Page 2 of Stone Sentinels (Shadow Guardians #6)

EILISH

The Veil

I’m relieved to see Kolvar awake. With his jaw firmly back in place, the satyr is more than willing to fill any silence with the sound of his voice, and I know the others are relieved as well. His jovial, if callous, spirit is a welcome change in the cottage, even if most his stories are crude and sexual.

Kolvar tells us stories about his clan of mercenaries known as the Banefire Horde and even offers to bring them as allies.

“They can be trusted so long as you don’t trust them,” he says, causing me and even Aima to laugh.

“So, what happened in Oronrel?” I ask once the laughter subsides. Aima lays back on the bed and Kolvar rolls his stiff shoulders. They seem uncomfortable with my question, but the more we all know, the better off we’ll be.

“We faced trial in front of the Unseelie Court. In fae politics, there’s one branch of the court for every season with its own list of responsibilities,” Kolvar starts.

“Though most perceive the Unseelie as evil faeries, that isn’t true,” Aima adds. “The Seelie govern the Summer and Spring, while Unseelie command the Autumn and Winter. The Monarchies change often, usually by betrayal or if the courts vote for a new leader.”

“But each branch has a purpose,” Kolvar says.

“The Courts are the very foundation fae society is built on,” Aima continues.

“So, there is no true benevolence?” I ask.

“Not when you look beyond the glamour,” she replies. “When we were brought into Oronrel, I noticed that none of the original leaders of the Court were present. A new council had been selected and Theren was nowhere to be seen.”

Kolvar nods, confirming Aima’s tale. I continue to listen. Fae politics are more intricate than I’d thought.

“The Unseelie Court sentenced us to execution after we were tortured adequately for our crimes. There was no investigation and no one consulted the King. It was only the new Court making decisions. I was meant to be taken to a separate cell—I think they were going to kill me right away—but Kolvar protected me,” Aima explains.

“And I’d do it again,” he vows, raising his tankard of ale.

She smiles at him in thanks before returning her insistent gaze to me. “His little stunt delayed the execution, but we were tortured even more for it. I guarded him for three days. Dragan and Revenant arrived only hours before we were supposed to face the executioner.”

I breathe deeply, trying to process everything they went through. In my eyes, they earned our loyalty through those acts of bravery alone. Aima pats Kolvar on the back and turns her gaze to me again. “I can help you get a few of your memories back, Eilish,” she says and surprises me.

“You can?” I ask, in awe.

She nods. “It’ll only take a few minutes. I’m not Pyre, but I have some skills of my own.”

Kolvar leaves the room to refill his glass and I nod. Aima crosses her legs and sits in the center of the mattress. She motions for me to lay down in front of her and rest my head in her lap so I do as she instructs. She massages my temples.

“Look into my eyes, Eilish,” she says. Those ebony eyes began to swirl and I’m quickly lost to them. As she sings softly, images begin to flash in my vision…

“Mother!” I shout, bursting through the door as the remnants of my home crackle like embers in the hearth. I can’t find her! Panic begins to bloom in my chest. He was supposed to protect them. My hands burn as I sift through the ash, looking for any trace of my mother and sister. “Solya!”

A man stands over me.

Silvanus.

I don’t understand why he’s here. Was he the one meant to protect them? Somehow I don’t think so.

He helps me to my feet and brushes a kiss over my forehead. “Don’t let him take you, Eilish,” he whispers.

Suddenly, he’s gone, blown away with the snow that hovers on the wind. Crimson catches my eye, stark against the white snow. A trail of blood leads me to the mangled bodies of my family. Their heads severed, displayed on pillars of ice like macabre statues. Chunks of flesh litter the ground and I fall to my knees….

I open my eyes to find that Aima isn’t with me. I’m alone, but still lying on the floor, my face facing the ceiling.

I hear the sounds of the others gathering for supper. My head is spinning, but I remember that day so vividly now.

My mother’s name is Maeline, and she still loved my father long after he abandoned her. Their love was passionate and forbidden, secret to the rest of the world, but they had found peace together—brief though it might have been. Solya’s father is not the same as mine. Her father was an angel, like my mother.

I close my eyes again and try to reach out to Silvanus, but he’s silent. Still more questions come to mind, swirling through my head. Questions I can’t answer.

Who was supposed to protect my mother and sister? And why didn’t that person protect them? And who was Silvanus talking about? Don’t let who take me?

I sit up and shake the questions away as I force myself to my feet and ignore the headache that thunders between my ears. I remember the lessons Pyre taught me and I focus on the pain, willing it away. Seconds later, it yields and fades into oblivion.

I walk down the corridor and knock on the door to the Midnight Queen’s bedchamber. Morrigan answers after only a few seconds, and appears surprised to see me.

“Eilish... how lovely to see you.”

“We haven’t had much time to talk since I returned,” I offer. “Do you have a moment before we head down?” I ask softly. She looks as though she wants to deny me entrance, but permits it in the end. Morrigan points to the chair near the door and I sit.

“What is it, my dear?”

“You gave me guidance and kept me safe all this time. It was your voice I heard and every time I followed your directions, I was relieved I did. I’m very grateful to you.”

“It was the least I could do…”

“Now, I wish to know why,” I interrupt her. “Why did you choose to speak to me when you’d been silent to everyone else for so many years?”

She’s quiet for a few seconds as she stands up and begins pacing the room, nodding as if my question is a good one—as if she expected it. Knowing her immense power, maybe she did? Well, immense power that was stolen from her…

“Call it intuition, Eilish. I had a sense you were special, but I didn't know why or what you would come to be. I only wanted to give you a fighting chance.”

“That’s not an answer.” It’s as much an answer as “everything happens for a reason,” but I need to know why. What is the reason? She chose me for a purpose, and I intend to figure it out.

“There are things in life that bear no answers, Eilish,” she says with a smile that seems like she’s hiding something. “Sometimes you must accept the fact that things happen the way they’re supposed to and we all play a part in the theater, even if we might not understand why or how.”

I nod, but I’m not happy with her response. She knows more than she’s saying, I’m convinced.

“Now, shall we prepare for dinner?” she asks.

Baron and Flumph’s paranoia is starting to make sense.

***

FLUMPH

The Veil

That Mother Heifer been threatenin’ me like I a nobody. I ain’t a nobody, I Flumph. I a valued fuckin’ member o’ this group, an’ I be damned if I lets her push me ‘round any more.

Somethin’ with big ‘ol hands grab me by my wings and pull me into a closet. I start screamin’ at the top o’ my little lungs, but no one hear me. “Don’t fuck me! I ain’t fuckable! My body ain’t mades for it!”

A hand cover my mouth to shut me up an’ I finally peel open my beady eyes.

“I will release you, but you need to silence yourself,” a voice say. It take me a second ta realize it only Masky.

Thank my fuckin’ balls.

I nod an’ he release me an’ I start buzzin’ an’ turn around ta face him. Finally, I gets my chance to talk to him an’ I’m taking it! “That Mother Heifer ain’t who you thinks she is!”

“Tell me, sprite,” he answer real nice like.

I nods. “I hears her talkin’ to Variant an’ she gots plans for all o’ you, an’ Pretty, too. I ain’t hear everythin’, but I hears ‘nough to know she up to somethin’.”

“And what has she said?”

“Well, her crazy ass want me to find a way to open a rift here to The Veil…” I start befores I notice him lookin’ all pissed-off like. “Masky?... you lookin’ real mad-like... You ain’t mads at me?”

“No, I am not. Please continue.”

I ain’t never seen him lookin’ so angry before.

“She won’t tell me why’s she want ta figure a way into The Veil, but she wants it all the same.”

He nods. “Flumph, did Morrigan mention anyone named Abedon?”

“Yeah, she talks ‘bout Abbey lots. All the time, even.”

“Did she say where he was?” he ask in that deep, rumbly voice.

“She don’t. I only gets pieces ‘cause she talk in her sleep while she doin’ that projectin’ thing she do that scare the butt-fuck outta me.” I take me a big breath. “But Noni an’ I hears her speakin’ to someone in the fuckin’ mirror, too.”

“Theren?”

“The Unseelie fucker? Why him?”

“I believe they’re working together.”

“Oh,” I shrug. “Maybees.”

“I know Theren is one of the last Catoptromancers left in the realms.”

“What the fuck’s that?”

“Someone who possesses mirror magic,” Masky respond real serious-like. “Mirror magic is very dangerous, the sorcerer could easily become trapped in his own reflection,” he say.

“Alls I know be that Queen Bitch ain’t on our side.”

“Thank you for telling me, Flumph. And I know you don’t like being told what to do, but I’m asking you for a favor.”

“I’m listenin’,” I answer. It be true—I don’t like bein’ told what to do, but if Masky need a favor, I’ll do it for him. That’s what you do fer yer friends.

“I need you and Noni to keep watching Morrigan. This could be the upper hand we’ve been looking for.”

“Okay.”

“Will you do that for me?” he ask real slow-like. “I’m asking as your friend and your ally.”

Well, when he put it like that, how the fuck am I ‘spose to say no? He over there makin’ me feel like I mean somethin’ to him, like we equals in this world, when he a fuckin’ necromancer an’ I just a little sprite. But I’m an important little sprite. “All right. I’ll do it.”

“Thank you, Flumph.” He leave me alone after that an’ it ain’t long before I hears the Mother Heifer talkin’ to Pretty. I don’t like them being alone ‘cause I ain’t sure what she got planned for Pretty. Maybe suckin’ all her youth out an’ turnin’ her into some old hag? I ain’t gonna let that happen on my watch! I goes an’ sit beside my friend so she know I there for her. Pretty pats my head an’ that how I know she more angel than demon-woman.

I ride on Pretty shoulders to the supper table. I happy ta see the Mother Heifer ain’t down here. I figures someone’s gonna bring her her dinner, seein’ as how she’s ‘sposed ta be restin’ an’ all. An’ also ‘cause I don’t think everyone trust her.

I gots my own spot an’ I make sure it far away from Noni. Can’t stand her lookin’ at me all happy-like an’ talkin’ bout us bein’ friends now. I’m regrettin’ ever tellin’ her I’d be her friend. But then I look at Masky an’ figure I be Noni’s friend fer him. He be the best friend I ever hads.

“Let’s raise our goblets to the fine young heroine who kicked some harpy ass!” the goat man say, an’ everyone raise their glasses real high.

“I think we can all be honest and say that the real hero in all of this is Pyre,” Pretty correct him. “Without him, none of us would be alive or have these moments of freedom,” she finish.

Masky shake his head an’ Baron raise hims glass in agreement. I don’t know what sorta love affair them two gots goin’ on, but it freakin’ me out to see the vamp bein’... normal .

It make me shiver just thinkin’ ‘bout it, so I raise my glass an say, “Fuck that, I’m the hero!”

“Yay! Mr. Flumph!”

“O, HUSH UP, NONI!”

The others are laughin’ at us, but I too busy tryin’ to catch that silly little brownie to care much.