The Iron Warrior
Page 35

“Not a clue, my dove,” the Exile Queen said flippantly. “It is said that many ancient secrets and forbidden knowledge lie in the darkest regions of the Deep Wyld. If Annwyl is searching for something in particular, whether it be knowledge or power, that is not a bad place to look. However, tracking a Summer sidhe through the wyldwood is difficult enough. If they do not want to be found, it is nearly impossible to find them. Tracking a Summer sidhe through the Deep Wyld, which is vaster, darker and infinitely more dangerous, is another matter altogether. You cannot simply rush after the girl with no hint as to where you are headed, darlings. You are going to need some sort of guide.”
“We have Grimalkin,” Kenzie pointed out, glancing at the cat on the piano bench. His eyes were closed. “He can show us the way, right?”
Leanansidhe sniffed. “Contrary to what Grimalkin would have you believe, darling, he does not know everything about everything in the Nevernever. Shocking, I know. But if you are going to attempt to find the Summer girl all the way in the Deep Wyld, there is only one who will be able to help you. And I believe our darling Grimalkin knows exactly who I’m talking about.”
“You cannot be serious.” Grimalkin’s yellow eyes opened a crack and he glared disdainfully. “Summon him? To track a Summer faery through the Deep Wyld? I cannot say if he could even be bothered to respond to such a request.”
“He would come if you asked, darling.”
The cat flattened his ears. “I suppose if there is no other way,” he said in a disgusted voice. “Though someone is going to owe me a very large favor when this is over. But worry not, humans.” He gave me a slitted-eyed look of exasperation. “I will take care of everything, as usual.”
“There is,” Leanansidhe said, and the slightly evil smile was back on her face, “one more tiny little problem. You see, the Deep Wyld lies on the other side of the River of Dreams, which isn’t a short walk from here, darlings. It will take you many days of travel through the nastiest parts of the wyldwood to reach it. How do you intend to get there?”
“Walk, I suppose,” I muttered, though the thought of tramping through the wyldwood for days on end wasn’t pleasant. And I was all too aware that we were running out of time. “Unless someone can think of something better.”
“Well, I have a suggestion, darling.” The Exile Queen waved her hand, and the cigarette flute writhed away into tendrils of smoke. “I’m just starting to put my trods back together, and it just so happens that I have one working again. It leads into the wyldwood, to a spot very close to the River of Dreams. Still a day’s walk from the river, but it will get you to the border much faster than if you hiked there from here.”
Instantly suspicious, I crossed my arms. “Uh-huh. And what would the catch be? You’re certainly not going to let us use that trod out of the goodness of your heart.”
“Why, darling, what an awful idea. We can’t have rumors like that circling around, can we? Think of the damage to my reputation.” Leanansidhe chuckled, as if the thought was ludicrous, and shook her head. “Besides, Ethan Chase, you and the prince have caused me no end of trouble. Some would argue that you owe me.”
“Fine.” I sighed. “I guess I’ll give you that.” I raised both arms in a shrug before letting them drop to my sides. “Let’s get it over with, then. What do you want?”
“Ethan, wait.” Kenzie edged forward and turned us away from the Exile Queen. Lowering her voice, she whispered, “Let me bargain with her. Leanansidhe isn’t mad at me, not like you and Keirran—the price might be lower if I deal with her.”
“No, Kenzie,” I murmured, and took her hand. “It’s my turn now. You’ve done so much already, made so many deals. I know you would do this without a second thought, but...I think it’s time for me to share some of that burden.”
“But you hate bargaining with the fey.”
“I know.” Tugging her forward, I slipped one arm around her waist, keeping my voice soft. “It’s not about me anymore. And I’m not going to be like Keirran and make deals that are too high, or promise something that will hurt others, especially you. But we do have to find Annwyl soon. And if bargaining with Leanansidhe will get us there faster, then I’m willing to do it. If the cost is something I can live with. Something we both can live with.”
“Okay.” She nodded slowly. “Just be careful, tough guy.”
“I will. And if you think I’m going to end up as a harp or something, just kick me.”
“I am not,” Leanansidhe said in an annoyed voice as we turned around, “going to turn you into a harp, Ethan Chase. One, I already have a substantial collection. Two, you would make a terrible harp, far too whiny and brooding. No elegance at all. But that is beside the point.” She straightened regally, staring down her nose at us. “Are you ready to hear my terms, darling?” she demanded. “Or should I not even bother wasting the breath, because we all know Ethan Chase does not bargain with faeries, and the price is going to be significant?”
I swallowed. Everything in me was telling me to refuse, but I forced myself to ask. “What’s the price?”
Leanansidhe smiled.
“One year,” the Dark Muse said in a low, eerie voice, “of your life, forfeited to me. All your ideas, all your dreams, fears, emotions, everything that you would have felt or experienced in those twelve months, will be mine.”
My insides turned themselves into a knot.
“One year?” Kenzie demanded behind me. “Just for using the trod? That’s a bit much, don’t you think? I gave you a month to get the Sight—why is it so high for Ethan?”
“Because, my darling,” Leanansidhe said, “and don’t take this the wrong way, but, you are not as important to the Nevernever as Ethan Chase. He is the Iron Queen’s brother. He is part of a prophecy. His blood ties him to all three courts of Faery. He is intricately bound to our world, and a life like his only happens once in a blue moon.” She shrugged. “Also, I’m still cranky about my Charles collection. Do you know how long it took me to gather all those humans? No, Ethan Chase.” She held up a finger. “One year of your life, no more, no less. Of course, you can still travel to the Deep Wyld via the normal route. It will only take you, oh...three weeks, Faery time? If you don’t run into trouble on the way.”
“A year of my life, huh?” I murmured. “And there’s nothing I can say or offer that would shorten that a bit?”
“Actually,” Leanansidhe purred, “there is.” Smiling, she regarded me over steepled fingers. “Your life is not the only one I am interested in. I’d be willing to split the cost with the other half who has caused me so much trouble. In fact, just for you, darling, I’ll let you completely off the hook...if you promise me a year of the prince’s life instead.”
Kenzie gasped. “Can you do that?” she blurted, staring at us wide-eyed. “Promise away a year of someone else’s life? Even if they don’t agree to it themselves?”
“Normally, I can’t, darling,” Leanansidhe said. “But this is a special case. You see—” she gestured in my direction “—Ethan and the prince are tied together by more than blood. They are two halves of a prophecy, and that makes them, and this situation, unique. Keirran has already taken Ethan’s life. Therefore, Ethan could tip the scales and take a portion of the prince’s life in return. If he wanted to.”