Jess’s mother stepped forward slightly mirroring the slight nod, “Greetings Aliaine. I am Jessilaen’s mother, Jennaessiya.”
Jennaessiya gestured at the elder woman, “The head of clan Firinne within Queen Naesseryia’s Holding, our great-aunt, the esteemed Ariessa.”
Allie gave a deep nod and a small curtsey in return for the acknowledging head dip from the clan leader. She fought to keep from feeling intimidated; this entire meeting was clearly far more serious than she had been led to believe. She made a mental note to smack Jess when she saw him again.
Jess’s mother gestured at the other younger-looking elf, “My elder sister, Karealiss.”
“Jessilaen has told me that you wish to offer a marriage contract for him. I am sure you are aware that another contract has already been offered, one which we have been considering for some time.” Jennaessiya said smoothly.
“Yes, I am aware of that,” Allie said. “I’m sure you are aware that Jessilaen does not wish to take that contract but does wish to take the one I am willing to offer.”
“It is not a male’s place to decide which contract to accept.” Karealiss said dismissively.
“I am willing to hear her offer,” Ariessa said placidly. “Jessilaen has earned some favor with us and I will consider his preference as a factor. Aliaine is also known among many in the Outpost for her unique gifts.”
“Half-elves are so difficult to measure, each different than the others,” Karealiss said, sniffing slightly. “And nothing known for certain. I have heard some are barren, and that would make any contract with her useless for our purposes.”
Allie felt herself stiffening at the insult, made all the worse by the knowledge through her empathy that she genuinely was a non-entity to this woman. When she spoke she was relieved that her voice was steady, “That may be so, but much the same can be said of anyone. Each person is different and fertility is hard to measure until proven. Some may be infertile but I have known those of mixed blood who took after their human parent and displayed human fertility.”
“Even if we assume that she isn’t barren,” his aunt, Karealiss pressed, refusing to acknowledge Allie directly, “she doesn’t even have a clan. It would be a loss for our family when we could make a much better contract elsewhere.”
Allie felt herself tense even more, but she tried to keep her voice calm and polite, “Your pardon, but as my mother’s daughter I do have a clan.”
“What clan is yours?” Ariessa asked.
“Draighean.” It was a risk publicly naming her clan when she could hardly admit which court she was born into, but Draighean was one of the clans that belonged to both courts, making it a calculated risk. As long as they didn’t press her to name the Holding she’d been born into, or ask her anything more than superficial questions about her family she should be safe enough.
“Draighean isn’t a significant clan here,” Karealiss said, refusing to back down.
“No not here, that’s true, but they rule in other Holdings,” his great aunt said her voice thoughtful now.
“And they are on the Council,” his mother, Jennaessiya said demurely. Allie hadn’t expected assistance from her, but then she remembered Jess and Zarethyn insisting that she would approve of Allie if she believed Allie really wanted to be with Jess.
“That is so,” Ariessa agreed. Her eyes pierced Allie, who was struggling not to fidget over being talked about like a prime heifer at a market. “I find your clan ties acceptable Aliaine, and more than equal to Avaeryn’s. She has offered a very generous contract. What do you offer?”
Allie’s mind went blank as all three elven women turned and looked at her. Jess had told her it could take months to negotiate a contract and she had foolishly assumed that coming here today would not involve any actual negotiations, just the formality of her putting in her own offer. He had obviously not been aware of how close his family was to agreeing to the contract with Avaeryn. Oh crap, she thought panicking I’m not good at this sort of thing. How am I supposed to make some kind of opening bid or whatever when I don’t even know what’s already been offered? More than anything Allie wished she could reach out to Jess in her mind and get his help, but that would be wrong, after it had been made clear he wasn’t to attend this with her. She had to do this by herself, no matter how hard it was. It was agonizing though, knowing that if she made a mistake or if they turned her down it was his freedom that was at stake. Luckily for Allie elves thought nothing of long drawn out silences in such situations; the three women stood patiently waiting to hear what she had to say as all of this went through her mind. Finally, not sure if it was the right direction to go in or would be unforgivably rude Allie said, “What has Avaeryn offered?”
Ariessa nodded slightly, the barest movement of her head, but it reassured Allie that she had said the right thing. Karealiss frowned slightly; Jess’s mother’s expression stayed neutral. Ariessa said, ”After lengthy negotiation Avaeryn has offered a hundred years or two children, whichever condition is met first. She is willing to let a child apprentice with the Guard, if the child chooses to. And should both children be girls she will allow the second to belong to clan Firinne as Jennaessiya’s heir.”
Allie stared at the closest wall, considering this. She didn’t know a lot about marriages beyond the basics, but she did know that a hundred years was pretty generous. Usually a marriage contract would run half that or less, with the belief that if no child was produced after a couple decades of monogamous effort then there wasn’t going to ever be one. She nodded slowly, thinking hard. She didn’t like these women, Karealiss in particular, and she wasn’t going to stand there and let them force Jess into a marriage he didn’t want. But she’d have to give them something they couldn’t say no to. What would they want that she was willing to commit to? “Alright, then I will offer…as much time as it takes to bear him a female child, which will belong to clan Firinne and be Jennaessiya’s heir when the child reaches maturity. And may apprentice wherever Jessilaen approves of.”
The stunned looks on all three women were so comical that Allie had to fight hard not to laugh or otherwise show any reaction. Jess’s aunt especially was incoherent at hearing this, her mouth opening wordlessly. Allie kept a look of polite interest on her face, but she felt a surge of triumph behind her amusement. It was an offer so insanely generous that there was no way they could turn her down. Little did they know that she didn’t personally care about having a legal heir within elven culture, not when she had no association with her own clan or past.
Ariessa recovered first. “Of course it must be added as a term within the contract that should no child be produced within a reasonable timeframe the contract will be nullified.”
“Of course,” Allie agreed demurely.
Ariessa nodded slowly. “What you are offering is clearly superior to Avaeryn’s contract, your clan is acceptable, and Jessilaen prefers you. I see no reason not to accept the contract you are offering Aliaine. I will have the document drawn up and sent to you for review.”
Allie nodded, but as soon as she knew she’d won she felt a chill go through her.
What the Hel had she just done?
************************
Jess pulled the car up in front of the house, and put it in park, letting it idle. Reaching across he grabbed her hand and squeezed, his joy filling her and almost erasing her misgivings. She turned towards him forcing a smile. He was blissfully unaware of how she was really feeling about his family accepting the marriage contract, and his own happiness at the situation had made her feel worse on the ride back to the house. She wished that she had driven herself, instead of letting him give her a ride, so that she could have the time driving home to think about what she was doing with her life. But when he had suggested picking her up to bring her to the Outpost for the meeting with his mother so that they could discuss how she should behave and what would be expected it had seemed perfectly logical.
“I have to return to work,” he said,
“but I shall return here within an hour – two at the most.”
“I’ll be here,” she said unable to think of anything else to say. Glancing over at Liz’s car she added, “If Liz hasn’t started dinner I’ll see if I can come up with something edible for us.”
He leaned forward and kissed her gently, and she slid out of the Guard car and out of his emotional influence. It was a relief to just have her own feelings to deal with, and she took a deep breath, standing on the edge of the yard and waving as he pulled away.
Inside the house she jogged up to her room and pulled the dress off as quickly as she could, sick of it and what it represented. The stiff formality was quickly replaced with her usual jeans and t-shirt and that made her feel a bit better. She trotted back downstairs, looking into the living room to see if Liz was there reading. When that turned up empty she went to the kitchen and then the den, the realization slowly dawning on her that the house was empty. She felt a tingle of worry at that, knowing that the police and Elven Guard did not want her left alone in the aftermath of the shooting. Jason had stayed with her at the store all day until she’d closed to get ready for the meeting with Jess’s mother and then he’d left for work. She had just assumed at least one or the other of her remaining room mates would be home when Jess dropped her off. Shawn must still be visiting his mom out on mortal earth but Liz’s car was there, I know I saw it Allie thought frowning. She extended her empathy carefully out to check the house but it was definitely empty, except for Liz’s cat, Riona, who was sleeping in the den. Maybe Fred picked Liz up for another date Allie thought suddenly nervous. It was embarrassing to be afraid of being alone, but she couldn’t help glancing around the familiar house with trepidation, half expecting something terrible to jump out of the shadows.
She walked out the backdoor into the yard just to be sure that Liz wasn’t out there for some reason. It was just starting to get dark, clouds gathering, and the temperature was beginning to drop. Again Allie extended her empathy carefully, uncertainly, hoping that Ciaran at least might be nearby. Instead she felt two people moving along the tree line on the west side of the house; one she didn’t immediately recognize, but the other sent a shock of terror through her whole body. The memory was so intense it was almost physical: the same emotional mix of lust and satisfaction as he knelt over her, his hands gripping her torn dress, the bare bulb of the gardening shed casting a rough light over him and the other Dark court elf with him…
Her instincts screamed at her to run and she did so without thinking, running faster than she would have ever thought she could have. She knew they would not be far behind her, and worse that they could run faster than she could. The thought pushed her on and she crossed the backyard and leapt over the stone wall that divided lawn from forest without a pause. She came down hard on her bad ankle and fell, rolling in the tall grass and bushes. She was back on her feet in a breath, ignoring the blinding pain of her left leg.
She hit the tree line just as something metallic clicked off a trunk next to her. She did not turn to see if it was a dagger or arrow or something worse. She ran towards the deeper woods hoping only to find some way to lose them in the cover of the trees, too terrified to form a coherent thought or call Jess for help.
The dark shape of a large dog hurtled towards her, black in the shadows of the forest. A dozen yards away Ciaran’s form shifted from hound to horse and he let out a terrible cry that belonged properly to neither. At the familiar sight Allie changed direction, flinging herself desperately at the fairy-horse. Hitting him was like hitting a wall and he nearly trampled her in his frenzy to get to the Dark court elves chasing her. She ricocheted off of his side and rolled to the ground, still blinded by panic, and he hesitated, torn between protecting her and attacking them. A second dagger cut the air, slicing along his flank; the wound closed almost as quickly as it opened, but the flying blade made Ciaran’s decision. Turning with an unearthly agility his head snaked down and he grabbed Allie with his mouth lifting her up and swinging her back. She landed on his shoulders and instinctively grabbed his mane to keep from sliding off. In the next instant he was flying through the dark trees towards his pond.
Allie realized he wasn’t going to stop in the same moment he leaped at the water and she held her breath reflexively as the surface of the pond rushed at her face. There was a disorienting moment where she could see the water all around her but could feel nothing except the rush of cold air and the tingle of magic and then they were landing in a small, dry room. With a twisting kick Ciaran threw her off and she landed with a woosh as the breath was knocked out of her. Then he was gone.
Allie sat up slowly, her whole body aching. Her ankle hurt in a sharp way that worried her. She wanted to call Jess, but she hesitated, taking stock of her surroundings instead as her pulse began to slow and the blind terror faded.
Ciaran’s home was a little slice of Fairy anchored in Ashville. She could feel the almost intoxicating level of magic that she associated with being fully in Fairy suffusing the air. Looking around, if she hadn’t known better she’d have sworn she was in a tastefully decorated sitting room. A fireplace, complete with crackling fire, took up almost half of one wall with two high backed leather chairs positioned to either side of it. The other walls were covered in floor to ceiling book shelves, which were filled with books, everything from leather bound classics to cheap paperbacks. Across from the fireplace was a long leather couch, with dark wooden end tables at each side and a long matching coffee table in front. The horse statue she had given Ciaran as a gift sat in solitary splendor on the coffee table. The floor appeared to be hardwood, polished until it shone with a heavy dark red rug under the cluster of chairs and couch.
Allie crawled over to the nearest chair on her hands and knees, not trusting her ankle to bear any weight. She managed to pull herself up into the chair, her hands sliding across the slick leather. The cushions were softer than they looked and she sank down into them, her eyes unfocusing as she stared ahead at the fire dancing in the fireplace. The entire setting was so cheerful and welcoming and overwhelmingly safe that Allie started to shake, the stress of what had just happened hitting her. “Jess?” she reached out tentatively to his mind, aware that he was talking to someone – no she recognized the person, it was Mariniessa the mage assigned to their squad.
He stopped talking, looking down at the papers spread out on the table in front of him. She had linked closely to his mind, almost fully projected into it in her need for reassurance and she heard him telling Mariniessa to wait a moment, then “Allie what is wrong?”
“Don’t panic, please, I’m safe now, I swear I am,” she thought to him. “But I was just chased by two Dark court elves…”
“What?” his thought cut her off, his fear vibrating through her. “Where? At the house?”
“Yes,” she thought back, his fear oddly helping her to calm down. “I was out in the yard and I sensed them in the woods and ran…”
“Where are you now? Where are they?” his agitation hadn’t lessened, and she was aware of him calling the rest of the Squad together to go to her home. The idea of impending reinforcements calmed her even more.
“I don’t know where they are. I am in Ciaran’s home. He was pursuing them,” she thought back.
All the tension went of Jess. “The kelpie was after them? Then I pray they don’t escape him. He will do our work for us.”
Allie thought of that, of her friend tearing the Dark court elves apart and likely eating them. It was a nauseating thought, but also somehow satisfying. After everything she’d suffered at that particular elf’s hands she couldn’t be too upset imagining him dying horribly, even though it made her feel like a bad person.
“Stay there Allie, we are on our way.”
She responded without words, sending him a wave of love and gratitude.
A moment later the magic in the room flexed and then Ciaran appeared, jumping through the wall and landing lightly. Allie tried to hide her disappointme
nt – he was back too quickly to have caught them. The horse’s form rippled and shifted and then Ciaran was crossing the room in his human form, his bare feet silent on the carpeting. He knelt down by Allie, reaching out to take her hand, “Are you alright Allie?”
“Yeah,” she said. “Yeah I’m fine. Just a little shaken up.”
“I am sorry that I threw you down, did I hurt you?” he pressed anxiously.
“What?” for a second she couldn’t even remember what he was talking about, thinking only of the elves chasing her. Then the memory came in a flash of sensory input: the horse’s mane rough in her hands, his back shifting beneath her, the air as her body flew through it. The hardwood floor when she landed. She flushed, “I’m okay.”
He nodded slightly, relaxing. “I am sorry that I could not catch the ones pursuing you. By the time I returned to the world-above they had already fled. But I pledge to you Allie, if they return here they will not escape me again.”
“I know they won’t Ciar, and if you catch them feel free to eat them,” she said, swallowing hard, but not looking away from his eyes.
His dark brows rose at her words. “Indeed. I wouldn’t expect such ruthlessness from you.”
She sensed disappointment from him and then she did look away. “One of them is the one…the one who broke my ankle.”
Ciaran’s eyes narrowed, his rage making her flinch away. “Is that so? The one who tortured you came back here seeking you again?”
She closed her eyes at the word “tortured” wanting to deny it, but unable to. “Yes.”
His nostrils flared, an oddly equine gesture on his human face. “If he does come back would you like to watch me tear him apart one piece at a time?”
Into the Twilight: a Between the Worlds Novel Page 9
