Stolen Away (22 page)

The council stood grim-mouthed, and Strahan laughed softly though sweat sheened his neck. Antonia shifted
uncertainly between the two, surrounded by snapping dogs trying to protect her, sensing her secret.

Cu growled, hackles rising. “Enough.”

Strahan turned his sword in his hand. The lace at his throat fluttered. “I can keep this up indefinitely.”

Kern’s antlers nearly touched the ceiling roots. “We shall see.”

Something unspoken passed among the council. When Cu nodded once, light poured out of them, bleaching the edges in the hall, setting fire to the shadows.

Strahan threw his arm up to shield his face. “Trickery,” he called to his armed followers. “Didn’t I tell you?”

But the light touched everything, seeped through silk and skin, muscles and bones, corsets and cravats. There was no escaping, no hiding.

“The Swan belongs to my court,” Talia declared, her voice deadly. “And I do not support the House of Strahan. Stand aside,” she added, staring at him.

“I will not.”

“So be it.”

The council raised their left hands as one. The light flared like a bonfire traveling through the air. The Grey Ladies writhed. The Crow queen spat, her silver and jet beads sparkling. The hawthorn crown burned Strahan’s forehead, and he thought he could smell his hair singeing, but he refused to take it off. He wouldn’t allow them the satisfaction.

Antonia, on the other hand, had dropped to her knees and
was clawing at her wreath. Under the impossible light and snow, he saw the sleek branches turning to silver, the berries into carved garnet beads.

“No,” Strahan shouted furiously. “No, damn your eyes!”

Cu wasn’t sympathetic. “You chose, High King. We cannot separate you utterly from your reign, but justice would have your queen gifted too. From Beltane to Samhain, you may rule, though few may follow.” He continued smoothly. “From Samhain to Beltane, Antonia will rule freely. You, however, are bound to this rath, Strahan, and to your oaths.”

In Rowanwood Park, the pond boiled for a brief moment, the tiger lilies on the banks shedding burning petals and smoke.

Present day

When I came back to my surroundings, the midwife was still rocking in her chair, smoking her pipe. I felt as if I’d been dreaming for days, but the liquid in Mother Hazel’s cup was still steaming. She nodded at me. “Got what you came for, did you?”

I knew my eyes were bright with excitement. “Thank you, Mother Hazel,” I said, using her honorific title. She totally deserved it. I was practically buzzing with energy, with the need to do what must be done.

“Easy, girl,” she soothed, chair creaking. “You’ll wear yourself out before you even get started. That’s the trick to Fae magic: not using it.”

“That doesn’t make any sense.”

She grinned. One of her back teeth was missing. “Aye, lass.”

I shook my head but I was smiling. I felt too glad to worry about it, as if I’d been eating champagne-soaked strawberries. I practically leaped to my feet. “I think I know what Antonia needs,” I said. “I saw it. I have to go.” I rushed back in. “Thank you,” I called again before rushing back out.

It was hot as an oven, but I barely noticed the heat for the first time in days. I ran between the trees, following a narrow trail back to Mag Mell. Brittle leaves crumbled under my feet. The animals were listless in the woods, drowsy as they poked their heads out to watch me pass. A hare wiggled her nose at me, and I was nearly certain she could turn herself into a girl. I thought of Nicodemus, of Cala suffering for water. I’d be able to help them as well. I was practically laughing as I emerged onto manicured lawns with hedges trimmed into curious faces, half-animal, half-human. Shriveled berries covered the flagstone walkways. The mansion towers rose into the bleached-bone sky. It was so hot and dry, like the desert. I wouldn’t have been surprised to see a flying carpet or a genie’s lamp.

I found Lucas pacing between two hedges, one shaped like an old wolfhound I now recognized as Cu, and the other like a blue jay, complete with blue-and-white flowers, though a bit wilted. He was frowning, kicking pebbles. I
knew that look, I’d seen it on Jo often enough. “Are you pouting?”

He looked up sharply. “Eloise.”

I grinned. “Lucas.”

He tilted his head, nostrils flaring. “You’ve been to see Mother Hazel, then.”

I skipped like a schoolgirl and I didn’t even feel dumb doing it. “I feel great.”

“I see that.”

I fell against him, laughing, out of breath. He was close, so close I could see the crinkle lines at his eyes when he smiled. He looked into my eyes for a long time, the pale green irises searching. I smiled tentatively. His palm stroked down my spine.

Then his gaze slid sideways. “You can come out, Meg.”

Meg strolled out of the bushes, unrepentant. There were brown-edged leaves in her hair. “Imogen’s done with you?”

“For the moment. You know how she is, she worries.” He looked down at me. “We should go back. You’ll have to make your formal declaration.”

My euphoria faded a little. “I have to get back, now that I know what I’m looking for. Besides, they already agreed to help me, didn’t they?”

“I know, but they’re a traditional lot, especially now. The other Seelie courts gathered while you were visiting Mother Hazel. You’ll have to stand before them.”

I dug in my heels. “I don’t want to.” Crowds were bad
enough, Fae crowds had my throat tightening up. Lucas and Meg exchanged a glance. Their hands gripped my elbows.

“Come along, Eloise,” Meg said simply.

My feet left trenches in the dust. “You two are bossier than Jo,” I complained.

Meg was completely unruffled, as usual. “The quicker you do this, the quicker you can go home. Besides, we haven’t the time for nerves.”

“Easy for you to say,” I muttered. “You can let go, wardens,” I added. “I’m coming, I’m coming.”

Meg half grinned. “You have Deer blood, Eloise. We’re fleet of foot. I ought to know.”

They didn’t let go until we were in the marble foyer. Blown glass oil lamps caught the sheen of the sun through the windows. We could hear the murmur of voices in the ballroom. I wiped my hands on my jeans. “So what do I have to do exactly?”

“Just stand on the dais and make a formal call for aid.” Lucas squeezed my hand.

Conversations faded when we entered; I in my worn T-shirt, Meg in her russet dress, Lucas in a frock coat fit for a prince, which I suppose, in a way, he was. Ronan and Imogen were near the front. There were folks from every house: hawk, hound, deer, fox, wolf, bear, rabbit, horse, cat, mouse, horse people and mer-people, house hobs and winged sprites.

All staring at me.

If I could be undone by this, how could I hope to free my
aunt and Strahan’s other captives? No one seemed to understand I was less scared when that crow pushed me off the roof than I was right now. That, at least, was quick. This moment, however, already felt like it stretched until next winter.

My mouth was dry and I desperately wanted a sip from the water bottle in my knapsack. Instead, I took a step forward, and another, until I reached Ronan.

Imogen looked at me disdainfully. “You don’t mean to wear that, do you?”

“Mother.” Lucas sighed.

Ronan motioned to the dais, which looked like a little stage, filled with huge potted ferns and rugs. I climbed the stairs slowly. From my new vantage point, I could see that in addition to the mahogany tables and fainting couches, there were spears, swords, and quivers of delicately carved arrows. Among the corsets and breeches, there were also bright armor, grim mouths, excited eyes. I couldn’t forget that although all I wanted to do was rescue my friends, these Fae courts wanted to depose Strahan once and for all. And with the faint whiff of hope provided by my offer, they meant to do just that.

They were starving, their crops blighted, their numbers thinned as Strahan gathered captives for his exhibits. This was so much bigger than me and my family. Even a few members of the Unseelie courts had come and stood ready to hear my speech. I suddenly wished I’d taken debating class. Just
a formality, I reminded myself. Ronan had already agreed to help me, and preparations were already under way.

I didn’t even attempt to smile. My mouth was so dry my lips would have stuck to my teeth. The only sound was the rhythmic bang of the smithy’s hammer from somewhere beyond the back kitchen. I knew I was already bright red as I cleared my throat. Lucas nodded encouragingly.

“I’m Antonia Hart’s niece,” I said. My voice wobbled a little. “You all know what Strahan is doing to this place and to your courts.” I spoke louder. I really hated this. “He’s been capturing your people and displaying them as curiosities.” My wrists were still bruised, and I held them up as proof. “And now he’s captured my aunt, and I mean to rescue her.”

A short, grizzled man who looked just like what I imagined a dwarf would look like, spat on the ground. A house hob scowled and hurried in with a cleaning rag. “Why should we risk ourselves for Antonia? She’s been nothing but trouble.” There were shouts of agreement. My temper warmed, remembering Mother Hazel’s vision.

“Antonia was just a girl when Strahan dragged her into your politics,” I shouted over the din. Anger made my voice strong. My mother would be proud. “And Strahan’s the one who refused to give up his crown, not her. She’s had to flee for half the year to keep herself safe and your court safe as well. How long do you think you’ll last as free houses if Strahan binds my aunt come tomorrow night?”

Everyone assumed that Antonia had kept on the run during Strahan’s summer reign because she had to keep herself and the handfast ribbon out of his reach.

But I had reason to believe my aunt was trickier than that.

It was watching her give my mom the Fae pendant that had made me think of it. She and Antonia shared everything, and had always been immensely protective of each other. And we had that locked hope chest in our living room, a storage room in the basement of the apartment building full of Antonia’s stuff, as well as her van, which was parked in our parking spot since we didn’t have a car of our own.

I kept Lucas’s gaze to steady me. “I’m going to free her,” I said. “My friends and I, young as we are, are going in. Are you going to run away and leave it all to us?”

Ronan held up a hand. “She speaks true,” he said. “And the House of Talia has already pledged to her.” He turned to me. “You must understand, Eloise, that we swore fealty to Strahan as the high king many years ago. We are still bound by that and may do him no lasting harm.”

“Oh.” Why hadn’t anyone told me that before?

Wait.

They didn’t think I was going to kill him, did they?

That seemed a little extreme. Not to mention totally gross and illegal.

“We will give you warriors to meet Strahan’s warriors, but the rest has to be by your hand or Antonia’s.”

Shields were beaten with sword hilts, and there was so
much shouting it reverberated in my skull. Skin shimmered, teeth grew too sharp. In the lamplight, I couldn’t tell if Meg’s dress was wool or fur.

I didn’t like where this was going. There was nothing I could do about it though. The facts were facts, and we needed the court’s help if we were going to succeed.

I nodded.

“Agreed.”

• • •

The journey back through the mushroom ring was less disconcerting now that I knew what to expect. It was just as hot as when we’d left, even so close to dusk. The leaves hung listless, the flowers didn’t stir. The air was heavy, dead. It was all too easy to imagine bloodstained hobs wandering in the woods.

There were seventeen messages on my phone, all from Mom except one. That one was from Jo, telling me that my mom was also calling her. She’d told her I was fine and would call her back. She didn’t mention our plan, of course.

So if I survived, I was dead anyway.

We walked the dry fields in silence, heading out to the road where Jo’s car was parked. Meg had been the first to pledge herself to the journey—well, after Lucas. She stared all around her curiously. Her eyes were black, deer eyes.

“Your eyes,” I murmured. She blinked, and when she looked up again, her eyes were normal.

The streets were quiet in town, and it was clear where the Host had roamed. Trees had fallen through roofs, thick branches lay across the road, wires were down. The trees in the park had lost most of their leaves overnight; the grass was buried in drifts of yellow and orange, making it look as if it were on fire.

“I need to go home first,” I said. Lucas nodded grimly, eyes suddenly hawklike.

I let us in the side door of the building, and we took the back stairs down to the basement. It was damp and dark, rows of locked doors under weak lighting. Our footsteps echoed and the door clanged loudly when it shut behind us. The only light inside was from a bare bulb hanging on a chain.

“It’s like a horror movie in here.” I looked distastefully at the stacks of cardboard boxes and wavering shadows.

“What are we looking for?” Lucas asked. “You haven’t said yet.”

“The handfasting ribbon. It’s red velvet, an inch or so thick.”

Meg raised her eyebrows. “Antonia would have it on her person, wouldn’t she?”

I shook my head, opening the first box. It was full of newwave records from the eighties. “That’s what we’ve all been assuming. But I remember seeing it when I was little. I found it in a music box in my mom’s closet. She freaked out and took it away, and I never saw it again. She said it was a family heirloom. Antonia told Strahan she’d lost it, but he didn’t
believe her. And now I don’t think she even could have done that without his knowing it. In the vision, it tied them together, bound the magic or whatever.”

“Aye, we’ve always thought the crowns were the link, but the ribbon makes sense. He’d want it to control her.”

“Well, screw that.”

We searched all the boxes, found tarnished silver lockets, books on fairy lore nibbled by mildew, old hats, a teddy bear, a painted jean jacket, and the remains of an unfortunate mouse behind a broken juicer machine.