Read Online The Tainted Web (The Godhunter, Book 7) by Amy Sumida - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Amy Sumida
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Queen Dubheasa will have to be replaced.”
“ Who decides on her replacement?” I wondered aloud.
“ Her people, of course,” King Cian smiled. “Who better to decide on a leader for them?”
“ How surprisingly diplomatic,” I murmured.
About half a mile in, we came to the outpost. It was some kind of military checkpoint and they were prepared for us. Even prepared though, they didn't stand a chance against the combined forces of the Houses of Spirit, Fire, Air, Earth, and the gods. The fight was over in moments but this time there were no survivors to restrain.
“We can't just kill all the water sidhe for following orders, can we?” I asked the High King.
“ We will try not to,” his face was set in serious lines. “I admit, it brings me no pleasure to lift sword against my fellow fey but they know they commit treason when they lift theirs against me. We will do as we must but do not worry, there are plenty of non-confrontational water fey. We will not kill the element.”
The tunnels had connected to an oval dome for the outpost, which housed only barracks and supply buildings. There were also strange tubes coming in from above and descending at several points. I stared at them, trying to ignore the large shapes moving languidly behind the glass.
“Those are doorways,” Arach came up beside me. “The water can be let in after a fey enters the tube, and then they can swim out.”
“ So Dubheasa could have escaped into the sea already.”
“ Yes, it's possible,” he frowned.
“ But not likely,” the High King added. “Unless it was to get more quickly to the central city. She may have an advantage in the water but only as far as hiding goes. Combat underwater is difficult equally for all, and she can only hide from us for so long.”
“ Even when she has a whole sea to hide in?” I asked skeptically.
“ Her fey can locate her with a type of underwater telepathy,” King Cian explained. “They sing and it travels through the water, covering great distances very quickly, until it finds whomever they're after. They can give us an exact location in moments.”
“ Hmm, kind of like sonar, but will they help us?” I still wasn't sure. Her people had seemed more than willing to die for her so far.
“ Like I said before, they're not all soldiers, Queen Vervain,” King Cian smiled gently. “There will be many who will surrender and obey the wishes of their High King. Of that, I have no doubt. We fey can be very practical.”
“ Yes, that I remember,” I grimaced.
Chapter Eight
“ What in all of creation is that?” I pointed at the thing sliding along the side of the tunnel like a cat rubbing fondly against its human.
It had an eel-like body, the width of which was greater than my height, split at one end into several heads. Each head looked in a different direction, undulating through the currents. It was a dark indeterminable color, even with the lights hovering close to it inside the tunnel, maybe deep green or gray. The faces were humanoid, with wide mouths displaying rows of needle-like teeth and round unblinking eyes, but only a flat expanse where noses should have been.
The lack of a nasal ridge didn't hinder the horror of their almost-humanity though. You could see the wrongness of the creature clearly. It had a face for land, brachycephalic instead of sleek and pointed for water travel. It just plain didn't make sense but then Faerie didn't need to make sense.
“ It's just a water creature, pay it no mind,” Arach waved his hand as if he could erase it.
“ Pay it no mind?” I stared at it and it seemed to stop and stare back at me. “Nope, I don't think it needs any more minds, looks like it's got several already.”
Then its tail whipped, all of its heads coming together to form a point, and it propelled itself speedily away. So I guess it did make sense. After its sighting though, I was beginning to loose my senses. We kept spotting more and more underwater
“ Who decides on her replacement?” I wondered aloud.
“ Her people, of course,” King Cian smiled. “Who better to decide on a leader for them?”
“ How surprisingly diplomatic,” I murmured.
About half a mile in, we came to the outpost. It was some kind of military checkpoint and they were prepared for us. Even prepared though, they didn't stand a chance against the combined forces of the Houses of Spirit, Fire, Air, Earth, and the gods. The fight was over in moments but this time there were no survivors to restrain.
“We can't just kill all the water sidhe for following orders, can we?” I asked the High King.
“ We will try not to,” his face was set in serious lines. “I admit, it brings me no pleasure to lift sword against my fellow fey but they know they commit treason when they lift theirs against me. We will do as we must but do not worry, there are plenty of non-confrontational water fey. We will not kill the element.”
The tunnels had connected to an oval dome for the outpost, which housed only barracks and supply buildings. There were also strange tubes coming in from above and descending at several points. I stared at them, trying to ignore the large shapes moving languidly behind the glass.
“Those are doorways,” Arach came up beside me. “The water can be let in after a fey enters the tube, and then they can swim out.”
“ So Dubheasa could have escaped into the sea already.”
“ Yes, it's possible,” he frowned.
“ But not likely,” the High King added. “Unless it was to get more quickly to the central city. She may have an advantage in the water but only as far as hiding goes. Combat underwater is difficult equally for all, and she can only hide from us for so long.”
“ Even when she has a whole sea to hide in?” I asked skeptically.
“ Her fey can locate her with a type of underwater telepathy,” King Cian explained. “They sing and it travels through the water, covering great distances very quickly, until it finds whomever they're after. They can give us an exact location in moments.”
“ Hmm, kind of like sonar, but will they help us?” I still wasn't sure. Her people had seemed more than willing to die for her so far.
“ Like I said before, they're not all soldiers, Queen Vervain,” King Cian smiled gently. “There will be many who will surrender and obey the wishes of their High King. Of that, I have no doubt. We fey can be very practical.”
“ Yes, that I remember,” I grimaced.
Chapter Eight
“ What in all of creation is that?” I pointed at the thing sliding along the side of the tunnel like a cat rubbing fondly against its human.
It had an eel-like body, the width of which was greater than my height, split at one end into several heads. Each head looked in a different direction, undulating through the currents. It was a dark indeterminable color, even with the lights hovering close to it inside the tunnel, maybe deep green or gray. The faces were humanoid, with wide mouths displaying rows of needle-like teeth and round unblinking eyes, but only a flat expanse where noses should have been.
The lack of a nasal ridge didn't hinder the horror of their almost-humanity though. You could see the wrongness of the creature clearly. It had a face for land, brachycephalic instead of sleek and pointed for water travel. It just plain didn't make sense but then Faerie didn't need to make sense.
“ It's just a water creature, pay it no mind,” Arach waved his hand as if he could erase it.
“ Pay it no mind?” I stared at it and it seemed to stop and stare back at me. “Nope, I don't think it needs any more minds, looks like it's got several already.”
Then its tail whipped, all of its heads coming together to form a point, and it propelled itself speedily away. So I guess it did make sense. After its sighting though, I was beginning to loose my senses. We kept spotting more and more underwater
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