Unseelie Queen Page 3

  That warning had been enough for Asha to keep quiet. It hadn’t even occurred to her that there might be parties who would want to use her to form another kingdom. Queen Wysterial hadn’t said specifically that she would become the queen of the Unseelie palace. For all she knew, she could end up as the next goblin queen after Lod’s reign came to an end.

  Seeing Asha shudder, Dacrith wondered what she was thinking. The girl had an active imagination. It had been honed after a decade being held prisoner in an asylum with nothing to keep her occupied. Rage threatened to overwhelm him that the now dead human therapist had dared keep his future wife captive.

  Asha hadn’t told him in detail about the experiments that had been performed on her and he hadn’t pressed her for the information. It was clear her time being incarcerated hadn’t been pleasant, which was something they had in common. At least she hadn’t been forced to kill for the entertainment of the Unseelie Court like he had.

  As the afternoon wore on and nightfall became imminent, he began to worry about where they would shelter for the night. Camping out on the edge of the road would only invite trouble.

  “Is that a light up ahead?” Asha asked, lifting her hand to point.

  Dacrith peered out from beneath his hood to see a lantern beckoning them. His eyesight was just as sharp as hers and he made out a sign saying there was an inn nearby. “We should see if the inn has any rooms to spare,” he said and they hurried along the road.

  “Do you have any money, or whatever passes for currency here?” she asked.

  Reaching into a pocket he’d made inside his cloak, he jingled a purse that he’d stolen from a traveler he’d deliberately bumped into earlier. The fairy had been so shocked to see the Cerberus that was accompanying them that he hadn’t noticed the theft. “I should have coins enough for us both,” he replied.

  “I guess I’d better not speak when we’re in there,” Asha said. “Everyone will know I’m not from around here when they hear me talking.”

  He tilted his hood back far enough for her to be able to see his grin. “I was wondering when you would notice, but you still haven’t realized, it seems.”

  “Notice what?” she asked, pushing her hood back far enough to see the rest of his face.

  “We’ve been speaking several languages during our journey, my lady. It would appear you have the same gift of understanding other tongues that most fae beings bear.”

  Her mouth dropped open and he laughed huskily. “How did I not notice?” she asked, only now realizing the words she was speaking weren’t English.

  “We are all born with the gift. It is as natural as breathing,” he explained, then gestured at the inn that they could now see clearly. Lights blazed from all four floors and he could hear raucous laughter coming from within. “I fear this is not the type of place dryad royalty usually inhabits.”

  “It beats being locked up in a nuthatch,” Asha replied and preceded him through the gate. The path was cobbled and worn from eons of use. The ancient building was made of dark gray stone. She sensed greed, ambition, lust and many other mixed emotions emanating from the stones. This land was magical and the customers’ thoughts had seeped into the inn itself. It would be dangerous inside, but the hunter would keep her safe.

  Dacrith stopped for a moment to speak to Hexam. “Keep watch outside,” he ordered the hound. “Bark to give me some warning if danger approaches.” The hound cocked all three heads and sent a dubious look at the inn. They both knew the inhabitants within were dangerous in their own way. “Just bark if you see any Unseelie soldiers,” he amended. Hexam could easily recognize the warriors. They all wore black armor shaped like leaves. He nodded, then turned and loped off into the darkness.

  “Will he be okay?” Asha asked in concern. She didn’t like being separated from the beast. She trusted him far more than she did her fae companion.

  “Hexam can look after himself,” he replied. “We should be more worried about ourselves.” He tugged her hood further over her face. “Don’t take your hood off. Speak to no one and act meek.”

  “That shouldn’t be hard,” she agreed, then followed him inside.

  Heat and the odor of unwashed bodies and freshly cooked meat greeted them when they entered. No one seemed to pay them any mind as they wended their way through the crowd of fairies and other creatures to a small vacant table. Asha saw the legs and hooves of several goat-like creatures as she followed Dalrin. She was tempted to take a better look at them, but kept her head down. Not all of these beings were fairies and she was curious to know what sort of other creatures lived in this realm.

  Taking a seat, Dacrith withdrew a gold coin from the pouch he’d stolen and placed it on the table. “I want food and beverages for myself and my companion and a room for the night,” he said. The coin just sat there, so he added another one. Still nothing happened. He heaved a sigh and added a third coin to the stack. They vanished and two platters appeared in front of them, heaped with meat and vegetables.

  Asha jumped a little when she felt a spell cover her, but it was just brownies cleaning her and her clothing. She murmured her thanks automatically and received strange looks from those close enough to hear her. Dalrin nudged her foot with his own in warning. He lifted his head far enough to send her a frown. It was a reminder that she needed to try to blend in or her true identity would be discovered.

  Chapter Six

  CONCENTRATING ON EATING, Asha picked up her tankard and took a few swallows before she realized it wasn’t water that she was drinking. Her head spun dizzily when she put it down and she swayed slightly. The hunter muttered a request and the alcohol vanished and was replaced with water. She’d forgotten her kind couldn’t handle fairy alcohol, not that she’d known what she was ingesting.

  Watching the dryad struggle to remain awake after swigging half of her tankard down, Dacrith was both exasperated and amused. She was tiny even for her kind and clearly couldn’t handle the ale. She’d eaten maybe half of her food when her head slumped forward as she tried hard not to fall asleep.

  Finishing his own meal quickly, he put his arm around her waist and led her to the stairs. Climbing upwards, a door finally opened on the third floor and he swung the girl into his arms when she became limp. He walked into the room and the door swung shut and locked automatically. With the brownies in charge, no one was going to be able to break in easily. Their magic still seemed to be intact at least.

  Their room was far from opulent, but it would do. The bed looked comfortable and had a thick, soft mattress. There was a nightstand with a lit candle and a small table and two chairs. The décor was an uninspiring blend of browns and beige. A fireplace blazed with heat across from the bed.

  Laying Asha down on the bed, Dacrith took her shoes off and placed them on the floor, then was at a loss of what to do. She was clean, thanks to the invisible house keepers, but she still wore her clothes. For the first time, she had an actual bed to sleep on. He wasn’t sure why, but he wanted her to be comfortable. “Could you put Asha in a nightgown?” he asked, addressing the hidden brownies. His own clothes had been cleaned and his shirt had been repaired after he’d paid their exorbitant price.

  After a few moments, one of the tiny beings complied with his request. Her clothes vanished and she wore a long virginal white gown. The bedcovers were swept back and she was gently levitated and placed between the sheets. The blankets were drawn up to her chin as she slumbered, looking more like an angel than ever. Now that she was taken care of, he lay down on the floor. He was used to sleeping on the ground and probably wouldn’t be able to sleep on a bed anymore.

  Moments before he fell asleep, he felt his clothing change as well and a thin mattress appeared beneath him. He snuggled into the pillow the brownies supplied and sank into a deep slumber.

  When both guests were asleep, a pair of curious brownies appeared on the dresser. “Who is she?” the female asked. About twelve inches tall, she was thin and had dark brown hair and brown bark-like skin.
Her companion looked similar, but had shorter black hair. Their clothes were threadbare and their feet were shoeless. None of the brownies that worked here had a master. They tended to their guests as long as they paid for their stay.

  “I have no idea,” the male said while they peered at the beautiful girl who had thanked them for their service. “Who’s he?” he asked, hiking his thumb at the slumbering fairy.

  “He looks like a vagabond,” the female replied. Their clothing had been raggedy and the cloaks they’d been wearing were frankly an embarrassment. “Going by his silver-gold hair, he has to be a royal. Maybe he’s another son that Sindarian wasn’t aware of.”

  “I don’t think the girl is from this realm,” her partner mused. “She’s not a fairy.”

  “What is she then?”

  “I have no idea, but she’s nice. I like her.”

  “I like her, too,” the female declared. They shared a look, then did what brownies did best and served their temporary master and mistress. Neither of them was about to let the travelers leave in their rags, so they made a few adjustments to their clothing. This fairy and strange girl weren’t like the others. There was something different about them, something that couldn’t be defined. Strangely, they gave the brownies hope that the chaos that was raging would one day cease even if they had no clue why.

  When Asha woke, she felt relaxed and refreshed. Sleeping in a bed again had given her the best night’s sleep she’d had since she’d arrived. Looking down, she saw she was wearing a nightgown and blushed bright red.

  “Don’t give me that look,” Dalrin said with a grin when she glared at him. “You have the brownies to thank for your attire.”

  “Oh,” she said awkwardly. Of course he hadn’t undressed her. If he had, he’d be in pieces on the floor. “Thanks, brownies,” she said. In response, they changed her clothing in the blink of an eye. Running a hand down her new amber colored tunic, Asha stared at it in wonder. Climbing out of bed, she saw she was now wearing green trousers and brown boots. The clothing was well-made and fitted her perfectly. They also matched her eyes. The roughly made cloak Dalrin had made had been replaced with a gorgeous brown cloak that buttoned up in the front.

  Dacrith’s clothing had also been replaced. He now wore a brown tunic and black pants and new black boots. His cloak was brown and was as well-made as his companion’s. “The brownies have been busy while we slept,” he said, touching his fine clothing.

  “I love brownies,” Asha said with a grin. “They’re awesome. I wish I could always have one with me to take care of me.”

  “You’re thinking of brownies from the Seelie realm,” he told her. “The ones here serve their masters reluctantly.”

  “Only because their kin were kidnapped by the Unseelie fairies,” Asha retorted. Jake had told her about their horrible treatment. “They’ve been forced into servitude,” she added. “I’d be reluctant to serve if I was in their situation, too.”

  “Do you intend to change their lot once you become Queen?” he asked with a slightly mocking smirk.

  “Yes,” she decided, pointed chin jutting out defiantly. “Once I’m on the throne, I’ll free the brownies. They’ll be able to choose whether to stay here, or they can return to the Seelie realm.”

  “You may find you’ll have a revolt on your hands, my lady,” he told her. “The courtiers are used to being pampered.”

  “Then it’ll serve them right to have to clean their own toilets,” she said in satisfaction with her plan. It wasn’t right that the friendly, peaceful brownies were being forced to do the bidding of evil beings. If she could do something to change their fate, she would. If she had to live in this realm and be a ruler, then she would have to learn how to give orders. Otherwise, she would just be a puppet for whomever would become her king.

  “How are you feeling this morning?” he asked. “You passed out while I was escorting you upstairs.”

  “I didn’t realize it was alcohol in the tankard,” she said sheepishly. “Rudy, my leprechaun friend, told me not even dryad royalty can handle the stuff fairies drink. I guess even my goblin half can’t take it either.”

  Hearing a squeak of surprise, she whirled around to see two brownies had appeared on the dresser. “You’re King Lod’s daughter?” the female asked. Word about his dryad half-blood offspring had spread far and wide. A search was on to find her.

  Asha put her finger to her lips in alarm. “Shh. No one is supposed to know that,” she whispered.

  “No one can hear us in here,” the male said. “We’ve soundproofed the rooms.”

  “Oh. That’s good. I’m Asha Trinity,” she said in introduction. “King Lod is my father. I’m supposed to present myself to the Court at the Unseelie palace. Dalrin is being kind enough to escort me there.”

  The prince bowed sardonically to the brownies when they turned skeptical looks on him. “You have our thanks for the clothing,” he said and reached for his stolen purse. “How much do I owe you?” Thanking brownies for doing their usual job didn’t come to him naturally. Thanking anyone was against his nature. Asha wasn’t from here, though. She’d been raised among humans. A good way to win her over would be to emulate her manners.

  “You owe us nothing,” the female said. With a wave of her hand, she returned the money he’d paid them last night. “Lodging is free for the future ruler of the Unseelie realm.”

  Asha beamed at them and clapped her hands in delight. “It’s so nice to meet good people,” she said. “Apart from Dalrin and Hexam, everyone else here has been fairly horrible so far.”

  “Who’s Hexam?” the male brownie asked blankly.

  “He’s the Cerberus who has decided to become Asha’s guardian,” Dacrith said smoothly. “He spent the night keeping watch outside.”

  “She has a Cerberus for a guard,” the brownie said in amazement. Both of them turned to Asha and bowed deeply. “I am called Unwin and my wife is called Olsa. If you have further need of us, you need only ask.” They vanished, leaving Asha feeling bewildered. She would be leaving the inn after breakfast and it was doubtful she’d ever see the pair again.

  “We should get going,” Dacrith suggested. “We still have a long way to go before we’ll reach the palace.”

  Chapter Seven

  DONNING THEIR NEW CLOAKS over their clothes, the door unlocked and swung open when Dacrith approached it. Both were dressed far more finely than they had been when they’d arrived, but few of the other patrons took notice of them. Fairies, goat-legged satyrs, a couple of yellow gnomes and other creatures were packed into the tavern. All were talking about the storm and their fading magic in hushed, worried voices.

  They had a hurried breakfast, then stood to leave. Hexam let out a warning bark and Dacrith smoothly guided Asha towards a side exit rather than the main door. Seconds later, six Unseelie warriors entered. They were unmistakable in their black armor. Dacrith closed the door before any of the soldiers spotted him.

  “What’s wrong?” Asha asked in alarm as he hurried her away from the inn.

  “A contingent of warriors just arrived,” he told her.

  “Shouldn’t I just hand myself over to them?” she asked, raising her voice above the howling wind.

  He slanted her an incredulous look, remembering how naïve she was. “I would not recommend it, my lady. Word has spread about you. You can’t trust that they would simply escort you to the palace. They might attempt to claim you for themselves. All Unseelie fairies seek to better their standing, especially those who work for the Court.”

  “But not you?” she pointed out skeptically. Not watching where she was going, she tripped over an uneven stone. He caught her by the elbow before she could fall.

  “I am your guide and your protector,” he said, then released her. The Cerberus came bounding through the rain, causing him once again to reach for the sword that wasn’t there. “Thank you for the warning, my friend,” he said and thumped the beast on the side the way he liked best.

 
; One of Hexam’s tongues licked him on the cheek while another snuffled at Asha’s new cloak, then sneezed. The third head kept watch for enemies that abounded in this land. Dacrith wiped the drool away and gave the beast a sardonic look.

  Just as waterproof as their boar skin cloaks, their new outerwear kept them dry as they slogged through the downpour. Thunder still kept up a constant rumble, making the ground shake every now and then. Lightning flashed without surcease, targeting the tallest trees. The forests were magical and each death was like a blow to the other trees. Asha grieved with them, wishing there was something she could do to ease their pain and torment.

  Fairies and other fae creatures occasionally appeared and passed them by. They received curious stares, but no one stopped to make conversation. Dacrith and Asha both sensed the beings coming long before they became visible. So did Hexam and he always became alert, even baring his teeth at some of them to warn them to keep their distance.

  Sensing several of his kind up ahead, Dacrith slowed when the hound began to growl. Four male fairies ambled towards them. They also wore waterproof cloaks over their weapons. Each had a sword strapped around their waist. He could make out their pommels beneath their cloaks. While they appeared to be relaxed on the surface, Dacrith knew better. He’d had eons of battle practice and he knew when someone was poised to attack.

  Drawing Asha behind him, he was ready for it when two of the men leaped at him. They erroneously believed they could overwhelm him and didn’t bother to reach for their weapons. Neither had been formally trained and Dacrith was a master with both the sword and hand-to-hand fighting. It was almost pathetically easy for him to render his opponents unconscious with blows to their heads.

  Hexam growled menacingly at the other two men who were trying to sidle around him to get to Asha. He grew larger, then lunged at them, snapping at them both with two of his heads. Fleeing with shouts of terror, they vanished into the storm.