The Seven Year King (The Faerie Ring #3) (34 page)

A twinge went through Tiki’s heart. She and Fiona had shared so much in their fight for survival. Now Tiki was fighting for other people to survive and once again, even though her own heart was broken, Fiona was there to help her.

Tiki reached across the table and took Fiona’s hand. “It’s a dangerous time right now. I won’t be gone long.”

“What’s happening? Is it Larkin?”

“It’s more than Larkin,” Tiki said in an undertone. “Someone very important has been captured and we have to free them or…” She couldn’t bring herself to finish.

“Or what?”

“Or they’ll be sacrificed.”

THE SOUND OF the front door knocker rang through the house.

“Merciful heavens,” Mrs. Bosworth cried, “who could be calling at this hour?”

Mr. Bosworth, filling in as butler until Rieker had time to find a replacement for Charles, appeared in the doorway a few minutes later.

He gave a short bow toward Tiki his wrinkled face alight with astonishment. “Prince Leopold and Lady Macha Gallagher are here to see you, Miss Tara.”

TIKI HURRIED TO meet Leo and Mamie in the elegantly appointed drawing room.

“Leo? Is everything all right?” She nodded at the diminutive woman. “Mamie, so nice to see you again.”

“Dear Tara.” Leo grasped Tiki’s hand in both of his. “What a relief to find you safe and sound.”

Tiki’s brow furrowed as she looked from one to the other. “Why were you worried?”

Leo glanced over at Mamie. “We’ve had word that caused us some concern for your health. Mamie was at the palace before daybreak, insisting we come first thing this morning.”

Tiki fought back a cough. “I thank you for your concern, but as you can see, aside from a small cold, I’m just fine.”

Mamie’s expression was grave as she stepped forward. She put a hand that shook with age onto Tiki’s arm. “Donegal hoped to use your loved ones here in London to lure you into a trap, but last night they chanced upon someone else.”

Tiki couldn’t breathe. “Who?”

The older woman’s grip on Tiki’s arm tightened. “William. They’ve got William. You must be very careful. They will use him to draw you into their deception.” She lowered her voice. “William will receive some protection from the truce—but you—given who you are—” she raised her eyebrows—“you’re not protected. You must use your wits to save him—and to survive.”

Chapter Forty-Six

T
iki stood alone in the Wychwood forest, in the spot where she and Dain had met the Tree Dryads. Mamie had told her they were the best source of information to find where the UnSeelies had taken Rieker. How the old woman had knowledge of what went on in the Otherworld, Tiki didn’t know, but she didn’t doubt the woman’s veracity for a second. From Mamie’s description, it sounded like Bearach had been the one to capture him. Tiki couldn’t bear the thought of Rieker being tortured at the hands of that brute like Dain had been.

There was no time to be afraid. She’d come here with one purpose: to find Rieker. Together, they would find a way to free Dain. There was no one else she could trust enough to share this responsibility.

“Elder! Can you hear me?” Tiki called out to the trees in a raspy voice as she slowly walked down the path. She was dressed to blend with the wood, her clothing like bark and leaves, shadow and mist. She held a lightweight bow with an arrow notched, similar to that which Sean had carried when they’d traveled through the forest before. “I need your help.”

The wind rustled the branches overhead, as if they spoke to each other in a secret language only they could understand.

“The Winter King has taken someone from me.” The wind grew sharper. Leaves and twigs began to twirl in small gusts. Tiki raised her voice.
“I want him back.”

She stopped and turned a circle, searching the trunks and shadows for anyone—any
thing
—that might be listening. “Donegal is burning the Wychwood—killing more innocents each day.” Tiki forced her voice louder. “We must join forces to stop him. Work together. ” She fought a growing irritation at her lack of knowledge as thunder rumbled in the distance. How did one find a Tree Dryad? She felt such an overwhelming urgency to hurry, hurry,
hurry
—there was no time to waste in saving Dain and Rieker. She called out again. “Come now and speak to me.”

“Who are you?” The voice was rough, like a piece of bark.

Tiki whirled around. Before her stood the same three women she’d met with Dain when he was disguised as Sean. Their skin was rough and weathered, eyes nothing more than knot-holes. Feathery, moss-like hair hung in long strands over mostly bare chests; their skin brown and bark-like. Had they not spoken, she wouldn’t have noticed them among the trees.

Tiki tightened her grip on her bow, but kept the arrow pointed toward the ground. “Which of you is the Elder?”

The tallest in the back waved a long branch-like hand. “I am.”

“I need your help,” Tiki said. “I’m looking for a young man who rode through here not too long ago…”

“Who are you, that you dare to ask for our help?”

Tiki tried to keep her temper in check. She didn’t have time for questions. She needed answers. Thunder rumbled again, closer this time. A shaft of lightning flashed in the distance. The branches of the nearby trees shifted with the wind, their leaves rattling.

“I am Tara MacLochlan, queen of the Seelie Court.” The words sounded strange on her tongue. “I am seeking—” Tiki thought fast—“one of my knights. I need to find him as soon as possible. There are many lives at stake. Have you seen him?”

The elder Dryad measured Tiki with her dark eyes. “Is that why you brought the storm?”

Tiki didn’t know what she was talking about. “Have you seen him? He’s tall with dark hair. Probably riding a white horse.”

“You don’t look like a queen.”

Tiki reacted by sheer instinct. She stabbed at the sky with her right hand and imagined the jagged bolt of lightning. She clutched her fingers around its fiery heat and flung it at the space next to the Elder tree. Lightning charred the ground, so close to the Elder tree that the heat singed her leaves.

Shrieks filled the air as the trees blew to a different spot. Tiki’s eyes widened in shock. Had she just done that?

“Don’t ask for our help and threaten us at the same time,” growled the Elder. “I’ll give you the information you seek, o fair queen—for a trade.”

Tiki re-positioned her fingers around the shaft of the arrow threaded through her bow. “What trade?”

“We are bound within these trees by the curse of the same Winter King who has taken your lover. For us to leave, someone must stay in our place.” The Dryad’s woody face focused on Tiki with a powerful intensity. “Help release me and I will help you.”

Tiki’s mind raced. Just like Larkin, there was always a trade involved when dealing with the fey. The Dryad had made an outrageous and desperate request. There was no one Tiki would or could sacrifice to a life trapped in a living hell. What else could she offer?

“There must be—” Tiki started to negotiate then stopped. There was one person she’d like to imprison forever: Donegal. She adjusted her grip on the bow as an idea took seed in her mind. “How would the transfer be made?”

The Dryad’s leaves rustled. “They only need be close enough that I can wrap my branches around their body. As I bring them into the heart of the tree, I will switch places with them and step free.” A note of longing rang in the tree’s gruff voice. “However, the curse states that it must be someone with magical powers at least equal to my own.”

A plan was forming in Tiki’s mind. “If I bring you someone, how will I find you?”

“The trees are the heart of the forest. Our roots are connected deep within the earth. Our breath whispers with the wind. Call for the Elder and I will find you.”

Tiki inhaled sharply, scarcely believing the bargain she was hoping to make. “Can you travel to the Palace of Mirrors on Wydryn Tor?”

“It’s not easy, but there are trees on the Tor. I can go there.”

“Then I need you to trust me and be patient,” Tiki said. “If you give me the location of where they took my friend, then I will bring you the very man who imprisoned you in the first place: Donegal, the Winter King.”

A longing sigh blew through the trees. The woody face contemplated Tiki’s small form. “You don’t look like much, but I sense your power is great. I will take a chance and trust you once. Bearach has taken your friend to an abandoned village in the Wychwood, very near where—”

“I know where it is.” Tiki inclined her head at the Elder Dryad. “Thank you for your help. I will be in touch.”

TIKI CLOSED HER eyes and visualized the spot where she and Rieker had met Gestle near the White Tower. She opened her eyes to find herself standing in exactly the space she had remembered. Day was fading and a mist floated just above the surface of the lake, its ethereal fingers beginning to thread their way through the trees. The wind was biting cold and snow threatened—which could only mean one thing: Donegal was close and his power must be growing.

Tiki gazed across the lake to where the three standing stones stood, marking the village. Was Rieker being held in one of those stone buildings? She crept through the underbrush in the direction of the village as silently as she could, coughing into her sleeve when she couldn’t suppress the urge any longer. Was it possible they’d taken Rieker to the Tower and imprisoned him with Dain? Was she headed in the wrong direction?

As she approached the village, Tiki stopped. She surveyed the surrounding area, looking for Donegal’s troops, Aeveen—anything that might give her a clue to Rieker’s presence—but there was nothing. She worked her way through the brush, circling the perimeter of the dark buildings. When she got to the far side, she spotted two horses tethered together, hidden among the trees.

Tiki took a deep breath. Someone was here. She hunkered down to watch and contemplate her next move.

IT WAS LESS than an hour later when two men emerged from one of the buildings. One was clearly a prisoner, his wrists bound in front of him, a rope leash around his neck—the other had shoulders like an ox and flaming red hair. Bearach. Tiki’s heart raced as she stared at the tall, slim figure of the prisoner, sure it was Rieker.

As she watched, Bearach jerked hard on the leash, causing his prisoner to stumble and crash to his knees. Across the stillness of the forest Tiki could hear him cough and gag. She jumped to her feet and yanked an arrow from the quiver on her back. She had to do something—could she shoot Donegal’s
tánaiste
from here?

“Careful, Majesty. ” The scratchy voice spoke from close behind her.

Tiki whirled around. “Gestle.” She uttered the man’s name with relief.

The impassive face of the hobgoblin leader watched the UnSeelie guard and his prisoner through the trees. “A bit of a risky gamble from this distance, even for me. If you miss, you might kill the wrong person. Then you become the target.” He glanced at her. “Don’t you have guards of your own?”

Tiki motioned toward the captive. “Is he the prisoner from the Tower?”

“No. They took him away earlier. This is your friend—he’s just arrived.”

“Dain’s gone?” Tiki whispered. “Do you know where they took him?”

“I overheard one of the guards say he was bound for the Palace. Apparently, he’s to be the bait in the Wild Hunt.” Gestle stroked his long chin. “Never heard of the Winter King hunting a person before. Must think he’ll be more of a challenge.”

Anger surged inside Tiki and she had to bite her lip not to shout out at the Winter King’s cruelty. “And my friend?” She motioned toward the prisoner she now knew was Rieker. “Do you know where they’re taking him?”

“Donegal’s ordered him sent to the great fire.” Gestle pointed a clawed finger in Rieker’s direction. “That one’ll be dead before the Wild Hunt even starts.”

Tiki clutched her bow until her hands shook. Thunder rumbled directly overhead and the Dryad’s words echoed in her head:
‘Is that why you brought the storm?’

In the distance, Bearach jerked sharply on Rieker’s leash to force him to his knees, then rammed the hilt of his sword against the side of the young man’s head causing Rieker to sag to his side on the ground.