by Aderyn Wood
Something flew past Dale’s ear and lunged at Ricardo. A dagger stabbed his heart and Ricardo fell to his knees with a grunt. Dale glanced behind her as Natalia screamed. Dale’s eyes locked with Rhys, his expression filled with hatred, before his head turned and his mouth opened in shock.
Dale spun back to see the reason for Rhys’s surprise. Natalia had slashed Ness’s throat, the old woman’s blood streamed like a red ribbon through the air to Natalia as she leaped. Blood magic. Natalia grabbed Ricardo from behind and springing up she flew through as though she were some superhero in a comic book. They flew north, quickly disappearing through the clouds. It all happened so quickly, Dale was left blinking until shock and anger woke her from her daze and she screamed, “Ness! No!”
She ran to the crumpled form of Ness who lay on the terrace. A dark pool of blood spreading on the marble tiles. She was vaguely aware of someone beside her, Rhys, repeating “No, no. Not Ness. I’m so sorry.”
Dale held Ness’s head up, but the old woman’s eyes were closed and no breath came from her lips. Her neck had been cut, almost ear-to-ear, and blood still flowed in a slow stream. Dale put her hand to Ness’s throat, attempting to hold her wound together to staunch the blood loss.
“She’s gone, Dale, I’m so sorry. I didn’t realise Natalia had such power.” Rhys’s face was flushed with tears, his mouth turned down in permanent sorrow.
“I’ll heal her.” Dale said with shaking hands trying to cover Ness’s wounds. “I did it with you, I can do it for Ness.”
“No, Dale you can’t. She’s gone, dead. Remember your teachings, to bring someone back now is never going to work. You won’t bring back Ness as she was, as we all knew her.”
Dale ignored him and closed her eyes, focusing on opening her sight to the true realm and accessing that secret window to power. But concentrating was difficult; shouts of joy from down in the valley rang up to her, and something else, the beats of a horse coming closer, up the palace path. But grief, panic and anger were her main enemies now as she tried in vain to control her emotions and force the necessary calmness to heal Ness. Her hands slipped on Ness blood, but she held them still and closed her eyes to try again.
“Dale, please.” Rhys continued. The panic still clear in his voice. “It’s too late.”
The hoofbeats grew louder, on the terrace now. Dale tried to block them out.
“Daughter, stop!”
Dale glanced behind to see the queen dismount from Stella and stride forth, white cape billowing. “Leave her, if you bring her back now she will be as one of the Unseelie monsters. It will not dignify her to make her so. Leave her. Let us give her funeral rites as is befitting of such a powerful sorceress.”
Dale took a deep breath and closed her eyes, letting her hands fall to her side. Tears finally formed and fell to the ground mixing with the pool of Ness’s blood. She’d managed to drive the Unseelie back, but victory felt as hollow and numb as her heart.
Ness was dead.
33
The palace stood as tall and as majestic as ever, despite the blackened patches where the Unseelie had set it to light. They’d not managed to bring down a tower this time and Dale’s mother was thankful for that at least. Inside was worse though. Paintings and tapestries had been torn from the walls and torched. Urns, statues and windows had been smashed and broken glass and marble lay in fragments, strewn throughout the entire palace.
Dale stood in the throne room with her mother, trying not to think about Ness. Ma’r Sivylla had instructed a group of young novices to take Ness’s body down to the infirmary. To be readied for her funeral rites.
“They burnt the throne,” her mother said.
Dale looked to the end of the large room where the throne had sat on a raised dais. Now a blackened pile of rubble stood in its wake, the remnants of a bonfire.
“They disgust me,” Dale said with a scowl.
Sa’r Coneril found them with more bad news. The only casualty aside from Ness was Hentiel.
The queen winced and Dale closed her eyes as Sa’r Coneril apologised and left them swiftly to organise the Seelie’s return back into the city.
My fault. I should have helped him.
“We need to be strong, daughter.”
Dale opened her eyes and sniffed as she wiped her tears with the back of a hand.
“I am the queen, you are the princess. Our people will look to us, for strength, for guidance, for assurance.”
Dale nodded as her mother stepped closer, reaching out her slim hand and resting it on her shoulder.
“You did well today, daughter. You saved us all, just as the prophecy told us you would.”
Dale shook her head, sniffing again. “But Ness.” She blinked hard as her throat tightened. “I didn’t… I couldn’t—”
“Please.” Her mother drew her into a tight embrace, caressing her hair, her own body shaking as she sobbed quietly.
Dale hugged her tight.
“Never blame yourself, my darling girl. It is I who failed her. I should have listened to you when you begged me to.”
Dale shook her head and stepped back from her mother. The queen’s eyes were red and swollen. She’d already shed many tears and would shed more in the coming days and weeks as they came to terms with their losses.
“If I’m not to blame myself, you’re not to either. There’s only one person to blame.” She tightened the grip on her mother’s hands. “And we shall seek our vengeance on him soon enough.” Dale kissed her mother’s cheek and embraced her one more time before she headed out of the throne room, through the adjacent reception space and down the corridor that led to the orangerie.
Of all the many thoughts and obligations that now occupied her mind, one rang more urgent than the others. She needed to visit the prophecy stone. Some empty space in her heart moved her forward with a frenetic energy.
In the orangerie the citrus trees stood unharmed, somehow ignored by the Unseelie monsters. Dale paused a moment to take in their simple beauty. The first of the oranges were budding, the blossoms now all gone.
She headed toward the oak door, the entrance to the Emerald Tower.
“Dalendra.”
Dale spun at the familiar voice. Agathina stood before her. She looked exhausted. No doubt, her magic-use in the battle had taken its toll on her energy. But Hentiel’s death would have taken an equal measure.
“Agathina.”
Her friend slouched her slim shoulders and started sobbing, keening with heavy howls, as her mouth opened and she grieved.
Dale ran the few steps and embraced her friend. “It’s all right. It’s all right.” She hugged her tight and stroked her hair just as her mother had done with her moments before. A gesture that seemed to bring some small measure of comfort.
Agathina’s breaths rose and fell in sharp staccato as her sobs escalated.
“I’m so sorry, Agathina. I’m so sorry.” Dale kept whispering. Her own tears now falling freely.
After a time Agathina calmed, and she stepped away, holding Dale’s hands.
“He was like a brother to me,” she said with a sad smile.
Dale nodded. “I know.”
“And Ness, she’s gone too.”
Dale clenched her jaw. She had to be strong her mother had told her. But such strength seemed just as impossible as using her magic had once been. Fresh tears fell from her eyes and her lips trembled. All she could do was nod her head and Agathina reached for her, embracing her again.
“Nothing will come between us again. You are like a sister to me.”
Dale nodded as she held Agathina tight. “Please, I would like that. You’re my best friend.”
They pulled apart and smiled despite the tears.
“Come with me?” Dale asked finally.
“Where are you going?”
Dale looked up to the Emerald tower. It appeared relatively untouched, and she hoped it would bode well for the prophecy stone, though the emptiness in her heart told her othe
rwise. “Up there,” Dale said. “Will you come?”
“Do you have the key?”
Dale shook her head. “No. But I do not need it.”
She held Agathina’s hand and together they walked past the orange and mandarin trees until they came to the old oak door.
Dale held up a hand and drawing some of her inner well of power, she uttered the word, “Aperio.” The old door opened with a groan.
Inside the walls remained undamaged, just as the exterior was and Dale almost whispered her thanks. She climbed the stairs quickly, resisting the urge to run up them two at a time. Agathina soon breathed hard behind her, and once on the landing even Dale’s breath laboured.
They stood before the second oak door and this time Dale didn’t even have to raise her hand before the door glided silently open. She looked at Agathina whose raised eyebrows and wide eyes reflected Dale’s own surprise. Together they stepped into the small chamber. The sun was setting and the rosy dusk light filtered through the windows, but Dale didn’t pause to appreciate its beauty. Her eyes fell to the pedestal, and the realisation shook her with a heavy blow. The emerald, the prophecy stone, was gone.
34
They buried Ness and Hentiel the next day. A line of mourners filed down the mountain path to cross the eastern bridge and climb the long meandering trail to the section of forest called the Winterwood. The trees were old and gnarled, and as the mourners walked a rain of rusted red leaves fell in loops and spirals to carpet the forest floor. Some of the pines and cypress towering above them gave welcome flashes of green amongst the autumnal hue.
Dale pulled her hood down with a shiver as the shrouded corpses were placed with care in their graves in the clearing beneath an elm tree. A vast view of the palace rose to the west and from this vantage, it almost appeared undamaged.
Dale shed more tears as the queen said her words – the funeral rites – and four of the men began shovelling the soil to bury her friends. In the spring a sapling would be planted on each grave. Dale clutched Agathina’s hand tight.
After, she bid her friend goodbye.
“You're going to see him aren’t you?” Agathina said, her eyes red and swollen, though she seemed to have shed the last of her tears, for now.
Dale nodded. “I’ll meet you at the feast, won’t be long.” And she walked the path that would take her to the willow, to Cat.
The willow’s leaves were yellow, and the ground damp, but she wouldn’t be sitting now.
“Hello, Cat,” she said. “All my Earthen friends have gone now. I hope you find each other.”
Esme popped into existence and Dale bent low to hug her. “Esme. It’s good to see you. Have your brothers and sisters returned as well?”
Esme shrugged and started talking at length.
Dale shook her head. “I can’t hear you, Esme. Will your friends be returning here soon?”
Esme nodded with a big smile. It was a good sign, the free spirits would only return to the Borderlands if the Unseelie were no longer a threat. Dale intended to follow through on her promise to Ricardo. After three days, she would lead a team to the Verge to ensure the Unseelie had left them, once and for all.
She turned her head to the grey sky, opened her second sight, and called to her hysbryd, Azazel Zu Yam-Nahar.
It wasn’t long before the dragon circled overhead, landing close by the riverbank.
“Good morning, Az,” Dale said. “I trust you are well?”
The dragon flared her nostrils. I’m surprised to see you standing, Firstling, and healthy still. I did warn you of his trick.
Dale nodded. “You did, and I should have been more wary. I lost a friend, a dear friend.”
Esme skipped over to the dragon and poked at Az’s tail.
And you’ve found another I see. Az replied with a droll tone. I do distrust the free spirits, and their wicked games. Begone! Az roared at Esme whose eyes widened and the little sprite vanished in an instant.
Dale let go a sigh. “I will need you here with me, the day after next.”
Az’s eyes squinted, dimming their green fire for just an instant. To chase those vermin, no doubt.
“Yes, I want to ensure they’ve left.”
They’ll return, you know. Perhaps in a year, or perhaps a century, but that is the way of this dreary world.
Dale tilted her head. “How old are you, Azazel?”
The dragon seemed to chortle and puffs of steam come out in circles from each nostril. I’m young as far as dragons go, but older than any of your kind. Older than the Borderlands themselves. I’m from the Void.
Dale wondered how their fates had been linked. How was it this dragon had been made her hysbryd? Her father must’ve forged a powerful spell to make it so.
I wouldn’t think too much on the mysteries of the universes, Firstling, you might damage your fragile intellect.
“Dalendra.”
Dale turned with a jolt.
“Rhys,” she whispered.
Mmmmm, here’s a troubled soul. Az thought to her.
“I… we need to talk.” Rhys stared at her, worry written all over his creased brow.
Dale nodded then turned back to the dragon. “You’re free to leave me, but the morning after next I will meet you here at dawn."
The dragon’s fiery irises scanned Rhys one more time before she spread her wings creating a rush of wind as she lifted her vast body and sprung into the air, circling them once before heading north.
Dale’s gaze returned to Rhys whose steely eyes held as always. This time she didn’t blush with uncertainty. No, she was well beyond that now. It was anger that caused her cheeks to burn though she kept it under control for now.
“It seems you are the saviour after all.”
“Yes,” Dale replied, her voice level.
“I’m sorry for acting when I should have left you to deal with him.” Rhys broke his stare for once and looked to the ground.
“Yes, you should have. We might still have Ness if…” She left her sentence hanging. As much as she was furious with him, she couldn’t quite bring herself to blame him. She blamed herself as much.
“I’m sorry.”
Dale lifted her chin. “Looking back to what might have been will only stall us. There’s much to be done. We have to rebuild our city and straighten our defence. We have to ensure the Verge remains protected. It is my belief that in the past the Seelie have let their guard down too easily, too readily.”
Rhys glanced up at her. “It is my belief too.”
Dale nodded. “I also have a quest of my own.” Dale had only shared the news with her mother, and Agathina, who’d seen it for herself. “The Prophecy stone is gone. Taken by Ricardo, no doubt.”
Rhys grimaced. “What does he want with it?”
“Its power, most like. And its learning of the future.”
“Bastard.”
“I will need to retrieve it. It calls to me.” Dale felt its hum, weak but present. It called to her through the raw energy whenever she opened her mind to it. Its choral voices touching her ears as light as a butterfly’s wingbeats.
“There’s something else we need to do.” Rhys’s voice shook slightly and Dale frowned. A sudden memory of the prophecy came to her.
“What do you know?” Dale’s voice was flat. It was time for honesty. She would no longer tolerate being kept in the dark.
“As you know, I returned to Earth a number of times over the last year. It was part of the war council’s plan, to keep track of Ricardo’s movements on Earth.”
“And to search for Ness?”
“Yes, though I never found her. Even though your mother assured me she was there.”
Dale gripped her hands in a tight knot. “Why didn’t you tell me you knew about Ness?”
“Your mother. She made me promise.”
Dale’s mouth turned down in a scowl. “Perhaps you wanted to see your girlfriend again.” She narrowed her eyes at him, her anger out now and needing a target. �
�I saw her, you know. Prudence. She’s working for Ricardo, can you believe it? Maybe you can.”
Rhys frowned, his eyes moving up and down from the ground to her.
“She told me all about your little fling. She thinks you’re quite a good kisser. Though I’d have to disagree.”
Rhys bared his teeth “You think I’ve betrayed you?” His breaths came quick and heavy as he took a step toward her, pointing a finger. “What about you and your dalliance with Jaral. It was all I heard for the first week of riding to the warfront. And he rubbed it in my face until I was sick with it.”
“Well, it appears we’re even on the betrayal front.” She clinched her hands together in a tight knot to keep them from shaking. “You wanted to tell me something of your visits to Earth. Go on.”
Rhys’s nostrils flared as he took a deep breath, his broad chest rising. “When I went back, I also kept a close eye on your family. My family. Victoria, the twins…”
“And Benny.” Dale looked at him with a level stare.
Rhys shook his head. “He’s taken, exchanged. Another now sits in Benny’s place.”
“He’s become a changeling.”
Rhys nodded. “I think Ricardo has him.”
“No!”
“Benny has magic ability, just as I do. It’s quite common in families. I think it’s why my enchantment didn’t work on him when I returned to wipe their memories of you.”
Dale shook her head; her heart already heavy with grief, now sank with more worry. Then a sudden rush from the prophecy came to her, the choral voices, the saviour must go to Earth. It is where the balance must be restored.
“I think we need to return to Earth. There is more to be done there,” Rhys was saying.
“I agree.” Dale interjected, and Rhys’s eyes widened in surprise. “Yes, there is more to be done. We need to crush Ricardo and his church.” The window to her secret power was open in full and she understood the impact of Ricardo’s work. “Earth,” she said, “is where he gets his power.”
Epilogue
In the Underlands, a blizzard of snow and razor-sharp ice lashed at the mountain peaks as it had done for aeons. Deep within the mountain’s core, nestled in the lowest chamber, steamy warmth flowed from the veins of lava cut into rivers and streams by the Unseelie of centuries past. Red lava lanterns lit the black cavern, a table or bench, carved from rock stood in the very centre. Two figures faced each other, one a man the other a god.
