Jewel of the Fae

by Tom Keller

  "What's going on?" I asked

  "Something we set up earlier," Jay replied. "It was Nikki's idea."

  "Sorry Dad," Nikki said, looking around to make sure no one else could overhear us. "Although Meredith has handled most of the prep, I'm still involved, and Jay's been conferring with Nosia over security. You've been gone so I haven't had a chance to tell you what we were up to."

  "Tell me what," I asked, now wishing that I hadn't spent so much time in Hades.

  "You know me and Dwarves," Nikki replied. "From everything I was told, I was pretty sure they'd honor the oath once they were inside, but we stationed two of our folks outside the walls. Just in case."

  "I hope you were careful," I said, furrowing my eyebrows. "Tartarus is not the kind of place to be roaming around. Even this far above the world itself."

  "I know that," Jay said, a hint of annoyance in his voice. "You made me a Prince of Hades, remember? Even without your warnings I could tell the place wasn't friendly. But it was necessary, and you weren't here for advice. For what it's worth, Lucinda was involved in planning. She's still out there, by the way."

  "Point taken," I replied, watching him relax a bit. Lucinda was my cat, or at least she was in the human realm, although down here she'd probably be in panther form. She was closely connected to Bernd and would know about Tartarus if anybody would. She would also want to make sure Grerin's Dwarves weren't up to something.

  "Anything happen?" Nikki asked, as Jazzy arrived and our attention turned to her.

  "Two of the Dwarves' party slipped away as soon as they arrived," she replied. "Lucinda and I followed them into the mist. They were going down the road towards Tartarus."

  "Planning an ambush?" Jay asked.

  "I don't think so," Jazzy replied, draining her cup. "They weren't stopping. It looked like they were trying to go deeper into the place."

  "Where are they now?" I asked.

  "They won’t be coming back," she replied with a wink. "Lucinda made sure of that." Then she took out her cellphone and held it up. There was an image of two dead Dwarves with their throats mauled on the screen. "They never knew what hit them. A couple of Jay's Fae warriors are still out there, but I doubt that we'll have any other trouble. From what I've been told, there's no other way down here except through the Keres, or you two, and no more parties of Dwarves are expected. I think they took advantage of an opportunity because the gate was backed up with new arrivals."

  "Good work," I said. Whatever Grerin had planned, anything to do with Tartarus could be a problem. Not that I thought he should have any better luck in the place than I would, but there were a number of nasty beings down there that I would prefer never have the chance to escape. "What about the Keres? Do they know yet?"

  "I'm thinking it's better if we don’t tell them until after the celebration," Nikki said. "I don’t believe a confrontation is good for anybody at this point." She turned back to Jazzy. "Where are the bodies?"

  "Lucinda is stashing them. But I'm not sure if it's going to matter," she replied. "Something about their bodies returning to dust after a while. At least that's what she said."

  "The pics will do," Nikki said. "Jay can bring it up with Nosia when the party's over. That work for you, Dad?"

  "Okay by me," I replied. "I can just imagine their response if they thought that the Dwarves jeopardized the celebration in any way. But we'll have to be even more mindful of this entrance in the future. I had a hard enough time tracking down the last group that escaped from there. I hate to think who they were looking for, if that was their plan."

  "I think I'll let you deal with Kyras on that one," Jay said. "Nosia's gonna be pissed enough when I tell her. She's got quite the temper. I don’t think she's gonna be happy we didn't inform her right away."

  "Blame it on me," I replied. "She'll understand. Now is not the time to fight that battle. Fortunately, whatever they were planning happened outside the gates. While it might be a violation of trust, it doesn’t affect the goings on inside. I think we can all agree that the ceremony is more important at this point in the game. Although I'll admit I'm glad I'm not the one that has to tell her."

  "You and me both," Nikki said with a chuckle, smiling at Jay. "Now, I've got to get back to the main tent and get ready for the show. Jay's coordinating with the Keres on any activity inside and Charlie's watching the Dwarves. As long as they don’t cause any other problems, we can deal with this after the ceremony. Why don’t you guys just hang out till the main event?"

  "As you command, my Queen," I quipped.

  Nikki laughed and then slapped me on the shoulder before taking off across the field.

  "I'd better go find my dad," Jazzy said. "I promised him we'd meet up before the ceremony begins." Jazzy's father was Martin Chibeaux, the Vegas Werewolf pack leader. He was also a good friend and ally.

  "We'll go with you," Jay said. "You want to come, Dad?"

  "I'm up first so I should probably mingle for a while," I replied. "Tell him hello for me and I'll hook up with you guys afterwards."

  "Alright," Jay said. "We'll see you later then."

  Iris said goodbye and the two of them headed off while I spent some time mingling and working my way closer to the gate. I was hoping to see Lucinda when she returned.

  There's nothing like being the only High Fae at a party, especially when you're the God of the Underworld. Although everyone was polite, I could feel an undercurrent of both fear and curiosity from many of the Fae that had gathered here. Especially from those that I didn't have some sort of prior relationship with. I guess that's expected when Hades is your domain. I'm sure I'm not the kind of guy most of them invite to the BBQ on weekends. Oh well. It's their loss. But the Keres had an interesting guest list, and several groups of Demons were also in attendance. They, of course, bowed as I passed. It just figures. I finally saw Charlie not far from Grerin's Dwarves. They were in conversation with Circe. Seeing me, he turned and trotted my way.

  "What have they been up to?" I asked.

  "They speak with all the guests," he replied. "Short introductions and then move on."

  "Getting the lay of the land, I guess," I said. "Just like I am. Although in their case it doesn’t hurt to have a lot of witnesses should anybody figure out what they're associates were up to."

  "To be sure," he replied.

  "Well, keep an eye on them," I said, spying Nosia making a beeline in my direction. "Looks like the ceremony's about to begin. We'll catch up later. "

  A stage with a white curtain across it had been set up in the largest tent and the rest of the Fae were slowly relocating toward it at the direction of the Keres that moved through the crowd. Nosia led me behind it where I found Nikki waiting.

  "So what's the game plan?" I asked when Nosia left.

  As soon as everyone gathers, they'll open the curtain and Kyras will present the baby," she said, smiling. "When she's finished, I'll come get you. Since you're the God of Hades, and basically the surrogate father and male guardian, you get to join her on the stage and present first. After that, everyone else gets their chance."

  "Surrogate… got it," I said with a chuckle as Nikki shrugged her shoulders. Then she stepped up on the stage and disappeared behind the curtain. Of course, I'd already been briefed on the basics of the ceremony. It was pretty simple really. Almost like a baby shower and birthday all rolled into one. Kyras would hold the child up and introduce her to the crowd, then the individual attendees would introduce themselves to the mother and child and present gifts. Fortunately, I wasn't required to give a long speech. Just a few short words and then present her with the Key to Hades.

  15 minutes later, the curtain parted, and Nikki waved me over. I stepped on to the bone white tile flooring as she led me through the curtain and directed me to Kyras, who was holding Nyxia at the front of the stage.

  "We welcome the Lord of Hades," she said to the crowd, and then motioned me to her side.

  I stepped up and turned to the audience. Okay. O
kay. I know I wasn't really supposed to give a speech, but I had one in mind anyway. You know the kind. How wonderful it is that all these different magical creatures can be together to welcome the new Princess into our world. Then some talk about the many years it's been since the Fall and how gatherings like this can bring us closer together as a group. That kind of thing. All political bullshit, of course. Okay, maybe not all of it, but you get the idea. Unfortunately, as soon as I turned toward the audience, the sound of thunder filled the room.

  Lightning flashed, and then the ground shook. The gathered Fae looked nervous. Warriors grabbed their weapons, looking for a threat as Kyras pulled the baby close to her chest to protect her. There was a bright light and plumes of white smoke as a 15-foot tall Goddess in Greek garb appeared in the center of the crowd. With sudden recognition, every Fae in the vicinity fell to their knees or prostrated themselves on the floor. Clutching the baby closer, Kyras knelt and bowed her head. I stood gaping as the figure walked through the crowd, shrinking until she reached normal size at the same time as she stepped onto the white floor of the stage. She stopped in front of me, her long hair flowing over the white gown she wore.

  "Can you ever stay in character?" Gaea asked in a whisper, putting a hand on my shoulder and pushing gently downward. "God of Hades you may be, but you should at least look like you are groveling. Now, take a knee and let's get this party started."

  Taking my cue, I knelt and bowed as her hand left my shoulder. Then Gaea moved between us. A moment later she took us both by the arm and pulled us to our feet.

  "Rise, my children," Gaea said, her voice amplified across the grounds.

  I snuck a quick peek as the Fae and others got to their feet. From the looks on their faces, it was obvious that this was unexpected. Even the Dwarves seemed shocked. No surprise there, everyone was in awe at the appearance of their Goddess. Even Nikki, now situated at the back of the stage, looked stunned. As for me, I just wondered what she was up to.

  "Today we celebrate the birth of a new princess," Gaea continued, raising her arms. "It is fitting that we do so here in the Palace of Nyx, the ancestral home of the Goddess of the Night and her children, the Keres." She reached out to Kyras and took baby Nyxia into her arms.

  "I believe you have something for her," she said, turning toward me as she cradled the child.

  "I do," replied, not expecting her to be involved in this part. But I stripped off my breastplate and bared my chest. The mark of the Key to Hades radiating over my heart as Gaea moved her hand toward it.

  She opened her palm and the mark blazed, a duplicate appearing within a burning orb that floated above her hand. She moved it over Nyxia's chest, placing it over the squirming child's heart. As Gaea moved her hand away, the Key appeared on her chest, and the child relaxed.

  "Behold a Princess of Hades," she said, holding the child up for all to see. "Nyxia, daughter of Kyras, daughter of Nyx, Goddess of the Night. With the birth of this child, the bloodline of the Gods continues." She placed her hand on Nyxia's forehead. "The gift of wisdom, I grant you. May your magic never fade."

  The crowd went nuts. Cheering and yelling wildly.

  "Great will she become," she said to Kyras, winking at me as she returned the child to her arms. Then she bent closer to her ear. "As have both her mother and father."

  Well, that was unexpected, I thought to myself, as she turned back to the crowd.

  "Let the celebration continue," she said, and then walked off the stage, fading a little into nothingness with each step, until she disappeared.

  "Holy shit, Dad," Nikki said coming up behind me. "I didn't expect her to show up."

  "She honors us," Kyras said, as the crowd pressed closer to the stage.

  "That she does," I replied, knowing that it was true. From everything I knew, Gaea seldom made public appearances these days. Not since the old days had she done so. Her presence would boost the status of Kyras, not to mention me, several notches in the eyes of the Fae. Of course, it probably wouldn’t make our enemies happy. I could just imagine the Dwarves seething inside. But we could deal with that another day.

  Nikki conferred with Kyras and after letting the crowd settle a bit, they got things back on track. Eventually, a line was formed, and the Fae and others walked up and presented gifts to the child. Each congratulating Kyras on her good fortune and commenting on the beauty of little Nyxia. Since this was really about Kyras and her daughter, I slowly made my way off the stage and over to the side of the tent to stand back and enjoy the show.

  A lot of those who saw me stopped by, most bowing and thanking me for the wondrous gift Gaea and I had bestowed on Nyxia. I even had an interesting chat with Circe. There's someone I'd have to keep an eye on. Anyway, as time went on, my friends began to show up. Siegfried and Michael, Meredith and several others. All congratulating me for the success of the event. As the stage became piled with gifts and the food tents began to empty, the Keres returned those guests that were leaving to their respective homes.

  Eventually, the celebration ended, and Nikki and Jay, accompanied by Jazzy and Charlie, went off in search of Nosia to discuss the Dwarves incursion into Tartarus. A short time later, with only the few outside Fae left that had assisted in hosting the event, the servants began to tear down the tents and return the grounds to their former appearance. As for me, I eventually made my way back to the palace to see Kyras and have a discussion of my own.

  "Hey," I said as I came through the doorway into the room we'd met in before the ceremony. I was almost knocked to the floor as Kyras jumped into my arms and kissed me before I could utter another word.

  "I knew I chose wisely!" she screamed, hugging me tighter. "We have been blessed by the Goddess herself!"

  "Yeah, I got that," I tried to say, as she continued to carry on about the implications of Gaea's visit. When she eventually calmed down, I mentioned the Dwarves.

  "Dwarves," she laughed. "Nosia has told me of their treachery. I have already destroyed their gifts. If they come, even if merely to search for their lost companions, retribution will be swift. It is only that they did not commit their actions within our gates that their delegation was not struck down for their arrogance."

  "Probably a smart move," I agreed. "At least for now."

  "Forget them," she said. "I have posted guards near the road. If anyone appears you will be notified. We will deal with them in time. But now, let us move on to more important things. We have been blessed by the Goddess and our daughter's place in this world is secure. Come, let us discuss the future of the princess and celebrate our good fortune."

  That was the first time I'd heard her acknowledge me as the father and I got the feeling, that once again, my life was going to get more interesting.

  Chapter 6

  "What the…" I muttered as I came in through the back sliding-glass door. I knew I'd been in Hades a while, and although I'd also spent time with Kyras and Nyxia at their palace, I hadn’t expected to walk into such a mess. Tablets and scrolls were scattered across the living room floor. In the center of the room, the coffee table was moved and held several bottles of expensive whiskey, all empty. Alf, my Imp, with piles of ancient documents in his lap, sat next to it, holding a scroll up to his face. He apparently hadn’t heard me come in.

  "Ahem," I said, loudly. "You alive in there?"

  "Ah! Robert," he said, finally looking up. "You have returned."

  "I have," I replied, stepping around one of several small piles of clay tablets. "Not exactly what I'd expected to find when I came home. You ever hear of picking up after yourself? What in the hell are you doing, anyway?"

  "Research," he replied, pushing scrolls off his legs as he got up from the floor. He launched himself into the air, his small wings fluttering as he flew toward me. "As you directed me to do. More importantly, I have found something of interest." He thrust a leather scroll into my hands.

  "What is this?" I asked, trying to read the faint script on the thin material.

 
"Goatskin," he replied. "A common parchment from that era."

  "Of course it is," I said, holding it out. "But what does it say?"

  "Ah," he replied, pointing to the scroll. "This is an accounting of treasure held by the Greek King and General, Pyrrhus, for use during his campaign in Sparta in 272 B.C. That is as the humans count years. Note the description on line 34."

  "Yeah," I said, drawing out the word, looking down to where he was pointing. You'd think the latest God of the Underworld could read Greek. Hey, maybe the real Hades could, but as for me… not so much. Oh, sure. I could understand it, that came with the High Fae package. I could even read a word here and there, but this goatskin stuff… not gonna happen.

  "Uh… No pun intended, but this is all Greek to me. Why don’t you just tell me what it says?"

  "As you wish," he said, muttering as his tiny finger scanned over the page. "Yes! Here it is. This notation describes a necklace made of gold with twisted serpents as the clasp. Part of a chest of gold and gems withdrawn from his personal treasury. It was encrusted with jewels. One of which, a large green precious stone, is described as unique."

  "That's it?" I asked, handing him back the scroll. "Have you found any other references?"

  "No," he admitted. "Not as of yet."

  "Why do you think it's the right necklace?"

  "Surely you know Pyrrhus' history?" he said, sounding excited.

  "I know that he's the root of the term Pyrrhic victory," I replied. "I also know that Dodona was his religious center." Honoring Zeus, it had once been the home of a large grove of oak trees that had been sacred to the Dryad. Not to mention the home of another Oracle.

  "The description is telling. As was his luck," he replied. "Even if Hannibal himself considered Pyrrhus second only to Alexander the Great in terms of his skills as a military commander, his victories came at a high cost. Consider this as well. Pyrrhus lost his first-born son, Ptolemy, during his retreat from the same battle in Sparta where the jewel reappeared. Then, within five years, he himself was killed by a Macedonian soldier at Argos. I do not think that is coincidence."