His mother’s head snapped to the side, answering the call. “Your mother died before you were born. I carried you. I birthed you, and I gave you the blood of the Tuatha Dé Danann, Liam Cruinn.”
His unease caused the enchanted horse between his legs to shift uncomfortably. “What do you want from me?” He asked, barely above a whisper.
Balor, wearing his mother’s face, seemed pleased about the question. “We are going to reduce Tarsainn to rocks and sludge.”
Chapter Sixteen
Tormalugh Shadowhock
“They won’t leave their rooms.” Slade, his advisor, bowed his head in apology. “Your newest recruits are fearful of everything and everyone.”
Tormalugh pinched the bridge of his nose. “I worried about that.”
“Where did you find them?” Slade stepped back, allowing his king to pass. Together, they began their journey down the hall. “The nearest villages were evacuated after the sickness, so they couldn’t have come from there. Are you sure they can be trusted?”
Tormalugh sighed. “Do you remember the stories? Of our ancestors, enslaved by the Dark King.”
“Belisama granted us sanctuary in the Twilight Lake,” Slade replied, exasperated. “We all know the stories. But they’re for Younglings and the feeble. No one believes that actually happened.”
“Well, it did.” Tor’s lip pinched. “I saw the Dark King himself. I wore his bridle. Those Kelpies were his racers.”
Slade swallowed deeply. “Truly?”
“Just so.”
“The Dark King?” Slade continued.
Tor ignored the question. “Cruinn is going to make a move. Whatever peace was gained by Irvine’s death is an illusion.”
“Do you think Cruinn will attack the Reeds?” Slade asked, knitting his hands together.
“The Undine have brute force.” Tor narrowed his eyes. “The Troid Sídhe are strong, but not as strong as a Kelpie on four legs.”
“We can always drag them to the deep.” Slade smiled wickedly, showing off his sharp teeth. “Think of how delicious their fear will taste as we drain them to husks.”
Tormalugh didn’t want to think about it. “We made a bargain with Belisama. We do not hunt the other creeds.” He sighed. “Besides, I am not worried about the Undine. I am worried about the new Queen. Her magic is unknown.”
Tormalugh had no intention of telling his subjects about Balor. While he knew that most fae in the Twilight Lake worshipped Belisama, the God of the waves, he had no idea how the Kelpies would react to finding out one of the Tuatha Dé Danann had been made flesh—and that Balor was determined to destroy all in their path if it meant gaining control of Maeve.
He trusted his subjects to a point, but desperation changed people to their core. He couldn’t trust that they wouldn’t deliver Maeve to Balor if it meant an end to the fighting.
“I want to end this conflict with as little fighting as possible.” Tormalugh shook his head. “If we can remain behind the wall and allow the Undine to wear themselves down, all the better.”
“Willthey wear themselves down?” Slade eyed him skeptically. “Or will they wear down the enchantments protecting us?”
Tormalugh didn’t have an answer for the question.
Elsbeth chose that moment to appear at the end of the hallway, a flurry of large black skirts that drifted around her like the frills of a jellyfish. Tormalugh sagged with relief as Elsbeth approached.
“Brother!” She cried out cheerfully. “I am going to the barracks to deliver some food to our newest guests. Would you care to join me?”
After a fortnight with the Dark King’s Kelpies as they traveled across the Night Court, the last thing he wanted was to spend more time with the new additions. Every time they avoided his eyes or refused to speak, it made him uncomfortable.
But he had no desire to endure any more of Slade’s questioning.
Tor dipped his head in farewell and allowed his sister to steer him towards the barracks.
The Barracks sat under the platform that led to the castle doors, hidden under the rock shelf that extended to the Reeds.
