Chapter 11
brYN
It's late, and I think this has been one of the longest days of my life, but I'm not tired despite what Gwen said about resting after my brush with death. The however many potions she poured down my throat have invigorated me. I don't want to sleep. I want to explore this wondrous place.
And it is wondrous.
It's a bit like Merediea, but everyone here is free. There are no humans in shackles, no females being whipped in the street or in the block to be used by the males. Some do appear poorer than others, but Jak told me that, like in the village, everyone here is given enough food.
With the festival starting tomorrow, there's an air of excitement, a frivolity that I've never experienced before. Everyone is excited and anticipating the morrow.
I try to share in it, of course, but my stomach twists when I think about the next day, when Fiana's agents will come, and I have to ensure that I'm captured by them.
Now that we’re here, I’m regretting the deal I made, though I know it was necessary. I don't want to go back to the Dark Realms, terrified that I won’t make it back to the Light.
But I’m trying not to dwell on the future. Here and now, there are chairs and tables out in the streets. The pubs and taverns swell with so many free folk that I don't know what to think of this place, but I'm in awe.
Jak is at my side, carrying bags of trinkets that he's bought for me.
Everything I've even looked at for more than a moment, he's had packaged for me to take away, and all of the people here are so friendly to us.
Though, I suppose if Jak didn't look like a human, perhaps they wouldn't be quite so pleasant.
We sit down at a table in a smaller street off the main thoroughfare, and Jak orders us some plates of meat and fire-cooked vegetables. There are fruits and nuts, delicious sauces to dip the morsels into using little pincer-like tools.
As I sit, basking in what might well be my last night in the Light Realm, a looming figure casts a familiar shadow over us from the many lamps that line the streets keeping everything bright despite the late hour.
Morgan pulls up a chair, sits next to me without a word, and begins to pick at the meat in the middle of the table.
'Where's Locke?' Jak asks, his tone growing cold.
Morgan merely grunts.
'We're sorry, Bryn,' Morgan says quietly. 'We had no idea that he would take advantage of you when the need was upon you. We should have been there, not him.'
It takes me a moment to understand what he’s speaking of.
Oh, Gwen’s house...
‘That isn’t how it was.’ I purse my lips.
They share a look.
‘Then tell us how it was, little human.’
'I didn't need Locke. I just—' My cheeks grow warm. 'I just wanted?—'
I notice another speaking glance between them.
'He didn't trick you?’ Jak asks carefully. ‘Or lie to you? Love, he may have worked a conjure. You might not even be aware?—’
'No,' I say beseechingly, wishing they would both understand. 'Truly. It was as he said. He found me by the river and took me to Gwen's. That’s all. He saved my life. It was I who…’
I look down at my plate and pop another morsel in my mouth, so I don't have to finish the sentence, not sure what exactly to say.
Jak leans back in his chair. Both males appear more than a little relieved.
'He still lied,' Morgan grunts. 'Still had us go in the opposite direction when he had an idea of where Bryn was.'
'He did,' Jak admits. ‘But he’s also been watching when we could not, making sure Bryn was safe. It’s more than I thought he’d do when we returned to Halsford. Much more.’
Morgan lets out a noncommittal grumble.
‘What we need to understand is why fae would do the bidding of humans, luring Bryn out to the river like that.’
Jak nods.
‘Why were you even a target at all, Bryn? The Underhill wants Fiana. You’re our best chance of getting her,’ Morgan rumbles. ‘And why wouldn’t the Underhill ensure their agents would be in Kitore in time?’
‘Unless Calder is thwarting them,’ Jak muses. ‘We’ve said before that he’s never had so much power as he does now. That’s due to the Underhill’s enemies and their fears. He could be vetoing every plan on the table. Stalling for time to help Fiana.’
‘If so, do you think he’s acting alone?’ I ask.
‘Who’s to say? Calder and Tavish have been in each other’s pockets since they joined Halsford’s Council.
Everyone knows it. They could well have initiated a coup of some kind, with Voss’ help within the Underhill.
Perhaps that’s why Lia wanted us to go so quickly.
Perhaps that’s why they tried to kill Bryn before she could come here. ’
‘But that doesn’t make sense either,’ I murmur. ‘Calder made the deal with me. Why bother if he didn’t think he needed me?’
‘A double bluff?’ Morgan mutters. ‘For show, maybe. Appearances are important, especially in his position.’
Jak sits back on his chair, letting out a long breath. ‘And Voss is his enforcer.’
‘Gods, must our enemies come at us from all directions?’ Morgan growls.
‘Aye, it does seem that way,’ Jak mutters. ‘And, if we are right, we truly can’t expect help from the Underhill at all.’
‘We should leave the city. This wasn’t the plan. Bryn was meant to be kept safe and the Underhill’s spies were meant to be here. Your First Scholar didn’t even know we were coming. We aren’t prepared.’
Jak opens his mouth to speak, but I shake my head.
‘The deal,’ I remind them. ‘Calder will have me cast out and no one will be able to stop him.’
‘We’ll find another way, Bryn,’ Jak begins.
I turn on him, eyes flashing, the terror I feel that they’ll call this off and I won’t be able to help get Fiana, voiding the deal I made, suddenly much more potent than my fear of being taken back to the Dark on the morrow.
‘No! I won’t lose my place in the village.’
I take a deep breath as they exchange worried glances.
‘I just want to fulfill my end of the bargain,’ I whisper. ‘Please. I don’t want to leave Halsford.’
‘There are other places, Bryn,’ Jak says gently. ‘Other villages.’
I let out a derisive huff. ‘I won’t be able to stay in the Light. I’ve known masters like Calder. He’s so petty that he’ll have us hunted down. We’d never be able to settle. He’d find us and ensure we were cast into the Dark. All of us.’
I can see by their expressions that I’m right. There’s no other way but forward.
‘Bryn,’ Morgan says quietly, taking my hand across the table. ‘We’re so?—’
'It's not your fault,' I say. ‘I made the deal.’
'Our cunt of a friend is here,' Morgan snarls, his head turning as he changes the subject. 'I can smell him. He's close by, likely enjoying his favored pastime of watching our female.'
Realizing he’s talking about Locke, and glad the fae male is being referred to as a friend, at least in some sense, I glance around. I locate him lingering in the shadows across the road and I stand.
‘He saved me,’ I murmur quietly. ‘That counts for something.’
'Where are you going?' Jak asks.
'I'm sorry about what Locke has done,' I say instead of answering.
I squeeze his hand across the table.
'And I'm sorry that Varrik did such horrible things. But Locke is not Varrik. Granted, he keeps secrets. I hope with time he will trust us enough to be open in all things, but that won't happen if we don't give him the chance.'
Jak's eyes find Locke, who is beginning to walk away now that he's been spotted.
'Fine,' he mutters. 'For you, Bryn. After all, we are bound together. But I swear to every god in existence, if he ever lies to me again, I don't know what I'll do.'
‘I understand.’
I give Jak a small nod and leave the table, making my way across the road and catching up with Locke. I take his hand and draw him to a stop.
'I was just ensuring that you were safe,' he says, not looking at me.
'Come,' I say. 'You don't have to do that from the shadows.'
He shakes his head. 'No. They don't want me there, and I understand.
But what's done is done. I found you, and I can't say I'm sorry for that.
At the end of the day, we all had to go a separate direction.
Did I know that there was more of a chance of me finding you?
Yes. But I didn't know exactly where you'd be, and I definitely didn't send the others another way to fail.
' His eyes bore into mine. ‘And I’d never work a conjure upon you to trick you into my bed.’
'I know that,' I say. 'On all counts. Come. Please.'
I urge him back toward the table and he reluctantly comes with me.
I sit him down next to me and the other two glower at him. I kick them both under the table.
'Behave,' I hiss. 'I have something to tell you. It’s…'
Three sets of eyes look my way, Jak’s more knowing than the others.
'It’s something about the Breach,' he says.
He sees my surprise.
'I saw that you were acting differently when we came through. What happened? More whispers and screaming?'
'No,' I say. 'I think…I spoke to my father.'
'Inside the Breach?’ Morgan sits up straighter, his perpetual frown deepening. ‘How? No one stays inside the Breach.'
'I can hardly fathom it myself, but he…he told me that a mage killed my mother and took me when I was very young. He was imprisoned in the ether. He said that he’s been trying to speak to me, but I couldn’t hear him before because I wasn't strong enough.
I've been having dreams of him for weeks now… Almost since we left The Barrack.'
'Why didn't you tell us?' Locke asks.
I shrug. 'There was nothing to say. They were just dreams, I thought. I didn't think they had any true meaning, and the last time I went through the Breach, I didn't really hear or see anything. But today was different.'
They all look at me expectantly.
‘In my dreams, he was in a white room dressed in white robes, and I was a child. This time, it began that way, but then it changed. We were in the corridors of the Breach. He was dressed in rags. He was older and thin, as if he’d been in there for a long time.
He told me that he’s stuck there now, that he can never leave. '
'And what of the mage who stole you?'