20
‘The four elemental kingdoms are as old as time itself. At the creation of the world, we were given our own kingdoms, our territories, our creatures to govern. As the long ages passed, ice covered the world, then water, then earth rose. This world began as fire, as liquid metal and rock in a furnace as hot as the sun. Over time, the elemental realms settled into a harmonious agreement. We needed each other to flourish: the forests need rivers and sunlight and oxygen to grow, after all. For many ages, the natural world was at peace.’
Lyr rose and went to one of the cabinets against the wall. He picked something up and weighed it thoughtfully in his hands before returning to sit opposite Faye.
‘At the centre of the four faerie kingdoms sits the Crystal Castle of the Moon.’ He held out the piece of opaque pink-white crystal he was holding to her. ‘Take it. This is from there. You will feel the magic of the place by holding it.’ Faye took it, and took in a deep breath as its strange and familiar power flowed through her palms and into her heart.
‘The Crystal Castle sits apart from the elemental kingdoms, but is their heart. It is the home of Morgana Le Fae, Mistress ofMagic. She cannot exist without us, but we cannot exist without her. She is the centre of all our power, but she is also the beacon that shines between the worlds. She connects the human world and our world together.’
‘Yes.’ Faye nodded and turned the crystal over in her hands.
‘In the human world, Morgana is the moon. Her power is night power. Human imagination and magic are governed by her. She is the mistress of your realm of dreams, and humans can journey to us, to her castle, even, and learn magic because of this connection.
‘But as the years passed, humans became less and less connected to our realms. They have poisoned and polluted the natural world and hurt us. They have stopped honouring us and strengthening us by melding their bodies and souls with ours. Thus, the faerie kingdoms have lost power, and our harmony has been disrupted.’
Lyr held his hand out for the crystal, but she was reluctant to give it back.
‘I know about the war. I’ve seen it. I know that Murias and Gorias want to maintain the balance with the human world, and your kingdom and the fire kingdom wish to overturn the balance altogether and enslave humans forever.’
‘Is that what he told you? Finn Beatha?’ Lyr demanded. ‘That is not the truth! I would never want to enslave humans. They are dear to me. And, more to the point, that is totally unnecessary. We are more than capable of enticing humans into the fae realms as and when we want them.’
‘What is the truth, then?’ Faye frowned. ‘How do you expect me to believe you?’
‘The truth is that Finn Beatha wishes to take the Crystal Castle for himself and rule it, thereby controlling all of the fae realms.’ Lyr stood up and began pacing the room. ‘Not just that. As I told you, the Crystal Castle controls the human imagination.Dreams are made there. Ideas. Creations. If he controls that, he controls all humans.’
‘He could enter anyone’s dreams. Implant ideas in people’s minds. Cause absolute chaos,’ Faye said slowly, beginning to realise what Lyr was saying.
‘Exactly. Gorias supports him for their own reasons; I presume he has made a bargain with the king and queen of air.’ Lyr turned to her.
Faye wondered what that bargain was. Presumably, Finn had offered some kind of power share, like he had to her. She had no doubt that it was a lie, however.
‘So you see why it will be very difficult for me to…intercede on your behalf with Finn Beatha,’ Lyr continued.
‘But you can do it?’ Faye demanded. ‘My friend is dying there. I need to help her.’
‘First, you must tell me the promises you have made to them, and I will tell you what I require,’ he said, picking up a yellow fruit that could have been a pear from the bowl on the table and taking a bite. The juice rolled down his chin into his beard, and he wiped it away.
‘I owe favours to the faerie queen Levantiana,’ Faye said. ‘She helped me escape Murias and bring my human lover back with me when Finn had kidnapped him in jealousy, and she agreed to teach me the faerie magic of the water realm. I promised her…’ She stopped, expecting the horrible choking sensation; dread filled her. ‘I can’t tell you.’
‘What did you promise, daughter?’ Lyr finished the fruit, stalk and seeds included. ‘I can assure you that a promise made to Levantiana is a very serious matter indeed.’
It was the terrible, jagged secret that had sat inside her heart like a grenade all these months. Faye was terrified of it, lest her admission caused her to choke to death. Yet, she longed to befree of its weight, the worry that choked her. Tears filled her eyes.
‘You don’t understand. I can’t tell you. She’s…cursed me or something. If I try and tell you, it’s like I’m drowning.’
Lyr grimaced, and he sat forward, staring at Faye.
‘If she has cursed you, I can remove it.’ He leaned forward and drew a number of shapes under her chin and grunted. As soon as he did so, Faye had the strangest sensation: as if she’d been wearing a tightly collared shirt all this time, and it had been unbuttoned. ‘Hmm. That should do it.’ He sat back slightly, though he kept his eyes on her face steadily. ‘Now. Tell me.’
‘You’ve…I can tell you? I’m not sure.’ She traced a finger anxiously inside the neckline of her dress.
‘It’s gone. Trust me,’ he said. ‘You should have told me this; I could have loosed the curse before now. Now, speak.’
‘A baby. My…future child,’ Faye stammered, expecting her throat to close, for the hands to reappear around her neck. But nothing happened, and when she heard herself say it out loud, it sounded surreal. Faye laughed to hide her anxiety. ‘I mean, I said yes. I had to. But she can’t possibly make it happen…make me…pregnant. I mean, maybe if I was in Murias, but even then…what would she want with a baby?’
Lyr slammed his goblet down on the low table, jumped to his feet and turned his back on her. He exhaled slowly as if he was trying to control his voice.
‘You offered her your child? For a human lover?’ His voice was low.
