Chapter 231: Galleytrot's News
My temper cooled a bit on the drive home, but I was still worked up enough I was happy the house was empty. At least I wouldn't have to inflict the rage still bouncing around inside me on my family.
The anger I felt fell away in a surge of relief as I trudged into my bedroom and almost tripped over Galleytrot. Shaylee reached for him instantly, breaking through the static of my anger enough I realized I'd missed feeling him because of it.
He swiped his tongue over my cheek as I hugged him. "I'm so glad you're back." Tears welled in my eyes, cracks forming in the veneer of control I'd managed to maintain. "Are you okay?"
Galleytrot shook his heavy mane and growled soft assent. "I'm sorry to keep you out of the loop," he rumbled. I'd missed the elemental sound of his voice. "But I have a great deal to tell you."
"Me too, but you first." I sat on the end of my bed, happy to finally be finding some answers. Who needed Liam and his rude-ass mother? I had a Fey dog of the Sidhe on my side.
"You know about the Gate?" His dark eyes sparked briefly with red fire.
I nodded quickly. "At least, I know about it. Shaylee's been trying to tell me but we don't communicate as easily as I do with my demon."
"There used to be Gateways all over the world," he said. "Though most of them have been closed over the years, sealed against the Sidhe. Honestly, I should have known there was one here, should have felt it. But when I moved here initially, my power was being controlled by the Moromonds. And when I returned, it was at Gwynn's side. Since then, the presence of the sleeping Wild out there," he nodded toward the yard, "has dulled my sense of the Gate."
"Until now." I stroked the soft fur of his head as he sighed, the heat of his breath warming my leg even through my jeans.
"Until now. And, to be fair, Gates are very well guarded, for obvious reasons. They are pathways, Syd, between here and the realm. If some mortal were to stumble on one, the consequences could be catastrophic."
"So what's up with this one?" I had to press my hand against my left knee to keep it from jiggling in impatience.
"There are three days a year the Gates are detectable. But only if the Gatekeeper isn't doing his job." Galleytrot snorted. "This one clearly isn't."
My mind flashed to Liam. "What's the big deal about these three days?"
"Once a year, during a full moon chosen by the Sidhe, each Gate is capable of opening to the magic from their side." Everything clicked together as he went on. "Unless there is a Gatekeeper present to prevent it, their power is free to cross over and enter this world."
"What if the Gatekeeper can't?" My stomach dropped all the way to the soles of my sneakers.
"Can't?" Galleytrot's ears perked. "You know who he is?"
I nodded slowly, mind churning. "My new friend, Liam O'Dane. His family founded this town, have been local historians and librarians ever since."
"Mostly boys born to the line, all looking very much like each other?" His hot, wet nose pressed into my hands.
"Oh crap." I surged to my feet, unable to keep still any longer. "Liam's grandfather."
"Where is he?" Galleytrot remained still and for the first time I felt how weary he was. "We have to find him, Syd."
"That's the problem," I said. "He's sick, senile. There's a good chance he can't do anything about this anymore." Though I recalled then what Liam said, how stories of the old days made his Daddo happy. "But we can try."
"What about the heir?" The dog's tone sounded more grim.
"Liam's dad is dead," I said, "and I'm pretty sure Liam has no clue about any of this, outside the fact there is something different about his family." Which meant I'd have to burst his normal little bubble. Though it also meant I could now act and tell him everything. He was, after all, tied up in a magical event and not even Celeste could argue his need to know.
I just hoped filling Liam in wouldn't ruin any chance we had to resolve it.
"Usually if there isn't another to follow the Gatekeeper, he will seal the Gate forever." Galleytrot sighed so deeply I smelled fresh fields and an approaching storm. "This one must have been unaware of his declining state and didn't do his duty."
"There's more." I felt Shaylee's fear rise, her connection to Galleytrot sharpen until he yipped unhappily. "There's a Sidhe here in Wilding Springs."
The black dog stiffened. "Who?"
It took a great deal of prodding, but I made Shaylee show him, share the conversation he'd had both with Liam and with me. Galleytrot shook his great head as if to clear it. "I know him," he said. I thought he sounded grim before, but his voice hit all kinds of new unhappy as he went on. "This Hall Venner is really Lord Venemeth. Syd, he's not just Sidhe. He's Unseelie."
That's what Shaylee had been trying to tell me. "From the dark court?" I mulled it over. "It can't be that bad, can it? The Sidhe aren't evil or anything."
He groaned and rested his head on his paws. "Not evil, Syd. But not human. And there are two courts remember, two sides to the fairy folk. The Seelie are dominant, but free of empathy for anyone but themselves. They would never knowingly harm you, but wouldn't really care if it happened. And gaining their help in any way comes with a price."
Not so good. "And the other?" I already knew and wished I didn't.
"The Unseelie." That word made me shiver, through Shaylee, all kinds of fear welling. "The second court cares nothing for anyone, not even themselves and live for the pure chaos they cause. They are as heartless as the elements themselves, but more ruthless in their desire for pleasure."
"I thought the Sidhe chose to leave." There was my anger again, triggered by my sense of helplessness.
"They did," Galleytrot said. "The Seelie King and Queen drove both courts into the fairy realm and sealed them inside. But remember, humans were their pets once upon a time and the Queen is sentimental. She insisted on a way to return if they were ever able. She assigned her favorites and their families, all men naturally, as guardians."
How sweet of her. Selfish much?
"What is a dark lordling doing here?" Galleytrot stood and left me to pace. He was so big he only made it a few steps before having to turn around. "And when and how did he cross over?"
"I didn't get those details, sorry." I chewed my thumbnail. "But he's here for the Gate, no question. And now I know why."
"He wants access to the power of the Sidhe." Galleytrot stopped pacing. "He must have been reduced when he crossed, Syd. There's no way his power would have made it through intact, not with the barrier between the worlds as strong as it is."
"So he's been looking for a Gate and a means to regain his strength, is that it?" It did make sense.
"It could be much worse than that," the dog said. "Syd, if the Gate opens, the barrier is gone. Sidhe magic is once again free to enter our world. And while remnants of it are still here, if the two realms are once again joined by power, it could mean the destruction of the boundaries set by the Sidhe to keep both races safe."
Definitely not good. "If that's the case, Venner must think he can somehow control it."
Galleytrot nodded, a soft growl emerging. "If he manages to sever the protections, there's a very good chance he could absorb enough power to depose the rulers of the Unseelie court and take over leadership, in perfect position to then challenge the King and Queen."
"Do you know where the Gate is?" If I could somehow lure Liam to it, maybe he could do the deed and end this quickly. But Galleytrot shook his head, crushing my hopes.
"I know where it could be," he said. "But not even I can uncover it. Only the Keeper to whom the Gate is tied by blood can reveal it."
"Okay, so if I bring Liam to the right general area, can you teach him how to stop what's happening?"
"He has three nights," Galleytrot said. "On each of those nights, the power of the Sidhe will knock. He must answer it. If he doesn't, on the third night in the full of the moon, the Gate will open."
This was some major suckage. "I think we have a problem then."
The dog didn't move, but his body tensed.
"The dreams I've been having?" I stopped my pacing and sagged. "I heard a knock last night."
"Then we have two nights left," Galleytrot said in a voice like thunder and lightning, "before the Gate opens and Sidhe magic returns to this world."
"So all we have to do is find the Gate and get Liam to answer the knock." Simplified it sounded way easier and I started to relax.
Until Galleytrot growled softly. "Two nights, Syd," he said. "Think your boy can figure it out by then?"
I wasn't about to give Liam a choice.
**
