The room grew heavy with silence, and all eyes centred on Munro. He hung his head. No matter what happened, he didn’t regret the connection he had with Eilidh. “I’ll talk to them,” he said finally. “I’ll
invite
them to come meet with you. But you have to swear to me that if they want, they leave unmolested.”
Oron smiled. “That’s all we ask, Quinton Munro. No one will be forced to bond.”
A high-pitched trill sounded, startling Munro. “Sorry,” he said, taking his mobile out of his jacket pocket. He looked at the display screen. Sergeant Hallward. “I have to take this.” He stood and went to the corridor, shutting the door behind him. Without another thought for the faerie conclave, he pushed the answer button and said, “Munro.”
The call only lasted a couple of minutes, but he lingered in the hall after it finished. Why had he said all that? He trusted Eilidh. He just didn’t trust all those other faeries and their plans for the druids.
Just as he was about to open the door to go back in, Eilidh came out. She only had to tilt her head slightly to look him in the eye. She was magnificently tall and so beautiful. Why was he such an idiot?
“I didn’t intend to hurt you, Quinton.”
“If you hadn’t done it, he would have killed us both.” He remembered that day in the woods like it was yesterday. Sometimes, on a bad night, he still dreamed about it.
One corner of her mouth quirked into a half-smile. “I meant by saying our attraction was part of the bond.”
“Ah, that.” He shrugged. “I suppose it’s only fair they know. Most of the boys aren’t bad looking, but Rory’s a bit of a minger.”
Eilidh’s grin turned into a small laugh. It melted his anger to see her smile. He held up his phone. “I have to go home. There’s a police Professional Standards Department inquiry. My boss doesn’t seem to think it’s a big deal, but I need to be there.”
She nodded as though listening, but not quite understanding. They still had a bit of a language and culture barrier to contend with. “And I have to return to the Otherworld to speak with the queen, as soon as the conclave decides what they want me to tell her.” She lowered her voice. “I will speak to Prince Griogair about your request. I’ll find you when I have word.”
“Too bad you can’t just
think
it to me.”
“You must be tired of having me in your thoughts.” She said it lightly but couldn’t disguise her emotions. It was bad enough seeing the hurt on her face, but sensing its depth cut him to the core.
“No,” he said. “I’m not.”
Eilidh nodded, looking down at the ground, as though reluctant to meet his eyes. He’d noticed her doing that now and again, and it made him wonder what she saw in them. He didn’t know what to say, so he muttered, “I’m sorry. I have to go. I’ll see you when you get back.”
Again, she nodded. Munro reached out to take her hand, but she’d already turned and slipped back into the conclave’s meeting room. He sighed heavily. He’d never understood women. He’d always suspected if he could read their thoughts, it would make things clearer. Yet, at this moment, he knew exactly what Eilidh felt, and he was none the wiser. There was nothing more to do but go back home and wait.
Eilidh felt no less a sense of wonder visiting Eirlioc Falls the second time. The remarkable monument to fae craftsmanship held unfathomable secrets from the foundation to the spires of ice-like stone that reached high into the air. She breathed in deeply as she approached, enjoying the rich air of the Otherworld. No matter that she spent a good portion of her life in the human world, the Otherworld felt more
real
to her. All fae constructions and settlements were crafted from the elements and magic, wrought with care and focus. Human structures were nailed together and pounded into submission.
When she climbed the steps and entered the small courtyard, one of the many stewards greeted her. She told him her name and her business, and he nodded as though he’d expected her and led her within.
This time she was taken to a much smaller area than the huge audience chamber where she’d met the queen and her consort. Queen Cadhla stood by a large balcony, speaking quietly with a faerie Eilidh recognised from her first visit. He had to be an advisor of some sort, but the queen did not introduce him.
When Eilidh approached, she curtsied deeply. The queen looked her up and down with distaste, obviously not approving of the simple dress Eilidh chose for her illusion. She resorted to illusion because she hadn’t wanted to ask one of the azuri for a dress. Even if she hadn’t promised Munro she wouldn’t steal again, she couldn’t have found something appropriate in Portree. Considering the kingdom attitudes toward any kind of astral or thought magic, she took a risk using illusion in front of a kingdom faerie, and even more so when meeting the queen.
Cadhla said to the faerie beside her, “Leave us,” and he inclined his head and departed. She went to a side table and poured a drink from a clear crystal pitcher into a tall, thin glass. She drank deeply without looking at Eilidh. “So, what say the azuri to my offer?”
“Your Majesty, the head of the azuri conclave has agreed to meet with you himself, providing you lift the standing death order, of course.”
The queen’s eyes flashed. “Has he? He will condescend to come to me, will he?”
Eilidh furrowed her brow, confused. “I…”
“And all I have to do to be so privileged to speak with him is to change the law for the entire Caledonian kingdom, to allow this filthy azuri magic to spread unabated?”
“Did I misunderstand? Did you not offer to consider the azuri to be integrated into the kingdom again?”
“Will they submit to my rule?” The queen laughed sharply. “I already know what that fool Oron sent you here to say, and like a good little doggy, you have come to deliver the outcasts’ insults in person. I should kill you where you stand.”
Eilidh kept completely still. The queen’s magic pulsed, thickening the air in the room. Her fury shone out of her eyes. Eilidh lowered her eyes and said nothing. She was unprepared for how unguarded the royals could be with their emotions.
It was true the azuri agreed to meet with Queen Cadhla, but it was also true they had sworn they would not dissolve their conclave or swear fealty before the talks even began. The queen obviously knew that, but how could she, unless it came from someone at that conclave meeting? After Munro left, the conclave had cleared out every non-member besides Eilidh to discuss their proposed message to the queen. Eilidh couldn’t understand why any of them would betray the conclave, or even how they could communicate with her without being discovered.
It took several long minutes of silence before the queen calmed down. “When you go back to Skye,” Cadhla said, “do tell them what you’ve seen here.” She smiled pleasantly, as though she’d not had an outburst at all. “Remind them of the Otherworld. It can’t be agreeable to live among humans, huddled in exile. I have visited the human realm with Griogair, of course. It was a strange and empty place. It must be so difficult for them. I’m not without sympathy. These people should be part of the kingdom under my rule. Would it not be a small price to pay to submit to the crown? Is it really better to have autonomy in a desolate and hostile land than to enjoy the light yoke of kingdom rule?”
Since the question didn’t seem to be aimed at her, Eilidh didn’t answer. Instead, she said, “Most of the azuri were born into exile, Your Majesty. I will remind the elders, of course, as you request, but even a temporary reprieve in the law would be required before they would dare set foot across a gate.”
“They think I would invite them here and then kill them?” The queen narrowed her eyes, taking on a dangerous expression.
“Not you, of course. None would question your integrity.” Eilidh didn’t believe
that
to be true, especially considering the queen had just offered to kill her. “But some of the kingdom might see our existence as a crime in itself.”
“Do
you
feel threatened here? Have we not been gracious?”
“Of course, Your Majesty.” Eilidh had killed an enemy to the kingdom and been rewarded by the conclave. The fact that the other fae tolerated her did not mean they would take to an invasion by hundreds of azuri, many more powerful than they, all able to perform a type of magic the kingdom feared.
“You either think me a liar, or that the fae of my kingdom would not obey my word.”
“The azuri have no doubt that if you lifted the exile or death orders on those with higher magic, they would be completely safe in kingdom lands.”
“Higher magic?
Higher
magic?”
Eilidh fumbled over her words. “Forgive me. It is the ancient phrase. I didn’t mean to imply…”
“Of course you didn’t mean to
say
it, but you do
believe
it, don’t you, child?” The queen cast a predatory look at Eilidh.
“No,” she said. “I believe we are all one people and
should
be under one rule.”
“Interesting,” the queen muttered. “I wouldn’t have thought it of you.” She spoke quietly, as though thinking aloud. Then, in a clearer voice, she said, “Give Oron my assurances of safe passage. But tell him also that I know of his plans. Once the kingdom is united, there will be no azuri conclave. And, Eilidh?”
“Yes, Your Majesty?”
“If I wanted the azuri dead, I would simply send my ten thousand Watchers to Skye and wipe them out. That many should be able to handle your four hundred.”
Eilidh blinked slowly, stunned at the queen’s words. Ten thousand Watchers would be their entire number. They could indeed eradicate the entire colony on Skye with that kind of force. But more troubling than the queen’s knowledge of the azuri’s numbers, was that she had considered the force necessary to kill them all, and that she would have the Watchers abandon the kingdom borders to do it.
“I will deliver your message with all haste.”
The queen waved her hand in dismissal, and Eilidh dipped into a curtsy and left as quickly as she could.
She had to find a way to see Griogair, but realised she had no way to get a message to him. She couldn’t risk the queen finding out about their meetings, and any servant Eilidh questioned might report back. Her nerves frayed as she slowly progressed toward the castle entrance. She tried to walk with purpose, so as to not seem like she was skulking, but neither did she rush, in case Griogair hadn’t yet heard she was here. All she could do was hope he’d have someone watching for her.
As she neared the exit to the castle, a voice came from across an arched entryway. “Mother above, that is an ugly dress.”
Eilidh turned and met Griogair’s violet eyes. “Her Majesty thought so as well,” Eilidh said.
He slipped into the hallway and motioned for her to continue the way she’d been walking. “Of all the things I can say about Cadhla, I cannot say she has bad taste.”
“In clothing,” Eilidh added, then instantly regretted it. She had to remind herself she was speaking with the second most powerful faerie in the kingdom and mate to the queen. He couldn’t be trusted, no matter how charming his tone or how sincere he was about finding his son. He had an agenda, she reminded herself.
Griogair laughed. “Indeed, she has atrocious taste in men.” He lowered his voice as they walked. “Did you speak to your druid?”
“Yes. He says he needs to talk with you in person.”
Griogair hesitated only briefly. “When?”
“He has travelled several hundred miles in the human realm, and I must go to Skye first. The queen has ordered me to deliver a message to the azuri conclave.” She narrowly avoided saying “Higher Conclave” as she usually did. “I suspect she will know immediately if I don’t do it today. However, I think it will take them several days to argue about what to do. I can slip through the gates and tell Munro you have agreed. I will try to arrange the meeting for tomorrow’s nightfall. When the weaver crosses the four brothers.”
The prince-consort nodded, coming to a stop as they approached the courtyard. “Which gate is nearest?”
“Ashdawn.”
“I will be as close as I can. When you cross, I will find you.”
“Your Highness,” she said. “Is there any way you can come to us? It would be a great risk to bring Munro to the Otherworld. Sneaking past the Watchers in the borderlands would be difficult if I were alone, but with a human, I think it would be impossible.”
“I cannot leave the realm without Cadhla. It’s forbidden, and she would know immediately. Don’t worry about the Watchers. I have enough influence to ensure they will let your druid pass.”
She nodded, wondering how the queen would know if he left the Otherworld but not doubting the truth of it. “Very well.” She started to curtsy, but he stopped her, reaching up and running his hand along her arm.
Griogair grinned. “Could you not smile at me, Eilidh? Everyone in the castle thinks I have seduced you, and it would not do to look so…formal.”