Page 97 of Wind and Water
There’s a flash of light, and we’re all standing in the center of the circular desk again. The oracle all close their eyes, andthe sense of magic flowing between them returns. When they open their eyes, the one who’s been speaking to me says, “It’s important to you, second of the prophecy, Wren Martin?”
“It is. If you don’t try, then she’s just the first to be lost.” I have no idea how I know this. “There are others who I think she led to attack the centaurs. Perhaps they will need help finding their way back into the light as well.”
Another long pause as she studies me. “We have heard what you say, and we will take it into account as we make our decision.” She looks at Aaran. “Tell your mother that if she wishes to send the ones who followed Dierdre Byrne, we would accept them. It is sometimes possible to pull darkness from an elf if it is born of something foreign and not ingrained.”
“Yes, Oracle.” Aaran bows and makes the sign with his hands.
“Thank you,” I say.
Liam smiles at me and bows to the oracle.
An instant later, we are all four outside the mountain, standing next to our horses.
“Damn, Wren, you have balls.” Harper’s laughter is contagious.
Smiling, I shrug. “I’m from Texas, Jersey Girl. Besides, if you don’t ask, then the answer is always no. We don’t know what happened to Dierdre. Maybe Venora got to her with magic. Maybe not. It’s important we know the truth.”
We mount and head back the way we came.
Liam won’t stop grinning at me, and it’s making me blush. “What happened with the guards?”
His smile slips too easily into a frown. “Crain admitted he’s been seduced over the past months by her. He told the other guard he would take her home, then he let her go. He didn’t know she had plans to attack you. At least that’s what he said, and based on his level of shock, I believed him. I still took himoff active duty, and he’ll be cleaning floors and stalls for a long while.”
“Maybe he needs a trip to the oracle. Maybe Dierdre is passing along a dark spell.” Aaran shivers in his saddle.
I don’t blame him. The idea is like a computer virus poisoning everything, one program at a time, but these are living elves she may have poisoned.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Liam
In the week since our arrival, dwarves in great numbers have come down from the mountains. They’ve made camp in the foothills, and their leader, Sandon, her mate, Fan, and their son Fancor are staying in the castle as my parents’ guests. Fancor assisted Aaran and Harper during their journey home and is not at all princely, which I appreciate.
The fairy king, Muiredach, has joined the household with the promise of five thousand soldiers ready to come through the portal in the fairy glen.
Mother has arranged a formal dinner followed by a ball and dancing. Never before have so many different people gathered. As the first event of its kind, it will host elves, centaurs, dwarves, fairies, and humans. The household is in an uproar.
Before the festivities, I have been asked by the oracle to visit Dierdre. I protested. It’s a bad idea, but they insisted, so I’m making my way down the sterile halls within the mountain. This part is a kind of sanitarium, though very few rooms are occupied. I fear that is about to change.
Two members of the oracle stand in the hallway waiting for me, the one with long black hair who spoke to us when Wren first came here, and the other is a man with gray hair. There are very few elves old enough for their hair to go gray. I would guess he’s two hundred suns, probably more. Still, he’s tall and fit.
I bow to them when I approach. “I still feel this is a mistake. The last two times I saw her, she was unreasonable.”
The man speaks. “And yet, since she’s been with us, she’s been calm and logical.”
“It’s a test?” I still don’t like it.
“We’re trying to evaluate her, and she’s blocked all attempts to see within.” The woman says. “From the outside, she appears like a good citizen of the community.”
“Very well. Open the door.” If she’s not mentally ill, she can stand trial for her crimes against Wren.
“She has no weapons or means to make them,” the man says.
“Have you bound her magic?”
The woman shakes her head. “She’s not gifted enough for that to be a concern to us.”
“Then she’s fooled you more than I thought possible. She’s armed.” I step into the small chamber. The walls are soft gray. There is a window, but I can feel the magic rolling off it. It’s not real, merely an illusion meant to give comfort. The single bed is the only furniture.
