Chapter 27

“Very well, Ghurran, who is this mysterious lady with the symbol on the ring?” Verenestra asked.

“First off, I admit to smuggling this Clarence out of the building in my carriage and dropping him off at Hansol’s estate as ordered, using the public portal to get there. Now may I have pen and paper?” he asked. “I need to make sure it is the same symbol.”

I handed him a biro and my notepad, causing him to look surprised at the strange simplicity of it, but he soon got over it.

“This is the symbol?” he asked Hansol.

“It is,” Hansol replied in contemptuous tones, though still unable to stop speaking the truth.

“This is the ancient symbol of the Order of the Akmonii. I thought them a myth, though there are fractured mentions throughout Fae history. I was studying my line’s past and found a few records. The leader of the Akmonii was supposed to be the former Queen Oonagh.”

“Do you know what their purpose was?” William asked.

“To preserve the line of succession. Their leadership are all reputed to be women, but again, what knowledge I have is limited by what few records there are. Apparently they were the driving force behind the male Fae to reunite under their leader, Oonagh. There is a mention that they are also accomplished warriors in their own right, archers for the most part.”

“A secret society of Amazons ... lovely,” I muttered.

“Of course, they’d see Oonagh still as rightful Queen, your Majesty,” Ghurran added.

“They would,” Verenestra sighed. “Hansol, describe this woman, thoroughly and carefully, whilst I draw her likeness.”

Despite himself, Hansol gave a detailed description of the woman, his answers becoming more strained and reluctant until finally he managed to refuse to answer at all. Verenestra was an accomplished artist and used a carbon stick to produce a very good likeness of a Fae woman.

“Cuff him and take him to the healers. I want his suicide ability removed using the method the Higher Powers demonstrated for us via Oonagh. He can then spend time in the Null cells next to his former Queen,” Verenestra commanded Talusi and the guards with her.

“At once, your Majesty,” she replied before they dragged a struggling Hansol out.

“We have his mind protected; someone appears determined to extinguish it,” Astrid commented.

“Why do I suspect that these ... people would have been the path to Oonagh regaining her glory, had she been the winner in the clash of destinies between you and her, John?” William asked rhetorically.

“Knowing they exist is half the battle,” Morgana added. “Plus, we know they have Clarence, too.”

“That’s true,” Verenestra nodded. “I know this woman from somewhere, but the memory escapes me.”

“Can we help?” Astrid asked.

“Ugh, I hate it when you go trammelling through my memories, but, yes, go ahead.”

Five minutes later, Astrid announced. “We have her. No name, but she is a servitor of Lord Ginfio’s wife.”

“That’s where,” Verenestra nodded. “We weren’t introduced, but her dislike for me was apparent during the time of my mother and the Seelie court.”

“Probably expected Titania to step aside when Oonagh returned and disliked you for your stance on humanity and that you were a successor to your mother,” William agreed.

“More than likely, though Ginfio has always been a staunch supporter of the new way ... his wife I believe, less so.”

“Would he see us?”

“He’d likely be surprised by a summons, but won’t object,” William replied.

“A summons might trigger a disappearance by this woman as she’s likely the only link we have to Clarence and we know they have been alerted to a potential problem. Best we go see him. How are your traces going Astrid?” Verenestra mused.

“We permitted them to think they succeeded ... eventually. “We have traces on four of them now and can snatch them when you request it.”

“Good. As for you, Ghurran. If this information pans out, it has saved you a public trial and execution. However, we are not best pleased at the potential damage you may have done to our realm by not coming forward far sooner. You endangered your son and eldest daughter in a plot to destabilise Fae society and for that there will be a price. That price is that you will hand your title forward to Jurant ... should he swear the Calvagh, and go into exile on Jingol for the next century. Consider yourself lucky to be alive and do not draw yourself to our attention again.”

“Thank you, your Majesty,” he replied pale faced, but with a look of relief in his eyes.

“Herault, ensure Ghurran here makes it to the island and can at least live comfortably until his exile is over. Task Regent Taqual with this, I will recompense any expense in the matter. Ghurran has done us a service and whilst it does not cover his crime, it does allow me to make this exile easier than it may have been. His debt is also forgiven, for the sake of Jurant and Serone, to be covered by the crown.”

“At once, your Majesty,” Herault saluted and nodded to Astrid as both he and Ghurran flickered out.

“Bit lenient,” Morgana commented once they’d gone.

“Yes, but it also encourages other potential traitors to approach us, hopefully giving us a bit more warning of a serious threat,” Verenestra explained.

“Ah, I see,” she nodded.

“Now, let’s go see Ginfio,” Verenestra stated, looking at Astrid.

“He’s at his hunting lodge with his drinking cronies, all male and none a known security risk,” Astrid confirmed.

“Let’s go.”

Astrid opened a hidden portal and we all trooped through, including three Drow who hadn’t uncloaked when the original four had.

“Sneaky,” I chuckled.

“Never reveal the cards you hold, until you have to,” Verenestra replied with a grin.

“And avoid playing for money against Verry unless you want to lose a fortune,” William added with his own grin.

“Ah, so you admit it isn’t bad luck on your part?”

“No one is that unlucky, my love,” he laughed.

“You know me so well.”

There were looks of extreme surprise as the royal party entered the grounds of the lodge. Several Fae hurriedly rising to bow and acknowledge Verenestra ... as well as tidy themselves up a little as they had all been drinking.

“My Queen, an unexpected pleasure,” Ginfio greeted Verenestra.

“Greetings to you and your party, Lord Ginfio. Sadly, it is business which has brought me, business that needs to be kept away from prying eyes and listening ears,” Verenestra replied.

“Well, say on, my Queen. There are no traitors here.”

Verenestra quickly ran through the story before handing over the picture of the Fae woman we suspected of treachery, causing Ginfio to grimace.

“Lady Yinbor, my wife’s hand-servant and confidante,” Ginfio confirmed. “She has the ear of my wife and runs the household with a rod of iron ... Very intolerant of males, but polite, if icy, to me. She even persuaded my wife to set up her own female guard aside from my personal armsmen. They are reasonably competent with the sword, but utterly deadly archers. All from good houses, but all estranged from them due to incidents with men.”

“It is one of the reasons my Lord spends so much time hunting,” a young-looking Fae added. “Enjoyable as it is.”

“True, there have been several ‘incidents’ between my wife’s coterie and my regular staff, so that I do most of my business here or in one of my other holdings. My wife now runs the household and the best of my staff now work elsewhere. I had thought to see you for a divorce in time, my Queen, though I still care greatly for my Ilvana.”

“This is most disturbing, my friend,” Verenestra commiserated. “Yet I must have this investigated further. Do you know if this Yinbor is in contact with other noble houses?”

“With the Aila and Martia houses. I caught a glimpse of some correspondence when she was distracted,” the young Fae spoke up.

“My nephew, Tiveru,” Ginfio introduced him. “Lords Aila and Martia are loyal to you, my Queen, I’m sure of it ... yet so am I, though possibly not all of our households.”

“Assemble several teams,” Verenestra ordered a Drow, “it appears we need to call upon several households for further investigations.” Turning to the Seers she requested, “Astrid, have the Seers prepared to blockade those holdings. No one out, no one in.”

“Yes, my Queen,” they both replied before winking out.

“Ginfio, would it look amiss if you returned unexpectedly?”

“No, my Queen, it would not.”

“I would be at your side, if you permit it, Uncle,” Tiveru requested.

“Granted, indeed you should all attend and mask the Queen’s entry,” Ginfio ordered his party as with a sudden displacement of air, Astrid returned.

“Thank you, my Lord,” Verenestra acknowledged as the assembled Fae gave a loud assent to Ginfio’s order.

Ginfio himself raised the portal to his home and access was granted immediately, without all the rigmarole of an unannounced visit from a stranger or the surprise of a hidden portal opening and a potentially hostile force being discovered.

Yet we could all feel the mental tension ratchet up when Ginfio and our party entered the central holding of his demesne.

“A hint of Clarence, but it was soon hidden again,” Alameda confirmed to Astrid’s nod.

“Lockdown please,” Verenestra requested politely.

“Done. No one in, no one out.” Astrid confirmed. “No tunnels detected either, but my sisters will monitor still.”

That was the straw that broke the camel’s back. Suddenly several arrows shot out from various positions in the gardens straight at our party only to shatter on the flicker shields of the more capable Mages and Seers except for one aimed at Tiveru which was, astonishingly, snatched out of the air by Jukar.

“Ouch,” she muttered rubbing her hand which I could feel she was healing from some serious friction burns.

“That’s why we use shields ... clever as that was,” I chuckled, speeding up the healing process for her.

“I could detect it, but it was far too fast for me to stop it by any other means at my disposal. I can speed up my reactions, but not my casting ... yet,” she admitted, blushing at the looks of awe she was getting from the Fae party.

“And we wonder why the Daoine Sidhe lost,” Ginfio stated with a wry smile as the Drow melted into the undergrowth to hunt out our attackers.

“I had it covered, Jukar, but indeed, well done,” Morgana added.

“Thank you, Mage Morgana. Much of it is down to my fencing training by John, you and Mage Roxanne,” Jukar replied, the blush turning from one of embarrassment to pleasure at the praise she was getting.

There were a series of screams and shouts as the cloaked Drow dealt with our attackers using the special toxin and captured them as Verenestra wanted prisoners to question if possible.

“We have them, your Majesty,” a Drow announced as he uncloaked before us. “One was one of our infiltrator observers, thought dead,” he finished with a look of disgust.

“Ghurran said there might be,” Verenestra nodded. “Well done, though, on her capture.”

“Fool had not thought to cloak,” the Drow replied giving the Fae version of a shrug.

The Fae with Ginfio had now moved from being a happy hunting party to one of angry determination and were pulling modern Mage style armour out of pocket universes to equip themselves with before forming a shield wall between ourselves and their Lord as we advanced towards the holding. The Drow had cloaked and were no doubt scouting out the approaches for ambushes, though our magical senses were telling us the holding had gone into some form of lockdown.

Halting in front of the main entrance, Verenestra looked upwards before demanding entry.

“Begone usurper. You are no Queen of ours!” came the expected reply.

“John, Arch,” Morgana ordered.

“Yes, Mage Morgana,” we replied, pulling out our grenade launchers and letting fly with two nulled grenades towards the heavily reinforced door to the front of the building. There was a tearing noise a split second before the door was blown off its hinges and reduced to splinters.

“My apologies for the damage to your holding,” Verenestra spoke to Ginfio.

“Think nothing of it, your Majesty. I had been planning a redevelopment anyway; only my wife’s objections held me back.”

“Possibly something to hide,” Verenestra mused.

“Possibly,” Ginfio nodded.

Arch and I, along with Róisín and the Fae had charged forward, weapons ready, into the hole the grenades had caused, meeting several female Fae, grimly determined to keep us out.

It was carnage. There was no other word for it as they were good warriors, but hopelessly outclassed by modern weaponry and tactics as used by us and the Fae accompanying us.

“A decade ago, they would have caused severe casualties to us,” Tiveru noted as the last of the immediate defenders crumbled to dust.

“Had they fought for the true Queen they would have known better,” Ginfio confirmed as Verenestra, William, Morgana, Jukar and the Seers approached and entered.

“True,” Verenestra acknowledged. “Now spread out and search the holding. Take prisoners if possible. Bypass any strongly held areas; leave them to the Mages and my party.”

“Your Majesty,” all the Fae acknowledged, as they began, under Ginfio’s direction, to go thoroughly through the holding.

Soon enough a stream of confused and frightened serving staff were passing us out into the courtyard and to safety. Both Arch and I were outside with scoped rifles, keeping an eye out for any snipers, though so far it remained quiet.