“Upset?”
“Yes, and as upset people often do, they're looking for someone to blame.”
My eyebrows lifted. “Me?”
He grimaced. “They're saying your marriage to Severriel has caused this infestation.”
“That's preposterous,” Tiernan leaned in to say. He stood up and gestured for me to follow. “One moment, King Keir. We need to go somewhere a little quieter.”
“Where are you?” my father asked as Tiernan and I left the party and went to the edge of the forest.
“In Pech,” I said. “It's a Licho village.”
King Keir frowned. “What was all that commotion?”
“They're celebrating, Dad.” I glanced back at the bonfire. “The blight covered the entire village, but when I freed them, they found that all their dark emotions were gone. It's different with them. They—“ I paused to collect myself.
Tiernan took over. “As you know, the Licho must steal joy to feel it. They are, or were, mostly sorrow. Without the depression, they're experiencing happiness—their own, true happiness—for the first time. Amid this darkness, they have found light.”
“That's wonderful,” Keir whispered. “I suppose there is good to be found in everything. Every failure or tragedy can be the start of something great.”
I nodded. “But why were they made to suffer, Dad? Why did Danu make them like that?” I waved a hand back at the party. “This joy only tells me how great their sorrow was. How could she do that to them?”
Keir bent his head and sighed. When he lifted his gaze to me, it was full of tears. “I stand upon our Goddess's isle, her birthplace, and yet, I cannot answer that, Daughter. There are things only the Gods know. But I will say that I trust Danu completely. There was a reason she made the Licho.” He frowned.
“What? You've just thought of something, haven't you?”
“Just that, the Lichos' purpose has now been circumvented. As happy as I am about their circumstances, it may have repercussions for the rest of Fairy.”
Repercussions. The word slid through my mind. Someone else had said it recently. Mariya. Yes, she warned against destroying the garden. But without Danu giving me another option, I had no other choice. The Garden of Regret had to be destroyed.
“I don't care.” I lifted my chin. “If the rest of us must receive a portion of the sorrow they carried, so be it. One race shouldn't have to carry that for everyone. It's not right.”
“The effects on me were temporary,” Tiernan jumped in. “I expect the Licho will return to their old selves eventually.”
“Let's not tell them that.” I looked back at the celebration. “Leave them to enjoy this for as long as possible.”
“As I said, there are things we cannot understand, Seren.” My father cocked his head. “Are you losing faith in Danu, right at the moment she needs you most?”
I drew back, startled. “No. I . . . oh, fuck. How little it takes. I see one thing I disapprove of, and without her to defend herself, I convict her. You're right. I'm not being fair to Danu.”
“This is testing all of our faith in Danu.” He shook his head. “The High Council is convening. They aren't just blaming you, Seren. That is just one theory. They're also accusing Danu of deserting them.”
“The high council members are supposed to be her most loyal fairies!”
“Yes. I pointed that out. I also noted that the only one among them not accusing Danu or you of anything was the ex-Witch, Tristan.”
“A man not born Fey.”
“Yes, precisely. And yet he stood up for Danu. He was the only one in the room who defended her. I hope wherever she is, she felt his support.”
“It's easier to support someone who you've only known to be kind and loving,” Tiernan said. “Councilman Tristan Lightheart is Danu's chosen one. She touched him with her magic. I'm not surprised he's her staunch supporter. But he wasn't here through the years of silence, when we believed—” He paused to give me a heavy look. “Mistakenlybelieved that Danu had abandoned us. Mistake or not, that was a dark time when a lot of us lost faith in the Goddess. And there are many who believe that Danu is not being completely honest about it.”
“What does that mean?” I demanded.
“Seren, it's easy for Danu to say that it was our fault. She says we stopped listening, but as someone who lived through the time of silence, I don't know if I believe that. Not wholly. I tried talking to her. Often. Believe me, I listened. She never responded.”
“The council members are saying similar things.” My father waved at Tiernan. “I will advise you as I did them, Tiernan. Still your thoughts and try to sense Danu. Do you feel anything?”
