A/N: Schooling, working, etc. has kept me away. So sorry! Free Kartik glomp to reviewers, huzzah! ¡Y buen Fiesta del Día de los Muertos! Now, how many of you hate me after the last chapter's end… and the teaser for this chapter? Honestly, I'm surprised I'm not dead yet. But, like Not-Dead Fred, I can dance and I can sing. Sorry; Spamalot reference. When I get this random, it's time for the story.
Refresher: I'm only about halfway there when I hear a frightening scream… and then everything goes black.
In the Realms, Chapter Eleven
"My Lady, why must we travel in so… unseemly a manner?"
Queen Pippa, Empress of the Winterlands and future Ruler of the Realms, meets her shapeshifter's gaze with unblinking violet eyes. "Are you questioning me, Agerthan?" she demands in a low voice. She dares not shout as she wishes to; it certainly wouldn't do to have others in her army overhear her being challenged in this way.
"No, my Lady, of course not! I merely… wondered. You have told us all of your fantastic magickal abilities, but–"
"So you question my power." Pippa gets to her feet, her eyes flashing dangerously. She had been content, only moments ago, as she dined on the carcass of a hawk that she herself had shot down on the wing. Now that brief moment of quietude has shattered, all because of Agerthan's impunity.
"Well, not I, but–"
"Others, then. Very well. If you or any of the others in this army do not trust me – leave. Get out. Find some other powerful being to rally behind to take the Realms." Agerthan struggles to say something, but Pippa cuts him off quickly. "Oh, wait. You can't. Tell me why you can't, Agerthan," she orders.
He looks down at the floor of his Queen's tent. "Because you destroyed all your rivals in your rise to power, in your bid for the Monarchy of the Winterlands," he answers softly.
"Exactly. And how could such a chit as I manage that without some magick to help me?" She tilts her chin up saucily, her hands on her hips. She's still wearing her day's riding costume of loose, full skirt and tight bodice. It merely adds to the sense – the false sense – that she is harmless. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Agerthan falls to his knees, the only way he is sure of to indicate to his Queen that he is serious. "My Lady, forgive me. I have been most foolish."
"That you have," Pippa returns airily. "But I shall forgive you. This time." She offers her shapeshifter her hands and helps him to his feet. When he once more stands sturdily on his own feet and facing her, he expects her to let go – but she keeps their hands clasped. "You may kiss me," she says primly, and desire ignites in his eyes.
He smiles, an undercurrent of heat turning it from pleased to longing. "As you command, my Lady." He leans down and over, slowly closing the distance between his queen's still-bloodied mouth and his own. Their lips meet briefly, and Pippa closes her eyes, making a soft sound of contentment in the back of her throat. Too soon to Agerthan's mind, she pulls away. Blood has stayed on his mouth, but he doesn't mind. 'Tis his queen's mark, and he will wear it proudly.
"That's quite enough, thank you," she tells him. "You may leave." She waits for Agerthan to exit, watching him glance back in longing, before securing her tent's entrance.
'Fool,' she thinks contemptuously. 'Utter fool.' Pippa looks down at her right palm, next to her hip. Dark sparkles dance over her skin, and she lifts her fingers up towards her face. She trails the magick over her features and hair, which have begun to look like those of a just-decaying corpse, and they repair until she once again looks perfect. With that done, Pippa closes her fingers into a fist. As the last of the sparkles fades away into her skin, her blood-red lips curve into a smirk. And, unseen by her, a ghostly Gemma Doyle disappears from the corner in which she took refuge, much the richer in knowledge than she was when she appeared in this vision.
I am flying, flying over the snowy ground with nothing more than a thin dress and unfastened boots to protect me from the cold. I shiver, then realise that I am not really cold at all. I am flying much too quickly for the chill temperature to affect me, and I must close my eyes or risk vomiting. Then I stop abruptly, and I open my eyes. I don't see what's in front of me this time, though. No, my mind is still on Pippa, on Pippa sitting not a handbreadth in front of me. My mind is on Pippa, seeing her with her attention wholly absorbed by the… bloody… thing in her hands in which she had her teeth to the gums.
My mind is on the man that I saw – familiar to me, yet unreconizable – standing in front of her. Though perhaps not conventionally handsome, he was interesting to look at, with dark brown hair, olive skin, and blue eyes. He was dressed entirely in black with a long black cloak on his back and wore what seemed to be black leather boots. Like Pippa, he didn't see me either. I saw the entire exchange between Pippa and this man called Agerthan. It seems that Pippa has found other ways of adding to her magick, which is worrisome. That kiss gave her magick, as though she is taking her power from the desire and worship that Agerthan offers her.
"What are you thinking of, love?" I hear in my ear, and I gasp, startled. I blink, finally returning to the here and now of this vision, trying to discern what I see, feel, and hear. After a few moments, I can ascertain whom I am with, but not where or why.
I am cuddled against Kartik's shoulder, my unbound curls skittering down his bare torso with abandon. His arms are wrapped firmly about my belly, and I feel very… tired. But it is a good tired, the tired that one feels after a long day of running out of doors with friends. What in heaven's name could we have been doing that has me so tired? And so… improperly clothed?
The two of us are wrapped up in what seems to be a sort of furry blanket, though what little skin is showing has gooseflesh from cold. Kartik's scent is all about me – no, on me, and it's very distracting. I can feel every inch of Kartik pressed against me, and I realise that I am sitting on his lap, both of us… neither of us… "Gemma, what are you thinking of to distract you so?" Kartik asks, his mouth very close to my ear.
"Your smell," I say, the first thing that I can think of. Kartik laughs.
"My smell?" asks he. "Do I smell then, Gemma?"
"Everyone smells," I answer inanely. "I smell."
He leans down, puts his nose very near the skin of my shoulder. He takes a deep breath, and I shiver. "You don't smell to me, Gemma. You just smell like you."
"See, that's what I mean," I babble. "People smell like themselves. Individual smells." I can't think straight with him so close to me. And so very… not clothed.
"An interesting theory, wife," he murmurs into my skin, and I freeze.
"What did you call me?" I ask, my mouth suddenly dry.
He sits up; I can feel him frowning. "Wife. Why? Do you not like the title suddenly?"
"Wife…?" I squeak.
"Need I remind you?" asks Kartik teasingly, and then he is kissing me, kissing me as I don't think I have ever been kissed. It's not rough at all, or hurried as some of our embraces have been. No, instead this kiss is very slow, almost… measured. Yes, I'm sure that's the right term. It's as though, instead of measuring his words, Kartik is measuring this kiss. It is so strange to be kissed like this, though, perhaps because he is sitting behind me. When Kartik lifts me and turns me toward him so that we are kissing properly, I don't object. I hazily realise that I am straddling him as I might a horse, if I rode like a man. Just as I feel something very strange between my legs, something tugs at me, and I am again flying.
When I halt this time, I hover above my own body in the forest clearing, watching as my comrades and friends scurry about me. Asha, Min, and Philon seem the least worried, although they watch Kartik as a hawk would while he attempts to waken me. It seems that Kartik has found our armourer, then. Fee and Ann are both sitting next to me, clearly dismayed, but each is dealing with their emotions in her own way. Felicity is raking her hands through her hair, muttering distractedly to herself – I suspect that she is trying to understand what made me faint. Ann is merely holding the hand that Kartik does not have, with her eyes on my face.
Once I have seen all this, I re-enter my body with a noise very like a whoosh. Everything goes black for a moment, and I see, nay, I feel claws rip over my face. I awaken, screaming.
Shrieking, howling – these are the sounds of a mad person, but they come from my throat. Then again, am I any less mad than poor Nell Hawkins once was?
At that though, I force myself to quiet. I blink up into the glaring sun, grateful that I cannot see Kartik's face. Even through my pain, I somehow find the frivolity needed to create a blush as I think of my vision. I squint into the sun, thinking that I have seen something odd – something very like a bird with metal wings – as I try to catch my breath. Slowly, like a tuning orchestra, my sense of hearing returns and clears.
"Gemma, are you all right?"
"What happened, Gemma?"
"Most High…"
"What does this mean?"
"Rest, Priestess…"
"Get up, child. Get up!"
The last, given by Philon, I obey. When he gives orders, as he so rarely does, you heed them or risk his agitation. In that voice of his, agitation does not sit well. I'd rather scrape my nails over a slate until my ears bleed than deal with Philon's agitation. Therefore, given such incentive by Philon, I manage to sit up.
"Water," I croak pitifully.
Ann hurries forward with something even better – tea! Real English tea, with honey and lemon. It's so familiar, so comforting, so Ann-like that tears gather in my eyes. I gratefully accept the cup from my friend; as I drink, I try to communicate to Ann with my gaze that I bear her no ill will for spying on Kartik and me last night. I think that Ann understands what I want to tell her, for she smiles warmly at me.
Once I've finished my tea, I've regained my voice. I'm ready to tell what I've seen, with a few omissions to be told in private later – indeed, if at all.
"Pippa is closer," I begin. My voice cracks; I clear my throat and continue. "She and her… army do not travel by magick, I believe for fear of exhausting their reserves. I believe it is Philon that we thank for that." He bows. I feel odd, being the only one sitting, and I struggle to stand. A slim hand comes into view, and I accept Min's offer of help. With her strength, I leverage myself to my feet. "Thank you," I tell her, and she nods in return, her yellow eyes inscrutable. I release her hand to stand by myself and sway dangerously for a moment. Kartik moves behind me, silently offering me his strength, but I choose not to lean on him – not so soon, after what I saw.
"Pippa?" Ann prompts me.
"Yes, thank you. There is something else that you should know: I think that Pippa has found a new way to collect magick." No one moves. "She must use her magick to make herself look human again, to inspire courage from her troops. She has a near-constant supply of magick, because I think she has devised a way to draw her power from the adoration of her servants and troops."
That gets Min's attention. "So her followers' belief and love for her strengthens her, gives her power?" She doesn't wait for me to answer. "Most High, she has learned the secrets of the gods!"
Asha speaks from behind me. "Like the Ancient Ones, Pippa has learned how to harness her people's strength of belief in her as her own strength. How did you learn this, Priestess?"
I bite my lip. "I saw… I saw a man, a knight of hers I suppose. I saw her reprimand him for not believing in her. He knelt at her feet and apologized, and she forgave him. And then… he kissed her."
Ann arches a brow. "Not very queen-like, is she?" she comments quietly. Master of the understatement, our Ann-girl.
"And after the kiss, she displayed her magick?" Asha presses. I nod, and her lips thin into an expression of hardly reined-in frustration. "That girl is an irritation on my skin, I swear."
"Would that we could remove her so easily," I murmur. Then something occurs to me, and I look up at the others. "Wait. The knight… she called him Agerthan, but he made reference to her rise to power in the Winterlands. He said that she destroyed all her rivals, and Pippa said that she'd used magick to do it." I'm paraphrasing, but the important information is there. "If we can find out how she destroyed her rivals for the crown, perhaps we can figure out the limits of her power."
For a brief moment, no one says anything. Then Fee, who had been looking at her boots, gives a small leap. "Gemma, of course!" She stares at me, grey eyes shining. "That's it!"
I blink. "What's it?"
She springs forward and hugs me, and I yip in pain. For some reason, I can feel bruises on my ribs. Either my vision or Felicity's last hug did that to me. Fee lets go and backs away with contrition on her face, though her eyes are still sparkling with the force of her idea.
"Don't you see? The knight, the kiss, the rise to power, the magick… We can use it against her!"
Kartik is just as lost as I am. He steps forward to stand abreast of me, and I can read the confusion on his face even out of the corner of my eye. Then I flush, remembering again the feel of him behind me. "I'm sorry, but none of this makes sense to me. Could you perhaps…"
"Fee, for once explain what you mean when you mean it," Ann tells her flatly. "Now is not the time to tease and be coquettish with an idea."
She pouts. "I was going to, but you interrupted." Fee turns to face me, grinning broadly. "Gemma, you remember what it was that Pippa created the first time we came, don't you?"
Ann answers for me, "Her knight. The knight with the golden hair, to love her unconditionally."
"Quite right. Now, do you think that this knight is still around?"
I try to follow Fee's line of thought, but almost instantly give it up. "I… I guess so. I know that he wasn't in Pippa's tent, but he swore to be devoted to her, didn't he? He's either at her castle in the Winterlands or he's riding with her." I frown. "No, he can't be riding with her. He would never have permitted Agerthan to kiss her."
Kartik breaks in, "Gemma, I don't understand. What are you all talking about?"
I look up at him, utterly mystified. "You know, I wish I knew." I go back over what we've just said, and then it dawns on me. "Wait, Fee… Oh, you are devious."
She smiles, her eyes dancing. "Aren't I, though?"
Ann puts a hand to her head, as though begging for patience – or a headache relief. "Stop speaking in code, both of you! Just… just spit it out!" As if to please her, Min spits onto a stone nearby, and Ann looks green. "I didn't mean like that, Min."
I absently note that Min's saliva has already burnt a hole into the rock, though not to the extent that her blood would. Acidic saliva; I'll have to remember that. I turn to Ann and try to steer her to the basic idea. "Ann, what is one of the most basic emotions that a human can feel?"
"Anger?" she offers, still looking vaguely sick.
I grin, feeling very mischievous suddenly. "Almost, Ann. Jealousy."
Ann gapes at me, not understanding. Then, slowly, the knowledge of what Felicity is proposing spreads over her features, and she smiles, her expression of nausea fading. Once again, the beautiful Ann shines through, and I find myself smiling back at her.
"You understand now, don't you, Ann-girl?" She nods slowly, continuing to grin foolishly. "Good."
Kartik interrupts again. "I apologise, but I am still lost. Would someone please explain to me exactly what our plan is?" Min, Asha, and Philon don't say anything, but I am sure that they, too, would like an explanation. They watch Kartik's attempts to pry information from us as though it were an interesting croquet match, not a brilliant plan to undermine Pippa's power.
Felicity turns to Kartik, suddenly quite business-like. "You see, Kartik, it's like this: Pippa created a knight with golden hair to serve her forevermore in the Realms. She did this while still human, but he continued to serve her even after she…" She falters, but charges ahead. "After she died."
I interrupt with something I'm not sure Fee will include. "When the magick was loose, Pippa used him to bring her sacrifices to satisfy her hunger for flesh. He was her servant even then. I am certain that he continues to serve her in the Winterlands."
Fee shoots me a glare, and I quiet. "Thank you for your input, Gemma. Now, as I was saying – he vowed to serve her forever because she created him to love her purely and without bias. Since the magick is still strong within her, I've no doubt that he still feels the same. And, like any man in love, he is extremely jealous and territorial." The last she says with a grim smile, and I wonder if she learned this lesson while Simon was pursuing her. She continues, "So you see, if we can get him to believe that Pippa has turned against him, he will probably want to get back at her, an eye for an eye."
"How do you mean?" Kartik asks.
Ann supplies, "Betrayal for betrayal. The knight will come help us."
"Most High, are you certain that this will work?"
I turn and look at Min, easily reading the doubt in her posture. "Am I certain? No, Min, I'm not certain of anything anymore. But do I think that it could work. Yes, I do. What else have we to lose?"
Ann mutters to herself, "Nothing but our souls." I ignore this.
Felicity jumps in, "Well, what are we waiting for? Let's get started on the details of the plan. I'll go with Philon to discuss weaponry. Ann, you go with Asha and try to work out some psychological tactics to trick the knight into coming with us."
"Or we could tell him the truth," Ann points out.
"Psychological tactics," Fee repeats stoutly. "And, Kartik… Could you please create some knapsacks and supplies for us? I've a feeling we'll need them. Plenty of cloaks, too." Kartik nods, and I can tell that he's pleased that Felicity is no longer speaking down to him.
I watch the New Order disperse, other than Min and I, and I feel like a chess player sending out her pawns to do battle while the castle and bishop remain behind. This is just like a game, as though we are once again the children we were a year ago, trying to play a prank on someone. Except, somewhere in the back of my mind, a small voice warns that we play for our lives.
I ignore the voice and look to Min. "Min, I have a favour to ask of you." She nods deeply, waiting. "Would you help me, please, to magick a more battle-ready wardrobe for me?"
"Of course, Most High." She hesitates. "Most High…"
I sigh. "Min, please. You and I are equals in the New Order, now. You can call me Gemma."
"Most High," Min repeats stubbornly, and I let it go. "Most High, you have been so different from the past Order members with whom I have dealt. For that, I thank you. And I also thank you for being both daughter and mother to me, as we prepare for this ultimate battle."
I blink, startled. "Well… you're welcome, I'm sure. But the costume…?"
"Yes, of course. Follow me, Most High." With that, I follow Min the Gorgon to her tent so that the two of us may fashion a suit of battle armour as we prepare to fight a girl that I had thought was one of my best friends. I leave behind me my two remaining best friends from Spence, an Untouchable, a Forest creature, and the man that I am in love with. Never let it be said that Gemma Doyle is "conventional".
A/N: Tell me what you think, please. I know, late again, but bear with me. Schooling takes precedence, because I can't update if I'm failing a class. Even so, I'm scouting around for another FFN category to write, so tell me some of your favourite books or movies on which you think I might put a good spin. The first ten reviewers will have their suggestions considered first. The first ten reviewers get another incentive: I might possibly write and e-mail a bonus chapter. Give me a scenario and I'll see what happens!
Thanks to the Chapter 10 reviewers. Like I said earlier, free Kartik glomp! Thank you to my most consistent reviewers; I'd list you, but I don't want FFN kicking me off or pulling my story, with their stupid regulation on mentioning reviewers by name. Anyway, thank you to everyone who reads and especially to all the reviewers. Feedback helps me, readers, and I love watching the review count climb. Woo-hoo, over 100 reviews! Blessed be.
Next
Chapter Teaser: "There
is only one thing that I can promise right now: I am going to die. And it is
going to be messy."