Chapter 40 #2
River lifts the chimera off ans lap very carefully—like an is controlling anself.
An stands, color-changing eyes never leaving Mother.
An says in a voice trembling with anger, “There were quads of dead babies in that graveyard. None overtly chimeras—Roc and River never… always wondered what the purpose was of those deaths, those experiments. There were no chimeric changes, no mineral differences to the bones or formational differences! Nothing to indicate the reason the fetuses were created and then died! The Moon-Eater—”
The small king cuts anself off, staring at Mother in horror. The chimera holds on to River’s arm with both hands, her crystal claws pricking the sleeve.
“It was the Moon-Eater behind it this whole time,” River says, a sickened, wild expression on ans face. “No wonder the fairy refused to be involved in the war!” Ans eyes ripple faster than they should. An covers them, leaning back toward the chimera. “Get out,” an says with devastating command.
Rabbit stands, the urge to defend ahz mother warring with confusion. Lyric hasn’t moved, looking vaguely ill again. Iriset’s mouth is set rebelliously, and the other fairy, Never, starts to laugh.
That startles Mother, and he flings himself across the table, morphing shape so that he gets past the chimera like wind, and then is standing behind River, a hand with talons clutched around River’s throat. River grabs at his hand, and Eliri cries, “Moon-Eater! Please!”
Mother doesn’t move, pressed up behind the small king, an eerie expression on his face. He squeezes just enough that River arches ans chin up, breathing hard enough ans chest heaves. An reaches one hand for the chimera.
Iriset is on her feet, too, having darted around the table, arms out to keep Lyric back, mouth open in shock. And Never continues to laugh.
Rabbit gets to ahz feet. Az has heard of how the Renovation War started, but never connected it to ahzself. Az did not realize how much death was required to allow ahzself to be born, but az isn’t surprised, either.
“Why should this old fairy not cut into River’s throat for the threat?” Mother says almost kindly. “A river of blood is a fitting way to die, for the small king of Rivermouth, yes?”
“Shade!” Eliri cries again, from her knees, her hands clasped and begging.
“Fought—fought a war over that mass grave,” River snarls through choking, fingers digging into the meat of Mother’s forearm. “More died, so many more, and it was all for the Moon-Eater’s whim! And that whim left.”
Mother looks at Rabbit coldly and says, “Worth it.”
River’s face crumples. “Get out!” an screams.
The other fairy, Never, is on its feet on the table, towering over them. “We can kill them all and start over, Shade,” it says calmly.
Mother thrusts River away from him, toward the chimera who catches an, holding tight.
Tears stream down her cheeks and she drags an farther away.
“Will go,” Mother says, then glances at Rabbit again and grins.
“Worth it,” he says brightly this time. Then Mother bursts into a flock of silver crows, screaming and flying in every direction.
“See you soon, sunderer,” Never says, then hops off the table and disappears.
There’s a moment of quiet except for the harsh breathing of Irsu River as an stares at Rabbit. Rabbit can read the anguish the small king is feeling, used to Mother causing such violent emotions in most people. Az only didn’t expect it to happen so quickly after their reunion.
“Rabbit, too,” Irsu River says finally. “This small king will not look at Rabbit.”
“River,” Lyric protests, but Iriset puts a hand on his shoulder. Leaving is fine with Rabbit, if Lyric will go with him.
“We’ll go back to the fortress,” Iriset Sunderer agrees. “For the final preparations. Eliri and I can work there just as easily.”
“Rivermouth will have no further part in any of this,” the small king says. An pulls away from Eliri. “Roc can make Roc’s own choices in the morning.”
Iriset puts her hands on her hips. “River is cutting off ans fingers to spite ans hand. The Moon-Eater will be unraveled and imprisoned for centuries. River should help.”
“River will help by spending every moment until death blackening that monster’s name.”
Iriset huffs, but before she can continue arguing, Eliri says, “Go, Iriset.”
There is a hardness to the chimera’s tone that Rabbit finds surprising.
“In the morning,” Lyric agrees. “This priest wants to speak with Roc Aliel.”
“Fine,” River snaps.
Rabbit takes Lyric’s hand and pulls him out, Iriset following.
She’s talking fast as soon as they’re outside.
“River is better than this, smarter, and I really need Eliri’s expertise for the blowback mitigation.
There are bigger things at stake than people already dead.
All the people about to die, for example.
If I had to get over how much I hate this whole project, so should they,” she complains.
“I don’t think so,” Lyric says.
“It must be true, then, if Lyric His Glory thinks it.”
Rabbit frowns at the sarcasm, but Lyric doesn’t seem to mind. He even smiles slightly, if sadly.
Iriset growls in frustration.
As they pick their way quietly back through the dark fortress, Lyric asks, “Do you really need her?”
“No,” Iriset snaps, “but it would just be nice not to have to do everything myself for once.”
Rabbit silently inserts ahzself between them. Az’s taller than Iriset, so it’s nothing to loom slightly.
“Lyric likes it when I’m like this,” she says, glaring up.
“I don’t,” Rabbit says, making ahz expression like a stone wall.
Lyric leans into Rabbit’s back and puts a hand on ahz long tail of hair. Tugs lightly. “I’m exhausted,” he tells them, sounding completely drained of energy.
Instantly, Rabbit has an arm around his waist, and Iriset taps a pattern on Lyric’s chest. Her immediate concern morphs quickly into dark-looking humor.
She half smirks at him, as if she gets a joke Rabbit didn’t even hear.
Iriset says, “You two should go to the guest room you were given. I’m too riled up to rest anyway, so I’ll pack. ”
Lyric takes her hand and puts it back on his chest. “Are you certain?”
“Yes, and your little bunny looks more than enough to get you there without fainting again.”
Even though she’s being obnoxious, Rabbit shifts ahz weight and picks Lyric up in both arms. Lyric yelps in surprise, and it’s the most undignified noise Rabbit has ever heard him make. Az likes it.
Iriset laughs quietly as Rabbit starts walking and Lyric is made to hold tight. “I can walk,” he insists.
“I don’t mind. Just remind me of the way ahead.”
Lyric sobers as if he was dropped in a pool of ice. Rabbit slows down and stops in the shelter of an arching gate between two yards. Az looks at Lyric through the deep shadows, unable to tell what he’s thinking without light tracing his expression.
“I have a lot of things I need to tell you about… the way ahead,” Lyric says. “Beginning with, I’m so sorry.”
Rabbit feels a pinch in ahz heart, and holds Lyric tighter, squeezing him breathless.