Spark(38)

Sweet, melancholy music twined through the clearing; a breathy flute accompanied by the solemn beat of a drum. The air held the whisper of a chill, more pronounced as they drew closer to the throne. Aran darted a glance at the queen, her terrible, beautiful face framed by hair black as midnight, soft as smoke.
Then they were before the tangled throne. Thomas swept into the court bow, and Aran followed, feeling clumsy. He remained bent over, barely breathing, his heartbeat thumping loudly in his ears.
“Bard Thomas, BlackWing, rise,” the queen said at last.
Aran cautiously straightened, careful not to meet her mesmerizing gaze. Instead, he watched the gossamer-winged faerie maidens clustered behind the throne. With their haunted eyes and pale skin, they looked as if they never smiled.
“Stand forward, BlackWing,” the queen commanded, “and tell me what you seek in the Realm of Faerie.”
Swallowing, he took a step toward the throne. Thomas stood at his shoulder, and Aran was grateful for the support. Even though they didn’t trust one another, Thomas was a decent guy.
“Address her formally,” the bard whispered to him as Aran opened his mouth.
Right. He paused a moment, considering what to say.
“Your majesty—I’m here because the goblin told me this is where I’d be able to see what lies behind Feyland. That’s what I want.”
Beside him, Thomas drew in a sharp breath.
“Are you satisfied with what you have found?” the queen asked, a bite of laughter in her voice.
“Not exactly.”
He never would have guessed actual magic underlay the sim game of Feyland. How was a guy supposed to hack that? Learn a bunch of spells? It was ridiculous, in a horrible kind of way.
“You are a mortal skilled in the use of this so-called game and its interface, are you not?”
“I guess.” Not that he’d had much of a chance to play Feyland.
The Dark Queen smiled, and Aran blinked at the way the clearing lightened, as if dusted with starlight. Her deep eyes were filled with mystery, and he swayed, dizzy from the force of her expression.
“Steady,” Thomas said in an undertone, catching his arm.
Aran yanked his gaze back down to the deep green moss underfoot and pulled in a steadying breath. The queen’s laughter sifted over him, light as chiming bells.#p#分页标题#e#
“Ah, I forget how easily you mortals are undone,” she said. “I have a challenge for you, BlackWing. I greatly desire to open my realm more fully to the human world—and to do this, I need someone who understands the inner workings of Feyland.”
“Wait.” Aran blinked. “You want me to hack into the real world from here, using Feyland?”
“Just so.” Her voice softened, melting like honey around his senses. “Can you do this thing for me?”
Half of him wanted to say yes to her, yes to anything she asked. But he’d learned caution in the most painful way possible.
“Is that a good idea?” he asked. “For us humans, I mean.”
Thomas squeezed his arm, but the queen was clearly displeased by his answer. Eyes glittering like diamonds, she leaned forward. Aran hadn’t noticed before how long and deadly looking her fingernails were.
“Do you dare to question me?” Her voice was a cold blade slicing the air.
“My lady,” Thomas said. “He is not your subject, to command as you please. And if you recall, he is but newly come to the realm. Forgive him for his brashness.”
The queen’s eyes narrowed, and she sat back. Aran let out a breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding.
“Although I owe you no explanation, mortal,” she said, “know that the Realm of Faerie will wither and die if the gate is not opened. And you shall be well rewarded. Wealth and power are within your grasp. Only do this one thing for me.”
Aran curled his chilled fingers into his palms. Somehow, he didn’t think reverse-hacking his way into the human world was going to be simple. But he also suspected he didn’t have a choice.
“What good will wealth and power do me, here?” he asked, glancing to the creatures clustered about the throne. The goblin, Codcadden, grinned, showing his pointed teeth.
Aran didn’t want to boss faeries around, plus he didn’t think they’d take orders from a human all that well. The things he wanted weren’t found in the Realm of Faerie. Or maybe anywhere. He was smart enough to know that most of them couldn’t be bought, either.
“The boy speaks truly,” Thomas said. “One of his payments must be a return to the mortal realm.”
“If he is able to prove himself, he shall reap the rewards,” the queen said. “And if not, then you shall have an apprentice, Thomas. Forever.”