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lost my mind.
    “What do you propose?” I asked.
    “Just what I said. You keep out of my way in this matter. I will act as queen to this tiny nation.”
    “This is madness, Alachia.” I said. “Why would you want this?”
    “Because I need to rule.” she said.
    “And if I don’t agree?”
    “I’ll find someplace where I can leave you to rot.” she said. “You won’t die, unfortunately. But you’ll certainly wish you had. That is, if you still have your sanity intact after all those years locked up and alone. It’s really not much of a choice, is it?”
    She had me there. I couldn’t stop her from what she was about. But I could certainly see my way clear to making her life difficult once she let me out. “Very well.” I said. “I agree.”
    * * *
    She came to the throne on November 17, 1558 and ruled for an astonishing forty-five years. And at every turn I made her way as difficult as possible.
    Oh I didn’t act directly; that has never been my way.
    But I knew people on both sides, and it was a simple matter to sow the seeds of distrust and paranoia. All I had to do was stir the pot. Between juggling the French and Spanish, she was forced to look to the welfare of the country.
    Besides, it was a source of constant amusement to me that she was referred to as the Virgin Queen.
    That wasn’t the first, nor would it be the last, time she did such a thing. But the brazenness with which she acted in this matter always amazed me. And after that time, I always made sure to stop her whenever I could.

Do you think you’ll escape me through the past? Do you think that by telling them you’ll be safe? Don’t you know that I’ve been waiting—as patient as time itself?
    Don’t you know you can never stop me?
    7
    “I tried to stop her.” I said.
    “What?” asked Caimbeul.
    I hadn’t realized I’d spoken aloud.
    “Nothing.” I said. With a quick snap of my wrist I pulled the drapes together and shut out the storm. “I suppose I should pack.”
    There was the creak of leather as he settled back into my chair.
    “So,” he said, “you’re going to tell them. Where will you go first?”
    “The Seelie Court.” I said. “It should be the least hostile reception.”
    “If you can find them.”
    This made me laugh.
    “Ah, Caimbeul.” I said. “That will be the easy part.”
    * * *
    It was drizzling the next morning as we loaded our bags into Caimbeul’s rental car. I’d set the alarm and cast spells, and as I locked the front door I had the terrible feeling that this would be the last time I would ever see Arran.
    Damn them all, I thought. If they would only have listened. If they’d stopped playing with things they only barely understood. Then I wouldn’t have to leave my house and venture into matters I’ve spent hundreds of years avoiding.
    But I knew the worst of the bunch were the ones who knew the dangers and went ahead with their foolishness anyway. Damn them, too.
    Caimbeul had opened the passenger-side door and stood there waiting for me to get in. I dropped into the synthleather seat, sniffing the vinyl scent of new car as I did. After shutting the door behind me, Caimbeul came around the front of the car and got in on his side.
    “I made some plane reservations while you were still asleep.” he said. “It was bloody expensive and I expect to be reimbursed.”
    “I can’t believe you’re bringing up money at a time like this.” I said.
    Out the corner of my eye I saw him shrug.
    “I know you’re good for it.” he said.
    “So are you. You’ve got piles of the stuff hidden everywhere. What’s a plane ticket to you?”
    “That’s not it.” he said, primly. “It’s the principle of the thing.”
    “The principle of the . . .” And then I couldn’t continue because I was laughing too hard.
    * * *
    I contented myself with watching the passing scenery and playing with the vid, trying to get some decent signal to come in. But all I found were walls of noise and static.