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I looked up as Donna came in with David, her usual exuberantly bouncy step subdued. I was hit with a wave of guilt. I hadn't even thought of Kari or Nona or Grnlllll this whole time. Now that I had Lend back, everything I'd been avoiding came rushing in.
"Donna, is Kari-" I couldn't finish the sentence, but Donna gave me a brave, heartbroken smile, then shook her head.
"I'm so sorry. And Nona?"
"It's too early to tell," David said softly, but it didn't sound hopeful. "We're going to take Lend to the pond. There are a bunch of paranormals down there; they might be able to help or tell us something, and Cresseda wants to see him. "
David put his arms under Lend's knees and arms, picking him up with a sharp exhalation, then cradling him and walking out the door.
"Help?" I asked Arianna and Donna. They stood on either side of me and I put my arms around their shoulders. Donna's were lean and sinewy, powerful. Arianna's were frail and felt like I would break her if I put too much weight there. It couldn't be helped though.
We'd barely made it to the trees and already my feet were in such agony I didn't know how I'd get down to the pond. "I'm sorry. " I gasped. "I can't. Where's the unicorn?"
"Probably by the pond. Want me to run ahead and try to bring it here?" Arianna asked.
"Allow me," Reth said from behind, scooping me into his arms like I was nothing and striding down the path with his usual graceful gait. Arianna and Donna were quickly left behind.
"Reth, I. . . " I paused, then took a deep breath. "I'm sorry. "
"Whatever are you sorry for?"
I shrugged. "How about threatening to kill you, for starters. "
"That is an excellent place to start, although I must tell you those threats were rather more endearing and humorous than frightening. "
I rolled my eyes. "Whatever. You really came through for me when no one else could, and I know Lend wouldn't be here without your help. So thank you. " I leaned my head against his shoulder and it seemed like he almost missed a step, but then he continued on as graceful as before. I lifted my head back up, staring ahead and straining for my first glimpse of the pond. "Why did you do it? Help me, I mean. I know you don't love Lend. "
His golden voice was as deliciously warm as it had always been, wrapping around me in a comforting blanket, insulating me from the bite of the December air. "No, but I do love you, silly creature that you are. "
I nodded. I felt like I should say something back, but I honestly had no idea what that something was.
We came out of the trees to even more paranormals and elementals gathered around the banks. The water was still frozen solid, but a small hole near the banks boiled furiously, steam dancing into the air.
David saw me and shook his head. "I thought he was waking up for a minute on the walk here, but he didn't. " He laid Lend gently on the ground in front of the ice hole and Cresseda appeared in a geyser of water.
Reth kept me in his arms, angling me so I could see everything. The unicorn, bless its dirty, filthy heart, trotted up and set to work on my feet as they dangled in the air. I focused as hard as I could on Cresseda to try and avoid being overwhelmed by the rainbow-sunshine-butterfly-moonlight happy cloud the unicorn was creating. It mostly worked, although I had to shake my head and wipe off several goofy, sloppy smiles.
Cresseda's voice had an undercurrent of storm water, angry floods, and tsunamis breaking the surface of her normal tranquillity. "What of the traitor queen?"
I raised a hand. "I kind of stabbed her. In the neck. She's probably not happy. "
Cresseda nodded, her clear features reflecting the sunlight in a fierce way, almost painful to look right at. "You have my gratitude, Evelyn. "
"Will he be okay?" I asked, my voice catching.
Cresseda reached out a water hand toward Lend and was quiet and still for almost a full minute. Finally, she nodded, and her voice rang with the melancholy of the tides. "He is still ours. "
I let out the breath
I was holding. He'd be okay. He'd be okay. It was all worth it.
I motioned and Reth set me down, my feet still tender and raw, which surprised me. They weren't as bad as they had been but last time the unicorn had healed me completely. In answer to my unasked question, Reth said, "I am afraid that, as I said, my patch did more harm than good. A unicorn's magic cannot combat my own. "
I shrugged. "It doesn't matter. We did what we had to. They'll get better eventually. "
Cresseda nodded at Reth. "Son of the Light Court, all is not forgiven, but I thank you for your service to my son. And I trust you to never reveal or use my Lend's true name again. "
"That's how you could find him?" I asked, looking up at Reth, but for some reason he avoided my eyes. Of course it made sense that Cresseda would have given him Lend's true name (although I'd had no idea he had any besides his normal one). Reth knowing my true name meant he could find me anywhere, anytime. . . .
