Chapter 550: Arrested (Finally!)
Mom didn't waste time showing up. We'd just wrangled the confession from Spaft when the seal Quaid made shuddered and parted, the door to the sitting room opening to admit Mom and Pender, three Enforcers at their backs, the scowling board of governors trailing behind them.
"Really, Miriam," Gertrude's gravel voice made me want to buy her some lozenges, "what is the meaning of this?" She smiled and offered a little wave to Venner before fixing Mom with her baleful beady eyes again. "I thought we told you Lord Venemeth has our full support?"
I could tell from the tightness around Mom's eyes she was this close to dropkicking the nasty old woman out one of the windows. I almost wished she would.
Popcorn, please. The show was about to start.
"Lord Venner has some explaining to do," Mom said. Nodded to me. Did he confess?
He sure did. I motioned to Venner. "Your precious Sidhe lord here planned to strip the soul from the Wilding Springs Gatekeeper in order to return to his own plane."
Gertrude sniffed while Elegance shifted her position, head brushing the hanging light fixture. "You say 'planned'," she said. "If he hasn't done so yet, there is nothing to prosecute. We have only your word as evidence, and that certainly isn't enough." She seemed rather satisfied by that. As did Gertrude and Periwinkle.
"The only problem?" I wanted to knock their fool heads together. "Thanks to him, another beat him to it. Liam O'Dane has had his Sidhe soul stolen and now lies on his deathbed." Okay, we weren't sure he would die. But it was likely enough I didn't feel like I stretched the truth too far.
They finally looked uncomfortable, though Gertrude stuck out her chin in a stubborn jut. "Sidhe business," she said. "And has nothing to do with us."
Was she serious. Really? I met Mom's eyes with my mouth hanging open while my mother ground her teeth together.
You see now, she sent. What I deal with.
Oh. My. Swearword.
"Listen up," I snapped. "You might not think this is your problem, but you're very wrong. Not only is the Gate no longer protected by a Gatekeeper, leaving all of our plane open to Sidhe magic should the knock go unanswered, but Venner's little plan failed to a witch." I watched the three flinch. Yeah, that's right, ladies. Stuff that in your ugly craws and choke on it. "And not just any witch, but witchdom's most wanted-Ameline Benoit."
Had their attention at last. "It's not true, is it, my lord?" Gertrude's plea was a parody of grief coming from her mouth.
Venner spread his hands, a showman to the end as he smiled sadly at her. "I was duped, Gertie," he said.
Lying bastard.
She nodded, patted at the corner of her eyes, shining with tears while her two companions did the same.
"Be that as it may," she said, "if you were involved with a witch who has broken our laws, our hands are tied." Elegance blew her nose on a dainty hanky, the honking sound forcing me to bite my lips to keep from grinning. If they had any idea how ridiculous they were...
"You agree then," Mom said at her most mild, a sign she was ready to lose her cool. "Lord Venemeth is now a criminal under our laws?"
Periwinkle nodded. "Of course," she said. "Gertrude, we must act."
Gertrude sighed, but gestured to Mom. "Do your job then, Miriam, what are you waiting for? Take this criminal into custody and have him questioned."
"He didn't act alone." I pointed at Ms. Spaft. "Under his own admission, and her confession, she was the one who had the first contact with Ameline."
Gertrude sniffed at me like I'd spoken out of turn, but nodded. "Very well."
No "well done, Coven Leader Hayle." No "you've saved the day, Sydlynn." Nope. The three of them just spun and left, marching out as though they were the heroines of the hour, leaving Mom to sigh and run her hand over her eyes before straightening and addressing Pender.
"Enforcer Leader," she said. "If you would?"
"Please," Sonja practically fell on Mom before anyone could stop her. "Where is my Liam?"
Mom's eyes met mine as she waved off the Enforcers. "He's in good hands," she said before gesturing for one of the Enforcers to take Sonja. "I'll make sure that remains the case until he can be restored."
Sonja was led from the room, sobbing openly, pausing in her weeping only long enough to lunge at Spaft. Whether it was a good thing or not, the Enforcer guard held them apart. I would have liked to see what Sonja could have done with a few good blows.
As for Spaft, she just slumped in the guard's arms and left without a word. Maybe she was finally realizing the deal she made with the devil fell apart on her. Surely she wasn't regretting what she'd done, but only that she'd been caught.
But when the Enforcers came for Venner, he locked gazes with me, his magic reaching out. "You must take me with you." So much desperation. Pathetic, really.
"Yeah, that's going to happen." I cut off his magic's reach and slammed some of mine into his chest, sending him back a step. "You've proven yourself oh so trustworthy in the past, Venner."
"You don't understand," he said. "You'll need me, Your Highness."
Shaylee shifted inside me while I stared Venner down. "I'm going to open the Gate and talk to Thalion," I said. "That's it." Right, Syd. Don't bluff a bluffer.
Venner's green eyes never left mine as the guards tried to lead him away. "You know you'll be forced to cross," he said, pulling against the Enforcers. "And there is no promise Ameline went to the Seelie court for help, is there?"
Hang on a second. "Wait." I knew I'd regret it, saw the doubt flash over Mom's face, but had to hear him out. Damn him. "What are you talking about?" I already knew. Hadn't we just talked about this possibility?
"Ameline asked me about my court," Venner said, speaking fast, face open and pleading. "And if you intend to enter the Unseelie lands, you will have to have me with you. Or my king will kill you before you make it three paces into his territory."
I knew the moment Galleytrot rumbled his unhappiness, the floor shaking slightly beneath my feet from the pressure of his displeasure, Venner wasn't lying.
Craptastic.
Oh, come on, I sent to the big dog. Are you serious?
I hadn't even considered this, he sent. I'm sorry, Syd. But he's right. Queen Aoilainn might be tricky and up to no good, but King Odhran can be downright nasty. And if you enter his realm without permission or a guide, it's possible he won't even listen. Shaylee is his enemy's daughter, remember? And Cian is Seelie as well.
Lovely. There has to be another way.
There isn't. Gram's words cut across my mind. Just bring the damned fool with you.
Galleytrot shook his whole body, fur throwing green sparks. I'll tether him with the magic of the Wild Hunt, he sent. But there are no guarantees, if we pass into the Sidhe realm, my hold will be sufficient.
I turned to Mom and saw the doubt already on her face.
"Syd," she said. Sighed. "I know better than to argue with you. But you realize, now that Venner has been declared a criminal, by liberating him to take him with you, you could be charged with aiding in his escape."
Beat my head against a brick wall. "Shut. Up."
Mom shrugged. Rubbed her temples. "We'll figure it out," she said. "Just get him out of here before something happens."
Venner's beaming smile did nothing for my temper, not even when he flinched as Galleytrot's magic whipped out and grabbed him in a fist of green energy. Venner staggered ever so slightly before nodding once to the giant hound.
I couldn't help but worry we'd just played right into Ameline's hands somehow. And if Venner had any plans to double-cross me, I was going to let Shaylee decide how we killed him.
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