Chapter 564: March Of The Unseelie
It didn't take long for the Unseelie king and queen to assemble a large party for the ride back to the barrier between kingdoms. I was a little surprised they were so willing to step up and knew my cynicism came from dealing with Aoilainn. I promised myself if Shaylee's mother was acting like a total bitch because Ameline had somehow influenced her, I'd give her the benefit of the doubt later.
I wasn't holding my breath.
Oh, yes. And when I said ride? I didn't mean horses. I was quite firmly hoisted onto the back of one of the giant stone Fey, settled on his right shoulder while Gram was placed next to me with lots of space for the two of us. Quaid hitched along with the Sidhe's partner, who I supposed was an attractive troll with her lovely weeds for hair. I caught myself laughing as she handed Quaid a flower with her gigantic fingers.
Someone has a crush on you.
Quaid shot me a glare while Fergus settled next to him with a big grin on his face.
Oh, shut up, Quaid muttered.
I looked down, a very long way down, feeling my fear of heights trigger, to the sight of Charlotte pacing nervously at the giant's feet.
"Careful where you walk, please," I said directly in his ear. Stone ground together as he turned his head to fix me with his glowing green eyes. Well, eye. And even looking up at that huge orb made me dizzy.
"Of course," he said in the gentlest voice I'd ever heard. "I'm always cautious."
Guilt welled up as I patted his cheek. "Thanks, big guy."
His smile was filled with wooden teeth and moss. Gross, yes. But I'd take him over his weight in Seelie Fey any day.
The king and queen mounted a chariot pulled by four huge dogs, sleek to Galleytrot's shagginess. They whimpered and bowed to him as he walked past. A call to the team and they were off, giant transportation striding along, keeping easy pace.
Charlotte and Galleytrot ran along with them, the wolf keeping up, so I didn't worry. Not to mention the fact my giant friend was as careful as he claimed, eyes roving the ground before him to watch for obstacles and the stray chasing bodywere.
I looked back over my shoulder at the vast column of Unseelie following us and caught myself grinning. I had no idea what the king and queen had planned, but it looked pretty spectacular from up here.
The barrier appeared, flames licking the grass. And a shining army stood beyond it.
Aoilainn was here. That couldn't be good. But at least it saved us having to call for her.
While I tried to figure out her plans, my eyes traveling over the vast silver army behind her, I felt my heart fall. Yes, the Unseelie looked mighty. But rag-tag, in comparison to the seeming endless sea of silver and gold clad soldiers Aoilainn had at her back.
All of a sudden, I didn't feel so confident.
The chariot stopped just before the barrier, the dogs yapping and whining as they settled on their haunches. I held tight to the giant's thumb as he set Gram and I gently on the grass beside Odhran and Niamh. I took a moment to look up and smile, patting his hand in thanks. He smiled in return before standing to tower over all of us, his shadow the darkness of the Unseelie kingdom.
Quaid joined me, Fergus at his side with Charlotte at my feet and Galleytrot on Gram's right. A solid line, if ever there was one.
Thalion stood beside the queen, his face wreathed in worry. While Aoilainn wept and wrung her hands before lunging at the barrier, stabbing her finger at me.
"Where is she?" The Seelie queen collapsed a little before her rage and terror returned. "What have you done with my daughter?"
The army of shining Fey behind her shifted, answering her emotions, gathering to attack.
Um, what?
Oh. Crap. Shaylee.
"Return my child," Aoilainn screamed, her beauty fading in the face of her rage, "or I will take her from you by force."
"You will do no such thing," Odhran said while my heart sped up so fast I thought it would leap from my chest and go looking for my Sidhe princess without me. "Sydlynn is under my protections and that of the Unseelie kingdom." Wow. That was huge. I didn't have time to thank him or question his motives as he went on. "Harming her means war between us."
Was it just me or did Niamh look like that would be okay with her? I liked the Unseelie queen more and more.
"I should have known you would be part of this," Aoilainn spat at Odhran. "You've wanted dominion over all the Sidhe since our creation. If you think stealing my daughter's soul will win you anything, you've made your last mistake, monster king of darkness."
I could feel the fury writhing from Odhran, but he seemed in better control of himself than his Seelie counterpart.
Than I was at the moment.
"And if you think ruling the Sidhe is my goal, you're a fool. A bigger fool than I ever thought." He sighed, shook his head, long black hair a wave of darkness around him as power crackled toward the barrier. "It's time to stop being so selfish, Aoilainn, and start listening."
She snarled and looked like she was about to counter when his power snapped like lightning, winning her silence. "I have been warning you for some time," he said. "There is danger coming, and we must be ready. Work together if we would defeat our foe. Are you so glamoured by your own short sightedness you can't feel it?"
The queen didn't respond.
"What happened to Shaylee?" I needed to know. My fear for her almost consumed me as it rose and swelled and devoured everything else.
Aoilainn's anger returned as she snapped her fingers. Two soldiers brought the body forward, but I could tell it no longer held Shaylee, merely a shell in her shape, already beginning to revert to vegetation. Cracks formed in her skin, scaly bark rising from the hem of her illusionary gown. I choked on a cry, my hand pressed to my open mouth at the sight.
Shaylee was gone.
Where was my Sidhe soul?
***
