A step behind them made Fingin jump, but Adhna presented no threat. “We must leave, my Queen. Your presence is attracting attention. I’ve seen three Fae pass already, peering around the trees. Bodach will learn of this company before too long.”
“Quite so. Tomnat, it is time.”
The sullen Fae woman, their babe in her arms, nodded. Bran stood next to Fingin, and the Queen led the way with Adhna bringing up the rear. The odd procession did not take the Silver Path, but struck off across the countryside, with no idle chatter or conversation. Away from the Path, the light dimmed somewhat, as fewer trees glowed with the preternatural brightness. They walked in silence in the ambient light.
Bran remained subdued, forgoing his normal penchant for exploring every hillock and creature they passed. He still perked up at each sound but didn’t explore.
The trees fell away into a small glade, with a wide stone pool in the center. The circular wall had steps leading into the water, and Fingin realized this must be a passage to the other realm. Once again, he’d have to walk down into the water. He didn’t relish the prospect but knew he must escape to his own realm. Perhaps he’d be able to convince Tomnat to settle into her new life as his wife, and raise their children in peace. He just wished his speech wouldn’t return to its halting habit when he left Faerie. He quite enjoyed being able to say what he wanted without difficulty. Such a freedom most people took for granted.
Queen Cliodhna turned to the Fae woman first. “Tomnat, walk in first, with the babe. The other side should be in a forest along the coast, far from any mortal village. You’ve visited the mortal realm before, so at least it won’t be too much of a shock. Wait for the human.”
With a resentful glance at Fingin, Tomnat nodded and took the first three steps into the pool. She glanced back just before the last step, which would take the babe below the surface, and her eyes grew wide.
Fingin turned to see what had made her react and barely ducked in time to avoid the blow from Bodach’s cudgel. He leapt to one side with a cry to escape a second blow. The glare of murderous rage upon the bark-skinned Fae’s face spurred him away.
“You won’t evade me forever, human! I know there’s some secret here. It must have to do with you and the Queen. She wouldn’t help just any mortal escape!”
A flicker of concern passed over the Queen’s expression before she regained control. Bodach pounced upon this clue. “I’m right! I knew it.” He glanced between them, searching their faces for more information. His eyes grew wide, staring at the Queen. “You've got the look of that human! You’re some relation to him!”
Fingin clamped his jaw shut, unwilling to say anything that might give away the truth. Tomnat still stood in the well, clutching her baby tight. Adhna’s face fell, an almost comic expression of defeat. The Queen, however, stood straighter, drawing around her an air of imperious strength, almost tangible in the low light.
“How dare you, Bodach? How dare you accuse your Queen of such low blood?”
If she thought to intimidate Bodach by her show of power, she remained disappointed. Glee bloomed across his bark face, almost cracking at the edges of his mouth. “Oh, I dare, all right! Imagine that! The Queen herself has mortal blood! This is interesting, very interesting indeed. Fascinating.”
The Queen pursed her lips and lifted her arms. The intangible power shimmered before her as she gathered her strength. While Faerie had no storms to manipulate, his grandmother shaped the air itself. A ball of glistening film rose, like a bubble, swirling with white wind inside. Fingin stared into the whirling mass, his vision distorted and dizzying. She flung her arms toward Bodach, sending her creation into his chest.
The bubble enveloped the Fae man, making him cough and sputter. The mist turned from white to a sickly yellow, swirling into an ominous brown.
He staggered back but did not fall. Instead, threw his arms out and broke the bubble, dispersing the menacing fog. He laughed. Loud and long, a rasping saw against rotten wood, his laughter burrowed into Fingin’s ears like a beetle in the dirt.
As his mirth died, Bodach raised his left hand and threw something at the Queen.
No object appeared, but she took several steps back, surprise clear in her widened eyes. She set her feet apart, and forbidding determination took over her face. She gathered her air power once again, now crackling with tiny bits of lightning within the orb. The edges shimmered with rainbow reflection, an odd beauty masking the danger within. She flung the ball of sizzling energy at Bodach.
He ducked, but it swerved back and sought him out as if a dog on a rabbit’s scent. Bodach ducked again, this time plowing down to the earth, ripping up a grass divot in his efforts.
With a feral smile, the Queen pulled upon her power again. This time, the well water rose in a spinning spout. Tomnat scrambled back out of the water, her baby clutched close to her chest. She crawled to where Fingin huddled, behind the low stone wall around the well.
The waterspout grew tall and long, arced overhead, and pounded into Bodach’s body as he lay on the churned ground. Mud and water spurted in a furious clash around him. Bran chose this moment to bark with furious volume at both the Queen and Bodach.
“Bran! Hush, and get back over
