The Dark Throne (61 page)

The portal shuddered. I felt someone grab my shoulder but I wrenched myself away, determined not to let anyone pull me away from sustaining the gate until
all
of the northern vanguard traveled through it. Gritting my teeth, I shoved my left arm through the gateway, immersed up to my shoulder. A strong arm encircled my chest, keeping me from falling entirely through the portal. I felt Niamh’s hand grip my forearm, and I closed my hand around her arm, pulling as hard as I could. The portal was closing, half the size it had been just a moment before, dwindling by the second. Niamh’s hand emerged from the portal, bone-white, and immediately there were two hands grasping it alone with mine. We yanked her through the portal bodily, no time for gentleness, and she slipped through just as the gateway closed with another silent explosion that shuddered through us.

I lay on my back, gasping, with no memory of falling. The earth spun beneath me. I shut my eyes but that seemed to make it worse, so instead I focused on the stars, barely visible against the dove-gray darkening sky. I rolled to my side and saw Niamh, still incredibly pale, splayed on her back with limbs askew. But euphoria suffused her face as she stared up at the sky, a hazy smile on her lips.

“Arriving in typical dramatic fashion, I see,” said Vell, raising one eyebrow.

I leaned back on my hands and grinned up at her, still slightly dizzy. “You know I can’t resist a grand entrance.”

Vell chuckled. Beryk streaked past, a sable blur pursued by a tawny flash that I assumed was Kianryk.

“Come on then,” Vell said to me. “Can’t leave the Bearer sitting in the dirt.”

Luca offered me his hand and I took it gratefully; the world spun as the
ulfdrengr
pulled me to my feet, but the horizon and sky settled back into their proper places after I took a few deep breaths. Gray knelt by Niamh, who smiled up at her dreamily. Merrick stood next to Liam and his three teammates, already deep in conversation with my brother. From the light in the Sidhe’s eyes, I assumed they were discussing different methods of navigation.

Finally my vision cleared and I felt steady enough to truly observe our surroundings. We had landed in the middle of the
vyldgard
camp, the same gray tents a small distance away, fires flickering about us in the dusk. A great banner with the sigil of the Wild Court waved majestically above the tent in a ghostly wind. I had the feeling that there were runes carved into the pole or woven into the banner itself. The Army of the Three Queens stretched in both directions, as far as I could see, fires dotting the barren landscape and warriors moving like living shadows. I turned a full circle, unable to fully comprehend the magnitude of the fighting force.

“It’s the greatest army this world has ever known,” said Vell, watching me try to take it in. She smiled.

“It will be even more fearsome when all your vanguards and Valkyrie return,” I replied.

“Yes,” Vell replied. Her golden eyes shifted away from me. “Both the southern and western vanguards are expected to rejoin us tomorrow.”

“But not nearly in so dramatic a fashion,” I amended. I heard Luca chuckle softly.

Vell didn’t reply, staring off into the distance for a long moment. Then she blinked. “Let’s hope not.”

“Well, let me introduce you to my brother,” I said. Wisp flew over to me and bowed slightly, hovering at eye-level.

“My Bearer,” he piped, “I shall inform Lady Lumina of your return.”

“As you see fit, Wisp,” I replied with a smile. “Thank you.”

Wisp saluted me with the down-feather from behind his ear. “It is always my honor!” He shot away like a miniature comet.

“The Glasidhe have set up several camps,” Vell informed me. “The main body of their Court is with the Lady Lumina, who camps in Seelie territory. Some of the messengers and scouts prefer Unseelie, though, and of course the wildest little ones stay with us.” She smiled, her teeth gleaming. “They are fierce and loyal, though they do not wish to give their allegiance to me.” She shrugged with one shoulder as we walked toward Liam and Merrick. The other members of the northern vanguard moved purposefully about this small section of camp, caring for their mounts and preparing to light their own fire. None of them seemed to have suffered any ill effects from their journey through the portal. Even the two fighters who’d helped Niamh anchor the portal in the mountains strode with lithe grace through the camp, none the worse for contributing their
taebramh.

As we approached, I caught a few phrases of the conversation between Liam and Merrick—Liam was showing Merrick his watch, which the Unseelie navigator examined with avid interest.

“So this is the altimeter, and here’s the compass,” Liam explained, pointing out the different military features. “The timepiece itself froze when we got sucked through, but the compass seems to still be working, though it swung around pretty wildly the first few days.”

“Interesting,” murmured Merrick. “I wonder if the lines of influence are the same between Doendhtalam and Faeortalam.”

“Lines of influence…you mean magnetic fields? I suppose they might be,” Liam conceded.

I cleared my throat. Merrick looked up and immediately bowed to Vell, who gave him a regal nod. Her golden eyes glimmered as she gazed at Liam. For a moment, the Seer and the High Queen evaluated each other. I tried to see them as they must have seen each other: a tall, well-muscled mortal man with shaggy golden hair and sharp green eyes, a number of scars visible on his face and hands; and a fierce, strong woman with her raven hair braided in a ridge down her head, a circlet shining across her forehead, and her golden eyes made all the more startling by their keen intelligence. I let them look at each other for a long moment and just as I was about to introduce them, Liam bowed slightly from his waist. I watched, bemused. The Sword watched in its way, too, still alert from the journey through the portal.

“Liam O’Connor,” he said. “My sister speaks highly of you.”

Vell studied him as he straightened. “She speaks highly of you as well.”

Liam smiled slightly, one of his cheeks dimpling. I pressed my lips together to suppress my own smile. My brother had definitely attracted his share of beautiful women, but comparing Vell to ordinary women in the mortal world was like comparing Beryk to a daschund.

“So you are the Seer,” Vell said, almost to herself.

“Yes. And you are the High Queen,” Liam replied seriously. “Would you like to meet my teammates?”

“Of course I would like to know the mortals who will be raising their swords with us.” Vell’s eyes glimmered. So Liam introduced Jess, Quinn and Duke. Jess gave a serious nod, Quinn managed a rather courtly bow, and Duke said very gravely, “Ma’am, it’s our pleasure to go to war with you.”

“And it is our honor to have you fight alongside us,” said Vell.

“With your permission, we’ll go set up our camp for the night,” Liam said.

“Of course. I look forward to speaking with you during tomorrow’s travel about your Sight,” answered Vell.

“I would gladly ride with you, but we don’t have mounts.” My brother managed to look apologetic, as though coming through the tear in the veil without
faehal
was somehow his fault.

“We have mounts for you,” Vell replied, raising one eyebrow, “assuming you know how to ride.”

Liam smiled. “Not as well as you, I’d guess, but we’ll manage.”

“Hell, I was riding before I could walk,” Duke contributed earnestly in his thick Southern accent.

“Then we’ll speak tomorrow, Liam O’Connor.” Vell gave him a nod, which he rightly interpreted as a gentle dismissal. Vell watched the four men turn and walk away, Duke and Quinn animatedly discussing the best location to set up for the night. Liam glanced over his shoulder at Vell, and I let my grin spread across my face as he realized I’d caught him looking. He grinned at me and gave me a thumbs-up, which I returned. My brother’s easy affection warmed my heart. We’d always been close, but now I felt like we were almost equals, and he wasn’t treating me like a child anymore, though I knew he’d always be protective.

“What fascinating creatures,” Vell murmured.

I laughed out loud. She looked at me sharply, as though she’d forgotten I was standing beside her, and then she grinned, her mantle of regal queenliness falling away.

“I know he’s your brother, but he
is
fascinating,” said Vell.

“Guess it must run in the family,” I replied with a shrug.

Vell chuckled. “I see your time in the wilderness did nothing to dull your humor.”

“I’d hope not. Humor was one of our only pleasures left,” I said, shaking my head as I thought of the last struggling days of travel across the barren Deadlands. Then I frowned. “This is a vast army. We didn’t carry enough water for our journey with just the vanguard…I’m not understanding how you’re able to make ends meet.”

Vell waved a hand through the air. “Each of the queens calls up a spring when we halt for the day.”

“You call up a spring,” I repeated. “You make water come from the ground, just like that.” I snapped my fingers.

“Don’t be ridiculous. It’s not as easy as that,” Vell admonished me. “But it is something that must be done.”

“So I’m guessing you don’t ride with Titania and Mab every day.”

“No. We gathered to speak to the Bearer.”

“Well. I’m honored.”

Vell narrowed her eyes at me. “You should be. It’s still a little awkward, all three of us in one place.”

Merrick emerged from the great gray tent and strode over to us. “My queen, the vanguard Walkers await you with their daily reports.”

“Thank you, Arrisyn.” Vell gave me a considering look. “Care to join, or are you too tired from the portal?”

I snorted. “Takes more than a little portal to tire me out.”

“If I didn’t know you, Tess, I’d think you’re becoming a little bit conceited,” Vell said as we walked toward the tent.

“Confidence isn’t arrogance,” I replied.

“How many of these sayings did your brother teach you?” Vell mused. I grinned and poked her shoulder as Merrick held the tent entrance open for us.

“Guess you’ll have to ask him tomorrow,” I said teasingly to Vell, winking at the navigator as we passed. He let a small smile curve his lips in reply.

The interior of the tent looked almost exactly the same as when I’d last been inside it. I glanced at the map-table, remembering the howling smoke creature. The Sword hummed a little in its sheath, bringing my attention back to the present. Two Walkers stood in the center of the tent, hands clasped respectfully behind their backs. They bowed simultaneously as Vell strode forward, unclasping her cloak and tossing it onto the back of a chair.

“Let’s not waste any time,” she said briskly. “Southern, you first.”

The Walker from the southern vanguard obediently stepped forward and bowed. “We continue to ride hard, my queen, and we have skirmished twice with Dark scouts today.”

“Any casualties?”

“Two wounded, but not seriously. We estimate our distance from the main body of the army to be twenty leagues as the Valkyrie fly. Commander Elwyn intends for us to rise well before dawn and finish the ride tomorrow.”

“Very well.” Vell turned her attention to the Walker from the western vanguard. “And how is it with the western vanguard?”

The Walker took a deep breath. “We lost a warrior today, my queen, in a pitched battle against a Dark host twice our number.”

My stomach clenched, and Vell’s hands formed into fists at her sides. “Who?”

I drew my sword, the engraved names dark as pitch against the silver of the blade.

“Bowen, my lady.”

I felt guilty at the rush of relief that slid through me when I didn’t recognize the name. I whispered the name to my sword and slipped a spark of
taebramh
down my war-markings into the hilt of the blade. Runes glimmered and swirled on the silver surface, visible for a bare moment as the name appeared in flowing script. I felt the sword shudder, and the runes went dark. Sliding the blade back into the sheath at my hip, I turned my attention back to the Walker.

“Five wounded, my queen, two seriously,” the Walker continued. “The Vaelanbrigh called upon his power to give us a chance to outrun the Dark host.”

The High Queen nodded as though this wasn’t news to her; she’d probably felt it through her connection with Finnead. “Have you stopped for the night?” she asked.

“No. We ride on,” the Walker said. He grimaced slightly. “It is difficult to Walk while riding double, but it must be done.” He paused. “My queen, the archer was seen again today.”

Vell cursed. “And let me guess, he is responsible for the wounded.”

“Four of the five,” confirmed the Walker with a nod.

“Damn him,” growled the
vyldretning
. She took a step forward. “My message for Finnead is this: ride hard, and reach the army. We will meet the Dark host in battle, and we will destroy this archer who has hunted you.”

The Walker bowed. “Aye, my lady.”

Vell turned her attention back to the southern vanguard’s Walker. “And for Elwyn, tell her not to let her guard down, not even when she nears our position. Send a Valkyrie messenger ahead to inform us of your arrival.”

“I shall pass the message, my queen,” the Walker replied with a bow.

“Dismissed.” Vell nodded to them, and they faded from sight. I tilted my head in consideration. Walkers
did
look a bit like ghosts.

“Who is this archer?” I asked.

“A Dark archer, hunting the western vanguard. One of Malravenar’s Black Guard, I think. He was sent out from the Dark Keep just as the other two vanguards reversed their course.” Vell threw herself down into a chair, staring moodily down at the map on the table. “Killed two of the vanguard on the ground and one Valkyrie so far. Wounded eight now, and most of his arrows are poisoned.”

“Of course.” I sighed and pulled out the chair next to Vell. “We’ll kill him,” I said encouragingly. It was almost comical: me reassuring my friend that we’d kill someone, in such a heartening tone.

“Even if I do it with my bare hands,” Vell agreed, a murderous light in her eyes.