He gave them no more time for goodbyes.
Brendan’s heart felt ripped to pieces as he left his soldiers behind. That wasn’t how it was supposed to be.
Pól
and
Alyss
hid in a nearby cave while
Aneurin
led Brendan and Bran through a quicker path to the ship.
“My daughter told me where she would be signalling,” he said. “And as soon as I find her, I’m leaving with her. I can’t risk her falling in the hands of the fir
bolg
.”
“We understand,” Brendan said, panting as he ran. They climbed another cliff face, practically fell down a steep hill, and then raced across a valley. On higher ground, a fire burned.
“That way!”
Aneurin
said. “I’ll leave you here to find my daughter. Keep running, and you’ll come out on the beach. The sand will slow down the giant, and you should come out ahead of him. If you don’t, you’ll miss the boat. Get on the ship as quickly as possible because there are rocks in that area that the giant can throw. The trees and
Dafina
should already be boarded. Good luck to both of you. We’ll take good care of the people left behind.”
Brendan thanked
Aneurin
then sprinted away. If he had to, he would slow down the giant himself to give the ship enough time to get away.
“You’ll go ahead,” he told Bran. “Get on the ship and make sure the trees get back safely.”
“You heard the others,” Bran panted as they sprinted through the valley. “There’s no way to avoid it. You have to come back. The Green Court will disappear without you.”
“Cara will take care of everyone.”
They ran faster, hearing the giant nearby.
“Cara is what the
Darksiders
need. You are what the Green Court needs. You came back from the Fade twice for a reason. Do you think the gods would allow that if you weren’t supposed to be king?”
Sometimes, he wondered. And he didn’t want to stay. He wanted to get back, to see Cara and Drake and all of the people who had enriched his life since he first returned. He had changed because of them all, become a better man, and he just couldn’t give up now. Not when there was still so much to do. The thought of leaving either Cara or Drake at the hands of some of the remorseless
fae
back home made up his mind for him. He had to return.
They burst out of the valley and onto sand, immediately slowing down as their feet sank into soft sand. Brendan chanced a glance over his shoulder. The giant was behind them, thankfully. But it could still catch up. As he watched, the creature stopped running to find a rock to throw.
“Careful,” Brendan called out to Bran. “Watch out for the rocks!”
But the first rock was aimed at the ship they were gaining on. As the rock landed in the water with a huge splash, the crew began to pull up the anchor.
“Hurry!” Bran shouted, but Brendan wasn’t sure who he was talking to.
A second rock landed in the sand in front of them. They ducked around a pile of rocks and jumped into the ocean as one. Brendan swam against the current toward the ship. He could hear his soldiers on board urging him on, full of joy to see him. That was what he inspired. They dropped a floating buoy, and let it trail behind the ship as it sailed away.
Bran was slowing down. The next rock landed too close to him, shoving him underwater with the force of the impact. Without hesitation, Brendan dove under after him. Bran struggled to make it back to the surface, trying in vain to swim against the current. Brendan gripped his arm and pulled him up, determined not to leave anyone else behind. They broke through the surface, sucking in ragged breaths.
“I… can’t,” Bran gasped.
“You’re coming home,” Brendan said firmly, urging Bran on toward the buoy.
With Brendan’s help, they both made it, Brendan gripping Bran’s shirt as well as the buoy in case the boy slipped underwater again.
The soldiers above cheered and threw a rope ladder over the rails. Heavy with seawater, Brendan pushed Bran up first. He gripped the ladder himself then and began to rise when the final rock landed, sending a wall of water crashing against them, almost knocking them both back into the sea and causing some damage to the ship.
Brendan ignored it and kept climbing, finally clambering over the rails and landing on the deck. As the crew slapped him on the back, he only had eyes for one thing: a set of two dozen trees gathered neatly in front of him, cared for by the elder,
Dafina
. They had done it. They had taken the trees. All they had to do now was make it home.
Chapter Eight
Drake
All was lost. The soldiers hunting them would soon reach their floor. Drake steeled himself for the end. He had plenty of regrets.
A horn sounded in the distance. The scout, still by the window, peeked outside then frowned.
“What is it?” Drake asked. “More of them come to support
Donella
?”
“I don’t… I don’t think so. I think it might be help for
us
.”
Drake exchanged a glance with Dymphna then rushed to the window. Two sets of troops were approaching the castle, briskly cantering parallel to each other. The smaller troop, made up of less than one hundred soldiers, carried a black flag at their lead. The second troop was larger, maybe triple the size, and carried a green flag.
“Help from both courts,” Drake said under his breath. He looked over his shoulder at Dymphna. “You did it. You called, and they came.”
“It’s not possible,” Dymphna said. “Not unless they were already on their way.”
Drake gazed out the window again. Cara had known about Sorcha’s pregnancy, too. Was she
spying
on him?
The footsteps that had been approaching raced back downstairs as a call came from within the castle to regroup outside.
“They’d be fools to face the Green and Chaos troops,” the scout said.
“We should find a better position,” Drake said. “We’ll need to communicate with whoever’s coming. Especially if a battle begins.”
“What if they’re here to join
Donella
?” one of the soldiers asked.
“Cara would never align herself with
Donella
,” Drake said confidently. “She hates the
leanan
sídhe
, but especially so on
Bekind’s
behalf. There’s no way they’re here to support
Donella
.”
“The
leanan
sídhe
was always trouble,” Dymphna said. She moved to Drake’s side to watch as
Donella’s
supporters gathered out front.
“She found out about Sorcha’s pregnancy,” he said. “That’s what started all of this. She knew it would weaken her chances if an heir was born.” He nodded at the scout. “You and the others should scout the castle and see if there are any survivors on our side. We’ll meet you at the front doors.”
He and Dymphna headed straight down to the Great Hall, gathering any allies they could find. They had been scattered and unorganised in the mayhem, but there was a decent number remaining. If only he hadn’t underestimated
Donella
. He had been too proud to share his worries with Cara or Brendan. Even though Brendan was away, the Green court had still sent help.
When the scout and the other soldiers returned with a group of willing fighters, Drake organised his people himself. “They may attack us before the troops arrive,” he warned after he was done. “We just need to hold our ground long enough.
Donella
likes the sound of her own voice, so I’ll try to drag it out as long as possible. Do not rise to her accusations or taunts. Let them come after us.”
He led a small team outside, but he could see that half of
Donella’s
supporters were already unsettled.
Donella
herself was pale, but she kept the show going with a flourish of her arm.
“Ah, are you here to welcome the troops of my old friend Brendan, and my great-grand-daughter, Cara?” she called out breezily.
“Brendan’s never claimed to be a friend of yours, and your relation to Cara is far more distant than that. She’s hardly going to stand against the father of her child.”
“A child you’ve barely acknowledged,” she scoffed. “Are you really so certain that she wouldn’t like to punish you for what you’ve done to her?” She addressed the crowd. “Imagine, instead of a barren banshee, we could have had a worthy queen in her own right as his wife. An heir already born. How unlucky we are that our king is so foolish. Here comes my own blood, my own people. I am the only one with enough ties to protect us from either court, the only one capable of establishing a close alliance with both.”
The troops gained ground.
“Enough,” Drake called out. “Not even the most foolish of your supporters could honestly believe those lies. You are only in this court because you’re so hated elsewhere. You have no place anywhere else. And my wife is with child. That’s the only reason you started this foolish game, but you see, the other courts had already received word of your leanings toward treachery, and this is how they respond.”
“Kill the false king,” she spat. “Before he has a chance to cause us further damage.”
Some of her supporters were more enthusiastic than others, but most unsheathed their weapons in order to attack before reinforcements arrived.
But the new arrivals had given him time to round up enough to people prepared to fight back. Drake had strong fighters by his side, but the rest of his people were divided into two more groups that he had instructed to leave the castle through different doors in order to surprise
Donella’s
rebel army. While the first skirmish began, the other teams surrounded the traitors, evening the odds of survival.
Drake sought out
Donella
in the crowd, but he couldn’t see her face.
He fought off two attackers at once, ending as the victor, but injured in the process. His wounded arm stung, but his blood was hot with fury and anticipation. Perhaps he wasn’t as alone as he thought. Perhaps things weren’t as dire as he suspected.
He fought his way to the edge of the battle, still looking for
Donella
. If she wasn’t dead, then she had fled already, he was sure. And who knew what trouble she would cause elsewhere. The Chaos army was racing their way, closely followed by the Green troops. A warning signal was blown, and as the news spread of
Donella’s
departure, most of her followers lost their will to fight.
The fresh troops intercepted those who tried to flee, while Arlen led a small number into the fray. The new additions quickly ended the battle for good. Bloody and sweating, Drake stood there panting as
Donella’s
supporters were rounded up.
“You came,” he said when Arlen greeted him.
Arlen smiled. “Of course. My king is ever a friend of yours.” He lowered his voice. “Whether you see it or not.”
Donncha
, head of the Chaos army, joined the pair. “My queen offers her apologies. She couldn’t come herself because her adopted-daughter is unwell, but she sent us in her stead and hopes that will be enough.”
“It was more than enough from both of you. Thank you.”
“This seems to be everyone who remains,” Arlen said, nodding at those his men had trapped.
“Any sign of
Donella
?”
“Unfortunately not,” Arlen said. “She may have escaped, but she won’t remain that way. She is lost.”
“I have a terrible feeling that this won’t be the last we see of her,” Drake said. “She’ll conspire from afar before returning.”
“What do you want us to do with her supporters?”
Donncha
asked.
“I’ll need to consider the matter. If I kill them all, I’ll have a bare court, but if I pardon them, I’ll live in fear of my wife’s life.” He nodded at
Donncha
. “Tell Cara she was right, and to thank her for sending the
Miacha
woman. Sorcha is indeed pregnant and unwell, but we are hopeful that she is improving.” He gestured to Arlen. “Has there been any word from Brendan?”
“Nothing,” Arlen said. “We haven’t heard of any sightings of the ship at all.”
“My queen asked the water
fae
to keep watch,”
Donncha
added. “As far as we know, the ship passed safely through a portal but has not returned.”
“How is the land on the
Darkside
?” Drake asked.
“Still poor,”
Donncha
said. “We have incidents on an almost weekly basis now. You may have sealed the rift, but most of the damage was already done. We’re just experiencing the repercussions of years of damage.”
“We need those trees,” Drake said.
“And we need our king,” Arlen said worriedly. He flushed. “Anya and I have plans to marry when he returns.”
“Congratulations. I wish you every happiness.” Drake was half-surprised to note that he actually meant it. Perhaps he had bathed in bitterness for long enough. “I invite you all to stay and refresh yourselves.”
“Our troops can set up camp outside,” Arlen said. “I think it’s best if we stay for a few days in case any of
Donella’s
supporters find themselves feeling a little too brave.”
“The same for my people,”
Donncha
said. “We can help lock up these traitors until you decide what you want to do with them.”
“Thank you,” Drake said. “I invite you, too, and your generals, to stay inside the castle. Dymphna, can you make sure they’re taken care of? I must check on Sorcha.”
Dymphna nodded then chatted to
Donncha
about her daughter,
Eithne
, who was still in the Chaos castle with Cara.
“She is very well,”
Donncha
was saying as Drake left them.
He strode into the castle, still angry with himself for letting things go so far. He should have gotten rid of
Donella
a long time ago instead of dealing with an insurgence instead.
Upstairs, he reassured the
daoine
sídhe
guarding Sorcha’s door then let himself into her room.
“The other courts sent troops,” he explained at Blue Eye’s questions. “It’s over. Is Sorcha well?”
“She seemed to gain strength, but she’s weakened since. She’s in bed again.”
“I’ll see to her if you would be kind enough to make sure the kitchens are running. We have a lot of guests to feed.”
“Of course,” she said. “She’ll be happy to see that you’re well yourself.”
He allowed himself a small smile then moved to Sorcha’s bed to see her. She was still pale, but red dots pinpricked the centre of her cheeks.
“It’s over,” he said.
“I heard an army approach,” she said. “Was it Cara?”
“The troops came from both courts,” he explained. “Arlen and
Donncha
led them.”
“And
Donella
?” she said hopefully.
He shook his head. “She disappeared.”
Her face fell. “It’s a pity. She’s a danger to us.”
“We’ll find her. At some point, she’ll get what she deserves. It’s what to do with her supporters that I’m unsure of.”
“Spare only the valuable,” she said. “Either enslave or kill the rest. Leave
Donella
friendless to keep us safe.”
“I’ll do as you say,” he said. “I expected you to be up out of bed. Didn’t the deaths help? Do they need to be sacrifices?”
“Perhaps. I’m tired, Drake.”
He held her hand. “I’ll stay until you fall asleep. I think I know what we should do with the prisoners.”
“Hmm?” Her eyes closed, and she gently squeezed his hand. “What’s that?”
“I think I should take them up here one by one, and… are you awake?”
There was no answer. Sorcha’s breathing deepened.
As he gazed upon her, the seeds of pity sprouted in his heart. She suffered for him. “I’ll sacrifice them all to you,” he said. “We’ll make you well again. It’s the least I can do.”