Rath suggested stopping to rest several times, and Char refused every time. He needed to put as much distance between Iris and the mage as possible. His wings were protesting with each flap, though, and he felt a palpable relief when the flight cavern came into view. He touched down, setting Iris on the ground carefully before he transformed. The fairy hopped off of Iris' chest and zipped toward the door. Char leaned against the wall for a moment, catching his breath as an icy wind swept through the cavern with Rath's landing and transformation.

"I'll take her," Rath said.

"No." Char straightened up and drew his hand across his face. "Just get the door."

"Oh...problem," Rath said hesitantly.

Char scooped Iris up. She was still unconscious and unnaturally pale, but now she was also shivering violently, soft whimpers of pain escaping her lips with each movement. He headed for the door, evenly meeting Kelnor's flashing red eyes as he blocked the entrance.

"Move," Char said firmly.

Kelnor stepped aside, his eyes dropping to Iris' limp form. "I won't be able to protect you this time."

Char didn't respond, carrying Iris through the hall to his living quarters. The fairies were waiting for him. They swarmed around Iris for just a couple of seconds, and then they darted into the bedroom. He followed them in, laying her on the bed and stepping back. The fairies immediately set to work, peeling the blankets back and prying her bloody hand free from the amulet. There was a deep gash across her palm. They were golden blurs, zipping around her, to and from the bathroom, tending to her with practiced skill, and he felt sick. This wasn't the first time they'd done this. Two emerged from the bunch to push against his chest, telling him to leave. He swallowed down bile and left to collapse on the sofa in the living room, putting his elbows on his knees and his face in his hands.

"What's going on?" Rath asked gently, sitting down beside him.

Char sighed and dragged his fingers up through his hair. "I hand delivered her to the king's mage, that's what's going on. He's been extracting magic from her this whole time."

Kelnor cursed under his breath. "That's why his magic has been stronger every time we see him."

"Char, you didn't know-"

"I should have," Char spat, lifting his head to meet Rath's eyes. "He disguised himself as a friend of mine, but there were little things that I should have picked up on. Snapping at the fairies. Jonah never did that. And he called her 'sweet little Iris,' just like the mage."

"Jonah. Who is that? I've never heard of him," Rath said, his brow furrowed.

"Because you and Mother wouldn't have approved of Father and I being friends with a human mage." Char sighed, dropping his face into his hands again. "But he was a good guy, and I trusted him. And, as it turns out, so did Iris, since he was one of Father John's orphans and basically her older brother." He massaged his temples. "Which is why I didn't question the things that didn't add up. She was so happy to see him. He probably started in on her right after I left," he added bitterly.

"So did Jonah ever exist, or was he the king's mage all along?" Kelnor asked darkly.

Char shook his head. "I don't know. I don't know anything anymore." He sucked in a breath and blew it out slowly. "No, Jonah existed. I've known him for years. He set up in a tower in the middle of an enchanted forest to hide from the king's mage." He rested his chin on his hands, his gaze unfocused as he thought through the day he left Iris there. "The king's mage talks a lot when he's confident," he said slowly.

"Anything useful?" Kelnor prompted.

"Maybe," Char said, mulling it all over. "That amulet is legendary. It's been changing hands for a thousand years, choosing who can use it and holding onto that person's power after they die, so it becomes more powerful with each new bearer. A master at the human magic school killed for it, but the amulet didn't choose him, so he couldn't use it. The king's mage was apprenticed to that master, and he killed for it, but Iris' mother, a serving girl, had already stolen it and left it with her at the church. Jonah found her and recognized that the amulet was magical, so he told the priest to lock it up and keep it a secret."

"Then the king's mage found out about Iris and the amulet when he killed Jonah, and that's why he started looking for her," Rath summarized.

Char nodded. "He can't kill her because the amulet may not choose him, so he's been extracting power from her and keeping her in line by threatening the fairies and me if she goes against him. But something changed yesterday. That's why she told me to leave, and why she sent the fairies away. She was preparing to fight back."

"From what I saw, looks like she lost," Kelnor commented.

"Yes, and no. She was unconscious when I got there. He trapped me in a magical orb and told me what he'd done to her and what he planned to do to her the next time she woke up, and I couldn't even move. Then one of those fairies flew into the room, and when he tried to kill it, she shielded it, without waking up. She broke me out of that orb and shielded me while I got her out of there. The mage didn't know how she was doing it."

"Hm." Kelnor sat down, crossing his arms over his chest as he processed everything. "So she will wake up."

"Yeah. He said in the morning, it will be possible to rouse her, but every movement will be excruciatingly painful. I'm guessing if we wait longer, she'll wake up on her own. The fairies have obviously helped her through this before."

"And if he talks when he's confident, he's probably told her quite a lot," Kelnor continued. "Plus, he's going to want her back."

"Kelnor-" Rath started.

"I'm not thinking of making a trade," Kelnor interrupted. "But I'm also not going to tell my higher-ups about this. Not until we hear what she has to say. It's in our best interest to treat her as an ally, not a prisoner, and those idiots won't see that unless I can give them something concrete." He sighed and stood up. "Well, not much any of us can do until she wakes up. Get some sleep, boys." He patted Char on the shoulder as he passed him. "And good work."

Kelnor left, the stone door closed behind him, and Char muttered, "Yeah, right."

"Hey, none of that," Rath reprimanded him. "You did the best you could with the information you had. She's safe now, and she's going to be okay. Much as it pains me to say it, Kelnor is right. We can't do anything until she wakes up, and we both flew like maniacs there and back. I, for one, am beat, and I happen to know that you are, too." He stood up and stretched his arms over his head. "So stop beating yourself up and go to sleep. If you want, I can beat you up in the morning."

Char snorted. "You wish."

Rath shrugged. "Or I can have Mother do it. She's going to kill you. And then hug you to death. And then kill you again."

"Goodnight, Rath."

Rath waved casually over his shoulder. "Goodnight, Char."

Char sat back against the sofa, staring up at the ceiling, until a burst of warmth touched his hand. He looked down at the fairy, and it hopped into the air and darted toward the bedroom. When he didn't follow immediately, it darted back and landed on his hand again, repeating the process. He sighed and stood up. The little creature was persistent, darting back and forth, and he reluctantly followed it into his bedroom.

Iris was still unconscious, of course, but her color was starting to return, and she wasn't shivering and whimpering anymore. The fairies had cleaned her up and tucked her in, drawing the blanket up to her chin. Most of them were resting on the blanket beside her, ever watchful of their charge. The one that led him into the room had opened a bureau drawer and was rummaging around in his clothes.

"Thanks, but I can take care of myself," he whispered, although he realized he could probably be shouting and it wouldn't wake Iris. He took his pajamas from the insistent fairy, and it zipped up and touched his lips. His eyes widened in surprise, unsure what to make of that. Then it zipped over to Iris and touched her lips. The softest, sweetest smile spread across her sleeping face. He stared in wonder at her and the little orb of golden light that settled on the pillow next to her head. A kiss. The fairy had just facilitated a kiss. He smiled reluctantly and went into the bathroom, getting himself ready for bed. Iris was, of course, still asleep when he emerged, her smile gone, but her expression peaceful. He returned to the sofa, where a couple of pillows had been propped up at one end and a blanket was folded neatly at the other. Fairies. He shook his head and tucked himself in, letting the heaviness drift away with his consciousness.