Page 42 of The Iron Raven

“There is not,” Grimalkin answered, confusing me now as well. “When one oracle dies, another is reborn into Faery not long after the first one’s death. Or, should I say, her visions and the memories of them are reborn into another. Her name is different, as she is a different person, but she retains the memories of all the oracles before her. I believe this new oracle will have insight into the beast we are hunting.”

“A new oracle,” Meghan breathed. “I had no idea. Where can we find her, Grim?”

“Currently, I believe the new oracle is residing somewhere in the wyldwood.”

“Oh, well, it’ll be easy to find her, then,” I broke in. “’Cause nothing lost in the wyldwood stays lost. Oh wait...”

The cat’s ears flattened to his skull, but he ignored me. “I suppose I can lead you to where the new oracle is staying,” he told Meghan. “If I do not, I have little hope you will ever find it on your own.” He thumped his tail against the table surface. “But there will be a favor due for this, Iron Queen. I have already been across the Between, Phaed, Arcadia, and the Iron Realm. If I am to go gallivanting across the Nevernever with you and the rest of this circus once more, I expect to be properly compensated.”

“I wouldn’t expect any less, Grim,” Meghan replied, and the cat yawned.

“Very well,” he sighed. “I suppose as I am the only competent guide here, I will endeavor to show you the way to the oracle. When do you wish to leave?”

Meghan and Ash shared a glance. “Soon,” Ash said. “Tonight. We’ll need to make some arrangements, get some things in order within the palace, and then we’ll be ready to go.”

“Yes,” Meghan agreed. “This sounds important. I don’t want to put it off any longer than we have to. Puck...” Her blue eyes found mine. “Will you be ready to go tonight?”

“You know me. I was born ready, princess.”

A sudden grinding sound filled the air, like hundreds of rocks being scraped against knives. At first I thought something in the room had malfunctioned, until I realized it was Coaleater, clearing his throat.

“Forgive me, Your Highness,” the huge Iron faery rumbled, making me blink in surprise. For as large and imposing as he was, I’d completely forgotten he was in the room with us. “But I have traveled far from the Obsidian Plains at the behest of our leader, Spikerail. Will you hear what I have come to say? I can wait, if that is what you wish.”

“Coaleater.” Meghan shook her head, as if annoyed with herself. “Of course. I’m sorry, I didn’t realize you wanted an audience. Any of the Iron herd is welcome here; you have my full attention.”

The Iron faery bowed. “You have our gratitude, Iron Queen.” Rising, he paused to collect himself, then continued in a straightforward voice. “Your Majesty, we of the Iron herd have noticed a change in the Obsidian Plains. We have always been the guardians of our territory, protecting the land around the magma pools, and recently we have felt...the only way to describe it is an unsoundness, deep in the earth. The creatures who call the plains their home have also felt it, and we have noticed some of them becoming restless and agitated, when before they have always been peaceful. It is deeply concerning, so much so that Spikerail made the decision to bring this to the Iron Queen’s attention. But now, as I hear the report that Goodfellow and his companion gave, I cannot help but wonder if they are connected.

“I would not presume anything,” the Iron faery went on, “but I wish to join you on this quest, Your Majesty. If anything, I can take what I’ve learned back to the herd. Spikerail will certainly be interested in this. And of course, I would protect you and your companions with my life. This is the Iron herd’s promise.”

Meghan considered, her brow creased in a slight frown. “I was unaware there was trouble in the Obsidian Plains,” she murmured. “That is disturbing news. When we are done here, I will have to pay a visit to Spikerail and see if there is anything that can be done.” She pondered a moment more, then glanced at the waiting Iron horse. “You are welcome to join us, Coaleater,” she said. “I will not force you. This quest could be dangerous. But I would welcome your strength, if you wish to come along.”

“Nothing would bring me greater honor, Your Majesty,” Coaleater said with a decisive nod. “I will not disappoint you. I happily serve the queen and the realm, as Ironhorse did before me.”

Throughout all this, Nyx had remained silent, drawn deep into her hood. Now, as Coaleater made his announcement, she raised her head, her skin pale in the bright sunlight streaming through the glass. A strange look crossed her face, confusion and fear...before she flickered out like a snuffed candle.

Alarm jolted my entire insides, but before I could say anything, she reappeared in a blink, though the expression in her eyes was now one of weary resignation, as if she knew what was happening.

The Fade was taking her. Right in front of me.

13

WE DO NOT FORGET

“Nyx!” I lunged, catching her as she collapsed to her knees, winking out again for a fraction of a second. Coaleater snorted in alarm, and Meghan and Ash came forward, their gazes somber, as the Forgotten flickered and sputtered in my arms like a dying flashlight.

“Nyx. Hey, look at me.” I gripped her forearms, feeling helpless and terrified as she slumped against me, going transparent for a heartbeat. Golden eyes met my own, her expression solemn but calm. “Focus,” I urged in a whisper. “Talk to me, assassin. You can’t leave us yet. If you Fade out now, I’m going to have to tell Keirran that the Iron Realm was too much for you to handle after all, and having to say ‘I told you so’ for the next hundred years would be exhausting.”

A faint smile crossed her face, even as she wavered at the edges for a moment. “Are you...trying to annoy me into staying, Goodfellow?”

“I play to my strengths. Is it working?”

“Well, you have succeeded in making me want to stab you,” Nyx whispered, but she had stopped flickering like a weak candle and was slowly regaining color. Or at least not looking like a transparent wraith. She took a deep, careful breath and straightened, gripping my arms for balance, testing her range of motion. “It’s over,” she told me. “I think...I’m all right now. Whatever happened, it seems to have passed.”

“You didn’t tell us you were Fading,” came Ash’s voice over my shoulder, and part of me bristled at the proximity. “We could have helped you, had we known.”

“The Iron Realm has some of the most advanced healers in the Nevernever,” Meghan added, stepping forward. “They can’t stop the Fade, but they might be able to slow it for a time.”

But Nyx gave her head a stubborn shake and rose, drawing me up with her. “There’s no need,” she insisted. “I’m grateful, Your Majesty, but I think I just need to rest. My apologies, I didn’t know I was that close to Fading, but it’s done. I’ve always been fairly certain my time here was limited.”

---