Faery Queen (10 page)

“I told you he'd remember me,” Halton said, his big blue eyes blinking rapidly.

“Nay, I told you, he'd remember me,” Gorman protested.

“But he said my name first,” Halton argued. “So he remembered me first and you second.”

“Did not, Halton!”

“Did to, Gorman!”

“Did not!”

“Did to!”

“Ho!” Thomas interrupted the argument. “I need to find my sister. Can you take me to Juliana?”

“Juliana?” Halton slowly backed away, looking very guilty.

“Your sister, Juliana?” Gorman matched his friend's expression.

“Queen Juliana, you say?” Halton gave a small, guilty laugh.

The cackling noise he'd first heard sounded. Thomas turned, his hand on the hilt of his sword. Uneasiness washed over him. The sprights kept talking and he tried to listen past them, but it was hard.

“Oh, do not mind the goblins. They like scaring visitors,” Gorman said.

“They like scaring everyone.” Halton nodded in agreement.

“They do kind of scare me,” Gorman gave a weak laugh, “but just a little and only if they scare you.”

“Me? Nay, I am not scared of goblins.”

“Aye, me neither.”

“Where is my sister?” Thomas interrupted, having heard enough of their bickering. There was no time for this nonsense.

“Oh, well.” Halton puffed out his chest at the tone. “This way.”

“Do you hear the manners on that one?” Gorman whispered, though he was hardly quiet about it. “Methought he was the nice one.”

“Nay, that was the earl. The earl was the funny one.”

The two sprights led the way down the hall. Thomas kept an eye out for goblins. As they neared a doorway, the cryptic sound of laughter filtered over them. He was led into a great hall, Merrick's hall. Now this place he recognized, only it was fuller than he remembered. Small, withered looking creatures fell over themselves in merriment, the source of the sound.

“Ack, goblins,” Halton grumbled, waving his hand at a low table full of the shrunken creatures. The tables were filled with bowls of live bugs and rotted vegetables. Thomas got a whiff of the stink and wrinkled his nose. At the end was a giant goblin, one much bigger than the others. A smaller, wrinkled goblin sat on the big one's shoulder.

Five giant fireplaces burned along the walls and giant Corinthian columns stretched up to the ribbed vaults of the ceilings, blocking the front of the hall from view. Thomas stepped forward, seeing an empty throne near the front. Keeping his eye on the creatures to make sure no threat arose, he grimaced to watch one suck a small, wiggling snake between his lips and swallow.

“Sir Thomas.”

Thomas' head whipped around to the throne to see King Merrick now lounged where before it had been empty. Dark red tapestries had appeared behind him and he held a silver chalice in his hand, lifting it to sip from the cup.

“King Merrick,” Thomas bowed in respect. “I was not expecting you to be home.”

“Oh?” Merrick arched a brow. Suspicion lined his gaze. An upturned collar framed his face, reaching back behind his head, and leather bound back the locks of the king's unfashionably long blond hair, winding down the length from his temples to just above his waist. There were purple streaks in the blond, matching the embroidery on his black overtunic. “And where did you expect me to be if not at home?”

“With the war…” Thomas cleared his throat, not wanting to get into it. “I have come to speak with my sister.”

“Juliana is busy now,” Merrick said. The king's dark gaze pierced, hard and unforgiving. He was tan and, except for his clothing, he looked human. Thomas tried to see what Juliana did in the Unblessed King but it was difficult. The king was a very powerful man, but surely it just wasn't his power that drew Juliana. There had to be more. “We were not expecting you. As to the war, it is everywhere, as am I.”

“Magic.” Thomas nodded. It was hardly comforting knowing the king could be several places at once. Or was Merrick just claiming as much. It was hard to know what was true and what wasn't when it came to him.

“How have you been, Sir Thomas?” Standing, Merrick dropped the chalice. It disappeared before hitting the floor. His tunic was overly long, reaching to his feet. It was split open along the front to show black breeches and boots. The undershirt was royal purple, showing through the cross laces holding the tunic together over his chest. “You look better than when you left.”

“Thank you,” he answered.

“No effects?”

“Pardon me? Effects? You mean from the injury?” Thomas shook his head. “Nay, none that I know of. But, I never did get a chance to thank you for saving my life.”

“You do not remember what happened, do you?” Merrick asked, tilting his head in question.

“Aye, I do.” Thomas nodded. “I was injured in battle. You brought me here and I recovered. You saved me.”

“Hmm,” Merrick mused thoughtfully.

“That is what happened, it is not? Is there something I should know?” Thomas wondered about the look Merrick tried to hide.

“More or less, that is what happened,” the king said. “And I did not do it for you. I did it for your sister.” Merrick glanced over to his goblins before adding, “Because with you alive, she causes me less aggravation.”

Thomas glanced back to the table. The goblins ignored them.

“She will want to see me,” Thomas insisted, walking toward the king. Dark laughter rang over the hall and he again glanced back to see the goblins now watching him. Halton and Gorman were gone. “It is about our brothers.”

Merrick shook his head. “She is not here, but I will tell her you came to see her. She will contact you when she is able.”

“I must see her.” Thomas thought of the message vial. Something had been in his sister's eyes when she made it. Juliana never talked like that. What was Merrick hiding from him? “Where is she?”

“She is the queen, we are at war,” Merrick said. “I have her somewhere safe.”

“And her child?”

“Our child is with her.”

“And where is that? Why will you not tell me?” Thomas wondered at the tone. Merrick didn't hint what the child was, neither girl nor boy. It would seem a new father would show more enthusiasm for his firstborn. “What are you keeping from me?”

“If you must know, she is in the garden, surrounded by a maze you will never get through, protected by thorns as sharp as a sword blade that will slice you to pieces if you were even to try.” Merrick sighed, sounding bored. “And, before you ask, Juliana will not be coming out anytime soon nor will she be receiving guests or messages other than the ones I give her. I do assure you, she is very safe where she is.”

Assurances from the king of all that was unblessed did not comfort him. Mayhap Hugh had been right about the king. Mayhap Merrick was not to be trusted. What did they really know about Juliana's husband? It was clear the man wasn't going to let him talk to her. Thomas wanted to see his sister. He wanted his family.

Another loud shout of laughter sounded from the goblins. One of them yelled as fire sped by Thomas from behind. It was a ball of flames, flying through the air. He jumped back, turning to see a flaming goblin running toward him. The creature veered, heading back to the table only to dive into a bowl of slime.

Merrick sighed heavily and lifted his hand. A large transparent wall suddenly appeared between them and the goblins, blocking the noise out completely. The creatures rolled on the floor in laughter as the charred goblin pulled himself off the tabletop.

“Perchance, I may be of assistance, Sir Thomas,” Merrick said, drawing Thomas' attention back to him. “What has happened to your brothers?”

“A woman with violet eyes took Hugh. William is missing and we suspect the same woman took him. Lord Eadward walked amongst us at Bellemare, but he was not alive.”

“Hugh and William are missing and yet you are here.” Merrick's gaze narrowed, suspicious. “Safe.”

Thomas was not sure he liked the way the king said the words. There was something musing and cryptic to them. He stepped closer to the throne, lowering his tone to plead, “Can you help me find my brothers? Do you have the power to see them? Can you cast a spell or use your magic to find them? Please.”

“Mia,” Merrick said.

“Mia?” Thomas shook his head, confused.

“King Lucien's slave. I believe he said her name was Mia. She is a nymph with violet eyes. Though, hers are not exclusive to that color, she is the most logical choice.”

“Is her hair dark as well?”

“Aye.”

Thomas felt as if the room was caving in on him. Lucien had William and Hugh? It was his worst fear. “What does Lucien want with us?”

“Your souls, I would imagine. That is what demons do. They feed on souls. The more pious the soul, the more powerful the meal. The blessed Lord Bellemare's soul would make a fine trade for a Damned King, as would William the Wizard's.”

“You have to help me,” Thomas insisted. “I must find my brothers.”

“I cannot help. Not with this. Lucien and I are not…” Merrick gave a short laugh. “We are not speaking. He will not give your brothers to me, nor would he tell me if he had them.”

“There must be something you can do. Juliana would not see our brothers harmed,” Thomas charged. “If you lov—” Merrick's hard look cut him off and it felt as if a hand strangled his throat, keeping him from speaking the words. The king's dark gaze searched him, almost pleading with him for silence. The pressure let up and he took a deep breath before continuing. “Please, help me.”

Merrick closed his eyed briefly. Thomas realized he'd hit a sore point with the Unblessed King. His sister. There appeared to be more between the two than could readily be seen in Merrick. Mayhap the man did truly love her as Juliana claimed, despite his denial of it. Thomas had never met anyone like the Unblessed King before. He was a hard man to read.

“King Ean can track them better than I,” Merrick said at last. “I have no hold on Bellemare, nor the people within the walls. I do not think I can help you. My men are busy fighting Tegwen. I cannot fight King Lucien as well, especially not knowing where or if he keeps William and Hugh.”

“What about my sister? You tracked her.”

“She made a pact with me, thus the shift in her,” Merrick said. “With the rest of you, I cannot find you as easily. Were you nothing special, merely humans, it would not be a problem, but you are protected by King Ean. It makes it harder, especially with the magical defenses up because of the war. It is the same for Ean. He cannot find my subjects.”

“You would send me to your enemy?” Thomas asked.

“You asked for my help and I am telling you where you should go for assistance.”

“Can you get me an audience with King Ean?”

“Nay, but I can give you a guide that will take you close to his encampment.” Merrick held out his hand. A small packet appeared in it, like a pillow made of blood red linen. “And I can give you this.”

“What is it?”

“A way to reach me. Sprinkle it on yourself and I will know where to find you. But, I should warn you, it never wears off. Should you use it, you will be mine as much as you are Ean's. You will be marked as such and those who can detect such markings will know it. Some will think you cursed. Others will believe you are loyal to me. The blessed may possibly not trust you. Ean might take away his blessing of you, though I doubt he would take it from all of Bellemare over such a mark. However, I cannot control what he does so it is possible.”

“Why would you tell me as much? Why not just throw it on me?” Thomas reached out to take the pouch. Rubbing it, he felt the inside. It was like a packet of dirt.

“Because telling you is what your sister would want me to do.” Merrick lifted his hand, swiping it to the side. The clear wall disappeared and they were assaulted with the sound of laughter. The goblins had Gorman and were dipping the protesting spright head first into a bowl of bugs. “Now, leave. Lord Kalen rides with his Berserks toward the castle. They will not greet a blessed ward of Ean's as easily as I have, Juliana's brother or not. I will not have my men doubting me. Go. The troll will show you the way.”

“Troll?” Thomas didn't like the sound of that.

“Volos,” Merrick ordered. The giant goblin stood, easily towering over Thomas' height.

“Ah, troll.” Thomas swallowed nervously.

“Bevil, come, I have a task for you,” Merrick said. The small, wrinkled goblin on Volos' shoulder looked up. The great beast plodded toward them, carrying the smaller creature. Thomas took an involuntary step back, moving out of the troll's direct path. He touched the hilt of his sword, drawing some comfort from the weapon, but not much. “Take him to the edge of Ean's encampment and leave him.”

Bevil instantly gave Thomas a nasty little grin.

“Unharmed.” Merrick sighed in exasperation. Bevil's grin fell into a pout. As if answering an unasked question, the king added, “And aye, that does mean you cannot have a taste of his flesh. I want him left intact and unharmed.”

Volos grumbled and Bevil leaned over to whisper into the big troll's ear. The troll started to chuckle. Thomas' gut tightened in fear. Somehow, he didn't think he wanted these creatures happy.

“Before I go, promise me that Juliana is safe,” Thomas beseeched Merrick. “Give me your word. Please.”

“She is as safe as the Unblessed Queen can be at this exact moment.” Merrick's words were hardly comforting. Thomas had the sense that the king hid something, but arguing with him wasn't going to get him anywhere. All he could hope was that King Ean would shed some light on matters. “Now go. Bevil will take you through the goblin's entrance so the Berserks won't see you leave.”

“Tell my sister I love her,” Thomas said before turning to follow the goblins out.