rogue shifter 06 - torn apart (14 page)

A gill-like slit appeared in his neck. Okay. It did have a mouth after all. It spoke a few words in a language that sounded a bit like a beagle howling.

"Fae or English. You pick." Isaiah gestured to Stan who was standing at attention near the door, his upper arms curved behind his back and his middle arms crossed over his chest. "Lyters for two." Stan nodded, touched behind his ear and disappeared.

As he waddled closer, the stench growing stronger, Slumpy began to speak in Fae. Oh great. This wasn't going to be good. With his weird accent, I understood two words out of five.

They seemed to be exchanging some kind of ritual greeting. When they finished, Isaiah asked him if the archdemon had contacted him regarding the upcoming war. He said no, but that his brother...? partner...? was speaking to her now. He was here because he had important business to discuss with Isaiah.

His voice grew louder. It seemed like he was demanding to get his territory back—or maybe his house—or his swamp? I couldn't tell. I wrote down all three.

They argued back and forth for a few minutes. Isaiah said it was his territory now that the Freckstill, (I guessed at the spelling), had gone against their original bargain and had tried to expand it—or unfold it—or refill it. I kept crossing things out and re-writing them.

The Freckstill—or maybe
Mr
. Freckstill—or maybe Freckstill was his first name— responded by saying Isaiah had cheated him or tricked him. I watched Isaiah's eyes turn bright orange with anger after that comment. From experience, I knew that he didn't like it when someone doubted his honor.

Stan showed up holding a tray with two goblets full to the brim, one with something green, the other red. He offered the red one to Isaiah first, who took it with a nod, and the other to the slumpy guy, who grasped it awkwardly but didn't drink.

The Freckstill gestured to me, so I looked at the floor as per Isaiah's instructions, not sure if he'd asked me a question or not. Isaiah answered him in Fae, I think it was something on the rude side because they both laughed in that husky guy way. At least I think the Freckstill laughed. He might have coughed. Or burped.

I peeked up again to see Isaiah's visitor finally lifting the cup to his gill-mouth. Instead of downing a sip, he changed his mind and threw the goblet in our direction. It traveled at an amazing speed, missing Isaiah's right shoulder, even though he'd been in the line of fire a mere second ago. Unfortunately, I was caught off guard and it hit me in the thigh.

"Ow." The goblet was metal and fairly heavy, so I'd have a bruise. Another injury to rack up to day one in the DR. Although much of the green goop had spilled on the journey, some still managed to splatter on my shins, ankles and feet, causing me to take a step backward in shock and disgust. It smelled like the pond near one of my old childhood houses that was always full of rotten algae and duck poo. Yuck.

Isaiah stood quickly, gesturing to Stan to see to me, then stalked across the eight feet of floor that divided the two males. He pulled his blade from his belt and stabbed Mr. Slumpy directly in the left eye. The guy dropped like a bag of mackerel, spewing blue liquid from his seemingly fatal wound.

The weird part was that the lumps started moving faster. Ugh.

Stan had given me a couple of towels and I was doing my best to clean myself off. The green goop was beginning to irritate my skin.

Isaiah said. "Stan will take you back to your room, meet me in staff office number three after you clean up. Don't touch your eyes or your mouth until you've showered."

I took off my shoes and walked back, grateful for the company. That had to be the strangest meeting I'd ever attended. And this was only the first day.

As we walked, I asked Stan a question in English. "Are Isaiah's meetings always violent like that?"

"Our Lord has many different visitors. It is foolish to suppose that all meetings would result in the same end."

His English was great. He sounded like a cool Aussie professor. "Where did you learn English?"

"My history is my own and I share it only with those whom I choose to trust."

Ouch. Guess he wasn't friendly like most Australians. "I'm sorry. I won't ask any more questions." I was kinda hoping that since he spoke English he'd be a good source of information.

"I've been instructed by our Lord to answer your questions regarding the layout and routines of the house. Also to get you whatever you might require so that you are comfortable here. Nothing else."

He left me at the door to my room and I cleaned up as quickly as I could manage, changed my clothes, then grabbed my map and figured out the best route to staff office number three.

Isaiah was sitting on the desk reading a book when I finally made it to the office. I'd gotten lost twice. "Ask your questions." he said, getting right to the point.

"Why did you kill him?"

He seemed to be expecting this. "I've only killed his shell. He was ready to pop any day. His offspring will be born when he's returned to the water. They'll feed from him and then battle it out until only one is left. Sometimes two."

"That's interesting and all but
why
did you stab him?"

"He attacked you."

"It was green goop, not a weapon."

"That
goop
is worth over two hundred gold a cup and I honored him by serving it." I rubbed my arms. For some reason I was feeling cold. "Show me where it touched your skin."

I'd put on a comfortable rust colored tunic, loose fitting black pants and different sandals. I lifted the hem of the pants and we both took in a sharp breath as my red, blistered ankles and shins appeared beneath them.

"It doesn't hurt too badly."

"Don't lie to me. I'll take care of it before dinner." He sighed. "He's quite strong. If he'd hit you in the head with the cup, he might have knocked you unconscious. If you'd swallowed any of the liquid, you'd be dead." He ran a hand through his long hair. "Now I have to figure out if it was a deliberate attack against you or me."

"It seemed to be aimed at you."

"He deliberately changed its direction midway. I saw the magical flux."

"What was he?"

"A Freckstill is a species of unseelie fae. This one was also an agent of the Faerie Queen. She has spies here, as the unseelie have spies at court. Now that he's dead, she won't get her report." He stood and sat in my wheeled office chair, then spun himself around, grinning like a kid. "She'll be pissed."

I ignored his comment. "But what about his offspring? Won't they make a report?"

"They aren't aware until they fight their way out of his body."

"Are there spies in Cascade?"

"I'm sure the queen has people watching her brother and Aedus. If anything happens to her daughter, then Aedus is next to rule, unless Caelen has changed his mind and decides to step up."

"She wanted Aedus to be her daughter's lover."

"Really? I'm sure Caelen wasn't happy." I caught the hint of a smirk before he glanced away and spun in the other direction.

"He convinced her that it would break the blood bargain they'd made when he left court. When she couldn't get her way, she looked to strike out against one of us. It's why she killed William." I shuddered at the memory.

"How did she kill him?"

"She drank his blood and then bit..." I couldn't continue.

"She bit and swallowed?" I nodded. "When Fionna put on the circlet and accepted the rule of Faerie, she chose to perform the ritual to take on the magic of the unseelie fae as well as the seelie. It was an ancient custom, not often invoked, because it requires the royal to feed monthly as the unseelie do, by blood and live flesh." He walked to the window and gestured for me to join him there.

"As the queen of both fae sects, she should rule seelie and unseelie equally, but the brat continues to ignore the unseelie, making them angry and yet unable to choose their own ruler. She announced that her intent was to strengthen the laws of Balance, but her true goal was to grow in power. She's no longer the sister Caelen once knew. Not that she was ever a sweet young flower."

"But..."

"Shh. Look out at the lake and the mountains beyond. It's almost sunset. I designed this office for you so that you could enjoy the view and not feel so shut in. You should thank me. I could have put you in a closet."

The view was truly lovely in its alien way. The sky was a wash of violets and pinks and oranges, yet as far I knew it was way too early for the sun to be setting. The lake glistened with gold, the liquid stroking against the purple shoreline like butterfly wings might beat against your cheek. At first the mountains beyond the lake seemed barren, yet when I concentrated, I noticed shadows creeping across them, some of them shaped like dragons. In shock, I looked above the mountains, but nothing flew in the sky.

"Few can catch even a glimpse of them."

"Have you?"

"Yes. They keep themselves apart because they are coveted by most creatures in my realm. They'd prefer not to become someone's pet."

"Sounds smart to me." I took another few moments to soak in the wonders of this landscape. "Faerie looks like the loveliest parts of my world, painted with a richer palate. The scent of their magic permeates everything." Isaiah winced at the thought. "Your world is beautiful too, but alien. Unsettling."

To prove my point, thunder rumbled beyond the mountains, then lightning shot across the sky, a forked weapon trying to spear one of the elusive dragons, perhaps. I gasped and clutched at Isaiah's arm.

He laughed."Mother loves drama in all things."

I wasn't quite sure what she had to do with the lightning, unless it was created magically. That thought was terrifying. I changed the subject. "Can you swim in the golden lake?"

"Yes. I'll take you. When you come out of the water, your skin will sparkle as if you've covered yourself with glitter. When you dry off, it's gone."

I took in a long breath. "Why don't I smell your magic?"

"I've blocked you. It would be too intense. Maybe in a few years." He grinned and held out his hand. "Show me your notes."

I handed them over and he took a long look. "This is better than I imagined, although it's still a hot mess." I couldn't stop the burst of laughter. "What? Did I use the expression inappropriately?"

"No. It was just unexpected."

He handed back my papers. "I've said that very same thing about you, little demon. Make yourself comfortable and copy your scribbles over in English
and
Fae. The words were 'fen' and 'expand' by the way. Then describe in English everything that occurred during the attack. Write only what you witnessed yourself. You can report to me at dinner, which is at eight thirty."

"That only gives me an hour and a half," I whined. He glared. I glared back. He raised an eyebrow, his eyes flashing orange, so I shrugged and nodded in defeat.

My ankles were starting to burn where the green goop had hit them. I lifted my pants again and winced at the ugly sight. The blisters were larger, some of them leaking a green pus, and the skin around them was an angry red. Isaiah crouched by my chair. "Here..." He placed his hands on my ankles and sent me some icy cool magic, healing my skin with ease.

"Thank you." I breathed a huge sigh of relief as the burning pain disappeared. "I couldn't get my healing magic to work."

"Your usual magic won't work here." The last time I had to survive without magic, I was Kennet's prisoner. The memory brought on a shiver.

He noticed my distress. "You're safe here, although you may not feel that way today. I should have protected you from his attack." He looked at me and winked. "However, I will not accept this incident as an excuse for being late for dinner. We'll eat in the kitchen." With a flick of his hand, a computer and printer appeared along with several books which would help me with translations. He disappeared and I sat down with a resigned sigh.

I wondered if this would be my permanent job, to take notes at his meetings and then write reports. A part of me was disappointed, yearning to do something more important, more magical. But the logical part of my brain scolded her more adventuresome twin. This work was straightforward. I'd be able to handle it fairly easily, even if it was tedious. Boring afternoons spent doing paperwork were much safer than hours of experimenting with demon magic, I reasoned.

My inner demon growled grumpily at my more logical cheetah, who was metaphorically curled up and content at the moment. With Isaiah in charge, she'd be pacing with worry soon enough.

I settled in at the desk and booted up the computer. As I recopied the report, I thought about what my chaos-loving boss might have planned for me tomorrow, and smiled.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

"Sit here." He was already seated at the large wooden table with a goblet of what looked like wine.

"No, please?" I teased.

"You're lucky I don't drag you around by your tail." He indicated my ponytail as I sat across from him and handed over my newly printed notes.

"That would be primitive even for you."

His mouth twitched, but he kept the smile at bay. As he read, the cook brought over two large platters filled with vegetables, fruits, dips, spreads, sliced meats and cheeses. There was also a basket of freshly baked bread. It smelled delicious.

There was a plate in front of Isaiah, but none in front of me. "I eat first. Then the staff." He hadn't even raised his head.

"Oh. Okay." I sat quietly until he reached the end.

"The report of the incident is honest and unemotional. You've simply stated the facts. Well done."

He took a piece of bread, added some meat and sauce and then folded it so it was easier to bite into. He swallowed and nodded at the chef, saying in Fae that he was pleased. Then he waved his hand and five plates appeared. One in front of me and four others scattered around the table.

The two cooks sat, as did the smaller creature who resembled the male who'd fed me earlier. Isaiah told them to eat and they started to help themselves with great enthusiasm. They all wore the same style of breeches and loose fitting tunics, with sleeves rolled up and leather belts around their waists.