Imperative: A Quinn Larson Quest (15 page)

I knew if I argued, I would waste time and probably still end up listening to what he had to say. So, I sat on the bench and waited.

Sprites are not good with time so there was a good chance it could have been yesterday. And for that matter, the thing with the Sidhe could have been a week ago, or could have been when they were planning the whole fairy as murderer plan. “Thanks.”

I rose and started to leave when Bracken grabbed my arm. “Wait, Quinn. She was with another wizard. They seemed friendly. I think she is safe.”

Safe wasn’t the first thing that came to my mind, but tried to tamp down on the jealousy. I nodded my thanks and started toward Bank’s.

It took me twenty minutes to get to Bank’s. Twenty minutes of alternating between relief that she was alive and whole, and jealousy of this other wizard. I arrived at the door on the jealousy side so I tried to get control of myself before I walked inside. I told myself I was successful and went in.

Mark pulled a pint for me before I got to the bar. I thanked him and picked it up then looked around. Thinking the cool beer would keep me cool.

I saw Cate sitting at a table against the back wall. She was laughing at something her companion said. It was a wizard, I couldn’t see who because he had pulled up the hood of his jacket.

The beer didn’t help.

I stepped toward the table running a mental rehearsal of what I would say. I wanted to be cool and professional. If she wasn’t interested, if I was reading the signals wrong, I would not let her see it.

He coughed. “I don’t know. Umm. Well, I’m pretty sure I got the containment spell right on that mini hurricane. You did check it, right?”

Cate’s mouth thinned and I was glad I wasn’t Lionel. “I would have checked it if I knew you had a mini hurricane in my house. But if I knew that, I would have sent it back where you got it from. Why did you think you could summon one?”

Lionel seemed to miss the threat in her voice. “I was looking through the spells like you told me to. That seemed like a real easy one. And it was. I got it on the second try.”

She shook her head. “You know that you have to master containment before you summon. Well, no real harm done, I guess.”

I figured she was just trying to be careful of his ego while I was there. I stood up; it was time for them to be alone. “I’ll get you another glass of wine, Cate.”

She nodded at me then turned her full attention on Lionel. I couldn’t help but feel sorry for him.

Mark and I watched the storm of words she lashed him with. We couldn’t hear because she’d cast a muffle spell as soon as I moved away. We could see Lionel looking down at the table, his shoulders were slumped and he didn’t say anything. I’d finished half of another pint before he stood and walked toward the door, face ashen. Cate beckoned me over and I took two fresh drinks with me. “It will get better,” I whispered to Lionel as we passed. I’m not sure he heard me.

I put Cate’s glass down and sat. “Still think it’s a good idea to have an apprentice?”

She looked up and I saw a sparkle in her eyes. “Remember when I spilled the invisible potion on the floor just in front of the door to Master Vollont’s house?”

“Now you mention it, yes. I remember watching people step over the hole that wasn’t there.” I remember Cate having a blistering talking to by Master Vollont as well.

She sighed. “I did tell him to look at those books. I should have thought about what he might do.”

“If you need help putting your place back together, I’ll be happy to be there.” I raised my glass to her. “Have you had a chance to figure out anything about our other problem?”

“No solutions, but I did find something about how they might have done it. The spell on the amulet I mean.”

“Okay, if we have the amulet, that will help us clean it.”

“It was in one of my old books. There are two components of this kind of spell. Unfortunately there was nothing about removal so I’m guessing about that. The Sidhe could do this for other Real Folk but it was easiest for them to choose the fairies because they’re related so the fairies trust them a bit more than the rest of us. They took blood from a fairy and a little more blood from a Sidhe. It’s a control spell. Fionuir used the two bloods to cast a control of reproduction spell.”

I started to feel hopeful that we would come up with a solution. “So, we might be able to recast the spell with only fairy blood and give them control over their own fate. This is great. You did way better than I did; I wasn’t able to find anything out.”

She smiled at me and took a sip of her wine. “I have something more.”

“Okay, how did you get so much when I got nothing but ‘there’s no way’ from my sources? Oh, Olan also told me last night was a trap, there was no woman.”

“It’s not that.” I realized I needed to back pedal a bit. “I’m really worried about another trap. We barely got out of the last one.”

“It’s going to be risky. We can’t look for ways to do this without risk.” She plunked her glass on the table and rose. “If you want to stay here, I’m happy to meet her and report back. Is there anything you would like me to ask?”

“No. I mean, yes. I mean, I’ll come with you.”

It wasn’t that far to the meeting place. We were in the alley where I saw the first killing. It gave me a chill and I couldn’t help looking at the corner where the human died. There was no sign that anything other than bad toilet choices had taken place here. I wondered what the human authorities had thought when they found her.

Cate pulled me out of the center of the alley into the shadows. “She’s supposed to meet us here. We’re a few minutes early.”

I waited quietly. I’d already put my foot in my mouth so I told myself to watch and not make anything worse. Anyway, this was Cate’s clue. If I had found this contact, I would have been bossing her around all over the place.

“If you two are finished cooing at each other, perhaps we can speak.” The voice came from across the alley in a shadow of a dumpster. The voice was cool and low, but I couldn’t see who was standing there.

Cate stepped forward to the middle of the alley. “You have our attention.”

I stepped up behind Cate and kept my mouth shut.

The Sidhe woman stepped out of the shadow and dropped her hood to her shoulders. She seemed to glow. Her skin was fair, the lightness made more translucent by the rosy blush over her cheekbones. I knew that wasn’t make-up, just the look that teenage human females strove for. Her green eyes were shaded by a fringe of tiny blond ringlets. The rest of her hair bound in a green silk band and braided.

Cate elbowed my ribs. I realized I was gaping. The woman gave a deep chuckle. “Don’t fear, girl, I have no desire for your man.”

“He’s not my man.” Cate blushed as she spoke.

“Who are you?” I asked. Then feeling really clumsy and stupid, I tried again. “I mean. I wonder which of the Sidhe would take the chance to meet with us. You must be someone quite important.”

She smiled and I felt like prey. “Astute. I am coming to like you.”

Cate snorted. “I don’t think he needs an ego boost. I am Cate Witherspoon. I was told you wanted to speak to me.”

“Cate, I knew your mother. She seems to have passed on her directness.” The woman turned to me and I could see she was old enough to be Fionuir’s mother. Not a line on her face, but ages reflected in her eyes. “You are Quinn Larson. I do not know anything else about you.”

“You asked for a meeting.” Cate took my arm. “Is there something you wanted to say?”

“I am Maeve.” She waited for something. I didn’t know what to say. “I see you are not clear on Sidhe history. I am the rightful queen. Fionuir took away my crown and installed her irresponsible court in my place.” Pain and bitterness spilled through her words.

I knew that the Sidhe weren’t that straightforward. Maeve would exact a price for stopping Fionuir and it wouldn’t be getting her throne back. “And if Maeve is worse than Fionuir? If we are getting the devil we don’t know?”

“I am not a devil.” Maeve’s voice soothed my objections for a second.

I threw a charm to the ground between us. Maeve stepped back, as though it was a serpent. It was just a muffle spell. I hoped it worked on Sidhe.

I turned back to Cate, taking her arm and bringing her close to make sure we were both covered by the spell. “It all smells a bit fishy. Why would she have come to us now? And, why would she need our help?”

“I don’t know Quinn, but I think we should at least hear her out. It doesn’t have to be a trap.”

I couldn’t push away the feeling Maeve was going to cause us a lot of trouble. “She has had a chance to start telling us and yet she’s just playing with us.”

“Unless you have another plan, we should at least give her a chance to tell us what she wants from us.”

Cate was right, just hearing her out couldn’t hurt. And I might be able to figure out how to keep us safe while she was talking. There was no doubt we would come off worse in Maeve’s plans if we didn’t take care.

When I cleared the muffling spell, Maeve said, “This is not safe. We need to go somewhere we can speak in private.”

“Do you have somewhere in mind?” I was not going to invite her into my home, and Cate’s place wouldn’t be in any shape for visitors no matter how hard Lionel had worked.

“As a matter of fact, I have. Come.” I could hear the royalty in her voice. That’s what worried me. Fionuir was a good example of the personality of Real Folk royalty and I wasn’t sure how different Maeve was in that department.

We followed her across the street and down into the basement of a hotel. I could smell the soap and boiling water of the laundry. Maeve led us down a long corridor and finally into a small room. Inside there were four armchairs and a table, on the table stood a bottle and three wine glasses.

“Will you join me?” Maeve poured herself a glass and sipped.

Cate nodded but I wasn’t taking a chance on being less than fully alert. Maeve poured then sat on a red leather chair. I remained standing.

“You want to know what I have to offer.”

Cate leaned against the wall and said, “Please tell us.”

“You are worried, Quinn, that Fionuir will bring the attention of the humans on the Real Folk.” She seemed determined to bring me into the conversation. I simply nodded. “And, Cate, I am not sure why you are involved”

Cate shrugged, and I admired her ability to seem so casual in Maeve’s regal presence. “I don’t like what is being done to the fairies. And, I agree with Quinn.”

Maeve paused and emptied the small glass before pouring another serving. “I have already told you why I wish things to change.”

“We are waiting for more information. Perhaps a plan,” I said.

Cate looked at me and I was glad I was standing too far way for her to poke me. She turned her smile on Maeve. “I prefer the direct approach as you mentioned earlier. Quinn is right; you have not given us any information other than your name. Do you have a plan?”