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"Goblin dog. Goblins live in the forest with the Fae you know. They're actually part of the whole Fae world, but both Seelie and Unseelie avoid them. Goblin dogs are . . . well, they're intelligent to a degree. They're a cross between goblins and other . . . creatures. Goblins that didn't quite develop normally. They're used as slaves and frontline grunts in wars. In other words: anytime somebody has to do the dirty work and stands a good chance of being offed."
"Oh, how delightful. I've never heard of them. Hell, I barely know anything about the world of the Fae." I paused. "How do you know so much?"
He gave me a long look. "The shamanic tradition my mother was initiated into, the magic that changed my DNA, is steeped in the magic of the Court of Dreams. The inhabitants of the Court aren't fully corporeal and they work on the astral plane. They're well aware of the Fae and I've learned much in the hundred years I've been alive."
I'd never heard of the Court of Dreams but just the mention of it washed over me like a bucket of cold water. Something about the name . . .
"Wait . . . hundred years? You're a hundred years old?"
"One hundred and one, yes." He said it so matter-offactly that I decided to let that issue drop right there. We could discuss his age and how he managed to get there without looking a day over thirty later on, when we weren't fighting goblin dogs.
"Okay. So, is this also what gives you your ability to see ghosts?"
"Yeah, and my other . . . abilities." Kaylin nodded to the bottom of the ravine. "We'd better get a move on or that thing might come back. And frankly, I don't know if we're armed enough to actually kill it. You landed a nasty blow with your blade and barely slit the skin."
The reality of what he was saying washed over me. We'd barely hurt the creature. What would we do if we were facing something more dangerous? No two ways about it: We had to shape up because chances were good that we wouldn't make it through the next few months without another fight. Kaylin was experienced. And I knew enough to teach street fighting. We'd muddle through.
"Keep your eyes open. If something happens, don't run off into the mist alone. Kaylin and I have the most experience fighting, so Leo, you stick with me. Kaylin, you help Rhia."
Rhiannon moved to Kaylin's side. Leo pulled up front with me.
"We ready? Let's push toward the bottom of the ravine."
I showed Leo how I was inching my way down, stepping sideways on the steep and frozen hill. Then, I'd test my footing before putting full weight on my leg. He followed suit. Every few feet I called, "Check," and Kaylin echoed it back to me. After another ten minutes, I could hear the sound of tinkling water. The stream sounded muffled, and I guessed it was partially frozen over.
"We're almost at the bottom." The fog was so thick at our level that it caught in my lungs, making me wheeze. But sure enough, in another moment we were standing beside the channel through which a rolling stream flowed. Or did, under a thin layer of ice.
"Now what?" Rhiannon asked.
"Now, we cross the stream and head up the other side." This was taking longer than I thought it would. I hadn't counted on the mist, or on being attacked, or on just how rough our footing would be. We still had at least another hour--maybe two--of walking, according to the directions Grieve had given me.
"We need to pick up the pace."
"Here's a stepping-stone bridge," Kaylin said, pointing to a series of smooth, flat stones that had been placed across the stream. They were wet and iced over, but they were an inch or so above the water and if we balanced carefully, we might not end up calf-deep in the stream. I lightly crossed to the other side and the others followed suit.
"Now, up the hill and on to the Marburry Barrow," I said.
But even as the words left my mouth, a noise to our left alerted us and we turned. There, hiding behind a tree, stood Chatter, looking petrified. And Grieve was nowhere in sight.
Chapter 15
"Chatter? Chatter? I see you!" As I headed toward the tree, he looked about ready to run. I held out my finger, shaking it at him. "Don't you dare!"
Rhiannon glanced at the tree and a huge smile washed across her face. "Chatter! Please, don't go!"
He slowly stepped from behind the tree, eyeing the four of us nervously. After a moment of scuffing the ground, he bowed to Rhiannon. "Miss Rhiannon, it's good to see you again. And dear Cicely . . ."
"What are you doing here, Chatter? Were you watching us?" I took a step toward him. He didn't worry me nearly as much as Grieve. Grieve was a member of the Indigo Court. Chatter still seemed like . . . Chatter.
He blushed and shook his head. "I can see why you would think so. No, Miss Cicely. I'm not worthy enough to be used as a spy." By the tone in his voice and the lowering of his head, I could tell whatever self-esteem he used to possess had been beaten out of him. I prayed Grieve hadn't been on the other end of the stick.
"Chatter . . . my friend. What are you doing here?" I held out my hand and he slowly took it. As I pulled him close and gave him a hug, he relaxed just enough to tell me that he was as afraid as we were.
He winced, then shrugged his head to one side. "Just . . . trying to stay out of the way of the Queen and her Court. Grieve's not around today to protect me."
That figured. I had the feeling that life at the Indigo Court hadn't gone easy on Chatter. In fact, it occurred to me we might actually have a better in to the Court through him than through Grieve. Of course, if Myst found out . . .
"I bet life isn't very easy now that the Queen of Rivers and Rushes is gone. I'm so sorry. I liked Lainule." I held his gaze, wanting to take away some of the pain I saw behind those limpid brown eyes.
