“Yeah,” Puck sighed. “It. We know what you’re talking about, unfortunately.”
Elaith trembled, and though her features were veiled in darkness, her eyes were huge with terror. “I didn’t even see the creature plainly, whatever it was,” she whispered. “I just...felt it coming. I felt its anger, its absolute rage and hate for all living things, and I was terrified. But Keirran told me again to gather our people, as many that would come, and meet him outside of Touchstone. He then rushed out, into the city, to confront the Monster. That was the last I saw of him.”
I narrowed my eyes as the Forgotten stumbled to a halt, looking anguished and guilty. “What happened?”
“I—I don’t know!” The Forgotten let out a wail and covered her eyes again. “Please forgive me, I was too frightened to leave the manor. I could sense what was happening outside, and I couldn’t make myself leave.”
“You disobeyed a direct order,” Nyx stated in disbelief. “The king told you to gather the survivors, and you betrayed him.”
“You don’t understand.” Elaith looked up, her eyes huge. “I could hear the screams, sense the fear and terror, and when I peeked outside, Touchstone was in chaos. Forgotten had become monsters, twisted versions of themselves, and they were attacking anyone unlike them. I couldn’t go out into that. And then...” She shook violently. “I saw it. The Monster. It was huge, and all around it, Forgotten were turning into twisted versions of themselves. Didn’t you see them?” she asked, gazing up at us. “They’re still out there, roaming the city. Some of them even tried destroying the anchor. If I left the manor, they would attack me, too.”
“What happened to Keirran?” Meghan asked, and her voice was not gentle anymore.
“He fled,” Elaith admitted. “Away from Touchstone and into the Between. Near dawn, while the creature was still decimating the city, I felt a rift being torn in the Veil, bigger than any I’ve felt before. I think that was Keirran, opening the Veil and taking everyone he could gather out of Touchstone and away from the Monster.” She sank to her knees, her arms around herself, dragonfly wings vibrating as she trembled. “I am sorry, my king. I wanted to serve you, but I was just too frightened. If I had heeded your orders, I would be with you now.”
I met Meghan’s gaze, saw worry mingling with cautious hope. Keirran had been here, and the last anyone saw, he had been alive. Being pursued by an unkillable monster was not ideal, but I knew my son. Before his exile, when he was doing something foolish and didn’t want to be found, I had chased him all over the Nevernever, through the real world, the wyldwood, and the Between. I knew firsthand how difficult he was to catch.
I had to trust that he was alive now.
“So,” Puck ventured at last. “How are we going to find Keirran? The Between is a big place. In fact, I think Keirran once mentioned that it was eternal.”
“Correct,” Grimalkin said, looking up from washing his tail. “There are fey that have become lost and have wandered the mist for centuries. Tracking someone through the Between when we have no idea of where they are or where they are going would be most unwise. However,” he went on, “there is someone who knows the Between far better than any of you. Who has been here longer than any except the Forgotten. Who owes me a rather large favor at the moment.”
Puck winced. “Oh, no. Are we thinking of the same person? She might be a tad annoyed with me right now.” He thought about that statement for a moment, then shrugged. “But, then again, she’s always annoyed with me.”
“Leanansidhe,” Meghan said. “Of course. She lives in the Between. And she has a whole network of informants and spies who keep an eye on pretty much everything.”
“Yes,” Grimalkin agreed. “If anyone has information or news regarding the Forgotten King and his whereabouts, Leanansidhe would be your best hope. And she would be happy to share her information. For a price, of course.”
A price. Anger stirred again. Even though I had been in Faery a long time, even though I knew this was how things were done since the beginning of the Nevernever, the thought that I would have to pay a price for information about my missing son still galled. Worse that it was Leanansidhe. The Dark Muse, as she was called, wasn’t as strong as Mab or Titania, but she was still a queen. A self-made queen, perhaps, but still quite powerful in her own territory. She ruled a court of exiles, outcasts, and half-breed fey, and hoarded information like Grimalkin hoarded favors.
The cat was right; Leanansidhe was the perfect person to ask about Keirran. But the price she would charge was going to be very high. I would pay, of course. I would pay any price for the sake of my family. I just hoped it wouldn’t affect Meghan or anyone else.
Nyx looked solemn. “I have heard of this Leanansidhe,” she said. “The Exile Queen? Keirran mentioned her once or twice. Unfortunately, I have not had the pleasure of meeting her, so I don’t know where her court resides. I could find it, eventually, but the Between is very large and it will take some time. Unless you or someone else knows the way...?”
“Worry not,” Grimalkin sighed, and rose with an air of exaggerated patience. “As usual, I will lead you to her. We need to find the trod to Leanansidhe’s, and the fastest way to do that is through the real world.”
Meghan looked at Elaith, who was still kneeling on the ground with her arms curled around herself. I could see the turmoil inside the Iron Queen, but she finally held a hand out to the Forgotten. “You are welcome to come with us, Elaith,” she said, and I admired her for not sounding begrudging at all. “Leanansidhe is the Exile Queen—she is very used to taking in fey that have nowhere else to go. You could stay with her and return to the Between when we find Keirran.”
But the Forgotten shook her head. “I know of this Leanansidhe. The Exile Queen is not fond of us Forgotten,” she said. “I am afraid of what would happen should I stay under her roof. No, I will stay here, and wait for my king to return. As long as Touchstone does not disappear completely, I will be waiting for him when he comes back.”
Meghan nodded. “If that is your decision,” she said. “I won’t force you. But we need to go. Let’s hope the Exile Queen can point us to where Keirran disappeared. Grim...” she said, turning to the cat, who watched her with lazy eyes. “Take us to Leanansidhe.”
3
THE NIGHTMARE PISKIE
Fat drops of water pounded my head and shoulders as we left the void of the Between and stepped into the real world. For just a moment, the sensation of the rain combined with the feel of the wind and the sounds of the real world was almost overwhelming after being in the Between for so long. The sky was dim and cloudy, and I saw the hazy glow of a streetlamp overhead, the gray shapes of buildings blurring into view as I gazed around.