Truthseeker Part 9

aWhat are youa"a Lara fumbled the words, tongue too big for her mouth as she stared up at Ioan. He was gore-spattered, black smears across his golden skin, and he bared his teeth at her half-asked question, though his extended hand remained steady.

aI have been trying to follow you for hours. The worldwalking spell is difficult even for an adept, and I have very little practice with it. It was only when I heard your call for help that I was able to open a door at all. Will you stand?a He spoke with impatience so polite Lara hardly recognized it. She put her hand in his and he drew her up, then brought his sword to the ready as Kelly approached with the tire iron gripped in both hands.

aLara, who is this? Whatas going on?a The trooper drew their attention by amending her question to, aWhat the f.u.c.k is going on?a He was crouched behind his open car door, a shotgun balanced in the rolled-down window, so all that was visible were wide eyes and a double barrel.

Lara sensed, more than saw, both Kelly and Ioan cede the right to answer by taking half-steps backward. The right to answer and the position of responsibility, she thought a little wryly, and stepped forward. aWeare the good guys.a aYouare wanted for a.s.sault!a Incongruous hope slammed through Laraas chest. aJust a.s.sault? Detective Was.h.i.+ngtonas alive?a The shotgun wavered as the trooper raised his head a few more inches, staring at her incredulously. aaJusta a.s.sault? That carries a fifteen-year prison term, lady! Whatever you did to him was bad enough that the whole d.a.m.ned East Coast is on alert, looking for you three.a aWe didnat do anything to him. It was creatures like these ones.a Lara nodded toward the shriveling nightwings, then took a second look and swore. aTheyare disintegrating.a aNot entirely.a Ioan nodded at the largest of the nightwings, which twitched like a lizardas tail, life gone but nerve impulses remaining. Its body changed shape more than withered as Ioan spoke again. aWhatever sustained them will be left.a aSomething sustained them?a Lara said horrified. Then, more urgently, she added, an.o.bodyas going to believe any of this without a body. Do you have a camera, Officer? Ioan, can you, I donat know, can you put a stasis spell on one of them or something, so it doesnat disappear?a Both men exchanged glances, but the trooper, looking like he wasnat sure why, exchanged his shotgun for a cell phone and approached the largest dead nightwing to take pictures. He muttered, aThe camera in the car will have caught the fight, too,a somewhat dubiously.

Lara shared his uncertainty: it seemed somehow unlikely that magical creatures could be caught on videotape. On the other hand, Dafydd had spent years as a TV weatherman, so maybe there was hope. aIoan?a He shook his head. aAny spell I cast would only last as long as I remained here, and I have no intention of staying to explain any of this. Weare weaker here, Truthseeker. Legend said we have always been. No one from Annwn stays in your world long, not if they can help it.a aFairy tales,a Kelly whispered. Shead knelt at Dafyddas other side and looked up now, eyes s.h.i.+ning with worry. aIn fairy tales if the fair folk stay in our world itas usually because theyare trapped somehow and arenat strong enough to get away. Like Tam Lin except in reverse.a aAnd it was mortal love that saved Tam when he rode back into this world with the queenas host,a Ioan said. Lara looked between them, bewildered, though Kellyas expression said she knew the story. aHad Janet come to Annwn to rescue him, she never would have been able to free him. Weare weakened by this world,a Ioan said again, aand Dafydd is weaker yet than he might have been, because his link to the Barrow-lands has been stolen from him.a aHow did youa"?a aKnow? Because no denizen of the Barrow-lands would be so wasted unless heas been cut away from the source of our power. Was it you?a Lara nodded miserably. aI was trying to stop the nightwings from coming through a breach between the worlds. I closed it. I was afraid theyad take on a life of their own.a aAs they would have. Or stolen many, more likely.a Ioan frowned at the largest nightwing, which the trooper stood over, still filming. It had nearly reverted to shape, and bile rose in Laraas stomach as she recognized the shape.

aItas Officer Cooper. Oh my G.o.d.a Her hands went to her mouth, half shock and half holding back illness. aOh my G.o.d. This is the man the nightwings a took refuge in. Hid in. Oh my G.o.d, Ioan, what happened to him?a aThey required a host. Sustenance, so they could survive. Their maker would have been able to control a man infested by them, Truthseeker. Not easily, perhaps, but in time, with such an infection, the purveyor of disease would inevitably dominate the host. And the hostas perception of himself as an individual being would have permitted the nightwings to act in concert the way we saw.a Ioan sounded admiring. aIt would take a magic user of great skill to accomplish all this.a aAnd a lot of innocent lives,a Lara snapped. Ioan had the grace to look slightly abashed, as Kelly slowly came to Laraas side, looking down at the contorted dead man.

aNo wonder it took awhile for him to catch up with us,a she whispered hollowly. aCooper would have been fighting for control over his own body.a aAnd losing,a Ioan said without pity. aYouare fortunate he had the strength of will he did, else you might have been destroyed hours since. And you are equally unfortunate that there was such corruption in his soul that he was susceptible at all.a He fell silent a moment, looking at Cooperas body. The police officer looked tortured, Lara thought, and as though head aged years in the hours since shead seen him last. Black threads stained his skin, like the blood vessels were filled with poison, which wasnat, she imagined, far from the truth.

Ioan finally turned his attention back to her. aYou probably saved your world from an infestation, Truthseeker. And no wonder, then, that I had such trouble crossing over, with the path so thoroughly closed. Following you took everything I had, and even now Iam uncertain how it was accomplished.a Lara curled her fingers around the staff she still carried, reluctant to suggest it as the source of power Ioan had sent her searching for, or as the conduit that had allowed the worldwalking spell to work again. He only knew that head wanted a weapon, not what it looked like, and she had no intention of giving it up. Instead, after a momentas silence, she shook her head. aIt doesnat matter, does it? You came, and you saved us.a aAs I would now save my brother. I would return him to the Barrow-lands, Truthseeker.a Ioanas voice cooled, as though he expected a challenge, and Lara for once found herself glad to meet that expectation.

aWhy would I let you take him anywhere? As far as I know youare the one who killed Merrick and started this whole mess.a For a sudden moment she saw what Emyr might have looked like if head ever displayed a sense of humor. It cut through Ioanas face, biting but true: aI have done no such thing. I have, indeed, done my best to protect him. He faced some manner of trouble on the battlefield, Truthseeker. That was why I usurped his power and thrust him back to this world in the first place.a aYou what? You laid the compulsion?a She hadnat expected her suspicions to be confirmed so easily, but Ioanas voice rang out over hers, strong and angry.

aNo. I stole his power, Truthseeker, but not his will. I was watching you during that battle, through my silver pool.a Lara, under her breath, said, aI thought scrying was an ice spell.a Ioan, unexpectedly, interrupted himself to answer that. aIce is only frozen water, and water is my gift. I was watching,a he repeated. aTo find you, but Dafydd rode close to you, and so I watched him as well. I saw him struggling with the compulsion, and I saw his lover bind him so he could drive himself away into the heart of the Unseelie army. I took the only path I could see to keep him safe. I wrenched his own magic away and forced the worldwalking spell he held at the ready to be cast, sending him back to your world. But he is dying now, Truthseeker. He will die if he stays here.a Laraas ears turned scarlet and she bit back a heated denial of the term Ioan had used for Aerin. Head spoken only truth, and she knew it. Knew, too, that Aerin had been Dafyddas lover, but she hadnat allowed herself to put it into words, and was surprised how much they stung when voiced.

It wasnat a sting she could allow herself to pursue right now. Not with the truth of Ioanas words rus.h.i.+ng over her. aThen, take me with you.a Ioan made a sound outside of words, a breath of regret and helpless humor. aI canat. The Barrow-lands will tolerate one pa.s.senger when the worldwalking spell is used, but I cannot force it to more. Much as I need a truthseeker, Dafydd is my brother, and dying.a aI canat just let you take him!a Fingernails on chalkboards, screeching untruth in her protest. She could; she would have to. Lara knelt and curled Dafyddas hand in her own, squeezing like she could waken him by force of will. aHow can I trust you?a aYouare a truthseeker,a Ioan whispered. aAsk your questions, but do it quickly. He has very little time.a Dafyddas hands were warm in hers. That seemed wrong, when he was the one lying so close to death. Lara stared at him dry-eyed and, dry-voiced, said, aDid you, Ioan ap Caerwyn, called ap Annwn, by any action or inaction of your own, force Dafydd ap Caerwynas hand to murder Merrick ap Annwn?a Soft, ferocious: aI did not.a Lara nodded once, a stiff ungainly motion. aDo you mean Dafydd ap Caerwyn any harm?a That same sound again, the unhappy breath of laughter. aHeas my brother, Truthseeker. I mean him no harm.a Lara nodded again, still jerky, then forced her gaze from Dafydd to his brother. He was beautiful, more beautiful than Dafydd, a perfect creature cut from amber and garbed in night. She wanted to hate him, and could find nothing other than fear to knot her heart: fear for Dafydd, and fear that her gift might somehow fail her and she might be sending him to his doom. aDo you know a way for me to get back to the Barrow-lands?a A spasm crossed Ioanas sharp-etched features. aFind the one whoas done all of this to us. He must be in your world, Truthseeker. With the world walls closed, thereas no other way he could have controlled the nightwings. Heas here somewhere, and must himself be able to work the worldwalking spell. Find him, and maybe you can return.a Lara pressed her lips together, nodded a third time, and climbed to her feet. Her stomach was a solid ma.s.s, tight and heavy inside her, and her own expression felt like a strangeras, a mask of ill-concealed rage and frustration. She stepped back, giving Ioan the s.p.a.ce he needed to kneel and lift Dafyddas body. When head straightened again she said, aIoan.a aTruthseeker?a Strangeras face, strangeras words; Lara had never said anything like what she said now. aIf anything happens to him, Ioan, I will kill you.a Ioan ap Annwn afforded her the scantest bow, all he could manage with Dafyddas weight in his arms, and said, very softly, aI believe you.a Sunlight wrapped them, and they were gone.

Power erupted from the staff again as the walls between the worlds closed. Lara staggered, planting the weapon against the ground for support, and felt a shudder beneath her feet. Kelly bellowed in dismay as the earth lurched. aPick it up, pick it up!a aPick whata"?a Lara heard her own voice distantly as she took a few hopeless steps forward, dragging the staff with her. Overwhelming weariness drained all other emotion away. There was no lingering doorway, no break in s.p.a.ce that might permit her to follow the two elfin princes. Visions shattered behind her eyes with each beat of her heart, pictures of the fanciful world she imagined every time she thought of Dafydd ap Caerwyn. A life with a man who grasped, instantly, what she was; a world beyond her own to explore. Now the color drained from those dreams, leaving them remote and cold.

aThe staff, the G.o.dd.a.m.ned staff, Lara!a Kelly slammed against Laraas side, bringing her back to herself enough to stare uncomprehendingly first at her friend, then at the ivory rod she herself held. It took long seconds to understand Kellyas alarm.

Worldbreaker. And it didnat seem to care what world it broke: Laraas own was as good as any other. She yanked it up, breaking its connection with the earth, but the ground continued to rumble threateningly. aThis is New England!a Kelly wailed. aWe donat have earthquakes here!a aItas not an earthquake.a Lara glanced upward, half expecting the sky to boil with clouds and lightning. It didnat, but a foreboding sense of not yet came over her, and she knotted her hands around the staff, holding it parallel to the earth. aYouare done for now,a she whispered to it, and exerted effort to put truth into the words. aThis is my world. I donat care how much power I might wield through you. I wonat let you destroy my home.a A length of ivory couldnat, in any logical way, be sentient or opinionated, but a sense of resentment built up from the staff regardless. Lara tightened her hands around it, aware that such fragile-looking bone should shatter beneath her grip, but never dreaming it might actually do so. aYou waited for me for centuries. Iave found you now, and Iam your master. A mortal master, at that. Oisn carried you a long time. You should know by now mortal masters canat be tempted the way Seelie can.a The truth came from within her, absolute with conviction, though where it stemmed from, Lara had no idea. Oisn might know, if she ever had the chance to ask him.

Sullenness flared, but the building power retreated. With it, so did the tremors, and Lara stood breathing heavily and wondering at her own strength of will.

aI oughta arrest you both.a The trooper sounded uncertain, but his voice took Laraas attention from the staff. Shead forgotten about him and everything he represented, caught up in Dafyddas weakness and the staffas living hunger to wreak havoc. There were innumerable other things to think about, and she latched on to the first one that came to mind.

aDetective Was.h.i.+ngton. Is he okay?a Speaking propelled her into action. There were injured people, perhaps dying people, who needed attention, and the trooperas indecision suggested he wasnat likely to follow through on his threat.

aLast thing anybody mentioned he was stable,a he said after a moment. aSerious condition but stable.a aThank G.o.d for that.a Lara crouched by the ranger, whose eyes were wide open. She breathed through her teeth, fingers pinched against the asphalt, but she was alive. That was two, Lara thought. Was.h.i.+ngton and this woman, both survivors. It was more than shead hoped for.

For a moment the staff felt warm in her hand again, as if offering potential power. Healing power, perhaps: that was what Lara had wanted it for, after all. The potential caught her off guard, and a sensation of triumph spilled from the staff. Lara jerked to her feet, narrowly avoiding casting the staff away in revulsion. No inanimate object should offer impulses like it did. Even if she knew how to control its power properly, the idea of doing its bidding seemed dangerous. There were humans who could affect healing much less esoterically than the staffas unknown magics might, and with only predictable side effects. aOfficer, can you call for more paramedics?a aA lot more,a Kelly said unhappily from near the ambulances. aTwo of these guys are dead.a aWe saw it.a A new voice spoke as the back of one of the ambulances opened. A paramedic climbed out, followed by a white-faced woman clutching her arm. She nodded to the station wagon the ranger had fallen by. aThatas our car. We saw a those things a that you fought. We were afraid to get out.a Shocked relief shot through Lara. Shead forgotten there had been injuries in the car, that their delay had been due to the paramedics arriving and transferring people to the ambulances, and hadnat considered that anyone might have been hiding there. aThat was the smartest thing you couldave done. And probably getting back in and waiting for more paramedics is the smartest thing you can do now.a aAre they gone? Those things? What were they? What was it?a Lara exchanged a look with Kelly, who said aBatsa without any conviction. It s.h.i.+vered tunelessly down Laraas spine, neither true nor false; bats were the closest equivalent to the nightwings that she could think of, too.

aBats,a the woman repeated, almost angry. aBats donat do what those things did. That thing. It changed. Ita"theya"turned into a a a aa aDragon,a one of the paramedics supplied, then flushed as everyone looked at him. aLooked like a dragon to me.a aLittle-known fact,a Kelly breathed. aBats and dragons are closely related.a That did run sour over Laraas skin, but she laughed anyway, a short sharp sound. aThey were called nightwings. Theyare not bats and theyare not dragons. Theyare more like demons, and they come from fairyland.a She put truth into the words, knowing everyone would hear it. Knowing, too, that they wouldnat believe it for long, but she couldnat do anything about that. aThe man who rescued us was an elfin prince,a she added. aThank him in your prayers, if you pray.a The woman stared at her a long moment. aI think I will tonight.a She climbed back into the ambulance and closed the door with a resounding crash that ended all conversation for a while. Lara trailed back to their car as the trooper called for more help. Kelly joined her, earning an uncomfortable glance from the cop, though he made no effort to stop them.

aSo now what?a Kelly asked eventually. aDo we let him arrest us or what?a aNo,a Lara said as she got into the car. aIam going to do what Ioan suggested. Iam going after whoever did this.a aI kind of thought so. Okay. How?a Kelly asked as she, too, got into the car.

aIam not sure, but heas somewhere nearby. He has to be. Us killing the nightwings hurt him, I saw it. So if he needs the same things Dafydd did, heall be in the woods, somewhere quiet and green where he can regain strength. I just need to concentrate and open a true path.a Lara relaxed into the hum of truth in her own words.

Kelly cleared her throat. aLara?a aWhat?a aI get that this whole truthseeking magic path thing is just how you roll now, and I hate to be all pragmatic aa Lara frowned. aBut?a Kelly gestured at Laraas clothes. aBut youare the one who pointed out you werenat exactly wearing hiking gear. If weare going chasing through the woods after bad guys, maybe we should do some shopping first.a Lara glared at her pretty, impractical sandals. aNo.a aLara, youare the one who saida"a aThat was before. Besides, weare on the far edge of nowhere. Thereas probably not a J. Crew for forty miles.a aYouave never worn J. Crew in your life.a aThatas not the point!a Lara banged her palms against the dashboard. aThe point is that before, we were just trying to get Dafydd somewhere quiet and safe so he could recover. Now heas almost dead and my last chance of getting back to him and making sure heas all right is out there somewhere. Iam not going to let whoeveras been controlling the nightwings have an extra few hours to rest up while I find sensible shoes!a A drawn-out silence, long enough to make her feel guilty, met Laraas tirade. She looked away, trying to summon the energy to mumble an apology, but Kelly said aOkay thena in an unoffended tone. aLetas pretend I suggested that first so my second idea would seem more palatable.a aWhatas that?a aDo your truth-path-seeking thing somewhere else.a Kelly pointed toward the trooper. aAnd right now, letas bug the h.e.l.l out of here before he gets up the nerve to arrest us after all.a

Thirty-Four.

They crept by the trooperas vehicle like fugitives, neither of them bold enough to catch his eye. Lara wasnat strong enough to avoid it, either, and caught a glimpse of his grim expression as Kelly eased their car past his. She glanced sideways, too, then breathed, aWeare going to have to try explaining this at some point, you know.a aOne mess at a time,a Lara whispered back. aAt least half a dozen people saw it this time. Maybe thatall help with Was.h.i.+ngton.a aI hope so. G.o.d, Iam glad heas okay. Heas a really good guy, Lara.a aI believe you.a A little smile curled Laraas mouth. aWhy are we whispering?a Kelly gave a quick, startled laugh and an equally quick, guilty look over her shoulder to where the trooper and the battle scene were fading in the distance. aI donat know. Because the boogeyman back there might get us if he hears us?a aI think the boogeyman is up there somewhere.a Lara nodded toward the soft-lit mountains, her smile fading. aIam sorry for getting you into this, Kelly. Maybe I should go on alone.a aThere is no way Iam missing the grand finale after all this s.h.i.+t,a Kelly said firmly. aI think even if it gets us killed Iad rather at least know how it turns out.a Alarm danced up Laraas spine to the tune of soprano flutes, pure sweet sounds. aDid you know you actually mean that?a aI kind of thought I did. Iam pretty good about not stretching the truth around you, Truthseeker.a She chortled. aWish Iad thought of that. Um, so, hey. That guy was Davidas brother? Heas cute. St.u.r.dier than Dafydd.a Lara arched an eyebrow, both pleased and dismayed to see Kellyas flirtatious nature resurfacing. It was a way to keep her mind off d.i.c.kon, Lara knew; any other time she might have reminded her friend that she was engaged.

Not today, though. Whether d.i.c.kon could forgive Kelly remained to be seen, and Lara wouldnat entirely blame him if he couldnat. Neither, she suspected, would Kelly, and the game of looking to an elfin prince might take some of the edge away from that hard truth. aI think he chose to become stronger. The Seelie are all tall and slim. The Unseelie seemed broader, and he told me theyad changed to suit their surroundings. Maybe in another million years theyall be dwarfs,a she said flippantly, and curious tones chimed around the idea, exploring it.

aI think Iall get my digs in while theyare still tall, dark, and handsome, then. Beards never did much for me. I thought we thought he was the bad guy,a Kelly said more quietly.

Lara dropped her chin to her chest. aWe did, but you heard him. He was telling the truth.a aSo basically you have no idea whoas out there waiting for us. Okay,a Kelly said to Laraas nod. aIam pulling over when we get to the top of that hill, so weall be right in the sunlight. And then you can do that voodoo that you do so well.a aI canat believe you just said that.a Kelly straightened, eyes wide. aI canat believe you just said that! Wow, youare like a real girl! Somebody call Geppetto!a aYou are not helping.a Lara harrumphed at Kellyas smile, then looked ahead to the peak of the hill they climbed. Sunlight blinded her as they crested it, a lash of brilliance that reminded her of the true paths shead created.

None of them were like the one she needed to build now. Two had simply led her home, figuratively and literally, and the third had been seeking indeed, searching out the staffas location. She thought the fourth had been something else entirely, less a path than a thread that pulled the world into alignment so it answered her need. That need had, perhaps, helped open a door between worlds, had perhaps helped mark the road Ioan ap Annwn wanted to take, but even that was unlike searching out a single man. An enemy, Lara thought, and made that idea clear in her mind. She was preparing to hunt an enemy, an individual with malicious intent. Head struck at her and her friends repeatedly, and people had paid for that with their lives.

Dafydd might well have paid for it with his life.

Laraas hands clenched into fists. aNo one else.a Truth vibrated through the warning, its strength making Kelly catch her breath as she pulled the car over. Lara got out without thinking about it, feeling a little elfin as she did so: it seemed like being outdoors would help, even if her magic shouldnat be constrained by steel. She took the staff from the backseat as Kelly got out, and murmured, aI wish I meditated, or something. I feel like if I only had the right kind of mental discipline this would be easy.a aThink about what itas like when youare sewing,a Kelly suggested. aIave seen you do it a few times. You get into the zone and nothing bothers you.a aJust st.i.tch it all together, huh?a Lara smiled, but the idea caught, creating a tapestry in her mind. The door Dafydd had opened to the Barrow-lands began it, golden rectangle against a Seelie night, and black-winged monsters picked out in s.h.i.+ning silk against a matte sky. There was something else there, a nebulous being whose presence was only known by his absence, but someone had set the spell to sic the nightwings on them.

The tapestry wound through the hours shead spent in the Seelie court, reshaping itself into battle. There came the dark thread again, seizing Dafyddas will before another slash of gold cut it off when Dafydd was thrown back to Laraas world. And then the attack in the garage, threads finally winding together to make a visible form. A hum struck up at the base of Laraas skull, the excitement of recognizing a true thing, and the staff, as if sensing her use of magic, warmed in her hands.

Encouraged, the tapestry wove itself faster, dark streak broadening until it became a violent smear of black: the scene theyad just left. Still it leapt forward, details lost as darkness raced away through white threads that turned to bells. Silver, white, pale gold, all ringing with sweet chimes. Goose b.u.mps lifted on Laraas arms and she opened her eyes, barely daring to breathe.

For an instant she glimpsed a layer of radiation and heat; of all the wavelengths of light that human eyes and minds interpreted into sensible, comprehensible objects and colors. She could see past those constructions, could see a truth that lay outside of her ability to translate into anything meaningful. If she only knew the right direction to look she thought she might see through the heart of the universe, see all the way to its creator and perhaps through that, too. The music was that of the world again, made tenfold, far too much to bear.

Her mind folded under the strain, crumpling with the weight of too much vision and a terrible inability to understand. She dropped to her knees, staff falling away as she hid her face in her hands, and overwhelming song and sight collapsed under her cry.

The tapestry threads remained, though, black against white scoring a mark through her mind. Lara whimpered and felt Kellyas hands on her shoulders, and through incessant bells heard her friend ask, aAre you all right?a aI canat open my eyes.a Power drowned her voice, making it sound like she spoke through water. She ached with trying to contain it, her skin stretching too tight over blood and muscle. aThe world hurts my mind. I can see his mark if my eyes are closed, but I canat open them.a aOkay. Okay.a Falsehood, all of it: Kelly thought nothing was okay, and was verging on panic. Her fear made spikes in the music, driving into the sides of Laraas head. aOkay,a Kelly said a third time, and panic faded into determination. aIf I get you into the car, can you tell me where to drive without looking?a aI think so. If I can keep my eyes closed. Itas hard not to look.a Mankind had never been good at not looking, from Lotas wife to now. Looking upon an angel was said to burn out the vieweras eyes, and yet the impulse to do so was enormous. An angel couldnat be so bright as the burning, bewildering world shead glimpsed. Wanting to look hurt as badly as looking did, magic and human nature clas.h.i.+ng with each other.

Maybe that was why humans had so little magic. Maybe their need to explore and investigate had trumped their inner gifts, forcing them to try and absorb more than their minds could handle. Her hands were pressed over her eyes, holding her lids shut, and still she wanted to see. Anyone weak enough to give in to all the glory magic could show them might well have ruptured with it.

Lotas wife, she thought again, and had an agonizing spike of sympathy for the woman that manifested in a lingering headache.

aOkay,a Kelly said breathlessly. aOkay. Stay there a second. I think Davidas coat is still in the backseat. Iall make you a blindfold? Will that help?a aYes.a Relief cracked the single word. aYes, please.a Barely a minute pa.s.sed before Kelly tied Dafyddas coat over Laraas eyes, arms wound around her head and the back dangling over her face. Almost none of his scent remained in the fabric. aI canat really breathe.a aItas a modern Middle Eastern look,a Kelly said. aI think it suits you.a She flipped the coat back over Laraas head without loosening the blindfold. aBetter?a Lara drew a shaky breath, grateful for the physical inability to open her eyes and take in a world stripped to its essence by truth. aMuch. Thank you.a aNo problem.a Kelly slipped her hand into Laraas and tugged her gently upward. aCan you navigate?a Rough-woven white cloth spread out behind her eyelids, the black mark across it jagged and unfriendly. It made a schism in the otherwise pure tones of music, off notes drawing her as strongly as true ones ever had. It was exhausting, and shead only held on to that much power for a minute or two. aAs long as I donat have to get myself into the car, yes.a aThat much I can help you with.a Kelly guided Lara into the Corolla, buckling her seat belt with motherly efficiency, then hurried around to the driveras side. aThe staffas in the backseat. Lead on, Quixote.a Lara turned her head, stymied in giving Kelly a dirty look. Just as well, she thought; with the truth burning in her gaze it might do Kelly physical harm. aThatas two literary references inside of ten minutes. What did you do while I was gone, study the cla.s.sics?a aNo, I studied them in college, but come on, how often do you get a chance to reference Pinocchio or Don Quixote in real life? Iam just seizing the opportunities youare presenting.a The car eased forward, startling without vision to accompany motion. Lara squeaked and fumbled for the handle above the door, curling her fingers around it. aI guess Iam glad to be of service. Not seeing where Iam going is really freaky, Kel.a aMaybe, but it makes perfect sense.a aIt does?a aSure. Youave heard the phrase ablind truth,a havenat you? Now,a Kelly said over Laraas groan, awhich way do we go?a aLara lara bo barra donat fall asleep in the car-arra, me my mo marra, Laaaaa-ra. Wake up, Lara.a aIam awake!a A half truth: despite the textured white brilliance behind her eyelids, only Kellyas singing kept Lara on the edge of consciousness. She was confident theyad reached mountain roads, at least. For a while the car had rattled over gravel, barely enough to keep her awake. But gravel had turned to near-silent, if b.u.mpy, gra.s.s as theyad traveled onward, and the quietness had let her drift again. aIam sorry. The blindfold is making me sleepy. And my head itches.a aWell, youare in luck. We have reached the end of the road, and I mean that literally. Thereas a mountain in front of us. If we need to go up it, weare doing it on foot. Mountain climbing blind and in high heels. That should wake you up.a aOr kill me.a Lara tugged the blindfold carefully, then tightened it again. aI donat think I can take it off without going crazy. Iam still seeing white and hearing whole orchestras. I feel like an overstuffed sausage.a Worry came into Kellyas voice, distorting its usual music. aMaybe you should let go of the power.a Lara shook her head. aIall lose him if I do.a aBlind, high-heel mountain climbing it is, then. When this is over weall start a school for athletic businesswomen. At least you can use the staff as a, er. Well. Staff. You know what I mean. A walking stick.a Kelly helped Lara out of the car and got her the staff before adding, aThis is a terrible idea, you know?a aI know.a The ivory staff was cool in Laraas hands, like it had been after she shut off its power from shaking the earth. That was good: she was certain its power was part of what had stripped the world down to its barest essentials, and she still had the headache from that.

aOkay. I just wanted to make sure it was clear. The first bitas not so bad. Weall go slow.a aWeare going to have to!a Even using the staff as a walking stick, the earth under Laraas feet seemed eager to reach up and grab her. She set a reluctant pace made somewhat smoother by Kellyas quick warnings of aRoot, hole, branch!aa"though the last proved to mean aducka rather than astep up,a and Lara clobbered her forehead against st.u.r.dy lengths of wood twice before Kelly started saying aDuck!a instead.

aLog,a though, meant something to climb over. Kelly went first, grunting. aThereas a kind of pit on this side, so youall have to slide farther down than you think you will. Give me your hands.a She guided them down to its softening surface, and Lara leaned there for a moment, testing it with her weight and trying to listen beyond the music in her mind. The discordant tones veered to their left, pulling the threads shead envisioned that way as well.

aI canat see and it makes me feel like I shouldnat talk,a she said after a moment. aOr maybe Iam just paying too much attention to my feet to try. Weare going to have to stop more often so I can see which way to go. We have to go left a little.a Kelly drew in an unhappy breath. aAre you sure?a Lara lifted her blind gaze, an eyebrow arched under the weight of Dafyddas coat. Kelly muttered, aYeah, yeah, okay, of course youare sure. Itas just that it gets rougher pretty fast over there, Lar. The angle goes up and it gets rockier instead of woodsy. Maybe we should look for a way around. Go up a ways from where we are and see if it smoothes out.a aYou go.a Lara climbed over the log and sat on it. aItall take three times as long if I go up, and if it turns out thereas no way around weall have to come back down. At least if you go up weall know, and if itas clear you can come get me.a aYou want me to leave you sitting blindfolded in the middle of a mountain forest?a Lara managed a wan smile. aWeare probably far enough off the beaten path that the only person whoas likely to find me is the guy weare after. Thatas sort of a good thing.a Rueful truth ran through everything she said, thinning out some of the weighty song still dominating her thoughts. aWeare closer than we were. Maybe weare close enough that I can let some of this power go and still track him. Iall try while youare looking for a path through, okay? It gives us both something to do.a aAll right,a Kelly said unhappily. aBut yell if you need anything at all, will you? Even if you just donat like being alone down here.a aI will,a Lara promised. aGo on. Iall be fine.a She forced her shoulders to relax as she listened to Kelly scramble up the hill, then turned her attention to the raw music pounding through her mind.

She had barely loosened her hold on it when Kellyas scream ripped the air.

Thirty-Five.

Magic ripped loose of Laraas grasp, music drowned beneath the sound of Kellyas terror. She yanked her blindfold off, tears flooding her eyes at the dayas sudden brilliance, but her feet were already carrying her forward with no care for safety or sight. The ground seemed even more treacherous as her vision returned; Kelly had made light of its difficulty without quite lying about it. Lara scrambled upward, putting weight on the staff despite its look of fragility. She stepped on her dress skirt repeatedly, its fullness proving more impediment than her heeled sandals. In frustration, she seized the fabric and pulled it up gracelessly. No one was there to see, and all that mattered was she reach Kelly.

A vast boulder, deposited on the mountainside by glaciers many millennia past, blocked the way. Lara shot a glance off to the left, wondering how difficult that path had been, if conquering a fifteen-foot rock was the preferable choice. Packed earth made a ridge along it, leading slowly upward and reminding Lara of the pitched stone road that stretched down to the Unseelie city. That was good, she thought: any parallels to the Barrow-lands meant they were closing in on their quarry.

Dissonance thundered through the thought. Lara shouted, a raw sound of frustration as she tried to push the music away. Lies had never been comforting to her, but for once she craved their solace. Parallels with the Barrow-lands were coincidence, nothing more, but she wanted them to have meaning. She drove herself up the ridge, stepping on her skirt again as it escaped her grip. St.i.tches tore at the waist, making it sag further, and she wished she had the strength to simply rip the whole thing free. Deliberately destroying clothinga"that was a thought shead never imagined having.

The narrow ridge switched back as it reached the boulderas edge. Softer ground had been cut away, making a skinny V between the mountain and the half-unearthed stone. Kelly couldnat be too much farther ahead. It had been mere moments between her departure and her screams. Lara ran, staff in one hand and her d.a.m.nable skirt hitched up in the other, and burst through the end of the switchback.

It opened onto a raw expanse of earth that had once been the site of a river or a landslide, with rocks strewn about it in awkward chunks. Dozens of tall thin stones stood at skewed attention, like bowling pins knocked partially aside, and innumerable round stones the size of beach b.a.l.l.s lay among them. Kelly hid behind one of the taller rocks, arms curled over her head. Relief soured the panic in Laraas stomach and she ran forward, waving. aKelly! Come on!a Kelly dropped her hands, face stricken with dismay. aLara, no! Watch out!a A round rock as large as those settled among the tall ones came flying down the riverbed. It bounced, shattering smaller stones into shrapnel, and spun on its axis to veer toward Lara. She shrieked and ducked, the rock flying overhead. It bounced once more, then crashed into a ravine a little farther down the mountain. Heart hammering, Lara straightened to gape after it, and Kellyas warning shout came a second time. aGet down!a Another rock came smas.h.i.+ng down toward her. Lara shrieked again and ran for one of the standing stones. A third rock bashed its top off, sending dust and shards over her, and she stuffed her hand in her mouth to keep from crying out again.

aItasa"a The thunder of another stone rus.h.i.+ng toward them drowned Kellyas words and ended in a shuddering crash that shook the earth. af.u.c.k,a Kelly bellowed, athat one hit my pin. Itas ninepins, Lara. Weare the pins.a Bewildering truth shot drumbeat rhythms up Laraas spine. She stuck her head out from behind her rock regardless, trying to meet Kellyas eyes. aWho the h.e.l.las throwing the b.a.l.l.s?a aI donat know! Giants!a aThereas no such thing as giants!a Half a dozen stones came smas.h.i.+ng down toward them, giving the lie to Laraas a.s.sertion, for all that it rang true in her mind. She flinched back, staring as another one flew overhead and bounced into the ravine. aItas got to be him.a aHeas a giant?!a aNo! I mean, I donat think so!a Lara pressed her spine against her standing stone, then dared another glimpse toward Kelly. They were separated by no more than twenty feet, with one of the pin-stones offering shelter between them. aStay there!a aLike I was going to go anywhere!a A giggle rose up and gave Lara the nerve to launch herself into a run, aiming for the nearby standing stone. A hailstorm of smaller rocks exploded down at her, pebbles pelting her arms and ribs as she ran. One, a fist-sized rock, connected solidly with her thigh and she stumbled as bone-deep pain bloomed. The rest of the stones rattled off the ninepin rock as she rolled into its lee. Kellyas voice broke over the last clattering of stone: aAre you okay?a The ache in her leg was dull but comprehensive, setting her whole body off-kilter so she wanted to both curl over the injury and to throw up. Lara put her hand against it, gasping, and managed a weak aYeaha in response.

Kellyas silence was filled with another rattling of stone, at the end of which she said, aYouare still a terrible liar, Lar.a aNo, Iam okay. Iam just aa Lara exhaled like the ache would rush out on her breath, then inhaled again deeply. aThat hurt.a aIall come the rest of the way to you.a Before Lara had a chance to protest, Kelly burst out from behind her rock, running pell-mell across scattered stones. She slid behind the ninepin rock seconds before another round stone came rolling down the hill to batter their protective wall. aYou shouldnatave come after me, you idiot. But thank you.a aYou sounded like you were dying! Why didnat you just turn around and come back?a aLook.a Kelly nodded toward the switchback and Lara pushed herself up to peer at it.

The mountainside had closed, no hint of the pa.s.sageway visible. Lara, incredulous, said, aThatas not even possible, is it?a and Kelly laughed.

aLara, hon, weare well on our way to six impossible things before breakfast. Wea"eep!a Rock shattered over their heads, the top of their standing stone exploding under the impact of another thrown stone. aWe canat stay here.a aNo, I mean, itas really not possible.a Lara scowled at the blank mountainside, searching for a way to see through what she was certain must be illusion. Truthseeker was better suited to words, she thought, to hearing and speaking the truth. Seeing it was too complicated, the human mind poorly constructed for truthas visual tricks. She clutched the staff, frantic to call its power to help herself see through the impossible, but it remained cold and quiet in her hands. Like it resented the limitations shead put on it and was punis.h.i.+ng her for it. The thought was absurd, but there was no hint of mistruth to it, and Lara found herself staring at the staff in bewildered distrust.

Kelly caught her arm, shaking her from half-formed thoughts. aI know itas not possible, but thatas not stopping it from happening! That rock that hit you a can you run?a Lara rubbed her thigh again, residually aware of the ache there. aYeah, Iam fine. Itas a bone bruise. A week from now after Iave forgotten what happened itall turn purple.a aIf you can manage to forget whatas happening I want your therapistas phone number. Come on, maybe we can get over the edge of the ravine and itall protect us.a aNo, we need to go up.a Lara peeked around the edge of their rock, then yelped and flinched back as another barrage came rolling down the mountain. aIt feels right, and besides, thatas where the stones are coming from. Iam going to get this guy even if I have to fight giants.a aWith what?a Lara pushed herself up. aWith the truth.a aOh, good. Youave got a truth s.h.i.+eld, then? One thatas going to keep enormous rocks from flattening us?a aSort of.a Lara closed her eyes, listening not for the next rumble of stone, but for the music that was a part of her. The nightwings had strained at that tune, making it ugly, though she hadnat recognized that until the third encounter. But it meant something; it had to.

It meant that, like the breach between worlds that had let them through, they werenat a true thing. They undoubtedly existed, but like a flaw in cloth, a woven bit gone wrong. It pulled at everything else, warping it the same way an out-of-tune piano warped a song.

There were no giants. Not in this world, not now, if there ever had been. Lara clung to that as a truth she could be certain of, and it hummed comforting agreement. aThere arenat any giants, but giants are throwing the stones.a aWhat?a Kelly half-swallowed the question, letting Lara ignore her. Music trembled, unable to fuse there arenat any giants and giants are throwing the stones into a cohesive whole. One couldnat be true without the other, and the first part carried more weight.

aThere arenat any giants to throw the stones. I want the stones to stop.a Shocking silence surrounded them, as alarming, in its way, as the rockfall had been. Lara crowed triumph and swung around the edge of their standing stone to glare defiance up the mountain. aTheyare an illusion. That must be his talent.a aAn illusion?a Kelly surged to her feet, gesturing at herself. Sc.r.a.pes lined her hands, her shoes were dusty, and a bruise was forming on one cheekbone. aThatas a h.e.l.l of an illusion, Lara. Packs a lot of punch. And the nightwings sure as h.e.l.l werenat illusions! Howad he make them if he does illusions?a aThe nightwings were something else. I mean, Dafydd knew what they were, so itas got to be a spell the Seelie can work as a general rule, cutting away pieces of the night sky to make an attack beast. And anything can hit hard, Kelly. Air can hit hard.a Lara began picking her way up the riverbed, gaining speed as her certainty grew. aThatas got to be it. You canat see the air, but itas got presence. His talent must be giving it form, making it real.a aAiras one thing, but those were rocks!a aNo.a Lara turned around, catching Kellyas hand and nodding toward the pa.s.sage theyad just climbed. aLook.a The ninepins stones still stood, rickety and tall in the ancient sluiceway. But they grew up out of flattened stones, gra.s.s working its way between the cracks. There were no lumps of round stones to be seen, though dust still settled where theyad crashed into the earth. aLook,a Lara said again, softly. aHe stopped holding his concentration, so they disappeared.a aThatas not possible. They almost killed us.a Lara let go a quick laugh. aMaybe itas not possible, but itas true. Itas just like the military trying to use compressed air for nonlethal weapons.a She started back up the mountain, hearing Kelly follow close behind. aThe only difference is this guy can add a visible component to the attack. Iam sure of it.a She felt like she was floating on the music, confidence shoring her up.

aThe military canat turn compressed air into visible rocks,a Kelly muttered, but the argument had run out of her. aLara, what do we do against somebody who can turn illusion against us? I mean, he could be hiding in plain sight.a aI donat think itall work on me now that Iam looking for it. Dafyddas glamour wouldnat, anyway. I knew he was using it, but I still saw him as he really is.a aGood,a Kelly whispered. aIn that case, can you please tell me that Iam not seeing the Headless Horseman riding down on me?a Lara twisted around in time to watch blood splatter from Kellyas face.

She saw nothing: no horse, no cloaked figure, no sword; nothing but Kelly spinning with the hit shead taken. There was no sound, not even of Kelly hitting the earth, much less hoofbeats against the stone. Two, she thought clearly: two upstate New York legends so far, and though she didnat like fairy tales, Lara knew these things usually happened in threes. She said aTwo is enougha under her breath, and slipped down yards of gra.s.s-riddled rock to Kellyas side.

Her friendas eyes were wide but glazed, and the cut along her cheek scored hideously deep. It had caught the bone, narrowly missing her eye; narrowly missing the fleshy cheek, where it might well have severed her face. The strength Lara had wished for earlier roared through her and she savaged the skirt of her dress, tearing off a strip to ball it against Kellyas face.

Kelly gave a thin gaspy shriek that turned to a real scream as she saw something over Laraas shoulder. Lara risked a glance as she folded herself over Kelly. There was nothing there, a promise she shouted into Kellyas screams. The truth was a s.h.i.+eld and Lara its manifestation; no new scores opened in Kellyas flesh, though she whimpered again with fear.

aIt isnat there, Kel. It isnat there.a Truth pounded through the words, but not enough: even if Kelly wanted to believe her, the monsters were too real. Lara, shaking with determination, bent her head over Kellyas until their foreheads touched. aIam going to show you. I have to show you, so youare not afraid. So it wonat be able to hurt you. This will work,a she promised. aIt has to work.a The music had always been internal, even when it had opened a path from one place to another. Even when shead sung aloud to focus it, the power had come from within, bound by her flesh.

It wasnat enough. Not this time, not now. She reached for the staff where it lay to the side, abandoned when shead collapsed at Kellyas side, but it remained sullenly quiet, unwilling to offer her any of the strength it had shown when shead struck it against the earth and broken open a path to another world. Frustrated, she wished for an instrument, for some talent to share music directly with others through something other than her voice. A lifetime of hearing truthas song, and shead never thought to learn to play anything. She would, she promised herself. She would do that, when she was free of the complicated world Dafydd had introduced her to.

The words woke a s.n.a.t.c.h of music in her mind, a phrase of gospel song. Eyes closed, she whispered the lyrics, then struggled to strengthen her voice. aGreat G.o.d Almighty, I am free, I am free at last.a She whispered the will to be free toward Kelly; freedom from the illusions of the world, from the comforting lies, from the terrible things hidden by falsehood. Freedom, most especially, from the magic that convinced her of the Horsemanas presence. Such a conviction could hurt her, even kill her, if she believed hard enough.

Song and strength poured out of her in a rush, leaving her temporarily bereft and in sudden silence. Kelly, though, screamed again and surged upright, fingers clawing at something Lara couldnat see. aOh my G.o.d, oh my G.o.d, no, make it stop!a aKelly! Kel, itas me! Youare okay, Iave got you!a Lara caught her, holding on hard, and for long seconds Kelly struggled, her gaze still panicked and distant. Then she collapsed, hands over her ears as she twisted away from Lara.

A mad orchestra, every instrument playing its own tune, crashed back over Lara as Kelly broke away. She put her own hands to her head, agog at the noise. It drowned out the sound of her heartbeat, of her breathing; of every normal thing that told her she was alive. The world was abruptly too much to take in, filled with cluttered, unorganized truth that no one person could possibly bear.

But shead borne it all her life. Lara shook her head hard, trying to sort out the cacophony, and pieces of it fell away so quickly she had the impression the very world was abashed at its behavior. Notes came clearer, different instruments coming in to tune with one another, so that when a sour flute sounded she sensed it as wrong, and tried to tug it into alignment. It resisted and she pulled harder, then let herself forget it as Kelly half sat up, staring at her in horror.

aIs that what itas always like? So loud, all that music everywhere, all that pain, all that awful truth?a She crumpled and Lara pulled her close again, breath coming hard and short.

aIam sorry. I didnat know what else to do.a aI donat ever, ever want to see things the way you do again.a aI promise,a Lara whispered. aI promise, Kel. Iam sorry. I know you werenat meant to see things like that. Only I am.a The world was calmer now, cymbals of discontent settling into more regular chimes. Distortions still rippled through it, tunelessness striking again, and this time she recognized it as the same dissonant warning the nightwings carried with them. It was closer, reluctantly closer, and she remembered how shead pulled at that off-tone, trying to make it match the rest.

aWell done,a said a bitter male voice. aWell done indeed, Truthseeker. I had never meant to come this far.a Bewildered, b.l.o.o.d.y, angry, Lara lifted her gaze to see a young mana"as all the people of the Barrow-lands werea"standing before her, his dark hair shadowing equally dark eyes. He had his peopleas beauty, but it was marred with a glimmer of madness. aAh,a he said, mocking. aBut you donat know who I am, do you.a aYouare wrong. I do.a Lara, full of calm certainty, got to her feet. aYouare Merrick ap Annwn, and this is all your doing.a

Thirty-Six.

aWhen did you know?a Strained curiosity filled the Unseelie princeas voice, as though he strove to make light of being discovered, and fell just short.

Lara gave a deprecating laugh. aNot until just now. Not until I started thinking what could be done with illusion. I just donat understand why. What do you get out of starting a war between the courts?a aPower.a Merrick shrugged. aYou should have seen that much, Truthseeker. What else does any ill-favored son covet?a Kelly, unexpectedly, muttered, aA fatheras love, usually. Itas all very Oedipal, or something. Laraa"a Lara hissed a warning, trying to silence her friend. Merrickas gaze flickered to her, then back to Lara, a dismissal that caused Kelly to draw offended breath. aTscht!a Lara said, and splayed her fingers backward, trying again to cut Kelly off without ever taking her own eyes from Merrick.

His attention, though, was drawn to Kelly a second time. aYou mortals have a saying, I think. One that suits my situation. aBetter to reign in h.e.l.l,a is that not what you say?a aNot most of us.a Kelly subsided as Lara shot a despairing glance over her shoulder. The wadded-up skirt Kelly held against her face was black and wet with blood, and something in the way her mouth pinched told Lara that sharp commentary was meant to distract Kelly from her injury. But the truth wasnat a s.h.i.+eld that could protect her, and so Lara was desperate for her silence, not wanting Merrickas regard to linger on her.

aFor most of you,a Merrick said softly, athere are hundreds, perhaps thousands, of others between yourselves and absolute sovereignty. For me there are four. Itas a surmountable number, and most easily achieved through war.a His voice sharpened. aA war that should have been met within hours of my adeath,a were it not for mortal interference.a aMora"I didnat get to the Barrow-lands for almost two weeks.a Lara turned back to Merrick, her hands clenched with worry.

aBut Oisn made his prophecy and stayed Emyras hand for those critical few days until my dear brother could bring you from the mortal world to ours. How is Dafydd?a he added, voice gone oily and smooth. aShall we see, Truthseeker?a He made a familiar gesture, fingers clawing the air to rip a s.h.i.+ning door between one world and the next. Laraas breath caught and she started forward, but Merrick lifted an imperious hand. aDo you know what a scrying spell is, Truthseeker?a aIt lets you see acrossa"a aThe Barrow-landsa was how the sentence was meant to finish, but Lara swallowed it along with bitter recognition. aAcross s.p.a.ce,a she said instead, and Merrickas smile turned pointed with approval.

aVery good. Itas no small feat to turn the worldwalking spell to a scrying window, but let us see whatas to be seen. Think of Dafydd, Truthseeker. Think of your love.a Anger and fear stung Lara in equal parts. Merrick knew more than she did, as if head been watching them all along. The frequency of the nightwing attacks struck her, and she thought perhaps he had been, right from the moment shead crossed into his world. She didnat want to give him an even greater advantage by playing his game, and yet a Shead escaped the Barrow-lands through a twist of magic she had no idea how to command, much less replicate. Merrickas torturesome offering could far too easily be the last chance she would have to see Dafydd ap Caerwyn. She crept forward, gaze locked on the glittering window between worlds.

The image on its other side swam, blurring with the thickness of melting gla.s.s, then slowly came clearer, focused on a single man. Dafydd lay in a bed of ermine, impossibly pale against the soft black fur. He didnat move, not even to breathe, so far as Lara could tell. She m.u.f.fled a cry, inching closer, and became aware that she was almost within Merrick ap Annwnas reach. She froze in place, unwilling to risk his presence even when distance from the window lost details that might have eased her heart.

His surroundings were semi-familiar to her, the Unseelie palaceas black opalescent walls reflecting light from the scrying window. A white-haired woman moved into the image, tall and confident in her moon-silver armor: Aerin, who in no way belonged at the heart of the Unseelie palace. She knelt beside Dafydd, then slipped an arm behind his shoulders, helping him to sit, and offered him a drink from a goblet like the one Ioan had shared with Lara.

Childish envy made Laraas eyes hot. She dashed the heel of her hand against them, trying to turn misery into anger. aShe shouldnat even be there. Whatas she doing there?a Answers flooded her without Merrick speaking aloud. Aerin was one of Dafyddas oldest friends; Ioan might well have sent for her, or even stolen her the way head done Lara herself, so that someone Dafydd knew would be there to care for him. Someone of his own people, rather than an unknown Unseelie. Ioan might even be wary of showing himself to Dafydd; he had no way of knowing that Lara had already betrayed the secret of his change to the younger Seelie prince.

And the more hateful answer was even more obvious than those. They were lovers, Dafydd and Aerin, perhaps even meant to wed someday. Lara was an ephemeral thing to them, barely lasting a moment. She could never offer what Aerin might: a lifetime of intimacy for a man whose years spanned aeons.

Dafydd took a wracking breath, doubling against Aerinas side. Hope leaped in Laraas heart: he was alive, at least, and she hadnat been at all certain he would be. Head been so weak, so close to burned out entirely, all for the sake of protecting her and her world. A life like his lost for a planet full of mortals who would neither know nor care would be criminal, and that ache rang true in Laraas breast. Aerin helped him to lie down again, smoothed his hair, and stood, leaving the scrying windowas frame.

Lara whispered, aNo. Follow her.a Dafydd was sleeping; he would remain that way without her worried supervision. The window, at Merrickas command but at Laraas wish, trailed after Aerin until she entered another room, more grandiose and brighter than the one shead left.

Ioan ap Annwn stood alone in that room, looking through a window of his own. Lara imagined he looked over his city, and wondered how many of his people had returned. Not enough. If even one was lost, not enough had returned.

Merrick made a startled sound as Aerin said, aIoan,a and for an instant Laraas gaze strayed to him. Shead told Dafydd of Ioanas transformation, but Merrick, true son of the Unseelie king, hadnat known about it. He must have expected a man as pale as Dafydd to appear in his scrying window, and a strange twinge of sympathy jolted Lara. He had been traded away and now it was revealed to him that he had been replaced more thoroughly than he ever would have dreamed. No one would take such a change of fortunes easily.

His crimes, though, had been developed well before he had made this discovery. Lara tightened her stomach muscles, trying to literally harden her heart, and turned her attention back to the window between worlds.

aHeas dying,a Aerin said in response to something Ioan had said. Then she shook her head and sat gracefully, as though she wore a court gown rather than armor. aWorse than dying. His fire is gone, Ioan. Everything that makes him Seelie is burned away. Heas a mortal.a Something akin to disgust filled the last word, but Laraas hands went icy with hope. Mortal meant a life span like hers, a lifetime that could be shared. Her heart hammered with a painful, misplaced joy. If she could return to him even briefly, then she might convince him to come home with her, where they could be together without magic or monsters to confuse their future.

Selfish, she whispered to herself, but repugnancy crossed Ioanas face as well. Wouldnat it be better, she reasoned, to make a home and a life in a world where everything was mortal, than to always be an object of pity and disgust in the land that had once been his?

aI can open the door,a Merrick said. Truth s.h.i.+vered through it, proof of his royal blood. aYou could bring him back here. It would be the end of everything you tried to do in the Barrow-lands, but it would be a future for both of you.a Without thinking, Lara breathed, aOpen it,a and the window winked back to Dafyddas chambers. Light exploded everywhere, gold and blinding, but she ran forward, staying just out of Merrickas reach as she dove across worlds.