The Seven Year King (The Faerie Ring #3) (26 page)

THE MILES PASSED as the sun moved from one horizon to the other. They stopped for the night in a thicket, and Rieker made a grassy bed for them, much like a deer would create. The air turned cooler at night and this time, Tiki put her bedroll close to Rieker’s, knowing she would be grateful for the warmth of his body.

IT WAS PAST noon the next day when they reached their destination. They left the main trail a good distance from the village, hoping to avoid the hobgoblins they’d met before. When they’d reached the far side of the lake, Rieker steered Aeveen toward the town. The horse walked with her ears pricked forward, prancing in place at times, as they approached the vacant town.

“Do you see anyone…or maybe I should say
anything
out of place?”

Tiki searched the rocky ridges that rimmed the water’s edge, but all was still. Even the surface of the lake was undisturbed by wind today, making the reflections of the village spires that much clearer. She surveyed the scene, looking for anything out of place, trying to pinpoint what felt off about this place.

“That’s what’s wrong.” She pointed. “Look at the water—can you see that reflection of the tall tower off by itself? There toward the right side?”

“The white one?”

“
Exactly,”
Tiki said excitedly. “There’s no corresponding building in the village to make that reflection. To create a reflection there—” she pointed at the water— “the building would have to be over there—on that side of the lake.”

Rieker squinted in the direction she indicated. “There’s nothing but forest over there.”

Tiki gazed toward the cliffs of the opposite shore. “Nothing we can see. I wonder if the glamour Donegal created hides the White Tower but doesn’t conceal the
reflection
of the tower in the lake?”

Rieker nudged Aeveen forward. “Let’s get closer. Maybe there’s something that will give us a clue.”

They wound through the forest, the ground sloping upward, until they were close to the ridge they’d seen from the village.

“What do you think?” Rieker asked. “Can you see anything?”

Tiki shook her head, then realized Rieker couldn’t see her sitting behind him. “I guess my ability to see through glamours only works with people—and even then, I only recognize their eyes and voice.” Tiki’s shoulders sagged. “I don’t know how to find it. Maybe it’s not here at all.”

“I have one idea.” Rieker reached into a pocket stitched into the side of the saddle and pulled out something flat.

Tiki peered around his shoulder. “What’s that?”

Rieker opened his fingers. Resting on his palm was a triangular shard of glass.

“William, ” Tiki breathed, “you’re brilliant.”

“I ‘borrowed’ it from Larkin.” He grinned at her over his shoulder. “Now, if we hold this up and align it just right…” he nudged Aeveen around so they faced the water then lifted the mirror so it reflected the forest over his shoulder. “And get in the right position…” he made a clicking noise with his mouth and continued to nudge Aeveen with his knees, inching the horse around. A building flashed into view on the shard of glass and just as quickly disappeared.

“There! Did you see that?”

“Yes,” Tiki said excitedly, “I saw it. It’s right there!”

Rieker carefully maneuvered the horse until the tower was steadily reflected in the magical mirror.

Tiki squinted at the image. “It’s not very large and it’s awfully close to the edge of the cliff. How many prisoners do you think Donegal keeps in there?”

“I don’t know,” Rieker said. “I only see one window at the very top—can you see it?”

Tiki examined the tower through the mirror. “Yes. It has bars. Where do you suppose the door might be?”

“It must be on the other side.”

It took almost thirty minutes to work their way around the entire tower, viewing it through the sliver of mirror. As they came full circle to their starting point, no entrance to the tower had become evident.

“There’s got to be a way in,” Tiki said, after they’d dismounted and stretched their legs. She stared at the clearing that she knew the tower occupied but there was nothing to be seen. “Do you think the door is glamoured within the glamour so no one can see it?”

Rieker was silently examining the tower through the mirror again. “That sounds too complicated, even for Donegal.” He tilted the shard and stared at the reflected image. “There’s got to be a way in.”

“And out,” Tiki added.

“You’ve returned.”

They both jumped at the sound of the scratchy voice. Tiki turned to find the hobgoblin leader they’d spoken to before, standing in the forest not ten feet away. His clothing blended with the branches and leaves, as did his weathered skin. Only his red stocking cap made him visible. This time he appeared to be alone.

“Hello.” Rieker said, nodding at the little man. “Nice to see you again.”

The goblin stopped a good distance from them. His bow was slung over his shoulder and he appeared to be holding a crock. “Majesty.” He tucked his head in a bow.

Tiki nodded. “Hello.” The goblin stepped closer, his passage through the underbrush silent. He looked at Rieker with a curious expression. “What was that in your hand?”

Rieker feigned innocence. “I’m not sure what you’re talking about.”

The goblin carefully set the crock on a nearby stump. “Since I’ve found you in almost the same area for a second time, I assume you’re not lost, but looking for something?”

There was a long silence.

“Is there something here to be found?” Tiki asked.

The hobgoblin rubbed his long pointed chin with his claw-like fingers. “Now, that’s a tricky question in these parts.”

“The answer seems simple enough to me,” Tiki replied.

“That might be because you don’t live here in the wood with us now, do you, Majesty? No disrespect intended,” he added hastily.

“None taken. What do you mean? Are there troubles here?”

“There’s troubles everywhere. Especially since Eridanus was murdered. Things got worse with O’Riagáin. People are starving, don’t know who to trust—whispers of war getting louder all the time.” He swept his arms toward the trees around him. “We do our best to survive but things have changed. People die—or their families disappear—if we don’t do as we’re asked. We used to answer to a Seelie king but now we walk a fine line down the middle and answer to the king of survival, if you understand my meaning.”

Tiki kept her face blank. Everywhere in this world seemed to be on the brink of chaos. An assassin who hunted in both worlds, a homeless encampment of starving faeries, not enough food to go around and forest creatures who answered to whichever king would keep them safe. Donegal’s evil influence had infected every corner of this world. Who was going to set it right? The Macanna were powerful, but they needed a leader to guide them. Could she trust Larkin to care for someone besides herself?

For the first time a new thought struck her: would her father—Finn—want her to entrust the survival of this world to a faerie from whom he and Eridanus chose to hide the truth?

“What’s in your crock?” Rieker asked, motioning to the stone container balanced on the stump. “Are you feeding someone?”

The hobgoblin hesitated.

“Is it the prisoner?”

Tiki tried to identify the emotions that flashed across the goblin’s ugly face: Relief? Fear?

“Once a day.”

Rieker didn’t seemed surprised by his answer. “Are there others?”

“No, he’s the only one.” The goblin glanced around, as if to make sure they were alone. He leaned toward Rieker and lowered his voice. “When I saw you riding his horse, I didn’t know if you’d brought trouble to him. We were told to watch you, and keep you from harm if you found the Redcaps, but I knew nothing beyond that.”

Tiki’s breath caught in her throat. “Who told you to watch us?”

The little man’s squinty eyes widened. “I swore not to reveal that information, Majesty.”

Tiki ground her teeth together and took a step toward the goblin. Her words came out in a growl.
“I am the queen of the…”

“It was Larkin,” he said hurriedly. “Said she thought you might seek out the Redcaps and to make sure you didn’t come to any harm.” He took a step back and bowed his head. “She didn’t mention it was the queen we were to protect.”

Tiki’s anger dissolved as quickly as it had appeared. Larkin had known they were going to go to the border to find the Redcaps. Instead of trying to stop them, she’d secretly had someone protect them?

“Where is the entrance to the tower?” Rieker asked.

“That I don’t know.”

“How’d you find him?”

The hobgoblin’s face twisted in a pained expression. “I could hear them torturing him. Sound travels easily through the forest.”

“Torture?” Tiki said faintly, her stomach doing a slow roll.

Rieker sucked in his breath in with a low hiss as the goblin continued.

“I followed his screams to this spot. After Donegal and his men left, I waited, knowing he’d need help.”

“You’re very brave to risk your own life to help him,” Tiki said. “Do you know Dain?”

The hobgoblin nodded. “He traveled through the Wood often on his white horse. Always made time to visit with us.” He motioned to Rieker. “It’s obvious you’re brothers, though he never spoke of you.” His face lit up. “Sometimes he brought us seeds from the gardens around the palace to replant our crops.

Rieker turned and gazed up at the seemingly empty sky. “So he must be alone up there. How do you know where he’s being held? Can you see the tower?”

“No sir. But I know where to come and I can see the rope when he throws it down.”

“How did he get a rope?”

“I threaded an arrow through one end and shot it up to him.” The hobgoblin propped his hands on his hips and puffed out his barrel chest. “Took a few tries, but we’re the best shots in the Wychwood.”

“You proved that with the Redcaps” Rieker said, admiration rich in his voice. “How does he know when you’re here?”

“We used a signal to let the other know when we were in the area. It’s the cry of a raven.”

“Show us,” Tiki commanded.

The goblin hesitated. “If we’re caught…”

At that moment Aeveen gave a loud whinny. A heartbeat later a whistle split the air. Tiki and Rieker jerked their heads skyward toward the source of the noise, as the horse snorted and stamped her feet.

“Dain!” Tiki shouted.

“Shhhhh! Majesty.” The hobgoblin held out his hands in warning, a panicked look on his face. “This forest has ears. You put all of our lives at risk.”

Rieker pulled out the sliver of mirror and held it up so the shard reflected the tower. At the very top a pale face gazed out through the barred window.

“Tiki look.” Rieker held the mirror so she could see. “It’s him.” His voice wavered with uncharacteristic emotion. “He’s alive.”

Chapter Thirty-Six

T
iki and Rieker listened carefully as the goblin imitated the
caw caw
of the raven, then watched as he exchanged the full crock of food for an empty one. The only part of the tower visible during the entire transaction was the rope that dangled from what appeared to be thin air.

“Donegal left him to starve,” the hobgoblin said.

Tiki didn’t meet the little man’s eyes. What would he think if he knew Donegal didn’t intend to let Dain starve to death—that the Winter King had a more gruesome plan to end his prisoner’s life.

“We need to find some way to write him a message,” Tiki said in a low voice to Rieker.

“He’s seen us now. He knows we’re here. What we need to do is find the way in, so we can get him out.” Using the mirror, Rieker walked toward the tower until he stood at the very base. He pulled a machete from his belt and notched a nearby branch. “Let’s mark the perimeter.” They worked their way around the base of the tower, drawing what amounted to an invisible line to define the shape and location of the tower.

“Do Donegal’s men ever check on the prisoner?” Rieker asked the goblin, who followed at a safe distance, watching curiously.