Innocent Darkness (24 page)
Authors: Suzanne Lazear
Tags: #Juvenile Fiction, #Fantasy & Magic, #Steampunk
First and foremost, he needed to find Noli. Taking the sigil in his hands, he recalled what Quinn taught him about using it as a compass to find someone. The sigil tugged, indicating Noli’s direction. The air changed, charging, making his skin prickle. Eerie horns with no mortal counterpart pierced the air followed by the clop of hooves and the bark of dogs.
“The host is riding from Knocknarea, and over the grave of Clooth-na-Bare;” he whispered, quoting William Butler Yeats. Mortals produced so many works based on the Fae. Most incorrect. Yeats got a few details wrong, but managed to capture the essence of the wild hunt. The essence, but not the fearsomeness.
A terrifying host of riders and hounds, the wild hunt chased their quarry across the Otherworld. Once the hunt started, they wouldn’t stop until they got their prey. The only way to escape being chosen prey was death. They also said the horns compelled the guilty to run, but Steven had never actually seen this. He
had
seen men ripped to shreds by the giant, sentient hounds accompanying the riders. The hunt didn’t always kill their prey. Unless granted permission to hunt for pleasure, they hunted for the high queen.
For a moment his insides clenched as he wondered if the hunt came for
him
. He grew still as they rode through the sky and didn’t relax until they passed. “The host is rushing ‘twixt night and day; and where is there hope or deed as fair?” he quoted again.
Now wasn’t the time to quote Yeats, Chaucer, or even Plato. He needed to find Noli. Putting a hand on the tree he fed the tree a little of his own power to help keep the faeries alive. “I’ll be back. I promise.”
Noli awoke to the sound of horns, which made her want to run, but something deep within her told her she shouldn’t. Something about those who start running couldn’t stop— or perhaps they didn’t escape. She couldn’t remember. Her head ached and her mouth felt stuffed with cotton wool.
Where was she? Still lost, no doubt. Looking around, she seemed to be in a wood even spookier than the one between Creideamh’s grove and the abandoned house. The sky hung heavy with a starless, moonless dusky twilight, making the trees look like ghostly skeletons reaching out keep her from fleeing. The faery tree must have brought her here. Now, to figure out how to get home from here …
The horns echoed through the woods again, starting something winged in a nearby tree. This time supernatural barking and the pounding of many hooves accompanied them, making her heart quicken. Were they after her?
The third time the horns called they startled her to her feet, but she caught herself before starting to run. Wait, this was in V’s stories, too. She’d forgotten. If she remembered correctly, if they wanted her, they’d get her no matter what, and if not, she should give them no reason to make chase. She walked away from them, trying to figure out how to get home.
The air seemed charged, like right before a lightning storm. A chill took her and she wished she’d remembered to grab her clothing off the floor before she fled.
With every step, the horns and hoof beats grew louder like approaching thunder. Suddenly, they filled the sky, a fearsome melee of giant horses and hounds, of formidable riders armed with swords and axes. That, too, nearly sent her running.
How could horses flying through the air without wings make hoof beats? But this world didn’t have the same constraints as her own. The hunt swooped closer and closer, led by a warrior with snow-white hair who’s very presence made her want to run in terror and hide.
Noli continued to walk, even though her instincts squealed at her to run. Her stomach tightened and her skin broke out in gooseflesh—not from the air, but from the sinking sensation that they
had,
in fact, come for her.
They hit the ground, heading towards her in a terrible, beautiful sight—horses neighing and tossing their heads in anticipation, hounds the size of ponies barking and gnashing their teeth, warriors with weapons poised and ready. The hooves of the giant horses never seemed to actually touch the dirt.
What had V called them in his stories? Ah, the wild hunt. Yes, running away was out of the question if she valued her life. Instead, she memorized every detail so she could tell V about them and her many other misadventures.
She’d leave out the events causing her to be in the woods in only her undergarments. Even V wouldn’t understand. Actually, she wasn’t sure she understood completely.
The hunt surrounded her, horses pawing at the ground, hounds wagging their tails impatiently. Even the warriors looked irritated, as if stopping was a major inconvenience. The one with the white hair rode toward her on his imposing horse, two daunting black hounds on either side. The man wasn’t handsome, but pleasant looking, with a canny look in his eyes.
“You are the mortal they call Magnolia?” He stopped in front of her.
Would he know if she lied? Would it help? “Yes, I am.”
“I am Fionn, the leader of this hunt. The high queen sent me to retrieve you.”
Noli suppressed a shiver. She’d only caught a glimpse of the cold, regal woman, but didn’t relish the thought of meeting her, even if she possessed the power to send her home.
Of course, Kevighn could be lying. The queen may no more be collecting those with the Spark than she could have the ability to send her back.
“Do I have a choice?” Under her petticoats her knees shook at the leers and looks of the men accompanying Fionn.
His eyes gleamed. “Not a pleasant one.” He offered her a large, rough hand. “You may ride with me, no harm will befall you.”
She eyed the hand skeptically. “If I get on your horse, I’ll never be able to get off again and forced to ride with you for all my days?”
Fionn laughed a true belly laugh, making the woods seem less ominous. “No, you’ll be able to get off. But that was shrewd. Here it is prudent to be careful with one’s words and actions. If you do not wish to ride with me, I’ll simply throw you over my shoulder.”
That didn’t seem pleasant and he probably wasn’t joking.
She hesitated for another moment. “Where are we going?”
“To Queen Tiana, of course.” He cocked his head, his horse snorting with impatience.
“And we’ll go straight there, the fastest way, and I won’t be harmed or hurt or frightened or … ” She couldn’t remember what else to ask for.
He chuckled. “Little mortal, you’ll be fine. Come, my hunt grows impatient and no good comes from an impatient hunt.”
“If you insist.” As if she had a choice.
Giving him her hand, she allowed him to pull her up in front of him onto the giant horse. The horns sounded. “Hold on, small one.”
The hounds howled, the horses neighed, and the warriors cried out as they flew into the twilight in a flurry of hooves, paws, and weaponry, quarry in hand.
The High Queen’s Palace
Kevighn stared out the window of his room in the palace as he watched the wild hunt depart. Perhaps he hadn’t done the right thing. After all, the last mortal girl the wild hunt chased drowned herself.
Noli didn’t know about the sacrifice. She needed to be watched carefully to ensure she didn’t find out. In some ways, it saddened him that she’d only get to enjoy the luxury of their hospitality for such a short period. In other ways, it could prove a blessing. If Annabelle figured out how to thwart the sacrifice, someone as clever as Noli could wreak havoc.
He sighed, turning around to look at the sumptuous quarters where he spent most of his time when in the Otherworld. Kevighn missed his cabin, especially now that it seemed like a home again—because of Noli.
“I don’t think you should be here when she returns. You’ll serve as an unwelcome distraction.” Calm and cool, the queen stood in the doorway, in another one of her ridiculous outfits. Her bustle, which seemed to be made of spider webs, jutted out several feet behind her. A small mechanical dog sat in her arms. She held a fondness for intricate and silly toys and gadgets and demanded her subjects give her the best of their inventions.
“I don’t know if that’s wise, your majesty,” he replied. If anyone was to lie to her it would be him and him only. Noli would forgive him eventually—it was her nature.
“Are you questioning me, huntsman?” Queen Tiana pet the toy as if it were real, its tail wagging in reply.
“Of course not, your majesty.” He turned towards the window. The wild hunt disappeared from view. How long before they found Noli? Would she run?
“Good.” She flounced out the door.
Perhaps he should he have told the queen about Noli’s necklace and his theories.
No. Queen Tiana could discover it herself.
Right now he needed some good opium and a soft woman. Yes, that sounded like the just the thing after a day like this—and he knew the perfect place.