Queen of Hearts (The Risen King) (18 page)

The two men stared hard at each other for a full minute until Arthur's face broke into a grin. Then he clapped Kane on the shoulder. “I still don't know if I trust you, but I'm starting to like you.”

*~*~*

TWENTY-TWO

*~*~*

Castle Eiri Greine sat on an outcropping of land in the middle of a massive, curving lake. Gardens, forests, and the servants' village sprawled out behind the castle, right up to the base of a steep, unscalable mountain. Hedges and stone walls ran the length of the perimeter to protect the compound with style.

“
Your highness?”

Leanansidhe stopped rifling through the papers in Titania's desk and looked up. “What is it now, Borton?” She cocked her head and sighed at the knobby, gangling thing in front of her.

“They're here.” His gnarled fingers twined together and he danced nervously.

Leanansidhe was anything but nervous. A smile crept across her face. “Wonderful.” She set down the stack of papers in her hand and pushed herself up from the desk. “Let's go welcome our guests.”

Borton followed her through the twists and turns until they found the stairs that led to the roof. Leanansidhe took them two at a time and the short-legged servant was still only halfway up by the time she reached the door at the top. She didn't even notice. She pushed the wooden door wide and stepped out onto the roof.

The roof of Castle Eiri Greine was a thing to behold. Like all queens of the South, Titania loved her flora and fauna. Lea roamed among the statuary and various plant life, trailing her fingers across the cool leaves as she walked toward the edge.

“Titania has really improved on her mother's garden,” she remarked as she stopped and examined a statue that looked very much like one of the Northern folk. Leanansidhe laughed and knocked the stone knight on the forehead. “She thinks she's so clever.”

Leanansidhe's lip curled and she was half tempted to destroy the statue, just to spite Titania, but a shout from outside the castle caught her attention. She turned and the sight made her smile. Stepping quickly to a space in the wall, she looked out across the flatlands that were directly across the lake.

What once held a small village and wide expanses of field was quickly being covered in faeries of nearly every shape and color. It was an army to rival all armies, the full force of the North, South, East, and West combined into one, all marching on Castle Eiri Greine. Such a feat had never been accomplished before. Never in the history of Faery had more than two nations banded together. One would always defer. But today, today Leanansidhe had accomplished the impossible. She had forced all of Faery to join as one, to join against her.

“
And I will crush them,” she said as her hand balled into a fist.

“
Your highness?” Borton bounced beside her with a look of pure confusion on his face.

“
Nothing,” she said and waved her hand at him. “Go tell the guards to be ready.”

Borton bowed so low he almost tipped over. “Yes, your majesty.” And he scurried off.

Leanansidhe leaned against the wall and watched the fields on the other side of the lake fill up. Green disappeared beneath the feet of thousands upon thousands of soldiers. Even as she watched, more flowed over the hills and through pathways as close as they could get to the lake and the massive bridge that crossed it. But they all stopped three feet from the lake's edge. They could go no further. Those that tried were burned to a crisp from the barrier that Leanansidhe had set up. She giggled as another tiny spark off to her left indicated another faery who made the mistake of venturing too close.

“
Oh, this will be fun,” she said to herself.

Even as she spoke, Etain and his flight of dragons broke over the hill to her right and flew low over the massive army. The cheers could be heard clearly even in the village behind the castle.

“So much fun,” she repeated, and her grin grew even wider.

*~*~*~*

“Wow,” Percival said as he looked out across the lake. The expanse of castle in front of them was greater than anything he had ever seen before. It was greater than any of the knights had seen before.

“
Puts Castle Daor to shame,” Galahad agreed.

“
You should see the rest of it.” Eden smiled at the two young men standing beside her.

“
This way,” Zela said as she walked away from the lake toward the middle of the swarm of faeries around them. She reached a large tree and waved her hand. A hole opened in the middle. “Kane, you lead the way.”

Kane drew the sword Arthur had given him and stepped into the darkness. Zela, Lancelot, Galahad, and Percival followed quickly behind him.

As Arthur stepped toward the hole, Eden placed a hand on her arm. “Arthur,” she said in a voice so low no one around them could hear. “If this goes wrong, if something happens...” Her voice trailed off as she looked into his eyes.

Arthur stared at her for a second, then smiled. “I have faith that we'll come out on top in this one.” He swung his arm around to indicate the army surrounding them. “We have the advantage in every way.”

Eden pressed her lips together, but she just nodded. “Yes, you are right.” She ducked into the tree.

Arthur raised an eyebrow at her back, but he followed her into the hole. The dark path was lit by tiny glowing bugs that gave off just enough light for them to see their way through over the roots and stones. They walked for a long time and Arthur wondered if Kane was secretly leading them into a trap, but when he finally emerged into the light, he found himself standing in a small, silent garden filled with bright flowers and the hum of a miniature waterfall.

“Where are we?” he asked as he double- and triple-checked Excalibur at his waist.

“
The Garden of Peace,” Zela answered. “It's a small sanctuary in the middle of the castle. Near my mother's quarters.”

Galahad held his own sword drawn beside him. “Do we have any idea where the queen might be? It seems we could be searching forever and never find her.”

Zela didn't laugh. “We could. There is a chance that we will die before we find where the witch has hidden my mother. She did live here as a child, so she may know of places we do not. But Kane and I have some ideas and Leanansidhe has not been here in quite some time.”

“
Let's get moving. We can't stand around all day discussing this.” Eden jerked her bow from her shoulder and moved toward the entrance to the Garden of Peace.

“
Stop, by order of the queen.” The voice boomed out through the small space and the knights jumped.

In an instant, Eden had an arrow on her bow and had the point raised to the speaker. “Who are you and who is the queen?”

The blond-haired man smiled. “I am Urnis, Captain of the Guard.” He put strong emphasis on the word 'captain' and shot a wicked smile at Kane.

The former prince growled and jerked his sword up. “He's a traitor to the South and all of Faery. He led the attack on Fjorn and I.”

Urnis's smile grew. “I am, and I did. Leanansidhe is by far the most powerful faery to walk the land. Anyone who opposes her is foolish. I simply chose to side with the winner.”

Kane's growl reverberated off the walls as he lunged forward. His sword met Urnis's with a clang. As they collided, half a dozen more men and women stepped around the bushes surrounding them.

Arthur drew Excalibur and swept it toward the closest, a brown-haired woman with a scar across her cheek. She raised her own sword and they slammed together in battle. All around them chaos reigned. Swords clashed, bows twanged, and screams echoed through the Garden of Peace. The traitorous knights were good, but Arthur and his knights were better. The battle was quick and fierce and ended with blood pooling on the stone paths.

“
Where is my mother?” Kane growled. He held Urnis's tunic in one fist and pointed his sword at the other man's throat.

Urnis grunted.

“Where is my mother?” Kane shouted as he shook the man.

“
Kane.” Zela placed a hand on her brother's shoulder. When he looked up at her, she nodded at their former knight.

Urnis's eyes had gone dull and he stared up at the sky overhead.

Kane swore as he tossed the man to the ground with a heavy thump. “Let's go.” He stomped out of the garden into the hallway.

“
There's no one around,” Percival observed as they walked along, following Kane's lead.

“
They're all out at the front,” Zela said. She paused and tested a door. It opened, but she found nothing of interest inside. “Leanansidhe has pulled her meager forces in an attempt to hold the castle.”

“
She will fail.” Kane rounded a corner and found the queen's bed chamber. The door was open. He peered inside. “Empty.”

“
The throne room?” Eden suggested.

Kane's lips formed a tight, white line. He spun on his heel and marched toward the last place he saw his mother.

*~*~*~*

Leanansidhe's army surged across the bridge toward the swarm of faeries on the other side. The woman watched from the rooftop as they clashed in a hail of blood and screams. “Delicious,” she muttered. She enjoyed the beginning of the battle for a few minutes more before turning on her heel and heading back into the castle.

*~*~*~*

The throne room was eerily quiet as they approached. They spotted lots of blood stains and several severed limbs, but they did not see a single whole faery the entire way there.

“I don't like this,” Galahad mumbled.

Lancelot squeezed his son's shoulder. “Neither do I. Stay close.”

They entered the massive room with caution, but they found it, too, completely empty. A pile of corpses was smoldering in the middle near the throne, but the area was otherwise devoid of life.

Kane kicked at a skull on the ground in front of him. “I vote for either the dungeons or the lab. Knowing Leanansidhe, she's claimed one as her torture chamber.”

“Let's try the lab first. I've never much liked the dungeons,” Zela said.

She took point and led the way through the winding, twisting halls. As they descended into the bowels of Castle Eiri Greine, the group grew quiet. Percival's fingers tapped nervously on his sword's hilt and Arthur found himself biting a hole into the side of his cheek.

They entered a nearly dark hallway. Whimpering and cries echoed through the corridor to them. Zela held up a hand to stop them. “If my mother is in there, there's a good chance Leanansidhe is, too.” She turned to face the knights. “If we encounter her, let Kane, Eden, and I deal with her. You are all human and you're no match for her magic.” Her eyes settled on Percival. “Please, stay away from her at all costs.”

Arthur put a hand on Percival's shoulder. “You have our word.”

Zela gave the king a small smile and turned. She had put her sword away and her fingers sparked with electricity. Beside her, Eden had her bow drawn and nocked. Kane was right behind them with his sword at the ready. The knights made sure their own swords were prepared and Zela marched forward toward the cries.

*~*~*

TWENTY-THREE

*~*~*

The whimpers grew louder as they approached the open door to the medical labs. Zela peered around the corner.

“
Mother.” The word escaped her lips before she could stop it.

From his spot at the back, Arthur feared they would be facing a battle, but Zela's disappearance around the corner was not accompanied by any further screams.

Galahad and Lancelot moved forward as the others moved inside and took up guard positions on the outside of the door. Arthur followed the others into another room, where they found Zela tearing at leather straps that bound her mother to a table. Nearly every visible part of Titania's body was bruised or swollen and her breathing was ragged. Blood dripped from cuts all over her body and her dress was only barely covering her.

Eden found a blanket and covered the queen's beaten body. “We have to get her out of here, now.”

Zela finished removing the straps and Kane tucked his arms under his mother's still form. “Let's go.”

They raced back through the halls, trying to keep quiet, but opting more for swiftness over stealth. They reached the Garden of Peace without incident.

“Inside, quickly.” Arthur held open the door and ushered everyone in. He ducked in behind them and collided with Lancelot.

“
Isn't this just lovely? All my favorite people in one place. What a party!“ Leanansidhe stood in the middle of the stone walkway with a Cheshire cat grin on her face. Her hands clapped together and she laughed a laugh that bounded off the walls.