Accepting an aluminum mug of tea from Shade, Venus leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “Here’s what I was taught.” He cleared his throat, and then in a low voice, began to sing.
Where bridge crosses a stream that winds like a snake,
There find the juncture, the north path you will take.
Trees that blossom white, even in the snow,
Signal that you’re on the path, where you need to go.
By a boulder wide, that’s giant as a troll,
Bend to your right, bewaring rocks that roll.
Follow the song of the martingeese,
It will lead you to the cavern that you seek.
I frowned. “So we need to find a bridge over a winding stream. Then take the north path at the juncture… Trees that blossom white, even in the snow?”
“Canaberry trees. They blossom during the winter. The white flowers fall off in early spring and return in late summer, so right now they will be just budding. But I know what to look for.” Bran snorted at my look. “So surprised I know my flowers?”
“No, but—well. Yes.” I held his gaze for a moment and then laughed. “Do you blame me? Anyway, so we find canaberry trees and continue along. Then, we look for a gigantic boulder as big as a troll and there, we listen for the sound of the martingeese. I assume they’re thick around that area. The cavern should be near there.”
“Well, it’s not exactly a map, but it’s better than nothing and should serve as a general guide.” Smoky handed out sandwiches from the pack to everyone. “Eat hearty. You’ll need the energy. Riding a horse may not seem that difficult but I guarantee that you’ll be sore by the end of the day, and hungry enough to eat your mounts. I promise that Shade and I won’t eat ours.” He laughed. I groaned at the bad joke.
“I hope you don’t or you two will be walking the rest of the way.”
Chase bit into the hearty beef and cheddar sandwich. “So the second scroll gives the location of the diamond itself?”
I nodded. “Yes. But we need both scrolls for me to claim it. I’ve got no idea what goes into the process and frankly, I’m not looking forward to finding out. These things are never as simple as Grab object, state claim, bingo it’s done. Especially with something of this magnitude.”
Venus swallowed a bite of his food and then wiped his mouth on his sleeve. “Do you realize, you’ll be my boss, so to speak. I’ll be in your service, as will Luke and Amber.”
I ducked my head, thinking of Tam Lin and Benjamin, two lost souls who had carried the spirit seals, and died because of them. When Telazhar had razed Elqaneve, he had managed to scatter the Keraastar Knights. Tam and Benjamin died, while Venus, Luke, and his sister Amber had managed to escape. Three knights out of nine, which meant six slots that I had to fill. And it couldn’t just be anybody—the person who wielded the spirit seal had to mesh with the energy, and a bond was formed that—if the seal was forcibly taken from the Knight—would kill them.
“I can’t even imagine what it’s going to require to find matches for all of the gems. I can’t just hold open tryouts, like casting calls.” I accepted a couple of cookies from Delilah, then polished off an apple after that.
“I think the seals will take care of that, once you’re in possession of the diamond,” Bran said. At first I thought he might be making fun of me, but the expression on his face wasn’t a smirk, like usual. “I think your biggest problem will be fending off those who would see you dead because of your new positions. Camille, you bear the hide and horn—of my father. You’re taking the throne as one of the Earthside Fae Queens. You’re the Earthside High Priestess of the Moon Mother. I don’t mean to be alarmist, but you should be wary. Not everyone is going to be all happy-happy joy-joy about this. And once you claim the Keraastar Knights? It’s no longer simply a demon lord that you have to fear. There will be others only too happy to slap you back into what they deem your place in life.”
“Until recently, you seemed to be one of those,” I said. I wasn’t letting him off the hook that easily. Bran had been a thorn in my side for too long.
He slowly stood, tossing his napkin in the fire as he stared me down. “You know why I feel how I do. But my mother has a special place in her beady little heart for you, and I kneel to her wisdom on this. She would see us wed, if at all possible.” Smoky jumped to his feet but Bran held out one hand. “Back, lizard. I am not out to steal your wife.”
“See that you aren’t,” Trillian said, also rising.
“My mother would see us paired off. If you were amenable, I would accept her decree but trust me, you may have three husbands but I doubt if even you could satisfy my carnal nature. I enjoy variety, and I also prefer my paramours to be as crafty as I am. You’re too soft-hearted for me.” He was speaking without guile now, intent and focused on me. “We might as well clear the air completely. I bend to my mother’s will because she could unmake me as easily as she bore me. My father dotes on her. And now that he’s returned, I’m no longer overly anxious to see you in the grave that you thrust him into.”