The Iron Warrior
Page 50

“Ethan.” Meghan looked up from the war table. Her blue eyes were weary, sad, as they met mine across the room. “This is not where I wanted you to be, little brother,” she said, and her voice was more resigned than angry. “You should be home, not on the front lines of this madness. You promised me that you would stay away from the war.”
I swallowed. “I’m sorry, Meghan. But I can’t. This is my fight, too.”
“Stubborn.” Shaking her head, Meghan came around the table, her gaze flicking to the Thin Man standing behind me. For a moment, a steely look crossed her face as she recognized the tall faery for what he really was. “And you are...?” she asked, a note of warning in her voice.
The Thin Man bowed. “An acquaintance of the family,” he said in polite tones. “You might not realize it, Iron Queen, but I have been watching you and your kin for quite some time. We are more connected than you know.”
“He’s a friend, Meghan,” I broke in, as the queen continued to regard him with suspicion. “He wants to stop the Lady and the Forgotten. He’s been helping us find a way to bring Keirran back.”
At Keirran’s name, Meghan blinked, and her gaze shifted to me, the sudden hope within making my insides tighten. “Then...you have found a way?”
“Yeah,” I said, and hesitated. “Well, sort of. It’s complicated.”
“Complicated.” Meghan briefly closed her eyes. “I saw Keirran at the Tir Na Nog council,” she went on. “I heard what he said. I know how strong he is, the great danger he poses to the Nevernever. I cannot allow my son to destroy those I care about.” Her gaze lingered on me. “I made a promise to my people that I would protect them, from all threats. Even if the greatest threat comes from my own blood.” She blinked rapidly, banishing the tears that were beginning to shine through, and stood firm. “I am queen. It is killing me but... I cannot let Keirran destroy this world, or the people whom I love. I will do anything to bring him home, but if he cannot be saved...”
“No.” This time, it was Annwyl who spoke up, surprising me. The Summer girl stepped forward, her gaze beseeching, to face the Iron Queen.
“Your Majesty,” she whispered, dropping her gaze as Meghan turned to her. “My name is Annwyl, former handmaiden to Titania of the Summer Court. And I...” She trembled, took a deep breath to steady herself. “I am the one responsible for Keirran’s betrayal.”
“Annwyl,” Kenzie broke in, as Meghan stared at the Summer faery, her expression unreadable. “That’s not true. You didn’t make Keirran do anything. Everything he did, he had a choice. We all did. Don’t blame yourself for his actions.”
Annwyl shook her head. “I was weak,” she said, still not looking at any of us, especially not Meghan. “I knew I shouldn’t have met with him. If I had only heeded the laws back then, none of this would have happened.”
Meghan gave a slight frown. “Annwyl,” she said slowly, as if just coming to the realization. “The Summer girl from Titania’s court,” she mused. “You...are the one Keirran fell in love with?”
“I am so sorry, Your Majesty,” Annwyl said, and dropped to her knees, staring at the ground. “This whole mess can be traced back to me. Titania wanted me to meet with Keirran, to seduce him and earn his affections, and I couldn’t refuse the queen. I met with the prince several times, knowing I would have to betray him in the end, that Titania would demand it. But...” Her voice trembled, and she clutched her hands to her chest to stop them from shaking. “When she ordered me to ask Keirran to kill one of her rivals, a Winter Court gentry, I couldn’t do it. I had never disobeyed her before, and I knew she would exile me for treason, but I refused my queen’s direct command for the first time in my life and was banished to the mortal realm. Because I had fallen for Keirran, as well.
“I knew our relationship was forbidden,” Annwyl continued. “I knew we shouldn’t be together, even if Keirran scoffed at the old laws. I should have broken his heart that first time, convinced him that I despised him, that I blamed him for my exile. It would have been kinder in the long run, to let him go. I should have let him go.” Her eyes glimmered, and she finally looked up, meeting Meghan’s gaze. “It’s because of me that Keirran made all those bargains, and it’s because of me that he went to see the Lady that night. Your brother died, and Keirran lost his soul...because of me.”
Meghan closed her eyes. “Annwyl,” she said quietly, and the Summer girl winced, as if bracing herself for punishment. But the Iron Queen’s voice was calm as she opened her eyes and gazed down at her. “Stand up. Look at me. Falling in love is not a crime. Even if a relationship has been forbidden by the courts. I know my son. It is extraordinarily difficult to change his mind, about anything, once he makes a decision. I’m sure you have discovered how stubborn he can be.” Annwyl gave a tiny laugh that was part sob as she rose, and Meghan smiled sadly. “I knew Keirran had fallen for someone,” the Iron Queen went on. “He tried to hide it, but a mother always knows. I just hoped that whoever had captured his heart would treat it carefully, because he is very much like his father in that once he loves someone, he does it completely.” A pained look crossed her face, before it was composed again. “I don’t blame you for Keirran’s decisions. I cannot be angry at you and Keirran for falling in love. You protected him from Titania at the cost of your own freedom. That is not the decision of a faery who is merely playing the game.”
“Your Majesty is too kind,” Annwyl said, and her voice was somewhat choked. “But I don’t deserve your sympathy. Not when I have this.”
Slowly, Annwyl reached for the cord beneath her dress and pulled the amulet into the light. The copper disk glimmered in her hand as she held it up, staring at it like a live scorpion rested in her palm.
“This...is what is keeping me alive,” Annwyl whispered, as Meghan looked down at the amulet and went pale. I wondered if my sister could feel the dark magic pulsing within the copper disk. Or—and my stomach turned at the thought—could she somehow sense what the amulet truly contained? “This is what my existence is worth,” the Summer faery went on, her own expression wrinkling with disgust. “Keirran’s soul, and the destruction of the courts. I didn’t want this,” she whispered, as the metal disk reflected in her eyes. “I would have happily Faded away if I had known this would turn him into a monster.”
“This is the amulet Ash was talking about?” Meghan asked. “This is what contains Keirran’s soul?” And though her voice was still calm, I could hear the bridled fury, horror and despair beneath. Annwyl must’ve sensed it as well, for she went white to the point I thought she might pass out. But she nodded firmly.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Can it be destroyed?” Meghan asked in that same calm voice. Her eyes gleamed as she stared at the amulet, and I felt the immense power gathering around her, like the energy before a storm. As if she would shatter it herself in a moment. “Would that free Keirran’s soul and return him to us?”
“It can be destroyed,” Annwyl said slowly, her voice trembling. “But...”