Last Car to Annwn Station (18 page)

Mae drew Jill closer to her. She did not think she would need to sleep after being dead for who knew how long. She sighed as Jill started to snore softly. It was the most soothing sound she had ever heard.

She thought she’d close her eyes, just for a minute.

Mae awoke. Her bathrobe was twisted, the knot around her waist was still tight, but the rest of the heavy garment was in disarray, so much so that Mae might as well have not been wearing it.

She sat up and looked around the room, blinking away sleep. She turned on the lamp.

Jill was not in the bed, but the clothes Ellie had promised her had magically appeared on Jill’s side of the mattress. Mae slipped from under the covers, untied the knot on the robe and let it fall. She dressed in the faded black long-sleeved T-shirt and a pair of jeans that had seen the inside of a washing machine a few too many times. Heavy wool socks, colored gray, went over her feet. It was all several sizes too big for her, making her roll back the cuffs of both the shirt and jeans. She brushed her hair down, located a safety pin in a drawer, heavy enough to help hold the jeans on her body, and went in search of everyone else.

She found Jill and her mother at the kitchen table, a steaming mug in front of each woman. Jill still wore the flannel shirt. Mae saw she was also wearing a pair of black sweatpants. Her mother was in clean clothing as well, a heavy dress of green, trimmed in white with a high collar. Jill’s bandages were piled on the table, stiff with blood and some kind of green substance. The sharp metallic smell Mae had noted on Jill last night was thick in the air. Her mother was examining Jill’s hands.

Jill looked up at her. “Good morning, sleepy-head. Or actually, good afternoon.”

“There is tea prepared and on the stove,” her mother added, never taking her eyes from Jill’s hands.

Mae found the cups and filled one with the dark brown liquid. She took a sip. It was slightly bitter, but Mae had no idea where to find the sugar. Jill noticed the face she made and nodded toward the counter. Mae followed Jill’s single-eyed gaze, finding a canister with a spoon lying next to it. Mae sweetened the tea to her taste and settled at the table.

“How are they?” Mae asked, pointing at Jill’s hands.

Jill flexed her fingers. “They’ll be fine.”

Mae reached out and took one of Jill’s hands in her own, turning it palm up. The skin was healed, though it was still red and angry looking.

“I’m so sorry,” Mae said, tracing a line of scars on Jill’s palm with one finger. Mae glanced at the vivid red wound on Jill’s arm. The bite and cut were healed as well, though they too would leave a disfiguring mark.

“They still work. That’s the important thing.” Jill gave her a serious look. “I know I’m not the only one who ended up permanently scarred.”

Mae sighed. “I just wish…” she shrugged, unable to voice what she was feeling.

“If wishes were horses—” Jill said.

“—then beggars would ride,” Mae finished. “What about your eye?”

“We were just discussing that,” Mae’s mother said. “I am unsure what is going to happen.”

“You still
have
your eye, right?”

“Yes. It’s just that Mirallyn’s concerned about—well, about magical side effects.”

Mae looked to her mother for an explanation.

“When a Champion receives a wound such as Jill’s while in magical lands, especially in service to their charge or their love, they are usually changed somehow.”

Jill leaned into Mae. “Apparently, I’m a Champion.”

Mae gave Jill a frown. She turned back toward her mother. “Changed how?”

“There is no way to know until I remove the covering.”

Jill picked up her cup, took a sip, set the cup down. “Mirallyn and I both think it’s a good idea to wait until everyone gets back.”

Mae nodded in agreement. “Where are Ellie and Kravis?

“Ellie went to check with our cousins about sanctuary. Kravis has gone to retrieve some things of importance.”

Mae considered this. She decided it was a good time for a private conversation between herself and her mother. “Why did you have to leave us?” There was no accusation in Mae’s voice. She had spoken with her father. She knew there
was
a reason.

Jill cleared her throat nervously. “If you two need—”

“No,” Mae said resting a gentle hand on Jill’s knee under the table. “I want you to stay. I need you to stay.”

“In that case, I’ll pour more tea,” Jill said, standing.

Mae turned back to her mother. “I know you had a reason.”

“I had to hide your sister.”

Mae frowned at this revelation. “My what?”

Her mother reached across the table and placed one of her small hands on one of Mae’s. “Sister. You are twins, born on the same night, but you and Fay are in no way identical.”

“I have a sister?” Mae was dazed at this news. “What’s she like, my sister?”

“You would not know she is your twin. She is but a third of your age.”

Mae’s eyebrows rose. “She’s twelve?”

“Yes. Time flows oddly for the Tylwyth Teg of Llysllyn, and her strong fae blood adds to the effect.”

Mae nodded, her face set in a neutral mask. She glanced at Jill, who poured tea in all three cups and placed the canister of sugar and a spoon in the middle of the table. Jill sat back down, touching her knee to Mae’s under the table in silent support.

“What else?” Mae asked, a slight edge on her voice.

Mirallyn’s face reflected pride and concern. “Fay is her name, and fae she is indeed. She is as bright as sunlight on snow, beautiful as spring in the Shining Realms, quick as a hummingbird on the wing, as powerful as the druids of old and curious to the point of recklessness.”

“She sounds special.”

“She was born to be a Champion, to lead her people to a new dawning.”

“But not me?” Mae asked softly.

She watched her mother’s pained reaction.

“No,” Mae’s mother said. “Not you. So, you did not need hiding.”

“You know what, I think that’s okay,” Mae said. “After the last few days, I’m glad I’m just plain old Mae Malveaux.”

Mae watched her mother lean back in her chair and frown in thought. “And yet, you and your companion have done more in the last few days to bring the conflict between the circle of mortal mages and the Tylwyth Teg into the open than any before you.”

For several moments the three women sat together, each lost in their own thoughts.

“You needed to hide her from the C
n Annwn?” Mae asked to fill the sudden silence.

Mirallyn looked up at Mae. “To a point. I might have been able to hide Fay from the white hounds, at least for a time. The more pressing matter was the circle of mortal mages. They would have sensed the flame of Fay’s magic and come for her, eager to make it their own. That, I could not protect her from.”

“And you took her—?”

“I took her to my home. To the Llysllyn Court of the Tylwyth Teg.”

Jill cleared her throat. “Kravis said she was lost. I’m guessing these mages have her?”

Mirallyn nodded.

Mae gasped. “How did they capture her?”

“Her curiosity. She wanted to walk in the human world, to see the place she was born. She slipped away while I and her watchers were distracted. I suspect the hounds or mages surprised her, snapping her up almost as soon as she set foot in your world.”

“And you left her?” Mae ground out.

“What would you have me do, daughter? I cannot go to her myself. That is what her captors desire, and though my powers are formidable for my kind, I would fall against the combined might of their entire circle.”

Mae stood up, knocking her chair backward as she leaned on the table.

“Surely someone could help you,” she snarled.

“I sent Kravis, but he was unable to penetrate the mages’ stronghold. Their magic is simply too strong.”

Mae felt Jill place a hand on her arm, stopping her angry reply.

“You don’t have any other allies in your Court, do you?” Jill asked.

“I do not. The late Lord Murlannor barely tolerated Fay. My people hold half-bloods in general disdain. They would have driven us both out, except I am the only one with the strength to hold the door to Annwn and your world closed. That is the only reason they did not kill me after you slipped into Annwn. Those are my charms and guards on the door. As long as I live, the door will stay locked.”

Jill frowned. “I was able to get into your lands.”

“Because you were brought in by someone the portal recognized. Lady Elliefandi ferch Myfleria, as a member of the Lord’s family, could bring in visitors if she chose.”

“Wait.
Late
Lord Murlannor?” Jill asked softly, going pale.

Mirallyn nodded.

Mae looked at her companion. “Jill?”

Jill had gone white, her mouth opened slightly, forming a silent
oh
and trembling. After a moment, Jill narrowed her eyes and closed her mouth. Her face took on a hard look. “He was between me and Mae.”

Mirallyn nodded. “And he would have blinded you and left you to die. Your actions were both necessary and justifiable.”

Mae reached out to Jill, touching her face. “Jill, I don’t know what to say.”

Jill turned toward her. “I’d do it again.” Jill looked to Mirallyn. “How did you escape?”

Mirallyn frowned. “Kravis lifted me to his shoulders and fought his way out of the Hall. I’m afraid he slew a few too many guards while escaping Llysllyn. Even Lady Rhyania of the Falls will not offer him shelter now. Lady Elliefandi slipped out in the confusion. Technically, she is the ruler of Llysllyn with the death of Murlannor, though I suspect the nobles would arrest and banish her for her part in our little adventure.” Mirallyn swallowed and continued her tale. “We stopped at my abode long enough to secure a few supplies and necessities before we fled into the human realm. We found one of Lowry’s trains waiting and climbed aboard, hoping to reach some kind of sanctuary. We discovered you both and now we are here.” Mirallyn frowned again. “What I would like to know is how you escaped Annwn? Unless a gatekeeper or the Lord of Annwn opened a portal, you should have been trapped and yet we found you on a streetcar.”

Before Mae could respond, they heard the front door open and the sounds of heavy breathing. Mae, her mother and Jill walked into the living room. Kravis stood there, looking as if he’d lost a fight with a locomotive and carrying two of Mae’s bags.

“There’s been a complication,” Kravis gasped out.

“What kind of complication?”

Kravis sighed. “Why don’t we all settle so I only have to tell the tale once?”

“I shall prepare another pot of tea,” Mirallyn said.

By the time they were all seated on various couches and chairs, Mae’s anxiety had risen to the point of nervous shakes. She smiled gratefully as Jill reached out and took her hand.

“Is this one of those ‘good news and bad news’ situations?” Mae asked.

“Mostly just bad news. The nobles of the Llysllyn Court have declared Mirallyn, Ellie and me traitors and enemies. They have impressed upon the Lady Rhyania of the Falls that we are a danger to all our kin and have secured their aid in hunting us.”

Mae felt a cold chill. “Shit. Is that what happened to you?”

Kravis nodded gratefully at Mirallyn as she set a steaming cup of tea in front of him. “Yes. I was ambushed by a squad of warriors of Rhyania’s Court as I went to the meeting place Ellie and I had agreed upon. I beat the information out of one of the survivors.”

“And Lady Elliefandi? She went to speak to Lady Rhyania, what is her fate?” Mirallyn asked in a whisper.

“I don’t know,” Kravis said, reaching out carefully for his tea. “They might have taken her to the Court for justice. They might have killed her on the spot.” He took a long drink of his hot tea and swallowed. “We should stay hidden.”

Jill frowned. “Mae might be on a forced vacation, but I have to be at work tomorrow morning.”

“And how shall you explain your injuries?” Mirallyn asked.

Mae shook her head. “We need more information.” She turned to Jill. “I think hiding here is a great idea, but won’t someone notice a group of people suddenly showed up at your family’s second home? I’d think the neighbors will come to check it out, or call your family.”

Jill shook her head. “No. It’s private enough that no one will notice for a few days.”

“Jill shouldn’t go out in public anyway,” Kravis added. “You’re not the most popular mortal on the various planes of existence right now, especially with the fae.”

Mirallyn agreed. “You slew the Lord of the Llysllyn Court, Jill Hall. My people will be keen to extract revenge for such an act, and they will call upon Lady Rhyania of the Falls to help them. I suspect your death has been ordered by the nobles of the Tylwyth Teg. The Lady of the Falls will honor that order of execution, and members of her Court will seek you out. She might even leverage an agreement with the nobles. If she can bring them your head, they will bend to her will.” Lady Mirallyn smiled without humor. “It would be in their best interest for the nobles of Llysllyn to find an honorable way to merge our peoples. With no lord to lead them, the barrier between our lands and mortal shall begin to fade.”