Trenyth sighed. "We think he was captured by a goblin contingent. Another informant saw the battle go down."
And then my world went black.
As I regained consciousness, I was aware of someone leaning over me. I blinked, willing my vision to clear. What had happened? Why was I lying on the cold ground?
Grandmother Coyote's gleaming teeth came into focus as she smiled down at me, her hand caressing my cheek. Her fingers were rough, and her eyes bored deep into my soul, calling me back from wherever it was my mind had fled. I gasped and sat up as a jolt passed through her hand, into my face. Like rough whiskey, it shocked me awake.
"Come, girl, get up. You don't have time to mourn. You must shoulder the burden and move on for the night. Ask your questions. You can cry later," she said.
I shook the fog out of my head and looked around. Smoky was sitting beside me. My head had been in his lap. Morio and Menolly were kneeling on my left, Delilah and Chase on my right. They helped me up, and Smoky slid his arm around my waist while Morio took my hand.
"Are you okay?" Delilah asked.
"How can I be okay?" I asked, staring at her. "You know what the goblins do to their prisoners. Capture is as good as a death sentence."
She turned away, but I couldn't stop talking.
"Trillian and I belong to each other—through life and through death. When he reentered my life, I was terrified, because I knew that I'd never be able to send him away again, that I'd never leave him again. No matter how many other lovers we take, no matter how many miles stretch between us, we are bound forever." I closed my eyes. "Tell me what happened."
Grandmother Coyote interrupted me. "There isn't time."
"Then make time!" I turned on her, feeling as frozen as the northern wastes. "Trillian is my oath lover. I will know what happened to him and why he was sent on another mission even though he was already pegged as a spy. The world can shatter like glass for all I care right now. But I will know!"
She stared at me, and for a moment I thought she was going to strike me down, but then she motioned to Trenyth. "Hurry. We don't have time to waste."
Trenyth tugged at the collar of his robe. "Trillian was the only one Queen Asteria could trust for this mission, and you'll understand why when I tell you."
"We'd better." My hand moved toward the silver dagger at my side.
He flashed me a cold look. "Your father was due in Elqaneve a few days ago. He was going to join our intelligence operations."
"Father! What do you know about our father? We haven't heard from him since he ran from the Guard." I tensed. Delilah and Menolly did the same.
"Your father sent word he was coming. We needed him. He has secret information about the armies of the Court and Crown. But along the way, he vanished."
"Shit. Not good. Not good at all. Any idea what happened to him?" Menolly kicked a rock out of the way as Delilah glumly dropped into a squat. I watched her carefully for a moment, but she didn't transform.
"We found out through an informant—you know Rozurial—that your father's soul statue is still intact. But we need the information he was carrying. We have to find out where he's disappeared, and why. Trillian was the only one we could trust in this matter. He knows your father. He knows the whole story."
"Oh Great Mother," I said, leaning against Smoky as he helped keep me onto my feet. "Then the goblins—"
"Once they realize he's a spy, they'll torture and kill him, unless he can escape." Trenyth's voice dropped. "I'm so sorry. We still don't know what happened. There were no reports of goblin activity in the area we sent Trillian into. We have no idea how they showed up there so fast."
"The portals." Menolly snapped her fingers. "That's how! They're using the rogue portals. And want to make a bet that a few must have escaped back to Guilyoton with information about us after today's fight."
"Fight? What are you talking about?" Trenyth looked confused.
We filled him in on the battle that morning.
"Oh crap, and don't forget the goblin and Sawberry Fae!" Delilah jumped up and dusted off the butt of her jeans. "Want to make a bet they not only fed what they know to the demons but to their compatriots at home? Goblins are sneaky little bastards, and they never stick to their word."
"If that's so, they've probably been spying on us since before they ever came to the shop after Feddrah-Dahns," I said, as numb as if I'd been pumped full of Novocain. "Want to bet Karvanak has been watching us for awhile? If he's been in Seattle since before Bad Ass Luke came through, then maybe he's been keeping tabs on us all along. Who knows how much the demons know? Or Queen Lethesanar?"
My concerns about Trillian and my father took on entirely new and unwelcome dimensions. "You don't suppose Lethesanar might actually be in cahoots with the demons?" The thought was bone-chilling. If so, then she was turning traitor on two entire worlds.
Trenyth frowned. "I doubt it, but I'll be certain to discuss it with Queen Asteria. There's not much else I can tell you."
"What now?" I said, still feeling faint. Inside, I just kept repeating, He's not dead yet… he's not dead yet… hold onto that glimmer of hope. "We have to rescue Trillian. I know he's trained for this situation, but goblins are merciless, and they'll tear him apart before he willingly gives them information."