Page 92 of Gifted Thief
I gazed up at the sky. Dusk was falling. Other than a few wispy clouds and the faint outline of the moon, there was nothing to be seen. ‘The Foinse will be fine, too. You’ll see.’
Aifric’s mouth twisted. ‘We will.’
I hung back, watching as Byron helped Malcolm onto his horse and the diminished group trotted back off through the narrow path. Lily stayed with me, refusing to join them.
‘You should go,’ I told her. ‘I’m not safe to be around.’
‘I can think here. Everything’s clearer.’
Perhaps the Foinse hadn’t spun off as far as we’d imagined. Its magic was still affecting Lily and there was no sign that anyone’s gifts had returned. ‘You can’t stay here forever, you know.’
She smiled enigmatically in response. ‘Tell me a joke,’ she said.
My chest tightened. ‘I’m not sure this is the time.’
Barbie snickered and Lily reached out. ‘Please?’
I stared after the departing Sidhe and thought of my role in William Kincaid’s death. ‘I’m sorry and I apologise mean the same thing,’ I finally said. ‘Except at a funeral.’
Lily swung her hair. ‘That’s not really funny.’
‘No,’ I agreed sadly. ‘It’s not.’
Working together silently, we untacked William’s horse. Lily unclipped a rope on his bridle and connected it to Barbie on one side and her white mare on the other. She patted her horse’s mane. ‘I really would have liked those bells.’ She shook herself.
I scooped up the last of the rubbish and glanced around. ‘I think that’s it.’ I took out Aifric’s jerky and offered her a piece. She examined it for a moment then shook her head. ‘I’ll take some of that water though.’
I unscrewed the bottle and passed it over. Lily stared down at its contents, a tiny smile playing around the corner of her lips. ‘You need to avenge your parents,’ she said suddenly. ‘You can’t let him win.’
Uneasiness rippled through me. ‘Let who win?’
Her smile grew. ‘Bottoms up.’ She tilted her head back and gulped, draining the entire bottle then wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. ‘Everything will be alright, Chieftain. You’ll see.’ All at once she started to choke.
‘Lily?’ I slapped her on the back, assuming she’d swallowed some water the wrong way but she only got worse. Becoming more alarmed, I grabbed her shoulders. Her cheeks were turning puce. ‘Lily? Lily!’ I shook her.
Saliva frothed at the corners of her mouth. Her eyes met mine in one final smile and then she slid out of my grasp and crumpled in a heap. I knelt down, moving her head to one side, hooking my finger inside her mouth. My hands were shaking and desperation clawed at me. Perhaps something was caught in her throat. I thumped her chest but nothing happened. She let out a faint gurgle.
Without thinking, I grabbed the letter opener and rubbed it furiously against my thigh. ‘Bob!’ I shrieked.
He appeared in an instant, his gaze sweeping from me to Lily’s prone form.
‘I wish for you to save her!’ I shouted. He didn’t move. ‘Bob!’ I said again. ‘Do something!’
His expression was sorrowful. ‘I can’t. I can’t change death, Uh Integrity. That’s beyond even my powers.’
‘She’s not dead! She was just here! She was fine. She…’
‘She’s gone.’ He flew up to my face and pressed his little hand against my cheek. ‘I’m sorry.’
‘But… but…’ I stammered. I stared down at her. Her eyes were wide and unseeing.
Swatting Bob away, I tilted back Lily’s head and began mouth to mouth resuscitation. I thumped her chest again. ‘Come on, Lily!’
‘She’s not coming back,’ Bob said.
I ignored him. ‘She has to!’ I breathed into her mouth again. I could taste something bitter on my lips, followed by a strange tingle. Rubbing my mouth with the cuff of my sleeve, I spat on the ground.
‘Integrity,’ he said, using my name correctly for the first time. ‘She’s dead.’
