Chapter 19

Our ability to move freely throughout the Nevermore had been severely compromised. We'd been cautious, but we would have to be even more so. We now had to take our search deeper underground, and hope we could locate our predator and strike before he had another chance to strike at us.

Scratching noises from the far side of the room made us both freeze. I motioned to Sylos to check out the source while I circled around to the other side of the door, my hand wrapped firmly around the hilt of my sword.

Sylos yanked the door open—and a high-pitched scream filled the room.

Plunging his hand into the darkened doorway, he pulled out the screeching being. A Gnome, shaken and in shock, trembled in his clutches. When his eyes landed on me, his screams stopped.

I lowered my sword and blew out a sigh. There was little chance this diminutive creature was our stalker. But he might know who was.

"Put him down Sylos," I said. Bending over to press my hands to my knees, I peered into the Gnome's pale face. "What went on here? How was this Dwarf killed and by whom?" I pointed at the table as Sylos circled around behind him.

The Gnome dusted off his britches, then scowled at me. He cleared his throat, strained from the screaming. "I think I'll be the one asking questions here," he snapped. "You are in the home of the Druids, and near as I can tell, you have no business traipsing through these parts." His beady eyes narrowed. "How do I know you didn't kill Master Dwarf?"

My brows arched. He was saucy for a Gnome. "Because we came for information, which would require that he be alive, to deliver it," I replied.

Sylos leaned over his shoulder. "Why are you here?"

He jumped, as Sylos slid the sword from the Gnome’s scabbard, offering a friendly smile as he disarmed him.

He was no threat to us, not now. We had his weapon, his full attention, and despite his brave affront, we had his fear…it seeped from his pores like sweat from the summer's sun. I knew before I even began that he would tell me what I needed to know.

His breath came in short, frantic gasps. His eyes bulged. "So you are indeed him," he said quickly. "Apologies, my Lord. It's just, I assumed seeing a Shadow Fey here meant you were hunting the Halfling as well."

I was, but not for the reasons he feared. "Please, tell us what you know," I urged.

He relaxed a little, although he kept a wary eye on Sylos. "I am Erim. I came to deliver news to Master Dwarf, news of the Elvin Prince. He'd been helping them and had hired me to arrange safe accommodation in their next destination. Organize false identities and such." He shrugged, glancing from Sylos back to me.

So they had been here. "Go on."

"I'd just returned from my quest, gotten them safely on their way to the Oakenwyde borders, when I heard there’d been an attack. It is why I came back this way. Rumor had it the Faerie Halfling had been struck down.

"An attack…struck down by who?" I demanded. I stepped closer, tightening the grip on my sword, lifting it slightly, without thought.

The Gnome cowered. "I—I dunno know, my Lord. There were no signs of it being the usual suspects. It’s rumored they face a new threat. Unknown to us."

A new threat? How can that be possible? Were there not already enough players in this twisted game?

The gnome lifted his head a little, emboldened by the fact that I'd lowered my sword to my side once more.

"But, I suspect they may have gotten free somehow," he offered.

I nodded impatiently, waiting for him to come out with the entire story, instead of this infuriating piecemeal of information.

"My sources say they are still alive, but I do not know in what condition."

It was impossible to ignore the way my heart beat harder in my chest. The thought that she may have been badly injured…

My nails bit into my palm as I clenched my fist tighter. Looming over him, I stared hard into his beady eyes. "Tell me everything. Leave out nothing," I said.

Sylos had been rummaging through the scrolls and papers littered across the end of the table. He held one up, then brought it to me. The Gnome eyed it with large, dark pupils, clearly terrified by what I might find.

"What is this? It says here you were hired by the King's service. What I need to know is, which King."

He raised two shaking hands in front of him, ducking his head down low. "Please, please, my Lord. I swear to you I mean the girl no harm. I was paid not by King Etienne, but by a member of the Shadow Court."

I lowered my sword. "Shadow Court. King Oberon hired you?" I frowned, puzzled by why he would elicit the help of someone like the Gnome.

"He was not sure you would be found. As you are capable of not being found, if you so choose it," he said.

True enough. "But why you?"

"Because, my Lord, he was desperate that this daughter be found before—"

He did not need to finish his sentence, my mind filled in all of the gruesome possibilities on its own.

"They were seen, after the attack. But someone lost a great deal of blood," he added. "There is much to tell you, Lord Zanthiel. Might I suggest the two of you come dine in the kitchen? I'm rather handy with a pot of stew." His gaze shifted to his dead Master, and his voice dropped. "I'd rather not look upon this tragedy any longer."

We followed the Gnome into the kitchen where a fire burned brightly in the hearth.

I have to find them. Fast.

"Your offer is kind, but we cannot linger. Thank you for your candor." I tossed him a small sack full of Faerie gold. It was the most precious substance in our lands. With it he could buy himself a small castle, should he wish, though I doubted that would be his choice, not if he was a tracker employed by kings.

Sylos paused by the hearth where a cauldron simmered, filling the room with a more welcoming aroma than the stench of death coming from the dining hall. He leaned forward, inhaling deeply. I knew what he would want next. Second to his love of the hunt was his passion for food.

"We need to go," I said, my voice low.

Sylos strode over to me. He placed his hands on my shoulders. "Calm down. Let's stay for a meal at least. You should take some rest. You haven't stopped for days."

I eyed him, cold and dark. "I don't need rest. I need to find her."

Nodding, his hands fell away and he returned to the fire. "I know. I only meant to say that if you find her, and you are weakened, then you risk losing not only her life, but yours as well."

I stared at my friend, appreciating his concern, if not his insatiable hunger. Forcing a brittle smile, I answered, "I am fine. But by all means…" My hand gestured to the cauldron, checking the Gnome to see if he would object.

He nodded amicably, then hurried to find three bowls. "We shall dine together, and in doing so you will grant me the opportunity to tell you as many details as I can recall," he said.

I was bested. We would stay. It was not his food for which I hungered, but as one of the few beings we'd come across so far to have information about Lorelei’s whereabouts, his company was the only thing I desired in that moment.

"I understand Master Tilak is to meet you here," he said, ladling stew into wooden bowls.

"When is that Dwarf ever going to show?" Sylos muttered.

"When he has something to tell us, I suppose." He'd gone on his own search for information since being of their bloodline, and not being widely feared like me, gave him an advantage we sorely lacked. Fortune must have shone upon him, for had he arrived on time, it might be his lifeless body in the adjacent room.

The door to the kitchen blew open, and Tilak stormed in.

"Speak of the devil," I said aloud, and by the look of him, he had the devil by the tail.

His stormy eyes scanned the room until they landed on me. He lips pulled into a sneer as he stomped toward me. "Truly, the luck you live by will bring down the moon, tear the sun from the sky, and darken every star."

"You give me too much credit." I half smirked.

He huffed, then handed me a map to his closest abode. "They've been offered shelter here by the River of the Dead, on the edge of the Oakenwylde. Search for a fella who goes by the name of Poe." He tapped a grimy finger firmly on the center of the map. "This is my home. Try not to raze it to the ground this time, if ye please. I've a reputation to uphold. How would it look for a Dwarf of my station to have only twenty dwellings in the region, instead of the barely respectable twenty-three?"

I looked at him squarely. "You have forty-eight homes in total."

"Aye, but I'm seein' that could change for the worse rather quickly," he grumbled. "I canno' stay." Before stomping toward the door, he paused at the counter to grab a hunk of bread.

"Tilak," I called out.

He turned to look at me, the same scowl still painted on his hairy features.

"Thank you."

For a moment he froze, his eyes wide and round.

"Truly. You have my unending gratitude," I said, offering a slight bow of my head.

His mouth fell open before he bowed deeply. "I know all Lorelei's done to keep this land safe. An' I know all you've done to keep her safe. I'm eternally at yer service, Your Highness. Yours…and hers." He straightened and headed for the door, then paused. "Just don't break my house again or ye'll be answerin' to me."

****

We dined on warm stew and hard bread, while the Gnome told us of how he came to aid in the secret travels of Adrius and Lorelei.

My mind drifted to her. The Gnome said blood had been spilled…a great deal of blood. Yet Lorelei could heal. If it was the Elf's blood, all the better, but either way, why was she not able to heal him?

The taste of fear entered my mouth, burning a trail to the pit of my stomach. From all the information he had shared, only one thought prevailed. What if the blood spilled was hers?