Chapter Twelve

 

After dousing myself with water and scrubbing my skin clean of slime, gunk and Jamie’s lingering scent, I went in search of Bob. Byron’s glowering face could wait.

I ignored the many Sidhe who stared at me with unchecked fascination and limped downstairs. It was painful to breathe; I could swear that the damned worm had broken one of my ribs. Whatever, I was going to have some brightly coloured bruises. Going by the looks I was getting, there was a good chance several of them would be on my face. 

I glared at a few of the less subtle Sidhe and they backed off. I also scanned every face for signs of disappointment that I was still alive. One of these wankers had summoned the stoor worm. Unfortunately, if my would-be executioner was one of these guys, he or she was a damned good actor.

I’d just reached the front doors and was about to step outside when there was an alarmed shout. ‘Chieftain Adair! You can’t leave! Not yet.’

I turned, sucking in a breath as my body complained at the sudden movement. ‘It’s Taylor, not Adair. Whoever my parents were, the Adair Clan is dead.’

The Sidhe who’d addressed me was an older woman with a lined face and less than pristine clothes that marked her as a lower-class Sidhe. She caught up with me. ‘You should be proud of that name,’ she scolded. ‘Pride is important. Like lions. Lions are strong. They’re the kings of the jungle. That’s why they live in prides.’

I raised my eyebrows. I’d been accosted by a mad woman. ‘Why should I be proud? Everyone treats me like I’m a leper because of that name.’

She shook her head. ‘They’re just too scared to come and talk to you.’ She grabbed my shirt and started pulling, as if she wanted to drag me back inside. ‘The Adairs are legends in their own right.’

‘Were legends,’ I said flatly, shaking her off. ‘But thank you for your words.’ I supposed the least I could do was to be polite. I turned to go.

‘Where are you going? Don’t leave! We need you.’

‘I’m not leaving,’ I said through gritted teeth. ‘I’m going for a walk.’

Her eyes rolled in an alarming fashion. ‘Walk the walk and talk the talk! Let me get you an escort at least.’

I shuffled away from her. ‘I think I can manage to walk on my own.’ Besides, the only person in the entire castle who I trusted at that moment was Jamie. He was the only one who couldn’t have set the damn stoor worm on me.

‘I knew your parents,’ the old woman burst out desperately, her frizzy hair trembling with the effect of her outburst. ‘Mummy and Daddy. Mother and Father. Mum and Dad. Mere and Pere. Ma and Pa.’ Her voice trailed off.

I looked at her. When I was growing up in the Bull’s demesne, I heard my father mentioned a lot. No one ever breathed a word about my mother. The woman beamed at my sudden interest. ‘I can tell you all about them,’ she said. She flapped her arms. ‘Chat chat chat!’

Something inside me hardened. Whoever my mother was, she was dead now. And I’d had it drummed into me that my father was a villainous prick who sacrificed hundreds of lives simply because it had suited him. People said the apple didn’t fall far from the tree. Well, I didn’t want to be anywhere near it. Anyway, this woman was clearly nuts.

‘No, thanks,’ I said curtly, trying to ignore the way her face fell.

I shoved my hands in my pockets and strode away, glad that she didn’t try and stop me. It was already dusk, with the sky the colour of murky purple in the way you only ever see in the Highlands. I sucked in a breath, got my bearings, and marched round the castle walls. My posture and frown made it clear to anyone watching that I wanted no further part in small talk about my heritage or even the damned weather.

I found Bob’s ‘scimitar’ in a clump of dandelions by the far west corner. Glancing up, I could still see the trail of slime left by the stoor worm. I shook myself, still incredulous that I’d escaped, then reached down, grimacing in pain, and grabbed the hilt.

Checking that no-one was watching me, I rubbed the blade.

Bob squinted up. ‘This isn’t a good time,’ he declared. ‘Sisko’s in trouble and I’m not sure he’s going to make it.’

‘Oooh, The Visitor? The episode where he’s come unstuck in time and his son is trying to save him? That’s a good one.’

‘I know.’ He glared. ‘Can I get back to watching it?’

‘Perhaps you need to put away the boxed set and start paying more attention. I almost died half an hour ago.’

‘Hmm?’ Bob drummed his fingers impatiently against the ground. ‘Do you think his son will save him?’ His mouth pursed. ‘No, wait. Don’t tell me. I don’t want to know.’ He cupped his hands round his ears. ‘Tralalalalala. I’m not listening.’

I sighed and waited. It took him a moment or two. He blinked and dropped his arms. ‘Wait a minute. You just about died?’

‘Stoor worm.’

Bob’s puzzlement grew. ‘We’re still at the Cruaich.’

‘I know.’

‘How stupid do you think I am, Uh Integrity?’ he said, affecting hurt. ‘Stoor worms live in the bottom of the ocean.’

‘I know.’

He leaned forward and sniffed. ‘Soap,’ he declared. ‘Definitely not stoor worm. Soap and,’ he paused, ‘sex.’ He lifted his eyebrows admiringly. ‘Fast work.’

I gazed at him, exasperated. ‘I’m not lying. There really was a stoor worm. Someone must have conjured it to try and get rid of me.’

Bob shrugged. ‘So they failed. Better luck next time!’

I narrowed my eyes. ‘You want me dead?’

He threw up his hands. ‘My raison d’être, Uh Integrity, is wishes. First there was the banker who was too stupid to realise what he had right in front of him, and now there’s you who’s a stubborn as a mule and refuses to ask for anything in case I’m trying to cheat her. The best thing I can hope for is that you drop dead as quickly as possible so I can move on.’ His expression was defiant but also slightly nervous.

‘That’s my point, Bob,’ I told him. ‘I wanted to ask for a wish. I would have made a wish. But you were thrown out of the window so I couldn’t.’

‘Why did you throw me out of the window?’

‘I didn’t.’

‘Because you know if you want to make a wish, I have to be in the room to hear it,’ he said. ‘I have unbelievable magical powers which you can only dream of but they don’t work if I can’t hear you.’

I folded my arms. ‘Bob,’ I said, in the sternest tone imaginable, ‘I need you to pay attention. You told me you will find your way back to me if I try and throw you away.’

‘Yes, it’s true. Because I am a supreme being with powers that…’

‘…that I can only dream of. Yes, I got that part. Well, listen, Bob. I’m not going to throw you away. In fact, I’m going to make sure you stay very, very close to me.’

‘Ooh! Uh Integrity, I had no idea! You’re rather large and lumbering compared to me but you’re not bad looking, I suppose. We could work something out.’ He waggled his eyebrows.

Good grief. ‘I’m going to keep you very close because it appears that someone is trying to kill me,’ I said with patience that was wearing thin. ‘And, despite my best intentions, I might be forced to make a wish to survive. Which means that until I say otherwise, you need to pay attention at all times. If we get separated, you need to jump back to me as soon as you can.’

‘Is that a wish?’ he asked eagerly.

‘No. But if you want me to use up any of your wishes, then this is the best shot you’ve got.’

Bob’s bottom lip jutted out. ‘But Sisko…’

‘My next of kin is a man named Taylor. He’s human. He won’t recognise you for what you are.’ I stroked the blade. ‘He will, however, appreciate this very fine silver and melt it down to make something more bankable.’

Bob was aghast. ‘He wouldn’t dare.’

‘He wouldn’t know. So,’ I said, ‘my death will not help you. The only chance you’ve got of me asking for any wishes is when my back is against the wall and I have no choice. So pay sodding attention.’

I thought for a moment that I’d gone too far and that Bob would relapse into a sulk. Instead, he shrugged cheerfully. ‘Okay.’

‘Good,’ I muttered.

‘Can I just watch the end of the episode first?’

I considered. ‘Very well. But only because it’s a really good one and I don’t want to have to listen to you talk about it for days to come. Once it’s done, you’re frosty and alert at all times. Got it?’

‘Got it, Uh Integrity.’ He winked. ‘We’re going to make a great team.’

I sighed. I really hoped that it wasn’t going to be long before Lexie showed up with the others. Between now and then, I probably needed to learn some patience. Like immediately.

*

‘What do you call it,’ I asked Byron when I eventually found the library and his stiff-backed form staring out a window, ‘when worms take over the world?’

He didn’t answer.

‘Global worming,’ I informed him.

He turned and faced me, his brows drawn together. The hair which normally fell so artlessly across his forehead had somehow formed a cute little curl. It was difficult to resist the urge to brush it away.

His eyes searched my face. I wondered what exactly he was looking for. ‘Jamie told me what happened,’ he said finally.

‘He tried to tell you when you barged into my room,’ I reminded him. ‘You just didn’t seem to be in the mood to listen.’

‘The Foinse must be failing faster than we’d thought,’ he said, ignoring my pointed comment.

‘You’re kidding?’ I scoffed. ‘You think it’s because the magic is draining away from your safe little Sidhe world that a sea monster suddenly appeared from hundreds of miles away? In my bedroom? I gave you more credit than that, Byron. Either someone wants the Foinse to break down, or their desire to rid the world of me is stronger than their desire to see the magic safe.’

‘No-one would dare,’ he growled. ‘You have guest privileges.’

‘Oh yeah? Because I’m pretty sure someone just did dare. If you don’t believe me, go have a look outside. The stoor worm left a lovely snail trail all the way down your wall.’

His jaw worked. ‘I’ll have a guard put on you.’

The last thing I wanted was to be watched twenty-four-seven. ‘I don’t need a guard. I need you to make sure that whoever is behind this is stopped.’

‘Investigations have already begun,’ he said stiffly.

‘Good. Now tell me what you want.’

He took a step closer so I had to crane my neck to look up at him. His voice dropped until it was both silky and dangerous. ‘Did he make you scream?’

‘The worm? Of course I bloody well screamed.’

Byron’s emerald eyes glittered. ‘No. Did Jamie make you scream?’

I swallowed and stared at him, my tongue suddenly unable to form any words.

‘I could make you scream,’ he continued. He reached over and brushed my bare arm with the tip of his index finger.

I jerked away and Byron laughed.

‘Is that why you summoned me here? To measure your sexual prowess against your mate’s?’

He watched me with amusement. I decided I preferred glowering Byron. ‘No. We need to go over the arrangements for tomorrow and the naming ceremony.’

I felt an odd mixture of relief and disappointment. ‘Well, good. Go on, then.’ I crossed my arms firmly across my chest. Just in case. Of course I received a sharp jab of pain in my ribs when I did so. It was a struggle to stay composed.

‘Normally, the ceremony would take place on your Clan ground,’ Byron explained.

‘I don’t have a Clan.’

He didn’t rise to the bait. ‘Just so. Besides, after your father’s untimely demise, the Adair grounds were salted. It’d be a miracle if the sacred grove is still standing.’

‘You guys don’t mess around, do you?’ I asked, feeling faintly sick at the wanton destruction and the thoroughness with which the Adairs had been treated.

He looked as if he knew what I was thinking. ‘It was before my time. And tempers were running high.’

‘I’ll bet.’

‘The grove here at the Cruaich will serve just as well,’ he continued, as if I’d not spoken. ‘Every Clan is represented here.’

‘Even the murderous Adairs?’

He held my gaze. ‘Even them.’

‘Fine. So what do I have to do?’

‘You enter alone.’ He pulled out a scroll and tossed it in my direction. ‘You read this aloud, asking your ancestors to guide you. Then you’ll receive your true name. Your Gift should emerge within a few days.’

‘You’ve got more than one Gift. Maybe I will have too.’

‘Maybe. I only have two. Your father had three.’

I was surprised. Three Gifts? I’d known he was powerful. I just hadn’t realised by how much.

‘Of course,’ Byron continued, ‘you might not get any. Your body might not be able to handle the shock as it’s already in the full bloom of adulthood. Your system might just reject it.’

Such a scenario would probably be the best for everyone. I didn’t need a Gift to open the Foinse. Perhaps whoever had tried to kill me would back off if I were essentially powerless.

‘I know you have telekinesis,’ I said. ‘What’s your other Gift?’

‘Do you care?’ he asked softly.

I guessed not. I shook myself and changed the subject. ‘That’s why there’s a fever,’ I mused. ‘It’s the body fighting against the Gift.’

Byron gave me an approving nod. ‘Indeed.’

‘It’d be better if that didn’t happen. Then we can leave for the Foinse immediately.’ My tone was decisive. I ignored Byron’s sharp look .

‘The onset of the fever happens almost immediately,’ he admitted. ‘You’ll know you’re getting sick before you leave the grove. The sicker you are, the stronger your Gift. Because I received two, I was ill for a fortnight. It wasn’t … pleasant.’

That sounded like a considerable understatement. Great. I didn’t need a temperature and sweats to add to my already aching body. I sighed. ‘There was something else I wanted to ask.’

‘You wanted to know what Rebekah meant.’

‘Rebekah is the ginger nut?’

He stiffened slightly. ‘She wouldn’t take kindly to being called that but, yes, that’s her. There have been many Sidhe who wondered why you didn’t come back to take revenge for what happened to your Clan.’

These guys were all about knee-jerk reactions. Maybe I should try harder to borrow Bob’s DS9 box set and force them all to sit down and watch it. They might learn something from Commander Sisko. ‘I suppose I might have once taken revenge on the Bull for making my childhood so miserable. But I’d be more likely to thank him than punch him. If he hadn’t been such a wanker, I might not have left when I did. Then I’d never have met my real family. The ones who count.’ My eyes narrowed accusingly. ‘The ones who you’re messing with.’

Byron cocked his head, gazing at me as if he were trying to work me out. ‘You should never have been placed with him. My father made a mistake, even if he had the best intentions.’

I didn’t want to discuss the past. It was, after all, the past. ‘From what I was told, what happened to my Clan was my father’s fault. And I can’t take revenge on a dead guy.’

Byron stepped back and ran a hand through his hair. ‘You’re not your father,’ he said.

I searched his face. He was telling the truth. Unlike most of the other highborn Sidhe in this place, neither he nor Jamie seemed to care whose daughter I was.

‘Sir? Byron?’ someone interrupted. ‘You’re wanted in the grand hall.’

Both of us turned. It was a nervous-looking pixie who was doing everything he could to avoid eye contact with me. Interesting. Perhaps these people really were afraid of me. I could use that.

‘On my way,’ Byron grunted. He gave me a final glance. ‘I’ll escort you to the grove tomorrow. Until then, try and avoid having sex with anyone else. We don’t need half the castle in love with you.’

I grinned. ‘Why ever not?’

Byron rolled his eyes. ‘By the way, it’s pyrokinesis.’

Puzzled, I stared at him. ‘What is?’

‘My second Gift.’ He touched me lightly on the shoulder and walked out. The pixie ran.

I watched them go, then dropped my head and examined my shoes. I didn’t like the idea of being able to call up fire. Certainly it would have its uses but in this day and age it would be used far more for destruction than anything else. I shivered and thought about Byron’s other comments. Whenever I got answers, I also ended up with more questions. I hadn’t come here to learn about myself, however. I didn’t need new revelations or an emotional growth spurt. I was happy the way I was.

I lifted my chin up and spotted a pretty feather in an inkwell on a table nearby. I picked it up, then whistled. I couldn’t be entirely sure but this looked like it came from the wings of a unicorn. It was priceless. The damned beasts were so hard to catch unawares that unless you were an unblemished virgin, you’d no hope of getting close to one. I grinned to myself. Charlie would give me a good price for it. I shoved it down my top. It tickled my skin but I wasn’t going far. I was Integrity Taylor, thief extraordinaire after all – not Integrity Adair, Clan princess.