The men and women inclined their heads but kept their hands on the hilts of their swords. They had all been warned that Fey magic wouldn't work against the blight.
“You too, babe,” I said to Tiernan.
Tiernan nodded and stepped back. He had learned his lesson.
As soon as he was a safe distance away, I summoned the Light, letting it fill me to overflowing and then blasting it out of myself in a huge swath. I had used it on an entire military base once. It could handle a fairy village. After using it against the blight with precision, I felt confident I could direct it into the blight alone while leaving the village and residents untouched.
But I wasn't prepared for the blight's response.
Before, I had attacked the blight piece by piece. This was a massive wave that I pushed over and through the village. The shrieks I had heard the last time were nothing compared to the wails that came with this clearing. It was physical—a vibration that sent me stumbling back. I couldn't cover my ears as the others did. I had to keep pushing. But even as I winced, Light condensed around my ears to soften the sound.
It was over in ten seconds. Maybe less. I let go of the Light and lowered my hands. I wasn't even out of breath. Still, I gasped as I stared at the bodies in the streets. In another situation, I might have been pleased and proud of myself for reaching a new level of mastery with my magic. But as it was, my pride drowned under the horror of what lay before me. The bodies were skeletal, with withered skin hanging on bones, and curled into fetal positions. Were they still alive? Had the blight drained them of all they were and compromised their immortality?
“Tiernan!” I wouldn't be rash and run forward without him.
He was beside me in a second. “It's all right, Seren. That's how they normally look.”
I looked from the victims to Tiernan. “What?”
He turned and waved the soldiers forward. “Administer aid!”
They ran past us, and I took a breath as the closest victim was revived, sitting up with the help of one of our soldiers. She blinked her single eye and met my gaze. I hurried over to her.
“Your Majesties?” The woman gaped at us. “Why are you here? I mean, oh, I'm sorry, I . . .” She struggled to her feet, and I rushed to help her up. “Welcome to Pech.” She looked down at my hand on her arm and blinked. Then up at me. “I'm fine, thank you, Your Majesty.” As I let go, she turned to see her fellow Licho coming awake. “What has happened?”
I was about to explain when a man who'd been lying just a few feet away got up and came over to us. “Eulalia?” His withered hand went to her cheek. “Do you feel it?”
The Licho woman frowned, and then her face cleared. More than that, her lips stretched into a smile, and her single eye widened. She looked happy, but that should have been impossible. “Irek!” She wrapped her thin arms around the man and laughed. “Dear Danu, thank you!”
Irek picked up Eulalia and spun her, their eyes closed and expressions rapturous. As they celebrated, more of their kind cried out and laughed. The village was soon filled with the sounds of merriment.
“What the fuck?” I whispered.
“It took their dark emotions.” Tiernan looked from Licho to Licho.
“But that was all they were, right?” I looked at him.
His expression went relieved and then shifted into soft joy. “No, my love.” He took my hand and looked at me. “None of us is all darkness. Even the Licho had light buried within them. Without the pall they were born with, it can shine.” He looked back at them, his eyes going glossy. “Out of this blight, something good has come.”
I looked around. Even as I watched, the Licho transformed. Their thin bodies thickened, withered flesh plumping, and their eyes, though still of the cyclops variety, shone as only the eyes of the blissful can. It was bittersweet for me. In their joy, I saw another side of the blight but also another side of Danu. I trusted her implicitly. I loved her. But seeing these fairies blossom before me after the blight took what Danu had given them, shook my faith. It made me angry at her. How could she make them that way? Even if it was about balance, it wasn't right to lay the weight of depression on an entire race. They were like the garden we sought—given darkness to carry for eternity.
No wonder the garden was rebelling.
Tiernan and I strolled through the village, checking on the recovering Licho and making sure no blight remained. They smiled at us, enfolding us into their joy with warmth and generosity that I assumed were new to them. The dreaded creatures they once were had vanished. These were new fairies, shining with happiness and vitality.
We left Pech on the opposite end, searching for the blight. There were no signs of it. With an attack of that magnitude, I hadn't been able to follow it to its origin. The Light drove it back too quickly. But we knew where we were headed. East. I doubted the next village on our list of blight sightings had fared as well as Pech.
Chapter Seventeen
Our soldiers searched the surrounding forest for any signs of the blight, and then we posted a watch. We decided to stay the night. The next village was only about two hours away by cair, but I wanted to be sure the blight didn't return to Pech before we left.
The Licho were very hospitable, bringing out tables and chairs so we could dine together under the stars. A central bonfire and candles lit the feast. I knew the celebration was more about their newfound joy than any gratitude over the rescue. Not to say they weren't grateful. If I hadn't driven the blight back, they would have lain there forever. So yes, we were thanked profusely. But the feast and dancing were full of delight for the sheer pleasure of being able to experience it.
Halfway through the meal, my scry phone chimed. I opened it and answered to find my father's face coming into focus. He did not look happy.
“You couldn't find her,” I said by way of greeting.
“No.” He glanced to his left. “One moment, if you please. I'm speaking to Queen Seren.” His face went twitchy, and there was some movement as he shut a door. Looking back at me, hesaid, “I'm still at the Isle of Danu. Seren, the council members are . . .”
