“If your eldest is as good-hearted as ever he was, he will give her as fair a chance as the others have,” Tuan predicted, “and she shall prove herself just as true a friend . . . What do they wish now?”
The younger generation were coming toward them, all seven together. Tuan smiled with benign interest—excellent acting in several ways.
“My liege,” Alain said with no preamble, “we have been discussing the likelihood of the sorcerer Zonploka making another attempt to conquer the land.”
“He surely will.” Tuan tried not to sound too proud. “He has lost little in this attempt; in fact, one might think he was merely testing us to learn our strengths and weaknesses.”
“So I thought,” Diarmid said, “wherefore it behooves us to develop new strengths and close old weaknesses.”
“Well thought.” King Tuan nodded. “What have you determined?”
“First,” said Cordelia, “to press the Royal Witchfolk into service, maintaining guard over this place, and any others where Zonploka might try to establish a portal.”
“Assuming that he can,” Gregory added. “It may very well have come into existence by accident.”
“I mistrust accidents,” Diarmid countered.
“Accident or intention, it could very well happen again,” Tuan agreed, “and from what you have learned of the land of Trahison, if Zonploka is not near to the portal there, then another lord who is as bad as he, or worse, shall be—so set your sentries indeed. What else do you propose?”
“To discover the reason why Cold Iron injures faerie folk,” said Allouette, “and to try to invent an antidote—for surely Zonploka must already be doing exactly that.”
“Do so, by all means,” Tuan encouraged her. “Is there anything more?”
“Only to let the peasant folk know the tale of this encounter,” said Quicksilver, “so they shall know to call for help when nightmares like these start, and not to perform the Taghairm or invite the monsters in any other way.”
“Well thought indeed. How shall you do this?”
“We shall compose ballads telling of these events,” said Geoffrey, “and give them to minstrels to sing throughout the land.”
“Well planned.” Tuan nodded. “It will require some among you to wander singing for a space, to interest the minstrels and let the songs take on a life of their own. Damsel Quicksilver, to atone for your rebellion, you were sentenced to wander the land helping the poor and weak. I hereby declare that your service to the Crown and the people has fulfilled that sentence; you are now free to settle where you will.”
“I—I thank you, my liege,” Quicksilver gasped, eyes huge.
“Yet I will ask you to wander some months more in the company of your knight errant,” Tuan said, “to spread word of these events.”
“My lord, I shall!” Quicksilver turned to Geoffrey. “Shall I not?”
“Indeed you shall,” he said, smiling and gazing deeply into her eyes.
Tuan laughed softly. “Yes, for having her to yourself and the people is far more to have her to yourself, than to share her with our court.” He turned to his son. “What more, Your Highness?”
“That is all we have thought of thus far, Majesty,” Alain said.
“And well thought it was.” Tuan turned to his most trusted advisors. “Lord Warlock? Lady Gwendylon?”
“There is some chance this Zonploka may find or make another portal and bribe a poor man, or a discontented lord, to turn traitor and invite him in,” Gwendylon said.
“Well thought.” Tuan turned back to Alain. “Set spies throughout the kingdom, seeking signs of such treachery.” He turned to Allouette. “Do you ponder what manner of signs they should seek, damsel.”
“My liege,” she said, overwhelmed, “I will.”
“I thank you.” Tuan inclined his head to her, then turned back to Alain. “Do you confer with your friends, now, about ways to set all these matters in train.”
“Majesty, I shall.” Alain bowed.
Tuan rose, grinning, and threw his arms about his sons. “I am mightily proud of you both! Go now to plot and plan.”
Somewhat dazed, the seven young folk moved off. After a few minutes, Allouette offered, “I cannot thank you all enough, and am amazed at your kindness!”
“Kindness forsooth!” Quicksilver laughed. “You have saved each of our lives this past week, lady, whether you counted it or not!”
“And it is even more to your credit that you did not,” Cordelia agreed.
“How could we think of you as anything but a friend now?” Geoffrey asked, grinning.
Allouette looked down, blushing, but Gregory’s hand squeezing hers gave her the courage to say, “I do not deserve such kindness.”
“ ’Tis more than kindness,” Quicksilver said with a touch of exasperation. “You have saved us and we have saved you, and we have all depended upon one another in battle—for our very lives! There is only one bond closer than that.”
“There is?” Allouette looked up wide-eyed. “What bond . . .” She felt Gregory’s hand tighten again and blushed. “Oh . . .”
“We have become six parts of one whole now,” Alain said, “and I think we shall have to include Diarmid in our schemes in the future, for I begin to see we may not be able to do without his wisdom . . . Lady! What have I said? Why do you weep?”
“Why, because I cannot believe my good fortune,” Allouette said through her tears, “to be so intimately accepted by those who . . . have reason to hate me.”
“Come now, sister-to-be.” Cordelia put an arm around her shoulders. “ ’Tis not good fortune, but a place you have earned—by your courage, your skills in battle and in healing, and by your good heart.”
“Aye,” Quicksilver agreed. “Accept the fruits of your goodness, for you were quick enough to claim the wages of wickedness!”
“You cannot claim the one without the other, love,” Gregory said gently.
She turned to throw her arms about him and sob into his shoulder. Gregory stared in surprise, then smiled slowly as he brought his arms up around her.
The other five did not turn away, as perhaps they should have, but only beamed fondly at their little brother and their newfound shieldmate.
When her tears had stopped and Gregory was tenderly wiping away the last of them, Quicksilver turned to Geoffrey. “You three men had best marry us quickly, sirs, for we have already become sisters under the skin!”
“The ceremony does seem to have been delayed overlong,” Geoffrey agreed. He turned to Alain and Cordelia. “What would you say to a triple-ring ceremony?”
“Why not?” Cordelia smiled around at her sibs and their fiancées. “Life for the six of us will certainly involve three rings of some sort!”