Got Lost by Michael Darling

Author:Michael Darling [Darling, Michael]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Future House Publishing
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 23: Hew

After surviving the initial reaction test, there had to be a line I could try to cross. In any case, teasing Mads was better than being mad at Mads.

“Does your tail wag if someone scratches you behind the ears?”

“Dear Prince, shut up.”

“If you’re wearing pants, does your tail run down the leg or curl up on your butt?”

“Hardly appropriate.”

“If you have to tail someone, you can really tail someone. Am I right?”

Mads-Béil handed my bag back. “Don’t make me slap you down again.”

About that. “Why did you knock me out? My head still hurts.”

“You were already on the verge of exhaustion.”

“Afraid I’d singe someone’s fur?”

“Yes. Or set the forest on fire.”

“Point taken.”

“You need to know that Púca are not the only creatures in this realm. Other creatures sense magic and you’ll attract them. Be careful, my prince. This may be the realm of dreams, but dreams can kill.”

For a moment, my mood had turned happy again. Now it was murdered. Again.

She is an assassin.

“Prince Luck, you said you’re here to find Béil. May I ask why?”

I shrugged. “She asked.” That wasn’t all. “I also need to find Laoch. The Dubhcridhe have abducted a lot of other kids. I’d like to bring them home. I think she could help. And, if possible, I’d like to do something for Alyce, the girl who appeared at Spreasán’s wedding rehearsal.”

Mads-Béil listened with a focus that was almost palpable. “Would you like some advice?”

“All right.”

“Don’t do this.”

Was she serious?

I took a step back. “Don’t do this? Why not?”

“The goddess.” Mads-Béil looked at the floor, composing her thoughts, her tail twitching. “It rarely ends well when taking a thrall from the service of Caer Ibormeith, great be her name. If you are not careful, Béil could become insane.”

That ship’s barely still in the harbor.

“Or you could be made to serve her yourself.”

That would be bad.

“If you go after Béil in the land of dreams, go with eyes wide open. So to speak.”

“Holy crap, Mads. You just made a joke.” I had to grin.

Mads shrugged. “Jokes can be useful, in the right time and place.”

If she’d meant to imply I didn’t always know the right time and place, it was okay. She wasn’t wrong. A long moment passed when neither of us spoke. “Mads, I—”

“You have nothing to feel apologetic about, Prince Luck.”

She was quick to catch my intention. “No. I do. I said some things I shouldn’t have said. Both to you and to your husband.”

Mads-Béil dismissed me with a wave of her hand. “You have more worrisome concerns ahead of you. There is no sure path to follow if you want to help Béil and the others. Like a dream itself, the place where you’re going is a different kind of reality. Unpredictable. Ever changing. At times, without meaning or direction. You’ll need to get to the heart of Tír na nÓg without being noticed. Once you have awakened Béil, you will have the attention of the goddess. You will need to get away before she catches you, and her resources are many.

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