by Unknown
I bit my lip to keep from making a sound. The room was just so beautiful. I'd seen what earth fey were capable of as far as decorating went. The earth pixies did remarkable things to the rooms we'd given them in Castle Aithinne, but this went way beyond that.
Everything was alive. From the grass growing across the floor to the plants hanging from the ceiling. So far, it doesn't sound all that impressive, right? Wait for it... the furniture was all made from plants. No, not made, grown. Every piece, be it table, chair, or bookshelf, was a plant. Aalish even plucked her cup from a thin tree growing out of the floor. From yet another tree, no, excuse me, this was more of a bush, she pulled forth a large pink flower, waxy petals curled in around itself forming a sort of vessel. She tipped it over her flower cup and poured some kind of drink out of it. I just stood there gaping.
A man started speaking in the fey language and I looked over at him. I hadn't even realized the other person in the room was King Cahal, her husband. He was glowering at her, his eyes narrowed as he gestured wildly.
They spoke heatedly for quite awhile and then Aalish stormed out, with us following close on her heels. She raced down the corridors, turning this way and that, till I was in jeopardy of losing my way entirely. Then she came to a door covered in vines. I wouldn't even have known it was there if she hadn't stopped in front of it. She knocked aggressively, right through the leaves.
The door swung open to reveal a dryad. He was tall and thin, with long, flexible twigs for hair and legs that ended in trailing roots. His skin was dry but smooth and a deep brown in color. He bowed to Aalish, one rather normal looking hand going to his chest as he said something to her in Fey. He made a sweeping gesture with that normal hand, indicating the room behind him, and Aalish went in.
This time, when he shut the door and I kept it open with a well-placed hand, I held Nuada and Beira back. We could listen from the doorway with less risk of discovery. I nudged them forward and one of them listened at the crack for awhile before pushing me back. We all slid down the wall as Aalish emerged with a whole lot of dryads following her and a bunch of little, creepy spriggans following them.
The addition of the spriggans really disturbed me. Although they were small, they could grow to enormous size, large enough to be a challenge for even a red cap.
The group strode away from us with a determination that didn't bode well. Nuada pulled on my hand and we raced after them. They took each turn with confident ease, leading us back to the dining hall we'd first entered. Then they headed down the tunnel that led out of the castle.
It looked like we wouldn't need to find an alternate way out after all.
Trolls appeared from the side tunnels and went to open the doors for Aalish like they'd known she was coming. She swept by them and walked right out and into a waiting carriage. We slid out after the last spriggan skipped and darted its way out the huge doors. Then we maneuvered to the side of the carriage as Aalish's group gathered itself and when they headed out of the Earth Kingdom, we marched along with them.
The trees didn't pay us any notice this time and I breathed a sigh of relief when we were once more on the Road of Neutrality that circled the Forgetful Forest. Then Nuada yanked on my hand urgently and pulled me all the way back to where we'd left the phookas. I glanced over my shoulder and my stomach dropped when I saw Aalish heading in the direction of the Fire Kingdom. What the hell was she up to now?
Nuada dropped his invisibility and both Beira and I followed suit. They stared grimly at me while the phookas came out of hiding and waited for some kind of instruction. They were still in horse form, which I appreciated because I had a feeling we didn't have time to waste on transformations.
“What happened?” I demanded of them. “What did she say?”
“There's no time,” Nuada was already heading toward a phooka. “Let's get going and we'll fill you in on the way.”
“We can't let her get to Aithinne before us,” Beira added as we both mounted. “Is there a faster way to Aithinne than along the road?”
“The shortest path between two points is a straight line,” I said as I pointed into the Forgetful Forest.
My phooka agreed with me and shot out in the direction I'd indicated. I flattened myself to the horse's neck as we ran through the thick underbrush. The phooka took it all with ease, leaping over most of the obstacles that presented themselves. The others rode beside us, keeping up without a problem.
“She's not the one attacking your friend,” Beira called out and I jerked my head up in surprise, only to jerk it back down again when she shouted and pointed to the branch that almost unseated me.
“What?” I shouted back from the safety of the phooka's neck.
“She made no mention of it and I'm sure she would have, what with the conversation she had both with the fey I presume to be her husband and with those dryads,” Nuada confirmed.
“She sounded as if she's been biding her time,” Beira continued, “waiting for an opportunity to attack you. She went to the Castle of Eight today because she'd been told about Brid and Brigit but the way things turned out really burned her butt.”
“She's made new plans,” Nuada shouted. “Something about stealing back some pixies that belong to her. She said the High King wouldn't be able to do anything about it once they were firmly imprisoned in the Earth Kingdom.”
“Do you have earth pixies in the Fire Kingdom?” Beira asked as my blood ran cold.
“Yes,” I whispered and then I realized she wouldn't be able to hear me, so I shouted it again, “Yes! They left the House of Earth because they were being mistreated. I gave them sanctuary. How is Aalish planning on getting to them?”
“The spriggans and dryads are going to scale the mountain a ways down from the castle and then sneak into the Fire Kingdom,” Nuada explained. “The dryads will be the look outs for the spriggans as they locate and extract the pixies. It was implied that killing fire fey wouldn't be a problem if the need arose.”
I thought of the sweet little earth pixies. Most of them were currently living inside the castle but there were a few who'd moved outside with my fire pixies, into their spring and summer home. The spriggans would most likely pass by them on their way inside. Who knows what kind of damage they'd do to the pixie village. Then there was the rest of the castle's residents. Who would the spriggans kill on their way through my home? What about the children? Roarke's son, Fionnaghal's babies, and the phooka toddlers. If the spriggans hurt any of them... hell, if they hurt anyone in my kingdom, I would tear them apart.
“Hurry!” I shouted to the phookas but it was unnecessary. They'd heard it for themselves and come to the same conclusion. The children. In Faerie, children were rare and as such, they were treasured. The phookas would put everything they had into this run.
Sure enough, we broke out of the forest in what seemed like mere minutes and thundered across the drawbridge that led into Castle Aithinne. The phookas were lathered and breathing hard, their red eyes burning wildly as we dismounted.
“Pull up the bridge!” I shouted to the red cap guards we'd left on duty. “And gather every soldier we have. We're being invaded!”
The red caps gaped at me a moment and then leapt into action, one going straight to the wench that pulled up the drawbridge as the rest went to round up our army. The phooka I'd been riding changed as I shouted orders. As luck would have it, it was Righ, the phooka pup's father. He stood there naked, hair plastered to his head, quaking with both fear and rage.
“Go!” I shouted at him. “Take the other phookas with you, I motioned to the other phookas who had all changed back to their human forms. “Make sure your children are safe!”
He ran off with the phookas and I ran in another direction. A goblin passed by me and I grabbed him. “Get down to the caverns and warn the Hidden Ones to be on guard. Tell them all to get into Fionnaghal's chambers and guard those babies!”
“Yes, my Queen!” The goblin shouted and ran toward the caverns below the castle.<
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I ran onward, Nuada and Beira beside me, and when I got to the central staircase, I shouted up it, “Roarke! Isleen! Get your asses down here, now!”
Moments later both of them were running down the stairs, looking shocked.
“Aalish is on her way here with a band of spriggans and dryads intent on infiltrating the castle and stealing back the pixies,” I blurted. “Roarke, get all the fire cats together and protect your son.”
“But I can help-”
“You're a father!” I screamed at him. I didn't have the time to argue with him. “Protect Hunter!”
“Yes, my Queen,” he launched himself back up the stairs.
“Isleen, go and help with rounding up our fighters,” I felt myself go cold and then violently hot. “Meet me out back when you're done, behind the castle. We're going to give those earth fey the shock of their lives.”
“Yes, my Queen!” She ran off.
I hurried back down the stairs and out of the tunnel that led behind the castle, into the Fire Kingdom. I chanced a glance at Nuada and did a double take. His silver hand was glowing like a star. He gave me a menacing smile and gestured me onward. I nodded and ran toward the pixie village.
The fire pixies had taken Blossom out of her pot and planted her in the center of their courtyard, right in front of the tiered homes they'd carved out of the mountain. I blanched when I saw that, having completely forgotten about Blossom. One wrong step, or right one for that matter, and Blossom would be dead.
“Blossom,” I came to a kneeling stop before her. “Climb out of there, girl. We got some bad stuff coming and I need to see you somewhere safe.”
“What bad stuff?” It was Diarmad, one of the earth pixies. He was standing in the doorway of one of the fire pixie homes.
“Diarmad!” I shouted as Blossom pulled her roots smoothly from the ground. “Aalish is coming for you. I need you and the fire pixies to get back inside and hide yourselves.” I scooped up Blossom and gestured to him. “Hurry, I need to take Blossom in as well.”
“No,” he said grimly as the fire pixies and a few earth pixies came out of their homes. Siuna, a female fire pixie, came out of the dwelling Diarmad was standing before and took his hand. He looked over to her with a resolute expression and she nodded to him.
“What do you mean, no?” I was on the verge of hysterics, which was really silly since I knew we could manage a few spriggans and dryads but reason departs when people you love are threatened. We could destroy them all but that doesn't mean they wouldn't take a few of us out in the process.
“I won't hide from Queen Aalish,” Diarmad continued. “Please, my Queen, take Blossom inside and tell the other earth pixies what's coming our way. Give them the choice to fight too.”
“You are not fighting...” I let my voice trail away as I realized what he'd done. My Queen, he'd said. Roarke had once made that distinction as well, back when he'd shifted loyalties. Diarmad was choosing Fire for good. He was, in effect, telling me he'd never return to the Earth Kingdom.
“You've taught our cousins to be strong,” he continued as he strode down the little stairs to me. Behind him the fire fey began gathering their tiny weapons. One of the men tossed him a miniature sword and Diarmad caught it with ease. “And they've shown us the rewards of strength. To live without fear or shame. To raise our children in freedom and happiness. We now understand that strength worthless if you never use it and size has no bearing on honor.”
“Or courage evidently,” I said with a soft smile. “I won't deny you the right to fight your own battle. You may stay, with my blessing.”
The fire pixies and the few earth pixies in their midst, cheered.
“The smallest wound can sometimes do the most damage,” Nuada said when the cheering faded. “Aim for the heels, my friends. Right here,” he angled his foot out and showed them a spot near the Achilles tendon. “And if you can't find their damn heels, climb up their bodies and stab them in the eyes.”
Another cheer. I shook my head and ran back into the castle, leaving Nuada and Beira to counsel the pixies on the art of tiny warfare. I took the stairs two at a time, racing up to the floor the earth pixie rooms were on. Putting the pixies upstairs may seem cruel to you but they had a special magic that they used to hover up the stairs. It wasn't a problem, I promise.
I burst into the earth pixie chamber and a shout went up, it was obvious something was wrong. I put Blossom down on one of the tables they'd covered with earth and plants, and she dug in immediately.
“Aalish is on her way here to abduct you and take you back to the Earth Kingdom,” I announced and they all fell silent. “She has a group of spriggans and dryads with her. I want you to stay in here and bar the door as best you can. Please look after Blossom for me.”
“There are some of us out with the fire pixies,” someone called.
“I know,” I stopped and looked them over. I could just tell them the others were safe and have them stay safe themselves but I knew that wasn't fair to them. “They've chosen to fight beside the fire pixies and they wanted me to give you the same choice. You may come with me if you wish but I assure you, no one will think less of you for staying here. In fact, I'd prefer it.”
“We're going with you, my Queen,” Artair stepped forward with his wife, Cora. “You need to stay and protect the children, Cora.”
Another declaration. I sighed as more pixie men stepped forward with shiny little weapons I'd had no idea they'd made. They'd probably made them for the fire pixies who'd decided to join the Wild Hunt. Now they would wield the weapons themselves. I wanted to scream at them to stay inside, safe from harm, but the dragon in me roared in approval. Battle shouldn't be limited to those of a certain size. All men should be allowed to defend themselves. And avenge themselves.
“Alright then, those of you who are fighting, let's go,” I announced. “The rest of you barricade this door after we leave.”
I headed out with a large number of earth pixies floating behind me, armed to the teeth with the tiniest weapons you ever did see. It was like I'd stumbled into Lilliput and was now leading their army to war. Except they wouldn't be fighting the Blefuscans, they'd be fighting faeries as large as I. Some who could grow much larger.
I hurried down the stairs again and out into the Fire Kingdom with an army of earth pixies at my back. We went running for the fire pixie village and found them all standing to attention with Nuada, Beira, and our fire fey army, waiting calmly for the earth fey to arrive.
“Alright, everyone,” I called out. “Hide yourselves among the rocks. I want to lure them in so they can't escape. Taran,” I said to one of the red caps, “take a group of fey into the trees there,” I pointed across from us. “Go down a bit and hide yourselves. When they come by, creep out behind them and cut off their escape route.”
“Yes, my Queen,” Taran said with glee.
Then we waited. It wasn't long before a few spriggans crept into view, the dryads watching a safe distance behind them. More and more came forward, peering first around the empty courtyard and then crawling towards the pixie village like insects. When they were almost close enough to touch, I stepped out of hiding and my army came with me, pixies flowing around my feet to put themselves in the front line. Damn their honorable little hearts.
“Now, Taran!” I called out and a shout was heard from the dryads who were rousted and driven forward. “You have a simple choice to make,” I said to the surrounded group. Surrender or die.”
They looked at each other and then at the hopeful gleam in our eyes. It took three seconds for them to start calling for mercy. I let out a relieved breath as faerie blades were tossed at our feet. Battle is always best when averted. Even if you're assured the win.
“You,” I pointed to the unfortunate dryad who'd answered Aalish's knock earlier that day. “Come here.”
He nervously came forward, needing just a tad bit of prodding from Taran's blade.
“Yes, Queen Vervain?” He stammered.
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“Where is your Queen?” I stared him down as he shivered so hard, his twig hair started to click. “Tell me now!” I grabbed his throat as my fingers transformed into talons.
“She's in her carriage,” he whimpered, “hidden within the trees just a mile down from Castle Aithinne.”
“Wonderful,” I smiled at him and he shook even more. “You'll take us there. Taran, watch over the rest of these earth fey.”
“Yes, my Queen,” Taran smiled again.
“Earth pixies-” I started but Artair cut me off.
“We are of Earth no longer,” he declared. “We are with you, my Queen. We are with Fire!”
I had to swallow hard before continuing in the strong voice they deserved to hear. “Fire pixies,” I said and a cheer came from all of my fey, “follow me.”
I pushed the dryad forward and kept pushing him all the way through Castle Aithinne and out onto the Road of Neutrality, only stopping once, to have a red cap lower the drawbridge. We all marched down the road until the dryad pointed out Aalish's carriage, hidden back within the trees. I shoved him aside and went in after her.
Aalish was watching out her window when I came through the underbrush. Her eyes went wide as I approached and even wider when I threw open the carriage door and climbed inside. She shrank back from me, horror filling her face. I sat on the bench across from her, crossing my knees casually, and sighed.
“You know, Aalish,” I said conversationally. “You're a real pain in my ass. If I was smart, I'd kill you now and tell the High King you died during the assault you instigated upon my castle.”
“I... I...” she sputtered and blanched, which was not pretty on her yellow skin. She ended up looking like spoiled milk. “How did you know? You're supposed to be at the Castle of Eight. I left you there.”
“I'm going to tell you a little secret that I haven't told anyone,” I whispered and leaned toward her with a smile. “One of my magics is the gift of prophecy. I've seen every step you've made this whole time and I've played you.” Yes, it was a lie but she didn't know that and I needed some kind of advantage to hold over her head or I really would have to kill her.
