Chapter 4 #6
‘But the Light was cut off from the main corridors. The Breach was closed from it… According to everything we know that Gaila, the First, did to save the Light and the Underhill, it shouldn’t just be able to open.’
‘Perhaps they all have amulets?’ Morgan asks.
‘They were discounted,’ I say. ‘There are only known to be four of them in existence.’
‘Well, my friend was able to procure another,’ Morgan mutters. ‘Maybe they’re wrong about how many there are?’
‘Aye, they’re considered very rare,’ Jak answers, ‘but we don’t really know much about them or how many there might be out there, or even if some magick worker might be able to create them.’
‘But the number they can take at any one time is low. Five at most,’ I argue. ‘And there were more than five who came through into the pits.’
Jak picks up his cup and stares into it. ‘There’s something we aren’t considering. The Harbinger. She can open the Breach whenever and wherever she wants. Even to the Light. I’m not even sure she’s encumbered by the Underhill’s wards, though she’d never admit it.’
‘You think Fiana has…a Harbinger?’ I ask.
Jak shrugs. ‘The bitch wanted Lia for the Harbinger within her. Who’s to say she didn’t find a way to create another such being? One that she could control?’
We’re all silent for a moment, ruminating on that awful prospect. The Harbinger’s gifts are more powerful and terrible than most can imagine. But she’s on our side. What if Fiana did have her own somehow?
I give myself a shake.
‘Better minds than ours have probably already thought of that,’ I mutter, hoping that’s true.
‘The fae who brought the humans from the Light to the pits were well-known there. They have a deal to use the pits as a stopover. I also heard them speaking about a bigger raid. I think we can work out where they’ll be and when. ’
‘In the Light Realm, you mean?’ Jak asks.
I nod.
‘Still not worth it,’ Morgan growls. ‘Not as an Underhill spy, nor as her friend.
‘Perhaps not,’ I answer stiffly. ‘But what’s done is done. I put Bryn in harm’s way but I also did what I could to save her. I also give my life to her in return.’
Morgan snorts. ‘As if she would want it.’
‘It doesn’t matter if she doesn’t want it. It’s still hers. It’s the least that I can do.’
‘And your vow? Your mission? What of that?’ Jak asks.
‘Second to her now.’
I stand.
Jak follows. ‘We should try to find out more about her.’
‘What else is there?’ Morgan rumbles. ‘She’s Kismet. Fate has a direct hand in her destiny. We already know this.’
Jak rolls his eyes. ‘And why does Fate not punish us? According to her, we three are the only ones ever to avoid Fate’s sting.’
‘I’ve never hurt her,’ Morgan scoffs. ‘I don’t know about you two.’
‘Haven’t you?’ Jak asks, one brow arching. ‘Not even once?’
‘No,’ he says quietly, his gaze unfocusing. ‘Yes. The sandals I put on her just after The Barrack. I made them too tight. Her feet were red raw when I took them off her. I suppose there have been other times…’ His cheeks pinken slightly. ‘During bed play.’
Jak clears his throat. ‘And did you feel Fate’s penance?’
Morgan shakes his head. ‘No, I suppose I didn’t.’
‘Neither have I.’ He looks at me. ‘And you, Locke?’
‘I…’ I wrack my brain and I remember striking her once. ‘At The Barrack. Before we even knew her. During the…examination Bere had me do to see if she was fertile. I slapped her hand.’ I look at Jak. ‘And, no, I wasn’t punished for it.’
‘Why?’ Jak asks. ‘Why us and no one else? Why does she need us sometimes? Why is she stronger afterward? Travelling the Breach made her sick at first. She told me she heard things, felt sadness and loss. There have been three times including the cave that we know of when she had a need for the carnal. There are texts about the Mount. The gods there.’
‘You think she’s a god?’
Jak shakes his head. ‘I don’t think anything and I won’t until I’ve found out more. We’ll have to ask her if there were any times she felt like that in the pits.’ He looks vaguely ill. ‘Anyway, after those times with us she was stronger. She noticed it herself.’
‘She told you much,’ Morgan says, looking jealous.
‘I’m the healer,’ he answers readily. ‘She hoped I could provide answers, but in order to do so, I’ll need to go to Kitore.’
‘The oldest of the cities of the Light Realm is not for fae,’ I tell him. ‘The wards…’
‘The wards are controlled by the First Scholar, a witch called Vivienne who is known to the Underhill. She helped Gaila, the First, and Eve, a fae female who I’ve seen in the Underhill from time to time, knows her well. Anyway, I’ve been to Kitore before with no ill effects.’
‘But it’s weeks away by road,’ Morgan disputes, ‘in case you’ve forgotten.’
‘I haven’t,’ Jak smirks, dangling the amulet from his fingers, ‘but I wasn’t intending on going by horse and cart.’
‘Whoever it was who gave Morgan that is going to want it back,’ I tell him. ‘And those fucking things shouldn’t be used lightly.’
‘Plus, it’s for short journeys only, and I’m not sure about travelling across the Light Realm. I was told these were made for the Dark. I’d have to ask,’ Morgan says quietly and I wonder again who he got this amulet from.
Jak rolls his eyes at me. ‘There. You see? Morgan will find out and, if necessary, I’ll slip away one evening to the Dark Realms and then come back to the Light but in Kitore. Simple.’
‘Even if that would work, what of the city’s wards?
Kitore’s are ancient. Known to be unstable.
They’re learned about by novice mages even as far away as Dead City because of how dangerous they are.
You could find yourself in the undercity itself, in some cell or fissure with magick preventing you from leaving. You could be lost.’
Jak shakes his head. ‘I’m no fool, Locke.
I’ll just ensure I exit the Breach outside the city walls.
I’ll even take an illusion medallion with me despite having traveled around the Light for years passing as human so long as I kept my ears covered.
Perhaps you could modify one to make me appear completely human if you’re that worried, then I shouldn’t have any trouble with the locals… if it’s not too much trouble.’
I frown at the cutting animosity I hear in his tone, though I shouldn’t be surprised even if the last minutes of conversation have been so normal that I’d forgotten how strained our relationships are.
If they will even exist soon.
The pit in my stomach worsens at the thought, even though I know I deserve to be shunned by them all.
‘It shouldn’t take more than a few days of searching,’ Jak continues, ‘and then I’ll return, hopefully, with some information on what Bryn is, and where she came from.’
Jak goes to the threshold of my chamber and peers inside at our human. ‘Because I think we can all agree that she isn’t Dark Realm.’
‘No,’ I say. ‘Not Dark Realm. But before you use that amulet to go running off to The First City, help me check my books. You know I have quite the collection. There must be some mention of the Fate Touched in them.’
‘Fine,’ he acquiesces with a roll of his eyes. ‘But it’ll be of no importance if we can’t get them to let Bryn stay here. We have to make sure they understand that she’s not a threat to the village or to the Underhill.’
‘Do you think that will be enough?’ Morgan asks.
‘After what we’ve learned since returning, I’m afraid that once they know she’s a slave from the Dark, they won’t listen to reason,’ I say quietly.
‘But she’s not,’ Jak replies.
‘What?’
‘She’s not Dark Realm. She was taken to The Barrack.’
‘The enforcers can spot a lie, Jak.’ I say quietly.
‘It’s not a lie. She was very young and doesn’t remember the journey, but she said to me that that’s what she was told in The Barrack.’
‘That has to be enough,’ Morgan says. ‘She’s not Dark Realm if she wasn’t born there, surely.’
I nod, though I’m dubious. ‘It’ll have to be enough. We’ll have to make it enough. She’s not going back to the Dark Realms even if we have to find a way to leave Halsford with her and never return.’