The Phoenix Grail

by Helen Savore

  Water surged up the arm holding the bloody knife.

  He opened his eyes to find Viviane looking at him. Her hair tentacles gyrated calmly in little concentric circles. Her eyes lids partially retracted softened Viviane. She ducked, kneeling in the water beside him. The small trickle stopped surging up his arm, and it was clean of all blood and gore.

  “How did you call the knife?” she asked.

  Jamie opened his mouth, then closed it. He didn’t know what to say. He wasn’t sure. It had been less of a call and more of a command. When did any of this make sense? He shook his head. How did any of it make sense anymore?

  A wave surged round the corners, interrupting his thoughts as it washed over him.

  Moralynn and Drea appeared when the water receded, Moralynn hauling a pile of myrial bodies. “My Lady of the Lake, I believe that is the last of them.”

  Viviane stood in a neat, single movement. She tilted her head in each direction, hesitating, as if listening.

  Drea smiled at Jamie, and he returned it. She scooted around the pair, picking her way through the bodies, as if they were simple obstacles. Jamie shook his head. When had this become so casual?

  Viviane’s tentacles slowed and lay almost limp as she faced Moralynn. “You had better be right, Phoenix Sparked.”

  Moralynn played with the water, pulling it over herself, presumably washing away her own battle muck. “If I am wrong, summon me.” She dropped her crossed arms, coughed, and offered her right hand. “Viviane, I do apologize. I did not mean to lead them here.” She shook her head. “I do not know how it happened. I thought I had lost them adequately in the surf. I hoped this would be a haven.”

  Jamie propped himself up on an arm. He had never seen Moralynn less than in control of a situation. Even when they faced the hammer heralds. But now she was apologetic?

  Viviane crossed her fins and bowed to Moralynn. “Although I would love nothing better than to accept your apology, it is not entirely accurate.”

  “How so?” Moralynn asked. Now there was the frown that Jamie recognized. “I explained what I knew, which is not much, and still I accept that I did, regardless.”

  “They did not follow you from the castle. They came from here to the castle.” Viviane swept a fin, encompassing the space. “Do not fear, I accept some form of blame. You are the first I have trusted in centuries, and months later these slugs arrive.”

  She dropped to the floor and grabbed the closest corpse. “I declare death and vengeance on you and your family. No peace on Annwn to you.” She flicked her fins at Moralynn, but made no further motion to anyone else as she did the same for each of the eleven dead fae.

  Jamie glanced at Drea, but her gaze was firmly on Moralynn and Viviane. Jamie kept still and watched them, too. He didn’t want to interrupt. Moralynn followed after each one Viviane visited and discarded. When both were done, he finally struggled up and put an arm around Drea.

  “You seem better.”

  She took in a breath and smiled. “Working on it.”

  Moralynn crossed her arms. “They sent weaklings.”

  Jamie’s mouth dropped. Weaklings? How many times had he almost died in the past hour?

  She continued, “They did not want us to get any foci of worth. Llehfin arms these are not.”

  Viviane’s eyes blinked sideways.

  Adhomai’s baritone voice echoed from the corridor. “It is worse than that.”

  Moralynn nodded in the direction of the voice. “You return?”

  Jamie raised a brow to Drea. “You fought separately in the corridors?”

  She shook her head. “Moralynn and I worked together, but we did not find Adhomai.” Her voice trailed, but she said nothing further.

  Adhomai came closer, weaving between a string of columns. “Of course. I am sorry, Viviane, I already disposed of my corpses. I did not realize you were planning to curse them.”

  “What is worse, elf?” Viviane asked.

  “I saw it on my pair, but I bet, Moralynn, if you take a closer look…” He knelt by one, a myrial leaking green goop with torn fins. “The Smith marks are different. Any family with multiple Smiths at their command wouldn’t put together this ragtag. No, there were multiple families involved.”

  The Waterways quaked. Jamie couldn’t be sure if it was from Viviane’s trembling rage or Moralynn’s bellow. Maybe both.

  “This was planned. They knew we were coming before we did.” Moralynn wound up, looking to shove a fist into the nearest column.

  Viviane intercepted her. “Moralynn. It does not matter what or why. For the moment we are on the same side. We must forge an alliance. Recuperate and return with the tides in a moon’s time. Take no further aggressive action until then.”

  Moralynn grew taller, towering over Viviane. “You do not order the Phoenix Sparked.”

  “No,” Viviane agreed. She did not move, not a single fin, flipper, or eye. “But I will not suffer further insult, and I know how to find what you seek.”

  41

  “How could she leave us here?” Adhomai groaned.

  Alexandrea blinked. His complaining had ruined her concentration. She regarded the placement of the chiseled marble pieces on the board. Could her knight take that pawn without losing her bishop?

  Jamie stood. “I didn’t know why an hour ago. And I still don’t know why now.”

  Alexandrea waved behind to where Adhomai stood. “Adhomai, leave off. It is what it is. Wait like we are.”

  It would have been a pleasant moment, even with Adhomai, if he wouldn’t prattle on so. A month had passed since Harlech, and they had all assembled with Moralynn before she returned to speak with Viviane. Unsure how long discussions would take they were on the patio just playing a nice game of chess in the new spring air, instead of in the fae courtyard.

  Alexandrea felt a presence at her side, but glanced to see Adhomai.

  “I am sorry”—he tapped the board—“I do not find your human contest of strategy entirely thrilling. Although it is nice to see Alexandrea thwart you in a contest. Not everything is about brawn, Jamie.”

  Jamie shrugged. “I get by.”

  Alexandrea tried not to let her gaze linger too long on Jamie, but she caught the quirk to his smile. He was trying to deflect Adhomai. He was being thoughtful. Then she inspected the board again. “Hey, your bishop wasn’t there.”

  “What?” He smiled as he settled in his seat again. “I haven’t touched the board. What have you done?”

  Alexandrea picked up a white marble pawn. “We’re playing with a wooden set next time.”

  “I’m sorry, did you really want to play chess? I thought this was just another exercise.” He rolled his shoulders as he leaned back. “It wouldn’t be a contest otherwise.” He saluted her.

  “If I may return to my concerns,” said Adhomai.

  “You may not.” She did not look at Adhomai this time, forcing her gaze to stay on the board, but she lost interest in it. How many pieces did he move? She smiled, her eyes dancing above the rim of her glasses. Perhaps she should do her own form of practice.

  “I was not asking why any longer.”

  Adhomai’s pale hands passed into her view, but she continued to ignore him.

  “No, not why, but how?” He slammed the table, and the pieces shook.

  Alexandrea jumped to her feet. “Adhomai.”

  He rose to stand above her. “She cannot think to broker this alliance with Viviane by herself.”

  Still, solid, and firm. She twined the tendril of thought she had meant to use to fool Jamie’s next chess move to instead fortify herself against Adhomai. Not that she could sense him doing anything, but his condescending stare was enough to raise her hackles.

  “You do not think Moralynn can handle herself?” she asked.

  “Handle herself? Handle is one thing. Get what she wants? The Grail’s location?” Adhomai glided to the fountain and trailed a hand through the water. “That is another thing entirely.”

&nbs
p; Jamie stood, so Alexandrea did, too, and they both trudged to the elf. “Adhomai, I’ve never heard you say such things. What’s made you so talkative today?”

  “No,” said Jamie. “He can talk, even like this. Usually the snide remarks are directed towards me.”

  “Jamie.” Adhomai brought his hands together, lifting them to neck level. “I have nothing but the highest respect for you. You are one of the most exemplary humans I know.”

  “One out of three, that’s quite the compliment.” Jamie tapped her on the shoulder. “You’ve really never noticed how he teases me? Or do I deserve it for being so far behind in magical studies?”

  “Shap—”

  Jamie lifted a finger to Adhomai, “Not the point.” His eyes remained on Alexandrea. He still smiled, though.

  There was something different in how Jamie interacted with the others. No, even her too. He was never shy, but there was a difference in his words and tone. Casual, strange that now he acted as if there were nothing serious to worry about.

  That’s confidence, he thinks he can handle it.

  Did she? It was a curious thing to both admire and be envious of someone. Or perhaps the lack of experience. Just enough to tread water, but not enough to realize what threats remained.

  “I haven’t always agreed with him,” she said, “but it is difficult for me to question an Ascendant.”

  “My Lady Heir, your words are too kind.”

  “But I can ignore him when need be.” Alexandrea didn’t gloat, but she could tell by Jamie’s grin he enjoyed her retort.

  Adhomai did not speak, his gaze passed over the garden first. “You were once so polite, Alexandrea.” He stalked to the pebbled corner and gathered rocks. She didn’t see any malice in it. Hopefully he was re-patterning the space only to mind the time.

  “The chatter is usual,” Jamie said.

  Her gaze shot to him. He was not going to leave it be.

  He leaned closer, daring to take her hand. “It’s the impatience that’s different.”

  “Jamie, he’s stopped talking for the moment, we should—”

  “Whatcha so anxious about?”

  Alexandrea walked to a wooden lounger and fell into it.

  Adhomai now had a collection of small stones revolving around him. He added a fifth into the orbit, creating sparks as it glanced off the other stones.

  “What do you think Viviane is doing to Moralynn?” Adhomai asked.

  “To? You mean with?” Jamie shot a look Alexandrea’s way.

  She shrugged. She wanted none of these arguments.

  “With, without.” Adhomai swept his arms, and the stones fell. “Without us there.” He stalked closer to Jamie until the pair stood centimeters apart. “Do you not see? She is making a deal.” Adhomai stabbed his own hand with a finger.

  Alexandrea was surprised no elemental shift coincided with that movement.

  “A deal for something that will not be good.” Adhomai grasped Jamie’s hand and tried to reach for Alexandrea with the other. “Not good for one of us.”

  Jamie jerked his hand out of Adhomai’s grip, and he looked at her. “Why do you think that?”

  “Why are we not there?”

  Adhomai was talking in circles again. Why must Moralynn continue to insist on her minding of this fae? Apparently, there would be no peace today until Moralynn returned.

  “What are you so worried about?” Jamie asked. He backed away and circled around, prowling within the boundary of the patio edge. “This is about the Grail. The one thing we know is that you find it. You have nothing to worry about.”

  “Me, yes.” Adhomai pointed to himself. “But what about you?” His head spun from Alexandrea to Jamie again. “The pair of you.”

  Alexandrea stuck out her chin. “What of it?”

  Adhomai gestured to each, then braided his hands together. “Do not pretend around me. Something has changed. I see the looks.” He wiggled his eyes. “The quick touches. There is a growing comfort between the two of you. And I doubt it’s the dark that’s keeping Jamie here some nights.” He clasped his hands again. “Do you think Moralynn will respect that?”

  Alexandrea pushed herself up. “My choices are my own.”

  “Ah, the fledgling speaks now?”

  The stones ringing the edge of the patio quaked. “Don’t you speak to her like that.”

  “What do you mean?” Adhomai stalked farther away from Jamie.

  “Demeaning.” Jamie glanced at Alexandrea but quickly returned his eyes to Adhomai. “I know I still don’t entirely understand, but she is Moralynn’s heir. If you partner with Moralynn, if you follow Moralynn, then accord her with the same respect.” He stamped his foot, and the stones jumped in response. He put a hand on his hip. “I’m a wild card, so speak to me how you wish. But not her.”

  “Jamie, I—”

  “I always speak as I wish.” Adhomai floated closer, coasting just above the rippling dirt. “It is not your place to tell me anything.”

  Jamie lunged forward. “Stop twisting my words.”

  “Is it time for a true rematch, then?” Adhomai took a step back and spread his arms. “Mark what you have learned, human, for I will not surrender my foci so easily this time.”

  “Enough!” Alexandrea summoned wind walls between them.

  Jamie and Adhomai both faced her.

  “If you two choose to spar, to practice, that is one thing. You will not fight.”

  She caught Jamie’s eye. He dropped his fists and looked abashed.

  Alexandrea turned in Adhomai’s direction. “Besides, I do have a question for Adhomai.”

  “However I may assist, my Lady Phoenix Sparked Heir.” He was immediately casual. His posture loosened, and his arms fell to his sides. Even his foci dulled. It pleased him to be questioned in this matter. Alexandrea was loathe to indulge him, but if he must push, there was something that had caught her worry.

  “How literal do you feel Viviane was when she said she wished to forge an alliance?”

  “It is well to mark her words, for I, too, thought they may be literal.”

  Adhomai called a chair to him and sat. He raised an arm and pulled the table as well. The chess pieces fell to the ground as it skittered away. “Let me explain.”

  She bent down and picked up a rook. “Can you explain without making a mess?”

  The rook and the other pieces flew, piling into Jamie’s hands.

  “Do not worry,” Adhomai said with an unpleasant smile, “I will clean up.” He dropped the pieces on the board, and the ground righted itself as he walked towards a metal bench. He dragged it over and bowed with a flourish. “A seat for my lady heir?”

  Alexandrea rolled her eyes, but smiled as she slid onto the bench.

  Jamie sat as well and snaked an arm round her waist. Since Adhomai had called them on it, she suspected he didn’t care for propriety anymore.

  Adhomai’s brows crinkled, and his headpiece shifted. He pushed the blue gem into place and spoke. “Amongst the fae, families are formed around an Ascendant”—he pointed to himself—“and those who pledge allegiance to them. All members of the family bear a weaker kind of alloy.” He tapped the sapphire again. “Not the bond of a master to a student, or between lovers”—he winked—“the connection is forged with the creation of the alloys, distributed during a ceremony, both created by a Smith.”

  Alexandrea sighed. A lesson in culture from Adhomai, that was unexpected. Where was he going with this? “It was somewhat literal, then.”

  Adhomai leaned back. “That is why I say our customs differ from your human ones. Families, friends, coworkers. We may not have blood ties, but metal is stronger than words.” His gaze drifted to Alexandrea’s throat. “The sharing of one’s mark means much in my world.”

  Alexandrea touched the broken falcon. It had been months since it had been part of her torc; it was what they could salvage of it. It didn’t work well as a foci, but it still gave her a connection to Moralynn. Was it more than
metal? “This requires a Smith?”

  Adhomai frowned. “A trained one.”

  Jamie shook his head. “Like I have a clue. I’m following your leads on shaping. I don’t know how this Smith stuff works at all.”

  Alexandrea heard Jamie but did not acknowledge his comment. She was parsing Adhomai’s words. “Viviane is trapped on the Earth. She claims she has made peace with no others.” Her eyes drifted to Adhomai. “If she means to forge an alliance, where would she find a Smith?”

  “She may be one.”

  “Seriously?” Jamie gawked. “She’s a fish.”

  Adhomai coughed. “Do not compare myrial to the aquatic beasts of the Earth. Did you notice the myrials you fought were unarmed?”

  Alexandrea sank into her own thoughts. Fought. They had done that. During her many years of association with Moralynn there were so few confrontations, until recently. She kept seeing them as steps towards an end, but no, this was only the start. It was different to face reality rather than a nascent future. Their future had been woven for some time.

  Not caring what she had missed of the conversation, Alexandrea interrupted. “Moralynn would never agree to be bound to another.”

  “Nor should she. When the families wanted to make alliances, they would trade.” He opened his palms and then crossed them over each other. “Moralynn cannot touch me, I am Ascendant myself. But to what lengths would she go to get the Grail?”

  She would not trade me. I am her avatar. So that left… Jamie? No. He admittedly had become nicely proficient in his limited time, but what would Viviane do with Jamie? And Jamie in the fae realms, away from his life, his friends, his home? That would not happen. This whole line of questioning was nonsense.

  Jamie whispered in her ear. “You’re not listening to him, are you?”

  “I’m—”

  “She wouldn’t do it.” He shook his face in front of hers, their noses touching. “She couldn’t. We are our own people. We can speak for ourselves.”

  Adhomai’s voice intruded. “And yet, what if she is speaking of you right now?”

  “We are not going to any ceremony to bind either of us to a fish hermit.” Jamie’s fist met the table. “What would Viviane want with one of us, anyway?”