Chapter 6 #2
The gyanatar resemble anteaters and are either gold or silver.
They’re also from the realm of Fae, though not considered Fae themselves.
Like the panda, they have one food substance—the Whispering Lights.
They’re rare, given the limitations of their prey, and very little is known about them.
It’s believed they were more numerous but over the millennia, they have become almost extinct.
I shook my head. “So, we’ve got two very rare species—one sub-Fae and the other…a Fae creature. The Whispering Lights are probably trying to connect with someone to help rid themselves of the gyanatar. Given they seem to have no natural defenses, should we help them?”
“There’s an ethical problem there,” Viktor said. “The gyanatar are almost extinct. If we kill this one, then it’s one more nail in the species’ coffin.”
I thought about it, then turned to Herne.
“We need to talk to Morgana about this. And perhaps, Cernunnos. Meanwhile, it sounds like they’re not going to harm Nalina, however if they lure her out to the park, trying to get her to help them, she could fall victim to one of the other numerous dangers in UnderLake Park.
There are just so many hazards there, I’m surprised the city doesn’t shut it down. ”
“Well, the city governments around here aren’t exactly known for their wisdom.
A lot of people use UnderLake Park. Shut it down and you’re going to have a lot of angry people, which makes elected officials nervous.
Look at Serenades and the boat restrictions.
She’s one of the best mayors we’ve had and yet, even she crumbled at the backlash.
” Herne shook his head. “We aren’t going to be able to close up every place that’s dangerous.
So, we mitigate what threats we can.” He paused as his phone rang.
“Hold on,” he said, glancing at the caller ID. “Oh, wonderful. It’s Saílle.”
I grimaced. Saílle and Névé still didn’t reach out to me as much as they did to Herne.
Regardless of being warned by Morgana that they had to accept me into the fold of the Fae Goddesses, and regardless of the fact that the three Great Queens of Fae, from across the Great Sea, over in the Realms, had given me rudimentary approval, Saílle and Névé were still angry that I had been elevated to deityhood.
It was as though they had some personal vendetta against me, which was likely true.
I had come back in time for Fae Day, shortly before Lughnasadh, and they had given me the barest of greetings when we met.
We waited for him to finish his call.
“I’m sure she didn’t. Listen, Saílle, you need to quit imagining…no, I am not saying that you…I assure you, that’s not the case. We’ll look into it as soon as we can.” With a sigh, he hung up and glared at his phone.
“Saílle apparently believes you’ve been having secret meetings with Névé over something.
I told her no, but now she’s asking me to check to see if Névé’s planning some sort of sabotage during the Harvest Faire that the local human pagan groups are holding.
They’ve invited both of the Fae Courts to take part. Yet another thing on the to-do list.”
“That sounds about right. The suspicion, I mean. Hell, even the sabotage might be accurate, given their nature. I thought they were working together, given the emergence of the Crystal Fae.”
“They are, but it only takes the slightest thing to set those two off,” he said.
The Light and Dark Courts had more similarities than differences, but they were mortal enemies, except when it benefited both sides. And they were well-versed in treachery and deceit, especially when it came to each other.
“Concerning the two courts—since the Whispering Lights are sub-Fae, regardless of how intelligent they might or might not be, do we need to find out what Court they belong to, lest we accidentally start off yet another little war?” Talia grinned as I shot her a grumpy look.
“I know, I know. But we’ve had that problem before. ”
“I’ll tell them where to stuff their offended pride,” I muttered.
“Temper, temper,” Herne cautioned. “We don’t want to start an incident.”
“I’d like to see them try,” I said. But I gave in and powered it down. “I hate to agree, but Talia may have a point. Just about anything can cause a row with them.”
“Do you want me to put in a call to them?” Herne asked.
I thought for a moment. “No, let me. They’re going to talk to me whether they want to.” I pulled out my phone and conference-called both Saílle and Névé. They wouldn’t like it, but right now that was the last thing I was worried about.
They came on the line right around the same moment.
“Hello, Saílle, Névé. This is Ember calling. We need to talk to both of you about something,” I said.
Both sides of the line were silent for a moment. Then, Saílle said, “Lady Ember, I’m…”
“Of course,” Névé said, taking the high road. She wanted to show up Saílle’s manners. “Whatever you need from us.”
“We’d be glad to help.”
Right on track, Saílle fell in line. She wasn’t about to be bested by Névé. I had them on speaker and now, grinned at Herne. I enjoyed seeing them squirm a little. He suppressed a chuckle.
“I’m grateful to hear that, Saílle. So, we have a question. Have you heard of Whispering Lights? And if so, are they part of either the Dark or Light Courts?” I kept my voice light but professional.
There was another beat. I figured they were thinking. After a moment, Névé answered.
“I don’t recall them being part of any Court. Yes, I have heard of them, but they’re seldom ever mentioned. Or seen, for that matter.”
Saílle answered next. “No, they’re not Dark Fae either. They are sub-Fae, and while a number of sub-Fae belong to the Courts, these…do not. Maybe they belong to the Crystal Fae we’re hearing so much about as of late.”
It was a subtle dig, but not so apparent I could actually call her on it. “Thank you. That’s all we needed—”
“What’s going on?” Saílle asked, interrupting.
“Nothing you need concern yourselves about,” I said, hanging up before either one could ask anymore questions.
“They’re going to be hopping mad,” Herne said.
“Do I look like I care?” I asked, still grinning. “That felt good, if I’m honest.”
“I’ll bet it did,” Viktor said. “I don’t like it when we have to deal with them.”
“That’s why my mother and father founded the Wild Hunt,” Herne said.
“And it looks like we’re swinging back towards the original purpose.
I guess everything is cyclic.” He paused, then said, “I’ll call Morgana and ask her to come in tomorrow.
We can ask her opinion on what to do about the Whispering Lights and the gyanatar.
Meanwhile, let’s break for the evening. Everybody get some sleep. We may have to go after them tomorrow.”
We paused as my phone rang. It was Raven.
“Hey, I thought I’d give you an update on Wager.
He’s holding his own. The doctors say that they’re hopeful he won’t have any infection, but it’s too early to tell.
He was that close to rupturing his appendix.
I’m going to stay here until ten, and then Kipa will come change places with me and stay the night.
They’ve given us a recliner in his room that we can sleep in. ”
“Thank you,” I said. “Please, call if there’s any change. Has he woken up yet?”
“Yes, but he’s still out of it. I told him I was here, though. It seemed to comfort him.” She signed off, and I told the others what she had said.
“I’m glad that he’s okay, but damn, that was close,” Viktor said.
“I guess it underscores the need to have things checked out,” Herne said. “All right, let’s go.”
I turned off the lights as we headed out the door, still grinning.
I loved it when I could dish it right back to Saílle and Névé. In fact, it had almost become a personal goal of mine, to force them to acknowledge my new status, when in the beginning they had only wanted to see me dead.