled into sunshine.

  Blinking, she gulped caustic air into her lungs. Her eyes adjusted and she could see trees through a gray blur of smoke. The forest was on fire. Then her ears registered the sound of screaming and the trumpeting of enraged dragons.

  "Zara, hear me. Thea calls."

  Her answer was silence.

  "Lilith?"

  There was a long pause and the young female dragon answered, "We destroy those who killed and hurt our own."

  "You will destroy the entire forest."

  "The other one of Thea's line demanded blood debt. We must honor it."

  "No. You must stop," Regan pleaded.

  "We listen only to Zara. The blood debt is hers."

  "Lilith." The connection severed.

  Kelsey was owed blood debt? Regan reached to touch her earring. "Kelsey?" No answer came.

  The rescued etain'daman milled in the small clearing, their eyes wide with fright and confusion. Regan pushed through them looking for Angus and Daniel. Hearing a bark, she saw Maggie.

  "Maggie, where's Daniel?" The basset hound barked again and dashed into a crowd of etain'daman.

  Angus and Daniel stood next to an oak tree, staring into the forest. The dwarf had a stout limb resting on his shoulder. Maggie barked in excitement as she ran toward them.

  Daniel looked at Maggie. "Mags, where did you go?" Then he saw Regan. "Momma." He ran to her and wrapped his arms around her knees.

  Regan kissed the top of his head. "How's my little hero?"

  Daniel looked up. His eyes were bright with unshed tears, but he blinked them away. "I'm fine."

  Angus joined them. His forehead creased in worry as he gestured beyond.

  "I know," Regan said. "It's Zara and her younglings."

  Three etain'daman crashed from the trees, skidded to a halt when they saw Regan and the others. Their faces were black with smoke and raw, blistering welts striped their bodies. Angus bellowed and swung the limb toward them. The etain'daman fell to their knees and wailed. Then they pressed their palms to the sides of their heads and slowly climbed to their feet as Dirkk's invisible hand jerked them upward.

  One's eyes flared green. "What have you done, my queen?"

  "I'm not your queen."

  "If not my queen, then die."

  They turned on Regan, flared their wings and stumbled forward with talons extended.

  Angus stepped in front of her and lifted his makeshift club, while Maggie growled low in her throat.

  "Hear me," a voice cried, and Regan turned to see Hades move tow
ard them.

  The advancing etain'daman halted and turned to Hades. She pointed at Regan. "The human can stop the pain and free you from Dirkk. Do you wish it?"

  Their eyes looked from Hades to Regan and back again.

  The green-eyed one shrieked. "You will pay for this, Regan."

  Regan leapt forward. She dodged his spread wings and touched his shoulder. He dropped to his knees and then turned to grasp Regan's legs. Sobbing, he kissed her booted feet.

  The other two turned toward her and she touched them. With wondering expressions, they joined their companions on the ground before her.

  "How many of you are there?" Regan said.

  "The dragons have killed all but us," the first of the etain'daman to run from the forest said sorrowfully.

  Regan heard a snap and looked up as a flaming branch fell from a tall tree.

  "Zara, you must stop the fire. Use your magic. The etain'daman are defeated. Your blood debt is paid."

  "Let it burn and scour all but dragons from Daradawn." Zara's voice blazed with rage.

  "All?" Regan sent. "The unicorns and dwarves, too? All the humans who have been your friends? Me and all those I love?"

  "I care not." But there was a tone of petulant uneasiness in the words.

  "Please, Zara. I, Thea, plead for your mercy. Do not do this. I accept our bond will be forever broken, but do not let the forest and all within it die."

  "So be it. We will stop the flames, but I do not do it for you."

  The sound of dragon humming filled the air. Overhead, black clouds piled atop each other. Regan heard the rumble of thunder and saw lightning fork across the sky. A fat raindrop slapped her cheek and slid downward. Soon a gray curtain of rain surrounded them. The etain'daman cried out in dismay, and some turned back toward the tunnel from which they'd emerged.

  "No," Regan called. "Go with us. Don't go back to Dirkk."