As we gathered around the oak table, Iris and Hanna included, and held hands, I closed my eyes and dropped my head back. “Moon Mother, watch down over us. Lady Undutar, guard this house and home. Lady Bast, watch over our felines—and watch over Maggie. Be with us, guard us in our journeys and guide us safely home again. Protect the house and hearth while we’re gone, and let us rejoice in this, the family we’ve created.”
And with that, we set to, one last night of feasting. The laughter rose, and the noise of clattering plates and silverware rang out, along with shouts of “Pass the ribs!” and “Toss me a hunk of bread, will you?” and “Is there any more salad?”
I sat back, eating, watching the people I loved the most. Tomorrow would bring the beginning of a change that would forever affect us. I wasn’t sure how I felt about it, but for now, we were safe and together, and the love was flowing.
EARLY THE NEXT morning, we gathered at the Wayfarer. Nobody was there except Derrick, who had agreed to meet us. He quietly escorted us to the basement. Menolly had stayed home—it was too close to sunrise. And we had asked Vanzir and Morio to wait at home. Smoky, Trillian, Rozurial, Chase, Delilah, Shade, and I were there. Smoky took my pack from me, and Shade offered to carry Delilah’s but she shook her head. Instead, he held out his hand to Chase and—without a word—Chase handed over his pack. He knew he was the weak link, and by now, his ego had evolved enough to admit it and do whatever he could to strengthen himself.
Aeval appeared with Bran and Venus, and she motioned me off to one side.
“You are walking into a dangerous situation, yes, but please do not fear. Fear is your enemy. Be cautious, watch for ambush, but remain focused on your goal. You are destined to become the Queen of Dusk and Twilight, and the Hags of Fate do not deal out destinies willy-nilly. You will find the diamond, and return, and after that…” Her voice trailed off, leaving a soft sigh in its wake. “After that, you will begin to understand the true nature of your power and your potential, Camille Sepharial te Maria D’Artigo.” She kissed me on the forehead. “Go now, and return as soon as you can. Even I cannot predict where this is leading, but I’m looking forward to finding out.”
She stood back and nodded for us to proceed. Derrick, who was versed in using the portal, had set the destination for Dahnsburg Lake, near Thistlewyd Deep.
“It’s important you tell no one where we went. I don’t care who asks.” I walked toward the portal.
“I understand. Menolly explained matters to me last night. Well, I have a strong suspicion a great deal was left out, but what I don’t know, I can’t tell. Go and be safe, Camille.” The werebadger clapped me on the shoulder. “I think whatever you’re doing, it’s important to more than just you. So be safe.”
“Thanks, Derrick. Watch after Menolly, would you?”
He laughed at that. “Right, like Roman won’t be doing that.” He lowered his voice. “Digger told me that Roman’s sent out some security forces to watch over your place. Menolly doesn’t know because he didn’t want her to, but go with a light heart. He’s taking care of his Princess’s family.” With that, he snorted.
I flashed him a conspiratorial smile. “I know. Every time I think of Menolly as a princess, it triggers the word oxymoron. Okay, we’re heading out. Be safe.”
The portal was a spiraling vortex of energy inside of a compartment that had been built around it. The waves of energy were pulsing blue, and I steeled myself for the disorientation they caused. But it was the only way to reach Otherworld, and we had been through them time and again. With a deep breath, I turned to make sure everybody was ready, and then—before I could change my mind—plunged through the portal.
WALKING INTO A portal is kind of like walking into a bug zapper. Imagine being jolted with the most electrifying shock you’ve ever felt, as every atom in your body suddenly whirls apart, spreading out into the universe. Then, just as your mind seems to be hanging by a thread, the rubber band snaps and all your atoms go flinging back together with a thud and you suddenly find yourself in another place, relatively in one piece.
I stumbled through the two giant cedars that housed the portal outside of Thistlewyd Deep. To my back was the Windwillow Valley, a vast stretch of grassland and plains, where trees were scarce and the constant wind whistled through the long blades of grass, sending them in a rippling wave that traveled across the expanse.
Beyond the valley to the east, the Nebulveori Mountains rose, a swath of peaks that dwarfed anything over Earthside. The dwarves held rule there, along with giants and ogres and trolls. Goblins also, though the goblin city of Guilyoton was found between the Ranakwa Fens and the southernmost tip of Darkynwyrd.
I had been to this portal once before, coming from Dahnsburg. Now, that seemed like such a long time ago even though it had only been two years. As I reached out to steady myself, someone took my arm. With a gasp, I started to leap backward, but was startled to see Raven Mother holding tight to my wrist, her eyes gleaming.
“Camille, oh we meet again very soon, do we not? Meet again, we do. Welcome to Thistlewyd Deep. Surely you remember your last trip here, my dear?”
I glanced around, wondering if the Black Unicorn was near. “Is…he…here, too?”
“No, he’s off running wild in Darkynwyrd, he is, my husband. But make haste and move out of the way, for another is coming through.”
She pulled me out of the way as Smoky appeared. He stared at Raven Mother for a moment, frowning, but then quickly stepped to my side, putting a little distance between her and me. After that, Delilah came through, then Shade and Chase. Bran was next—and he quickly crossed to his mother’s side and gave her a peck on the cheek. After Bran, Venus appeared, then Rozurial, and we were all together.
“I have your horses, I do. They are waiting for you in the glade nearby.” Raven Mother motioned for us to follow her. “Derisa bade me find the fastest I could, and the ones best suited for mountain terrain. I brought in Nebulveori mountain horses, from the dwarves. These are swift steeds who can navigate rocky climes.”
She motioned to the side where a team of horses stood. Tan in color, with blond manes, they looked sturdy and used to hard work. Given the dwarves love for metals, it was easy enough to figure they were used to carry ore out of the mines up in the Nebulveori range. The dwarven mountains were as rough as the Tygerian Mountains, if not worse.
“The horses should do well for us. If they can handle working for the dwarves, they can handle carrying us into the hills.” I wandered over to where the animals were standing and gently patted one on the head. He whinnied, tossing his mane as he nudged me with his muzzle. His nostrils flared and he snorted warm air in my face. “Easy boy, you’re a nice horse, aren’t you?”
Delilah stroked the side of the horse. “I wish we didn’t have to rely on Raven Mother.”
I felt the same way, but glanced over to where she was talking with Smoky. “I know, but the truth is, she can help us. And as much as I don’t want Bran along, there’s nothing we can do about him either. We have to bring him. Aeval said so. Given that he gave me more help than I expected when we went after Myrddin, I’m not going to cause trouble.”
“Hurry,” Raven Mother cautioned, tsking loudly. “We are on the outskirts of the Deep, and we must make haste. There are creatures around here that would not hesitate to attack a large party, although with me at your side, they will not dare. But I must be off soon and will not be able to accompany you to the mountains.”
Thistlewyd Deep belonged to Raven Mother and was far darker than even Darkynwyrd, which was a shadow land in itself, filled with primal creatures and those who lived between the light and the dark. The forest was the incarnation of magic, alive as any one of us and even more so. As frightening as it could be to strangers, to those who ran with the Hunt—like me—it fit like a glove. The energy was joyously feral, and as I watched the treeline in front of us, the shrubs and undergrowth shook as if a giant wind swept past them.
“Saddle up, my friends.” Raven Mother held out the reins of a horse with a star on its forehead. “Camille, I picked this one for you. She will lead you well, and you can trust her to find her way in the dark. She is used to fell folk, and will not startle in battle. The others are also acclimated to swordplay. The dwarves have a time fending off those who would steal from them. Their beasts of burden must be stalwart as well.”
I patted the horse on the head and she nuzzled me. One look in her eye and I knew we were going to get along fine. “What’s her name?”
“Dwarves don’t tend to name their horses,” Trillian said, coming up behind me. He helped me to fasten my staff to a holder that was connected to the saddle so I wouldn’t have to hold it. The horse didn’t seem to mind it there, parallel to its body. “They aren’t very sentimental.”
“Well, everybody should have a name.” I patted her muzzle again and she whinnied, as though she were enjoying it. “I’m going to call her Annabelle.”
“Let me help you up onto Annie’s back, then.” Trillian held the stirrup as I placed my foot into it, then grasping the horn of the saddle, I swung myself up. I adjusted my skirts so they weren’t trapped between my legs and the saddle and was immediately grateful I’d put on tights.
Delilah and the others mounted their horses, although as Smoky and Shade neared their mounts, the horses shifted nervously. They could probably smell dragon scent. Once we were all seated, Bran rode to the front. He turned, handling his horse like an expert.
“I know Venus needs to direct where we’re to go, but for now, we need to get away from the borders of the Deep and into the forest. We don’t know if we’re being followed.” He lowered his voice and looked directly at me. “The demons watch you and your sisters. For all we know, they could have seen you walk into the bar this morning, and not leave. We can be sure they know the spirit seals have all been found. Shadow Wing’s intelligence agency is clever and cunning. Best not to take chances. We’ll ride to a safe place my mother has prepared, and there the old shaman can give us our coordinates.”
Without another word, he turned back to the path and led us into Thistlewyd Deep as Raven Mother watched from behind. I glanced back at her. She said nothing, but raised one hand. I decided to take it as a blessing on our journey.
Chapter 10
THISTLEWYD DEEP ENVELOPED us like a glove enveloping a hand. It sucked us in, closing away the world outside. The outskirts of the Windwillow Valley had been alive with the sound of droning bees and bird song that flickered through the air. The hum of summer reverberated through the valley, but the moment we passed into the borders of the Deep, the sounds changed. Oh, it wasn’t silent here, not by any stretch of the imagination, but the birdsong changed to echoing calls, haunting and lonely. And bees still skimmed the bushes and flowers, but their hum was drowned out by that of the forest itself. The magic ran so thick here in the Deep that it tattooed its own beat, low and resonant, through the woodland.
Delilah nudged her mount over toward me, so we were riding side by side. She hadn’t ever been to Thistlewyd Deep, although she had been through Darkynwyrd, which could easily be a wooded nightmare of its own.
“The forest makes me uneasy. I feel we’re being watched,” she said in low tones.
“That’s because we are. We have a couple days’ ride to get through this part of the Deep so you might as well get used to it. This is where I felled…” I stopped, glancing ahead at Bran. If he could hear us, he made no indication. “The Black Beast. Within this wood.”
“The forest practically reeks with Raven Mother’s energy. Everything feels chaotic and topsy-turvy. I wouldn’t want to live here.” She shuddered, but when Bran gave a quick glance over his shoulder, she fell silent.
“Watch what you say here. And watch what you think. As deadly as the goblins and their ilk are, this is probably one of the most dangerous places in Otherworld.” I used my knee to nudge my mount to quicken her pace. The sooner we were through the Deep and into the mountains the better. But I was curious about the safe place Bran had mentioned. The words “safe” and “Thistlewyd Deep” didn’t exactly go together.
We rode in silence for some time. I wasn’t sure how long—watches didn’t work very well in the Deep, and I couldn’t wear one anyway. My aura stopped them like…well…like clockwork. But the morning gave way to noon before Bran motioned to a side path off trail. He tsked at his horse and turned to the left, heading northwest into the thicket of undergrowth that carpeted the forest floor. Foliage grew knee high here, ferns and brambles, shashka bushes and ivyvine. The forest was a lot like those of the Pacific Northwest over Earthside, coniferous and ancient. The oak groves tended to grow in the Elfin lands, but here, conifers ruled, tall fir and spruce, sequoia and cedar.
We followed Bran for a couple of miles to the edges of a large pond. Once there, he swung off his horse and motioned for us to follow. As we dismounted, a thick fog began to rise up around us, encasing us in a ring of mist.
“The mist will protect us from prying eyes and ears for a while. We’ll rest and eat here, and Venus can tell us what he needs to tell us.” Bran led his mount to the water, letting the animal drink. Delilah and Trillian gathered the rest of the horses and did the same.
Meanwhile, Bran settled by a ring of stones that had been used as a fire pit at some time in the past, although it looked like it had been a while, judging by the state of the charred wood within. He knelt and struck a match to some kindling, settling in to make a tidy little fire. “We won’t be here too long, but the forest will soon grow damp and chill the further we go, so if you want some hot tea or something, I suggest you make it now. After this, we ride until sunset and that’s at least another seven hours.”
“I’ll make the tea,” Shade said. He brought out a pan from his backpack. “I’ve also got a skillet, for when we run out of Hanna’s sandwiches. Which, given the number of us, won’t be long in coming.” He settled in to heat water, while the rest of us formed a makeshift circle around the fire. The ground was damp, so Smoky and Rozurial found several downed trunks and dragged them over for us to sit on.
Chase was looking around, his eyes wide. “I’ve been to Otherworld several times now, but I never expected anything like this.” His voice was hushed. “It’s…beyond words. I can feel the forest. It’s like an animal crouching around us.”
“Wait until we’re in the thick of it, Detective.” Bran walked over to stand by him. “At the heart of the Deep, the magic is so thick it makes those who are head blind nauseated. It’s intoxicating and heady, and very, very deadly if you don’t watch your step.”
Chase shuddered, just enough to tell me he was afraid. But he took a seat on one of the logs and held out his hands to the fire. “I don’t know why I had to come, but I suppose I’ll find out in good time.”
Venus cleared his throat. “Let’s get this show on the road. I’m here because Queen Asteria entrusted me with the location of the Maharata-Vashi. The Maharata-Verdi contains the incantation to awaken the diamond. The Maharata-Vashi contains the location to find the—” Here, he paused, glancing around. “Safe haven or not, I will not speak the actual name aloud here. You need it to find the gem you seek. The reason we came this way is because the Maharata-Vashi rests in a cavern where the foothills of the Tygerian Mountains kiss the edge of Thistlewyd Deep.”
“Do you know what cave? There must be an abundance of caverns in the Tygerian range.” Smoky reached in his pocket and pulled out a pipe, which he filled and began to smoke. He never smoked in the house because smoke bothered both Delilah and me, but when he was out at his barrow, and when he was outside for some time, he indulged. I wasn’t sure what mixture it was that he smoked—it definitely wasn’t tobacco—but he seemed to enjoy it.
Venus snickered. “If I didn’t know, I wouldn’t be much use to you, would I?” He arched his eyebrows. “The answer is yes. Queen Asteria, rest her soul, taught me a riddle that will lead t
o the scroll.”
“Let’s hear it,” Rozurial said. “I have the Maharata-Verdi with me, safely tucked away among my weapons. I suggest that when we find the other scroll, someone else carry that one so that if we’re ambushed, we have a chance of keeping them from both being stolen.”
Accepting an aluminum mug of tea from Shade, Venus leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “Here’s what I was taught.” He cleared his throat, and then in a low voice, began to sing.
Where bridge crosses a stream that winds like a snake,
There find the juncture, the north path you will take.
Trees that blossom white, even in the snow,
Signal that you’re on the path, where you need to go.
By a boulder wide, that’s giant as a troll,
Bend to your right, bewaring rocks that roll.
Follow the song of the martingeese,
It will lead you to the cavern that you seek.
I frowned. “So we need to find a bridge over a winding stream. Then take the north path at the juncture… Trees that blossom white, even in the snow?”
“Canaberry trees. They blossom during the winter. The white flowers fall off in early spring and return in late summer, so right now they will be just budding. But I know what to look for.” Bran snorted at my look. “So surprised I know my flowers?”
“No, but—well. Yes.” I held his gaze for a moment and then laughed. “Do you blame me? Anyway, so we find canaberry trees and continue along. Then, we look for a gigantic boulder as big as a troll and there, we listen for the sound of the martingeese. I assume they’re thick around that area. The cavern should be near there.”