I went home after making sure Lionel had food and other supplies to last a few days. I would think about getting him a new master in a day or so — when I felt better.
I sat in my workroom staring at the floor, at the circle waiting to be used. I couldn’t bring up the energy to call a spirit and ask about the demon. I couldn’t stand the thought that whoever I summoned wouldn’t know the answer. Better to be ignorant than to face yet another disappointment. My back sent a message to my brain, move or die. I realized two hours had passed without me noticing.
I moved, it hurt, but pain was better than nothing. Princess was still covered completely with the blanket. I knew she couldn’t feel anything, or see anything but it made me feel worse to see her hidden like a mirror during Shiva.
The least I could do is let some light on her. As I lifted the cover, I noticed she had paled a little, the spell kept her in complete suspension, but I guess she needed some light to keep her healthy just like a flower. I took the cover off and let the sunlight flowing in from the row of basement windows fall on her skin. I thought a little color came back to her, but that could be wishful thinking.
I perched on the edge of the couch and started talking. It felt good to talk, it didn’t matter that she couldn’t hear me, or maybe it was better that she couldn’t.
“I am such an idiot,” I said, “and a coward.”
As I expected Princess didn’t contradict me.
“I should have said something. I should have offered to kiss her when we were both apprentices. If I had, maybe none of this would have happened. Maybe she would be living here with us.”
I dropped my head into my hands. I hated this spiral of self-pity but I couldn’t stop it. “I don’t know what to do now. I don’t know why I should keep fighting this battle. I should just take up hermiting.”
“The battle started long before Cate joined.”
It took me a second to realize the voice was coming from the doorway and not the fairy beside me. I looked up and saw Olan swooping toward the bench. “Yes, and if we had kept her out of it, she would be alive today,” I said.
“Maybe, but maybe not. A demon took her and it could have been sent to do just that? It could have taken anyone but it chose her. Maybe nothing to do with the Sidhe.”
“It would be a stretch of the imagination to think someone was trying to kill her for some unrelated purpose just as we were about to get the amulet.”
“But not impossible.”
I didn’t have the energy to argue any more. What did it matter, she was gone. “Look, I don’t really want to talk about it. I know I didn’t contact her for years, but we still had time. I was planning to get around to it.”
“No you weren’t.” He hopped on my shoulder and tapped my head with his beak. I hoped he was trying to be gentle, but it hurt anyway.
“Well, maybe you are right. I was ignoring what could be while I built my power and reputation. I really did intend to court her; eventually. I thought we had an eventually.”
“Well, that might be. I won’t argue with you because I don’t know what goes on in your heart. But, I know you can’t let her life be spent for nothing.”
“For nothing, or for something, what’s the difference? She’s still gone. And it would have been horrible. She must have kept the spell going until the last second. The Sidhe didn’t start to wake until I was almost out of room.” I realized that the demon must have attacked her just as I gave up on finding the amulet. “If I had just left as soon as I realized the Gur amulet wasn’t where Maeve said it was, I could have saved her.”
“Or, it could have taken you, or both of you, which is worse in my mind.” Olan wouldn’t let me wallow. It was annoying and being annoyed made it difficult to feel sorry for myself.
“I know. But anything would be better than this.” The whine in my voice actually hurt my ears. I sighed and tried to sound adult and rational. “I am done, Olan. I don’t care anymore about the humans or what happens to us if the humans retaliate. Or what happens to the Sidhe if either Maeve or Fionuir wins the election. I just don’t care”
Olan paced for a minute or two. “What about her.” He flicked his wing at Princess. “You let the light on her that means you care about her.”
“Okay, maybe I can find the time to get her off the hook with her tribe. That’s all.”
“What about Lionel?”
“Yes, I’ll find him a master. That’s it.”
Olan hopped back on the bench and turned his head to catch my eye. “And the Druids? What about the druids caught in that stone?”
“What do you mean? They have been there for centuries. Why am I suddenly responsible for them?”
“You know they are feeling the impact of Fionuir’s spell. Every human who is killed to feed the spell draws a sip of their soul. Soon there’ll be nothing left.”
I didn’t know that, but it did make sense. When their souls were drawn into the stone, they were prevented from moving to whatever plane they were supposed to go to. They literally lived in the amulet. What was done by their power was done by them. “It is Fionuir’s spell not mine.”
“Yes, but she plans to continue. I think, she is planning to keep doing it even when she wins the election. Her followers will want that sip of power. I don’t see how she can take it away them.”
“Bird, I don’t care.” I said the words, but I didn’t believe them. He was right. Cate had wanted this to end as much as I did. If I really loved her I would end it.
He fluffed his feathers and settled again before speaking. “What if you knew where the amulet was? And knew it would be there for at least three days?”
I could finish this in three days. I could take the amulet, clean the spell, wake princess and convince her clan she was the one who fixed the problem. I could find Lionel a new master. “Three days? Are you sure?”
“Maeve found where Fionuir hid it. She is willing to distract Fionuir for three days. After that, it will be time for the election.”
“You trust Maeve?” I truly didn’t know if I did.
“I do. I remember the last time she was queen. It will be worth it to have her rule again.”
“Okay so, we need a plan.”
“You are the planner here.” Olan wasn’t going to cut me a break at all.
I decided to get it over and then I could become a hermit. Hermits are safe from everything in their caves. “Where is the amulet?”
“In the wall of the basement of the Sidhe court,” Olan said.
“Great. How will we know where in the wall?” Not to mention how were we going to get down into the basement.
“There is a loose brick. You will be able to tell by feel. Maeve said it was close to the door from the court.”
“Okay, we have a plan. I go down to the basement and steal the amulet. We need a distraction and a little bit of information.” I started to pull together some amulets.
Olan flew to the window ledge to look me in the eye. “What information do you need? You know where it is. All we need is a distraction, we can get in, get it and get it out.”
“Very poetic, but how do we get in? I didn’t see a basement door when I was there last night. And I don’t remember seeing one from the outside either.”
Olan tipped his head to the side. “You don’t know how to get into the court basement?”
“No, and don’t say that like I am some loser who doesn’t know how to tie his shoe laces.”
“Well, I thought everyone knew that.” He gave a little birdy shrug.
“Are you going to make me beg, bird? Remember I am pretty close to walking away from this whole thing. There’s a cave in Squamish with my name on it.”
“You get there through the back of Bank’s.” Olan flapped over to the couch and examined Princess. “I think you should cover her up again. She’s starting to burn.”