Fragile Destiny (The Aether Chronicles)

by Suzanne Lazear

  V’s eyes narrowed back. “This isn’t why you’re here.”

  “I’m here to see who overthrew Brogan, of course. Because the new king is still my loyal subject.” She focused on V, ignoring Noli completely. “How exactly did you do it, Stiofán? Who were your witnesses? I hope it wasn’t Ailís; she’s too young for such things.”

  “I took it, not him,” Noli interjected, trying to deflect the queen. “I killed him with my sword. V and James were my witnesses. This is my kingdom.”

  Tiana’s eyes bulged, then she threw her head back, her laugh a tinny cackle. “How could a sprite take a kingdom? The Bright Lady would never allow it. You’re so funny.”

  “I’m not a sprite anymore.” Noli couldn’t help but grin as she said that. “Also, my first act as queen is to make V my king.” She looked up at V, smile widening.

  “No, you don’t have my permission.” Tiana bristled, looking very out-of-sorts.

  “I wasn’t actually asking your permission, Your Majesty.” Noli gentled her tone slightly. No good would come from angering the queen, but they couldn’t afford to put themselves in any position where she might be able to tell them no. An order from the high queen must be obeyed.

  Even by her.

  “Don’t you want me to be king … Mum?” V gave the queen a pleading look, the fake kind Noli often gave her own mother when trying to get her way.

  The queen brightened like the afternoon sun. “You … you called me Mum.”

  “You are my mum. I love Noli. Believe or not, she took the kingdom—for me. I think you, of all people, could appreciate that.” V squeezed Noli’s hand and smiled at her. “We would very much like your blessing.”

  Noli could do without her blessing. The point was for the queen to not make their lives miserable.

  The queen studied them, the corners of her blue eyes crinkling slightly. “I told you to break it off with her. This is disobedience.”

  “You told him to break the stone in my sigil, but you’d already given me to him,” Noli reminded her. “We will be married and have the coronation simultaneously. We’ll let you know when it is.”

  When in doubt, assume permission.

  “My, you two are crafty.” Tiana’s hands folded into her lap, expression smug. “I didn’t expect this from either of you. Certainly”—she looked down her nose at Noli—“I didn’t expect you to be able to take a kingdom. You still must obey me. I am the high queen.”

  “Yes, Your Majesty. Though I am hoping we can come to … agreements … peacefully.” Noli repeated the words she’d been told to say. They were much more diplomatic than the ones she’d prefer to use.

  “Is that a dare?” Tiana’s eyes gleamed.

  “Of course not, Your Majesty.” But it was.

  Tiana threw up her hands in motherly frustration. “Fine, you impulsive children. Take a kingdom. Get married. Go run your own lives. But don’t come crying to me when things get hard.”

  It was difficult not to grin at the queen’s outburst.

  “We appreciate your blessing.” V’s voice remained tempered but his eyes danced in delight.

  “Yes, indeed,” Noli lied. Why was Tiana being so agreeable? Worry crept through her, but she’d ponder the queen’s ulterior motives later.

  For a moment Tiana looked young, innocent. “Is your father truly dead?”

  V nodded. “He is. I’m sorry.”

  “I did love him, you know.” She dropped her hands to her lap and stared at them.

  Silence coated the room, the air fraught with emotion so heavy Noli feared suffocation.

  The queen stood, shattering the moment as she fluffed her skirts. “You must come for tea soon so we can discuss everything. Bring Ailís. Is she staying with you or would you like me to care for her?”

  “We’ll let you know what we decide, your offer is kind,” Noli replied. No. The queen wasn’t getting Elise. At least she didn’t know Ciarán had her—or order them to hand her over.

  “Congratulations on achieving your dream, Stiofán.” The way the queen said it made it sound of little consequence. “Magnolia, since you have no handmaidens, I’ll lend you Breena and Nissa, they miss you. I know good help is hard to find.”

  Noli stood and shook her head. “Really, it’s not necessary—”

  “Tut, tut. You must have handmaidens. There’s so much you have to learn, you poor dear backward girl. Don’t worry, I’ll personally help you.” Her smile didn’t reach her eyes.

  “Really, Your Majesty, it’s not—”

  “No, no.” She waved them off with her hand. “After all, you’re part of the family now. It’s the least I can do. Don’t have your wedding tomorrow. Have it the day after. In the evening. Oh, and don’t make me look bad.” Without even a backward glance, the queen flounced out.

  Noli counted to ten before blurting out, “What just happened?”

  “She accepted us taking the kingdom, and our marriage, though now she thinks she’ll actually be able to rule through us—which isn’t allowed, and she won’t like it when we remind her.” V offered her a hand up. “You’re getting two handmaidens, and we need to find the seneschal and let him know that Tiana requests that our wedding and coronation be moved up to the day after tomorrow.”

  She sighed, putting her head in her hand, elbow on the table. “That’s what I thought happened.”

  “That went far better than it could have. Nicely done, Your Grace.” V kissed her.

  “I don’t need a handmaiden.” Not that she actually min-ded Nissa and Breena. “Or lessons on how to be queen from her. I’d rather eat gears.”

  “We’re going to have to allow the loan of the handmaidens. After all, it’s better to have the spies you know than the spies you don’t. We’ll work on the royal lessons.”

  “I really don’t understand all this.” She shook her head.

  “You’ll get used to it.” He put an arm around her. “Now, for the difficult part. It’s time for you to meet the great houses of the earth court.”

  The air grew chilly and Elise wished she’d thought to bring her cape. Instead, she huddled closer to Aodhan. Thirst burned her throat. The wood faeries had been kind, bringing them berries and acorn caps filled with water. But there was just a sip in an acorn cap and she hated to burden them, since it was probably quite the trip for such little beings. She could leave Aodhan and find water, but she feared someone taking him away—like that man.

  Instead, they waited. He told her all sorts of things about the Otherworld that she didn’t know. In exchange, she told him about the mortal realm. It was proving difficult because he’d never seen flying cars or airships. Perhaps she could show him the way she showed things to wood faeries.

  “Here’s a flying auto. This one was the one Noli had before she and V broke it.” She sent him the image, mentally, of Noli’s blue-winged auto. “Can you see?”

  He sucked in a breath. “And you ride in it? That’s wondrous!”

  “It takes you places, like a carriage without horses. There are also non-flying autos—and hoverboards. My brothers love to hoverboard.” Elise showed him a mental picture of hoverboarding.

  “I want one.” He grinned. “Do you have one?”

  She shook her head. “Girls don’t hoverboard, silly. Though Noli does sometimes. But she’s different.”

  “How?” His face screwed up.

  “My father says she’s not a proper girl. That’s why he doesn’t like her spending time with us. I suppose it’s because she likes to do things boys do and her family is poor.” Elise shrugged, not really understanding what that had to do with anything. “But she’s always nice to me. I hope she becomes my sister. I’ve always wanted one.”

  “I miss my father,” Aodhan sighed.

  “I miss my father too, and Quinn. He takes care of me and teaches me things.” She looked
up at the darkening sky, going from pink to a dusky purple. “I hope they come soon.”

  He put his head on her shoulder. “Perhaps you should return to the house and get help.”

  “I don’t want to leave you—they’ll come.” They had to.

  They sat in silence for a long time with only the little faeries for company. The green faery, the one she’d sent for help, came barreling toward them, chattering so fast she couldn’t understand.

  “Elise,” James called in the distance. “Elise, where are you?”

  “James, James, over here,” she yelled. Hope swelled inside her.

  Her brother stood over them, a rucksack over his shoulders. His eyebrows rose. “You can get out of that.”

  “But Aodhan can’t. I … I didn’t want to leave him.” She pulled him closer. “He’s hurt.”

  “Oh, hello there.” James peered at them through the darkness and waved. “All right, let’s get you out.” He set down the rucksack.

  Elise scrambled out and helped James hoist Aodhan out of the hole.

  “Can you walk?” James asked as he helped him stand, arm around his waist.

  Gritting his teeth, Aodhan took a tentative step, winced, and shook his head.

  “Hold this.” James handed Elise his rucksack.

  Its weight made her sink as she slung it over her shoulder. “What’s in it? Rocks?”

  “Steven’s books.” He rolled his eyes. “Up you go.” James put Aodhan on his back and took Elise’s hand.

  Elise looked up at her brother. He looked … different, but she couldn’t quite place it. “I appreciate you coming for us.”

  “I’m glad Steven sent me back to get his dumb books. Otherwise we might not return for days.” He squeezed her hand.

  She looked at the holes in the ground. “What are those for?”

  His shoulders sank a little. “Do you remember Aunt Dinessa?”

  Elise shook her head. “No.”

  “Well … she … ” He inhaled and exhaled. “She died this morning.”

  Elise put a hand to her mouth. “That’s horrible. What happened?”

  Even though she couldn’t remember, it was still a dreadful thing.

  “It … it was an accident.” James’ face crumpled a little as he gave it a long glance. “I always liked Aunt Dinessa. She was fun.”

  “It’s a grave?” Even though her mother had died, she didn’t remember any of it.

  He nodded and gulped as they walked.

  “What about the other empty one?” She looked back at it.

  “That one … I … I’m sorry Elise.” He squeezed her hand. “That one’s for Quinn.”

  “Quinn?” She put a hand to her chest as if it could keep her heart from breaking. “But … but I was just with him. He … he told me to run. Oh.” Her shoulders slumped. “The men who were chasing after us … they got him, didn’t they?” Tears streamed down her face.

  James pulled her close as they made their way through the maze. “Quinn died protecting you.”

  All she could do was cry. Quinn was gone. Who would love her and take care of her now?

  “Don’t cry.” Aodhan’s hand stroked her golden curls. “It’ll be all right.”

  “What will I do without him?” she hiccupped. He taught her, cared for her, played with her. While everyone else went about their lives, she knew that he’d always be there.

  James shook his head. “We’ll manage.”

  “The filled-in one … is that Mother’s?” She gave it a wary glance.

  “Nooo.” James made one of those faces that meant he was hiding something. “We … we’ll talk about it later.”

  Later usually meant never. “But I want to know,” she pouted.

  “Later. Right now we have to help your friend here. Who is he?”

  “I’m Aodhan,” Aodhan replied. “My father runs a tavern—

  the Thirsty Pooka in the Blackwoods.”

  “His uncle is Noli’s friend, the one with the tree house. Kevighn,” Elise added.

  “Is he now? It’s nice to meet you,” James replied.

  They emerged from the maze and walked in a direction different from where Elise and Aodhan had come from.

  “Where are we going?” Elise asked.

  “To V and Noli. We’ll fix Aodhan there. I’m not much of a healer,” James replied. “Aodhan are you in a lot of pain? Should I do something about it?”

  Aodhan shook his head. “I’m fine.”

  Elise knew he wasn’t. She also knew, growing up with Steven and James, that this was a boy game, pretending it didn’t hurt when it actually did.

  They walked and walked, then took a portal. Then they walked some more. They came to an area filled with giant trees. Men in green and gold watched them. James pulled out his sigil so it showed and they didn’t bother them.

  “James, we’re supposed to keep them hidden,” Elise whispered.

  “In Los Angeles, but not here. I … ” He looked at her. “Someone will explain everything.”

  Her jaw jutted out. “You always say that and no one ever does.”

  “This time someone will, promise.” James smiled and squeezed her hand. “I’ll need you to tell me everything, too, but not now … later.”

  “An exchange?” Something was going on and for once she wanted to know what it was.

  “Yes.”

  “Look at this, Elise,” Aodhan breathed.

  Before them was an enormous tree, as big … no bigger …

  than a mansion. In it was a house … no … a castle—made entirely of trees. A grand tree castle, with turrets and a moat.

  “Where are we, James?” It looked a little … familiar.

  James patted her shoulder. “This is the earth court palace.”

  Fifteen

  A Step Behind

  Kevighn frowned as he followed Ciarán’s sigil dangerously close to the earth court palace. This wasn’t good. The only thing worse would be if Aodhan and Elise were at the high palace itself. He’d spent the day on a wild goose chase, one step behind the children. He’d finally tracked them to the House of Oak, only to be redirected here.

  Ever since he’d left Magnolia in San Francisco, he was always a shade too late. Too late to properly kill Quinn. Too late for the gem. Too late to find her. Too late to get the children.

  A heavy sigh slipped from his lips. How much closer dare he creep? The palace came into view through the tall trees. There seemed to be something happening, people coming and going from the giant tree-palace. Their demeanor seemed too somber for it to be a party.

  “Halt. State your business.” The point of a sword pricked Kevighn’s back.

  Earth court guards always were sneaky buggers, not to mention he was creeping through a forest.

  Kevighn held up his hands and turned around. “I’m Kevighn, emissary for the dark king.”

  “And you’re here because?” The sword didn’t waver.

  “Same as everyone else.” He gestured to the palace, trying to bluff his way in.

  “Nice try. Come back in two days.” The guard poked him with his sword. Bushes rustled and Kevighn had a feeling more guards had joined him.

  “Ah, but you see, the dark king insists.” What was going on? Perhaps someone there knew what had happened with the magic earlier.

  One of the others emerged from the growth and grabbed his wrists. “Earth court only. Come back in two days.”

  The guards frog-marched him to the palace borders.

  The one with the sword gave him a shove. “If I see you again we won’t be so nice.”

  Defeat echoed in every step as he slunk toward the nearest public portal. There was nothing left to do besides tell Ciarán. Two days. He’d return and steal the children back then.

  What if they hurt Aodha
n? The urge to tear into the palace and take his nephew by force surged through him.

  It all depended on who had the children and that required information. Hopefully if Ciarán didn’t already have it, he could obtain it—quickly.

  Also, what was happening in two days and what had occurred with the magic? Was it connected? It felt a bit like when Tiana had become queen. It would be nice if Tiana was dead, though that probably hadn’t happened.

  The Thirsty Pooka teemed with young women. Ciarán sat at the bar speaking with them one at a time. Kevighn watched as some were sent away and others were told to wait at a table. Curious.

  “Is it ladies’ night, old friend?” Kevighn braced for the backlash that would happen when he told the dark king that his son was being held by the earth court.

  “As qualified as you are, I specified earth court or someone who can pass.” Ciarán waved on a girl with blue-white hair. “A moment if you please,” he told the waiting ladies. He and Kevighn walked to a corner of the bustling tavern. “I’m interviewing handmaidens.”

  “Why?” Kevighn eyed the girls, some of them very comely.

  “A gift for the queen. Now … please tell me you found them.” His eyes gleamed, not with anger … but worry. Aodhan brought out the dark king’s softer side.

  “I found them, but I didn’t bring them back.” Kevighn braced himself. “I … I’m afraid they’re in the earth court palace.”

  Ciarán’s eyes flashed. “Of course they are.”

  “There’s something happening in two days, something you’re invited to. I would say that would be the time to retrieve them, but I can’t help but worry about how they’re being treated. Especially Aodhan.” The boy was all he had left of his sister, his family.

  Ciarán shook his head. “You told me that she was uncommon, but I thought you were being a romantic fool. When I met with her I didn’t appreciate her craftiness even though she has the stone. Somehow she’s managed to acquire both children and probably whatever pieces of the artifact Brogan already possessed. I truly hope you mean it when you say she’ll be our ally, because I’d hate to be foes with someone so cunning and canny. And with her connections to the high queen—”