Iron Elf - A Race Reborn (Book 2) (8 page)

Elsewhere:

“What have you learned?”

“Reverend Mother, things are looking grim. The other side is completely overrun and the beasts are massing beyond the portal. I barely escaped.”

“How long would you say until they start coming through in numbers?”

“Almost certainly the next time the portal opens.”

“Damn it. We’re going to need help for this one.”

CHAPTER 7: ANGROD

“I still don’t like it,” Mina said. “But your mind is made up.”

We walked through the Winter Fair, through the savoury smells of roasting and frying. We stopped in front of a halfling’s grill.

“What’s that, my good man?” Mina pointed at the assortment of uncooked food.

“That be chicken intestines marinated in vinegar,” he said. “And that be black puddings—cubes a’ congealed blood. Put some good protein in ya!”

She turned slightly green. Still, she persisted. “And this?”

“Pig’s ears. Burstin’ with greasy goodness.”

“I’ll have three of each,” I said. “All we need now are some rum toddies.”

“My cousin, he’s got a drinks cart over that way.”

We strolled away with our purchases. The ice was solid under our feet. There were flags where it was thin and the city guardsmen patrolled these spots. Occasionally one would raise his hand and shoot flames into the air, drawing heat out of the ice. Accordions played in the distance.

“It’s all well and good that you’re satisfying your honour, but what about your responsibilities as prince?” Mina took a sip from her mug and frowned.

I shrugged. “What can I do? I made the promise to save Heronimo’s life. I know you’re mad at him, but are you saying his life wasn’t worth saving?”

He and Cruix had been in a brawl the previous night. They were in a holding cell when we saw them this morning. Mina, fearing a scandal, had sent them on a mission to the Northlands.

“No, I—of course he was worth saving.” She looked away.

“He’s not a bad boyfriend, is he?”

“He’s fine. And the sex is always good. He’s just so aimless. He practices the sword, hangs out with you, and that’s it. Sure, he takes being a bodyguard seriously, but he still can’t read or write. Did you know, he still signs things with an X?”

“It’s a pretty badass X. Look, Mina, he is what he is. He’s a good friend and a good man in a fight. What more do you need? It’s not like you’re going to bring him home to Father… right?”

Her eyes widened. “That’s not the issue. Do we have contingency plans for everything? I wish we knew more about this year of service.”

I yawned. We’d been brainstorming all night. “Arawn told me it wouldn’t be impossible or morally objectionable. Why worry?”

“He also said your debt would be paid, whether or not you survived.”

Gulp. “Oh yeah.”

“Which is why we’re here, to see if this works. Can you spot Dagonet?”

I looked around. Even at a distance you could tell the elves from the halflings. The latter, bundled in wool and sometimes fur, were bulkier. My fellow elves mostly wore thermal underwear under their clothes, or else maintained warming spells.

“Hey, that’s Meerwen!” I hurried to where the vendors were selling shoes and bags. Meerwen was speaking to an elven leatherworker.

“… if you could make this a rush job? I’d rather not break in my spares.”

“Worry not, missy. I’ll do it right this moment.”

“Meerwen?”

“Excuse me. Angrod? Hi!”

She wore pants, a sweater, and a fur hat, all black. Stylish, but you could fight in it. “You look great,” I said. “What’re you doing here?”

“I always see Alberti for repairs. He’s always here during the Frost Fair.”

“Got to go where the business is, I always say,” Alberti said. I recognized the armour he was examining. Meerwen’s breastplate.

“Were you in a fight?” I asked her. “You look different from yesterday.”

“I can never get my makeup right. And you needn’t worry about the breastplate.”

“Too right you shouldn’t,” Alberti said. “… zzzip!” He ran a finger down one of the cracks. “… zzzip!” Another crack melted. The edges ran together and disappeared.

“Love the sound effects.”

“Hush,” Meerwen said. “The man is an expert.”

“That’s true. They told us how to do this in class—he’s working the leather on a molecular level. Damn difficult.”

“Heh heh.” The old elf smiled. “It’s one thing to know the theory, college boy, and another to do it for a living.”

“Tell me about it. The last time I did something like that, I had a headache for a week. Could I speak to you privately, Meerwen?”

Alberti looked up. “I’ve still some ways to go on this thing, dear. Why not enjoy the fair?”

“Why not?” Meerwen said. “Walk with me, college boy.”

We linked arms and walked further from the riverbank.

“Did you go out on patrol last night?” I asked.

“What’s it to you? I’ll bet the little goat kept you busy.”

“She did not, as it happens. But if she had, what’s it to you? What are we, Meerwen?”

“Friends?” Friends who sleep together once in a while, have plenty of reasons to grow closer, but can’t work up the courage?”

“So, a typical elf couple.” I reached over and took her hands. I had to untangle them first, but then we were standing across from each other, holding hands. “We’re together because, from the moment I saw you, I knew you were going to be a big part of my life. And I know you felt the same. At that moment all the parts of the world line up together and clicked, like it was important. Like it was fate.”

She smiled. “You’re one to talk about fate. Didn’t you tell me the prophecy was a polished turd?”

I thought about the weird little poem that had given me so much grief. “When I am king, I will require all fortune-tellers to take writing lessons.”

“Oh, is that what you’ll do?” She was silent for a moment. “So what are we?”

I extended my arms, bringing her closer. “I’m just a guy, standing in front of a girl…”

“Oh shut up.” She stepped back. She grinned despite herself. “Do you think we’re worth another try? No more missed connections? Do you think we might spend time together?”

“Erm, about that. I have to go away for a year.”

“What.”

“I have no choice! It’s a matter of honour! This took me completely by surprise!”

“Oh, and nothing’s more important than your damn honour? Since when do out-of-town trips fall out of the sky?”

And that’s when something broke through the ice.

One moment we were standing on the frozen river. The next I was skidding on my ass while the surface blew outward, heaving sheets of ice into the air. I recovered my balance—if not my dignity—by rolling onto all fours. “The fuck?!”

“Angrod! Angrod! Get up!”

The tentacle of water turned this way and that. It focused on me, then on Meerwen, who’d kept her footing. “It’s trying to communicate!” she said.

The shape refined itself, became humanoid. Light played over its surface and became solid colours. A woman, or rather the Sending of a woman stood before us. “Meerwen Elanesse, you’re our only hope!”

“Oh, fuck me.”

“Keep your distance, folks,” I said. “Private call in progress.”

Mina and I kept the crowds at a distance. City guardsmen had established a perimeter around the hole in the ice. Only Meerwen was close enough to talk to the sending.

“Who is that woman?” I asked. If her magical avatar was life-size she would be well over six feet and built like a goddess. A love goddess. Her plain garments couldn’t hide that splendid figure.

“She wears the maroon robes of a Fighting Nun,” Mina said. “I think she’s the abbess. I wonder what they’re talking about.”

“Got to be important. Life-and-death situation, probably. Dagonet?”

“On it, boss.”

Dagonet was getting some practice as my invisible bodyguard. We’d just put Cruix and Heronimo on a boat. Mina had to stay and do damage control. I needed all the backup I could get.

I looked at the Abbess. She was impressive, even for a human. She had rich brown skin and I found myself wishing she showed more of it.

“Notice the steel bracers,” Mina said. “She must’ve been Meerwen’s martial arts teacher. Most nuns content themselves with empty hands.”

“You seem to know a lot about the Fighting Nuns.”

“Unlike you, I was raised as royalty. Every prince and princess should know geography. The Sisters of the Gentle Fists are quite influential, especially in the Northlands.”