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Evan waited a long moment, sifting it, then he turned his attention back to Keldwyn. "My apologies, my lord. My sire is dear to me, and I do not know you."
"It only increases my regard for you. You also didn't trade on your concern to curry my favor and gain access to my world."
A slow smile curled Evan's lips, answered by a glint in Keldwyn's eyes. "So you've shared that about me, have you?" Evan complained to Uthe.
"I figured it was best to give him a heads up before you did something foolish, like approach him on your own or send flattering letters, candy and flowers to Queen Rhoswen."
"He did think of it," Niall put in. He'd returned, and was standing a few feet from the table, arms crossed. Of course. While he would feed Alanna, their protection was his highest priority, and leaving Evan alone with another vampire and a Fae would take precedence now that Alanna was safely tucked away. "He just couldnae figure out the postal rate."
"I get no respect from him since he became a vampire," Evan said darkly. "I got precious little out of him when he wasn't."
"Perhaps if my lord Keldwyn is one day in a position to do me a favor, and his queen agrees, you will force him to follow you into the Fae world and it will make him more malleable," Uthe pointed out.
Evan grinned as the Scot's expression got predictably sour. "Your intuition is sound, my lord. I think Niall would rather face an army by himself than enter the Fae world. He's certain reality will shift and we'll never find our way back. Whereas I find that prospect not at all disconcerting."
"Which shocks none of us," Niall grumbled.
"One day you might go to the Fae world," Uthe said, sobering. "But I will tell you something, Evan. You could see every marvel there and here, but it is in the art inspired by your feelings for Niall and Alanna that you will learn the scope of the universe. No matter where you go together or what you do, your hearts contain infinite creation. Correct? I am telling you something you already know."
The sudden intensity of his words ended the jesting and brought that resolute look back to Evan's countenance. He gripped Uthe's hand. "You are mishpacha. Family. Father of my blood, my lord. Hearing you may not grace me with your presence again breaks my heart. I would do anything to help you. Please, let me aid you in this."
"I cannot allow that, but your willingness to do so pleases me. You have surpassed my highest expectations, and I know you will continue to do so." Uthe rose, drawing the vampire with him. This time, he initiated the embrace, holding him close, feeling his heart ache against the beat of the other male's. "Know that I carry our bond with me wherever I go, and I am very proud of what you have made of yourself. Continue to explore your art, and wherever your interests take you. If the Lord has given you an immortal life, then honor me by taking full pleasure in it, and being the intelligent and compassionate man I know you to be. Who knows?" Uthe drew back. "You might yet one day sit on Council."
"You tell me you care for me and yet you curse me," Evan accused, a rueful smile tugging at his lips. But there were tears in his eyes. Jewish men were notoriously emotional. Being from German stock, Uthe shied away from open expressions of such things. But this time, he put his thumbs in the corners of Evan's eyes, framing his face with his large hands, and absorbed the tears into his flesh. "Go with God," Uthe murmured. "May His blessings always be upon you and those you love, so you will share eternity together."
Chapter Thirteen
They re-entered the Fae world at the same portal. Keldwyn told Uthe the Shattered World was less than a day's journey and that they would arrive there before nightfall. His mission was upon them at last, no further delays. Uthe had gone over all the possibilities he might face many times before this moment. Just like when he'd reviewed battle plans for Templars or vampires, there was a point at which further review was unnecessary. All that was left were prayer and meditation. Checking his horse, cleaning his weapons. Making casual conversation with his other brethren about simple things. There was no point in dwelling on what was ahead when all preparations had been made. The rest was in the hands of God, a matter of Fate or chance. Or capricious luck.
As they drew closer to their destination, the sun seemed to shift away from the horizon, as if it had slipped off a shelf and tumbled into a corner. The ground remained green but became more open, with less trees. Signs of animal, bird or Fae life dwindled. The sky turned light gray then darkened, like before a storm. But there was no texture to it, no clouds building against it to herald rain.
Then Uthe realized it wasn't a sky at all. As they topped another in a series of ever-steepening hills, suddenly there was nothing left to climb. Uthe came to a halt at the unexpected landscape before them. It was...nothing. Behind them, under their feet, was the green grass. Much further back were the woodlands, the mirror bright streams, ponds and lakes that embellished a panoramic view of the Fae world. Ahead of them was grayness. No ground, no sky. His brain struggled to make sense of it, to look for a solid reference point. The hill on which they stood simply stopped in mid-air, as if bisected. He extended his arm to test the substance in front of him, but Keldwyn caught his wrist.
"It is best not to touch the gateway until we are ready to pass through it."
"It looks like we're stepping into nothing."
"There is a reason the Shattered World is also called the Uncharted Plain. Nothing can be controlled or fathomed there. Throughout the years, Fae who believe they have figured it out go in, armed with their scrolls and their belief that they can make sense of it. None of those have ever returned. Yet."
"But others have emerged?"
"A few, to give us what little information they could, much of it with no clear interpretation. It is always those who stumbled across the threshold through accident. They either remember nothing, or it's a jumble of images and ideas. Some come out entirely mad, their minds destroyed. Reality and fantasy are defined by whatever magic rules the place."
"You have your theories." Uthe gave him a sidelong glance. "I expect you've studied everything you can find about it. It's a puzzle, and those bother you."
"Not bother. They challenge me." Keldwyn tossed him an arch look, though. "Yes. Whenever magic is used, I think there are residual energies--waste, if you will. Perhaps places like the Shattered World are a dumping ground for such magics, which is why it made a good hiding place for your relics. In the Shattered World, there is no authority to control what lies there, as far as we know."
Keldwyn considered him. "Which is why I find it remarkable that you can still feel the blood link with the demon and the Baptist, when even your bond with your servants has a limit of several thousand miles."
"Shahnaz thought it was because of the way the magic of the demon combines with the power of the prophet, fueled by the purity of the innocent. Regardless, it's allowed me to be sure the head has been unmolested all these years."
Keldwyn shifted his attention to the gate. "You took a tremendous risk when you ingested blood from the head. The demon could have infected you with darkness."
"The prayer and meditation have managed it over the years." At Keldwyn's surprised look, Uthe offered a faint smile. "What? You didn't make that connection? Do I really seem that devout without proper motivation? And you consider yourself so smart."
Keldwyn snorted. "You are devout, Lord Uthe. Do not try to 'snow' me, as Gideon might say."
You do not fear death, yet you will kill your Master. As soon as you cross this threshold, it is certain. I will make sure he dies an agonizing death. But that doesn't matter, does it? You won't even remember him, let alone his pain.
It wasn't the first time the demon had tried to ambush Uthe with violent, bloody images. He usually blocked them so that he barely felt the malevolence of the attempt, let alone saw the pictures, but the demon had hit him at a weak moment. As his mind filled with visions of Keldwyn being tortured in ways too horrific to even comprehend, his beautiful body torn apart, Uthe struggled to contain and vanquish the violent tornado of blood a
nd screams.
"It is possible, once we pass through, that we will not end up in the same place," Kel was saying. "I will have your word that you will find me before you proceed."
"No. You shouldn't even be going with me. Completing the task is my charge, and if I can't--"
Keldwyn closed his hand on the pendant on Uthe's neck and jerked it free, despite Uthe's swift attempt to block him. The metal disk disappeared into Keldwyn's clothing. "There. Since you need the sorceress's weapon, then you will find me, if not for my own sake or yours, for the sake of your quest."
He should wrestle the bastard to the ground, take it back. Only the knowledge that Keldwyn could probably glamor the thing into another galaxy stopped him, but he showed his fangs to prove his displeasure. Kel tossed him a kiss-my-oh-so-pretty-ass look in response.
"Damn it, Kel." Out of pure frustration, Uthe punched him in the side. It took the Fae by surprise, and knocked him several feet to the right. When he narrowed his gaze, Uthe braced himself, but Kel's mouth lost its tight look at whatever he saw in Uthe's face.
"The demon is speaking to you, isn't it?"
