Eir is at the table inhaling coffee and muffins when I come in, and I’m happy to see him grin at me around a mouthful of food. I grin back and bring the bags over to him. “I brought Flint to pick up some things and grabbed some jeans and things for you, since you’re still growing,” I tell him; sitting down in the chair next to his and pulling his muffin closer to me to share.
He slaps my hand away, laughing. “Mine! I’m sure you ate your fill this morning.” He nods at Flint, saying, “Hey man,” and then looks back to me. “You should have woken me up. I would have gone with you guys,” but he doesn’t look angry. I steal a piece of his muffin and laugh when he stuffs the rest of the bottom into his mouth whole to keep me from taking more.
“You’re going to choke one of these days,” I tell him, and feel some of the tension from dealing with Flint ebb away. Eir shakes his head, still chewing and I say, “Wait until you swallow to speak, please.” I smile and get up to get coffee for myself.
Eir swallows and says, “How many cups does that make for you today, sister dear?” I grin at him and lean against the counter.
“I’d rather not say,” I tell him and he laughs.
Eir looks at Flint. “My sister is the only person I know who can drink her weight in coffee and still come back for more. She has a serious caffeine addiction.” I laugh despite myself; ignoring Flint and the smirk I’m certain is on his face.
Flint chuckles. “I never would have guessed.”
“Okay, demon child — enough about me,” I say; bringing my coffee back to the table and setting it down. I start unloading the clothes out of Eir’s bags. “I need you to try these on please, as soon as you’re finished stuffing your face. If you get any taller we’re either going to have to sew extensions on to all your pants, or cut them all and you’ll just have to wear shorts year round.”
Eir grimaces. “Well I don’t mind shorts in the summer time. I won’t be wearing them in the spring like you do, though. I’m pretty sure frostbite isn’t the way to end my never-ending growth spurt.” He stuffs half a muffin in his mouth, hands me the other half, gulps down the rest of his coffee and stands; hugging me quickly before grabbing up the clothes and heading to his room to try his things on. I nibble on my half of the muffin and smile happily, feeling the rest of the Flint-related tension leave me.
Flint surprises me by pouring himself a cup of coffee and sitting across from me at the kitchen table. “I like that kid,” he says with a surprisingly non-irritating smile on his face.
I can’t help but smile in return. “It’s very easy to like him,” I say sincerely.
Eir’s door opens and he sticks one leg out into the hallway, calling out in his attempt at a falsetto. “Look, look, look — no more showing off my ankles!” and I giggle at him. He steps the rest of the way out of the bedroom and sashays into the kitchen with an exaggerated swing in his hips. He stops by the table and turns all the way around, looking at Flint and raising his eyebrows. “Hey there, sailor. Do you come here often?” Flint chokes on his coffee and then sputters.
I’m surprised when Flint throws his head back and laughs, and I find myself unable to stop my own laughter from bubbling over as I watch my brother preen and make big eyes at the faery. I watch the two of them and can’t help but think that maybe Flint isn’t as bad as he seems.
Chapter 9—Fi
May 2102
It’s been three weeks since the day Flint surprised me on my morning run, and he seems to be adjusting to life here fairly well. I wasn’t sure at first how he’d do with all the iron in the city, but he doesn’t seem to be suffering any ill effects so far. I still find him mildly irritating almost constantly, but Eirnin seems to like him and so does Seamus, so I do my best to bite my tongue and deal with his acerbic sense of humor. That doesn’t mean I’m always successful. I’ve been running a lot more since he arrived. I find it eases the desire to knock him out, at least until the next time I encounter him.
He was right about needing to swap out the guards on our borders, and I need his help. Sean is hell-bent on carrying out his insane ‘Let’s kill the Winter princess’ plan that he told me about when I was drunk, and has gathered support amongst the younger residents of our community. I need to stop this before it gets any farther out of hand. There is no way I can condone murder. I don’t care if she’s a faery; she hasn’t done anything to hurt us and I will not stoop to the level of the Fae. My father would never want that for us.
I’m pouring myself a cup of coffee after my run when Flint makes his sleepy entrance to the kitchen. I grin at him, pour him a cup of his own and leave it on the counter. I sit down at the table and motion to the chair across from mine. “Can I talk to you about something?”
He looks over at me and nods. “I don’t see why not.” He collapses down in the chair I pointed to, looking like he’s expecting me to scold him for something. “Hit me.”
I smile despite myself. “Thanks. When you first came here, you said you wanted to help us. There is something we’ve been…planning, and um…I’d like to get your opinion on it if you’re agreeable.”
He looks shocked, there’s no other word for it, but he nods and says, “Of course.”
Now that I have his attention, I find I can’t look him in the eyes and tell him this. I’m ashamed of myself for ever agreeing to it. I don’t care how upset or drunk I was at that moment. I take a drink of my coffee and dive in. “A few months ago, we heard word that my parents were most likely executed by the Winter Court.” I can’t take back the catch in my voice, but I take a moment to compose myself before continuing. “They were looking for information on how to close the faery gates for good. Winter has been spreading the word that they know how.”
For the first time since he got there he actually looks at me with something other than that smirk I despise. He looks sorry for me, and I look quickly away and wish the smirk was back instead. “I’m sorry about your parents.” He shrugs. “They do brag quite a bit.”
“It's not something I talk about, honestly. I am not comfortable with the plan we're operating under currently, and I guess I wanted to know what you thought." I let myself trail off and take a deep breath before going on. "There are some members of my community who feel like there has to be bloodshed; retribution for my parents’ deaths. They want to capture and then kill one of the Winter princesses. Her name escapes me right now. I don't feel this is the course we should take. What do you think?"
When I raise my eyes to see his reaction, his are wide and staring. “You’re kidding, right?” When I shake my head no, he leans back in his seat. “I, uh...that...it seems a bit suicidal to me.”
I drop my head in my hands, laugh without humor and admit, “I agree. I just don’t know how to make my…er…people see that.”
“Whoever gave you that plan isn’t right in the head.” He leans forward and rests his elbows on the table. “If you kill one of them it just proves you’re here — it’s an open invitation to blast the whole city to bits.”
I feel myself stiffen at the insult to Sean but don’t say anything. He doesn’t know it was Sean’s plan, after all, and I’m convinced Sean is just misguided in his grief. “I really don’t want to kill anyone, Flint. I don’t want anyone else here doing it either. It just doesn’t feel right to me.” I hide my face in my hands again; misery coursing through me at my own ineptitude. “We do have to do something, though. We can’t just stay here like this forever waiting for them to come for us.” I pause a moment, considering before asking, “Can I ask — why are you so convinced they’ll come? What are they after?”
He looks up at me. "After being here for a while, I assume they’re looking for your brother." He shakes his head and lifts his hands a little. "I don't know exactly why, but there are rumors about a boy who knows how to close the gates, and the royalties refuse to acknowledge it. And when the royalties won't humor an idea, it's because they're scared of something, and when they're scared of something, well..." He waves his han
d. "That something has to go away."
I clench my jaw angrily and mutter, "So my father was right," and then sigh. "Eir doesn't know anything about closing the gates!" I drop my head in my hands for a minute; frustrated and more scared than ever before. What else can I do to protect him from Them? I realize Flint is still looking at me expectantly and say, "Well, at least I know now, right?" I don’t really expect a response from him. I clear my throat and say, "Anyway, back to the princess,” and look at the table for a minute, trying to collect myself.
“Honestly, killing her would have little to no effect. Landric and Bronwyn have children for show, mostly,” he says, and if I didn’t know any better I’d think he was trying to make me feel better by continuing on like we hadn’t spoken about Eirnin at all. He shakes his head. “There are other things you could do, though.”
"What would you suggest?"
“If you kill her after they killed two unmarked humans, you’re basically saying you’re here and you’re pissed. If you were to...kidnap her,” he winces even as he says it, “they’d have no proof. It could be a number of different things. And if you got the right one, she might even want to help us.”
“Kidnap her? Where in the world would we put her?" I sit back in the chair and tap my fingers against my bottom lip as I think. “You really think one of them might want to help us?"
Flint shrugs. "One of them is the pariah of the family. She's been caught dealing with humans a few times already. That one might be your best bet."
I can’t even believe I’m considering this, but it has to be better than murder. "Dealing with humans? What do you mean?"
Flint glances at my mouth and I blush, realizing I’m still tapping my fingers there, before he raises his eyes to meet mine again. "For one, she snuck a pregnant human and her three-year old daughter out of her father’s custody. And before I arrived here, rumors were flying about her getting caught visiting a little get together some really stupid humans were throwing. I don't know how that all ended, but it's pretty obvious she's got a bit of a soft spot for you all."
Part of me already knows the answer to this, but I’m hoping I’m wrong for this poor girl’s sake. "Her father won't hurt her, will he?"
Flint pauses, seems to be considering his words carefully, and then slowly shakes his head. "With all the evidence...in that Court, it would be weird if he didn't."
I shake my head; sad for this girl who will be punished for trying to do the right thing and feeling awful about our plan. "So she would be the one to take?"
He nods. "The others are all very anti-human. Some are better than others, but," he sighs, "the blonde is your best bet."
"The blonde?” I ask in confusion. “What's her name?"
"Some long, drawn out thing." He shakes his head. "Winter always has the weirdest names. I believe she goes by Lumi."
I nod, though I still feel sick inside. "So Lumi it is, then."
"Lumi it is." He doesn’t look too fond of this idea either.
I open my mouth to ask if maybe we should scrap this idea altogether when my back door opens with a violent bang to reveal my cousin, Sean standing there. He and I haven’t been on the best of terms since Flint’s arrival, and all I feel at his intrusion now is annoyance.
“For heaven’s sake, Sean, why are you busting in here like that? This is my house, you know! You could knock!” I say, venting my frustration on him.
Flint turns to look at the door and lifts a brow at Sean. “Someone got up on the wrong side of the bed today, huh?”
Sean flushes at my reprimand. I don’t normally yell at him, no matter what he does. “I’m sorry, Fianna. I didn’t see you run by this morning. I wanted to check on you,” he says, sounding petulant and ignoring Flint completely.
“You didn’t see me because I didn’t run by you, Sean. I took a different route and left earlier than normal because I wanted to talk to Flint about something,” I say, seeming unable to stop the venomous tone in my voice.
Flint leans back in his seat and takes his coffee off the table; looking between the two of us with mild interest. “Seems a bit stalker-ish, watching her run...” He frowns thoughtfully. “Just saying.”
Sean looks between the two of us sitting at the table; his face getting red in anger or embarrassment, I can’t be sure. "Well, pardon me! What would you possibly have to discuss with the faery?"
I shake my head and sigh in exasperation. When did things become so complicated between my cousin and me? “Sean—” I say, but Flint interrupts me.
“She was telling ‘the faery’ about someone’s idiotic plan to murder Fae royalty.” He scowls at Sean. “We were just about to discuss how you didn’t get hugged enough as a rugrat.”
I drop my head in my arms on the table and wait for my cousin to explode with rage. Sure enough, Sean slams the door shut and takes two steps inside. "It is NOT an idiotic plan! They spilled our blood — why shouldn't they pay?"
I raise my head again, trying to reason with him. "Sean, it's not going to happen. We aren’t murderers."
Flint pauses for a second and bursts out in hysterical laughter. After a second he composes himself and says, “Oh God. How did I not guess it was your idea?”
“Please shut up," I say quietly to Flint. "You are not helping the situation."
“I’m not trying to,” he says honestly; covering his mouth with his hand and nodding. “It just makes so much sense...”
Once again I wish I could knock Flint out, but settle for scowling at him instead. "Please, Flint — I’m saying please. No more laughing at Sean." I look up at my cousin. "We have a new plan. I think it's much better, and will actually help us in the long run. It might even help this poor girl…eventually. And no one is getting killed during its commission. Now, do you want in? Or are you going to run away because your feelings are hurt that I will not put our people in jeopardy to build up your ego?"
My cousin glares down at Flint and then nods. Pulling out a third chair at the table, he flops down into it and drags it so it’s closer to me. I sigh and feel a headache start pounding away in my temples. “I’m certainly not going to leave you to work alone with him,” Sean says with disgust heavy in his voice.
I straighten in my chair and point a finger at my cousin, my patience exhausted. “Sean Michael Kelly — if you stay you will keep a civil tongue in your head or I swear I’ll smack you.” I turn to Flint and tell him, “That goes for you, too!”
Thoroughly fed up with both of them and their attitudes with one another, I get up to refill my coffee and grab the coffee cake that I have hidden in the cupboard with the wine glasses. I need the sugar to keep me sane at this point. I lean against the counter rather than returning to the table and take a very unladylike-sized piece of cake from the pan, leaving the rest on the counter. I cup my hand under my mouth to catch any crumbs and tune out the two boys sniping at each other at the table; simply enjoying the sweetness on my tongue. My aunt is a culinary genius. I finish and heave a contented sigh, dusting crumbs from my fingertips. Realizing the room has finally become quiet, I look up. Both boys are watching me with looks of varying amusement on their faces.
I feel my face flush and busy myself, pulling out plates and forks and carrying everything over for them. Once it’s all on the table and I can’t avoid it any longer, I take my seat again and look at them. Sean is very interested in the piece of cake he’s sliding on a plate for himself, but Flint has that damn smirk firmly in place; his shoulders shaking with silent mirth. I surprise us both by sticking my tongue out at him and helping myself to another piece of cake. I slide the cake pan across to Flint and then clear my throat.
“So, summer would be the best time to do this?” I ask, mostly to have something to say to get us back on track. After all, it’s common sense that we wouldn’t infiltrate the Winter Court and kidnap one of their princesses until they were at their weakest.
Sean’s eyebrows are near his hairline when he asks, “What are we doing?” I look to Flin
t and he nods at me to tell him myself.
I swallow and tell him the truth. “We’re going to kidnap a Winter princess.”
Chapter 10—Lumi
June 2101
There is nothing but soft crying and senseless muttering in this part of the dungeon. It’s too dark to see who I’m rooming beside, but the small cries sound like a young woman, somewhere in her late thirties probably, and the older man is mumbling about God only knows what — and I have a feeling that may just be who he’s speaking with.
Without any windows or doors I don’t have the sun to track how long I’ve been down here. Judging by the tight feeling in my stomach and the flavor my mouth has manufactured from dehydration, I am going to presume it’s been longer than a few hours. However long it’s been, my tongue is sticking to the roof of my mouth and the sweat created by fear and tension has made these floozy garments and me rancid, I’m sure. What I would give for a long, hot shower right now…
I’m sure Khan has been able to shower, I think bitterly with a shake of my head. I sigh quietly to myself and try to continue daydreaming about food, but it’s too late now — my brother’s lies and stupidly smug smirk have taken over the forefront of my brain, and the urge to punch him in the jaw is making my fingers twitch.
He found me sneaking out in the middle of the night. What he was doing poking his stupid head in my room, I have no idea, but while I had one foot out the window I heard the telltale creak of the wood saying I had an unwanted visitor in my presence. Unfortunately I didn’t have the sense to act nonchalant, and pretty much threw myself back in the room; nearly cracking my face open on the dark floor.
“Going somewhere?” he asked with a chuckle in his voice.
Knowing exactly how my brother was about this sort of thing, I simply shook my head at him and waved my hand. “Go on, then,” I snapped. “Go run and tell Father.”
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