An Artificial Night

“Shaken, but holding together,” Quentin said. “Most of them seem to think they’ve already been rescued, and that this is just the break before we head home.”


“Encourage that; I’d rather they were optimistic than hysterical.” I looked to Raj. “Helen’s pretty hurt. There weren’t any healers in my group or Quentin’s—how about yours?”

“No, and I’m not sure how much farther she can go,” Raj said, expression grave. “How far are we from the exit? We may need to carry her.”

“Damn. Is she strong enough to do some basic sewing-magic?” Hobs are hearth-spirits; their magic focuses almost entirely on cleaning and patching things. They can wash and darn a sock with a wave of their hand, using stitches too small for the human eye to see.

“I think so.”

“Good. Get any clothes the other kids have to spare—socks, jackets, whatever they can afford to give up—and see if she can sew it into a litter. We’ll drag her if we have to.”

“Can’t we just use some branches?” asked Quentin.

I eyed him. “Do you want to explain that to Acacia?”

He paled. “Okay, no.”

“Good.” I looked back to Raj. “Can you keep everyone calm until we get back?”

His eyes widened, pupils narrowing in surprise. “Get back? Where are you going?”

“To get my girlfriend,” Quentin said. His voice was sharp but calm.

“Your girlfriend?” Raj glanced toward Helen, almost automatically. “Why wasn’t she with the others?”

“Because she’s human,” I said. Raj turned to stare at me, ears slicking back. “Blind Michael takes fae kids to be his Riders. He takes the mortal ones to be his horses.”

“That’s not going to happen to Katie,” Quentin said.

I shook my head. “No, it’s not. But that means we have to leave for a little while. Raj, can you watch things here?” Even though I barely knew the kid, he and Quentin were the closest thing I had to lieutenants. I couldn’t abandon the children if Raj wasn’t willing to take care of them, but I couldn’t let Quentin go after Katie alone, either.

Much to my relief, Raj nodded. “I think so. Almost everyone is tired. They should sleep for a little while.”

“Good. Just don’t let them leave the trees. Do you remember the lady of these woods?”

“The yellow woman?” he asked.

“Yes, her. Her name is Acacia. If anything happens, go to her. Tell her I couldn’t make it back, but that Luna is expecting you. She’ll help you.” I hope, I added silently. I had to give Raj something to cling to; if I was leaving him in charge, he had to hold things together. That meant he needed to believe he had a way out. “If we don’t come back . . .”

Raj nodded. “I understand.”

“Auntie Birdie?”

I winced. “Yes, puss?” I said, as I turned.

Jessica was behind me, expression pleading as she grabbed my arm. “Please don’t leave me. Please don’t go. I’ll be good. Just please, please, don’t go.”

“Oh, sweetheart.” I hugged her tightly, careful to hold my candle away from her hair. “I’m sorry. I have to.”

“Will you come back?”

I pushed her out to arm’s length, expression grave.“I’ll try, baby.” Looking back to Raj, I said, “If we don’t come back, find Acacia. She’ll get you out.” If she could.

“All right,” Raj said.

Jessica made a soft mewling noise, beginning to cry. I gave her a final hug and pried her hands off my arms as I turned to walk out of the woods, Quentin close behind me. Spike trailed us to the edge of the trees before stopping, clearly intending to stay where it was most needed. Good. Between Spike and Raj, I could almost believe the kids would be all right without us.

“Toby?” Quentin said.

“Yeah?”

“I . . .” He stopped, searching for words. He couldn’t thank me.