7: Too Sweet

  Katie’s horror at the corpse—obvious enough, what that was—echoed in Fox’s chest, but he imagined he thought something different than she. Is that a staff member? Or a “guest”? The way Ensign Jatus had acted just now made him certain it was a guest. Perhaps she merely hadn’t wanted them to see a coffin—that could make sense too. Could. It’s probably a guest. He added it to his mental list; he would find out.

  There were a thousand things to know, and not a book in sight. Fox chewed the inside of his lip. Ensign Jatus, too, had carried one of the ft touch tablets. I’ll have to steal one.

  As they walked back down the hall, Katie shuffling miserably at his side, Fox’s mind whirled with questions he couldn’t answer for certain. Information was avaible everywhere, but without a direction, how could he begin to build a better picture of the situation?

  Well, there were servants here. Easy enough to get them on his side with judicious smiles, bribes, and his own scented flesh. How great a fool would he have to be, not to understand what he looked like?

  As they followed Ensign Jatus back down the corridor toward the room from which they’d come, Fox gnced behind him. If his life up to now hadn’t convinced him he needed to know what was behind, Eagle would have.

  Truly, there were a good number of facilities here—but no library, he noticed with a sinking feeling; the tour seemed to have ended without one sight of a book.

  It would have been impressive, perhaps, if he weren’t accustomed to better. As it was, the most impressive thing about the pce was that its owners had managed to get past Eagle to take Fox in the first pce. No library! He knew why there was none, but his fingers positively itched for a book, any book. He could disappear behind it, into it, and feel good—useful—safe.

  The corridor curved before and behind them, dizzying. Jatus was weirdly silent. When he looked back again, a void-bck fairy flecked with glittering white dots hovered gently just at his eye level. The moment he saw it, it flicked across the corridor and disappeared into the wall on the other side—but it was enough. Fox suppressed his gasp of relief.

  Eagle was here.

  He might not need to find out who the body had been. It might not matter—Eagle would take him away—and Katie, too, he decided. She was so very young to wear such a dreadful cuff, but she was dogged. Even though her face shone with sweat and the stink of a hot iron rose with her burned flesh, she kept on.

  He decided he liked her a hundred times more. He’d keep her if he could. She was too sweet for Rothganar, but there, his name would protect her until Eagle found the world she belonged to. She didn’t behave as he might have expected of one of the Sidhe.

  In the meantime, he must behave as if he meant to stay. Only one pce had cked obvious Eyes: the sauna. He must get there—if Eagle was near—but if Eagle couldn’t—but surely, there was nothing Eagle could not do. “Ensign Jatus?”

  The woman in bck turned, a fanged smile brittle below worried eyes. “Yes, Rev Liedan?”

  “I must admit, I’m most impressed by your elegant facilities.” Fox smiled in a way that would have swayed any Ancient he’d ever met. “I wondered how soon it might be appropriate to make use of your sauna. I believe our dear princess must be feeling a little…stressed, if I may be so bold. Perhaps a measure of rexation might improve her outlook a bit.”

  Fox ignored the narrow-eyed suspicion with which Katie regarded him. Jatus’ smile eased a bit, leaving her expression relieved. He wondered if she’d been expecting questions about the half-baked funeral procession she’d tried so hard to keep them from noticing.

  Jatus said, “I think that’s a lovely idea, Rev Liedan. I’ll take you back. I know how difficult it can be to find your way around the Resort at first.”

  Fox murmured gratitude, tugging his small, unwitting co-conspirator along as he followed the officer. Katie was not improving with time. She hunched into a protective curl around her wounded arm while her small hands knotted into bony cws that dug into his sleeve. If her pallid skin and hotly glittering eyes were any indication, the girl would be dead by morning without his intervention.

  He remembered something about the Gentry being immortal, but that was clearly not the case here, or Princess Katherine’s condition wouldn’t be deteriorating this rapidly. Why had they brought her here if they’d just meant to kill her? Couldn’t they have done that in her homend? If the torture was the point, why weren’t they doing it to anyone else? He couldn’t keep her if she died.

  The sauna had a certain aesthetic to it, though it wasn’t one Fox enjoyed. I hate white!

  The benches surrounding the egg, like all the ceilings, were shiny and curved as if they were organic. They weren't supposed to be pnt-like. Maybe they were meant to evoke bone, or possibly shell? Small white tiles, gleaming bright, covered everything, and the heater was another rounded egg shape radiating fireless warmth and steam. The whole thing was finished off with smoked-gss doors and carts full of white towels. Jatus spent so much time showing them to dressing rooms and teaching them how to increase the steam he thought she pnned to stay, but eventually she left them alone.

  As the gss doors hushed shut, Katie asked, “Why here?”

  “There are no Eyes–cameras. Can you stand? We should change or they'll think we’re up to something.”

  Her skin flushed with fever. “Tell me we’re up to something.”

  Fox grinned. “Darling, look at me again and tell me I’m not.”

  She eyed him as thoughtfully as she might, given her condition—still trying to smile. “You look like ten miles of trouble ahead, babe.”

  Wary, expecting the small woman to tip over at any time, Fox watched as she pulled her shaky hand away and drew up to her full–if unimpressive–height before she gave him a lopsided smile and straight-armed her way through the swinging doors to the women’s locker room.

  I wouldn’t be surprised if I have to go in there to save her, Fox thought, frowning. Why was he so concerned about this stranger while he should be trying to escape? But he liked her.

  He went into the opposite room to undress. He folded his clothing tidily, pcing it on a bench nearby, though why he should care if the strange suit became wrinkled was beyond him. Old habits, he supposed, from too many decades of dealing with the vagaries of Father’s temper. Before he went back in to meet with Katie, he decided to check around the white banks of lockers for Eagle.

  But there was no Eagle hiding here. A shame—this would have been a good pce to come. Disappointed, Fox wandered back out into the sauna.

  Humid, heated air slipped around him as he stepped back inside. The princess had wrapped her body entirely in a white towel and was now lying across one of the benches with the soles of her feet ft on the white surface and her knees steepled. She kept the braceleted arm ft beside her and the other elbow across her face. When Fox’s shadow fell over her she moved her arm to look at him, then went wide-eyed and, swallowing, looked quickly away.

  “Are you quite all right?” Fox asked.

  At his question she ughed, nervous-high, before swallowing it. She kept her eyes trained on the ceiling. “Yeah, I’m great! Kudos on being so comfortable with your body. No tattoos, huh? That’s too bad. I bet you’d look great with tattoos. I mean. You probably always look incredible.”

  Fox was too taken aback to respond. He had never met another person of his general rank who was so awkward about nudity. In fact, back in Shirith he'd probably spent more time nude than not. She also seemed uncomfortable with his piercings or she wouldn't have mentioned tattoos, implying her people certainly did not wear such jewelry to show rank.

  Even if they didn’t know who he was, they knew who he was. Fox was marked no matter what. Flushing, he grabbed a towel to wrap around his waist. “In my culture, piercings like mine denote a certain status.”

  “You must be, uh…” She searched for words, gncing at him, then away. “…really something.”

  “One might say so.” Imagine how she’d react to the Ancients, Fox thought. This peculiar innocence wouldn’t have sted five minutes. Gentry or no, the Princess had been very carefully reared. “I’m sorry to startle you, darling.”

  Katie waved airily but didn't look back at him. “No, don't be, please. The culture I'm from is really prudish, even for humans. It's my problem, not yours.”

  Humans? Fox sat down beside her feet, careful not to touch her. If she didn't know what to do with her eyes, she certainly wouldn't know what to do with his skin. “When we met, you gave me the impression you’re of the Gentry. Is that not so?”

  Katie gnced back at him, then apparently decided it was safe to look in his direction. “Huh. Was that really what you picked up?”

  Fox spread his hands, as if to say, of course.

  “Well, I’m not. I'm actually an adorable little human hybrid. All the weaknesses of both, none of the strengths.” As if to make her point, she waved her wounded wrist, then grimaced. “How do you know the Gentry? Most people from my world don't even know that's what they call themselves.”

  Perhaps their captors were unaware she was part human and had failed to account for mortality when they stole her. He made a mental note to ask her how a human girl had come to occupy such a position, though maybe not until they became better acquainted. Grilling a strange girl about her parentage seemed like a good way to make her shut down—and besides, she had gracefully pointed ears rather like his own.

  If people were dying here he could scarcely afford to alienate his sole ally. If she didn’t want to tell the whole story, he wouldn’t pry just yet.

  “Rothganar–my homend–is an interdimensional hub of sorts,” Fox expined, switching tactics. “There are openings to other worlds directly on the pace grounds, and more throughout the world.” He smiled, thinking of little Eagle and his round hazel eyes as he dragged Fox through the portals on one adventure or another.

  “Often, people from other worlds travel through to make diplomatic visits. I haven't known many Gentry, but a few have come to pay their respects.” Fox gnced at her again, wondering how candid he should be; the Gentry he’d met hadn’t exactly recommended themselves or their race.

  “You're–” but she had called them ‘they,’ which could only mean she didn't consider herself one of them– “I found them to be a very, ah, proud people.”

  Katie snorted, a sound that implied she thought he'd woefully underpyed that characteristic, and of course he had. One remembrance of Glorian had been well past enough. “It's impressive that they came to pay anything at all. Rev Liedan–is that some sort of king?”

  Fox shrugged. “It's more like a crown prince in other nguages. But in my case–” he couldn't help smiling just a bit– “it is, yes. Something like a king.”

  “Gotcha. Loud and clear. Power behind the throne.” Katie blew out a hard breath. Whether she cimed to be human or not, she knew a thing or two about court politics. “That's very good news. I assume that means you have an army coming to get you back, right? Somebody misses you.”

  That was not exactly true, whatever she believed. There was probably not one noble in the whole of his court who wanted him back—bar, perhaps, Fiachra—but the Mountain was fragile. He'd been attempting to correct some discomfiting magical expressions of her unhappiness when he was taken, and without him to care for her, she might be hard-pressed to keep from breaking apart.

  She was strong, he knew, but worry gnawed his guts. He still couldn't feel her presence in his mind, either because he was too far from home or because of these awful cuffs. Trapped, he thought, swallowing. Helpless. The custrophobia was getting bad already. He fought it down. Soon he and Katie would both be gone from here.

  “No army,” he admitted. “We generally don't need one. I can call on the heart of a Mountain for defense when necessary, and I don't seem to be able to reach her from here. But–” he held up a finger– “I do have an Eagle.”

  Katie regarded him with dark, intelligent eyes. Her skin was coated over with sweat, but she seemed to be chewing through the problem anyway. By the Word, yes, he liked her. “An Eagle like you're a Fox, right? I assume you don't mean a literal Eagle.”

  Fox smiled. “No. Not a literal Eagle.” He paused, considering. “Do you have an army?”

  “My…my boss might come. We were together when these assholes took me. He was their actual target. But he’s more important than I am, too. Politically. I know he’d want to come after me, and he pretty much does what he wants when he wants to do it. Unless.” Her expression fell. “Unless somebody managed to convince him logically it would be bad for the people of Faerie, which it would be. Plus, I think I love him a little more than he loves me.”

  Gssy-eyed and blinking, she looked back up at the ceiling. Whoever her “boss” might be—and he must be quite something indeed, to command her at all, let alone command her heart—it was complicated.

  If the bastard didn’t show up, Fox might have to go hunting or send Eagle. He was certain they could find the home of the Gentry between them—but that was for ter.

  He looked for a retively neutral patch of flesh to touch. Since she was wearing a towel to preserve her modesty that left the top of her foot. He patted it awkwardly. “I’m sure someone misses you, darling.” She was the type of princess a storybook hero–or an Elfish Knight– might sy a dragon for. Surely there was a knight somewhere, or a prince. He’d known her less than an hour and he already wanted to save her.

  The girl sniffled. “Sure. They’ll miss me. But your, uh, Eagle can be counted on, right?”

  How to express it? “Absolutely. And if I won’t leave without you, so much more Eagle—even if it’s only because I tell him I want it.” The thought made him smile all over again. Even the silliest little thing he mentioned wanting, Eagle would acquire. He’d said he wanted a pnt for his desk, and the next time he sat down at it, a lovely, lush one had been waiting as if it had been there all along.

  Katie nodded. She used her good hand to wipe tears from her face. “I’m sorry. I’m usually not this big a baby. I’m usually the one mounting the rescue mission, to be honest.”

  That was the most surprising thing she’d said so far, but when he considered again the fine muscling on her limbs… no. Fox raised an eyebrow, but Katie continued before he could speak.

  “What would you do, Fox? If Eagle was the one who got kidnapped for once? If you knew it was a terrible idea to risk yourself to go after him, and he could take care of himself in most circumstances, what would you do?”

  Fox squeezed her kneecap in a way he hoped felt reassuring and not lecherous. “What would I do to get Eagle back? I would get him back, or I would end the worlds trying.” The truth of it rang in his head; it would ring in his aura if he could feel it.

  At least he couldn’t feel it if he’d been torn.

  Katie studied him through her tears, appraising. “I believe that about you.”

  “But you don’t believe it about your…boss.”

  She used her free hand to scrub at her face again. “I don’t know. I don’t want to talk about it anymore.”

  “Mm.” Fox wished the bench had a back to drape himself against. It would be easier to stay upright. His mind raced in circles, coming back again and again to Eagle. Where are you? There were no fairies in the sauna.

  “So, why’d you want to come here?” Katie croaked. She stared at the ceiling as if into a white void. “To the sauna.”

  “Simple. I can see no Eyes. As far as I know, we won’t be watched here. It may be something to do with the lenses—if I had to guess, they can’t make one that doesn’t fog—but of course, there may be one in this egg. On inspection I don’t think so.” He cleared his throat, twitching at the towel.

  Incredibly, she half-sat, gazing at him. Her eyes raked his face, shining with agony. “Is that right.”

  He rose, walking behind the rge white egg that rested in the csp of the benches. “The surface is fogged—see here.” He swiped his finger through the steam and water droplets that had collected on the outside. Again, the shell felt leathery; it gave slightly beneath his touch. “They have Eyes on us at all times, but I see none of their lenses in the room. If there’s a device inside this egg to record us, it’s already too te, but I suppose we’ll find out for sure when we try to leave the sauna.”

  “But you don’t think it’s likely.” Katie slumped back onto the bench. Her legs stretched in front of her. Her smile was utterly ghastly. “You think it’s worth the risk.”

  “I do.”

  “So what about that body?”

  Fox ughed as he came to sit on the end of the bench. She would need soon—needed now—medical attention. “I knew I liked you. It’s either staff or an honored guest.” That st tasted bad in his mouth. “What do you think?”

  “Gotta be a guest.” Hardness flickered around her mouth. “Didn’t get anyone here. Only back home.”

  He badly wanted to chase the idea, but she was in no state for him to be prying. Her breathing sounded thready.

  He could hand her over to the medical staff, who must be untrustworthy if they allowed this, or he could take her back to his room and use the jar of All-Heal, but must he? He would hate to have her struggle with his own little problem. “All right.”

  “Gotta be a guest,” she mumbled again, sckening further on the bench.

  “Because they’re immortals,” Fox said sourly.

  “Yeah.” As much of an empty sack as she was, Katie stared dead into his eyes. “My boss can kill them. Did you know that? He can make them die,” she rasped.

  “How?” The gouts of steam from the central egg almost felt like his own drawing, he was so hot.

  She didn’t answer. Her eyes listed at half-mast; she was unconscious.

  He moved to lift her from the bench. Her burning arm draped low in front of him, but he couldn’t settle it in her p. No doubt it would burn the rest of her too. Mind racing a thousand miles a minute, Fox strode to the dressing room door and kicked his way in. It seemed he must take matters in his own two hands.