Susan's Summer (22 page)

Happiness is a strange notion. When I was little I thought I was happy most of the time, because I was. At least, that's how I remember it. My parents let me run around wild and free outside and I didn't yet know the feeling of heartache or loss. Like most kids, I found out about that stuff slowly. A pet by the unoriginal name of Grover passed away. We were driving and we accidentally ran over a squirrel. You would think slow exposure numbs you to pain. It doesn't.

When my parents died, that's when it hit me hard. I told myself I would get through it, but I was stupid. That's not something you recover from, you just go on. When Holt died the feeling was more familiar, unfortunately. Now I was used to the constant ache. After months of feeling sorry for myself, after everyone around me had moved on, I was wondering if I could start to move on myself..

Then I had met Seth. Then I had found out that Teegan was my betrothed, then the Supreme Council, or the I Will Ruin Everything Just for the Fun of it Council, had intervened. As usual. What could you expect from a governing body that would lock up the heir to the Roth throne and his fiancée just for getting engaged.

~ ~ ~

It was with a feeling of contentment that I sat in the sun room with Seth, Katie, and Mae in the middle of July. I wanted summer to never end. We were discussing the latest town gossip; it turned out everyone within reach came to Seth to solve their problems and he was happy to oblige. It warmed my heart.

All of our note-stones were clustered in the center of the table, which was why when they all started vibrating at once it surprised us. Much like a mass text, only in fairy speak, we all had a message. Katie reached out to pick up hers. With a trembling hand she started to read. The rest of us were silent.

"It's from the Supreme Council," she said, and her brow furrowed. "It can't be good. They’re the kind of organization you never want to notice you."

My eyes locked with Seth's. He gave a slight smile, but I could tell he didn't like it any more than the rest of us.

"Well, no use putting it off," said Seth. "Read it."

Katie glanced at her brother, saw the hard line of his jaw and the calm determination in his eyes. She seemed to gain strength from his strength and started to read,

~ ~ ~

Dear Friends,

It has come to the Supreme Council’s attention that there is an urgent matter at issue between the Arsenal and Marchell Courts. As you know, Arsenal is the summer half, while Marchell rules the winter. After extensive investigation, we have found that several severe violations have taken place. Heretofore, the fairy family of Arsenal has long stood in good stead with the Supreme Council and other Fairy Courts. It has only recently come to our attention that longstanding private family issues have weakened Arsenal’s strength. As many of you know, this is unacceptable. We recently lost a summer heir, Holt Roth, and we cannot have any more kingdoms at risk. It is our power from unity that keeps us resting within the pale of safety instead of tumbling over the thin barrier into chaos.

Arsenal derives strength from its vast and perfectly kept lands. Were these lands to be compromised, the Arsenal power base would be greatly weakened. Well, my fellow Fairies, unfortunately, just that has happened. Therefore, we have no choice, but to attend to Arsenal directly and in person.

Supreme Chancellor of all Summer Fairies in conjunction with Supreme Chancellor of all Winter Fairies
—
Molten and Nero

~ ~ ~

I was afraid to look at Seth. Staring at my hands, I saw them pale and twisting in my lap. My mind was blank. I was too afraid to focus on anything but what the Council had just told us. What did they know? How bad would it be? Would the people sitting in front of me, about whom I had come to care deeply, suffer? All of these questions swirled through my mind as I continued to look down.

"Are you okay? Katie asked her brother, voice low.

When he didn't say anything I dared to look up. I was expecting rage, a face red with fury, but that's not what I saw. What I saw was quiet contemplation.

"Seth?" she asked again.

When he looked at her his face took my breath away. His eyes were steel and his mouth was pressed into a hard line.

"This has to stop," he said. "Now."

"What do you mean?"

“I mean that it was Rout who told the Council about my dad being missing and the damaged land . . . land that he himself damaged. He is setting us up so that he can take over Arsenal, and I won't stand for it."

Katie's chin trembled at her brother's harsh words.

Seth's tone softened when he saw how upset his sister was. "He is power hungry, sweetheart," he said, his voice only sad now, not enraged.

"What is going to happen to Arsenal?"

"Nothing, if I can help it," he said through gritted teeth.

I hated to see Katie suffer.

Seth looked despairingly around the room, his blue eyes filled with a deep sadness. “Look,” he said. “Nothing will happen. I promise. But I have to go. Otherwise there won’t be anyone there to stop Rout.”

“What is he going to do?”

“I think he’s going to try and take the land, or make it worse before he makes it better. It doesn’t matter. He shouldn’t be doing anything.”

Katie nodded that she understood and Seth wrapped her up in a quick hug before he raced for the door. “It’s going to be okay,” he yelled over his shoulder. “Arsenal will never belong to the Marchells.”

And then he was gone.

I started to go after him, but Mae grabbed my arm.

“It’s dangerous,” she hissed. “You really want to put yourself in the middle of this mess? Hasn’t there been enough fairy drama in your life?”

She was, of course, referring to what happened between the Roths and the Cheshires, which had created a sensation across all the fairy lands: Samuel Cheshire, rejected by the one woman he could ever marry; Holt Roth giving her his Rose instead.

When her brother was gone, Katie collapsed in a corner.

“He’s going to die,” she said, her hands held tightly together in front of her and her face white. “He’s never going to make it fighting the Marchells.”

“Do you think it will come to an actual fight?” Mae asked, trying to comfort Katie, but without much conviction. “They haven’t taken his land yet.”

“Haven’t you noticed?” Katie asked sadly. “They’ve been trying to. They hate that he has more land, power, respect. Everyone in the village loves him. He’s wonderful to everyone, and Rout can’t stand it. Any little hint that my brother’s power might be slipping and he will pounce.”

“I’m sure it won’t come to that,” I murmured, going over to Katie to offer her comfort in my turn.

But was I sure? The fight over Autumn had turned into a total disaster with the Cheshires. Now the Queen hated us more than anything and poor Samuel had to try and deal with his mother hating his chosen one.

“I’ll go to the clearing,” I said. “I know some members of the Council. I’ll try and explain things.” Maybe I should have told Mae all about Gaudet, but the Blacks were the sort of people whose secrets you didn’t spill. Bes
id
es, I didn’t want my friends to worry.

“You really think that’s a good idea?” Mae asked skeptically.

But Katie was all for it. She jumped to her feet. “I’ll go with you!”

“No,” I said. “Rout is the kind of guy who acts worse if he has an audience. I’ll go, but you should stay here. I’m not part of either Court, so I have no bias. They’ll listen to me.”

I said it to comfort Katie, but I knew they wouldn’t. The Supreme Council was the law, and they did what they thought was right without truly listening to anyone else’s opinions. They had proven that in the situation with Holt. But I was hoping that at least I could act as a credible witness. I had to give the Arsenals at least that much. Seth had sheltered and housed me all summer. He had taught me that I could be happy again. I just wasn’t sure I could be happy without him.

Mae kept protesting, but I stayed firm. I was going. If Gaudet was already in the field I didn’t have time to waste. Finally, done with the argument, I just threw up my hands. “You would do it for me.”

“I’m not in trouble!” Mae shot back. “My life is not nearly so complicated as yours!”

I grinned at her. “I like it a little complicated!”

“Hurry,” said Katie. “He ran out of here without asking for help, and he’s probably already there. Just hurry.”

“Stay here,” I ordered my friends. “If anyone shows up, keep them company until Seth and I get back.”

I had grabbed my note-stone off the table as I left and was a little surprised when it started to heat up in my hand. I was set to ignore it when I saw the name on the stone: Samuel.

“Hey,” I said, starting to breathe heavily from my dual effort to run and talk at the same time. “This isn’t the best time.”

“I know,” said Samuel. I thought I heard amusement in his voice. “I got the note as well. We all did.”

“Oh, so you know that there’s about to be a battle between the Winter and Summer Courts?” I asked.

“Yup,” he said. “For something new and different.”

“I’m on my way to stop it,” I said, dodging around a few tree branches as I went.

“I don’t like the sound of that,” said Samuel. “Are you alone?”

“I’m heading to help Seth,” I said. “I left Mae and Katie behind.”

“We thought you might be. Autumn ordered me to message you.” He said it with so much affection that I knew she was sitting right next to him.

“Tell Autumn I said hi.” I smiled.

“I messaged Teegan. He’s on his way,” said Samuel. “There’s something else you should know.”

“What’s that?” I asked. “That Rout Marchell is a terrible fairy? I already knew that.”

“No,” said Samuel. “Not that. You should know that there’s an easy way for Seth to keep his land.”

I skidded to a halt. “They’re really thinking of taking it?” I demanded, horrified.

One thing I had forgotten about while I was running was that someone had been attempting to kill me this summer. They hadn’t tried very hard, because it wasn’t like I had to hide in my room all the time, but it was serious enough that I
had been
careful. Someo
n
e
was carrying around
a whole lot of rage against me. I was reminded just a little too late, when a blast of ice slammed down on the earth in front of me. I saw it, but not in time to react.

I was blown away.

As
I went flying, my note-stone disappear
ed
into the brush that lined the path. Tendrils of ice curled up from under me, wrapping freezing fingers around my prone body. I tried to focus, to think of safety and getting away. I’d never been attacked by another fairy before, although I felt sure that Lydia and Leslie Cheshire would have loved to try it.

“Think you’re so smart,” said a simpering voice I had come to know well. “Well, who’s the smart one now? Nice little trap we set up, isn’t it?”

Terry came sauntering out of the woods. She was dressed more like a Summer Fairy than a Winter Fairy. She wore a light blue dress, with bright red lipstick and her dark hair flowing in ringlets down her shoulders. I referred her in black.