“You’re okay,” I said, seeing no obvious injuries.
Conn gave me a puzzled look then nodded.
Grey Eyes, one of the Miacha healers, greeted me warmly and cooed at Scarlet in my arms. “I brought some gifts. I had already planned on coming here soon.”
I rubbed Dubh’s nose. He snuffled and nibbled at my fingers as soon as I wasn’t paying attention. When he saw the curious pups approach, he snorted loudly and stamped his feet. The male pup ran, but the female crept closer, growling.
“Sorry, faery horse. You’re not the cutest animal in the realm anymore.”
“We passed a carriage bearing the colours of the Green Court along the way,” Conn said, catching my attention again. “They should arrive today.”
“Probably an emissary in answer to our invitation. How was the ride?”
“Disturbing,” he replied. “The land changes on a daily basis now.”
“That’s partly why I wanted to come,” Grey Eyes said. “Our home is dying. If we don’t find a way to stop it, we’ll have nothing left.”
“We should go inside,” I said, feeling sick to my stomach. “You can tell us what you know after you have something to eat.”
As we stepped into the main hallway, Fiadh came running toward us. She stopped short, looking anxious and excited all at once. “You’re back,” she said, her eyes only on Conn.
He just stared back at her, and I felt uncomfortable. I guided Grey Eyes toward the kitchen to let Fiadh and Conn have their moment alone.
“Desperation isn’t pretty,” Vix said as she caught up to Rumble.
“Whatever you say,” I murmured, dropping a kiss on my daughter’s head.
Cook gave me a dirty look when we stepped inside the kitchen. “And what have I said about dogs?”
“Something about feeding them scraps,” I teased, helping myself to a scone.
I sat with Grey Eyes as she checked over Scarlet. “She seems well. Growing fast. No taint.” She sighed. “Unlike the rest of the realm.”
“What’s happening out there?”
“Darkness,” she said in a glum voice. “And it’s spreading.”
“We’ll do what we can to stop it. Have you brought”—I lowered my voice—“the weapon?”
She nodded, but her eyes darted from side to side. “It’s with me. But it won’t help much, I fear.”
“You never know. Can you take a look at some people?”
“Of course.”
I led her upstairs to the tower, leaving Scarlet with Vix and Rat. Rumble stayed with me.
“Sadler was using them to prolong his life, give him strength,” I explained as I walked. “I thought… I don’t know. I thought they would be free when I… when Sadler died. But the midwife says they’re dying.”
“How did he manage this?”
“Some kind of dark magic, I’m told.” I shrugged. “The men responsible are dead. We may never know.”
“Both dead,” she said softly. “And how are you?”
“I’m fine. I saw Zoe. She seems to be coping.”
“You sent her away from the faery realm in time.” She patted my arm. “She was lucky to have you. Most humans are hidden away when they start to lose their minds.”
“Forgotten about.”
She glanced at me. “Not all fae are the same.”
I nodded then opened the door to the tower room. Grey Eyes walked around the room, rubbing her arms as if cold.
“What do you think?” I asked.
“I think… we have a lot of work to do, but it could still be too late.” She knelt by a young man and touched his cheek. “This is unlike anything I’ve seen before.” She got the attention of one of the attendants. “Do their bodies function normally?”
Grey Eyes spent an hour in the room, looking less confident with every moment that passed. “I need the help of my sisters.”
“Invite them then,” I said.
“I cannot. Nothing grows here. We need our garden. But…” She tapped her chin. “We could take them in. They won’t fit in our home, but with your help, we could set up a sort of camp. They need cleaner air, away from the concentration of taint that lingers here. I can taste it in the air. No good will come of them staying here.”
“I’ll ask Rafe to figure something out,” I promised. “We’ll pay you and give you anything that you need. The attendants can go with you.”
“I will return. I want to keep an eye on the children.” She pulled me outside then, lowering her voice to speak. “We both know my medicine can only do so much for the children here, don’t we?”
I nodded, trying to keep my expression blank.
“It’s Scarlet,” she said. “She’s descended from the leanan sídhe, with noble blood from both sides, so it’s only natural she should have some form of magic. But I can’t tell if she’s a kind of conduit that’s increasing the influence of the medicine, or… something else.”
“Something else?”
“You must have noticed. You have to have seen how much better people feel around her. She’s a kind of tonic to everyone around her. Setanta thrives in her presence.”
“Please don’t tell anyone. They’ll think she’s some kind of miracle cure. She’s just a child.”
“You have nothing to worry about when it comes to me or my sisters.” She patted my hand reassuringly. “But if you want those children to heal, then they must spend as much time with Scarlet as possible.”
“What if taking away so much of the taint hurts her? And how is it even possible for her to heal people this way?”
“She’s not hurt. We would have seen signs of it already. As for why and how, perhaps what they say is true, and you were blessed by a deity. All I know is that she arrived when we needed her.” Her smile was warm. “As did you.”
“If we find a way to end this blight, will people recover naturally?”
“Not completely, but they’ll certainly improve.”
“Then that’s what I’ll do,” I said determinedly.
She went back into the room and looked over her shoulder. “I don’t doubt it.”
I made arrangements with Rafe, who thrived when he was in control of logistics. Over a meal, he had an enthusiastic discussion with Grey Eyes and Thistle, and I was pretty sure everything would run smoothly with their involvement.
Later that morning, the carriage that Conn had spoken of arrived. With a sigh, I sat in my makeshift throne and waited to greet the emissary. I had to treat Brendan’s emissary as well as I had Drake’s. But all notions of equality flew out of my mind when I saw who walked through the door.
“Grim!” I jumped off my seat and rushed to meet the grey-toned brownie who had always been wise and loyal when it came to me. A golden light flew around my head before finally getting tangled up in my hair—it was my sprite friend Realtín. I hugged Grim and held the sprite close to my heart until I realised half the court was staring.
“Come on,” I said. “We’ll go somewhere more private and talk.”
I organised a meeting in the new study, away from prying eyes. I took Scarlet and the pups and told Fiadh to have Conn and Grey Eyes join us as soon as the woman had finished checking up on Setanta.
“Rumble, wait outside the door with Vix for a bit, okay?”
He guarded the door, and I finally got a moment alone with my first faery friends.
I embraced them a second time. “I didn’t think I would see you again.”
“We always come back to each other,” Realtín scoffed as she darted around the room.
I grinned, feeling more like my old self than I had in ages. When I first met the sprite and brownie, I had been a naïve college student who thought the world held nothing for her. They had been loyal to me even when I didn’t deserve it. “Sit. Relax. They’ll send food for you soon. I just wanted you for myself first.”
I laid Scarlet on the floor next to her toys. The pups rolled on the rug next to her, having a playful battle amongst themselves.
/>
“The Darkside hasn’t changed her,” Grim said, looking fondly at my daughter.
“She’s always happy. It’s like she doesn’t even feel it. The darkness, I mean.”
“Can you still?”
I rubbed my arm. I felt the presence of the darkness at all times, but it had become familiar. It didn’t hurt me anymore. “I’m aware of it.”
He studied me while Realtín sat on the black pup’s back. It struggled to dislodge the sprite until the white bitch attempted to take a bite of her wings, and Realtín flew up in the air and almost collided with the ceiling.
“Stupid creature! Where did you get these dirty things?” She dropped onto the white pup’s head, rubbed her cheek against the fur, and giggled. “What are their names?”
“No names yet, and they’re a present from Drake—well, the Silver Court, I suppose. They’re supposed to be cú sídhe.”
“Brendan won’t be pleased,” Realtín said with a snort. “He only sent you wine.”
“It’s good wine,” Grim said, unable to hide his smile. “Drake’s gift was too extravagant.”
“Who cares about presents?" I said. "How have you two been?”
A look passed between them that I couldn’t quite decipher. “We are well,” Grim said.
“And?”
“We heard what happened from Anya,” Grim said at last. “Brendan hasn’t spoken of it much.”
“He’s so angry at me. I thought he understood, but he must have been brooding over it. I wasn’t trying to harm him. I swear.”
“I know,” Grim said. “I’m sure he’s more worried about Drake than you—even more so when he hears of this gift.”
That left me confused. “Why would that worry him?”
He frowned. “It will always be two against one when three are involved. You and Drake have a relationship through Scarlet. Brendan is right to be concerned.”
“Drake’s married to Sorcha,” I said scornfully.
“All of the courts know where his heart lies,” Grim said softly.
“That’s ridiculous. He sent me away, and he didn’t claim Scarlet until he wanted to steal the Darkside. I did what I did to stop him from having power over Brendan. Why would he feel warmly toward me now?”
“He’s still the child’s father,” Grim continued. “And you have a history of… making certain choices regarding Drake.”
That stung. “I haven’t done anything to hurt Brendan.”
“And Drake hasn’t made any suggestions?”
“No! I haven’t even seen him. I mean…” I hesitated. “There was one time on the journey to see Sadler. He said something about having the power to do what he liked.”
“Which would involve you?”
I shivered, feeling uncomfortable. “I don’t know what you’re asking, Grim.”
“Should I be concerned that I’m on the wrong side?”
My mouth fell open. “When did it come to that?”
“That’s what I’m trying to find out. I’m worried about all of you. What happened shouldn’t have happened. Dealing with Sadler wasn’t your responsibility.”
“Then what should have happened?” I said coldly. “What should I have done?”
“The point is that you shouldn’t have had to do anything. None of this has transpired in the way it was supposed to. I’m worried about the motives of those around you, Brendan, and Drake. Too many plans have gone off track. Be wary, Cara. Not everything is as it seems.”
I choked out a laugh. “This is the faery realm. Nothing is ever as it seems. So, Green Court emissary, tell me why you’re here, and I’ll feed and water you and send you on your way.”
“That’s unfair,” Realtín said. “You know Grim loves you.”
“How many times have I been told the fae don’t love?”
Grim bowed his head. “The king accepts the invitation to your ceremony. He will bring his favoured subjects as his guests, as you requested.”
“Great. Fantastic. Now if you’ll excuse me—”
“I’m here as a friend,” Grim said. “My job is secondary.”
“Is it?” I looked at him, upset. “Are you really here to be my friend, or is it on behalf of your king? Because you sound like—”
“Please, stop this!” Grim’s shoulders drooped. “You’re all so paranoid. I have no idea what happened on the trip—I wasn’t there—but I will not be a part of the delusions of you or either king. I am a free faery. Don’t drag me into this and expect me to take sides.”
I sank into my chair, feeling sullen.
“We are still your friends,” Grim said. “We always will be.”
My throat tightened. “I know. Maybe I’m just… worried I did the wrong thing. But I felt as though I didn’t have a choice. Drake was offering Sadler an escape and would have taken two-thirds of the realm. Brendan would have been… I just didn’t want any of that to happen. I thought taking the Darkside myself would protect Scarlet and stop Drake and Brendan from getting into some kind of war.”
“I have no reason to disbelieve you. You’ve always done what you thought was best. What are your plans?”
“Survival. That’s it. That’s all I have.”
“Are you aware of the state of the land?”
“I’ve heard a lot of bad news. We need to find a way to stop the blight before it’s too late. I really need to talk to Brendan and Drake. Between the three of us, we should be able to find a way to beat this.”
“Agreed,” Grim said. “And if we may, we’d like to remain here until the ceremony.”
“You’re always welcome here,” I said hesitantly. “But why are you eager to do it now?”
“If we take a look around your territory, we might be able to figure out why this darkness moves as it does. Some parts of the land become ravaged much more quickly than others. I would like to find answers.”
“Fair enough. I thought Sadler was responsible for the spread, but he’s gone, and parts of the realm are being destroyed still. I’d like to find out answers, too. But wait—have your lore masters found any more writings about the time a god decided to destroy the realm? I mean, we could use all the information we can get.”
Grim looked uncomfortable. “We have been… promised a look at more complete literature.”
“What’s the delay?”
He avoided my eyes. “There’ve been some issues with the negotiations. Brendan’s made counteroffers that have been politely declined.”
“I take it this literature is in the hands of someone who doesn’t swear fealty to the Green Court.”
“Or any other.” He still looked tense.
Before I could needle him for answers, a servant interrupted us with food for him and Realtín.
The sprite squealed enthusiastically. “I’m half-starved.”
I grinned as her light flashed with gold happiness. “Go stuff yourself then.”
While they ate, I played on the floor with Scarlet. She hadn’t displayed any obvious magic since our return to court, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t using it. There was no way to know how much power she was even capable of wielding.
Fiadh and Setanta arrived with Conn and Grey Eyes. I invited Rumble and Vix inside, too. My list of trustworthy fae was growing on a daily basis.
“Should I fetch the other advisers?” Rumble asked.
I shook my head. “Let’s see how this goes first.”
“Setanta has improved since I last saw him,” Grey Eyes said.
I looked over at Setanta, who had taken my place next to Scarlet. “It’ll be good for him to have Eithne for a visit, too. Do you think being back on the Darkside might slow down his healing?”
“There’s no sign of that yet, but things can change. I’m more concerned about the state of the Great Forest.”
Grim nodded. “It’s not just the forest. We’ve heard reports of disasters all over. Crops have failed, water supplies are being poisoned, and tribes have had to move out of their homes. The spread
has grown frighteningly quick, and it almost reaches the castles of both the other courts.”
“Everyone says the Great Forest is the heart of the realm. If it dies, there’s no going back,” I said.
“Time is against us,” Conn said. “It’s true that the spread is quickening. It’s aggressive.”
“It could have to do with us entering the Fade to retrieve Brendan,” I said, thinking hard. “But that doesn’t explain the sudden surge.”
“I’ve seen something like this before,” Fiadh said. “Back in the beginning, on the lands that Sadler coveted. We wondered if he was using some kind of magic because the blight always went where he wanted it to go. The spread would be sudden and aggressive like this, and then it would go no farther, as if whatever was feeding it had died.”
“But Sadler’s dead.”
“His god isn’t,” Vix said. “Sadler was a pawn. There used to be rumours in the castle about a geis on him that caused the darkness.”
“A geis?” I asked. “Why does that sound familiar?”
“It’s like a curse,” Grim said. “An obligation to do something—or not do something, as the case may be. His dealings with this god could have provoked some kind of geis that forced him to destroy the land or prevented him from stopping the spread for long.”
“What?” My cheeks grew hot. “Are you telling me Sadler was a hero now? That the spread is happening because he isn’t here to stop it?”
Grim raised his hands. “We’re discussing possibilities. That’s all. Nobody’s calling Sadler a hero or anything of the sort.”
“But what if it’s true?” Vix said. “What if he really did hold back the blight?”
“Sadler’s dead,” I said. “There’s nothing we can do about him.”
“But he might not be the only pawn,” Rumble said.
I clutched the arms of my chair, trying to hold in my panic. “We’ve no way of knowing who the pawns are unless they make it obvious. But the big question is this: is there a way to seal the rift in the Fade to at least slow down the blight?”
“I have no idea,” Grim said.
“Nor do I,” Fiadh said. “Only a very old and powerful fae would know the answers to such questions.”