Faery Queen (20 page)

“I do not think it would be for lust,” Ean answered, not liking this new sign. “Call a wizard—one of our allies. Have him cast a protection spell around the encampment.”

“Do you think that is necessary? Anyone looking will sense the magic. That could lead Merrick right to us.”

“Aye, I am afraid it might be very necessary. Merrick and his men might detect us, but I do not think they will come for us. They will think it a trap.” Ean again tried to sense the faeries, only finding darkness. It was almost as if they'd been wiped out completely. Why would Lucien want to hurt the faeries? To take their magic from the land? And how exactly did he get close enough to Queen Tania to do whatever it was he'd done? “There is trouble in the faery world. If not for this war, I might have felt the shift sooner. The faeries have always been blessed, flighty, but blessed. They have never done us harm, but that does not mean they cannot be turned to darkness.”

“Come to think on it,” Adal mused, “there have been no faeries near the camp lately trying to seduce the men, or in the forest, working to mend broken leaves. Do you think Queen Tania has called them away?”

“Possibly.” Ean cursed, kicking at the ground. “What would the Damned King want with the faeries? It does not make sense. Why faeries? Their magic is of no use to him in this world.”

Suddenly, they both turned to look to where Thomas the mortal slept.

“But if not in this world,” Adal began.

“Then in the mortal,” Ean finished. “The scouts should be back very soon. If there is no immediate threat to the camp, I will ride with Sir Thomas to find his brothers. Mayhap the mortals will have some insight into this matter of the faeries.”

“Doubtful.”

“Aye, but it is all we have got at the moment. It's too much of a coincidence that the faery magic would darken around the same time the humans arrive. I will not take chances. I will not fight Lucien and Merrick both. If they were to join forces…” Ean shook his head, refusing to think about what would happen. “Balance is a delicate thing. In the past, the Unblessed Kings have been too prideful to fight with Lucien. Merrick is different. He was not born prideful, not like those that ruled before him. He struggles for balance. I feel it.”

“What do the faeries have to do with Merrick?”

“All magic is tied. If Lucien cannot get Merrick, he might have formulated a plan to recruit the other races to his side. Such a force in the magical world would be hard to refuse. Lucien might make another try for Merrick's allegiance.” Ean forced himself to appear calm, though inside he was perplexed. His men would look to him for strength and leadership. But who did a king go to for such things? Merrick had Juliana. Did she help to lessen his brother's burden? Loneliness curled inside him, but he fought it. There was no time for self-pity. “Or, Lucien's plan could be tied to the Bellemare family. Blessed souls have to be very tempting to a demon. Perchance Queen Tania has something to do with the mortals.”

Adal made a small noise as he scratched his head. “When Lady Roslyn was in my bed, she told me the queen detained Hugh and Thomas last they were there. Methought little of it when she spoke the words, but it could be a connection between them.”

“I will question Sir Thomas about their time at Feia with the faeries,” Ean said. “Wake Raoul and Laurent and explain to them what is happening. They will come with me to find the mortals. And have them prepare my special mounts with extra for William and Hugh, should we come across them.”

“Are you sure you wish to take the unicorns for this? With the Damned King's influence at Feia…” Adal paused. “Lucien would love to capture them.”

“Aye, but I would have their magic with us. We have no idea what we are going to learn about Tania and Lucien.” Ean took a deep breath and held it for a long moment, contemplating his actions. “I will wake Sir Thomas and see what he knows. Hopefully, all this will come to nothing.”

 

 

 

“Blood.”

Hugh frowned. It was all their elf companion would say, but he was saying it often. They traveled, theorizing that they'd eventually have to get somewhere. It wasn't as if they had a choice. They were lost after all.

“Blood,” the elf said again.

“I am beginning to agree with you about this one,” William said quietly from his side. Nicholas and the elf walked in front of them, finally able to move on their own. Hugh didn't trust them at his back. “He is a bit obsessed.”

“Blood,” the elf said again. He suddenly veered to the side, heading straight into the forest.

“Blessed saints,” Hugh cursed. “Where is he going?”

Nicholas automatically moved to follow the elf.

“Ugh, grab Nicholas before he follows him,” the earl ordered. William was closer and reached out to grab Nicholas' arm, stopping him. Hugh sighed heavily, trying to see where the elf went. “We do not have time for this.”

“We could leave him,” William suggested. “It would save us the aggravation.”

“Nay, we are responsible for Sir Blood,” Hugh said, reluctant. William saved the man, which made them honor bound to protect him if he was good or turn him in to face justice if he were bad. “I will go after him. He could not have gotten far. Wait here with Nicholas.”

Hugh strode into the forest, listening for the elf. “Blood.”

It took some searching before he heard the elf mumbling, “Blood, blood.”

“Ho, Sir Blood.” Hugh found the man sitting in a circle of sunlight.

The trees overhead were parted, giving access to the sun. The elf looked up before closing his eyes Wind stirred around them, as if calling to the man. A chill worked its way over Hugh's spine as he glanced around the quiet forest.

A low sound began in the back of the elf's throat. Hugh couldn't take his eyes off of him. He reached forward, trying to calm him. “Easy. What are you doing?”

The sound only grew. Suddenly, another cry rang over the forest. It was a hoarse, painful call coming from the direction of William and Nicholas. The earl assumed it was Nicholas. The elf instantly began to scream as well, covering his ears as he fell to the ground. Hugh reached to where he normally carried his sword, but he had no weapon.

“What's happening?” Hugh demanded. The elf only screamed louder. Backing away, he didn't know how to help him. Turning, he ran for his brother, “William! William!”

 

 

 

Finally, Thomas thought, not for the first time since King Ean awoke him at dawn to look for his brothers. Waiting had been hard and he'd almost left the encampment several times. Only with no sense of direction, no weapons and no horse, it wasn't prudent for him to take off on his own. He understood that, being immortal, elves and such did not feel the need for urgency. To them, a day was nothing out of their eternities. To a human searching for his brothers, a day was everything.

The horse he rode was thinner than the Bellemare stallions, but it was a fine animal that turned nicely and was light on its feet. In every way the unicorn mounts looked like mortal realm horses with brown, black and white coats and large eyes. The only difference was they had horns protruding from the top of their foreheads, tipped with sharp, deadly points. Undoubtedly, the horn would make for very useful weapons in battle.

King Ean and two of his elfin guards escorted him through Mystic Forest. None of them said how they knew where to go and Thomas didn't think to ask. They'd given him back his sword and he reached to feel it as they rode, drawing comfort in its familiar weight.

Not saying a word, he followed the others' example and took the mount by its horn. He lightly nudged it to the side, directing it to turn. The beast nodded its head, following the direction, and they rode on in silence.

“Ahh!”

Thomas tensed. The scream came from the distance, loud and harsh. He'd heard such noises before—on the battlefield after a fight, when men lay dying in agony. “Who is that?”

“Sh,” Ean waved his hand. “I sense Bellemare blood.”

“What?” Thomas thought of his brothers, dying and bleeding in the forest. He kicked his stallion, holding it by the horn to direct it toward the sound. He had no weapon, no magic, but it didn't matter. His family was out there and he needed to save them.

 

 

 

“William!” Hugh yelled over the loud screams, looking for his brother as he pushed past the trees. “William!”

“Here,” William called. He pointed, directing his attention at Nicholas on the ground several paces away from him. The man rolled back and forth, holding his head. “I do not know what happened. One second he's saying ‘bed' the next he's screaming on the ground.”

“It is the same with the other,” Hugh answered, his heart wildly beating. He was glad to see William safe, but didn't let down his guard. “What's happening to them?”

“I know not.” William pulled his robes closer. “Where is the elf?”

“Back in the forest. I did not want to touch him.”

“You wanted to save me.” It looked as if William gave a small laugh, but Hugh couldn't hear the sound.

“Nicholas!” Hugh leaned over him.

The man turned at the sound, his green eyes red and the skin around them swollen. He screamed louder, moving his hands to scratch at his eyes. “I did it! I did it!”

Hugh grabbed the man's wrists, wrestling them away from his face. Bloody trails were left over his cheeks where he'd clawed himself.

“William? Hugh? What is happening?”

Hugh turned, seeing Thomas swing off a strange horned horse. William answered, but Hugh couldn't figure out what he was saying. The youngest wasn't exactly the most helpful during physical skirmishes. Hugh tried to stand, but Nicholas thrashed and he was forced to hold on as the man flung his weight to the side, dragging Hugh to the ground next to him.

“Thomas,” Hugh yelled. Thomas was instantly by his side. With his help, they pinned Nicholas, keeping him from hurting himself.

“I cannot tell you how happy I am to see you,” Thomas said. “When that witch took you… Is this Nicholas?”

Nicholas managed to slip a leg free while Thomas was stunned with surprise. He jerked his knee, slamming it against Thomas.

“Ow,” Thomas growled, locking his leg over Nicholas' to hold him still. Then, he put his hand over the man's mouth, pressing down to muffle his screams. “My ears cannot take this noise. What's wrong with him? How is he even here? Methought you said he was dead.”

The thundering of horse hooves prevented Hugh from answering.

“Ow,” Thomas drew his hand away. “He bit me.”

Ean rode up followed by two others. He instantly lifted his hand toward them, saying, “Whoa, calm.”

Nicholas jerked and went limp. Hugh pushed up from the ground. Thomas was slower to follow, shaking his hand. The sound of screams still penetrated from the forest where the elf lay. William hovered in the background, looking worried. Hugh wasn't surprised. William wasn't much of a fighter. He never had been.

“Thomas,” Hugh instantly hugged him. “You are safe.”

“Aye,” Thomas returned the affection. “I was about to say the same to you. What happened?”

“Long story,” Hugh said. Thomas went to William. The earl bowed to the king. “King Ean, I thank you for the safe return of my brother and for whatever you did to quiet Nicholas.”

“You must tell me this long story, Lord Bellemare.” Ean motioned him to stand.

“I would like to hear it as well,” Thomas answered. “I was sure you were captured by Lucien.”

“Aye, we were,” William inserted. “But then Lucien gave Hugh to Tania and she tried to trap him to her, but he would not hear of—”

“William,” Hugh interjected to get him to stop talking.

“Oh? Right, right,” William said, sounding mildly distracted. “My apologies, my manners are…” He stopped to bow to King Ean. “It is an honor, King Ean, my brothers have told me of your blessing on Bellemare, well to speak truthfully, I knew of the blessing and told them of the blessing, but they told me of you confirming the blessing.”

“William.” Hugh gave a small shake of his head to get him to stop rambling.

“Ah, right,” William said. “Pleasure, my king.”

Ean started to speak, only to turn to look at the surrounding forest. “Who else is screaming?”

“I do not know.” Hugh motioned toward where he'd left the elf. “William found Nicholas and an elf in King Lucien's dungeon. He rescued them.”

Ean arched a brow and glanced at William, who was grinning profusely. “An elf you say? With Lucien?”

“Aye,” William and Hugh said in unison.

“Let us see if we cannot quiet him so that we may speak.” Ean began walking, his two guards right behind him.

“I would be careful, your majesty,” Hugh warned. “He speaks of nothing but blood.”

“Actually, he says nothing but the word ‘blood',” William corrected.

“Right,” Hugh agreed.

Ean didn't pause as he walked into the forest. Hugh turned to Thomas. “Tell me everything.”

“Actually, brothers,” Thomas glanced down at Nicholas, “methinks you'd better speak first.”

 

Ean trudged through the forest, glad to have found Hugh and William safe. He'd sensed them, but it had been a faint call and he didn't want to tell Thomas they were close until he was sure. The man on the ground concerned him, as did the screaming man he now went to calm. Lucien's dungeons were a hideous place and it was hard to know what had been done to them while they were prisoners.

“My king, do you wish me to go first?” Laurent asked.

“Nay,” he answered. “I feel no danger.”

The cries became louder. Suddenly, Ean stopped, finding the man huddled on the ground. He lifted his hand to shower the poor elf with peaceful emotion when suddenly the man stopped yelling on his own. Dirty hands fell away from the man's head and slowly he rolled, turning so Ean could see his face.