Fragile Eternity
Page 61
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Sorcha found herself hoping that the Summer Queen was worthy of this mortal-no-mores passion and sacrifice.
Because hes my subject now.
And like any good queen, Sorcha did what was best for her subjects whether they asked it of her or not.
Chapter 23
Donia waited at the fountain on Willow. This late at night the mortal saxophone player was long gone, and the crowds of children who had frolicked in the water were tucked into their beds somewhere. Matrice, one of the Hawthorn People, perched in a tree nearby. The white-winged faery was one of the only fey in the area. Her tattered wings fluttered like ripped spider webs as she sat watching the sky on the edge of a branch. On the ground at the other end of the courtyard, Sasha crouched attentively. Somewhere farther out, several glaistigs roamed the perimeter.
Donia wanted answers, and of the four faeries she could ask, only one seemed likely to be helpful. Sorcha was unquestionable; Keenan was silent; Bananach was mad. That left Niall. After Seths sudden disappearance and the whispered rumors coming from Faerie, Donia had little reason to doubt that Seth was in Faerie, a place from which mortalsand more than a few faeriesdidnt return.
The High Queen was inflexible, cruel in ways that sometimes made the Dark Court look meek.Or maybe Im swayed by my own fears. Summers rising strength made her melancholy. Winter had no business being out in the increasing heat of the season, but inviting Niall into her home felt like a betrayal of Keenan. Even now that their chance at a real relationshiphowever briefwas gone, she couldnt bear the thought of hurting him.
Niall arrived, alone and moving with the fluid grace of shadows stretching over the earth. His stride bespoke the same easy arrogance as his predecessor; his hand held a lit cigarette, a habit hed adopted along with the responsibility of the court. Violence and temptation, he was the embodiment of the court hed once rejected. The hint of it had been there when he was with the Summer Courtit was a part of why Keenan had kept him near, in her opinionbut the comfort he had with his own shadows was new.
Niall said nothing as he sat on the bench beside her.
Why is Seth in Faerie? she asked by way of greeting.
Because hes a fool. Niall scowled. He wanted to become fey. Bananach took him to Sorcha.
Do you think Sorcha will keep him? Or turn him or
Niall cut her off with a look. I think Sorcha has a habit of stealing away Sighted mortals, and Seth is likely in trouble.
And Keenan? She didnt stumble over the question, even though it stung to ask about him just then. Shed had her hopes raised, heard him tell her he loved her, and mere days later, he told her good-bye. Solstice was approaching, but she wouldnt be in his arms.
Niall ground his cigarette on the underside of his boot before answering her. Seths been missing and unfindable by all of the Summer Court. Theres no way Keenan cant at least suspect where he isespecially as I expect that Ash told him of Seths desire to change.
Idly, Donia let snowflakes fill her palm and shaped them into a small statue of the lone kelpie that lazed in the fountain. Niall sat silently in the dark beside her, waiting for her to steer the discussion. He wasnt pushy, even now that he was the head of the court the faeries feared almost as much as they feared hers.
Things had started shifting when Beira died. Theyd changed as Keenan grew stronger. Theyd gone off-kilter when Irial stepped down from his throne. Everything had become tentative. Not for the first time since shed realized where Seth must be, Donia wondered if telling Aislinn was better or worse for the impending conflicts. If Aislinn knew, shed go after Seth and into a conflict the Summer Court would lose. If she knew where he was, Aislinn would be furious with Keenan for hiding the truthwhich would further weaken the Summer Court. Yet, not telling her seemed cruel and would inevitably drive another wedge between the Summer Court and the Winter Court. Shed not forgive Donia or Niall or any of them should she learn that they all knew where her beloved Seth was. And if he were killed in Faeriethe consequences of Aislinn learning that everyone had kept silent could be disastrous.
Should we tell her? Donia asked.
Niall didnt need to ask for clarification. Im not sure. Shes grown closer and closer to He stopped and gave her a tender look.
I know.
Niall lit another cigarette. The cherry glowed a warm red in the almost lightless night. If we do, itll complicate things. Ash will want to pursue him. Bananach tells me things are already poised for true violence.
Donia tried to separate her own desire for Seth to return to Aislinn from her awareness that war could follow Aislinns knowing. The consequences of conflict with Sorcha were unfathomable. Then again, the consequences of Aislinn learning that the Winter Court and Dark Court both knew werent pretty either.
Or of learning that Keenan knows.
Niall sighed. I dont know. Im going to see Sorcha. Ill see how he fares, retrieve him if I need to. Its probably past time to go visit Faerie anyhow.
Donia crushed the snowy sculpture shed been making and let the flakes drift to the ground where they melted immediately. We arent her subjects.
Sorchas not like us, Donia. Shes without our possibilities for change. Shes the essence of Faerie. He stretched his legs out in front of him and crossed his ankles. If the stories are true, shes the first of us. If she came here, wed all be her subjects. If we went back to Faerie, wed be her subjects. Showing her respect is the least we should do.
Ive read her books, Niall. Im not sure if wedall be her subjects if we went there.Your court was her opposition.
Because hes my subject now.
And like any good queen, Sorcha did what was best for her subjects whether they asked it of her or not.
Chapter 23
Donia waited at the fountain on Willow. This late at night the mortal saxophone player was long gone, and the crowds of children who had frolicked in the water were tucked into their beds somewhere. Matrice, one of the Hawthorn People, perched in a tree nearby. The white-winged faery was one of the only fey in the area. Her tattered wings fluttered like ripped spider webs as she sat watching the sky on the edge of a branch. On the ground at the other end of the courtyard, Sasha crouched attentively. Somewhere farther out, several glaistigs roamed the perimeter.
Donia wanted answers, and of the four faeries she could ask, only one seemed likely to be helpful. Sorcha was unquestionable; Keenan was silent; Bananach was mad. That left Niall. After Seths sudden disappearance and the whispered rumors coming from Faerie, Donia had little reason to doubt that Seth was in Faerie, a place from which mortalsand more than a few faeriesdidnt return.
The High Queen was inflexible, cruel in ways that sometimes made the Dark Court look meek.Or maybe Im swayed by my own fears. Summers rising strength made her melancholy. Winter had no business being out in the increasing heat of the season, but inviting Niall into her home felt like a betrayal of Keenan. Even now that their chance at a real relationshiphowever briefwas gone, she couldnt bear the thought of hurting him.
Niall arrived, alone and moving with the fluid grace of shadows stretching over the earth. His stride bespoke the same easy arrogance as his predecessor; his hand held a lit cigarette, a habit hed adopted along with the responsibility of the court. Violence and temptation, he was the embodiment of the court hed once rejected. The hint of it had been there when he was with the Summer Courtit was a part of why Keenan had kept him near, in her opinionbut the comfort he had with his own shadows was new.
Niall said nothing as he sat on the bench beside her.
Why is Seth in Faerie? she asked by way of greeting.
Because hes a fool. Niall scowled. He wanted to become fey. Bananach took him to Sorcha.
Do you think Sorcha will keep him? Or turn him or
Niall cut her off with a look. I think Sorcha has a habit of stealing away Sighted mortals, and Seth is likely in trouble.
And Keenan? She didnt stumble over the question, even though it stung to ask about him just then. Shed had her hopes raised, heard him tell her he loved her, and mere days later, he told her good-bye. Solstice was approaching, but she wouldnt be in his arms.
Niall ground his cigarette on the underside of his boot before answering her. Seths been missing and unfindable by all of the Summer Court. Theres no way Keenan cant at least suspect where he isespecially as I expect that Ash told him of Seths desire to change.
Idly, Donia let snowflakes fill her palm and shaped them into a small statue of the lone kelpie that lazed in the fountain. Niall sat silently in the dark beside her, waiting for her to steer the discussion. He wasnt pushy, even now that he was the head of the court the faeries feared almost as much as they feared hers.
Things had started shifting when Beira died. Theyd changed as Keenan grew stronger. Theyd gone off-kilter when Irial stepped down from his throne. Everything had become tentative. Not for the first time since shed realized where Seth must be, Donia wondered if telling Aislinn was better or worse for the impending conflicts. If Aislinn knew, shed go after Seth and into a conflict the Summer Court would lose. If she knew where he was, Aislinn would be furious with Keenan for hiding the truthwhich would further weaken the Summer Court. Yet, not telling her seemed cruel and would inevitably drive another wedge between the Summer Court and the Winter Court. Shed not forgive Donia or Niall or any of them should she learn that they all knew where her beloved Seth was. And if he were killed in Faeriethe consequences of Aislinn learning that everyone had kept silent could be disastrous.
Should we tell her? Donia asked.
Niall didnt need to ask for clarification. Im not sure. Shes grown closer and closer to He stopped and gave her a tender look.
I know.
Niall lit another cigarette. The cherry glowed a warm red in the almost lightless night. If we do, itll complicate things. Ash will want to pursue him. Bananach tells me things are already poised for true violence.
Donia tried to separate her own desire for Seth to return to Aislinn from her awareness that war could follow Aislinns knowing. The consequences of conflict with Sorcha were unfathomable. Then again, the consequences of Aislinn learning that the Winter Court and Dark Court both knew werent pretty either.
Or of learning that Keenan knows.
Niall sighed. I dont know. Im going to see Sorcha. Ill see how he fares, retrieve him if I need to. Its probably past time to go visit Faerie anyhow.
Donia crushed the snowy sculpture shed been making and let the flakes drift to the ground where they melted immediately. We arent her subjects.
Sorchas not like us, Donia. Shes without our possibilities for change. Shes the essence of Faerie. He stretched his legs out in front of him and crossed his ankles. If the stories are true, shes the first of us. If she came here, wed all be her subjects. If we went back to Faerie, wed be her subjects. Showing her respect is the least we should do.
Ive read her books, Niall. Im not sure if wedall be her subjects if we went there.Your court was her opposition.
