Ashes of Honor

“I know,” I said.

“Just so long as you do.” She bent to retrieve her gardening shears from the basket of strawberries. She opened the shears, using them to snip off a foot-long lock of her pink and red hair. The smell of roses was suddenly strong, and grew stronger as she shook the cut hair.

Somewhere in the middle of the motion the curl straightened, taking on overtones of green. And then it wasn’t hair anymore, but a long-stemmed white rose. She held it out to me. I took it, managing not to wince when the inevitable thorns bit into my fingers. The edges of the petals began turning red, the color spreading inward like blood spreading through white silk.

“Both of you,” she said, gesturing for Tybalt to take hold of the rose as well.

“As you like,” he said, and wrapped his fingers around mine. The red began spreading faster, taking on a deeper hue. The smell of pennyroyal and musk rose around us, and I realized that the other things I smelled—roses, and fresh grass, and blood—weren’t just part of being in the garden. Luna’s rose-red magic was rising, and my own cut grass and bloody copper was answering the call.

“Breathe in,” said Luna. Tybalt and I did as we were told. “Good. Now breathe out, turn around, and start walking.”

It was no surprise to turn and see the gateway, even though there had been nothing there but grass when we arrived. It was shaped like a wicker trellis, with red and white roses growing around it in such vulgar profusion that they almost concealed the structure underneath. Beyond them, a tunnel enclosed by roses stretched into the distance. The only safe place to walk was the narrow dirt path between the creepers and the thorns, and even that was occasionally crossed by fallen branches, making the way hazardous to all but the most cautious traveler.

“Walk quickly, but walk with care,” said Luna. “Don’t look back. If you look back, you’ll have to go back the way you came or risk falling off the Road, and I won’t be able to retrieve you if you wind up somewhere you didn’t mean to be.”

“Got it,” I said. “Is there anything else we need to know?”

“Don’t let go of the rose until you’re off the Road, and don’t let it out of your sight until you’re absolutely sure you’re not going to need it anymore.”

“I do so love how all magic comes with its share of dire warnings and unclear requirements,” sighed Tybalt. “It’s like being on the stage, only there’s no director, and the understudies have all died of typhus.”

“On that charming note, see you later, Luna. Here’s hoping we don’t die.” I kept a firm grip on the rose as I started forward. Tybalt walked alongside me, his steps paced to mine, and together we passed through the archway. I heard it close behind us. We were on the Rose Road, and we were alone. The only question was what we were going to do next.

SIXTEEN

I DUG THE LUIDAEG’S CHARM from my pocket as we walked, holding it in front of me. It was still in its neutral state, although the reflections off the roses around us tinted it pale pink. “Chelsea’s not near here,” I said. “Do whatever hoodoo you need to do to know if Raj is nearby.”

“Hoodoo?” said Tybalt, sounding amused. “I’m the King of Cats, October, not the King of Goblins.”

“And you don’t live in a labyrinth, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make like a Henson character and start scrying for our missing boy. Also, how have you even seen that movie? Does the Court of Cats have cable?” I kept walking. “This thing will eventually dump us in Acacia’s backyard. I’m hoping we can get a lead on one or both of the kids before we get there.”

“But Chelsea is your priority.”

“No,” I said. “Raj is. Chelsea’s in trouble, but she can get herself out of it. Raj is somewhere he can’t get out of. I don’t leave people behind.”

There was a moment of silence. I risked a glance to the side. Tybalt was watching me, an odd, thoughtful expression on his face. He looked away when he saw me looking.

“Well, then, I suppose I must rise to your example.” He waved his free hand in the air, the smell of pennyroyal swirling around us before converging in the space just above his palm. He cupped his hand, and a globe of what seemed to be solidified shadow dropped into it. “Here. This will tell us if there is only a thin wall between me and my nephew.”

“Good.” I kept walking. “Hey. Can I ask you a question?”

“My dear October, we are bound by an enchanted rose made from the hair of a Duchess, and my blood is covering your hand. You can learn anything you wish to know about me merely by licking your fingers.” Tybalt laughed a little. “Yes. You may ask me a question.”

“Back in the Court of Cats, you said you made a mistake when you took Raj as a nephew. What did you mean?”