Chapter 18 #3
My parents embrace me tightly as I step inside, the first time I have seen or spoken to them since I returned. We did not take any risks before calling the meeting, not even telling our parents, in case it inadvertently spoiled the element of surprise we needed to act quickly and decisively.
“Son, we are so proud of you. Both you and your brother are a credit to our clan,” our father praises us as he clasps my shoulders affectionately.
“This is all such a shock,” my mother says. Her body sags into mine as we hug. “It makes me sick how close Harlok came to compromising our entire clan.”
“Mother, father, before we talk about everything going on with the council, I need to tell you I am moving to Monstera Bluff permanently. Ada has always been my mate. That will never change. We will be together again,” I tell them firmly.
My mother nods her head in understanding. “We agree you should stay there. We are so grateful you have found a second chance with her. We know how much the separation from her hurt you. It hurt us nearly as much to see the constant sadness in your eyes.”
“You have done more than your fair share of duty to the clan. Go and be happy with your mate. We will miss you, but most of all we want you to live the life you want,” my father affirms.
“Thank you,” I sniffle, my emotions heightened after a tremendously long, trying day.
“I will miss you too. But I will not bring Ada here, ever. I will never fully trust the clan to treat her respectfully. But I want you to visit us whenever you wish. I will arrange everything to make it easier for you.”
“We will,” my mother confirms, her voice unusually tender. “We look forward to meeting her one day soon.”
At the appointed time, the group joining our expedition meets in the public square, ready to set out on the long journey.
We anticipate running into groups of Malefic Folk, so we are treating this like a long hunt into our territory’s wilder works of frost. It will be challenging for all of us, but we are ready.
Those joining me and Elgar hunger for the opportunity to prove themselves.
Most are those who were forced into the worst hunts for many years.
They are seasoned and reliable. It surprises me to see a few who benefitted from Harlok’s system, though they assure me they want to separate themselves from it. I trust they also be valuable to us.
It takes many arduous days to reach the cave.
As Darla foretold, I am the frost-mailed warrior from her vision.
The weather does not let up the entire time.
I am encrusted in snow and ice the entire journey there.
All of us are. But no one slows their steps, understanding the gravity of the mission.
The cave itself is unremarkable except that its giant maw opens about a third of the way up a mountain, following an inhospitable path that requires us to climb steep, sheer rockfaces with our tools, and at times just our clawed hands and feet.
The cave is deep enough that the relics are kept well out of the elements.
Their fae magick pulses around us in unimaginable power.
No wonder our ancestors hid them away so thoroughly.
If relics like these are needed to reverse the fae’s spell, I shudder to think how powerful it must be.
Ada is unbelievably strong to have fought it for this long.
“Here they are, brother. Some of our clan’s darkest secrets,” Elgar observes sardonically, eyeing the relics with some trepidation. I don’t blame him. We are all viscerally repulsed by them.
“What are they?” one of our younger hunters cuts in.
There are several relics hidden here, but we will retrieve only the two mentioned by the fae: The Banner of Life and The Forged Ruby.
Tallan gave us their descriptions, so we can identify them.
The Banner of Life looks like an elegantly crafted crown.
No doubt that says a lot about who it was intended for.
The Forged Ruby does resemble a ruby, though its inconsistent color is lit from within, showing both darker and yellower variation inside the chunk of red gem.
“Proof the fae are an abomination,” I respond to the young hunter, who has kept his distance from them the entire time.
Elgar and I secure the items in our packs, wrapping and cushioning them carefully for the long journey back. We camp for the night close to the mouth of the cave, the currents of fae magick emanating from the relics setting all of us on edge.
The trek back to the settlement is fraught with more Malefic confrontations than we had on the way there.
They are drawn by the strong aura of magick surrounding us as we carry the relics.
They are nothing we cannot handle with a group of our size and strength, but we are all weary from the long trek.
It is a relief to arrive back at the settlement several days later, though I am anxious to return to Ada.
The journey took eight days in all, a long stretch for even seasoned hunters.
Elgar and I rest and recuperate for the night before we begin our journey to Monstera Bluff.
I call Niven the moment I enter the settlement.
He has already arranged for the same witches to accompany us back to the Toronto portal safely.
Niven does not want to leave anything to chance now that we have the relics.
Ever since the fae mentioned that Malefic could be responsible for more Whispered Folk deaths than previously thought, he and the witches are on high alert for any threat.
Exactly as planned, the Toronto coven witches meet us and bring us uneventfully back to the portal.
When Elgar and I step through the strange, soupy miasma, a large, welcoming crowd greets us on the other side.
Ada jogs toward me immediately, wrapping her long, slender arms around my waist. She looks frailer than before.
The stress of my absence may have accelerated the effects of the fae spell.
Hopefully she will never have to worry about that again.
“Ada, my mate. It is such a relief to hold you again,” I murmur into her hair as I mold her to me.
I was able to call her briefly to let her know I arrived that first day and then again yesterday when we returned from the cave.
But those two brief days I spent at the settlement were such a blur of activity I barely had time to speak with her.
She reaches up, running a soft hand along my cheek and jaw. Her gaze seeks mine earnestly. “Moon and stars, I was so worried for you,” she quavers, tears filling her eyes. I lean my face down and tenderly press my lips to hers. Her face fits perfectly between my tusks with her delicate features.
Niven and a small group of unfamiliar witches are also here to meet us. When I finally survey the room, Elgar stands in a corner, still looking shaken from walking through the portal. I cannot blame him. It never gets easier.
“Ada, please come and meet Elgar,” I ask as I lead her to my brother, whose eyes blink rapidly, mayhap still trying to wrap his mind around the fundamentals of the portal. He has not often had reason to leave the settlement other than to hunt.
Ada holds out her hand to Elgar who grasps it immediately like a lifeline.
“Ada, it is my honor to make your acquaintance. Please know that our clan forcing Norrell away from you will be the biggest regret of my life. What it did to him… and to you. I humbly ask for your forgiveness,” he says, unusually subdued and genuinely contrite.
Tears fall from Ada’s eyes as he speaks. She quickly dashes them away and draws closer to me. “Thank you, Elgar. I appreciate your apology. I’m glad to finally make your acquaintance too,” she replies with a watery smile.
Niven steps over to us, greeting me and introducing himself to Elgar. “I don’t even need to ask if you have the items. I can feel their foul magick already,” he shudders.
We gladly hand over the packs to him and his team. He introduces us to the unfamiliar witches. They are experts in magickal artifacts.
“Your clan knew what it was doing hiding these away. Mother Earth knows how they came to be in Northern Canada, but these do not belong in our realm,” one of them states to me and Elgar, his eyes wide as he holds the unwrapped Forged Ruby.
“What is the red one made of?” I ask, jerking my chin toward it.
The witch murmurs quiet words to himself as he turns it over in his hands.
“Painite,” he answers eventually. “Probably the rarest gem in this realm. Its extreme rarity leads me to believe this substance originates in the fae realm. Mayhap it conducts their magick better than materials here.” After briefly inspecting the relics, the witches pack them away again.
We ride in a caravan of automobiles through the ward into Monstera Bluff.
Ada drives me and Elgar. She tells me a little about the time I was away, that Walt and Acton moved in temporarily to keep an eye on her.
Sunny, Thea, Clancy, Cara, and Ben came over a few times to do some chores and keep her company.
The automobiles pull into the parking area at Ada’s house.
The witches, including Niven, will stay at the inn.
They arrived last night right after I informed Niven we had returned successfully.
This meeting at Ada’s will allow us time and privacy to form a plan to use the relics.
Niven’s team, who were here previously, are waiting for us.
The biggest surprise, though, is that Esmeralda Jurado waits with them.
“Dean Jurado?” I exclaim in confusion as I approach her. Her dark hair is streaked with silver and is cut a little shorter. Otherwise, she looks the same.
“Norrell! You didn’t think I’d miss the excitement of breaking a fae spell?” she jokes as she leans in for a hug. “But in all seriousness, I spoke with Niven last week and he asked if I wanted to come here and help when you returned.”