Finn Fancy Necromancy (47 page)

“And Heather?”

Dawn's face became a neutral mask. Pete shook his head. “We didn't see her anywhere. Do you think she's … dead?”

“I don't know,” I said. “I think she got out, but … she was injured.”

Reggie grunted. “If she's out there, we'll find her. And the Króls as well, especially if you share with us how you found them the first time.”

“Happy to,” I said and tried to stand, but dizziness and gravity teamed up on me and I fell back on my butt.

“Easy, lover boy,” Dawn said. “Your friend there called for some kind of healer. Just rest 'til they get here.”

“Yeah,” Mattie said. “Take a moment and enjoy the yayness. We're all free, and safe, and together. We won!”

Not all of us, I thought, and met Vee's eyes.

“Indeed,” Mort said. “I guess this means you'll be sticking around for a while. You'll have to really figure out what you're going to do with yourself now.”

Dawn looked away.

“First,” I said, “I want to figure out what exactly I've forgotten.”

Vee cleared her throat. “I'll do what I can to help.”

“Thanks. And I want to help Father.” I smiled up at him.

“Oh, good,” Father said. “Do you think one of these fishes grants wishes?” He wandered off toward one of the aquariums, and Mattie went after him.

I glanced at Mort. “And I have an idea about what I want to do for work. Or at least, as a side job to our family business.” Mort crossed his arms, his expression saying he expected the worst. I looked between Pete and Vee, standing shoulder to shoulder. “Father's modification to the Kin Finder put the idea in my head, but Pete, Vee, you're the ones who really inspired me.”

“Us?” Pete said, beaming.

“Yep, you. I've decided I'm going to help arcana and feybloods find their true love.”

“Wait,” Mort said. “You want to start an arcana
dating
service? In a necrotorium?”

“Makes sense to me,” Sammy said drily.

“We have a reputation!” Mort said.

I sighed. “I'm not asking you to join me, Mort.”

“Well,” Sammy said, “you came into a den of evil evilness to save me; I suppose I could at least build you a website or something. With hearts and lovey crap on it.” She wrinkled her nose. “But I thought you wanted to get free of magic and the family business, and make games?”

I shrugged. “I just wanted to control my own life. And I can do that with my magic, just not using it the way everyone else wanted me to.”

*Lady preserve me,* a voice whispered in my head. *If he'd stayed dead I'd at least be free of this nonsense.*

“What the—” Oh gods. Was Grandfather's spirit taking me over? I didn't sense any will opposing mine.

*Wait, you can hear me?* the voice asked, surprise and excitement so strong it screamed like feedback in my head.

“Yes!” I said. “And stop turning it up to eleven! Who are you? What do you want?”

Sammy frowned. “Finn? Who are you talking to?”

*It's about bloody time. I guess your dying had some use after all.*

Mort snorted. “Maybe that blow to his head knocked a screw loose.”

I shook my head. Nothing rattled. “I don't have a screw loose. I have a voice in my head. And before you ask, no, it isn't telling me to redrum anyone. Yet.” I concentrated on the voice.
I asked, who are you?

*You, sir, are talking to Alynon Infedriel, knight of the Silver Court. Your changeling.*

I closed my eyes.

“Ah, bat's breath.”

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

RANDY HENDERSON is the grand prize winner of the Writers of the Future Award for 2014, a Clarion West graduate, and a member of SFWA and Codex. His fiction has appeared in
Penumbra, Escape Pod,
and
Realms of Fantasy,
and has been included in anthologies. Find him online at
www.randy-henderson.com
.

 

 

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously.

FINN FANCY NECROMANCY

Copyright © 2015 by Randall Scott Henderson

All rights reserved.

Cover art by
Veer.com

A Tor Book

Published by Tom Doherty Associates, LLC

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The Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available upon request.

ISBN 978-0-7653-7808-8 (hardcover)

ISBN 978-1-4668-5913-5 (e-book)

e-ISBN 9781466859135

First Edition: February 2015