Consequences (10 page)

“Nah,” Tim said, sounding more sure of himself than he felt. “It's someone from Faerie. The King himself, if I'm not mistaken.”
And if his wife, Titania, is any example
, Tim thought,
the royalty of
Faerie are a moody and temperamental lot
. Better to just get it over with, he decided.

“Okay,” Tim said to them. “What do you want?”

The woman looked startled. “Why would you think we wanted anything?” she asked.

“Well, usually when someone from Faerie shows up, they're looking for me.” Tim nodded at the tall blue figure. “We never officially met, King Auberon, but I saw you at your castle once.”

King Auberon didn't respond, but the woman beamed. “You are personally acquainted with Lovey-horns? And you have visited his realm? This is wonderful.”

“Why?” Tim asked.

“If you've passed between worlds, then you must be acquainted with magic.”

“I'll say!” Molly piped up. “Magic is practically his middle name.”

“He is a powerful magician,” Marya agreed.

“My name is Gwendolyn,” the woman said. “Do you think you can help Lovey-horns? You see, his soul is trapped in that globe he is holding, and we'd really like it back where it belongs.”

Tim knew he should be surprised; this wasn't the sort of thing a bloke heard every day.
Unless, of course, that bloke is me
, Tim thought.

“How did Auberon's soul wind up in that
crystal ball?” Tim asked. “What is he doing here in the first place? Why isn't he in Faerie?”

“He never told me why he came here,” Gwendolyn said. She eyed the unicorn. “I'd guess your magnificent steed also came from that land. Perhaps they came through the same way.”

“I don't know how the unicorn got here,” Tim said.

“But we're awfully glad he did,” Marya said, patting the unicorn. “Did Timothy save your world, too, like mine?” she asked Gwendolyn.

Gwendolyn grinned. “Not that I know of.”

“None of this explains how Auberon's soul got stuck in that thing,” Tim said.

Gwendolyn bit her lip, and Timothy had the distinct impression that she had something to do with Auberon's predicament.

“Auberon chose to lock up his soul rather than experience his true feelings. But now he is ready to have it back. Please, can't you help?”

Tim knew that there was much more to the situation than Gwendolyn was telling him, but he decided to let it go.

“I—I can try.” Tim stepped in front of the imposing regal figure. “King Auberon, I'd like to have your soul, please. I promise I won't break it.”

The once proud king's eyes flicked from the globe to Tim, then back to the globe again.

He seemed so lost, his eyes so blank, it made Tim want to fix things for him.
I've become a right regular magical do-gooder
, Tim thought.
I hope trying to solve Auberon's problem doesn't get me into hot water like helping Daniel did.

“Auberon, you can trust me. I want to help you. I'd like to take a look at that globe.”

Gwendolyn cleared her throat. “Er, sir, you'll need to put it into the form of an order or command.”

“Auberon, give me the globe,” Tim instructed the King.

Slowly, Auberon lifted his head and gazed at Tim with his empty eyes. He handed the globe to Tim.

Tim examined the shiny ball, turning it in his hands. “Let's see. There are little holes in it, like finger sockets in a bowling ball. That must be how the soul goes in. But there's no ‘out' that I can see.” He glanced up at the rest of the group. “This may sound sort of unmagicianly, but has anyone got a hammer?”

A tiny creature flew by Tim and landed on the globe. Tim recognized him as Amadan, Queen Titania's jester.

“Make that a flyswatter,” Tim muttered. Tim remembered Amadan from previous encounters, and he was one nasty critter.

Uh-oh. If this guy is fluttering around, it's got to be at Titania's bidding
. A worse idea occurred to him.
Or he could be acting as her escort.

Sure enough, just then Titania, in all her green glory, popped up in front of them. And as usual, she seemed very, very angry.

“W
HAT STRANGE COMPANY YOU
keep these days, my husband,” Titania said coldly to Auberon. “One would think you've come far down in the world.”

She glared at him as he leaned against the wall, speechless. She crossed her arms and tapped her foot impatiently.

“What?” she demanded, tossing her long hair over her shoulder. “Have you nothing to say to me? I've been looking all over for you.”

Still Auberon said nothing. Tim could tell Titania wasn't used to being ignored.

“How dare you treat me this way!” she shouted at her husband.

“Your pardon, miss,” Gwendolyn said. “You needn't carry on. Lovey-horns isn't cutting you. It's just that he's missing his soul at the moment.”

Titania's eyebrows rose. “Lovey-horns?” she repeated.

Gwendolyn laughed, which definitely angered Titania even more. “That's what I call him. Don't you think it suits him? But don't worry, Timothy will set him right again.”

“Timothy?” Titania stared at Gwendolyn. Tim realized that until this moment Titania hadn't even noticed him. So this time she wasn't pursuing him at all—she really had come looking for Auberon. Only now she set her narrowed eyes on Tim.

Every inch of Tim wanted to shrink back into the shadows and sneak away. But he wasn't going to do that with Molly watching. And there was still Auberon's soul to deal with. Marya and Molly had backed up, and the unicorn now stood in front of them, as if it was protecting them. Tim figured the unicorn might have seen Titania in action before.

“What infernal trouble are you up to now?” she demanded. “Haven't you done enough?”

Tim knew she was referring to the death of his true father, Tamlin. Tamlin had sacrificed himself so that Tim could live, and Titania was furious about it.

“I haven't done a thing,” Tim protested. “This lady just asked me if I could help, if it's all the same to you.”

“He's just trying to do these guys a favor,” Molly added. “So back off.”

Tim winced. It was nice to have Molly defend him, but not if it got her zapped into another dimension.

But Titania ignored Molly and simply gazed at the globe in Tim's hands. “So is that it?” she asked. She crossed and stood in front of Tim.

“So I hear,” Tim replied. He didn't like Titania hovering so close to him. He took a few steps back.

“Auberon's soul is vulnerable in its present state, Timothy,” Titania said. “Suggestible.”

“Duh,” Tim said. Okay, so the attitude was risky, but he was sick of her treating him like an idiot.

“I can protect it as you cannot,” she explained. “Give it to me.”

“Say ‘pretty please.'”

Titania's jaw set, and Tim was fairly sure he saw a vein pop out on her forehead. She was working awfully hard to keep herself under control. Tim wondered what she would do with Auberon's soul once she had it in her possession. Would she really protect it and release it? Or did she just want it as a way to have power over the King of Faerie? Tim wouldn't put anything past her.

Titania's entire manner changed. Tim knew it
had something to do with magic. She made herself as beautiful as she had looked the day he first met her in Faerie. “Bitter words passed between us when we last met, child.” Her voice was gentle and soothing.

“Oh, you mean when you threatened my life?” Tim responded. “Yeah, I'd say that conversation was on the bitter side.”

“I said much I didn't mean,” Titania continued, moving closer. “The grief I felt at Tamlin's passing maddened me for a time.” She placed a hand over her heart and bowed her head. “I must ask you to find it in your heart to forgive me.”

Whoa. She must want Auberon's soul really badly to put on such an act.
“Amazing. You do have some manners,” Tim commented.

Titania smiled a radiant smile; she practically sparkled.
Yeah, she's definitely doing something magical—a glamour or something.
She held out her hand. “Give me the bauble.”

“Sure thing. As soon as you swear on your name that you will really set Auberon's soul free the minute I hand it over.” Tim knew that to swear on one's name was the most serious vow anyone magical could make. If Titania were lying, she'd never make such a promise.

Anger and frustration canceled out the glamour Titania was weaving. She instantly reverted to
her shrewish, hostile self and lunged at Tim, grabbing for the globe.

“No!” Tim yelped. He stumbled backward, lost his grip on the globe, and it went flying. He flung himself at it, desperate to save it from smashing on the ground. He landed hard on his stomach, his glasses flew off, and his elbows were going to be bruised and scabbed for weeks. But he didn't need his glasses to know that the globe had shattered into a thousand pieces. The smashing sound told him that.

“You accursed changeling!” Titania shrieked. “You destroy everything you touch!”

“
Me?
” Tim said, looking up at her from the pavement. He pushed himself up to a sitting position and placed his glasses back on his nose. “
You
knocked it out of my hands. This is your fault!”

“Silence!” Titania commanded.

Tim's heart pounded, waiting to see what would happen. She had been enraged when Tamlin, her Falconer, had died. How much more furious would she be when it was her own husband in danger?

She stalked toward Tim. “I should have destroyed you myself when I had the chance,” she hissed. “Had I known what disasters you would cause me, I would have killed you the minute I gave birth to you.”

“Wh-what?” Tim stammered. What was she talking about?

“That's right, changeling,” she growled. “First you killed your father. And now, because of what you have done to my husband, Auberon, I, your mother, disown you. You are fatherless
and
motherless.”

“You?” Tim's voice came out as a whisper. “You're my mother? How can that be?”

“I may have given birth to you, changeling, but you are no child of mine,” Titania said.

Tim sank back on his heels, his mouth open, staring at the Faerie Queen. His mind reeled. Tamlin and Titania were his true parents? This was too big, too huge to contemplate. What about Mary Hunter, lying in the cemetery. The woman Mr. Hunter had married because she had been pregnant—with Tim! Or so he had thought. Tim shook his head, trying to get thoughts to return, but he just felt blank and hollow inside.

A nasty smile spread across Titania's face. “No more smart talk, eh, changeling? And now,” she said, her voice growing more powerful, “as you have doomed my lord's soul to limbo, brat, I shall make sure you and your wretched companions join him there!”

Tim saw Titania raise her hands, creating a powerful whirlwind. He knew he should be doing
something to stop her—use magic, do anything—but the news that she was his mother had stunned him into a kind of paralysis. He watched her work her magic as if she were very far away, or on telly. Nothing seemed real, least of all himself.

The whirlwind swirled faster and faster, and Tim thought he could see Molly, Marya, and Gwendolyn whirling inside it. It was hard to tell, because they were engulfed in sparkling clouds of magical energy.

Tim moaned, knowing he had failed again.

A voice broke through the clouds. “'Tis a fine display of devotion you make now, my lady.”

The whirlwind stopped abruptly, and all was exactly as it had been before. Molly and Marya stood beside the unicorn, Gwendolyn in front of them. Only now Auberon stood towering over Titania.

“You will work no mischief on these good people,” he commanded.

“Lovey-horns!” Gwendolyn exclaimed. “Your soul's back where it belongs!”

“My magic has always been stronger than yours, Titania,” Auberon said. “It would serve you well to remember that.”

“I—I am overjoyed that you were able to return your soul to your body,” Titania said. “I was
just upset because I feared the clumsy boy had destroyed you.”

“You are the only one here who would destroy me,” Auberon replied. He gestured to Tim and to Gwendolyn. “These are my teachers.”

“Teachers?” Titania scoffed. “What great wisdom can a lord of Faerie hope to learn from such rabble?”

Tim hated to admit it, but Titania had a point.

“What wisdom, my lady asks?” Auberon continued. “To feel without making a fool of myself. To work when it is not enough to wish. To extend oneself in spite of fear or danger. You would do well to learn these lessons yourself.”

Titania opened her mouth as if to respond, but unable to think of anything to say, she shut it again.

Auberon turned to Tim. “Did I hear my lady claim you as her own child?”

Tim nodded. “That's what she said.”

Auberon glanced back at Titania. “You stand by this, lady? For he is no child of mine.”

“He—he is Tamlin's son,” Titania replied.

“Ah, yes. Your Falconer.”

Tim noticed Auberon didn't seemed surprised or even bothered by that bit of news.
Guess they do things differently in Faerie.

Auberon lifted Tim's chin. “Aye. I can see Tamlin's mark upon you.” He studied Tim's face and looked perplexed. “You say this is your boy?” he asked Titania again, his eyes never leaving Tim's face.

“I have answered you once, husband. Let us not dwell on this.”

“Hmmmm,” Auberon said. The strangest expression crossed his blue face. Tim could swear the King of Faerie was amused. He released Tim and turned once more to Titania. “We should return now to Faerie,” he said. “Thank you all.”

Tim watched as the royal couple dematerialized in front of them.

“Wow,” Molly murmured. “Just like special effects in the movies.”

“Yeah.” Tim felt his knees grow weak, and he leaned hard against the alleyway wall.
Too much happens in too short a time
, he decided. Couldn't they spread out these whammies more evenly instead of slamming him all at once?

“Didn't I tell you that Tim was a great magician?” Marya said.

“Are you okay?” Molly asked Tim, touching his arm.

Tim nodded. “I guess….”

“Can you give us a couple of minutes?” Molly asked Marya.

Marya nodded. “Sure. We'll meet you at the ice cream shop.”

Tim watched Marya and the unicorn round the corner. He was glad that Molly had asked her to leave them alone. He had a lot to process.

“Listen,” Molly said. “What she said about being your mom? I bet it's just one big fat Faerie lie. I wouldn't put anything past that mean green Queen.”

“I—I don't know,” Tim replied. He looked at her and saw the concern in her brown eyes. It made him feel like he could tell her anything.

“There's something I haven't had a chance to tell you,” he confessed. “You know how I found out that my dad wasn't really my dad?”

Molly nodded.

“Well, that was because I discovered who my real father is. Was,” he corrected himself. “He's dead now, but when he was alive, his name was Tamlin and he lived in Faerie. In fact, he had the magic to turn himself into a falcon.”

Molly let out a low whistle. “Brilliant. I mean, freaky, too, but really brilliant. Can you do that?”

Tim shrugged. “I don't know. I never tried.” He shook his head. “So don't you think it makes sense that Titania could actually be my mother?” he asked. “It seems a lot more likely that Tamlin would have a baby with Titania.” He gave a bitter
laugh. “Ever since I found out, I've been trying to picture my mom with a guy like that. It's been impossible. I mean, how would they have ever even met?”

“I guess that's all true,” she agreed. “I don't know, though. Weird stuff happens all the time.” She gave him a grin. “You're proof of that!”

Tim couldn't help laughing. Molly always managed to make him feel better. He tried to see the plus side of this latest shocker. “Once Titania calms down, maybe I'll go to Faerie and talk to her. It would be nice to find some sort of family that could help me understand my magic better.”

“You don't need her!” Molly assured him. “As far as I can tell, you're doing just fine on your own!”

Tim smiled at her, and as he thought about it, his grin grew even bigger.
Molly's right
, he realized.
I'm doing better each time I try something magical. There may be hope for me yet!

“You know, all that globe smashing and magic doing really works up an appetite,” Tim said. He took Molly's hand firmly in his. “I say, it's time for ice cream. And,” he added as they strolled down the street, “since I'm not going to keep any more secrets from you, I have something else to tell you.”

“What's that?” Molly asked, concern crossing her face.

Tim grinned. “Well, the whole truth is, I'm flat broke. So you're buying!”