The Faerie Queen (The Faerie Ring #4) (23 page)

Chapter Forty-One

“
Just as you predicted.”  The Jester was expressionless as he stood in the room above the Great Hall and watched Donegal make his entrance. Fial’s dark hair was combed back from a face unadorned with artifice or makeup. Though wrinkles creased the skin around his eyes, the architecture of his face was similar to that of Dain and William. The bruises were fading from the beating he had taken while being held by Donegal’s guards, but the angle of his nose appeared to be permanently skewed.

Larkin stood next to him, her fingers threaded through his.
Her blond hair hung in a simple plait down her back, her exquisite features relaxed and unguarded for once.

“
A well-planted suggestion by Fachtna convinced him the child was the bait he needed to draw the Seelie Queen to him.”

“
And so the endgame begins.”

“
Yes.”

“
How long have we worked for this moment?”

“
Too long, my love,” Larkin said. A long sigh passed her lips. “I fear I have grown tired of the lies—weary of the battle. The lives of our children seem too great a sacrifice now.”

“
Indeed. But if not ours—then whose? There was no one else to stop the evil. And had we not lied—had we not partnered with Finn and Eridanus—Tara and our children would have been butchered long ago.”

Larkin wiped a single tear from her cheek.
“True,” she whispered. “But it’s been so very much to give—” her voice broke. “Perhaps we should have run instead—”

The Jester turned to face her.
“Breanna, this is not like you. Where is the arrogance I love so much? We must look forward not backward, my dear.” He ran a gentle hand along her cheek. “We chose this path because it was what we
had
to do—and look what we have achieved: we are alive—our children are still alive. Our sons are smart, honest and loyal. They are together again and committed to each other. William will marry Tara, the true-born Seelie queen—the daughter of your best friend, Adasara. They love each other and together they will take the Seelie Court into the future in the way we have fought for and dreamed of—without prejudice or fear. We are accomplishing everything we planned so long ago.”

“
If
they survive, Fial. If we survive.” Larkin’s face was bleak. “Addie is dead, along with Finn and Eridanus. And so many more. Are we really winning?”

“
Bree—never forget the reason we started the lies so long ago—it was what we
had
to do. Finn and Eridanus knew of the evil that was coming. They planned with their underlords for decades in anticipation of what the future would bring. When Finn fell in love with Adasara he
asked
for our help. In my heart I believe he knew what the future held for all of us. You and Adasara began the charade of being sisters for exactly this purpose—so no one would ever suspect Larkin was the diversion—the one who pretended she wanted to be queen—until Tara was old enough and ready to find the Four Treasures—ready to claim the Seelie throne.” Emotion was thick in his voice. “
Think
where we would be if we hadn’t fought back—we would all be dead and Donegal would rule Faerie.”

“
I know, I know.” Larkin closed her eyes and leaned her head against his shoulder. “But I’m tired of playing this part. Of never being completely honest—of forcing Tara to dislike me at every turn so she will choose to help the Seelie cause—to believe she is the only one who cares enough to fight for them.” A small sob rose from her chest. “I’ve played it for so long I wonder how different I really am from Larkin? I feel that I’ve become her.”

“
Then you know beneath the arrogance and anger, she has a heart of gold. You have played her brilliantly, Breanna, and you have made Tara strong in a way she would never have been if you hadn’t forced her to choose. Adasara would be so proud of both of you. You’re just tired and worried. Stay the course a little longer and we will be free. I promise you.”

“
And what of Dain?” Larkin raised her head. “Fial, I fear he has fallen in love with Tara as well.” Her eyes glistened with tears, one leaving a trail down her cheek.

The Jester smiled
and ran a gentle finger beneath her eye. “Dain only thinks he loves Tara because he has yet to meet his own true love. He will find her one day, my dear, he will.”

“
And our baby? What of Clara?” Another tear ran down Larkin’s cheek as she choked out a sob. “I’ve missed so much with her. She loves Tara now—not me. If nothing else—she must survive—be protected. I couldn’t stand it if—” her voice broke in a sob.

Fial
cupped her face with both hands. “Breanna, you must be strong for just a while longer. We have been forced to live a lie for too long—you as Larkin and me as the Jester.  But we are almost done. We have accomplished the impossible—we have kept the true-born queen alive until she reached an age where she could claim the throne. She is strong enough now to battle my brother and through your cleverness and sacrifice she has come to desire the same result as us—something that would never have happened if she had only been told of her destiny. We are so close—don’t give up now. We can win this war.
Finally.
Then we will once again find the life we gave up so long ago.”

Chapter Forty-Two

As Donegal made his announcement
Rieker moved lightning fast and wrapped his long arms around Tiki’s waist to stop her from running to Clara.

“
Let me go,” she cried. “I have to protect her.”

“
Think,” he whispered harshly. “You are glamoured as a Redcap. We can’t help her right now.” Tiki continued to struggle and Rieker tightened his grip. “We are outnumbered—” he said low in her ear— “with no weapons. If we die then Clara is left to face Donegal alone.”

Tiki stopped struggling
. Around them the crowd buzzed with excitement over the new captive.

“
Why would the Seelie queen care about a
mortal
child?” one woman whispered.

“
Who cares as long as we can get rid of her once and for all,” replied her companion. “She’s too powerful—to make the Stone cry out—that hasn’t happened in centuries. Best to get rid of her.”

“
I wonder what the mortal girl tastes like?” muttered another who looked like something that had climbed from a swamp.

“
What will you do with the child?” A brave soul called to Donegal as the Winter King made his way through the crowded rectangular-shaped room to where the Dragon Throne sat.

“
SHE WILL BE HELD HERE, ON DISPLAY IN THE GREAT HALL NEXT TO MY THRONE UNTIL THE SEELIE QUEEN IS
DEAD
.”

“
Listen to me.” Rieker whispered in Tiki’s ear.  “We know where she is. We know she’s alive. Take a deep breath and let’s think.”

Tiki dropped her hands but Rieke
r didn’t release his grip. She glanced over her shoulder at him. “You can let go now.”

“
Do you promise you won’t do anything foolish?”

“
Yes.”

Rieker dropped his hands but he didn’t step
back.  “The first thing we need to do is change these glamours. Every UnSeelie we spoke to in that hallway will to be looking for us—not to mention anyone they told to meet the Redcaps at that fountain if they had news.”

“
I’m not taking my eyes off Clara.” Tiki’s tone brooked no argument. “Let’s get closer.” She latched on to Rieker’s bony wrist and pulled him forward, winding through the crowd.

“
The hag will be the first to come looking for us,” he warned.  “If we are found here, in the midst of this many UnSeelie fey, we will not be able to defend ourselves.”

Tiki led him across the room,
working her way through the crowd to stand among the fringes. The net that held Clara had been positioned at the foot of the steps that led to the golden seat. They were close enough that Tiki could see the little girl’s pale blond hair as she sat hunched into a small ball within the golden web that held her.

Clara’s head jerked in their direction and her blue eyes settled on Tiki. She stared for the longest time before her gaze shifted to Rieker.

“She must be so frightened,” Tiki murmured to Rieker. “What must she be thinking, looking upon horrible creatures like us—bloody Redcaps—in a place like this?” Tiki longed to run to the child, to cut her free, to hold her close and tell her she would protect her—but Rieker was right. They needed a plan. They needed to make sure they could all get out alive and end this war with Donegal once and for all.

“
There they are!” The hag’s voice rose above the hum of conversation that filled the room.  Tiki whirled around, a new fear filling her.

“
We’ve got to get out of here.” Rieker tugged Tiki sideways and pulled her toward the door.

“
But—” Tiki cried.

“
As soon as we’re in the hallway, change glamours,” he hissed.

“
Stop them!” The hag’s voice grew louder. “Those Redcaps—they were asking about the mortal child—”

Tiki and Rieker dashed
into a back hallway, ignoring the startled looks of the fey they passed.

“
Where are you going in such a hurry?” A soldier called after them.

“
Just remembered an appointment,” Rieker called over his shoulder. “Not to worry.”

“
STOP THEM!” The hag shrieked like a banshee.

In a delayed reaction the soldier yelled after them.
“You two—HALT!”

Rieker sprinted to the nearby
door and yanked it open, pulling Tiki through behind him.  He pushed the door shut as quietly as he could and slid the deadbolt home trying not to make any noise.

“
Change your glamour. Something inconspicuous.”  Together, he and Tiki whispered the necessary words and moved their hands from forehead to knees as the smell of fresh clover filled the air. In an instant Rieker had changed into one of the myriad soldiers who guarded the Great Hall, wearing the same black tunic, a silver sword curved at his side.

Tiki, on
the other hand, had become a beautiful woman with long hair the fiery red of a flame. She was elegant and seductive, alluring and dangerous.

Rieker’s eyes widened.
“
That’s
inconspicuous?”

“
I am a
leanan sidhe
—
La Belle Dame sans Merci
of Keats’ poem—the muse of mortals and knights who are destined to die young.” Her eyes grew flint-hard. “I don’t want to be inconspicuous. I want Donegal’s attention on me the entire time you are freeing Clara.”

THEY WASTED LITTLE time in the room. The walls that stretched high above their heads were hung with banner upon banner of silk—some decorated with crowned lions barring the talons of eagles, others bore ravens that flew before the full moon. Some were elaborate wings that appeared to be dripping blood—while others bore harps and five-pointed stars.

“
What are those?” Tiki pointed. “They remind me of the flag that the Jester used to anoint you as a Lord in the High Chamber.”

Rieker glanced up.
“I don’t care if they’re the bloody Union Jack. It doesn’t have anything to do with us.” He pulled the door open and they strolled back into the hallway as if he were one of the myriad guards patrolling the palace. The corridor was crowded as guards and guests both hurried up and down the long hallway looking for the Redcaps.

“
Keep an eye out there,” a guard dressed in an identical outfit shouted at Rieker as he hurried past.  Rieker snapped off a salute and followed Tiki around one of the towering columns back into the Great Hall. The room was still crowded as news had spread of Donegal’s captive.

Tiki’s arrival did not go unnoticed and heads turned as
she entered. She lifted her chin, feigning confidence. She didn’t know how she was going to free Clara and stop Donegal, but she would die trying.

The Winter King
’s inner circle—Sullivan, Cruinn and Scáthach—had appeared and were huddled around the throne. Donegal was deep in conversation with them as she and Rieker drew near the golden net that held Clara. Two guards were posted on either side of the giant platform that held the child, their faces stone-like, long spear-tipped staffs clutched in one hand, the other resting on the hilt of their long silver swords. The guard closest to Tiki glanced at her as she approached.

It was all Tiki could do not to cry out when she recognized Dain’s blue eyes.
His face remained expressionless though and she realized he couldn’t see through her glamour as she could see through his.

While Dain looked at her
, Tiki fingered the chain that hung around her neck and pulled the ring of
Ériu
free. Recognition flickered in his eyes and his gaze darted back to her face. He gave a slight nod of his head. Convinced he understood her message, Tiki tucked the ring safely back under her garments and nudged Rieker. At his questioning glance she nodded at Dain and mouthed his name.  Rieker’s gaze shifted to his glamoured brother and the two cautiously eyed each other. Tiki started to turn toward the net trap when a low growl rumbled from behind Donegal’s throne.