Fragile Destiny (The Aether Chronicles) (16 page)

“Let’s play a game,” Aodhan suggested.

“What would you like to play?” Little balls of light climbed out of the knothole and watched them. She waved. One of them waved back.

Aodhan tapped her shoulder and took off running. “Tag.”

“I’m going to catch you, Aodhan,” she yelled as she chased him around the tree. Every time her fingers brushed his shirt, he escaped from her grasp. “You’re so fast.”

“Catch me if you can.” Aodhan’s foot caught on something and he tumbled. “OW!”

“Aodhan.” Elise took off running. She peered into the strange, long hole. Aodhan huddled at the bottom, cradling his right leg. “Are you all right?”

He looked up at her with wide, yellow eyes. “My leg hurts.”

Elise looked around; there were two strange, long holes in the ground. There was also a mound, about the same size and shape, next to them, covered in rocks. A wilted pink flower sat on the top of it.

“What
are
these?” She also noticed a tiny one near the tree.

“I don’t know. Can you get me out of this hole? My leg hurts so much.” Aodhan sniffed.

The hole in the ground was deep, and if his leg was hurt he probably couldn’t climb out. If she got him out, they still couldn’t walk back to the big house
.

“I … I don’t know.” A little ball of green light sat on her shoulder. “Aodhan’s hurt,” she told him. “Can you please find Steven, James, or Noli and bring them here? We need help.” The little faery agreed and flew off.

Elise walked over to the hole and frowned. “Perhaps I can pull you out?” She lay on the ground, not caring if she dirtied her dress. Her arms stretched until their fingers brushed.

As hard as she tried, she just couldn’t do it.

“Can you stand at all?” she asked.

He shook his head, lower lip quivering, but he didn’t cry.

“All right then.” Elise carefully climbed into the hole and sat down next to him.

“What are you doing? Perhaps you should return to the house and find help.” He didn’t sound too keen on her leaving.

She shook her head, remembering the large man. “No, I’m
not
leaving you alone. Besides, one of my brothers will be here soon.”

Aodhan nodded, resting his head on her shoulder. “I hope so.”

Elise stroked his hair. That’s what Steven did when Noli was upset. “Don’t worry. They’ll find us.”

Fourteen

Aftermath

Noli felt sick to her stomach as she took in the imposing room. “I thought we were meeting Tiana in your father’s study,” she whispered, afraid to speak loudly in such a place.

“This
is
Father’s study.” V squeezed her hand, his father’s crown resting on his tousled locks. “It’s not actually meant for studying. That’s what his private library is for. This room is meant for one thing.”

“Intimidation?” She gazed at the vaulted ceilings, the rich furnishings, the fact that there were only two chairs—one very nice chair on one side of the table and one not-so-comfortable one on the other.

“Exactly. You sit here.” Steven took her to the large, green chair and pulled it out for her.

“Me? Where will you sit? Should we call for another chair?” Noli took the offered seat.

He shook his head. “You’re the queen. You took the kingdom. I’ll stand right here next to you. I won’t leave your side unless you ask. I promise.”

“Good. I … I’m nervous.” Having him by her side would be a small comfort. She was so unsure about everything. About meeting Tiana, about meeting her subjects.

Subjects. She had subjects. Just the thought boggled her mind.

“Take that, Missy,” she muttered. Missy Sassafras would
never
have subjects. “Tiana will sit there?” She eyed the small chair on the other side of the ornate wooden table, not looking forward to facing the high queen. At least V was with her. She always felt, with him, as if she could accomplish nearly everything—though this was much more daunting than mastering Latin or fixing a flying car.

“Yes. We won’t offer refreshments. This isn’t a social call. This is where we draw the lines. Remember what we discussed.” He squeezed her hand.

With her free hand she rubbed her temples. “All this intrigue makes my head hurt. I didn’t understand half that meeting. I’m just glad we have allies. We can trust them?”

“I trust Elric. I’ve known him all my life.” V’s smile put her at ease.

“I got that idea when he saw you, hugged you, and told you it was about time you took back the kingdom,” Noli replied.

“Him, Bran, Padraig—we’re going to need them. I’m so glad they remained loyal to my father. They were some of his most trusted advisors. They’ll help us weed out those who might cause us trouble.” He rubbed his chin. “We should give James a job. Something important, but not so important he won’t want it because he thinks it will be too difficult.”

“I’ll think about that. V?” She looked up at him. “There’s something that’s been bothering me. How did Brogan take the kingdom without killing your father? Was it because of his exile?”

“Brogan had succession right, because of my age. When you have succession right, it is possible to take the kingdom without killing someone. For example, my father could have voluntarily passed the crown to Brogan, had he wished to follow Tiana. However, I knew I’d have to take it from Uncle Brogan because he’d never give it to me willingly. Father was exiled by Tiana
first
, so Uncle Brogan could take it by succession right without killing him.”

She blinked, trying to process everything. “Otherworld politics are complicated.”

He grimaced. “You have no idea.”

“I’m glad I have you.” Otherwise she’d be completely and totally lost. She still felt bad about Dinessa. Perhaps that was one reason why V hadn’t been too eager to kill Brogan.

V leaned over and gave her a kiss. “I’m glad I have you.”

Footsteps echoed down the hall. They straightened, letting go of each other’s hands.

The herald came to the door, dressed in green and gold livery. He cleared his throat. “Your Grace? Her Royal Majesty, High Queen Tiana, is here to see you.”

Noli took a deep breath in an attempt to quell her nerves. “Please, show her in.”

Tiana strode in, wearing a pink and purple gown as diaphanous as the one Noli had worn to the museum ball. More. Only the entire dress was covered in beads, the under-bust corset pink. Pink and purple roses opened and closed as they festooned her blond hair. As usual, the centerpiece of her coif was her crown of clock hands with the five-circled crest of the high court in the center.

“Your Majesty.” Noli stood. “Please have a seat.” She gestured to the uncomfortable chair, trying to channel her mother, who excelled at being gracious to people she didn’t like.

Tiana looked around the room and sniffed in distaste. “I never did like this room. Let’s meet in the green parlor instead.” She glanced at the empty table. “There’s not even tea. Why are you playing dress up? I thought I said that you could no longer be together.”

Steven nodded as if indicating for Noli to reply.

“This is a business meeting, not a social call, Your Majesty.” Noli tried not to grit her teeth as she gestured to the empty chair. “Please, have a seat.”

“Fine, I’ll indulge your little charade.” She sat. “Stiofán, you’re in
so
much trouble. Taking the kingdom without permission.” Tiana clucked her tongue. “What
will
your father say?”

Noli took her seat, anger at Tiana’s words rippling through her. “He’s dead. Brogan killed him. That’s why I killed Brogan. That’s right,
I
killed him, not V. Me. I killed Brogan and took the kingdom as an act of my love and devotion to V.”

All the blood drained out of Tiana’s face. That wasn’t how they were supposed to do things. Oh well. By her expression it was clear that the queen hadn’t known of Mr. Darrow’s demise, which offered some relief. But only some.

“Lies.” The queen’s face contorted. “All lies.”

“No. They’re not.” V stood beside Noli, shoulders squared. “Uncle Brogan sent earth court guards to kill my father. Believe what you will—it doesn’t actually matter to me.”

Her eyes narrowed. “Is that any way to speak to your mother?”

V’s eyes narrowed back. “This isn’t why you’re here.”

“I’m here to see who overthrew Brogan, of course. Because the new king is
still
my loyal subject.” She focused on V, ignoring Noli completely. “How exactly did you do it, Stiofán? Who were your witnesses? I hope it wasn’t Ailís; she’s too young for such things.”

“I took it, not him,” Noli interjected, trying to deflect the queen. “
I
killed him with
my
sword. V and James were my witnesses. This is
my
kingdom.”

Tiana’s eyes bulged, then she threw her head back, her laugh a tinny cackle. “How could a
sprite
take a kingdom? The Bright Lady would never allow it. You’re so funny.”

“I’m not a sprite anymore.” Noli couldn’t help but grin as she said that. “Also, my first act as queen is to make V my king.” She looked up at V, smile widening.

“No, you don’t have my permission.” Tiana bristled, looking very out-of-sorts.

“I wasn’t actually asking your permission, Your Majesty.” Noli gentled her tone slightly. No good would come from angering the queen, but they couldn’t afford to put themselves in any position where she might be able to tell them
no.
An order from the high queen must be obeyed.

Even by her.

“Don’t you want me to be king … Mum?” V gave the queen a pleading look, the fake kind Noli often gave her own mother when trying to get her way.

The queen brightened like the afternoon sun. “You … you called me
Mum
.”

“You
are
my mum. I love Noli. Believe or not, she took the kingdom—for
me
. I think you, of all people, could appreciate that.” V squeezed Noli’s hand and smiled at her. “We would very much like your blessing.”

Noli could do without her blessing. The point was for the queen to
not
make their lives miserable.

The queen studied them, the corners of her blue eyes crinkling slightly. “I told you to break it off with her. This is disobedience.”

“You told him to break the stone in my sigil, but you’d already given me to him,” Noli reminded her. “We will be married and have the coronation simultaneously. We’ll let you know when it is.”

When in doubt, assume permission.

“My, you two are crafty.” Tiana’s hands folded into her lap, expression smug. “I didn’t expect this from either of you. Certainly”—she looked down her nose at Noli—“I didn’t expect
you
to be able to
take
a kingdom. You still must obey me. I
am
the high queen.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Though I am hoping we can come to … agreements … peacefully.” Noli repeated the words she’d been told to say. They were much more diplomatic than the ones she’d prefer to use.

“Is that a dare?” Tiana’s eyes gleamed.

“Of course not, Your Majesty.” But it was.

Tiana threw up her hands in motherly frustration. “Fine, you impulsive children. Take a kingdom. Get married. Go run your own lives. But don’t come crying to me when things get hard.”

It was difficult not to grin at the queen’s outburst.

“We appreciate your blessing.” V’s voice remained tempered but his eyes danced in delight.

“Yes, indeed,” Noli lied. Why was Tiana being so agreeable? Worry crept through her, but she’d ponder the queen’s ulterior motives later.

For a moment Tiana looked young, innocent. “Is your father truly dead?”

V nodded. “He is. I’m sorry.”

“I did love him, you know.” She dropped her hands to her lap and stared at them.

Silence coated the room, the air fraught with emotion so heavy Noli feared suffocation.

The queen stood, shattering the moment as she fluffed her skirts. “You must come for tea soon so we can discuss everything. Bring Ailís. Is she staying with you or would you like me to care for her?”

“We’ll let you know what we decide, your offer is kind,” Noli replied. No. The queen wasn’t getting Elise. At least she didn’t know Ciarán had her—or order them to hand her over.

“Congratulations on achieving your dream, Stiofán.” The way the queen said it made it sound of little consequence. “Magnolia, since you have no handmaidens, I’ll lend you Breena and Nissa, they miss you. I know good help is hard to find.”

Noli stood and shook her head. “Really, it’s not necessary—”

“Tut, tut. You
must
have handmaidens. There’s so much you have to learn, you poor dear backward girl. Don’t worry, I’ll
personally
help you.” Her smile didn’t reach her eyes.

“Really, Your Majesty, it’s not—”

“No, no.” She waved them off with her hand. “After all, you’re part of the family now. It’s the least I can do. Don’t have your wedding tomorrow. Have it the day after. In the evening. Oh, and don’t make me look bad.” Without even a backward glance, the queen flounced out.

Noli counted to ten before blurting out, “What just happened?”

“She accepted us taking the kingdom, and our marriage, though now she thinks she’ll actually be able to rule through us—which isn’t allowed, and she won’t like it when we remind her.” V offered her a hand up. “You’re getting two handmaidens, and we need to find the seneschal and let him know that Tiana requests that our wedding and coronation be moved up to the day after tomorrow.”

She sighed, putting her head in her hand, elbow on the table. “That’s what I thought happened.”

“That went far better than it could have. Nicely done, Your Grace.” V kissed her.

“I don’t need a handmaiden.” Not that she actually min-ded Nissa and Breena. “Or lessons on how to be queen from her. I’d rather eat gears.”

“We’re going to have to allow the loan of the handmaidens. After all, it’s better to have the spies you know than the spies you don’t. We’ll work on the royal lessons.”

“I really don’t understand all this.” She shook her head.

“You’ll get used to it.” He put an arm around her. “Now, for the difficult part. It’s time for you to meet the great houses of the earth court.”

The air grew chilly and Elise wished she’d thought to bring her cape. Instead, she huddled closer to Aodhan. Thirst burned her throat. The wood faeries had been kind, bringing them berries and acorn caps filled with water. But there was just a sip in an acorn cap and she hated to burden them, since it was probably quite the trip for such little beings. She could leave Aodhan and find water, but she feared someone taking him away—like that man.

Instead, they waited. He told her all sorts of things about the Otherworld that she didn’t know. In exchange, she told him about the mortal realm. It was proving difficult because he’d never seen flying cars or airships. Perhaps she could show him the way she showed things to wood faeries.

“Here’s a flying auto. This one was the one Noli had before she and V broke it.” She sent him the image, mentally, of Noli’s blue-winged auto. “Can you see?”

He sucked in a breath. “And you
ride
in it? That’s wondrous!”

“I
t takes you places, like a carriage without horses. There are also non-flying autos—and hoverboards. My brothers love to hoverboard.” Elise showed him a mental picture of hoverboarding.

“I
want
one.” He grinned. “Do you have one?”

She shook her head. “Girls don’t hoverboard, silly. Though Noli does sometimes. But she’s different.”

“How?” His face screwed up.

“My father says she’s not a proper girl. That’s why he doesn’t like her spending time with us. I suppose it’s because she likes to do things boys do and her family is poor.” Elise shrugged, not really understanding what that had to do with anything. “But she’s always nice to me. I hope she becomes my sister. I’ve always wanted one.”