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Though it barely felt like I’d mapped how things worked, I could pick out the changes in those around me as soon as they started happening. People were more frantic, more reckless, shouting in the corridors, and more likely to ignore the patrols. In a way, they had resembled the Seelie again. They were worried about their loved ones and knew everything might change again. This was still home for many.
When I was able to leave the prime house again, it confirmed that my sitters were gone and likely called away to the larger numbers of uniformed patrols. Seeing them together made me realise the force the Unseelie had behind their public threats, the seemingly innocent appearance until a threat was on the horizon. As I wandered, there were more groups like those I’d seen in the backways, conspiratorial and whispering. A group not too far from the shallow stairs talked about the Seelie, openly deciding whether to join them or whether it was all a trick. They weren’t as careful as the others I’d seen.
The public didn’t seem to realise that was one of their collective changes either— their willingness to begin finding each other to talk to and conspire for something better. There was a sudden shared feeling of resilience. I heard an attendant preach in a dining space that the shadow had been weakened, and I felt awake enough to know it could’ve been true. I realised how much I still relied on others, and it was only when I could see past that smoky weight that I wanted to help those emerging from their own stupor. I still saw my friend every now and then, but I could tell her priorities had shifted. Everyone was distracted.
On a particularly restless day, the hive mind was on the verge of revolt, and there was clearly a direction the people in the hallways were heading. I hadn’t found the archives yet, and I hadn’t found a way to help Lunete either, but whatever was happening was enough for people to overlook their safety. When I followed, henchmen lined the way into the meeting room I’d initially seen T’sol in. They used force if anyone acted threateningly or didn’t follow their direction. The flow of the crowd divided between trying to leave the prime house, heading deeper in, or into the vast chamber. Like fish, if a fight broke out, they continued around. More than ever, I felt as if I was part of the shoal.
I moved into the open space, quickly hiding my face when I spotted T’sol in the middle. Behind Neasa and the faces I’d seen at the council table, he was surrounded by an arc of a wide, tall race. It had felt like everyone was heading there, but the space wasn’t filled, and I wondered if it showed any kind of loyalty. There had to be others that were curious like me too.
The doors remained open when one of the council members began shouting, “...and I can confirm that there have been attacks. They do not recognise the authority with which we reside in power. However, through the great effort of our son T’sol, a mole has been found.”
Between shoulders, I saw the council member gesture towards an antechamber I hadn’t noticed before. Two guards made their way through the crowd, pushing through and leaving a tunnel. Held on both sides, Lunete trailed behind, her long ruffled hair falling around her shoulders. There were cries of ‘Lunete!’ and ‘Prime daughter!’ all around me. Several guards shoved the crowd in an attempt to threaten them into order. I heard the smack of flesh on flesh, and someone shouted that a name I didn’t recognise had tried to reach her.
Whilst another member continued shouting over the disruption, I used my less than Seelie stature to shoulder between the rows of watching spectators.
“Have the Seelie lost all their lofty morals? What happened to honour and fairness?”
By the time Lunete was held at the edge of the council circle, I watched a few rows back from the perimeter. I didn’t have a plan and I knew that this was a bad idea, but I needed to know she was okay.
“Do you think the Seelie Council will trade for another generation of peace for her safe return?”
Some of the crowd began pressing back towards the guard-lined space. One shout bled into the next, and I could feel that the tension might spark at the first sign of skirmish. Like a ripple back out to safety, I could see the spaces between the crowd widen as others felt the same agitation and tried to escape. Or perhaps they were the first to see how the shadows around us were responding, gathering around our feet. I was focused on Lunete and didn’t feel it until afterwards again.
“My dear sister.” T’sol’s voice rose above the crowd’s murmur. “Before my court, I would like to know what you were doing trespassing on an Unseelie Council meeting?”
Lunete’s white eyes were fixed on his direction.
“Louder, please.” His comment was accented by a loud hitch of breath as if catching his toe. His detour from the expected caught some people, and the crowd hushed a fraction, curious about what had happened.
Lunete’s voice rang above the rest.
“I didn’t know what I’d find there, or where I was at first, it’s not something—”
She was interrupted by his shout. From where I stood, I watched T’sol double over and catch himself on Neasa’s arm, his eyes wide.
“Stand up!” Neasa spat quietly.
The henchmen stepped forward, eyes narrowed. Lunete was left standing alone between two more perimeter guards, and even they were a reasonable space apart. I knew I would never get the opportunity again. I found my way through easily enough, and so told myself I’d be able to find my way out just as easily. I could only hope that my ghostlike state from before had been from our shifting state, at least until Lunete was pulled through.
Before I knew what I was doing, before I gave myself time to think that the darkness would be particularly close by, I lunged forward, pushing past the remaining people, and reached for her arm.
“Morgan!” I heard her call. I got back to where I was a moment ago, and my limbs froze.
She caught up to me, then perhaps realising what had happened, said softly, “We’re all just finding our own way, as you need to do. I’m sorry you’ve been caught up in all this—”
The henchmen that escorted Lunete immediately pulled her free of my grip and I was left alone under their scrutiny. People around us moved away, disassociating themselves, our own droplet of space was soon absorbed by the larger space I’d just tried to escape. I felt the dread pool at the back of my neck and down my spine. I had exposed my intentions. Neasa laughed behind me, murmuring to someone. She sounded pleased that she could see some aspect of our deal. Was she satisfied that I wasn’t a threat? I knew I shouldn’t have done it. But I would have wondered if I could have done something.
The hum of noise around me dropped, and after a moment or two, T’sol appeared in my periphery. Though his face was controlled, betraying nothing of the pain he’d just been in, he paced around to face me and stood notably tense. Like it had been called, the shadow collected around his hand.
“Ms Woods, this would be what happens when your Pact is breached.” His voice was quieter, spiteful, and I could feel the shadow around me eager to please. “Whatever you were hoping to do would be an interference to Unseelie affairs. If you’ll excuse me, I’m sure you understand that I have far more than your indecisiveness to manage.”
He strode past me and raised his voice to the remaining spectators. There was scattered laughter and one of the council members took over, listing the city districts that had been commandeered for their troops. I was pushed back into the crowd, the sparse press of people barely kept me from landing on the floor. My shoulder ached where a guard had pushed me as if their malice was spreading through the pain.
I thought about the acquaintances I’d made in the Seelie, the guards that were stationed around Pelthas, in my same task groups, and didn’t want them believing anything untrue about me. I wanted to see Áine and Olivia again, I wanted more discussions with Eoghan, and Drust. I had actively avoided seeing people back home but hadn’t yet worked out why he was different, the understanding that had grown between us. I couldn’t swallow the ache of regret out of my throat.
Moving further back into the public, I kept my head down as I listened to more of what was being said. The only thing I was grateful for was that the Pact had given me some measure of independence. They were either so confident in their deals or they simply didn’t have the resources to keep me under constant watch. The crowd churned again when there were calls for workers. I didn’t think there’d be any more information about what was happening outside the city and the press heading back towards the doors likely thought the same thing.
My intention was still to find the archives, and I was suddenly aware at how blatant that next step might seem. It was either that or waiting to be sent home, which I could no longer do. I was shoved from behind and only just caught myself. Something was pressed into my hand. By the time I looked around, I couldn’t be sure which direction they might have gone. There was a shorter person a step away from my hand, who was talking with someone in an armband, whilst someone ahead of us pulled a child along after them.
I felt something scrunched up, soft edges made me think it was paper and I kept my hand closed around it until I was clear of the crowd. I found my alcove quiet, and I unravelled it.
The letters were curved, like written Sindaric, but written in English. It had been scrawled in a hurry with misspelt words, but it was easy enough to read.
‘Wich cort are you with? We meet after super wer Nuadha’s sord is held up.’ Was this a trick? The only reason the Unseelie would sneak me a note would be as bait. The other possibility was Seelie conspirators. If they were in the prime house with me, at the very least I thought I could talk to them without causing an infraction.
––––––––
That night, I waited until the hallway outside my room was quiet before slipping down to the lower levels. I carried the small lantern that was usually left in my room, the gear on its side as dim as it allowed. Many of the places that had been patrolled during the day now lay open, the henchmen on their route or commanded out into the city. Did they feel that their threat was close?
When I’d eaten that night, I tried to recall any mention of the referenced story. I knew Nuadha had lost his right to rule, and that his sword wielded old magic like the stone, but so many of their stories were recorded in their murals. And I just wasn’t sure about which corridor that one was in.
I moved quietly and confidently when passing anyone. When it became more silent still, the last people falling into their districts, any reason I might’ve been out became less valid. So I started to hide instead. The passages looked different at night and scouting around in the dark hadn’t been something I was eager to do before. The shadows collected in the tall ceilings and around the carvings I passed. Relief features deepened and spread when I walked by, suddenly dramatic. I had the impression that Nuadha’s mural wasn’t far from the administrative rooms I’d seen, possibly a level or two either way, so I knew I’d need time to try and locate it. I didn’t trust many of the other people I saw throughout my day, and my friend hadn’t been around, otherwise she probably would’ve walked with me if I’d asked.
I ducked into a staircase when I heard muttering and nearby movement, hiding my light just in time, when a set of guards headed the way I’d been. After another moment of waiting, I checked before continuing. I tried to move swiftly but fell back on myself when I nearly walked into another pair. At this point, I realised I was lost and lucky if I even made it to that meeting.
“Identify yourself,” a deep voice said from around the corner.
My heart thumped, and I ran. I didn’t know what to do, and turned off my lantern, holding it to my chest to stop its creaking. The sounds of movement passed, but I knew I wouldn’t have long. Keeping my breath under control, I found my way in the dark, running my hand along the wall.
Like when I entered Pelthas, a whisper-quiet hum started beneath my fingers. At some point, I stopped running from the henchmen behind me and started following the energy I could feel in the rock, the urgency I felt for both outweighing each other. It made me want to stand up tall, confident, and made my scalp tingle. If this was old magic and potential time, it made me feel the moments when I could hold my own, when I’d managed what I wanted to do and everything was balanced, when I didn’t look over my shoulder at the darkness that was only a day away. With the shroud lifting, I didn’t know whether it was my own awareness or the shadow’s weaker density that I could somehow feel.
I rested a moment, listening for any movements that would echo in the corridor. After I was certain I’d lost the guards, I turned on the lantern, casting a small ring of light around me. And I froze.
Shadows stalked and jumped at the edge of the light, snapping. Against the brink, I could see it writhing, waiting... but for what? How long had I been walking that path already?
I nearly got up from resting on the wall when the energy behind me beat in time with my blood, and suddenly I knew that my lantern had nothing to do with it. In the same way I’d realised I had been lost before, the idea I might’ve found something connected with the possibility of doing something good. Another gate? Would I try to leave? Could I help others leave?
Raising the light again and keeping my other hand against the hum I could feel in my core, I continued slowly for the next few minutes. It led, sloping down, and eventually opened up into another vast chamber.