Hidden Court (The Gatekeeper's Trials Book 2) by Emma L. Adams

Author:Emma L. Adams [Adams, Emma L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-11-07T16:00:00+00:00

12

Think, Hazel. Four or five cloaked Sidhe surrounded me, while the barrels of blood or wine blocked my escape route. A sharp pain stung my neck, and I leaned back from the blade’s edge, calling on my Gatekeeper’s magic. Aiming the green glow at the earthen floor, I searched for any signs of life beneath the ground.

As my Summer magic reached below the earth, a torrent of roots burst upwards into the cave. Feeding more magic into the roots, I willed them to grow faster, thrusting like spears from the cave walls and ceiling. Fragments of soil rained on our heads, splashing into the wine barrels.

The hooded Sidhe wielding the blade backed up a step. “Stop that, human.”

Too late. The roots continued to grow, fuelled by my Gatekeeper’s magic. The music jarred to a crashing halt, while the dancing broke up, shouts of alarm echoing off the ceiling.

“The cave’s collapsing!” someone yelled.

Might have overdone it a little.

I threw up a shield above my head and shoved my way through the cloaked Sidhe. They let me run, trying in vain to drag the wine barrels out of range of the falling earth. Emerging into the main cave, I grabbed Coral’s arm and pulled her after me into the crowd of fleeing faeries.

Roots popped out the earth, knocking over the guests like skittles, while the despairing shouts of the panicking Sidhe came from the very back of the cave.

“Serve them right if they get buried along with their precious wine barrels.” I elbowed past the hooded cultist who’d danced with me earlier and let Coral and Willow overtake me, glancing behind to make sure the Sidhe hadn’t resumed their attempt at blood magic.

From the back of the cave, a bubbling crash sounded, and a torrent of wine swept through the cave, swirling around our ankles. That was enough for the remaining Sidhe, who joined the crush of people fleeing the cave. Winged piskies, cloaked cultists and bewildered humans tripped over one another in an effort to get outside.

When we reached the mouth of the cave, I ducked after Coral and Willow, emerging onto the hillside. A wave of earthy wine followed, flowing down the grass and into darkness.

“There’ll be some really drunk highland cows wandering around here for the next week,” I remarked. “I didn’t mean to bring the whole place crashing down.”

“I’d take a collapsing tunnel over a blood sacrifice.” Coral reached for Willow and brushed earth from her shoulder.

“You ruined everything,” said a dishevelled half-Sidhe whose wine-dampened hair clung to her face like seaweed. It took me a moment to recognise her as Aila.

“You’re welcome.” I scanned the guests for Holly but saw no signs of her. Given our proximity to the Ley Line, I wouldn’t blame her if she’d sneaked back home early. Watching Aila leave, I turned to Coral. “You didn’t invite her, too, did you?”

“Of course not,” said Coral, shaking wine droplets off her cloak. “I suppose she thought it an honour to get an invitation.”

“That, or she’s joined the cult.

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