I threw my arms around my father and for the first time, I didn't complain when he used his aura to pull me into a partial shift. We looked at each through darkened eyes and he smiled at me. "See. Still my Valeria, no matter what.” My father released me and waved goodbye as he walked away from us. Stunned by his unusual show of emotion, I was at a loss for words.
"I guess it's time," I said as I strapped the heavy sword to my waist. We crossed the driveway and entered the woods to the side of the house. Irulan paused once more and checked to make sure we were going in the right direction. I stopped beside her, closed my eyes in an imitation of Irulan, and pushed my aura ahead of me. The rush of magic that met me took my breath away, and. I felt the purest contentment I had ever known settled into a place within me that I never knew existed. "Is that...?" I couldn't find the words to express what I was feeling.
Irulan smiled, took my hand, and led me on. "Yes, that's the call of the FaeLands. They always lead their children home.” I smiled and hooked my arm through Irulan’s as we followed the pull of the FaeLands as it called to the Sidhe within us.
Everything was going to be all right. My grandfather would fix me and I could finally take care of Tristan. For once, since this whole thing began, I believed my own hype. I felt too good inside not to.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
It didn't take us long to reach the source of the pull that I felt. Dead in the center of the sprawling forest, I saw a large shimmering haze that blocked out everything behind it. It was almost as if the world behind it didn't exist, and in a way it didn't, at least it didn't exist in the world that I knew. Irulan came up behind me and wrapped her arms around my waist. "It's not too late to change your mind," she said, mistaking my quietness for hesitation.
I turned in her arms and gave her a quick peck on the nose. "You'd like that wouldn't you.” I pulled away from her and walked over to the doorway. "You keep me out of the FaeLands, and you keep me away from Tristan. It's not gonna happen. I need to face him now more than ever.”
Irulan exhaled slowly and stepped forward to press a hand to the shimmering pool. "I don't want to keep you out of the FaeLands, just modify the length of your stay.” The moment she made contact, the doorway caved in on itself in a flash of brilliant green light. When the flash settled, I could see a long rolling field dotted with majestic trees on the far side of a glistening arc.
Irulan laughed and ran through to the other side. Every move she made showed the joy she felt at being home. I smiled as she passed her hand over a patch of wildflowers, as she quietly talked to herself. As I watched her, I felt a quiet trepidation I couldn't explain. The flowers seemed to stretch towards Irulan as if they were aching for her touch. Trying to squelch the feeling, I stepped through the arc and watched her walk to a tree and knock on the thick trunk. A group of Pixies flew out of an opening in the trunk and flitted around her head. A few settled onto her shoulders and up-turned hands and began franticly chattering Elvish in high-pitched voices.
Irulan's laughter had a light ring to it that floated through the air and brought a smile to my face. She patiently answered their questions, pointing in my direction a few times during the course of the inquisition. Once they finished speaking, a lone Pixie darted over to hover in front of my face. The little man was as green as the grass beneath my feet, and had iridescent wings more lovely than any butterfly I'd ever seen. He leaned forward in a deep bow and came up with a very determined look on his face. "The Pixies of Moon Hollow owe allegiance to neither Light nor Dark Court, as such, you are welcome here young Fomori Princess."
I smiled and dipped my head at the prim little Pixie and looked past him to mouth the word 'Princess' to Irulan. "By right and by blood, you are a princess, Valeria.” Irulan held out her hand for me to take it and she pulled me to her side. "Valeria, may I introduce Danzie, Queen of the Moon Hollow, and the best source of information this side of Faerie."
The portly little pearl-colored woman smiled and slightly nodded from her throne that was sitting on a nearby tree branch. "Welcome home, Dark Princess," she said in a light airy voice. "My Irulan tells me you've come to deliver death to the visitor of King Fazion."
I smiled and nodded back, "That's one way to phrase it, I guess."
"Make haste then young one. Word across the lands says the key is here.” Danzie tapped a finger against her chin as she spoke. "Your man is growing stronger every day."
"So am I," I replied. "He's not going to get away from me again, I promise you that."
Danzie focused her intense little gaze on me for the tiniest of moments, and then smiled to herself. "Yes, your powers are growing, very impressive.” She grinned and waved a Pixie forward. "This is Kether. He will guide you to Mag Mell, and then travel with you on to Tir Na Nog. He's tasked with bringing me the eyes of Fazion's friend."
I coughed and looked to Irulan, surprised by what I'd heard. Danzie frowned slightly, "You heard correctly. The day he arrived he tore through my woods and killed an entire family of my Pixies.” She pressed her palms together as she spoke, "After his demise, I'd like a trophy for my halls. His eyes should do nicely."
I agreed to Danzie's request and looked at her in a new light. Beneath the innocent-looking guise, I saw a shadow of darkness just beneath the surface. I had the distinct feeling that, despite her small stature, Danzie was not someone to take lightly.
From the corner of my eye, I saw Irulan nod approvingly before she made a request of her own. "If it would please you, Queen Danzie, I have a request to ask of you.” Danzie motioned for her to continue. "As you can see, we're not exactly dressed for adventure in the FaeLands. If you have some available, we are in need of covering. Maybe some cloaks? I need to refrain from using my magic until we are closer to our goal."
"Yes, of course," said Danzie. At the slight tilt of her head, a group of Pixies disappeared into the thick gnarled tree trunk. "While they find something suitable, let me get a closer look at our little princess here.” The diminutive monarch rose from her dais, on transparent blue wings similar to those of a dragonfly, to fly over and land on my shoulder.
"You were a child of two worlds and equally divided when you faced that demon before. Once the old king's blood makes you whole, the demon won't be able to stand against you.” She took a glance down and pointed, "Or that lovely dwarf-forged sword you have at your waist.” She blew me a kiss laced with Pixie dust. It swirled around my head for few seconds before settling into my skin. Danzie looked quite proud of herself as she floated back to her throne where she sat with an eager expression on her face. I was just about to question the look when my eyes began itching and watering.
I rubbed my hands over my eyes as my anger spiked. Irulan hurriedly put a hand on my shoulder to stop me before I let my mouth dig us into a hole. The Pixie queen laughed and clapped her hands. "What a delightful youngling you are, such fire. I have given you a gift, child. One expects thanks."
I rubbed at my itching eyes and scowled, "I'll hold my thanks until I get some Benadryl, if you don't mind.” Danzie looked to Irulan with a confused look on her face. When Irulan explained to her in Elvish what I said, she burst out laughing.
"I'm sorry, child, there is nothing to cure The Vision, once your eyes are awakened they'll stay as such," she said. My eyes stopped itching, and I opened them. I saw Danzie in an entirely new light. Upon her head sat the most brilliant little crown I had ever seen. Topped with glowing stars on its spiked points, it was inlaid with jewels that seemed to glow with a light of their own. I turned my head and saw Irulan sans the glamour, but I also saw a similar crown atop her head. I spun in a slow circle and gasped at all the different types of Fae gathered around us. "Where did they come from?" I asked in awe.
"They've been here the entire time, Val, you just couldn't see them.” Irulan smiled as a dour faced hobgoblin drew the back of his hand across his nose and wiggled his fat little fingers in hello. "Danzie has gifted you with the ability to see all the denizens of the FaeLands.” Th
e Pixies arrived carrying with them two velvet cloaks as black as midnight.
As we put the cloaks on, Danzie giggled, "And your eyes will no longer suffer for it." Irulan's earlier murmuring made more sense to me now. Danzie waved a hand, and a throng of Pixies darted to her throne and lifted the dais it was resting on. "Be at peace, youngling. I will meet with you when you return.”
I smiled at the little queen and turned my attention to the throng of Fae gathered around my legs vying for my attention. Dryads and Ghillie Dhu's dropped down from the trees and Limniades floated through the air radiating their dazzling lights.
Kether flitted over and made himself at home on my shoulder. "If you want to reach Mag Mell by nightfall, I suggest we get going," he said, in a tone that was bordering on condescending.
Before he could fly away, I reached over and grabbed him by the scruff of his stiff, high collar. "Do you have a problem with me, little man?"
Kether rolled his eyes and sighed, "Of course not, my lady, simply stating the obvious, unless the implied urgency...” He let his voice drift as he swatted at the fingers that held him.
Irulan ran her hand down the small of my back. "Let the Pixie go, baby, he's right. We really do need to get going.” I set Kether free with a quick flick of my wrist as Irulan placed two fingers in between her lips and let loose a shrill whistle.
The Fae surrounding us scattered at the noise, taking cover in the safety of the forest. I felt a subtle change in the air around us and looked up to see a pair of imposing horses galloping towards us, seemingly from out of nowhere.
The horses were both the purest white with thick, golden manes. They were larger than any horse I'd ever seen. The thick cording of their muscles rippled beneath their shining coats as they came to a stop in front of us. I had heard tales of the steeds of the Tuatha De Danann, but I never imagined them to be such noble-looking creatures. I stepped towards the closest steed and raised my hand slowly in an unspoken request for permission to touch him.
The majestic animal nodded his head, and I ran my hands along his side. His coat was softer than anything I’d felt before, and I told him so. The stallion neighed his thanks at the compliment and dropped down on his two front knees. I looked over at Irulan, and she was crooning softly to her horse telling him how much she'd missed him. When she looked up at me, she laughed softly. "May I introduce Frost and Blaze, gifted to me by my father and uncle when I turned ten."
She mounted Blaze and motioned for me to do the same. I gingerly climbed aboard Frost's back and settled into the smooth leather saddle. In a movement that put my flashes to shame, we were up and racing through the forest at an incredible pace. My ability to flash was the only way I could grab Frost's thick mane in time to stay on his back.
The horse's hooves thundered over the ground as he raced behind Irulan, darting around trees and jumping over small creeks with almost no effort at all. I called out to Irulan. "I had no idea we'd be moving this fast. How long will it take us to reach Mag Mell at this pace?"
Irulan conferred with Kether, who was hiding in the breast pocket of her cloak. "Kether says an hour at best if the horses can keep this pace and we aren't detained."
"An hour?" I balked. "The way the little runt went on about getting started, you'd think it was farther away than that."
Irulan laughed as we came upon a road forged by feet and hooves. "Kether had no idea we were going to be traveling by horseback. Tuatha steeds are faster than any other horses in existence.” She brought her horse to a halt, drew the heavy cloak over her head, and motioned for me to do the same. "We're not far from a village. We're in the Dark Court's lands, and they don't take kindly to Sidhe from the Light Court showing up unexpectedly."
She looked at me for a moment, "No, come to think of it, you ride uncovered. They should be able to tell you share their court. If they stop us, slip into my mind, and I'll help you with what to say.” She fell back and allowed me to take the lead as we sauntered into the village.
The beaten earth gave way to a cobbled path and a collection of buildings and homes that looked as if they were straight from the pages of a Dickens’ novel. We moved as quietly as the horses would allow through the narrow street, past an outside market and various businesses. All around us various Fae either turned up their noses in disgust or outright cursed us under their breaths. Shopkeepers closed their doors, and I heard more than one clunk of wood against wood.
Irulan cautiously looked around us and sneered. "Looks like your presence isn't going to be enough, let’s pray we don't get stopped."
Get stopped? She was making the FaeLands sound like the southern U.S. before the Civil Rights Movement. “I thought the Fae were more enlightened than the rest of us, or at least that's what they like to tout. As far as I can see they’re nothing more than a bunch of bigots.”
A woman darted out of our path clutching her packages to her chest as if we were about to jump off the horses and mug her. Irulan pulled the cloak father over her face and leaned down close to Blazes mane. "Old prejudices die hard, Valeria. Don't take it personally. You would receive the same treatment if we were traveling through Light Court lands."
I scowled at an old man who was waving his cane at us as we passed by. I got no reaction, but the minute Irulan cut her eyes in his direction, the old codger hissed and spit on the ground at his feet. Irulan kept her eyes straight ahead and didn't utter a word. "Are you just going to let that go?" I demanded, incensed on her behalf.
Irulan didn't even look back. She just shrugged her shoulders and kept riding. "Giving in to them would only draw unwanted attention."
"Who cares about unwanted attention?" My anger was skyrocketing with every sideways glance and snide remark the villagers threw in our direction.
Irulan's head darted back and forth, as she scanned our surrounding for possible threats. "I do, Valeria, OK? I'm royalty of the Light Court in Dark Court lands, unannounced and unsanctioned, I could be killed for this."
OK, now she had my attention. It was definitely time for me to shut up and play mime. As a group of three armed soldiers strode up and motioned for us to dismount, I cursed my rotten luck under my breath. They all wore deep purple tunics over their armor with a huge golden panther centered on the chest.
Never one to follow orders, I pulled myself straighter in the saddle and smiled. "Is there a problem, gentlemen? My friend and I were just passing through. I'm sure we haven't broken any laws by doing so, have we?"
The head asshole stepped forward with one hand already gripping the hilt of his sword. "You may pass, sister, but your friend will come with us.” I shot a quick glance at Irulan, and should have at least consulted her about what course of action she would propose, but my temper flared and burned any ability I might have had to reason away.
"Sister?” I shook my head as I weighed my options. "I've got three brothers, and I can assure you, you aren't one of them."
I slid down from my mount, took the reins in one hand, and grabbed the bit in Blaze's mouth. "If you don't mind, we'll pass through as quickly as possible. We don't want any trouble."
All three men drew their swords and stood in front of us. "We do mind, sister. As I said before, you may pass, but the Seelie will come with us, one way, or another."
Irulan dismounted and came to stand beside me. "I believe this is all a misunderstanding. We've only been in the FaeLands for an hour at most. I’m sure you've got me confused with someone else."
A guard that had previously remained silent edged forward and spit. His aim was dead on, the sputter landed on the side of her face. "We don't have you confused with anyone, Seelie bitch.”
I moved so fast Irulan’s fingers caught nothing but air as she reached out to grab me. I had the offending guard on the ground and was pounding on his face in less than a second. "Apologize!" I bellowed as his face quickly began to resemble ground round.
Irulan tried to pull me away from him, but it was no use. "No!" I yelled as I continued to drive my fist int
o his face. "I refuse to stand here and let them disrespect you like that!" The beaten guard's buddies snapped out of the daze my attack had put them in, and rushed us.
I jumped up, shoved Irulan back out of the fray, and drew my grandfather’s sword. The two men moved as fast as any Vampire in full flash. One swung his sword low forcing me to dodge and roll. As I rolled, the other guard reared back and placed a firm kick in the small of my back. The kick, along with my forward motion, slammed me into the brick wall of a nearby building.
My fangs dropped as my face shifted and I hurled my sword at the closest target. The huge claymore found its mark pinning one man through his stomach to a nearby post. As I turned to face the other, a sharp pain brought me to my knees blowing my focus to hell.
I couldn't concentrate on anything other than the pain. Luckily for me, Irulan wasn't as distracted. The clang of metal against metal rang in my ears as Irulan took up Bas and used it against the last soldier. I tried to get up, but my body rebelled and refused to move an inch. I tried to turn my head so that I could see what was going on, but my neck felt locked in place.
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