Page 94 of Knight's End
“And why not fight her from the air? Why not tempt her into coming to you?”
The truth was hard to hear. It was painful. These were strategies we’d discussed, during the grey hours between midnight and dawn. Strategies I’d turned down, because all of them left Avia trapped in an underwater cave, surrounded by sea ghosts.
I bit my lip as I looked at Shenna. I was certain she already knew the truth from her mind-speaker. Otherwise, I might have attempted a pretty lie. “She has my sister.”
Shenna’s understanding look turned cold. “Love. Love is a lie. It’s a tale told to children. Only grown fools believe it.”
She withdrew her hand from mine. “You may ask the army yourself. I formed them after that sea bitch tried to take my brother’s life.”
“What?”
Shenna raised her brows at me. “A year or two before your mother killed him, that Mayi seduced him. After his engagement was announced, I found the sea witch carving open his chest. She cracked it like a clam shell.”
I reeled back in horror. I knew the part-sprite was heartless. But that? That was monstrous.
Shenna nodded. And she accidentally responded to my thoughts. “Yes. Monstrous. I hate the sea witch nearly as much as you. The undead army is free to go with you if they choose.”
Shenna climbed back into her litter without another word. She clapped her hands twice and had her fairy men lift her up. They turned and marched away, the queen not sparing us a second glance.
I swallowed hard. I was half-relieved and half-annoyed at the outcome. But at least we had her leave to ask the undead instead of an outright refusal. “Well, that could have gone worse.”
Declan bit his thumb at Shenna’s back. “It could have gone a shiteload better. The undead army is known to kill anyone who approaches without an escort from Shenna’s fairies.”
I took a deep breath and climbed back onto Pony. “Well, if they kill us, we can just head underwater ourselves, I suppose.”
Quinn climbed on behind me and snuggled up to me.
Don’t worry, Dove. We’ll find a way to survive. And if we don’t, I’ll still love you if you end up undead.He sent me a horrific image of me stumbling around as a desiccated corpse. Suddenly my arm popped off and rolled away. Imaginary undead Quinn winked at me and picked it up. ‘Mind if I borrow this?’ he asked. Then he shoved the severed hand down his pants with a look of bliss.
Everyone’s faces contorted in horror then laughter—apparently, Quinn had sent the thought to the entire group.
“You’re awful,” I shook my head even as I reached backward and hugged his neck. He kissed the top of my head.
I was grateful for the moment of levity.
But as the laughter trailed off, my mind whirled: What could possibly convince an undead army to help us?
