A shadow passed overhead and the guard looked up anxiously. “Hurry, the Dark Fae have found our sanctuary.”
Skye started forward to follow the guard, then turned. Kheelan was backing into the darkness of the fairy forest. “Stay with us, by the crystal,” she said. “If the sluagh capture you again there may be no second chance for anything.”
He nodded and she returned with the guard to the fairy circle. Queen Corrigan didn’t look quite so regal and haughty now. Like all her subjects, she cast uneasy glances skyward.
Tiny drops of ash floated downwards.
Skye watched, mystified, as it lightly coated the ground like grey snow.
“Hurry!” The Queen motioned Skye toward the celestial crystal. “We don’t have much time.”
Skye willingly – gladly—approached. Again, her hand automatically lifted, desperate to touch its brilliant surface. She was born for this. She knew it.
Wait. There was something she was supposed to do first – oh, yes. The boon. Skye turned her gaze from the crystal and faced Queen Corrigan. “Aren’t you supposed to ask me something first?” she reminded her.
The ash fell ever quicker, ever thicker. The Queen’s silvery hair and gown were covered with it. “Who brings ye to our realm?” she said, impatient to be done with it.
“I brought myself and demand my boon.”
“Anything ye wish. Just do it—now!” The Queen’s voice had lost its musical charm. It was shrill and desperate as she looked upward.
Darkness gathered like a midday eclipse and a loud screeching infiltrated fairyland.
The sluagh had arrived.
The falling ashes heated, became tiny embers that singed all it touched.
“I must have your word my request be granted.” Skye spoke firmly, held her ground against the fiery, volcanic onslaught.
Annwynn came between the two. “Ye have the word of the Queen, with all of Faery as a witness. The hour of midnight approaches. It is time.”
Satisfied, Skye brought her attention back to the crystal. Its aqua and teal glow cast a brilliant light in the unnatural darkness. She raised both hands until she was within inches of the crystal that had fallen from the skies when Faery was first born.
A piece of heaven.
Skye gazed unblinking at its glow even as the falling embers singed the tiny hairs on her arms and face. The words burst forth, unrehearsed.
“By all universal powers that be
Human, fairy, fire and sea –”
A foul odor descended and Skye fought a churning nausea.
“Ignite this crystal, unveil its power
For the Seelie Court’s holy hour.”
A strong breeze lifted her hair from the flapping of thousands of wings swooping down. She continued staring only into the light.
“The Dark Fae’s evil now recede
As I will so mote it be.”
Skye plunged her hands onto the crystal’s surface. Her fingers transformed to an aqua blue as energy rippled up over her arms and spread. Power crackled through every cell in her body. The celestial crystal cracked like ice plunged in boiling water, leaving jagged fissures of white laced through the solid mass.
One last, loud roar of anger from the invading sluaghs and then they were gone.
She opened her eyes and saw her hands and body had returned to its normal color of mortal flesh. She searched for Kheelan in the hushed silence.
He stood alone.
Skye waved for him to come to her but he shook his head. No. Fine flakes of soot scattered from his hair.
“Well-done, Halfling,” Queen Corrigan cried. “The Unseelies will now gradually lose their strength until they are no more.”
A shout of hurrahs rang out. The Queen rose, her back to Skye, as she ordered preparations for a victory celebration.
“Wait,” Skye said. “What about my boon?”
“First we celebrate,” said Queen Corrigan. Her face was flushed with victory but Skye still noticed the tiniest flash of irritation in her eyes. She remembered Kheelan’s warning. Never eat or drink food from the fairies. If you do, you are at their mercy.
Skye took a deep breath, willing her voice to stay calm. “I’d rather do it now if you don’t mind.”
Everything was quiet again as all listened to the exchange.
“Very well,” the Queen agreed, though plainly aggravated at the interruption. She snatched at her long gown and sat on the pearl throne. “Come forward.”
“You too, Kheelan,” Skye called out.
They stood together before the throne.
“Don’t be stupid,” Kheelan whispered in her ear. “Request to leave at once.”
“In front of these witnesses I did pledge to honor ye a boon. What do ye want?”
“Release Kheelan from his bondage. Let him live freely among his own kind.”
“No.” Kheelan jerked her arm.
“What a ridiculous –” Queen Corrigan sputtered.
Skye spoke louder. “You said I could have a boon, anything I wanted.”
Kheelan raised his voice. “Queen Corrigan, she spoke unthinkingly. Let her change this request.”