Storm Born Page 0,111

life. What happened?"

Figuring it couldn't hurt regardless of her involvement, I told her everything about the fachan and the nixies. Her face stayed mostly blank, though I did see surprise flash in her eyes a few times. When I finished, her response was not what I expected.

"Why do you live in a desert anyway? Willingly even?"

I felt surprise cross my own face. "It's my home. It's not that bad."

She shrugged. "If you say so. But Dorian is right in his assessment of getting those creatures to you in the first place. Someone powerful and motivated would have had to do it."

"Do you know who?"

"No. Like I said, you have no reason to believe me, but I had nothing to do with this."

She was right. I had no reason to believe her. And yet...some part of me noted that Kiyo trusted her. Whatever anger I felt over his withholding of information, I had to believe he wasn't an entirely unreliable judge of character.

"Could you give me names of people who could do it?"

"I could give you dozens. Wouldn't do you much good."

I scowled and slouched into my chair. The same response as the spirits.

"I'm sorry I can't be more help." She sounded sincere. "I won't lie: The thought of you having Tirigan's grandson terrifies me. But I don't believe in punishing you for something that has not yet happened - especially when you are trying to not make it happen. However..." That placid expression turned hesitant. "May I ask you a question?"

"Sure."

"I know what you told me, and yet...well, I hear more and more stories about your involvement with Dorian. Kiyo said..." She tripped over the name. "Kiyo said I had nothing to worry about."

"You don't. It's an act. Dorian's teaching me to use my magic, and in exchange, I play his girlfriend." No point in mentioning our recent bargain.

She considered. "So you've decided to embrace your heritage after all."

"Only enough to not do something stupid."

"You're right to do that...though I'd feel better if you had another teacher. Your bargain may seem safe enough for now...yet I doubt he'll let it stay that simple for long. Don't let his charm blind you to his agenda. He'll use you to get what he wants - and he wants the prophecy fulfilled."

"Hey, I can handle Dorian. And his charm."

"There's more to it than just that, however. Your very life may be at risk."

"From Dorian? I doubt it."

"From his enemies."

That was a new one. "I didn't really know he had any unless...well, you and he differ in opinion...and I guess he and Aeson don't get along either." I sat up straighter. "Do you think his enemies are the ones trying to kill me? To get back at him?"

"Any number of people could be trying to kill you. The list of his enemies is no shorter than the ones I referred to before. Most of his have nothing to do with where he stands on the prophecy. He's powerful, and many fear that - with good reason. When this part of the Otherworld rearranged itself, he fought to seize much more of it than he did. Only at the last minute did Katrice, queen of the Rowan Land, emerge as a contender and slice up more. The land recognized her and allowed her a portion, cutting Dorian out of larger territory."

I shivered. I had heard Roland speak of the Otherworld's sentience, how it continually changed form and boundaries. Still. The thought of it "allowing" someone to do something creeped me out.

"Many know he has never accepted that outcome," she continued. "He would like to expand, and they see you as the means of doing it. Your human powers have been feared for years. If you manifest Storm King's as well, they believe you and Dorian will conquer the other kingdoms. And possibly beyond."

"Everyone's so obsessed with conquest," I grumbled. "Why can't they just leave things the way they are?"

"Your king has grander plans than that, I'm afraid."

I wondered not for the first time who was getting the better end of this deal Dorian and I had contrived. What was it he really wanted from me? "So even people who agree with the prophecy don't necessarily like him."

She nodded. "They would rather see your son fathered by someone less ambitious - someone they could control. Those same people could very well attempt to remove Dorian. Or, others who wanted Storm King to succeed in theory secretly believe it will never happen, so now they simply worry