Page 10 of My Eternal Light
“Age? Status?” Aiden asked.
“Between six-months and maybe a year. The softer the cry gets, the less energy they have,” Kincaid felt his magic fluctuating and pulling him forward. It wanted to reach the child. “My healing magic is connecting with a real kid. Even if it’s a trap we need to get to them.”
Aiden simply turned and began running toward the back.
“Motherfucker!” Ari exclaimed and raced to catch up. “He knows he’s too valuable to take point.”
Kincaid was right behind him. “I think he’s still pissed at Gage for shoving him through the portal.”
“Still not sorry,” his brother replied.
Aiden stopped in the doorway suddenly. “Gods above, give me strength,” he whispered.
Kincaid shoved past him and wished he hadn’t. For the first fifteen feet on either side along the wall, metal cages were stacked next to one another. Beyond that, small children of varying ages huddled as close to the bars as they could, as the older children inside the cages tried to shield them.
The stench of human waste was nearly overpowering. It looked like the kids had simply been dumping the visible chamber pots in the corners of the room or out the window.
In the cage closest to them a male voice yelled. “Leave them be you monsters! I’m next in line. Come for me!” he yelled frantically.
Kincaid would let Aiden deal with that one. His eyes searched the room until he found the source of the tiny cry. Sprinting forward the children in the cages began to yell and reach as if to slow him.
“You never take the babies!”
“Leave him alone!”
He saw a boy of no more than five, holding a blanket to his chest. “You can’t have him!”
“Please, leave him alone! He don’t mean to cry!” another girl around five said, holding a blanket of her own.
Kincaid was stunned to see that three more children held infants.
He held up both hands and allowed his fire magic to come forth. A warm glow filled the large hall. “I swear to you by the Triple Goddess herself, I mean you no harm. I have come to help the little one. I heard him crying and can help. I have healing magic.”
The warm glow seemed to ease the children somewhat. Their frantic cries quieted.
His magic was good for something, even if it was soothing parlor tricks.
Without making any sudden movements, he eased forward and lifted the child into his arms. When he pushed back the blankets he had to hold back his gasp.
“How old is he?” he asked.
“He got born right after solstice,” the boy child answered.
Kincaid felt bile rising in his throat. There was no way the baby he held in his arms was ten months old. “What has he been eating?”
“Milk-water. Down the road a few miles a human has a goat. Got some milk from that for a while. But winter was real hard, couldn’t get out as much as I shoulda. The bad ones don’t leave much food for us,” The boy used his thin arm to wipe his nose.
Kincaid sent his magic through the child. Had he not been fae, the goat’s milk could have been fatal.
“You kept him alive. You should be proud,” Kincaid reached out and placed a hand on the boy’s shoulder. “Are you his brother?”
“We’re all brothers and sisters,” he said, pointing to the room. “We all have the same four or five mommas.”
“Stay away!” the older boy behind him yelled at Aiden.
“That’s Aeron, he was next in line to go,” the boy explained.
Kincaid nodded, then turned his attention back to the baby. Using his magic, he tried to soothe the baby’s hunger pangs and raise his temperature. Finally exhausted, the baby fell asleep.