by Claudy Conn
“What in thunder?” Breslyn spun around and sniffed the air. The highest-ranking Tuatha Dé each had a mystical aura, unique to whomever he or she was. “I cannot pick up his essence! How is this possible?”
“It is because our villain belongs now to the Dark Realm. He has given himself over to Dark Magic and is using it to cloak his own innate scent.” The queen frowned and agitatedly rubbed her delicate hands.
“How can I track him without a scent? Devil … he is the devil to dare to come to your chambers!” Breslyn barked.
The queen, however, had noticed something in the way the Fae had moved. She had her own methods of discernment. Sadly she realized who the traitor might be. She would not slander without evidence. She would not destroy without physical proof.
“Why would he come in and out like that? A spell gone wrong?” The prince was puzzled as well as frustrated.
“Ah, there is no doubt he has paid a visit to our little Maxie, and my little Druid priestess followed my directions very well. I am greatly pleased with her. She will do at Beltaine.”
“Maxie? Directions? Tell me, Queen, what the deuce is going on?”
“Go now—she is driving home from Inverness. Stay with her until she is on warded land. She will tell you all. And then return to me. I have something for you to do … with Ete.”
“With Ete? What has she to do with all of this? She is but a child …”
“She is much more than a child, my Prince, as you may soon come to realize. Now … to your Lia.”
* * *
“Holy shit!” Maxie breathed out loud as the prince popped in while she was driving. She was still spooked from the last Fae visit. She was jumpy, and besides that she was driving on the wrong side of the road.
“Precisely my sentiment when our villain appeared in the queen’s chamber!” the prince grumbled as he sat stiffly beside her in the passenger seat.
“How much of this in and outing thing can a girl take?” she answered. Although at that point she was really talking to herself.
The prince reached out and stroked her cheek. “Lia. What has happened? What have you to tell me?”
“I can tell you that you have been absolutely totally right every time you have said how wise your queen is!” She was so enamored of the queen at that moment, she was sure that the queen could do no wrong. All those thousands of years ago, it must have taken some strength of will, some foresight, to go against the many Fae that wanted to defeat the humans and rule the planet. She stood her ground and won. She stood her ground and contained the opposing factions. She stood her ground, and her people found contentment. This faction trying to bring her down was, Maxie thought, apparently a minority of one; however, she had a feeling—she interrupted her thoughts to say excitedly, “Bres … she is completely brilliant!” She shook her head with admiration. “She visited me this morning and told me she was sure your Fae traitor would come to me sooner or later.”
“What? My queen visited you again?” He shook his head. “She is ever a wonder. Go on.”
“Apparently this Fae traitor, and, Breslyn, I have the feeling … more than a feeling—unclear, unsure—but he may not be alone in this.” She paused to breathe and then continued, “I have this ‘feeling’ that the traitor is more Dark Unseelie now than light.”
“Once Seelie, always Seelie, but he could be so vastly infused with Dark Magic, that it would appear that way. His ethics at the very least have turned black.”
“Okay …” Maxie wiggled with excitement in her seat. “The villain has made his pact with the Sluagh of the Daoine, and the queen believes that his part in their ugly bargain is to hand over a Seer … me. Not liking that by the way.” She blinked at him and proceeded. “Your queen says this winged thing called the host would covet having the company of a Seer. She was sure he meant to poof me out of here the first time I stepped off MacTalbot land and deliver me to this host thingy with wings, and let me tell you, this has me more than a little worried.”
“And still you left MacTalbot?” The prince pulled a face at her and then touched her cheek again. “My brave and very stupid wee lass.”
She agreed with him but explained, “I had to get a jacket. This jacket.” She posed in spite of the wheel in her way. “Isn’t it pretty?”
“Very, now, Lia, please continue the story.”
“Right, okay. So the queen knew he would be waiting for his chance. The only thing she was not sure of was the when.”
“I should have been told.” The prince stiffened.
“You would have wanted to hover. Hover would not have been good. He is a Fae. He would have sensed you.”
“I could have hovered in another dimension. He would not have been able to track me there.”
She was momentarily diverted. “Really? How does that work?”
“Never mind. Evidently our queen was taking no chances, and I must admit it would have been more than difficult hovering about endlessly waiting without knowing when he would deliver the attack. Go on.”
“Right. And the queen thought you might react too dramatically she said, and she really wants to catch him and put him to trial before your Council. So she bound me to the Rowan Wand. Apparently binding me to it allows the wand to obey me, and she gave me a couple of scenarios and what I should do for each one. Well, he came to me in this car … right where you are sitting …” Maxie shuddered. “Creepy! So when I got the chance I sent him to the queen’s chamber. She had hoped she would get a look at him before he shifted out. Did she?”
The prince was quiet as he thought. “She put your imprint on the wand?”
“Yes. She said no other would be able to use it and that I had but to go to my Druid place in my mind to make it work … and that if it wasn’t within reach I could even summon it to me if I really concentrated.”
“It was a very dangerous mission. He could have shifted you to another realm.”
“Yes, but I had the wand, and she taught me how to get home.”
“He could have taken the wand from you. He has Dark Magic.”
“She thought of that as well. She fixed it so that no one can take it from me, save herself.” She looked at him and sighed. “She is truly amazing, you know?”
He smiled indulgently, but she could see he was frustrated. All this had taken place without him, and his sense of self was greatly wounded. She looked away from the road a moment, reached out and touched his cheek. “She was right you know … to keep it just between us. She knew you would be overly anxious to get him … catch him in the act, and she said it wasn’t time for that yet. She needs to prove what he is trying to do, and simply catching him tampering with humans, while it is something greatly discouraged by your kind, is not a real Fae crime.” The prince was still looking stony, so she added, “You told me that Fae relieve their boredom playing pranks on humans. He could have said that was all he intended.”
“What then? Must we allow him to kill you before we take him?” The prince was clearly very angry.
“Well, I am totally against that plan.” She laughed, and after a moment he smiled at her.
“Ah, Lia … was there ever such as thee?”
“At any rate, I think I told you everything. The queen said I was not to worry. The wand would protect me against this awful traitor. Then she did that poof thing you guys do and was totally gone!” She glanced his way. “It is amazing you are not in love with her. I mean … I never saw anything … anyone … so completely perfectly beautiful.”
“I adore my queen, and serve her … but Fae love as is human love is governed by the unexplainable. Humans often call it chemistry. Most Fae unite to join powers and families, as did the human aristocracy in years past, and even now. However, there are Fae that unite for love.” He said this last ever so softly.
Maxie realized that with all the romance and the kissing, perhaps it was the chemistry thing keeping her from plunging in with the prince. She loved him as a friend, dear and wonderful and oh so sexy. �
�And you have never ‘united’, married for love or otherwise, in all your thousands of years?” Her eyes were filled with curiosity.
“Marriage is in many ways for a Fae an alliance. Once embarked upon it is difficult to part. We take our alliances, at least many of us do, as a most serious venture.” He eyed her thoughtfully before proceeding. “Forever is a long, long time, Lia.” He released a chuckle to say, “No. I have never wanted to be with someone for eternity.”
“Well, Bres … you still don’t. Hooking up with me would be your safe bet. Forever with me wouldn’t be that long by your count … would it?” She giggled, well pleased with herself, for she could see she had hit the nail on the head.
However, this seemed to annoy him. She decided to change the subject when he surprised her by doing just that.
“What did he sound like, Lia? Would you know his voice if you heard it again?”
“Now, that is a good question.” She nodded without taking her eyes off the road. Suddenly she tensed. Something was wrong. She could feel it coming. Her instincts were calling out a warning. Sometimes she got entire pictures in her head, a premonition—in Technicolor. Sometimes she just got a really queasy, lousy feeling. This time, it was a really queasy, lousy feeling. Something was terribly wrong.
She kept a silent watch. For some reason she expected it to come out of nowhere. However, when another few moments slid by and she didn’t see anything, she tried to ignore the feeling. She saw that Breslyn was watching her, obviously waiting for his answer.
She concentrated on an answer to the prince’s question. “Would I know his voice?” She nodded. “Damn straight I would know it. It was the same voice that told DuLaine that Julian was alive and well and living in Scotland!”
“Ah, of course it was. Then as I hoped we are still dealing with one player. A major player …” He looked at her. “Now, his voice? The timber, the quality—the power?”
“Well, that was the odd thing. In spite of the hatred that emanated from him, and Bres, the guy you are looking for despises humans more than any other of your kind does, believe me. But, as I was saying, in spite of all that hate inside of him, his voice was Old World beautiful … the accent a bit different than yours. He was older than you … I don’t know how I know this, I just do. His voice was a deep baritone, and his composure self-assured.”
Bres sounded excited. “Why do you say that about his being older?”
“His accent gave it away. Bres … it was as though I could see a civilization that no longer existed—not here but your original world. He thinks about it all the time. I got that off of him. Then he spoke of the beginning. I had taunted him—told him that we poor humans had defeated the Tuatha Dé in the final battle. He said I was wrong. He said that the Fae didn’t wish to destroy us all and take the planet. He said that the Fae allowed us to have our world and created their own realms. He said it had been a conscious decision. He said that he had fought that decision.”
“Lia! This confirms it. He fought the decision. This narrows my search. He was there when the Treaty was struck. I should know him. I know which members were against the Treaty!”
“Well that should do it then.” Curiosity always drove Maxie. “Why did the Tuatha Dé relinquish this planet to humans? I mean, you have so many powers. Especially in those days, with the beauty of your race, the magic at your disposal … you could have taken over and lived like gods amongst us.”
“Ah, but we are not gods. We have our foibles, but we are not all power hungry.” He shook his head. “Ah, Lia, humans fought us bravely. One thousand years BC the Milesians fought for Ireland. Humans have this passion, this need that overrides logic. It is a magic all their own, but as you say, we could have defeated them. We fought them, but we saw they would rather die to the last man than give up the battle. The queen decided to show them what power we had. She sent a plague to ruin all their crops. The Milesians then sat up and took notice. They agreed to sign the Treaty the queen had drawn up with the approval of her Council. We had the power, the magic, and the time to make our own universe and enjoy our arts and music. The queen had witnessed the destruction of our world Danu. She did not wish the same for Earth.”
“Wow.” Maxie shook her head. “And this guy has been carrying a grudge all this time? I wonder what set him off all of a sudden.”
“What we need is proof. Fae Law is very exacting. There can be no punishment without proof of guilt.”
“What kind of proof?”
“I am not certain yet.” He sighed. “I was present at the Treaty and I am finding it difficult to recall who objected the most. It was a long time ago … Do you remember what a friend said on a given day last year?”
“Good point.”
All at once Maxie felt a wave of sensation. Prickly, sensitive, electric sensation, and she knew nothing good was about to happen. They had reached the outskirts of MacTalbot land when they saw him.
He hovered over the road. A soft, shimmering, transparent cloud of gold dust floated all around him as though he traveled within its folds. His wingspan was twenty feet of translucent silvers and gold. His hair was white and tied at the nape of his neck. He was not warrior built, but he was muscled and well formed like a Corinthian. His features were classically beautiful, almost pretty and yet sensually masculine. His skin was a pale shade of tawny. He was clothed in an ancient Greek toga of soft, shimmering material over one shoulder and tied at the waist with a gold rope. It was cut off short at his well-formed thighs. He was unlike any Fae either Max or Breslyn had ever encountered. Max thought with awe, He has wings for goodness sake! And those wings danced elegantly with a whoosh as he hovered over the car. He was ethereally, almost angelically, lovely and there was something way more than Fae about him.
This one was built for love not battle, and yet, both Max and Breslyn were aware of the power vibe that pulsated from him. He hovered, and his voice sounded like the soft, swaying breeze in the willows. He seemed unconcerned with the prince’s presence, even though the prince had gotten out of the car to confront him.
“So you are the Seer? I have not encountered a Shee Fios in five hundred years, and she had been too old and tired to play.” His voice was musical and pleasant. He whooshed closer, and the prince stood now between this winged Fae and Maxie, who was holding her breath and the steering wheel inside the car.
“I thought all Seers had been destroyed by the lower Tuatha Dés’ reckless hands long ago. You are quite exceptional. My friend was supposed to have delivered you to me by now. Since he has neglected to do so, I thought I had better collect you myself. Come—you are worthy. I shall have you, Shee Fios.”
“I don’t think so,” Breslyn said, stepping up to the plate. “I am Breslyn, Royal Prince of the House of Dagda, and this human is mine.”
Max could sense the worry dripping off him. Worried? He was downright sick. That got her more than a little concerned. She knew they were in trouble. She had read about the powerful Daoine Sidhe. She knew that even to the Tuatha Dé, these guys were close to godlike in their abilities and powers. The Tuatha Dé spoke of the Daoine as Gods of Nature. So what was Nature boy doing here? Suddenly it was as though the Sluagh saw Breslyn for the first time.
“Ah a prince of one of the four houses. I believe I encountered your grandfather eons ago. He was a remarkable Fae of Light. However, I have been promised this Seer, and I claim her for myself. Prince or no, this one is mine, Tuatha Dé. However, I shall not permanently harm her as your kind so often, and regrettably, does. When I am done then you may have her back.”
“As I said, I don’t think so. We honor each other’s royal houses, do we not, Sluagh? This is a great intrusion. Daoine are known for their courtesies. Is this a courtesy to intrude on my time with my human? It is beneath your great statue to take what has not been freely given. This human is mine. I have claimed her, and she willingly accepted my company. I am a royal prince and do not take unwilling females. It would be below my stature. Is it not belo
w yours? I have clearly said that I am not ready to part with her.” The prince had no idea what Daoine ethics were. As Fae morality did not correspond with human morality, no doubt Daoine ethics would not correspond with Tuatha Dé ethics.
“She must be precious indeed if you wish to keep her.” The Sluagh cooed sweetly, ignoring the prince’s arguments, “I have said I shall not harm the creature. You know that we are beings of nature. I have always found pleasure playing with humans. They are forever doing the unexpected. She was promised to me by one of your kind. You must honor that promise.”
“He had no right to promise what was not his to give.” The prince was not calm, but he put up a good front. “He misled you to get what he wanted, and, Sluagh, the Fae who negotiated with you is a traitor to our queen. I believe your Queen Mab would not approve. We mean to ferret him out, and the consequences will be dire.”
“Ah, but that is not my affair. You look to me to punish your traitor with such wiles. I am Daoine and above such absurdities. I am here to collect my promised treat. You will give her to me.”
“As I have said, she is mine. I honor you by reminding you that Tuatha Dé do not interfere with your world. Why then do you interfere with mine?”
“This. Is. Not. Your. World.” The Daoine’s voice seemed to be all around them. In the air. In the car. A living-breathing thing that vibrated with displeasure.
“No … it is not, but my human needed a little diversion from Tir, where she resides with me. Must I allow her to be kidnapped by one I have been taught to honor?”
“Ah, Royal Prince of Dagda. You are an amusing fellow. I like your argument. It was well done. Therefore, I shall only take her for one flight. I shall use her during that one flight. Humans give such passion … and I like her scent.” His musical voice trailed off, and Maxie almost felt his mind sweeping a hand over her body. They were losing this argument. This winged thing was not giving up.
