The Tainted Web (The Godhunter, Book 7)

by Sumida, Amy

  “Yes, I remember,” he gave an amused huff and shifted us around another twirling couple. “I wasn't able to talk to you more about it, since I'd been keeping you in the dark, as it were.”

  “You mean, the whole bit about stealing my memories?” I laughed at his stricken expression. “Yes, that's another reason I'm not sure about us but let's not get into that now. Aren't you fey, excuse me, us fey supposed to be immortal too?”

  “Yes, we are,” he sighed. “Another thing I wasn't able to discuss with you completely. I guess long-lived might be a better term. Any wounds inflicted upon us heal. They just may take awhile to do so. Faster than humans, of course, but not nearly as fast as you did.”

  “I'm not the average goddess though,” I shrugged. “It has something to do with the recentness of my drink. Because it wasn't so long ago, the regeneration magic I received is working at its best. The others heal too but not nearly as fast as I, unless they're some kind of regeneration deity, like a harvest goddess for example.”

  I frowned, remembering Sif, her cold face lying in a puddle of blood. Beheading is one wound even a god can't recover from. I looked back down at Thor, Sif's death was the reason our relationship had ended. Thor suddenly looked up at me, as if he'd felt my stare. I glanced away but not before I caught a glimpse of the gold ring on his finger. I'd given it to him when we were together, it had my hair wound through it. My frown deepened, hair that could be used against me if Thor ever felt the urge. It had been meant as a trust offering, to show him that I knew he'd never hurt me, but I was wrong and I should never have given it to him.

  “Are you alright?” Arach brought me back to the present.

  “Yes, yes,” I shook off the memory. “So I assume the only way to kill a fey is beheading, like when I killed the goblin and redcap.”

  “No, actually,” he frowned and started to lower us slowly to the ground. “What a dark subject we've chosen on an evening meant to be about peace.”

  “Yes, you're right,” I laughed. “Let's talk about something more lighthearted.”

  “Indeed.”

  “I've brought presents.”

  “Oh,” his eyes lit up, quite literally. A yellow glow started in their depths, slightly different than the amorous glow of earlier.

  “Yes, something for you and something for the High King and Queen,” I glanced down as I felt us touch ground. “Do you think I should give it to them now? The rest of the court might enjoy seeing it.”

  “I think it would be a wonderful gesture.” He steered me over to the edge of the dancing and then off to the table I indicated, where I'd stowed the gifts. I picked up a large bag and he carried it for me to the thrones. “High King,” he nodded to Cian, “my wife has brought gifts from the Human Realm for us.”

  “Really?” The High King sat up straighter. “Please,” he gestured us forward and I looked over my shoulder to catch Odin's eye and make sure he knew to come over as well.

  “There are two parts to this gift,” I handed him a large box. “This is a machine that needs electricity to run but since you have no electric ports here, I've brought you and King Arach both other machines called generators. They will supply the energy needed to make these machines work. We'll show you how they run later, for now, these machines have a stored amount of energy in them already and will be able to perform for a few hours. I've brought one for both you and King Arach. Please go ahead and open it.”

  The King opened the box, brought out the laptop, and then the stack of movies. He looked at me in question.

  “This is a type of computer called a laptop,” I opened it for him and set it on his lap. “With it, you can access all of the information in the Human Realm.”

  “Oh yes,” he sighed appreciatively. “I remember discussing this with you.”

  “You won't be able to access anything yet,” I smiled at his disappointed face. “You'll need to establish a link to the Human Realm that will allow you to connect to this source of information. Odin has assured me that you'll have no problem doing this, as you have so much magic at your disposal here. He'll show you and Arach how to establish the link.”

  “If you please,” a little voice spoke up and we all turned to see a small red creature standing at the base of the steps.

  “Meilyr,” Arach gestured with a hand that the little guy should approach. “King Cian, this is Meilyr, one of our imps who was lost to the Human Realm during the separation, and has now found his way home.”

  “Ah, yes,” King Cian smiled at Meilyr and then back at me. “You're not the only child of Faerie that has been returned to us upon the opening of the gate. Some of our imps did not hear the call, they can be distracted so easily you see, and they were trapped in your realm. When the gate opened, they came home. It's with a happy heart, that I welcome you and your brethren back, Meilyr.”

  “Thank you, High King,” if possible, Meilyr got redder. “As you know, we imps like human science and we have an affinity for the energy that makes these machines work. We've been known to cause a bit of mischief in their other machines, causing the humans to name us gremlins, but with computers we don't get bored. I have long swam in the waters of information which the humans refer to as the inter-net and I would love to offer my services and those of my fellows who've returned with me,” he waved his hand back to indicate a small gathering of imps. “We can show you how to use these machines and set up this connection you need.”

  “Oh how fortunate,” Queen Meara smiled, showing off her lengthy canines. “Thank you, Queen Vervain, and thank you precious imps, for bringing such spectacular gifts to Faerie.”

  “My pleasure,” I smiled and looked back to Meilyr and winked. He was one of ours, how fortunate indeed that a member of my House could help with the gifts I brought. “But until we have that connection established, I've brought some things to help you enjoy this tool. Here is a movie,” I picked up A Midsummer Night's Dream, I couldn't resist the faerie theme, and put it in the player. Then I turned it on and the King gasped.

  “What kind of magic is this?” He tapped the screen and then held it aloft to show his wife.

  “It's amazing,” Queen Meara blinked large eyes at him and then gestured that he should show the crowd. The faeries murmured appreciatively.

  “These are plays,” I explained. “Stories told and recorded on these discs. When you put them in this device, you can watch them. It's not magic at all but science. I'm sure Meilyr knows all about these as well.”

  “Oh yes, my Queen,” he nodded. “I can show you how to get more of those, when we have the connection made. You won't even need discs to store them on but can store them directly on the laptop.”

  “I never knew humans could do such wondrous things,” King Cian touched the screen reverently.

  “They'll surprise you, yes,” I nodded. “They have their own kind of magic.”

  “And you brought one of these for King Arach as well?” King Cian leaned forward expectantly.

  “Yes,” I smiled over at Arach and gestured to the bag he was holding. “That last box is for you. I expect you to share this with all the others in the House of Fire.” I leaned in and whispered to him, “I can bring you more.”

  “Thank you,” he said solemnly and then tore into the wrapping with glee. He pulled out the laptop and stared at it like it was the most wonderful thing in the world. “Meilyr,” he handed it carefully to the imp. “Will you take charge of this machine for me?”

  “Yes, my King,” he bowed, making his height go from one foot to six inches. “It would be my honor and I will care for the generators too if you wish.”

  “I would like that, yes,,” he looked over at the other imps. “Will two of you volunteer to stay here and help the High King and Queen with their machines?”

  Two little imps stepped forward and bowed.

  “Thank you, honorable fire fey,” the Queen smiled and I thought her very sweet to call them honorable, but then I remembered that she was originally of the Hou
se of Fire, she probably knew these imps.

  “You're welcome, Queen Meara,” they said as one, before stepping back.

  “Well,” I laughed, “I guess we won't have to show you how to work these after all. Enjoy your presents, King Cian, Queen Meara.”

  “Oh but we have something for you as well,” Queen Meara smiled conspiratorially to her husband. “Not necessarily a gift, more like an inheritance.”

  She gestured to a brownie who was waiting in the shadows of the thrones. I remembered her from my last visit and I smiled at her when she caught my eye. She smiled warmly back, ducking her head shyly as she handed a carved black box to the High Queen. The Queen took it and stroked the small lid lovingly before handing it to her husband.

  “This was your father's,” King Cian's face had gone somber and a little sad. “It was put into the royal treasury upon Lord Finnian's death and then subsequently disappeared. A month after you returned to us, it was found, sitting in the middle of the treasury floor.” He handed me the box. “It appears that it's been waiting for you.”

  I took it from him, something unfolding inside of me in excitement. My father. I had no memories of Sabine's fey daddy. Her mother, yes, I remembered her clearly but her father? I didn't- wait, there was something, a flash of a fey face. Sad, slanted eyes that filled with joy when they looked at me and sparkling green scales on angled cheeks. His hair had been gold and I remembered touching it. It was soft like dandelion down. My throat constricted, my heart aching for someone who was lost to me, someone I hadn't even known I needed. To have something of his, was a blessing I couldn't have even hoped for.

  “Thank you,” I held it to my heart, not even wanting to open it, just enjoying the fact that it had been his. I saw my mother's face then, her dragon beauty covered with a veil of humanity. Her eyes had been very light blue in that guise and her hair was human red but in her dragon-sidhe form, her eyes burned blue like the crest of a flame and her hair was like the flames themselves, alive with light and heat. She had gold scales at her temples and I remembered how my father would touch them reverently, the few times she'd taken us to some secret spot in the forest to meet him.

  “Well, it's more than just a box, my dear. Open it,” King Cian cajoled softly, pulling me out of the long-buried memories. I looked up at him with tears in my eyes and he nodded. “Ah, I understand. It makes me even happier, that you appreciate the return of it but its value far exceeds the connection it holds to your father.”

  “Not for me, it could be a piece of string and I'd be content,” I whispered and swallowed hard. I hadn't really known my father in this life either. The man who had raised me was actually my Mom's father, my grandfather who I loved very much but still it wasn't the same. Two lives in a row, I hadn't known the man who had truly fathered me and I'd wondered at times if there was a reason for it. So it didn't matter what this gift was, it was my link to the man I never really knew but whose magic ran through me regardless.

  I finally took a breath and opened the box. Over on my left, I heard Arach gasp and when I looked up at him, his eyes were as round as a mermaid's. I frowned and looked back at the simple piece of jewelry, nestled inside the box on a layer of black velvet. It was a ring. A thick gold band with a single clear-colored cabochon set in the center of it. The stone was an oval, set horizontally, so that it didn't break up the line of the band.

  “Is that?” Arach looked up at King Cian and the High King smiled and nodded. “I thought it was lost, destroyed.”

  “No,” King Cian smiled at me, “simply waiting for its mistress. Fey artifacts have life in them, Queen Vervain. They've been known to develop a fondness for their bearers and this one in particular was very fond of Lord Finnian. It would not allow another to wear it until now. This is not just a ring, it's a member of your family. Please, treat it as such.”

  “I will,” I promised and held it up. The rest of the room sighed. “It's nice to meet you, ring.”

  “You must tell her what it does, darling,” Queen Meara smiled at her husband. “Remember, she knows not our history.”

  “Oh yes, of course,” King Cian laughed. “This is the Ring of Remembrance.” More sighs and some murmurs. “It is a time bender.”

  “Excuse me?” My heart started thumping faster in my chest. Did that mean what I think it meant? The possibilities were mind-blowing. I could save my lions and the Froekn we lost in the last battle, Mr. T, and Alfred. I could-

  “It is as you assume,” the King cut off my thoughts. “But there are limits. I know what you're thinking. I know what I would think if someone were to present me with such a treasure, but it cannot be done, I'm afraid. Even magic has limits. Time can only be bent, not broken, the past can't be meddled with. You cannot use it to save a life, in the past or present, not even your own. If it had been capable of such, your parents would still be alive. All of the dragon-sidhe would, I'm sure. You can't change anything that you yourself have experienced either, the new memories would be in conflict with the old and the discord would shatter your mind.”

  “Of course,” my hopes were instantly dashed, though I knew the rightness of it in my bones. Death cannot be swindled. I, of all people, knew that. Everything had its price.

  “There are other uses though,” King Cian traded a look with the now beaming Arach, and I frowned at both of them. “It was created as a tool of remembrance or nostalgia. When you live to be as old as we, you tend to forget things. The ring allows one to go back and witness it all over again. If you go back to your own past, you actually relive it, your body melds with your previous one and you're able to experience everything again. I'm told it's a strange experience though, as your words and deeds have already been set, so they come without your will.”

  “Like being possessed or controlled,” I grimaced. “I know all about that.”

  “Ah,” the High King nodded, “perhaps, but these are things you originally decided to do so you're possessed by yourself really. However, if you go back to a time or place you had no part of, you may interact freely, as long as your actions don't come into conflict with the prerecorded future. You could say, use it to even out time between the realms.”

  “What?” I couldn't process it all fast enough. “I thought Faerie was faster than the other realms anyway. I could spend a month here and go back to have only lost a day.”

  “Yes,” Arach took over the explanation. “But now you can go back and not have lost even that, you could return to the same moment you left, and when you came back to Faerie again, you could do the same. It would be like you never left either realm.”

  “Sweet Daddy Finnian,” I breathed and the ring seemed to glow softly in response to my father's name. “Is it safe to wear? I mean, how do I activate it? It's not like Lord of the Rings where he puts it on and he's instantly in some weirdo shadow-world, is it?”

  “No,” Arach laughed as he frowned a little at my reference. “You can wear it constantly if you like. To use it, you simply ask it to return you to the time and place you'd like to be in. I recommend you be as specific as possible.”

  “Ask it?”

  “Did you not get the part where he said it was alive?” Arach smirked at me.

  “You know,” I grimaced back at him. “I think you're getting a little too loose with my lingo, lizard breath.”

  The crowd gasped again, guess tonight was all about the shocks, but Arach just laughed, knowing that it was kind of a compliment coming from me. He took the ring from me and put it on the pointer finger of my right hand. It shifted and shrunk, till it fit me perfectly, and I gaped at it. The clear cabochon swirled colors once, every color imaginable, and then returned to clear once more.

  “I think it likes you,” Arach whispered as he looked at it over my shoulder.

  “Thank you so much,” I smiled at the King and Queen. “I don't have the words to tell you how much this means to me.”

  “Your return to us is thanks enough, daughter of little fire,” the High King said, refe
rencing my mother's name, Aednat, which meant little fire. “From witch to goddess to faerie, maybe it's time for you, like your leader lion, to take a new name.”

  “I already have many names,” I smiled at him. “I am Vervain, Sabine, Rouva, Tima, Minn Elska, Carus, A Thaisce. I am the Goddess of Love and Lions, the Queen of Fire, and the Godhunter. So many names and not a single one I'd ever give up.”

  Chapter Six

  “Where the hell are all the bathrooms in this place?” I griped as I wandered the area surrounding the throne room/ballroom. “Please don't tell me I have to go all the way up to that damn branch to pee.”

  “Do you need some assistance?” A beautiful pale man leaned casually against the smooth wood wall, regarding me with very amused eyes.

  “You wouldn't happen to be privy to where the privy is? I joked as I took in his sleek swimmer's build and long, green hair. It looked like seaweed, like the woman who'd been dancing with Thor earlier. “Are you a merman?”

  “A what?” He laughed. “Do you mean a water-sidhe? No, I'm a kelpie and yes, I happen to know where the wash room is.”

  “Oh good... isn't that a horse? The kelpie I mean, not the wash room.” I looked him over again, lingering over a particular area I probably shouldn't have but jeez, a girl can't help wondering about that old saying. I mean if he really was a horse... well, there you go.

  “I can become a horse, yes,” he was laughing at me again with his eyes. “I'm a type of water horse.”

  “Huh, good for you,” I crossed my legs under my heatwave dress. “So about the bathroom?”

  “Ah yes, my lady,” he gestured to a hallway on his left. “If you would follow me.”

  “I'm Vervain,” I said as we walked.

  “Yes, you are,” he smiled. “I am Kael, Knight of Water.”

  We walked a bit before he opened a door and miracle of miracles, there was a bathroom behind it. I rushed in with a hurried thanks thrown over my shoulder. I didn't really take that long but I was still surprised to find him waiting for me outside.