by Unknown
“I told you she had nothing to do with this,” Liam said with a sigh. He had already told me, on our way out there but I didn't completely believe him. “The only ones who knew were my cats and they were simply following orders.”
“I didn't,” Aalish looked up at her husband, who was frowning at her. “I swear on Faerie, I didn't! Liam acted on his own, I truly thought she killed him. I... I apologize, Queen Vervain. I never wanted to see the Kingdom of Fire destroyed.”
“You apologize?” I huffed a little laugh. “What about this,” I gestured behind me and Breck's body was brought forward. “Do you claim that you gave no orders to kill my fey?”
She looked away guiltily.
“Oh hell no,” I gently took Breck's body from Fearghal. “You're going to look at her,” I carried Breck over to Aalish and held her under the Earth Queen's nose. “Look at her!” She jerked her head back and looked down at the body.
“I don't know what came over us,” she whispered and glanced at her husband, who looked just as guilty. “We were just so angry. It was not planned, it just happened.”
“Get the hell out of here before I kill you both and tell the High King you were behind framing me as well,” I growled. “You know he told me I could kill whomever was behind it, be they royal or not. I've pardoned Liam for the sake of his son but I have no such reservations with you.”
The Earth Royals blanched, King Cahal lifting his head and turning immediately with his wife to face their army.
“We concede the day to Fire,” he called out to them. “Return immediately to the Earth Kingdom.”
“I will honor my word,” King Liam said as he walked by me and into the congregation of cats awaiting him. He transformed back into a cat, thank goodness for that-I'd seen enough of his naked ass already, and left with the rest of the Earth army.
“Anna!” Roarke called and I looked over to see a fluffy white cat sitting at the edge of the forest. “Anna, thank you for my son. You can visit him any time you like. I want him to know you.” She got up and started walking away. “Please, Anna!”
The white cat stopped and turned around. She ran over to Roarke and then shifted into a stunning woman with pure white hair down to her hips. Her cat eyes were bright blue and filled with tears. She touched Hunter's face lightly and he gripped her finger, pulling her back toward him when she might have pulled away. She smiled then and looked up at Roarke.
“Take care of him, you scoundrel,” she purred. “Or when I come back to visit, I'll cut your balls off and feed them to you.”
“It's a deal,” Roarke grinned and I knew then that he'd never find a Queen among the other fire cats. He was obviously already in love with Anna. “Thank you for bringing him to me. He's wonderful, more than I could ever hope for.”
“Yes he is,” she kissed Hunter's forehead and the baby finally released her finger. “Despite his unfortunate parentage. Remember what I said, Roarke. I'll return soon to check on him.”
Then she changed back into a cat and ran off in the direction that the rest of the earth cats had gone.
“Vervain,” Arach stole my attention away from Roarke's bemused face. Back in human form, Arach stood beside me and stroked Breck's hair. “I-”
“I know,” I nodded and turned to face our army. “Were there any other casualties?”
“None on our side,” Roarke held his son tight and watched as his father left.
“I hope I did the right thing,” I handed Breck back to Fearghal.
“If he betrays his promise,” Roarke turned fiery eyes to me, “I will personally hunt him down and kill him.” Hunter cooed and lifted a hand to Roarke's face. The sweet action instantly dispelled the menace lurking in Roarke's eyes and Roarke looked down at his son with a smile before looking back up at me. “Thank you for not killing my father, Queen Vervain. He very much deserved to die.”
“Well, love always evens things out for me. When I saw the way he looked at Hunter, I could hardly take that love away from your son,” I touched the baby's soft hair gently and then turned back to our waiting army. “Let's honor Breck by celebrating her life with our allies of Air and Water.”
A sad sort of cheer went up and we all processed inside with a solemn air, Fearghal carrying Breck's body with a lifted head and grim countenance. Isleen met us inside and directed us all through the castle and out into the open area immediately within the kingdom proper. I gave a little laugh and shook my head, leave it to her to realize we couldn't fit three armies inside our dining hall. We'd be eating in the snow and damn if that didn't feel appropriate.
But then I emerged from the castle to find that Isleen had put up large pavilions with braziers set amongst them. There were tables and chairs placed beneath the tents and food was already being laid out. I turned to her with wide eyes.
“I knew Air and Water were coming to lend us aid,” she answered my silent question. “So I assumed you'd want to feed them afterward. The rules of hospitality call for it.”
“Thank you, Isleen,” I reached over and squeezed her shoulder. “You deserve a raise.”
“A raise?” She lifted a brow.
“An increase in payment,” I nodded.
“Payment for what?”
“For your services,” I frowned at her. “Don't we pay you?”
“Of course not,” she scoffed. “I serve the House of Fire willingly. I need no payment.”
“Alright then,” I considered her. “How about a nice pair of earrings from the earth pixies?”
“Well,” her face brightened. “I would never refuse a gift. That would be impolite.”
“Excellent,” I nodded, “tell the pixies what you'd like them to make or just go pick out whatever you want. You deserve as many jewels as you can carry.”
“Your thanks are more than enough,” she directed me and Arach(she had brought him clothes) to a table with the Air Royals and King Guirmean. “Feast well and do our Breck honor.”
“She's lovely,” Guirmean commented as I sat beside him.
“Oh no, no, no,” I waved a finger in his face. “You can woo away any other fire fey but that one. I need her to run the castle. If I had to do it, we'd be in for a world of hurt.”
“I will kill you if you take her,” Arach said simply.
“I was just admiring her,” Guirmean held up his hands. “It's not like I could marry a leanan-sidhe and I really should be focusing on finding a wife. My people could use the stability.”
“Why couldn't you marry a leanan-sidhe?” I narrowed my eyes on him. “The High King did it.”
“But that's different,” Guirmean sputtered as Arach laughed at him. “Spirit kings must marry outside of their element.”
“So why can't anyone else do it?” I asked and Arach stopped laughing when he realized I was serious.
“Vervain,” Arach shook his head. “It's just not done.”
“Why?” I had garnered the attention of the Air Royals too.
“It would be difficult for a fey to adjust to living in a kingdom outside of their element,” Queen Breana offered.
“Why?” Yes, I know I was sounding like an annoying five-year-old.
“Because it's uncomfortable,” King Fionn took over for his wife. “Imagine having to live in Air.”
“I think I'd be fine in the kingdom of Air,” I grinned at him.
“I guess that was a bad example,” he laughed. “How about Water then? Could you live underwater?”
“I wouldn't have to,” I lifted a brow at Guirmean. “There are several water fey who choose not to, aren't there, King Guirmean?”
“Well yes,” his face dropped into a sort of loose expression of epiphany. “I guess if the hypothetical faerie lady agreed, I could marry outside of Water.”
Breana gasped.
“Way to rock the boat, King Guirmean,” I punched his shoulder playfully.
“Rock the boat?” He blinked at me.
“It means doing something against the norm,” I explained. �
��Shaking up the way people behave.”
“Rock the boat,” he grinned. “How appropriate for me.”
“Yes,” I laughed. “You know, an inter-elemental marriage is just what this realm needs.”
“She's jesting, right?” Breana looked to her husband with desperate eyes.
“I don't think so, my love,” King Fionn looked over at me thoughtfully. “And perhaps she's right.”
“No, not you as well?” Breana was looking like she was about to faint.
“This is all just a discussion,” Fionn patted her shoulder. “Guirmean is hardly going to throw a fire-sidhe over his shoulder and run off with her to the Water Kingdom.”
“Who says it has to be a sidhe?” I took a sip of my wine to hide my smile as the whole table went silent. “What did I say?”
“It doesn't have to be a sidhe,” Guirmean started to smile.
“King Guirmean!” Breana slapped his shoulder.
“What?” Guirmean grinned. “I kind of like having the freedom to marry whomever I love. And why shouldn't I? We are entering a new age in Faerie.”
“Here, here!” I lifted my glass to him. “And that's the kind of attitude that's going to get you babies.”
“Babies?” Breana's face changed into thoughtful lines.
“We're already married, love,” King Fionn grinned at his wife. “It's not like we have to marry outside our element, just maybe be more supportive of fey who do.”
“Maybe I was a bit hasty,” Breana gave Fionn a sly grin.
“Ah, you've found the way to my wife's allegiance, Queen Vervain,” Fionn laughed. “All you have to do is say the word babies.”
“But the question is,” Breana looked down towards me. “Would a fey couple consisting of two different elements be able to conceive a child?”
“Again, I call your attention to the High Royals,” I shrugged.
“Actually,” Arach frowned. “The line of Spirit is the only line known to be able to breed outside of their element. Simply because it is a ruling element and any children born will be purely Spirit.”
“Oh,” I frowned, thoughtful. “But everything is changing, maybe the rules of conception have changed as well.”
“That's a big risk to take,” Fionn sighed. “A king needs heirs, we all crave them, and though none of us have been successful yet, there remains the possibility that we might.”
“Well, I guess we'll see,” I grinned at Fionn.
“Why do you smirk at me like that?” King Fionn looked over to Arach. “King Arach why is your wife looking at me like that?”
“That's the look she gets when she thinks she knows something that you don't,” Arach shook his head. “Just tell him, Vervain.”
“Well,” I gave Guirmean a side glance. “The fire fey have had their fertility returned so if anyone, say a Water King, happened to be dating a, oh I don't know, phooka woman, they could test out the theory and see if she gets knocked up.”
“How do you understand her?” Fionn frowned at Arach.
“She's saying that if I were to have a dalliance with a fire fey,” King Guirmean explained with bright eyes. “There would be a chance of conception and if we did conceive, we would prove that it could be done.”
“Yeah, like I said,” I rolled my eyes.
“My Queen,” Fionnaghal cut into the conversation. She was standing in front of me with Mini V in her arms. Toak stood behind her carrying the other two babes.
“Speaking of babies,” I laughed. “This is Fionnaghal and her new children. Fionnaghal, you know King Guirmean already but this is King Fionn and Queen Breana.”
Breana swallowed hard and just stared at Fionnaghal with wide eyes but King Fionn recovered quickly and nodded to her. “Very nice to meet you,” he managed to say, earning a smile from Fionnaghal.
“A pleasure to meet you too King Fionn, Queen Breana,” Fionnaghal nodded. “Queen Vervain, Dexter misses you,” she held her arm out to me and Dexter ran down it.
“Oh, hey you,” I said as I caught him. “Thank you, Fionnaghal. I'm glad you came out to join us.”
“Yes, I thought it would be good for the children to get some fresh air. It's a very nice party, Queen Vervain. A good wake,” she nodded and waddled off with Toak.
“Congratulations on the recent additions to your household,” Queen Breana finally recovered from the shock of seeing a Hidden One up close. “Is that the nurial you spoke of?”
“Thank you and yes, this is Dexter.” I stroked Dexter's head and he climbed up my armor to nestle under my braid. I felt him pull up the dangling length of it to wrap around himself.
“He's sweet,” Breana's face settled into the baby expression. You know, the look women get when they see a super cute baby.
“Do you want to hold him?” I urged Dex down from my shoulder and onto the table.
“Yes actually,” she grinned and held her hand out, across Guirmean, who was sitting back in his chair, staring at Dexter with wary eyes.
“Breana,” Fionn looked just as wary as Guirmean.
“Don't worry,” I reassured Fionn. “He won't hurt her. Just don't startle him.”
Dexter padded down the table, gracefully maneuvering around Guirmean's place setting and nudging his head right into Breana's waiting hand. She smiled even brighter and urged him onto her lap, where he curled up and started purring in a very loud gravely tone.
“Oh I want one,” she turned to Fionn with hopeful eyes.
“He's not a pet, Breana,” Fionn shook his head and stared at Dex like he was a cobra curled up on his wife's lap.
“He looks like a pet to me,” she stroked Dexter's head and the purring continued.
“He's going to be as big as you someday,” Fionn sighed. “And he's a fire creature.”
“Well, steam for now,” I offered, “but I think your husband's right, Queen Breana. He's probably not the best companion for you.”
“Thank you, Queen Vervain,” Fionn smiled at me.
“Maybe you could find a little leriewoag,” I continued.
“Oh what a fabulous thought,” Breana nodded as Fionn groaned, and let Dexter climb back over to me. “I believe there were a few found who had made the change to snow. Were any of them orphaned, Fionn?”
“I don't know, my love,” Fionn gave a little laugh of surrender. “But we can find out when we return home.”
“Excellent,” Breana nodded.
“King Guirmean,” I changed the subject before Fionn could get too mad at me. “I had an idea for your new ice fey.”
“Oh?” Guirmean looked over at me with interest. “What sort of an idea?”
“Do you think they could make ice stones?” I lifted a brow at him. “To replace the cold stones that we use for storing food.”
“That's a brilliant idea,” Arach's eyes went round and I could practically see the business possibilities churning in his head.
“Yes, for King Guirmean,” I elbowed Arach.
“I think they could,” Guirmean nodded. “That is brilliant, Queen Vervain. Ice stones would be much more effective.”
“And you could make ice cream,” I grinned.
“Ice cream?” Guirmean looked over my smiling countenance carefully. “Is it as good as pizza?”
“Even better,” I wagged my brows at him.
“No,” he gasped. “surely not.”
“Yes, it is and don't call me Shirley,” I giggled.
“What? I didn't...”
“It's a human joke,” I waved off Guirmean's confusion. “I'm sorry, I couldn't resist.”
“I'll have the ice fey attempt to make some stones as soon as I return to the kingdom,” Guirmean nodded decisively, already over my strangeness. “If we're successful, I'll send you a case of them.”
“Thank you very much,” Arach leaned forward and nodded to Guirmean.
“After the hot stones you sent us,” Guirmean shrugged, “it's the least I could do.”
“I think we may have come up with a go
od idea as well,” King Fionn changed the subject, directing his attention toward me. “We're going to attempt the ritual you and King Arach performed.”
It took me a moment to realize he was talking about me and Arach having sex in the lava pool.
“Oh?” I cleared my throat.
“You know,” Arach looked over to Fionn, “that is a very good idea. Vervain's magic is what awakened the kingdom so quickly but a fertility ritual inside your whirlwind may help considerably.”
“Whirlwind?” I asked Arach in a whisper.
“Their equivalent of a lava pool,” he winked at me.
“I thought it might,” King Fionn nodded and then looked to Guirmean. “You should find a nice water-sidhe... or whatever type of fey you prefer,” Fionn chuckled, “to attempt it with as well, King Guirmean.”
“I just may do that,” Guirmean grinned in a way that clearly said he was considering more than the fertility of his kingdom.
“How are you going to fit?” I suddenly remembered the basin he'd showed us that was his equivalent of our lava pool.
“We don't actually have to be in the water,” he leered at me. “A few well timed dips should do the trick.”
“I'm sorry I asked,” I rolled my eyes.
Then I saw Breck's body being laid out on a pallet covered table in the center of the pavilion. She had been cleaned and dressed in her favorite dress, her hair combed and draped around her. As I watched, the fire fey lined up and began laying flowers around her body. Several of them were fire orchids.
“Arach,” I looked over to my husband. “I don't know what our traditions are for death.”
“This is it,” he waved a hand to the line of mourners. “We pay our respects and then we celebrate the life that has passed. When it's over, we'll take her down to the caverns and lay her to rest within the lava.”
“No one says anything?” I frowned, it didn't seem like it was enough.
“There will be several toasts made to her,” he nodded, “and fey will give accounts of her life to help preserve her memory. Was there something you wanted to say?”
“Of course there's something I want to say,” I blinked rapidly, trying to hold back my tears. “It's Breck.”
