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Keir searched his memory before answering. “I think there was a myth, in the distant past, regarding fae and iron.”

“When we were chained, something was said about fae fearing this metal.”

Killian said, “You’d think Hades would know if ‘twas a myth.”

“You would,” Keir agreed. “But gods can be susceptible to gossip like anyone.”

“I’ve heard that, too.”

“Also, whoever chained Exscruffenrox here millennia ago might’ve forgotten about it. Or become disinterested. Even if they remembered the faulty theory behind making the chain iron, what would be their motivation to update?”

“Concur. And I know where you’re goin’ with this. It’s been a while since I hung around blacksmiths, but I’ve been known to find amusement in watchin’ the work while enjoyin’ a sip or two.”

“You’ve always been easily entertained by liquid refreshment.”

“True enough, but I did learn things.”

“Like what?”

“Like, for instance, that real iron would’ve rusted away and been on the ground in flakes long, long ago.

Keir looked at the chain and nodded. “Can’t be denied. The chain may be partly iron, but there’d have to be some magic in the mix.”

“So, the only thing we know is that we don’t know what we’re dealin’ with.” He looked at the flames. “These torches look permanently affixed. Shall we see if we can lift the chain?”

It took both lions to raise a length of chain high enough to make contact with one of the torches.

“Wait!” said Keir. “We need some protection for hands because the metal is a heat conductor. The part of the chain we’ll be holding will be hot as Hades.”

“There was a time I would’ve laughed. But what I’m sensin’ when I get near the cave mouth is cold and damp, brother. Saints.”

“In that case, maybe Britain is hel.”

Killian thought it couldn’t hurt to make a final try to dissuade Keir. So, ignoring his last comment, he said, “You sure about this? I’m thinkin’ persons such as ourselves would have to be mental to get on the wrong side of Hades.”

“I hear you. But look at it this way. Hades got on the wrong side of you.” He glanced at Exscruffenrox. “All of us really.”

Killian cocked his head at Keir. “Do no’ let powerful friends go to your head, Enforcer.”

Keir shrugged and said, “Okay. Let’s take off our shirts and wrap the sleeves around our hands.”

“Aye. We could do that. Or…”

“Or what?”

“Tryin’ to think back on what was said about no’ shiftin’ while here.”

“She said our ability to shift into lion form would be restricted.”

“Right. Thing is, ‘restricted’ is no’ a hard no. It’s a partial no.”

Keir looked from Killian to Exscruffenrox to the chain and back again. “What’s your point?”

Killian smiled. “The pads on our paws will take a lot more heat than skin can.” Keir looked at his hand, palm up. “ A lot more. Matter of fact, I’ve never felt any unpleasant sensation in my paws.”

“What you’re suggesting is a controlled, ah, partial shift? Just… paws?” Killian nodded. “Are you practiced at that? I’m not.”

“Would no’ say ‘practiced’ exactly, but I think we can get close enough to avoid breakin’ rules.”

With a bobble head gesture, Keir said, “You think it can’t hurt to try. I hope you’re right. Kagan would not forgive us if we messed up his chance to get Esme back. All because of fear of a little singe.”

“’Tis no’ logical to be burned for no reason either. If a problem comes to pass, we’ll just say Kagan knew nothin’ of it.”

“Which is the truth.”

“Indeed.” He nodded. “‘Tis.”

“Fine. Tell me this then. How’re we supposed to hold a chain aloft with paws? My paws do no’ work like hands. Daresay yours don’t either.”

“’Tis the tricky part. The first thing that happens with hands, when you begin a shift, is pads formin’ on fingers and palms.”

“Really?” Keir looked at his hand again. “I never realized.” He looked at Killian. “You have a lot of time on your hands, don’t you?”

“As you suggested earlier, there’s a reason why whiskey and I are close.”

“Hmmm. So. Tell me how to do it.”

After revealing by demonstration that he’d mastered the skills required to control a partial shift, Killian spent five minutes walking Keir through the steps to mimic the process.

After multiple practice attempts, Keir finally got pads on his fingers, puffs sticking up behind his ears, and a significantly broadened muzzle complemented by signs of peach fuzz.

The hard part was trying to get enough thick padding to form on his hands to repel the heat and stop before reaching the point of no opposable thumbs.

After all, prehensile appendages would be required to lift and hold the chain.

Killian couldn’t remember the last time he’d enjoyed himself so much as watching Keir try to control his shift. At one point, Killian thought he even caught Exscruffenrox trying to hide silent laughter, which wasn’t entirely successful since the monster had three heads, but only two paws.

“It’ll have to do,” Killian said, still laughing.

“Will you shut it?” Keir gritted out. “I’m sure your first try was worse.” When Killian’s hilarity subsided, Keir said, “Exscruffenrox, can you move a little closer to the torch, please?”

The creature moved to the spot Keir pointed out and stood towering over him. “Here?”

“Yes. This will do nicely.”

Keir stopped as he was reaching for the chain.

“What’s wrong?” Killian asked.

“Just occurred to me. We’ve been worried about getting burned, but the heat will travel to that iron collar around Exscruffenrox’s neck. If it gets hot enough, it could even act like a brand and leave a permanent scar.”

The monster had no trouble following Keir’s line of thinking.

“Please proceed,” it said. “We’ll expect the pain.

As to the scar. We already have scars from straining against these collars for so long.

Perhaps your eyes are not made to see them in the darkness.

” The creature sighed. “After a long time, when no one came to release us, we stopped pulling at the chain. Another scar is a good trade, we think.”

“It could hurt,” Killian said.

“We’re ready,” said Exscruffenrox.

Without the benefit of their sephalian forms, the brothers struggled to lift the chain.

They stood on either side of Exscruffenrox with the torch centered between them.

They were prepared to hold the links aloft for as long as it took to melt.

When the first touch of flame melted and snapped the link open right away, Keir and Killian first stood back amazed, then hooted at each other and slapped high paws.

Exscruffenrox pulled away and began running in circles on the beach dragging the remaining lengths of chain by their collars, all three heads barking happily like it was Saturday in the park.

“It looks happy,” Killian said. “Now. Will it keep a promise?”

Exscruffenrox stopped abruptly and looked at Killian. “We told you we would keep our promise.”

“Mark that down as a yes,” Keir told Killian.

That was when they saw the first of them. A shadowy figure resembling smoke in the form of a shroud emerged from the cave and floated toward the boat.

“Is that…?” Killian didn’t finish the question, but Keir knew what he was asking.

“Yes. Did we set off some kind of alarm?”

“Do no’ know. But here come some more.”

That first wisp of leftover rotten soul was followed first by a handful, then dozens. Then they came pouring out.

Seeing this, Exscruffenrox put on his scary visage, added a snarling ferocity, and began chasing the bits of shadow back into the cave. The guardian didn’t have to work hard at it. The condemned were afraid of the monster and easily herded back inside.

“I’m thinkin’ this means that if we take the creature with us, someone will notice.”

“Yeah. Looks like they can’t really go anywhere though. I mean, they can come this far, but I don’t think they can even get on the boat.”

“Speakin’ of boat. Hope that hyena shows up when it’s time to go.”

“If he doesn’t, we’ll figure it out.”

“Right. Keep a good face and a better attitude.”

“Exscruffenrox,” Keir said.

“Yes?” they answered.

“Got any ideas about how to get our brother back?”

The monster looked toward the cave. “Go get him?”

Killian couldn’t help laughing.

Keir punished him with a dirty look. “Got a better idea?”

Shaking his head, Killian said, “In for a penny, brother.”

“I’m taking that to mean we’re going in there.” To Exscruffenrox, Keir said, “The Unworthy Dead are afraid of you, right?”

“Yes,” they answered.

“Can you keep them away from us while we look for Kagan?”

“Is Kagan the third you seek?”

“Yes.”

“We will chase them away while you look for Kagan,” it said.

“Good. Then let’s go. I guess.”

When Keir stepped forward, Exscruffenrox jumped in front of him. “I’ll go first,” it said.

Keir stepped aside and gestured for their guide to proceed.

“Wait,” Killian said. “We might need some light.”

“Light,” Keir repeated. “A sound idea. What do you propose? Got a pocket torch?”

“Take the flames,” Exscruffenrox said.

Keir and Killian both stared at the creature. “You mean the torches?”

“Yes,” it said.

The lions had assumed the torches were permanently affixed, but what if…?

Keir reached up and pulled upward on the handle of one of the torches. It slid away easily. He stood looking at Exscruffenrox, torch in hand. “Did you not think to mention this when we were struggling to sever your chain?”

“You didn’t know?”

“No. We didn’t know.” Keir decided to shake it off. “Alright. Problem solved. That’s all that matters.”

Killian took his torch and said, “Ready. Steady. Go.”

Keir motioned for the monster to lead the way.

When Diarmuid realized he couldn’t be of much help in the effort to rescue Esme, he’d returned home to find home irrevocably changed in his brief absence.

Change wasn’t a novel occurrence when living in a residence with a fae queen.

Since Maeve was his mother and, since she was particularly given to fits of ‘redecorating’, he was used to it and not particularly bothered by it.

“What’s this?” he asked.

“The renovation?” Evie asked. “Changes had to be made to accommodate a baby dragon and a unicorn.” She waved her hand at Rhiannon’s menagerie. “In our bedroom.”

“Unicorn?” Diarmuid looked at the horse. He sputtered out a laugh before shaking his head. Thinking she was teasing, he decided to simply refuse to once again serve as the butt of one of her jokes. “No.”

“No, yourself.” She looked serious. “I’m perfectly serious.

Esmerelda’s deceased mother made an appearance.

A bright one. In spirit. She’s loaning this unicorn to act as Rhiannon’s guardian until our daughter is a teenager.

” Diarmuid swiveled his head to take another look at the unicorn. “His name is Thorn.”

“Appropriate,” said Diarmuid dryly.

“That’s what I thought. People don’t usually put enough thought into names.”

“That is true, but no’ in the case of your mum. I like Evangeline.”

“Yeah,” she said softly, “Me, too.”

“And Rhiannon.”

“Well, of course. Why would we give our daughter anything but the best name?”

“We wouldn’t!”

“Right.”

“So, now we’re sleeping with our princess, a unicorn, and a dragon.”

“It seems so. Don’t look at me like I brought the party and the asylum. You’re the one who lives in crazy town.”

“Crazy town?”

“Yeah. This whole magical world thing.” She threw both hands out wide to illustrate what was meant by “whole magical world”.

“Do no’ look now, love. But it so happens you’re queen of crazy town.”

She stared. “How did that happen again?”

He grinned. “You fell head over heels for the king.”

“Gods help me. Look at this, though. I designed a hinge for that window,” she pointed, ”so that it works like a bird door. Squeaky can come and go as nature calls.”

“Uh-huh. And what about the, em…”

“Look here. I’m especially proud of this.” Diarmuid followed her down a newly created wide hallway that ended in a large double-hinged door that swung either way depending on the direction of pressure. “Push the door open.”

He did.

What he found on the other side was a ten-acre paddock with a small, pristine lake, the greenest grass and the most stunning collections of wildflowers.

The most miraculous thing, since they were on the top floor of the castle, was that this ideal space was independent of terra firma.

Just blue sky underneath, nothing visible holding it up.

Diarmuid raised his eyebrows in appreciation.

”You’re getting’ scary good. Who would no’ be impressed? “ Evie preened a little. “If I’m no’ needed at the moment, I’d very like a wee nap. How long do you think our lass will sleep?”

“An hour and a half? Maybe?”

“I’ll take it.” He flopped down on the bed and was breathing deeply within a minute.

Thorn sashayed over, sniffed Diarmuid’s leg, snorted softly, then retreated to his post next to Rhiannon’s bassinette.

“I should’ve asked her about the best things to feed him,” Evie said to no one. “I mean, he looks like a horse. Most of the time. But he’s not a horse, is he?”

Thorn shook out his beautiful mane causing Evie to wonder if unicorns are able to grasp the nuance of a rhetorical question.