by Unknown
“Yes, Queen Vervain,” I was surprised to see a spark of approval in his eyes. “This way,” his voice went up in strength. “Make way for the House of Fire and Steam, make way!”
“Now that, I like,” I said to Arach as fey did indeed stand aside for us to walk by. “The House of Fire and Steam.”
“I think I could get used to it,” he nodded, giving me a sly look of approval.
We walked proudly through the halls of the great tree, my steam fey with heads held high behind me and Arach, and the red caps and phookas grinning from ear to ear behind them. Danal led us up the stairs along the side of the trunk and into a suite of rooms that had been prepared for us. The red caps brought in our luggage and then started making themselves at home in the central room.
“There will be a meeting for the royals in an hour,” Danal smiled at me. “Do you wish me to come back for you then?”
“Yes, thank you, Danal,” Arach answered for us.
“You're welcome,” Danal turned to me. “I just want to say, my brother made the change to a frost faerie and I wish he'd been treated with the same respect that you've given your fey. Well done, House of Fire and Steam.”
Chapter Thirty
We all met in the smaller meeting room King Cian usually reserved for royal meetings. I got welcoming looks from the High Royals, the Air Royals, and King Guirmean, but the Earth Royals were a bit frosty, if you'll excuse my pun. Arach and I took the empty seats next to Guirmean and we both looked toward King Cian to start the meeting.
“We've all had some alarming changes happening in our kingdoms,” King Cian began. “Faerie has assured us that these changes are only temporary, so we can take comfort in that but we must come up with a plan on how to handle the difficulties that have arisen with the changes.”
“Why is a plan needed?” I asked. “We don't have any problems with our new fey. They just need time and support to understand their new gifts.”
“Time and support?” Queen Aalish sneered. “Oh there she goes again, trying to look all sweet and sympathetic. Let me guess, you want to take my rock fey too, because we're not being supportive enough? I saw you trying to talk to them, trying to steal them away.”
“Rock fey?” I raised my brows. “I'd been wondering how winter would manifest in Earth. How interesting.”
“Interesting?” King Cahal sighed. “Easy to say when you aren't the one with fey turning everything to stone.”
“They turn things to stone?” Guirmean leaned forward. “Mine turn things to ice.”
“Has someone-” I started to say but then Arach laid a hand on my arm. This was a situation he wanted to handle and after all the stress I'd given him that day, I figured I could throw him a bone.
“We found that if you have the new fey focus on their element and then try to use it,” Arach said in a surprisingly diplomatic tone, “that they grasp their new abilities quite easily.”
“That's true,” Guirmean nodded. “Once I removed my ice fey from the water and had them focus on using their new element, they did very well.”
“We will give that a try,” King Cahal nodded his head. “It's been difficult to control when everyone is afraid of being turned into stone.”
“Has that happened?” I couldn't help but ask.
“Not yet,” Cahal admitted, “but it seemed a logical possibility.”
“Yes, indeed,” King Cian nodded. “This is why we segregated our new fey. As you know, we have several types of fey in service to the House of Spirit, and we thank you all for your contributions, but we think that maybe the changed fey will feel more comfortable among their own kind.”
“So you want to cast them off on us now that it's become difficult for you?” Queen Aalish transferred her wrath to the High King. “You took them into service, now you get to deal with them.”
“Aalish!” King Cahal admonished. “I agree with my wife's sentiments, King Cian, just not the way in which she spoke them. Please forgive her tone.”
“It's a difficult time,” Cian nodded but I could see the anger in his gold eyes. “I was not trying to get rid of the fey. They may all stay if they like but I truly felt it would be easier on them to be with fey who are going through the same changes. We only have a few from each kingdom who have changed.”
“We'll gladly take our fey home,” Arach said quickly. “On one condition, High King, that you release them from their service and allow them to return to Fire and Steam for good.”
“Fire and Steam,” Aalish scoffed under her breath.
“Accepted,” King Cian nodded. “I think that's fair.”
I glanced over at my husband and saw a smile hovering about the corners of his mouth. He was using this as an opportunity to redeem his fey. I wondered how they came to be a part of the House of Spirit in the first place and made a mental note to ask him about it later.
“Excellent,” Arach nodded.
“I would like to make the same offer,” King Guirmean quickly jumped on the Arach wagon.
“We as well,” King Fionn nodded. “We would like to bring our fey home for good.”
“So be it,” King Cian nodded and huffed a laugh. “You transparent opportunists. You may have your fey back.”
“Uh,” King Cahal cleared his throat.
“Yes, King of Earth?” King Cian smiled. “Have you reconsidered?”
“Um, yes, High King,” Cahal's vines shifted restlessly about him. “I think we should probably take our fey home as well. I wouldn't want them to think they were unwanted.”
“Of course not,” Cian looked smug. “Fine, it's settled, now on to the treatment of these fey. I've been alerted to cases of terrible abuse and neglect, and I would like to be assured that your new fey will be treated with the same amount of respect as the rest of your kingdom.”
“And the animals as well,” I nodded.
“Pardon me, Queen Vervain,” King Fionn focused his entirely black eyes on me. “Did you say animals?”
“My wife has found an abandoned nurial,” Arach explained. “It seems to have been abandoned due to its change into steam. I've sent fey into the kingdom to search for other such occurrences and they will be helping or gathering any animals that have been suffering due to it.”
“You did?” I looked over at Arach with gratitude.
“I care about the creatures too, A Thaisce.” He gave me a pained look. “You recall I already sent scouts out to check on how the animals were handling winter?”
“That's right,” I gave him a goofy grin. “You are so getting lucky tonight, hot stuff,” I whispered and he chuckled, casting a glance at the others who were watching us with different degrees of interest. “Oh, sorry about that.”
“So the animals are changing too,” Queen Meara guided us back onto subject. “What a frightening thing for them. We must do as King Arach has and send out scouts into the Forgetful Forest.”
“Yes, my love,” King Cian put a reassuring hand on his wife's. “We will.”
“So will we,” King Fionn looked over to me. “Thank you for bringing this to our attention, Queen Vervain.”
“I'm just relieved that you care enough to do something,” I nodded. “I wish I'd thought about searching for more changed animals but it turns out that my husband can be smarter than me on occasion.”
They all laughed at that, well all except you know who.
“I'll have some fey search the water as well,” King Guirmean assured me and I smiled at him.
“Good,” Cian nodded. “We've agreed to take care of our kingdoms as we should. Now, has anyone come up with a way to help Faerie herself?”
I remembered how she looked in my dream, white turning to black, eyes accusing. Are you having fun?
“What is it?” Arach asked me.
“I dreamed of her,” I admitted. “She's being consumed by the Darkness. We need to do something fast but I have no idea what.”
“I've found nothing in the archives,” Cian shook his head. “Has anyone
else found anything?”
A chorus of no circulated the table.
“Faerie will take care of herself,” Aalish said haughtily. “I think the matter that should be breached is justice for a dead king.”
“You really are a horrid bitch,” I couldn't help it, I have no filter.
“Are you going to allow that?” Aalish looked at her husband. Something seemed to wash over his eyes, changing them from annoyed to angry. He stood and faced me and Arach.
“I'm afraid you've given more insults to the House of Earth than we can stomach, Queen Vervain,” he stated and helped his Queen to her feet. “You've brought war upon your kingdom. Earth declares itself the enemy of Fire.” With that, they both walked out.
“Oh shit, I'm so sorry, Arach,” I looked over at my grim husband.
“It's alright, Vervain,” his hand went to mine. “It was inevitable, they were just waiting for an opportunity.”
“Earth is foolish to attack Fire,” King Cian observed. “Not only are you stronger but it's a very inopportune time.”
“Quite,” Arach nodded.
“Maybe we can prevent it,” King Guirmean looked over at Arach.
“How so?” Arach cocked his head toward Guirmean.
“Show of force,” Guirmean shrugged. “Water will stand with you.”
“And so shall Air,” King Fionn surprised us all by adding.
“Fire and Steam appreciates your support,” Arach nodded to each of them gratefully, “we accept your offers of alliance.”
“Honestly,” King Cian grimaced. “I wish precedence didn't require Spirit to abstain from wars because I too would have liked to stand with you. You're right, Queen Vervain. That Queen Aalish is a horrid bitch.”
Chapter Thirty-One
The walk back to our suites was illuminating. I received several nasty looks from the fey wandering about. It was so obvious, Arach began to growl at them in return. That stopped it quickly but I was still concerned.
“What the hell is going on?” I asked Arach as soon as we were in the main room at the center of our suites.
“Several fey have taken to blaming you for the coming of winter and the altered fey,” Fearghal answered instead of Arach and we both looked over to him in surprise.
“What?” Arach growled more.
“They blame her,” Fearghal shrugged. “It's easier when you have something to blame and for now, it's our Queen. I think that idiot air-sidhe, Craigor started it.”
“Damn the ignorance of faeries,” Arach spat.
“Wow, he really has some giant balls to start shit with me after Arach laid him out flat,” I observed.
“King Arach laying him out in a flatter state is possibly why he's starting shit,” Fearghal grinned.
“It's okay,” I sighed. “I can deal with animosity, just as long as these angry faeries don't try to lynch me.”
“Can you see to it that the trunks are repacked?” Arach asked Fearghal. “We're heading back to the kingdom at once. Earth has declared war upon us and this tide of ill will towards Vervain may progress into something worse.”
“Earth declared war? Oh, I'm so afeared,” Fearghal said tonelessly, giving me and Arach a well needed laugh. “I'll gather everyone and have the carriages readied.”
“Thank you, Fearghal,” Arach nodded, “Also, we'll be bringing a few more home with us. The High King has agreed to release from his service those fire fey who have changed to steam.”
“Now that is good news,” Fearghal grinned and it was a terrifying thing, especially when some blood chose that moment to drip down from his cap. “I'll go and collect them as well.”
“Tell me about this service thing,” I said when Fearghal had gone. “Why are you so happy?”
“As you know, the House of Spirit isn't a full kingdom,” Arach took a seat on one of the couches and I went to sit beside him. He spread an arm out behind me casually. “They are a governing house and only those of the High Royal family are actually spirit fey. The rest of their household is comprised of members of the other houses, given into their service.”
“So they're slaves?” I was aghast.
“No, they become part of the House of Spirit,” Arach held up a restraining hand. “It's a great honor to be chosen but usually Spirit wants the best fey and it's rather annoying to have your best warriors taken from you.”
“Well at least that's good timing then,” I huffed. “We'll have some of our best returned to us right in time for war.”
“Exactly,” Arach grinned. “With Air and Water standing with us, I doubt Earth will even fight. So it may be moot but I'm glad to have them returned.”
“I don't know,” I thought of King Cahal's face. “I think they may fight despite the odds. It's about ego at this point.”
“War is always about ego.”
Chapter Thirty-Two
We were prevented from making a hasty escape by King Cian, who wouldn't be denied his plans despite the announcement of war. He'd brought us to the High Court for specific reasons and he wasn't going to let us go until those reasons were fulfilled.
So instead of hurrying home, we mirrored Isleen and had her start the war preparations, calling our fey forward from the kingdom to help. Then we dressed for court.
King Cian had wanted all of the new fey to be presented to him, so we gathered in the throne room, the high open ceiling now blocked by a lower ceiling of wood beams. I missed seeing the open passage to the sky but the lowered panel kept the heat in and the snow out. I doubt any of the courtiers wanted to wade through the snow. Plus, it was painted to resemble the night sky and it inspired me to do the same to the lowered ceiling in our bedroom back at Castle Aithinne.
We now had four more steam fey to our number, big stern looking men who were obviously in service as knights to Spirit. They did seem happy to be with us though, especially after the warm reception they got from our fey. We strode forward with them, up to the thrones, to present the new steam fey to the High Royals.
“King Cian,” Arach nodded, “Queen Meara. May I present the steam fey?”
Our group of fey strode forward and bowed as one. Then each extended a hand and offered up a sampling of what they could do with their new element. From fountains of steam to levitation, our new steam fey could do amazing things. The crowd gathered in the throne room was enthralled and so were the High Royals.
Thoughts of steam powered machines filled my head and then were quickly dashed away. Bringing an Industrial Revolution to Faerie seemed kind of criminal, making it steam punk was only marginally better. I decided to keep the machine ideas to myself.
“Wonderful,” King Cian clapped. “You do your House proud. Congratulations on your new gifts.”
That statement set the stage for the rest of the presentations and I could see an immediate change in the crowd. The new fey had gone from outcasts to rock stars in mere moments and I felt a great weight lift from my shoulders when I saw it. The whole thing had felt very racist to me and if there's one thing I hate, it's racism. Note that I said racism and not racists. Sometimes people are misled, example A: the fey, and guidance can see reason prevail. It's not the people I hate, it's the mentality. Oh, that's a bunch of crap, I hate racists. They suck, right along with bigots, snobs, chauvinists, and those pushy people who pester you to buy crappy stuff from the kiosks in the mall.
Going back to the altered fey, I have to say that I enjoyed the performances. The ice fey created beautiful sculptures with a wave of their hand and I immediately had thoughts of the comic book hero Iceman. I made a mental note to talk to Guirmean about getting one of them to try and create ice walkways through the air. They'd probably do it too, they were an entertaining lot. One cheeky bastard went as far as presenting the High Queen with a bouquet of ice flowers. She was thrilled of course but had to put them aside quickly since she's leanan-sidhe, one of ours, and if she'd held them any longer they probably would have melted.
The ice fey had a general look about them, a
s most of the altered fey groups did. The ice fey had light blue hair, skin, and eyes, with a transparent sheen over them, like they were actually made from ice. They looked happy and I don't think it had anything to do with the new change in attitude of the other fey. I believe it had everything to do with their king. I looked over at Guirmean and sure enough, he was watching them with a content smile. Man, what an immense improvement he was over Dubveasa.
The frost fey were next and they sent gusts of cold wind zipping about the room, dusting things with sparkling frost as it went. They could create pictures with the frost, either on a surface or right in mid air, and I found myself encased with a sparkling swirl at one point. When I looked over to see who the culprit was, I caught Bryce's stare. He gave me a gallant bow and with a wave of his hand, the frost settled around my skirts in a delicate pattern. Arach growled at him but the rest of the fey laughed, delighted.
They were stunningly beautiful fey, their wings glittering white, hair white with a bluish tint, and hauntingly pale eyes. Snow fell from their wings with every movement and where it fell, it turned to frost. The group of them turned in a choreographed maneuver and a cone of frost formed around them. As soon as it formed, they burst free of it, flying up and out in a dramatic finale.
The rock fey were next and they were what I would consider to be the least wintry in appearance. They weren't craggy or golem-like, they didn't look like they were actually made of rock. It was more that they had a hard look about them. Their eyes were all dark, their hair obsidian black, and their skin had become mottled with soft hues of pink, blue, and green. It looked liked mineral deposits but their skin also appeared to have a consistency and their hair flowed like regular hair. Then they gave a little sample of what they could do and I stopped focusing on their looks.
Not only could they turn items into stone, they could become stone. One of them stepped forward and a shimmer passed over him, his skin and hair taking on the appearance of carved rock. Even his eyes went flat gray, like a statue's. Then another rock fey took a sword and struck him with it, the sword bounced off. I felt a tremor of unease when I saw that. How were we going to fight against such abilities? I could lift one up into the air and drop him but that would probably kill him and Arach said that was a no-no in fey war. These rock fey could present a problem. I looked over to Arach and saw that he realized it too. He started edging us toward the door.
