The Blood Forest (Tree of Ages #3)(56)

“You are very loyal,” she said finally.

She began to pace, the long train of her glittering white gown hissing across the stone floor.

“Normally, loyalty is a trait which I highly reward,” she continued. She laced her pure white hands together and turned toward him. “Unfortunately, yours seems to be misguided. The Dair stole my magic once, and I will not allow it to happen again. Lead me to my shroud, and we shall defeat them together.”

Iseult was almost tempted by her offer. If they could defeat the other Dair, perhaps Finn would be safe, but he had a feeling Oighear would lump her in with the others.

She waited for his reply, but received none.

She quirked an eyebrow at him, the fine white hairs barely visible against her matching skin. “I know of your people,” she stated casually. “So few left now,” she mused. “I wonder, what happens when you die without a soul?”

Iseult once again schooled his expression to show nothing, though it was difficult. Few knew of his people’s curse. In fact, with the disappearance of the Cavari, and his lack of kin, for many years he believed himself the only one with the information.

She began to pace again. “I can break your curse with the help of my shroud. It removes the barrier to the in between, where the souls of your people are trapped. Join me, and you will have everything you could ever hope for.”

“If your deal were truly so sweet,” he replied, “you would have offered it from the start, instead of imprisoning us.”

Ire flashed through her lilac eyes. “The girl is Cavari. She would see me returned to my eternal slumber. I learned my lesson centuries ago. One does not make treaties with enemies.”

“Yet you seek out the Dair?” he questioned, hoping to keep her talking, though he wasn’t sure why. Any information he learned would do him little good once he was dead.

She smirked. “Not all Dair are Cavari. The Cavari are twisted and evil, far from where their people originated. I had hoped to find the other Dair to band against the Cavari, along with the other Faie. Together, we would be unstoppable.”

“And let me guess,” he taunted, “you would be the queen of all?”

She tilted her head, cascading her silken hair over her bony shoulder. “Naturally.”

“And if I join you,” he pressed, “declare you my new queen. What then?”

“We find the shroud, kill the Cavari, and rule the earth.”

Iseult shook his head and laughed. “That is the problem with queens. It’s never about saving your people, or bringing justice to wrong-doers. Your sole concern is power. You surely are no queen of mine.”

“You have just as much reason to hate the Cavari as I,” she snapped.

He shrugged. “Perhaps.”

She frowned, then looked past him toward someone entering the room.

“A large contingent of men has been spotted in the Western Woods,” the visitor explained.

Oighear’s frown deepened. “Humans?”

“Yes, my lady.”

“And why are they still alive?” she inquired.

The informant stepped further into the room, revealing himself to be one of the many armored Aos Sí. “They skirt the boundaries, my lady. A large force would need to be deployed, leaving those who remain vulnerable.”

Oighear let out a throaty laugh. Iseult did not miss the way the Aos Sí warrior jumped. Perhaps Eywen and his associates were not the only ones who feared their queen.

“Let us see if these men can withstand the wrath of Oighear the White,” she growled.

Without another look at Iseult, Oighear swept out of the room with the Aos Sí. The door slammed shut behind them, then a lock slid into place, even though Iseult was already restrained in his chair.

Ignoring the throbbing of his near-fatal wound, and the aching of his cold bones, he began to formulate his plan. Oighear might have been an ancient, magical being, but she was shortsighted, blinded by her own power and authority. Perhaps there was a way out of this situation yet, a way back to Finn. He wouldn’t get his hopes up, but if an opportunity presented itself, he’d be ready.



óengus drew his horse to a halt. Something felt odd. Even the winged creature at the end of his tether had lifted its head to scent the air, its spherical eyes intent on something in the distance. His men all came to a halt behind him, muttering to each other, but not daring to ask their Captain what was wrong.

He inhaled deeply, tasting crisp moisture on the back of his tongue, yet the sky was clear. Then the first snowflake came drifting in, like a lazy fly fluttering up and down through the air. It landed on óengus’ cheek. Before it could melt, more snow began to fall. The sky suddenly grew dark.

óengus stared upward. He’d seen sorcery many times, and knew this was no natural snowfall. A mighty gust came in, pelleting him and his men with snow. The creature tugged at its tether, making a nervous chittering sound in its throat.

“Ride!” óengus shouted, right before the sky closed in on them. He kicked his horse forward, suddenly blinded by the stinging white snow. Judging by the initial flakes it was coming from the southeast. To ride north would be backtracking, so that meant they must ride west. He veered his horse to the right and hunched over close to his saddle.

One of his men screamed not far behind him. He turned, and could barely see enough through the snow to notice an oddly armored rider as he wielded a long sword against another of his men.