We gathered around the table as he sent us links to our tablets.
“It occurred to me that just looking up the words ‘whispering lights’ was mostly going to point to a bunch of boutique shopping sites,” he said.“So, I started doing alternate searches and finally found this when I looked up ‘forest light orbs.’I also found a number of shopping sites for solar lights for your garden, but then I found this.”
The website belonged to that of a small group of paranormal investigators—purely amateur—who were seeking out information on oddities.The article was under the classification of swamp gas and glowing light orbs.
Another oddity that we’ve investigated is that of what the military calls ‘swamp gas’…these are glowing orbs found in swamps.The authorities have tried to pass them off as gas rising from the marshes, but the phenomenon has been reported in forests as well, both out in the country as well as the thickets in the cities where no bogs are found.
While we first thought all of these reports involved will-o’-the-wisps, we’ve come to realize there are several distinct creatures that we’re dealing with.The will-o’-the-wisps, or forest devas, are dangerous and have long been known by the name of ‘corpse candles’ as well.They can be deadly, and it’s difficult to sort them out, until you have actual contact with them.
But we have discovered there are several other categories of light orbs.One, seems to be merely dancing lights—mindless, oblivious to other beings—who simply hover through the forest without causing harm.When touched, they give off a mild shock, but float away instead of engaging.They don’t appear to have the ability to charm, like the will-o’-the-wisps.We can find no record as to what these orbs are called or whether they’re even sentient.
And there is a third category.We’ve only ever encountered these twice, and we’ve made contact with them once.They are similar to the will-o’-the-wisps in that they have a natural charm to them.However, they don’t seem to drain energy off of those they lure in, nor do they seem inclined to harm anyone.In fact, the one bit of contact we’ve had with them has produced a brief cry for help.We tried to find out what they wanted but were unable to establish another connection.
We finally approached LOCK, and they provided what information they were willing to hand over.It seems these are a rare form of sub-Fae, with rudimentary intelligence.They’re generally gentle, and often called ‘Whispering Lights’ because they seem to whisper to people to connect with them.They’re considered benign, and they feed off energy from trees rather than mammals.They’re usually found in conjunction with their one natural predator—the gyanatar.
The gyanatar resemble anteaters and are either gold or silver.They’re also from the realm of Fae, though not considered Fae themselves.Like the panda, they have one food substance—the Whispering Lights.They’re rare, given the limitations of their prey, and very little is known about them.It’s believed they were more numerous but over the millennia, they have become almost extinct.
I shook my head.“So, we’ve got two very rare species—one sub-Fae and the other…a Fae creature.The Whispering Lights are probably trying to connect with someone to help rid themselves of the gyanatar.Given they seem to have no natural defenses, should we help them?”
“There’s an ethical problem there,” Viktor said.“The gyanatar are almost extinct.If we kill this one, then it’s one more nail in the species’ coffin.”
I thought about it, then turned to Herne.“We need to talk to Morgana about this.And perhaps, Cernunnos.Meanwhile, it sounds like they’re not going to harm Nalina, however if they lure her out to the park, trying to get her to help them, she could fall victim to one of the other numerous dangers in UnderLake Park.There are just so many hazards there, I’m surprised the city doesn’t shut it down.”
“Well, the city governments around here aren’t exactly known for their wisdom.A lot of people use UnderLake Park.Shut it down and you’re going to have a lot of angry people, which makes elected officials nervous.Look at Serenades and the boat restrictions.She’s one of the best mayors we’ve had and yet, even she crumbled at the backlash.”Herne shook his head.“We aren’t going to be able to close up every place that’s dangerous.So, we mitigate what threats we can.”He paused as his phone rang.“Hold on,” he said, glancing at the caller ID.“Oh, wonderful.It’s Saílle.”
I grimaced.Saílle and Névé still didn’t reach out to me as much as they did to Herne.Regardless of being warned by Morgana that they had to accept me into the fold of the Fae Goddesses, and regardless of the fact that the three Great Queens of Fae, from across the Great Sea, over in the Realms, had given me rudimentary approval, Saílle and Névé were still angry that I had been elevated to deityhood.It was as though they had some personal vendetta against me, which was likely true.I had come back in time for Fae Day, shortly before Lughnasadh, and they had given me the barest of greetings when we met.
We waited for him to finish his call.
“I’m sure she didn’t.Listen, Saílle, you need to quit imagining…no, I amnotsaying that you…I assure you, that’s not the case.We’ll look into it as soon as we can.”With a sigh, he hung up and glared at his phone.
“Saílle apparently believes you’ve been having secret meetings with Névé over something.I told her no, but now she’s asking me to check to see if Névé’s planning some sort of sabotage during the Harvest Faire that the local human pagan groups are holding.They’ve invited both of the Fae Courts to take part.Yet another thing on the to-do list.”
“That sounds about right.The suspicion, I mean.Hell, even the sabotage might be accurate, given their nature.I thought they were working together, given the emergence of the Crystal Fae.”
“They are, but it only takes the slightest thing to set those two off,” he said.
The Light and Dark Courts had more similarities than differences, but they were mortal enemies, except when it benefited both sides.And they were well-versed in treachery and deceit, especially when it came to each other.
“Concerning the two courts—since the Whispering Lights are sub-Fae, regardless of how intelligent they might or might not be, do we need to find out what Court they belong to, lest we accidentally start off yet another little war?”Talia grinned as I shot her a grumpy look.“I know, I know.But we’ve had that problem before.”
“I’ll tell them where to stuff their offended pride,” I muttered.
“Temper, temper,” Herne cautioned.“We don’t want to start an incident.”
“I’d like to see them try,” I said.But I gave in and powered it down.“I hate to agree, but Talia may have a point.Just about anything can cause a row with them.”
“Do you want me to put in a call to them?”Herne asked.
I thought for a moment.“No, let me.They’re going to talk to me whether they want to.”I pulled out my phone and conference-called both Saílle and Névé.They wouldn’t like it, but right now that was the last thing I was worried about.
They came on the line right around the same moment.
“Hello, Saílle, Névé.This is Ember calling.We need to talk to both of you about something,” I said.
Both sides of the line were silent for a moment.Then, Saílle said, “Lady Ember, I’m…”
“Of course,” Névé said, taking the high road.She wanted to show up Saílle’s manners.“Whatever you need from us.”
