Free Imperative: A Quinn Larson Quest by P. A. Wilson Page B

looked around and he was flying up to the fence. I stepped toward it. “Where are the guards?”
    “There are two by the door and one on the corner.” Olan pointed with his beak. “Don’t worry, you are just asking for an audience. The worst they can do is say no.”
    “Not even close to the worst they can do. Are you coming with me, or do you have a way to get in without an invitation?”
    “I’ll try the legitimate way first. If that doesn’t work, I have my ways.”
    “Can’t I just use one of your ways?” It’s not that I was afraid of the Sidhe guards, well not that afraid. But if I could surprise Fionuir, maybe I would have an advantage.
    “Quinn, stop being a wimp. Just ask for an audience and get in there. If you think surprising Fionuir is a good idea, you are mad and I am going to have to find a new partner.”
    I wanted to tell him to shut up, but he’d just told me not to be childish. “Okay, here I go.” Olan landed on my shoulder as I turned toward the building.
    The door guards were a pair of twins, tall, red haired and mean looking; although, to a human they would have looked bent, dirty and indigent. You would think someone that pretty would just be happy. I heard a flapping overhead but when I looked up there was nothing there. Olan moved closer to my ear.
    “Anyone we know?” I whispered.
    “No, just get on with it.”
    I stepped forward and pasted smile on my face. “Good evening. I wish to speak to Fionuir.”
    “That’s Queen Fionuir,” the twin on the left said.
    It seemed that my new clothes didn’t impress them “I wish to speak to Queen Fionuir… please.”
    “The queen isn’t taking visitors,” the twin on the right said. I could see the sneer on his face as well as hear it in his voice.
    “When will she take visitors?” This conversation wasn’t getting me anywhere. “I’d really like to speak with her soon.”
    “She is busy. I don’t think it will be soon,” the twin on the left said. It looks like they were going to take turns talking.
    “Why don’t you ask her if she wishes to see me?”
    A caw sounded from the top of the building. Olan tried to huddle under my jacket collar.
    I reached in and pulled him back onto my shoulder and whispered. “I thought you said it wasn’t her.” I turned back to the door twins. But there was only one twin. “Where did your brother go?”
    “He took your suggestion and has gone to speak with Queen Fionuir.”
    The crow cawed again. Olan flew off my shoulder and stood in my shadow. If that was The Morrigan, it wouldn’t help him to hide in shadows. “I thought you two were square. Did you do something to her?”
    “No.” Olan was clearly uncomfortable
    Twin two came back. “The Queen has agreed to speak with you. Only you, the bird stays outside.”
    Olan bumped my leg as he crossed to the next set of shadows. I figured he wanted to keep out of The Morrigan’s line of sight so I didn’t say anything. Twin two led me through a narrow hall around the inside of the building until we reached a set of double doors. If my sense of direction was working, we were on the far side of the building. With Sidhe magic, you can never tell. We could be under the building and not have noticed descending the stairs.
    The doors were metal with an etched pattern. It looked like tin so it must be laid over sold wood. The knot patterns twined from the top left across both doors and back to the bottom left side. I could feel the magic vibrating out of the patterns. There was no way an uninvited guest would get through these doors.
    “Wait,” Twin two said. He looked at me until I nodded, then banged his fist on the center of the doors. “We wish audience with her exulted Majesty Fionuir of the Green Hills.”
    We both waited for something to happen. I pulled at the cuffs of my shirt, making sure I showed the right amount of cuff below my sleeve. I may not dress well all the time, but I do know how to wear clothes properly. I hoped