Truthseeker Part 7

aNo!a d.i.c.kon pulled further away. aI donat know what the h.e.l.l that was in therea"a aIave never tried that before today, Kel. And they all hated it. It wouldnat have helped if Iad tried it with d.i.c.kon.a aIt sure as f.u.c.k wouldnat have.a Crescendos of broken crystal, pure shattered tones, slivered into Laraas skin and burrowed deep, scores running to the bone. It wouldnat have helped, but knowing that, even for an absolute certainty, didnat make her feel any less as though shead failed. She whispered aIam sorrya and turned her face away, unready to meet Kellyas eyes in the mirror. Traffic lurched by them, horns honking, windows rolled down, all the normal things expected on a warm city afternoon. Lara wondered how many of the rolling rooms around them encapsulated their own singular dramas, played out in solitude close enough to touch.

ad.i.c.kon, please,a Kelly whispered, and Lara saw a faint reflection in her window as the big man shook his head.

aPlease what, Kel? Please let you explain? Please let you tell me why itas okay we just left somebody to die on a greasy concrete floor? Kelly, I thought I loved you, but now I donat think I even know you. How could you have done that?a Lara looked back at her friend, whose eyes were wide, fixed on the road, though tears spilled down her cheeks. Her voice was distorted, struggling for calm through sobs that hiccupped her breath. aI could do it because we werenat guilty of anything and because there was no explanation and because Reg might live if the paramedics got there in time, but there is no way they would have let David live. Heas not humana"a aAnd youare okay with that?a d.i.c.kon cried out. Kelly hit the brakes instinctively, as though his shout warned of danger. A car behind them honked and she flipped them off, a burst of obscenity accompanying the gesture. Lara flinched and ducked her head, searching for something to defuse the situation, but Kelly spoke with unnerving calm.

aIam really not in the least freaking bit okay with it. Lara told me, but believe me, knowing and seeing arenat at all the same thing. But we had to get out of there. I couldnat exactly stop to have a fit. I still canat. Iall fall apart later.a aYou didnat stop to think about the trouble weare gonna be in?a aIt doesnat have anything to do with thinking!a Kelly slammed the heel of her hand into the car horn, its pathetic beep doing less to shatter the tension than Lara thought it might. aI was just trying to make sure we all survived!a aWhat about Reg?a aWe couldnat help him!a Kelly yanked the blinker indicator up so hard Lara was surprised it didnat break, and cut off traffic as she jerked the car toward the sidewalk. aYou want to get out? Fine, get out! I donat care!a aJust lend me the car,a Lara whispered. aI can get us out of the city. You two donat need to be any more involved in this.a aOh like h.e.l.l.a Kelly threw the emergency brake on and her seat belt off, twisting around. aNo, Lara, look, at the very least you need somebody with a driveras license at the wheel if you run into any copsa"a aYou let me drive your car without a license before,a Lara objected quietly.

Kelly glared at her. aI know you can drive, Lara, thatas not the problem. There werenat likely to be police looking for you before. And I know you havenat gotten a new license, so you need a driver, and he,a she said, jabbing a finger at Dafydd, acanat drive right now. More to the point, you need somebody who can tell lies if itas necessary. Davidas in no shape to talk and you, well.a She snorted, making a mockery of the anger and fear in her eyes. aThis is the most universally f.u.c.ked-up situation Iave ever been in, but Iam right. We couldnat do anything for Reg, so the best I can do is protect you. Youare my best friend,a she said more softly. aWhat else am I supposed to do?a aMaybe choose me over them?a The accusation had gone from d.i.c.konas voice, leaving him defeated as he unbuckled his seat belt, too.

Fresh tears tracked down Kellyas cheeks, but resolution tightened her jaw. aIam sorry, d.i.c.kon. I didnat know getting David out of there meant I was making a choice between you and them. I thought I was choosing all of us, to get out of a situation we were never gonna be able to explain. But if itas one or the other, Iam sorry. Right now itas them.a aYouare going to get arrested,a d.i.c.kon said quietly. aWeare all going to get arrested.a aNo,a Kelly said, clarion horns in the single word. aWorst-case scenario, three of us are going to get arrested. But first weare going to get David to safety, because otherwise heas going to die. And, d.i.c.kon, I love you, I really do, but Iam not going to let somebody die just because heas not exactly human.a Dafydd, unexpectedly, let go another soft chuckle. aNot human at all, but I play one on TV. d.i.c.konaa"he rolled his head back, tilting his sungla.s.ses so his amber eyes were revealeda"aa useless confession, my friend: I was going to tell you. This morning, in fact, I thought, ahe should know.a Iam sorry I was too late. Secrecy is an old habit to break.a d.i.c.konas gaze skittered to Lara. aIs he telling the truth?a aHe is.a aHnh.a d.i.c.kon rolled his jaw, then jerked his head at Kelly. aLet me out.a ad.i.c.kona"a aNo, you know what, Kel? Just let me out. Iam going to the hospital. I gotta see if Reg is okay.a aBut what abouta"a aI donat know, Kelly. I donat know. Maybe if Iad had a week to get used to this, but I donat know. You a you go do your thing, this thing, whatever it is. Save the freak. Call me when itas over, maybe. I donat know.a Kelly, hollow-eyed, opened her door and stepped out of the car without saying anything else. Dafydd, though, spoke into her silence. aA week ago,a he murmured, aa week ago you were my champion, d.i.c.kon, and Kelly was my doubter.a aI know, man.a d.i.c.kon pushed the Nissanas seat forward, shouldering out. aA lotas changed since then.a Everything, Lara thought. Everything had changed since then. Kelly got back in, rebuckled her seat belt, and pulled back into traffic, all of them trying not to look at d.i.c.konas reflection receding in the mirrors.

aMaybe itas a good thing. Theyare looking for two women and two men in a Nissan, not two women and a man in a Toyota.a Kelly, still driving, turned the radio off with a resounding click, her jaw still set. According to local news, an unnamed detective had been rushed to the hospital and police were looking for four suspects to question. Laraas stomach turned to lead as their names and physical descriptions were announced, along with Dafyddas recent jail time and her peculiar disappearance.

aMaybe itas good,a she echoed, dissonance running over her skin. It wasnat a lie, but she didnat believe it any more than Kelly had.

Theyad stopped at Kellyas bank less than five minutes after d.i.c.kon left them, and Kelly had withdrawn most of her savings. aEight and a half thousand,a shead said when she got back in the car. aI left about forty dollars in the bank. This is all weare going to be able to get, unless youave got accounts in other names.a The last was directed at Dafydd, who nodded vaguely, as if he hadnat understood the implied question.

The Seelie were, by Laraas estimation, a fragile-looking people to begin with, but even so, Dafyddas weakness frightened her. His bones seemed to s.h.i.+ne through parchment-fine skin, as if he faded before their eyes. Head burned up too much power: the truth of that rang through her in ceaseless waves, like water at the sh.o.r.eline. Whether he could recover with time and rest, she didnat know. It seemed all too likely that, cut off from the Barrow-lands, he would never regain his strength.

Head given them the address of his storage unit in Peabody, and at Laraas urging, the combination to its lock, before fading into a restless drowse he hadnat fully woken from. The car theyad found there was new enough to be unremarkable, but old enough to lack the global positioning system that most new vehicles were automatically fitted with. With luck it wouldnat matter; with luck no one would trace their change of vehicles and be looking for a mid-range blue four-door Corolla. Lara glanced behind her to where Dafydd sprawled gracelessly across the seat as he dozed, and said aWith any lucka aloud.

aIam not going to a.s.sume luck is on our side. Lara, look, not like any of this was planned, but do you have any kind of a plan?a Kellyas fingertips tapped the wheel, quick nervous rhythm. aIam running on adrenaline and spy movies here. I know about not using credit cards and sticking to blue roads instead of interstates, but beyond getting us out of the greater Boston metropolitan area, I donat know what to do.a Lara pressed her temple against the window, watching the roadside scenery turn to a blur of green. aI keep thinking we need to go to Wales.a aWales? What, like in Britain? Not a chance, sister. I donat think eighty-five hundred dollars is enough to buy us fake pa.s.sports, even if I had any idea where to go to try to get that kind of thing. Wales? Are you serious? Why?a aBecause itas where Dafydd said he was from. That the Barrow-lands are close to it, in terms of how his world and this one map to each other. Ioan said something about how once upon a time people from this world were able to cross to the Barrow-lands through underground paths.a aLong ago,a Dafydd murmured from the backseat. aLong ago. Even in Oisnas time it took royal blood casting the worldwalking spell, and that was a long time ago.a Lara twisted around, hooking her arm over the back of the seat. aHey, youare awake. How do you feel?a Dafydd took a breath, held it, and on the exhalation admitted, aTerrible.a aYou look awful.a Lara wrinkled her nose at the raw truth, but it got a chuckle from Dafydd. She smiled wanly in return, then found herself echoing his deep breath and long exhalation. aHave you ever heard of a worldbreaking weapon? Not me, but something that might have been used to destroy Unseelie territory?a He frowned. aThe Unseelie lands have been drowned as long as I can remember, Lara. Having spent so much time in your world, Iad say it was probably just a result of climate change.a Unexpected burrs ran through his words, pulling their truth out of tune. Hairs stood up on Laraas arms, reinforcing the feeling of wrongness, and she blurted, aNo,a without meaning to. aWhatever it was, it wasnat climate change. My poweras getting stronger, Dafydd. Iam starting to hear it now when people are wrong even if they believe itas the truth.a Delight lit his face briefly, pus.h.i.+ng his weariness away. aTruthseeker indeed.a Then a touch of dismay creased his features and he relaxed into the seats again. aBut Iam wrong?a aI need you to try and remember any legends or stories Oisn might have told you. Did he ever mention someone named Brendan?a aThereas a mortal name,a Dafydd said absently. aBrendan, ah, Brendan the sailor. They were friends from before he came to the Barrow-lands, I think.a Lara, under her breath, said, aNo,a as the words soured in her mind, but Dafydd continued undisturbed. aI remember, just barely.a His eyes closed and he sank further down, voice rising and falling in a soft murmur. aHe was blind with age already, Oisn was. I never knew him as a sighted man. But he used to carry a stick, a walking staff. Carved bone, I think. A gift from my mother, I think. I only remember him having it after she died. I asked once if I could have it, because I barely remembered her and I hoped it would remind me. But he said we had to give it to Brendan, to take across the sea.a Hope surged in Laraas stomach, making a knot as nauseating as fear. aDid he say where across the sea?a aI supposed he meant to Tir na n"g, the lands to the west. I never asked.a aBut Brendan was Irish,a Lara whispered. aAcross the sea to the west was America, for him.a aSo it is here,a Kelly said triumphantly, then made a face. aOr it was at some time.a aNo.a Music had turned to a crescendo with Kellyas first statement. Lara turned to grab the dashboard with both hands, as if she could direct the car through will alone. aNo, it is here. Still is. It felt true when you said that, Kelly. Pull over, can you pull over?a aUh, yeah.a Kelly pulled off, tires scrabbling over gravel as she went too near the ditch. aWhat are you going to do?a aItas here. Itas here somewhere. I found a path through the Seelie forest back to the palace, maybe I can find one here. Itas got to have some kind of similar feeling, doesnat it? Theyare both magical constructions.a Dafydd climbed out of the car as she spoke, leaning heavily on it as he pulled Laraas door open as well. He offered her a hand, and a faint smile as she looked up at him in concern. aWe can share a little of thought and emotion with those weare close to,a he reminded her. aAnd I hold the image of the staff in my mind. But I canat do it within the confines of that vehicle.a aYou canat at all! You donat have very much power left!a Lara got out, more to herd him back into the car than to accept his help, but he caught her hand.

aIf thereas an item of Seelie, or even Unseelie, power here, Lara, itas more likely to lend me strength than anything else in your world. It may mean my survival.a aEven if you burn out looking for it?a aI believe the risk worth taking.a aEither way,a Kelly said from within the car, amake a decision. Weare not exactly in suburbia, but I donat like you standing around outside the car when thereas an APB out on us.a Dafydd tipped his head toward the vehicle. aKelly makes a compelling argument.a Lara raised a palm in defeat. aAll right. If you can give me the image, I think thatall help me build a path. How do you do this, like with a aa She trailed off, but lifted her free hand to Dafyddas face, approximating a gesture shead seen in film trailers.

Dafydd laughed out loud. aA Vulcan mind meld? Would that make it easier?a Color rushed Laraas face. aActually, yes, I think so. Itas sort of familiar.a Kelly leaned over the pa.s.senger seat, peering up at Dafydd as he confidently settled his fingers against Laraas cheek and temple. aToday has been one hundred percent full of suck, and yet at this exact second I gotta say I love my life, because Iam watching somebody perform a mind meld for real.a Enough truth ran through that to make Lara smile. Dafydd, looking into her eyes, smiled as well, then gently tugged her forward to put his forehead against hers. aProximity eases the sharing. Close your eyes. Think of sandy beaches, cloudy skies.a The clear white path truthseeking had created when shead searched for her way out of the Seelie forest filled her mind, as neutral an image as she could come up with. It had song to it, distant tolling like water against a sh.o.r.e. Oisn appeared on the path, less frail than head been when shead met him, though he was by no means a young man. He still wore fine Seelie raiment, but now he carried a staff taller than he was.

If it was bone, it came from the largest animal Lara had ever imagined. Even an ivory tusk seemed inadequate for its height, and it had no curve to it at all, standing slim and ramrod straight. Intricate carvings along its length showed that it was hollow, and though the carvings were delicate in design, the staff itself warned of strength and power. In Oisnas hands it had no bent toward either destruction or creation, but the sense of it said it could be used for both.

And it was here, in her world. Choir music filled her, a host of soprano notes striking a triumphant path forward. Lara staggered as power splashed through, and out of, her. It leaped forward, racing across the countryside to briefly illuminate the image of a roaring waterfall pouring from a narrow point in a broad river. Surprised laughter broke from her throat, and Lara opened her eyes to flash an exultant smile at Dafydd.

He whispered, aLara,a and her clarity of vision faded in a rush as he collapsed in her arms.

Twenty-Seven.

aDafydd? Oh my G.o.d, Dafydd!a His weight was inconsequential, even though Lara didnat think of herself as physically strong. Kelly sprinted out of the car and around to the pa.s.senger side, helping Lara to pour him into the backseat.

aBuckle him in,a Kelly snapped. aWeare leaving. Now.a Lara, mute, did as she was told, then took her own seat, barely able to pull the seat belt on as Kelly pulled away from the curb. It took two tries to clip the belt in place, and she buried her face in shaking hands when shead managed it. aI donat think our world is really meant for using magic. Closing the breach in the garage wiped me out, and this was worse,a she said into her palms. aAnd I think I just ripped away most of what Dafydd had left to power my own search. Kelly, if he diesa"a aIt wonat be your fault,a Kelly said shortly. aWhere do we need to go?a aWest.a Lara parted her fingers to stare at the road in front of them as she tried to bring the clarity of vision back. aItas hidden in a waterfall west of here, a big one. Itas got to be on the Connecticut River.a aWest and what? North? South? Itas a big river, Lara.a aAlmost due.a A hint of music returned, merely a thin bell tone compared to the earlier song. aItas almost due west of Peabody. There canat be that many waterfalls on that parallel.a aWeall get a map.a Anything else Kelly intended to say was interrupted by Dafyddas sharp intake of breath. Lara twisted to find him pressing both hands against his temples.

aIam sorry,a he murmured after a moment. aI seem to have fallen asleep.a aLara put a whammy on you,a Kelly said over Laraas apology. aWhen was the last time you ate?a aThis morning, I suppose,a Dafydd murmured, then continued in a hazy voice: aSome unpleasant second cousin to oatmeal, a last meal by the standards of the Ma.s.sachusetts penal system.a aWell, itas about four oaclock now. Your blood sugaras probably low, besides everything else. Weall hit a drive-thru.a Laraas stomach, reminded of something as mundane as food, rumbled loudly enough for Kellyas tension to break into sharp laughter. aYeah, me, too. All right, we have a plan. Fast food, then a waterfall in western Ma.s.sachusetts where thereas a weapon of unimaginable power.a She added aTally-hoa in a mutter, and Lara squeezed her shoulder.

aYouare a rock, Kel. Thank you.a She got a crooked smile in return. aDonat thank me. Iam a whatas that kind of rock that breaks off into a million slivers? Shale? Iam like that. I look really solid but any minute now Iam going to fly apart. I just want to get somewhere quiet and safe before that happens. David, do you have a hideout anywhere?a aI never thought I would need one. I had always thought if I couldnat return home, if I was in danger, that Iad go aa Lara turned to look at him when he trailed off, catching a grimace marring his features, though he smoothed his face as she frowned in turn. aTo a great wilderness,a he said. aEven in this world, the wild places are kind to my people. I could have remained undetected in the Catskills forever, if necessary, but that was alone, and with all my skill.a His voice hardened at the end, hiding nothing from Lara: he was denying fear, denying so much as considering what it meant that he was cut off from the Barrow-lands.

Kelly, though, startled and straightened, looking at him in the mirror again. aYou know, thatas a brilliant idea. Itas a thousand miles from Walesa"a aThree thousand,a Lara said pedantically, as mistruth s.h.i.+vered over her skin.

aOkay, fine, three thousand, whatever, but my point was arenat the Catskills haunted? Like Rip Van Winkle plays ninepins up there and stuff. If thereas anywhere on the East Coast thatas got any kind of connection to Davidas world, doesnat it seem like it might be them? So we get the staff, we head for the Catskills, and you two figure out how to power it up and get David home by sunset.a She made her lips thin, scowling down the two-lane highway they were on. aWell, if we could take the interstates, anyway. Itall take longer on the back roads, especially since I have to find one thatall get us pointed west. I was kind of going to Canada.a aSo we could be arrested at the border?a Lara wondered. Kelly turned an injured look on her and she shook her head apologetically. aNo, youare right, it was a good idea. There must be some little roads you can cross over without border patrol noticing. Or at least we could abandon the car and walk across through the woods.a aPerhaps as a second choice,a Dafydd murmured.

Kelly flashed him a tense smile in the rearview mirror. aSecond choice, not last resort?a aAs you say. Let us hold making our way to Wales as the last resort, and for our first choice, explore the Catskills.a His voice wavered and he closed his eyes, suddenly more fragile than head been. aThough, Lara, even if we should find the staff, my magica"a aYou have royal blood, and I have the ability to find a truthseekeras path,a Lara said fiercely. aWeall make a world-road if we have to.a Deep bells rang through the words, carrying, for the first time, the weight of prophecy.

aOkay, where are we?a Kelly wolfed down a cheese-covered hot dog and slurped at a soda as Lara unfolded the map Kellyad bought along with the food at a local grocery store. Laraas own meal was cooling, but shead argued that she could eat it while Kelly drove, whereas eating and driving invariably turned messy. Dafydd, still in the backseat, ate a green salad straight from the bag, alternating with long draughts of bottled water.

aHereas Peabody. Weare aa Lara tapped her finger just below a green spot on the map. aWeare about here, because I just saw a sign for this forest.a She drew a line westward across the map. aIf you head due west, the only reference to a waterfall I can find is Turners Falls.a aIam pretty sure thatas dammed up, Lara. I donat know if there are any major falls on the Connecticut River that arenat.a aNo, itas this one.a Confidence jangled over Laraas skin, its music imbuing her with hope. aIf itas dammed up, there must be a way to get beneath or behind or inside it. Something,a she said with less certainty.

aYouare the navigator. Okay, let me see that.a Kelly shoved the rest of her hot dog into her mouth and took the map, studying the thin road lines. aThe thing is, we know theyare looking for us in Boston,a she said around her mouthful. aWe donat know if theyall have spread out. Still, I donat want to take the direct route. If we drive north a little ways farther we can get onto one of the smaller roads and come around and head south. n.o.bodyad be looking for us from that direction.a aYour friend has the makings of a criminal mastermind, Lara.a Dafyddas color and humor were both improved, though Lara thought it would take escaping the vehicleas metal frame to really see a difference in his health. aDid you know this about her?a aI had no idea.a aCamon,a Kelly muttered. aItas the kind of adventure everybody dreams about, right? You think of all the ways youad prepare. You just donat expect a cop to end up dead and your fianc to dump you along the way.a aOh, G.o.d, Kelly.a Lara reached for Kellyas shoulder and was shaken off, though not rudely.

aNo, forget I said that. It doesnat make it any easier.a aWe donat know Detective Was.h.i.+ngtonas dead,a Lara offered in a small voice. aThe news hasnat said so.a aYeah, well, d.i.c.kon didnat technically dump me, either, but Iam kind of thinking we should consider this a worst-case scenario situation. Anyway,a Kelly said ferociously, aI thought everybody made up melodramatic plans about how they were going to survive the plane crash or how they would disappear after stealing a hundred million dollars from Wall Street or whatever. Donat they?a She looked up and Lara gave her an uncertain smile.

aI never did, but youare the one who was always telling me I never took any risks.a aStart smaller next time,a Kelly suggested, and twisted to pop her back. aIf we go the long way around weare probably not going to get to Turners Falls until after dark, but that might be to our advantage. Itas easier to sneak at night. And then whether we find this staff or not aa She looked in the rearview mirror. aThe car makes you worse, doesnat it, David. Can you handle us taking the long way?a His silence was more telling than the answer he gave: aIall manage.a Kelly shot a look at Lara. aIs he telling the truth?a Lara s.h.i.+vered, listening to the resolute notes lingering in Dafyddas answer. aHeall manage, but you donat need my power to know it wonat be good for him.a aYeah.a Kelly blew a raspberry and gave Lara the map, then put the car back in gear. aHang on till we get there, David. Then you can get out and go lie down in a forest or something while Lara and I do the heavy lifting.a aI would be grateful.a Dafydd spoke quietly. aI donat need shelter, but I think even a few hours under the moonlight, in a green and growing place, would restore me greatly.a aOkay.a Kelly pulled back onto the road decisively. aLara, you navigate. Keep us off the blue roads, even, if you can, and push us west.a The dam blocking the river at Turners Falls was ma.s.sive enough to make Lara laugh. Despairing humor, she thought, but humor regardless. Three enormous wallsa"levies, blockades; she didnat know what to call thema"pooled the river behind them into a glittering black lake. The grounds around the lake, at least where Kelly had found parking, were well-kept lightly forested greenlands. Dafydd had gratefully stumbled from the car to sit beneath a tree while the women got out to study the dam in dismay.

aThereas no way youare getting behind or under that thing, Lara. There canat possibly be any artifacts left under it anyway. Theyad have been pulverized when it was built.a aBut itas here.a Lara turned in a loose circle, wis.h.i.+ng her conviction would offer more information. aSomeone must have taken it before they built the dam,a she said slowly, testing the idea for veracity. It rang true, though uncertainty caught her for a moment. With the way her power was changing, it seemed possible that if she wanted it to be true badly enough, she might convince herself of the lie.

Or she might force a true thing back to before the damas construction, changing the time line that had led to this moment. That idea was vastly more appalling. Lara groaned, dropping her face into her hands, then let out an explosive breath as she looked up. aOkay. Iam going into town and see if I can find out when the dam was built. If it was recently enough, maybe there was some kind of preservation work done first.a aYouare deluding yourself, Lar.a Kellyas dry response sounded unfortunately accurate, but Lara spread her hands in semi-defeat.

aDo you have a better idea?a aNot really. David, can you handle the car again?a He pushed to his feet, using the tree for support. aReluctantly.a aThen weall drive in. Camon.a Kelly headed for the car, Lara stepping up to Dafyddas side to help him back. His weight was negligible, as though he might blow away in a strong wind, and she frowned at him.

aIf we canat find a clue or a hint somewhere fast, I want Kelly to take you back into one of the forests we just drove through, okay? You need the rest more than I need the help searching.a aLara, if the staff is what you say it is, itas not meant for mortal hands. It could be very dangerous to you.a aOisn carried it for years,a Lara argued. aIt might be less dangerous in mortal hands than in Seelie. And this isnat up for debate. Youarea"a She broke off, unwilling to finish the sentence. Unwilling to voice the truth that the Seelie prince was dying, as if letting it go unsaid might let him eke out a few more hours.

He hesitated beside the car, looking down at her before his shoulders slumped and he nodded. aVery well. I would prefer we find it rather than split up, but I a am not strong. I donat want to burden you in your search.a aYouare not a burden, Dafydd. I just have no intention of explaining to your father how I got his son and heir killed on a world not even his own.a aYouare very sweet,a Kelly said from inside the car. aNow stop mooning over each other and get in. The longer this takes the more wasted Davidas going to be.a Dafydd murmured, aAgain to the heart of the matter,a and accepted Laraas help getting in the car. He s.h.i.+ed away from metal, even forgoing the seat belt, and Lara kept a nervous eye out the window for patrolling police who might notice the minor transgression.

There were none on the short drive into Turners Falls, nor any readily visible as they reached the town center. Village center, Lara read on a tourist information sign minutes later. The towns.h.i.+p was Montague, made up of five smaller villages, of which Turners Falls was the largest.

aOh, great,a Kelly said from the other side of the sign. aWelcome to beautiful Turners Falls, named after Captain William Turner, who slaughtered a village full of sleeping Indians in this location three hundred and forty years ago. I bet anybody who knew where your staff was has been dead since then.a Lara came around the sign with a laugh, and chagrin crossed Kellyas face. aI mean, okay, yes, obviously, theyad be dead by now anyway. You know what I meant.a aThe dam was built in the eighteen sixties,a Dafydd read from where Lara had left him, a note of discouragement in his voice. aCertainly there was no hope of preservation work having been done so long ago.a aNo, but there were survivors of the ma.s.sacre.a Lara picked up the history where Kelly had left off, tracing the words with a fingertip. aMaybe there are still a few descendants who might know something about a legendary staff.a aAnd how are you going to find them?a Kelly asked with curious exasperation. aGo around knocking on doors? aExcuse me, were your ancestors murdered in their beds by an army captain? They were? Great! Do you know anything about Saint Brendanas visit a thousand years ago, or about a staff he brought here?aa Lara glanced down the street at storefronts already closed for the evening and restaurants doing late-dinner business. aIf we have to, but there must be some bars off the main street here that are less trendy and more local. We could start by talking to people at them, instead of knocking on doors.a aAnd if any of them watched the news and recognize us?a aRecognize me,a Lara said decisively. aDafyddas glamour wonat hold, so he canat go anywhere people might get a good look at him, and Iad rather not leave him alone. So if you guys want to hole up ina"a She turned back to the tourist poster and tapped a green square a block and a half away from where they were. aIn Peskeomskut Park here, then Iall catch up with you later, okay?a aLara aa Worry creased a line between Kellyas eyebrows. aYouare not very good at sweet-talking people. Maybe I shoulda"a aMuch as I would like to retreat to a wooded place with Lara and allow you the search,a Dafydd murmured as he joined them on their side of the sign, aI suspect that if Lara should find anyone who knows of Brendan or the staff, her truthseeking talents might be critical in establis.h.i.+ng herself. Youave been extraordinarily helpful, Kelly, but I fear in this you and I may be relegated to the sidelines.a Kellyas frown increased, then slid away in a rueful smile at Lara. aHow does he make that sound so reasonable?a aBecause it is reasonable,a Lara said, but Dafydd put his hand over his heart and bowed elegantly, if more shallowly than full-blown theatrics might call for.

aCenturies, even aeons, of practice, my dear Miss Richards. Now, if you would be so good as to escort me to this mouthful of a park, I would be grateful for rest among some greenery.a Kelly severely said aYou be careful,a to Lara, and aaPeskeomskuta isnat that hard to say,a to Dafydd as they headed for the park, leaving Lara behind.

Twenty-Eight.

Bars and dance clubs were not Laraas natural or comfortable habitat. In the one or two trendy clubs, she was at least the right age; in the more local bars, she stood out as both too young and too touristy.

And, she decided, probably too determined to broach a particular topic of conversation. Films always showed locals closing ranks when a stranger came in to talk, and that representation felt dismayingly accurate. Still, she nerved herself beyond the front door in more than one bar, ordering a gla.s.s of wine and putting on a shy smile for the bartender. By the third bar she wished shead ordered soda all along, though it did seem to be getting easier to broach her awkward topic. Amused at the realization, she leaned forward to explain herself for the third time.

aIam doing research on Native American legends. Ia"a aYouall probably want the Discovery Center, then,a the bartender said. So had the previous two, and Lara nodded with familiarity.

aProbably, but I got into town after it closed. I thought Iad see if there were any locals willing to share stories, especially about the falls.a Unrelated statements, both true, meant to sound like together they meant something. If someone else had done that, it would make hairs stand up on Laraas arms, but her truthseeking sense allowed it to slip past, this once at least. aIam on a tight deadline, so I hope I can skip going through the Discovery Center.a A hint of sympathy tempered the barmanas smile. aPut off a college research paper, huh? Look, you can try Old Jake. Heas usually down at the Ca.n.a.l Bara"you know where that is? Head west three blocks, until you get to the ca.n.a.l, then go north two. Heall tell tall tales as long as you keep buying him another drink. I donat know if any of them are true, but youare looking for legends, not the truth, right? And if youare looking for a place to stay, the baras got rooms, too. Ca.n.a.l Bar and Inn, you canat miss it. New building, part of the revitalization work going on here, not one of the old mill buildings.a Lara, grateful, said, aThank you,a and drank her wine much too quickly, eager to make her escape. Turners Falls streets were laid out in tidy square blocks, and following the barmanas instructions was easy, even with three gla.s.ses of wine in her. The waterfront was as head suggested, a mix of old mill buildings and newer ones similar enough in style to retain character but unique enough to mark themselves as modern. The ca.n.a.l itself reflected streetlamps, and there was indeed a sense of revitalization as couples took after-dinner walks along the water, greeted by dog walkers and joggers. It had the feel of a town reinventing itself, and Lara found the Ca.n.a.l Bar with her own sense of purpose renewed.

A group of locals, mostly young men, sent wolf whistles and approving jeers toward her as she approached. Nerves clenched her stomach and she wished Dafydd or Kelly were with her after all. Retreating, though, wasnat an option, and she made her hands into fists, hidden by her skirts, to urge herself forward.

An older man with military-cut gray hair and a limp stepped through the group of younger men, raising his cane to smack one of the youths on the shoulder as he pa.s.sed. aYour motherad never forgive you for hara.s.sing a woman that way, Denny. Behave like a gentleman.a aDennya swallowed a protest into a look of embarra.s.sment as the older man came forward to offer Lara his hand. He was in his sixties, and wore a beaten-up black leather jacket over a blue T-s.h.i.+rt and jeans that had seen better days. aSorry about that, Miss Jansen. Iam Old Jake. Been waiting for you a while now.a He glanced beyond her, eyebrows lifted, then looked back at her. aWhereare your friends? Two men and a woman. They were expected, too.a aExpected?a Lara squeaked the word, then cleared her throat. aThere are, um. Just three of us. How did you know?a He flashed a sharp smile. aYou want the hoodoo mystic answer or the practical one? You were on the news,a he announced, choosing which answer she got. aBut Iave been waiting a lot longer than that. Camon inside, let me get you away from these hooligans.a Bemused, Lara followed him into the bar, which was brighter and more welcoming than she expected it to be. Jake waved a waitress down, ordered himself a beer and Lara a ginger ale without asking, then gave her a sly look of curiosity.

aGinger aleas fine, thanks. Great, in fact. How did youa"a aKnow the history of Turners Falls, Miss Jansen?a Jake leaned back and folded his hands behind his head. Lara thought he might kick his feet onto the table between them, he looked so comfortable, but instead he thumped his chair forward again as the waitress hurried back with their drinks. Lara waited for the woman to leave again before giving Jake an uncertain smile.

aNot really. Only what I read on the tourist board on the main street.a aAbout the ma.s.sacre. Does it mention the men were gone from the village that night? That it was mostly women and children who died?a aG.o.d,a Lara said involuntarily. aNo. Thatas even more horrible, somehow.a aNo, Miss Jansen, whatas horrible is the men left knowing their wives and children would die, but they went anyway, or so thatas what the family stories say.a The wine shead drunk swirled up in a twist of bitter nausea. aWhy would anyone do that?a aThey were given a vision, a holy duty to carry out. A womanas voice, charging the men to save an artifact before the great falls were stopped.a aThe worldbreaking staff?a Lara whispered. Then even more softly, around a knot in her throat, she asked, aMy voice?a Gentleness slid across Jakeas expression. aNow, I wouldnat know that, Miss Jansen. Iam Old Jake, but Iam not that old. Itas just a story handed down over a dozen generations. They say the shamans asked the spirits, and the spirits said to empty the great falls before the white men came.a Despite the churning in her stomach, Lara smiled a little. aForgive me for saying so, but you look pretty white yourself, Mr aa aJake,a he said easily. aJust Old Jake, Miss Jansen. Thatas how everybody knows me. And bloodlines mingle over the years. My sisters, they got more of the Indian blood than me, but Iam the one patient enough to sit around waiting for a myth to come walking through the door.a aLara. Please, just call me Lara. Jake, Iam not even sure what Iam looking for isnat a myth itself.a His gaze sharpened on her. aNow, thatas not the truth, is it, Miss Lara?a Discomfort surged over her in a toneless howl. aAnyone else would think it was a myth.a Satisfaction colored his expression, and he picked up his beer to take a long drink. aStories say the shamans feared what would happen if the white men found the gift of the waterfalls. That it was a terrible power for the one who could use it, and that a dozen dozen men would come searching for it. That it could be kept safe, but only with the blood of the land.a Cold crept up Laraas spine, more insiduous than anything Emyr had cast on her. aBreaking your own world to protect it.a Dafydd was right: the staff was a thing of dangerous power, even to mortals, if ensuring its safety destroyed communities. She wondered abruptly what price Brendan had paid, nine centuries earlier, to bring it across the ocean; wondered how his own world had been shattered in the bringing, because she was suddenly certain it had been.

Jake nodded again, his satisfaction turning grim. aAnd so the warriors took it away, and left their families to die, because they couldnat stay and not fight. And one of us has been waiting ever since to give the burden to the one who comes for it.a aHow do you know itas me?a He steepled his fingers over his beer, then noticed it again and lifted it to drink. Lara glanced at her own untouched ginger ale and left it alone, the wine in her stomach more than enough to make her feel unwell already. Jake set the half-empty beer gla.s.s down, wiped his upper lip, then flicked answers off on his fingertips: aHer companions are a giant, a wise woman, and a spirit man. She will know the truth of the stories when she hears them.a He paused, giving her a hard stare, and Lara nodded to both, though the descriptions of her friends struck her as a little funny. Kelly would never think of herself as a wise woman, but after the levelheadedness shead displayed throughout the day, Lara could hardly think of a better descriptor.

aAnd,a Jake finished pragmatically, asheall be the only one with the knowledge to look for it. I saw you on the news, and knew youad come here today. I expected you to be earlier.a aWe took the long way around. Didaa"Lara swalloweda"adid the news say anything about Detective Was.h.i.+ngton? Is he all right?a aNot dead yet, anyway, and where thereas life, thereas hope.a The plat.i.tude had the strength of conviction behind it, unusual enough to make it sound true. Jake leaned forward, pus.h.i.+ng his beer aside like it blocked his view of Lara. aWhat will you do with it? With this thing weave protected all these years?a Lara shook her head, eyes closed briefly as images of the Barrow-lands, of Emyras s.h.i.+ning citadel and the sprawling black opal Unseelie city, and of the people, one so bright and one so dark, and both unhealthy with it, washed over her. aThe legend Iave been told says itas a weapon to break a world. That itas been used already to destroy. But a scalpel can help cure as well as kill.a She opened her eyes again, meeting Jakeas gaze, and willed truth into her voice. aIf youall grant me the burden to carry, Iall use it to try to heal a world.a Satisfaction slid over Jakeas face again. He nodded once, sharply, then hefted his cane from beside his chair, and laid it on the table between them with a resounding smack.

aI thought it would be bigger.a There was nothing extraordinary about the cane: it was a polished length of aged wood, k.n.o.bs and lumps still giving it character. Lara stared at it until it swam in her vision, sending a spike of pain through her eyes. She rubbed them, then looked again at the cane, then Jake.

Smile lines made deep crevices around his mouth. aThey say it used to be. They say the one itas meant for will reveal its true form.a His eyebrows waggled with the last words, and Lara, despite herself, laughed.

aDo you believe any of this, Jake?a He sat back with a laconic shrug. aI believed youad be here today. Believed youad be looking for this. Guess that means I believe it all enough. So how does the reveal work?a Lara glanced at the cane again, squinting against another stab of unreliable vision. Dafyddas glamour had done that to her, once shead known it was in place. aOh! Oh. I can almost see througha"um, would you like to take a walk with me, Jake?a aCan almost see through?a Jake finished his beer in a few long swallows, eyed Laraas untouched ginger ale, then gestured to his cane as he stood up. aA walk sounds terrific.a Lara folded her hands behind her back like a child resisting temptation. aIad like you to take it out of here. Iam not quite sure what will happen when I touch it.a aCuriouser and curiouser.a Jake scooped the cane up and made a show of using it to herd people out of his way as he led Lara to the door. The youths outside scattered guiltily as they left, though one of them whistled and called out a congratulations to Jake as he headed down the ca.n.a.l street with a woman young enough to be his granddaughter. Lara grinned, and Jake gave an unapologetic shrug. aSmall town. Everybody gets in everyone elseas business.a aI grew up outside of Boston, but everyone still got in everybodyas business. I think a lot of people went to church just for the weekly gossip.a aBig Irish-Catholic community?a Lara nodded. aMy family are mostly Dutch and Norwegian, but four of my friends growing up all had the last name Murphy. Different families.a aMakes the paperwork easy when people get married.a Lara laughed. aExcept these were all girls. The laws might allow it now, but their mothers might never recover if any of them married each other. It was a pretty conservative community that way.a She looked over her shoulder, judging the distance theyad come and the other people out walking along the ca.n.a.l. aOkay. I donat think anything really showy is going to happen, but I didnat want to risk it in the bar.a Jake offered her the cane again, ill-disguised interest in his eyes. aRisk what?a aLooking at that gives me a headache.a Lara took a breath to steady herself. aThat might mean it has a glamour on it, a aa She trailed off, uncertain of how to explain a glamour without sounding absurd, but Jake gave the cane a little shake, obviously eager for her to take it.

aSomething to make it look different from how it really is.a aRight. And Iam a truthseeker, so itas possible that just holding it will strip away the glamour.a aYouare killing me here, Miss Lara.a Lara looked up at him with a smile. aNo, Iam not.a Buoyed by that simple exchange of exaggeration and truth, she took the cane in both hands.

Power sparked dissonance against her palms, a vivid shock of what she felt not matching what she saw. A headache flared and she crushed her eyes closed. The caneas gnarly polished surface faded from her mindas eye, her hands instead telling her the truth. Patterns were marked against her skin, the caneas circ.u.mference much larger and more varied than what shead seen. Relieved song swept through her, was.h.i.+ng away the last vestiges of untuneful falsehood. She whispered aItas all righta as if she spoke to a living thing, and squeezed the column in her hands. aShow your true form. Iam the one youave been waiting for.a Jake, reverently, said, aI will be G.o.d d.a.m.ned,a and Lara opened her eyes to look at the ivory staff lying across her palms.

It was as it had been in Dafyddas vision: hollow, carved with intricate Celtic patterns, and considerably longer than Lara stood tall. The ends were solid, as if theyad been capped to give them strength to stand against the wear of use. Despite its age, the ivory was still a rich gleaming white, unyellowed by time, and it tingled with power, as if pleased to be reverted to its natural form.

Oisn, Lara realized very clearly, was more exceptional than shead known. The staff in her hands wanted to be used, like it had a will of its own that it could work upon the bearer. If head carried it as long as he had without turning its power to any ends of his own, then his willingness to be no more than he was was extraordinary. She looked at Jake, who still gaped at the staff, and found herself shaking her head.

aDid you never have any impulse to try to use this for anything? Did it not a tell you it could be used?a Jakeas eyebrows furrowed and he shook his head. aNot for anything more than a cane, Miss Lara. Why, does it say something to you?a Maybe it responded to inherent magics. Lara tightened her fingers around the staff, hope surging through her. If her mortal magic could make the staff sing, then Dafyddas Seelie talent might awaken it far enough to heal him. aIt almost makes promises,a she whispered. aLike itas alive. What it says aa She breathed a laugh, and gave Jake a lopsided smile. aWhat it says is, Iam going to have to be very careful with it. Thank you, Jake. Thank you for bringing this, and for trusting me.a aThe world needs healing, Miss Lara. Good luck to you, if youare the one to do it.a

Twenty-Nine.

aThat didnat take long.a Kelly eyed Laraas staff as Dafydd, looking a little refreshed, came from the largest copse of trees available in the park. He studied the staff even more avidly than Kelly, and Lara handed it to him wordlessly.

Color flooded back into his face within seconds. He sagged, but with an air of relief rather than the exhaustion that had dogged him. aIt feels like home,a he whispered. aI can hardly believe an artifact of such power has been here for so long and I never sensed it.a aIt was in disguise,a Lara said carefully. aIam not sure youad have sensed it even if youad known to look for it. Someone was waiting for me,a she added to Kelly. aI think they sort of had been for four hundred years. So it didnat take long.a Kelly looked faintly disapproving. aI thought finding mystical artifacts was supposed to take great trials. Or at least, I donat know, n.a.z.is chasing after you.a aOnly, I think, if youare Indiana Jones.a Dafydd smiled at Kelly, then wrapped his arms around the staff, putting as much flesh against it as he could. aWith this and a wild place, I would be well restored in a matter of days.a aI donat think we should wait days, but we can at least stop for the night in one of the state forests,a Lara offered. aWe should be able to get five or six hoursa rest, even if we want to try to get to the Catskills by morning.a aBut perhaps we should just push through to the mountains,a Dafydd murmured.

Lara shook her head. aI donat know. Itas already after ten and weave had a long day. I could use the rest.a aA long day,a Kelly echoed. aIs that what you call it? I was thinking more like a horrible, terrible, no-good awful day, and I want a nap. Dafydd, is that thing going to make riding in the car easier for you? Because Laraas right, we should get away from town sooner rather than later. We can head northeast and get a little farther away from where anybody might expect us and then sack out for the night.a aThe staff will make it much more comfortable, I think. All right.a Dafydd curled a hand around it protectively, then drew in a deep breath and straightened his shoulders. To Laraas astonishment, his glamour slipped back into place, changing the staff to a cane and taking the elfin edge off his looks. His visage still fluctuated and twisted to her eyes, but to other people, he would look normal again.

Kelly muttered, aThatas flipping freaky, man,a and more clearly said, aCan you make yourself, I donat know, short, forty, and balding? Because that would be a much better disguise for tromping back to the car in.a aIam sorry.a Rue flashed across Dafyddas face. aIt would take several hours to build a new glamour, and weeks of practice to be certain it would hold under even mild scrutiny.a aGuess weall just have to make a run for it.a aAll the way to the sidewalk?a Lara wondered. aDidnat you move the car down here to the park?a Kelly opened her mouth and shut it again. aNo. That would have been smart. I left it back up on the main drag where we parked earlier.a aOh.a Lara twitched a smile, and offered Dafydd her arm as they left the park. He leaned on it more heavily than she might have hoped, the staff clearly not having helped as much as it could. aThatas a relief, really. Youave been so competent and levelheaded all day, but if you didnat think of that maybe youare not a criminal mastermind in the making.a aItas my first attempt,a Kelly said with a sniff. aGive me time.a aTime,a Dafydd murmured, ais one thing we do not seem to have in abundance.a Reminded and chastened, they hurried back to the car.

The Corolla b.u.mped down a rutted road, all three pa.s.sengers gritting their teeth so they didnat bite their tongues. Cicadas squealed loudly enough to be heard over the engine, announcing their lovelorn state to the world. Dafydd, apparently undisturbed, all but fell from the vehicle before it had come to a full stop in front of a reed-ridden pond, and took several long strides away as Kelly killed the engine. Both women got out of the car as Dafydd turned back with a joyous smile.

aThis will do,a he said. aThis will do wonderfully. Thank you, Kelly. Thank you for everything. I owe you my life.a aYou actually mean that, donat you.a aI do. Itas not a phrase I would use lightly.a He took a breath and closed his teeth on it, like he was actually eating the fresh air. aResting under the risen moon will do me good. Thank you again,a he said, then took a few steps and disappeared.

Lara startled and Kelly made a noise of disbelief. aWheread he go?a aHeas aa Lara blinked hard. aI can kind of see him.a There was no double vision of glamour, but the trees seemed to accept and camouflage the Seelie prince in a way they would never do with humans. aI guess he was right. The forest likes him.a aI guess so.a Kelly watched the trees in silence a few moments, then spoke in a low voice. aI always thought it would be cool to have somebody say ayou saved my lifea and mean it. I thought, you know, that itad be happenstance, just being in the right place at the right time to be a hero. I didnat know it would really be this kind of blind panic, running to try to do the right thing while everything else got f.u.c.ked up.a aKelly, Iam sorry.a Kelly wiped a hand under her eyes before speaking snappishly in an attempt to keep further tears at bay. aItas not your fault. If thosea"thingsa"hadnat attacked everything would be okay. Reg wouldnat be hurt and d.i.c.kon wouldnat have flipped out, but they did, so weare just going to have to deal with that.a aYou shouldnat have to.a Lara folded her arms around herself, then thought better of it and edged closer to Kelly, putting an arm around her shoulders. aAt the most it should be Dafydd and me dealing with it.a aYeah.a Kelly sniffled. aBecause you live in a vacuum, or something. We were all there when Reg got hurt. There wasnat going to be any parceling out of whose fault it was. We all looked bad and there was no way to explain it.a aMaybe I couldave made them believe us.a Kelly, red-eyed and puffy-nosed, gave her an incredulous stare. Lara ducked her head. aOkay, I mightave convinced them we believed we were telling the truth.a aAnd then they wouldave carted three of us off to the funny farm and the fourth to a government lab. There wasnat much choice. I just didnat know an adventure would feel like this.a Lara sighed, images of Emyr and Ioan and of black-clad warriors meeting a silver-armored tide of enemies flas.h.i.+ng through her mind. aYeah. Neither did I.a She put her mouth against Kellyas hair. aMaybe d.i.c.kon willa"a aGet over it? Adapt? Calm down? I donno, Lar.a Kellyas voice thickened up again and she twisted to wipe her nose on her shoulder. aI actually think head have handled David being an elf if Reg hadnat gotten hurt. I mean, heas a big guy, he likes to ride his Yamaha, he does a little of the rebel without a clue thing, but heas pretty squishy inside. Law-abiding. And I just went and aa She trailed off into a shudder that was more exhaustion than sobs.

aAnd proved yourself devious beyond any of our expectations.a Lara hugged Kelly harder, a mix of guilt and grat.i.tude tangling inside her. aYou really did save his life. Thank you.a aHeas an elf, Lara. Heas got pointy ears. Did I just throw my whole life away for an elf?a She put her face in her hands, dragging a deep breath through her palms. aWe should have kept going. I wouldnat have to think so much if I was still driving.a aLook.a Lara nudged her toward the car door. aCrawl into the backseat and sleep for a few hours, okay? Iall stay awake, and maybe things will seem better when you wake up.a Kelly sniffled again, then nodded as she climbed into the car. aArenat you going to tell me itall be okay, that d.i.c.kon loves me and that if he doesnat forgive me he doesnat deserve me? The rest of my friends would.a aYeah,a Lara said softly, and closed the door as gently as she could before whispering, aBut you and I both know the truthas more complicated than that.a The silence of the upstate forest was nothing like the silence in the enchanted forest surrounding the Seelie citadel. There, the silence was absolute; here, if she listened hard enough, Lara could hear mechanical things. Distant airplanes, the thrum of car engines or horns; even voices raised where no one had seemed to be. But Dafydd had gone into the woods like a child seeking solace, and the quiet was a gift even for Lara.

The common phrase would be athere had been no time to think.a But there had been, long hours on the road in enforced silence, neither Lara nor Kelly eager to speak and disturb what rest Dafydd could get. The staff had eased the last hour of the journey, but traveling in the car was clearly bad for him when his glamour was released, and head made no effort to continue holding it once they reached the vehicleas relative safety. So the silence had reigned, leaving her to her own thoughts.

She crouched at the pondas edge, dragging her fingertips through it and watching ripples rebound against the incoming laps of water. Magic seemed like that to her, bouncing in unexpected ways. The staff Dafydd clung to had perhaps changed his world once already. Even with her best intentions, using it there could have unforeseen consequences.

aChanges that will break the world.a She sighed, then pushed to her feet and went into the forest more deliberately than she had the last time shead entered a wood. Then shead been hurt and angry and trying to escape. This time, if anything, she was searching for something.

For someone, truth be told, and for Lara, it always was.

It took longer to find him than she expected, as if head been wholly embraced by wilderness and it chose to deliberately hide him from her. It was absurd, but she was given no less to the fancy when she came on him sitting in a pool of moonlight, his s.h.i.+rt abandoned.

He looked like what he was, half-clothed and silver-skinned under the stars: an alien being, ethereal and beautiful and so terribly inhuman. A handful of half-interested bugs darted around him, even landed on his naked skin, but left again without tasting him, as if they knew his blood was wrong.

Moonlight was his friend in a way suns.h.i.+ne was not. He looked carved of it, looked like he was brother to it, and looked, Lara thought, as though he was drinking it in through his skin, vitality restoring as she watched. The staff lay across his lap, his palms resting on it, and even it glowed in the moonas light, making it more ethereal and inhuman than before.

She stood where she was a long time, watching him in silence as the shadows changed and made leaf tattoos on his skin. There was peace in simply standing there, wrapped in calm, but eventually she whispered, aDoes it help at all?a He didnat startle, didnat so much as change the steady slow draw of breath, but after a little while he spoke. The words were music, incomprehensible at first, but as the moments went by, their meaning became clear. Seelie language and truthseeker magic wound together, making a story of sorrow and pain.

aA little,a Dafydd breathed. aThe moonlight here is cooler. At home it would burn a path to my heart, strengthening me.a aWhat will happen to you if you stay here?a Lara had an answer for that, one she didnat want to consider, and Dafyddas sigh said her fears were well founded.

aI donat know. With the staff, I think I would survive. Without it a your world can only give me a fraction of what I need.a Dafydd put his hand to his chest, a spasm of pain tightening his features as he did so. aThere is a wound here, Lara. An empty place where I once was connected to the Barrow-lands. Iad never noticed its presence until its absence told its tale. The pale magics of your world might flood it, but they will never fill it. I reach for things here, for the sounds of nature, the taste of the wind, the cool light from the sky, and they fall away from me.a His hand rose again, this time to capture one of the insects in his palm. aLike these biting creatures, your world simply does not recognize me well enough to give me sustenance. I might become a wraith if I stayed here. Like the nightwings became, before they took that man.a aI wonat let that happen.a He smiled suddenly, brilliant in the moonlight. aNo. I donat think you would, at that.a Finally he opened his eyes, then put out a graceful hand, inviting Lara to join him. She knelt by his side, then leaned in to kiss him.

aGood,a she whispered. aYouare still real. There are so many things I need to ask you, Dafydd.a He nodded, gaze solemn. aSo many things to talk about.a Then he smiled again and drew her closer. aWhat was it you said? aShut up and kiss mea?a Lara laughed. aI only said shut up.a aThat,a Dafydd said, eyes bright, aI can do.a Then, for all the honesty in his voice and promise in his words, he added, aYou came for me. Thank you, Lara. You might not have.a Lara put her forehead against his, lost for a moment in simply wanting to touch him. His skin was cool, almost cold, and she took his hands to warm them as she sat back on her heels. aThere was never any chance I wouldnat.a aUnless youad been lost to the Barrow-lands forever. How did you come back? How did you open the door?a aMe! What about you? You disappeared in the middle of a war! How did that happen?a aIave had months to wonder about that.a Dafydd shook his head. aThe Barrow-lands will only permit someone of royal blood to cast that spell, and it certainly wasnat me.a aWell, it certainly doesnat seem very likely that it was Emyr, and Iam sure it wasnat Ioan.a aHafgan, perhaps. The Barrow-lands will heed Unseelie royal blood as well as Seelie.a aNo, it wasnat Hafgan. Ioanas been ruling in his name for centuries, maybe longer.a aIoan has what?a Dafydd gasped and Lara dropped her gaze to their entwined fingers, gathering herself before answering.

aHafgan abdicated and Ioan took his name. For consistency, maybe. Your brother is king of the Unseelie, Dafydd.a Astonishment kept Dafydd still, though his gaze went through Lara as if he saw something distant. aNot for consistency, but because Emyr would take abdication as a folly. He might have seized the opportunity to attack the Unseelie court, to push an old enemy out of sight when they were at their weakest. Hafgan canat be dead, can he?a He refocused on Lara, leaving her with the alarming impression that she should have many answers she lacked.

aI donat think so, but Ioan said it was so long ago that the Unseelie have all but forgotten someone else used to be king. How long would that take?a aToo long for it to have any meaning, Lara, or even any number I might name for you. Oisn keeps some mark of the years, but our nature doesnat incline us to. I donat see how the Unseelie court could forget their king was once a different man. Our memories fade until even our own lives are nothing more than stories and legends, but Ioanas Seelie coloring would forever remind them.a aAh.a Lara puffed her cheeks. aI wouldnat have known he was Seelie if he hadnat told me. He says the Unseelie used to be pale, too, but living underground for so long has changed them, so he chose to change, too. Heas dark-haired now.a aThey? He thinks of himself as one of them?a aDidnat Merrick think of himself as Seelie?a aNot so much that he let our magic work subtle changes to his coloring. I didnat even know that could be done.a Dafydd fixed his gaze on the black pond. aSo my blood brother truly is of another people, while the brother of my heart lies dead and I am, perhaps, trapped in a world not my own. I suppose it could be worse,a he said eventually. aIt could be raining.a Lara shot a look toward the sky, then shouldered him. aEven I know better than to say things like that.a Dafydd flashed a brief smile at the stars. aIam a weatherman. It permits me a certain leeway. Am I forgiven my follies, then? I should have told you about Merrick,a he said more quietly. aI am sorry, Lara.a aI know. And yes, youare forgiven. A year in jail is more than enough penance. I didnat mean for that to happen.a aYou didnat cause it to happen. I spent a great deal of time worrying about you, Lara. It seems impossible it was only a day.a Lara shook her head. aI know. I spent hours reading news archives on Kellyas computer. It was like reading a past history of a world that never was. But it could have been much worse. You were gone from the Barrow-lands for ten days, and a century pa.s.sed here. I couldave been missing for a decade.a aSome aspect of the spell I used to hold time in tandem must have clung to you. Either that or a truthseekeras will can find its way through time as well as the s.p.a.ce between worlds.a aIn that case I need to work on my timing.a aWell,a Dafydd said in a wonderfully mollifying tone, ait was your first time.a Lara laughed aloud. aPractice makes perfect, is that it?a Dafydd took the question for invitation, brus.h.i.+ng his mouth against hers and murmuring, aThatas the human expression, yes.a aIad just as soon not have to practice that, though. I can think of better things that might need perfecting.a aReally. Like what?a Lara sat back, trying to look serious. aWell, the cut of your s.h.i.+rt. Itas all right when the glamour is working, but right now it looks like you borrowed your big brotheras clothes. Anda"a She shouted laughter as Dafydd tackled her, knocking her back into moss and soft earth. aMy dress! Youare going to destroy it! I made this, Dafydd!a aMy deepest apologies.a The phrase was teasing, not sincere, and Lara pursed her lips uninvitingly as he tried for another kiss. aAh, is a man not allowed to offer perhaps slightly insincere apologies to salve his ladyas heart?a aNot with me. It grates on my skin.a Delight flooded Lara, though, turning her sour expression to another smile. aHis lady?a Dafydd looked discomfited. aItas absurd, I know, Lara. Weave spent barely a day in