Tielle had been carried off in a bucket to be imprisoned by the Seelie Court. She was alive but was going through some bad days.
Lolth had lost her current body on this plane, and it would take months for her to make another, by which time her hangover might even have gone. Certainly the Nightshade key would have been re-hidden by then. All’s wellthat ends well.
Jus corked his drinking flask and said, “I must insist youabandon your plans to force Escalla into marriage. She served the court well. She deserves her own will in the matter.”
“Oh yes, of course. Our stock is rather high in court rightnow.” Nightshade gave a genial smile. “The Erlking thinks rather highly of us.My wife’s claws are clipped. Life will be a bit more… effervescent from nowon.”
“You will be returning to the Seelie Court?”
“In a sense. The Seelie Court is coming out of retirement.There will be more faeries wandering the worlds from this point on.” Nightshadelooked at Faen, and both men shared a nod. “Though cautiously at first.”
Lord Nightshade stood, his hands in his back as he stretched his wings. Faen joined him, and Jus swept Cinders back across his own shoulders. Faen fluttered up over the buttercups, where he had a fine view of the ruined village just below. Enid and Escalla were eating bacon from a frying pan, Escalla laughing and beautiful with her hair bright golden in the sun.
Lord Nightshade watched his daughter with a rueful little smile.
“Escalla will not be returning to the court.” Charn looked atthe Justicar and shrugged. “What was this place she wants to see?
“Hommlet, my lord.” The Justicar gave a bow. “And thenhorizons far beyond.”
“Then we shall meet again.” Nightshade took the Justicar’shand and pressed it with his own. “You’ll do right. I can tell.”
“Good-bye, my lord.”
“Good-bye, my son.”
Lord Nightshade produced a little box and gave it to the Justicar-parting gifts to see Jus and Escalla on their way. The two faeriesstood and watched as the big human and his hell hound strode through the buttercups to where Henry awaited them. Now dressed in faerie-made armor and bearing a sword made by faerie smiths (along with his deadly crossbow), the boy ran up to Jus, who clasped him warmly by the shoulder and led him back into the village.
Enid the sphinx waved a paw back toward the two faerie lords. Escalla turned and gave a long look at her father, flashed him a strangely understanding smile, and waved farewell. Side by side, Escalla, the Justicar, Henry, and Enid marched up the road into the north, with Polk the badger happily holding their road map upside down.
As the travelers disappeared from view, Lord Faen rested his hand upon Lord Nightshade’s shoulder.
“Quite a remarkable girl, your eldest daughter. Not quite…genteel, but a certain lively spark. I believe I shall miss her. I do wish her well on her travels.”
“I shall miss her, too.” Lord Nightshade heaved a sigh andplucked himself a buttercup. “Still, she grows and grows. I have such hopes forher.”
“Yes.” Faen walked side by side with Nightshade as both menmoved back into the forest. “What was that you gave them as parting gifts justnow?”
“Oh, for him, a longevity potion. For her, I thought sheshould keep her wedding dress. You never know when a girl might need it.”
“Oh?” Faen led the way beneath a drifting cloud ofthistledown. “Just her dress?”
“And a dozen growth potions-you know, faerie-to-human size.Plus the recipe. That sort of thing.”
“Oh?” Faen activated a magic gate and seemed a tad puzzled.“How did you know she wanted that?”
“A little dog told me.”
