The Realm—on the Banks of the River
Immediately Afterward
It took every ounce of Sophie’s formidable self-control not to reveal the turbulence inside her. She had to count to five with each breath to keep from gasping. Michael had been right about the song. It was instructions. And here was the lost palace, behind the vine-covered walls.
So, now what?
She needed to keep Maeve from using the instructions in the song to take the throne and she needed to free the captives. Stopping Maeve wouldn’t be too difficult, given that the instructions in the song were hardly clear and were, in fact, impossible. But there were too many of Maeve’s courtiers around for her to be able to just grab Emily and make a run for it.
Maeve glared at Sophie and said, “The song?”
“Oh, it’s been ages since I’ve heard it,” Sophie lied. She had no intention of just rolling over, whether or not the song could help Maeve.
Maeve came closer to her, her lips twitching slyly. “Don’t lie to me. I know you won’t have forgotten this. You had to learn it for a reason. Now, tell me the first part. I remember it having something to do with how to cross the river.”
Acting as though she was deeply reluctant, Sophie sighed, took a deep breath and sang, “To reach my side, tell her to cross a river wide that has no bridge. If she can cross not wetting her feet, then she will know the way to my heart.”
Maeve turned to study the river. “That is easy!” she said after a while. “I am fae. I can fly across.” She spread her arms and a wind stirred the outer skirt of her gown. She rose slowly into the air and moved forward. Sophie bit her lip as she watched. She’d forgotten to factor in magical powers when ruling the tasks impossible. In the Realm this might be considered child’s play. She consoled herself with the knowledge that there were other tasks before they got to the part involving blood. She had plenty of time to stop Maeve.
Before she was over the river, Maeve seemed to hit an invisible wall that knocked her onto her backside. Sophie barely restrained herself from doubling over with laughter. Even some of the most staunch members of Maeve’s court appeared to fight back smiles.
Maeve’s skin-tight inner skirt made it impossible for her to stand with any dignity. She held her hands up and snapped, “Will someone help me?” It took two of her courtiers to pull her to her feet. A couple of women rushed forward to straighten her gown and brush the dust off it. Once she’d regathered her dignity, Maeve turned to face Sophie. “You did that!” she snarled. “I have heard about your enchantress powers. Do not thwart me, girl!”
“I had nothing to do with that,” Sophie said primly, even as she mentally berated herself for not having thought to try. “It would seem that you can’t use magic to complete these tasks.”
“Do you know a way across?”
“Why should I? Until a few moments ago, I thought it was a silly nonsense song.” Sophie eyed the distance between Maeve and the water. One good shove and Maeve’s feet would get wet, which would presumably render this whole exercise moot. She gathered her magical resources and focused on the chain binding her, loosening it so that she’d be able to pull her arms free. When Maeve turned to study the river, Sophie made her move, letting the chain slide to the ground and then grabbing one of her captors to shove him at Maeve.
He checked himself just in time, lurching aside rather than hitting Maeve. Sophie prepared to spring at Maeve, but a voice behind her called, “Stop!” Sophie whirled to see the other human woman—the one who wasn’t Jen Murray—with her arm tight against Emily’s neck, choking her. “If you hinder her majesty, we will hurt your sister.” Jen still held onto Emily’s arms. Emily’s face was turning red, but Sophie couldn’t tell if that was because she couldn’t breathe or because she was furious.
Sophie had thought she wouldn’t have to worry about a hostage situation with fairies because it wasn’t in their nature, but she’d neglected to factor in what their human allies might do. She took a step away from Maeve and raised her hands in surrender. Only when the woman lowered her arm slightly and Emily’s color returned to normal did Sophie turn to face Maeve.
Maeve smiled in smug triumph and said, “Now, if you want your sister to live, you will help me win my throne.”
For the first time, Sophie felt a real surge of panic because she had no idea what to do.