Chapter Seventeen
Our soldiers searched the surrounding forest for any signs of the blight, and then we posted a watch. We decided to stay the night. The next village was only about two hours away by cair, but I wanted to be sure the blight didn't return to Pech before we left.
The Licho were very hospitable, bringing out tables and chairs so we could dine together under the stars.
A central bonfire and candles lit the feast. I knew the celebration was more about their newfound joy than any gratitude over the rescue.
Not to say they weren't grateful. If I hadn't driven the blight back, they would have lain there forever.
So yes, we were thanked profusely. But the feast and dancing were full of delight for the sheer pleasure of being able to experience it.
Halfway through the meal, my scry phone chimed. I opened it and answered to find my father's face coming into focus. He did not look happy.
“You couldn't find her,” I said by way of greeting.
“No.” He glanced to his left. “One moment, if you please. I'm speaking to Queen Seren.” His face went twitchy, and there was some movement as he shut a door. Looking back at me, he said, “I'm still at the Isle of Danu. Seren, the council members are . . .”
“Upset?”
“Yes, and as upset people often do, they're looking for someone to blame.”
My eyebrows lifted. “Me?”
He grimaced. “They're saying your marriage to Severriel has caused this infestation.”
“That's preposterous,” Tiernan leaned in to say. He stood up and gestured for me to follow. “One moment, King Keir. We need to go somewhere a little quieter.”
“Where are you?” my father asked as Tiernan and I left the party and went to the edge of the forest.
“In Pech,” I said. “It's a Licho village.”
King Keir frowned. “What was all that commotion?”
“They're celebrating, Dad.” I glanced back at the bonfire. “The blight covered the entire village, but when I freed them, they found that all their dark emotions were gone. It's different with them. They—“ I paused to collect myself.
Tiernan took over. “As you know, the Licho must steal joy to feel it. They are, or were, mostly sorrow. Without the depression, they're experiencing happiness—their own, true happiness—for the first time. Amid this darkness, they have found light.”
“That's wonderful,” Keir whispered. “I suppose there is good to be found in everything. Every failure or tragedy can be the start of something great.”
I nodded. “But why were they made to suffer, Dad? Why did Danu make them like that?” I waved a hand back at the party. “This joy only tells me how great their sorrow was. How could she do that to them?”
Keir bent his head and sighed. When he lifted his gaze to me, it was full of tears.
“I stand upon our Goddess's isle, her birthplace, and yet, I cannot answer that, Daughter. There are things only the Gods know. But I will say that I trust Danu completely. There was a reason she made the Licho.” He frowned.
“What? You've just thought of something, haven't you?”
“Just that, the Lichos' purpose has now been circumvented. As happy as I am about their circumstances, it may have repercussions for the rest of Fairy.”
Repercussions. The word slid through my mind. Someone else had said it recently. Mariya. Yes, she warned against destroying the garden. But without Danu giving me another option, I had no other choice. The Garden of Regret had to be destroyed.
“I don't care.” I lifted my chin. “If the rest of us must receive a portion of the sorrow they carried, so be it. One race shouldn't have to carry that for everyone. It's not right.”
“The effects on me were temporary,” Tiernan jumped in. “I expect the Licho will return to their old selves eventually.”
“Let's not tell them that.” I looked back at the celebration. “Leave them to enjoy this for as long as possible.”
“As I said, there are things we cannot understand, Seren.” My father cocked his head. “Are you losing faith in Danu, right at the moment she needs you most?”
I drew back, startled. “No. I . . . oh, fuck. How little it takes. I see one thing I disapprove of, and without her to defend herself, I convict her. You're right. I'm not being fair to Danu.”
“This is testing all of our faith in Danu.” He shook his head. “The High Council is convening. They aren't just blaming you, Seren. That is just one theory. They're also accusing Danu of deserting them.”
“The high council members are supposed to be her most loyal fairies!”
“Yes. I pointed that out. I also noted that the only one among them not accusing Danu or you of anything was the ex-Witch, Tristan.”
“A man not born Fey.”
“Yes, precisely. And yet he stood up for Danu. He was the only one in the room who defended her. I hope wherever she is, she felt his support.”
“It's easier to support someone who you've only known to be kind and loving,” Tiernan said.
“Councilman Tristan Lightheart is Danu's chosen one.
She touched him with her magic. I'm not surprised he's her staunch supporter.
But he wasn't here through the years of silence, when we believed—” He paused to give me a heavy look.
“Mistakenly believed that Danu had abandoned us. Mistake or not, that was a dark time when a lot of us lost faith in the Goddess. And there are many who believe that Danu is not being completely honest about it.”
“What does that mean?” I demanded.
“Seren, it's easy for Danu to say that it was our fault. She says we stopped listening, but as someone who lived through the time of silence, I don't know if I believe that. Not wholly. I tried talking to her. Often. Believe me, I listened. She never responded.”
“The council members are saying similar things.” My father waved at Tiernan. “I will advise you as I did them, Tiernan. Still your thoughts and try to sense Danu. Do you feel anything?”
Tiernan frowned, but then he closed his eyes.
We waited.
A few minutes later, Tiernan opened his eyes and shook his head. “No, I feel nothing.”
“Now I want you to think back to the time when you called upon her, and she did not answer. How did it feel? Did you sense her at all then?”
Tiernan considered this. “It was so long ago.” He looked up at Keir. “It was different. There was something back then. Even in my darkest hour, when I was banished from Seelie, I felt . . . something. There was a presence that comforted me. That was her, wasn't it?”
“Yes, Son.” A tear slid out of my father's starry eye.
“She was with us. Whether we weren't listening or she wasn't speaking, she was there.
She gave us what she could—led us as best she could.
That tells me she spoke the truth. It was we who stopped listening to Danu, even as we cried out for her to speak.
We just didn't believe that she would answer us. And belief is powerful, especially for fairies.”
“Powerful enough to block out the voice of a goddess?” I asked.
“Yes, Seren. Your beliefs affect you the most. If you believe you can't hear Danu, you won't.”
“Did the Council respond well to that?” Tiernan asked.
“It was mixed.” Keir shrugged. “I've done all I can here. I've defended my daughter and my goddess. My opinion has been voiced and noted. It's time for me to go home.”
“Thank you for standing up for us, Dad,” I said. “And thanks for straightening us out.”
He chuckled. “Always, Seren.” Then he looked at Tiernan. “Son, may I have a moment with Seren?”
Tiernan's eyes went wide. “Yes, of course. Goodnight, Your Majesty.”
“Goodnight, Your Majesty,” Keir shot back at him.
Tiernan grinned and kissed my cheek. “I'll wait for you at our table.”
I nodded and watched him go before looking back at my father. “What is it?”
“I spoke to Raza. He's here.”
“On the Isle?”
“Yes, he came to look for Danu as well.”
“How is he?” I whispered.
“Not well, Seren. He . . .” My father shook his head. “He's very angry with you. Still, he nearly attacked the entire High Council when they implied you were at fault.”
“He did?” My chest shivered. “That's my dragon.”
“Yes, that is loyalty. I'm so glad you married him. That man would fight the Gods themselves for you, even when he feels betrayed by you. Love like that is rare.”
“Yes, Danu was good to me when she gave me Raza.”
My father snorted. “Shoved him at you more like.”
“As I recall, you did some shoving as well.”
“A father knows best.” He grinned. “I don't regret my actions at all.”
“Did Killian tell Raza how I tried to protect myself at night? And how Tiernan was successful?”
“Yes, but Raza is in the depths of anger that has been building for a long time, Seren. It won't be easy for him to let go.”
“I see.”
“I didn't want to say all of this in front of Tiernan because I don't want him to think that I support Raza more than him. Tiernan is my son. He was my son before you knew you were my daughter. Not by blood, but by choice. I love him dearly.”
“I know, Dad. I love him too.”
“I'm glad you have this time with him. I've seen the difference in you these past months. And I've seen it in Tiernan. He senses your emotions more than the others. He has from the start.”
“Yes, he has. Tiernan has always known exactly what I need.”
“Each of your husbands gives you something you need, Daughter. Together, you form a team that is unbeatable. And yet, one man has threatened your alliance. A single man.”
“It's not Star's fault.”
“Maybe not, but that is what he's done. Just look at yourself. One night with Tiernan, one night of honesty and love, and you shine brighter than you have in months. While every dream of Astaroth has dulled your light, making it dimmer and dimmer until I barely recognized you.”
My breath caught and it took me a moment to respond. “That's not his fault either. He tried to stop the dreams as well.”
“Regardless, being with him has lessened you.”
“Only because I feel guilty about it.”
Keir nodded. “And what is guilt if not the heart crying out that you have done wrong?”