Chapter 11 #2
The cut by her collarbone was right under the dampener she wore. Blood dripped from the wound, and something about her being collared and bloody didn't sit well with me. I preferred the female who fought back and made things interesting. This version of her… it wouldn't do.
Knowing she wouldn't take any aid I offered, I stepped aside, allowing her room to shuffle out of the cell, hugging her middle, her long black hair a tangled mess around her.
She paused at the exit of the dungeon, the path blocked by two hatchets.
“Move!” I yelled to the redcaps guarding the only way in or out of the prison.
They stepped aside and the human walked faster.
I followed her out. “Why were you wandering the palace at night?”
Her steps slowed as she began walking up the steps, holding on to the wall for support. Dried blood caked parts of her skin.
“I was hungry,” she said, her voice weak.
“That's why we have servants. You have a bell in your room. Use it.”
She shook her head. “I wasn’t going to wake Liora in the middle of the night just to feed me.”
“Did you not come from a temple with servants?”
She stopped. “Yes, but I didn't wake them up in the night. I…” She paused. “Went to the kitchens myself.”
“It’s not entirely your fault, since your guards were asleep.”
“I did think that was odd.”
Her story wasn’t believable. She could lie all she wanted, but she was close to one of the exits, even if she didn’t realize it. I also had a pretty good idea about who put the guards to sleep.
Pixie meddling.
Anna and Ella seemed to be too concerned with making this ridiculous union work. I doubted they would risk Deirdre’s life for a little mischief.
But Olivia certainly would.
I paused on the steps. “I'm not going to have you wandering my castle at odd hours, getting lost. I just killed my warden. Redcaps that are somewhat obedient are difficult to find, and now I'm down one.”
“I didn't ask you to kill him!” Deirdre glared at me, and I debated on bringing her back down to the dungeons to teach her a lesson.
“No, you did not. But not only did he imprison you, he cut the future fae queen, and that is an offense that will not stand. Didn’t they teach you anything in that temple about court politics, or are all humans this ignorant?”
Her cheeks reddened. “We don’t waste our time learning about beasts.”
I stepped closer, causing her to back up against the stone wall, her body going rigid. “The only beast I see is the one with a collar around its neck just like the dogs you humans keep as pets. You will obey me, or I will break you into submission.”
“You killed my husband,” she said in a hoarse tone. “I’m already broken!”
Her words cut like a blade, her voice raw with grief. I paused, recognizing her grief. Once, that same pain had filled my every thought. I knew what it was like to lose everything at once. And I didn’t necessarily want to break her, but I did need her to stop fighting with me.
“I chose mercy,” I said in a gentler voice. “He chose violence.”
She clamped her mouth shut, her eyes brimming with tears.
I’d never met anyone who mirrored my own pain, and the reflection made me pause. Yes, I’d known fae who had loved and lost, but when those loved ones were taken from you in an act of cruelty, the pain never faded.
“The kitchens are this way.” Stepping back, I motioned for her to go up the stairs.
The kitchens were empty at this hour.
I pointed to one of the stools by the large center island of the kitchen, which was arrayed with hanging pots and pans and vegetables that had been left out, all the good food locked away.
“Sit,” I ordered.
I grabbed one of the cotton rags from the clean basket near the sink and turned on the water to soak it. When I walked over to her, she froze.
I lifted the wet rag to her skin. “I need to see how deep they are.”
“I'm fine.”
“You're not fine. Stop being so stubborn.” I took her arm, patting the rag against her, removing the blood and inspecting the thin scratches.
The warden had been toying with her. She was lucky.
I’d have to address the redcaps again and ensure they did not take any prisoners without my authorization. It wasn’t their fault completely. Humans were forbidden in the castle, and I had let one in without addressing my entire court. Something I would need to rectify soon.
“They don't look deep. A little salve and you'll be fine.” I moved to the one by her neck and she twisted away, shutting her eyes as if she couldn't dare to see me this close.
I gently pressed the rag to her collarbone, and she hissed. This one was a little deeper than the others.
Her stomach grumbled loudly.
“Did you eat anything today?” I asked, dropping the rag to the table.
She shook her head.
“I'll get you something to eat and then have one of the servants bring you a medicated balm. It will help with the healing process. Now, one thing about being king,” I said as I pulled out the master key ring, “and being in the king’s company, is you have access to the dessert pantry.”
“Dessert pantry?” she repeated.
I flipped through the key ring, looking for the key that opened the pantry. “Here it is.”
Taking the key, I walked to the door, which almost didn't appear to be a door; the paneling around the arch held a single hole in the wall, signifying the opening. The human followed behind me, her curiosity piqued.
“Our castle chef is very good and doesn’t allow his pastries to be eaten outside of mealtimes, and well, fae tend to have terrible manners, especially the brownies. Though they make wonderful house servants, they have an obsession with sweets.”
I put the key in the lock and turned it, then shoved the keys back into my pocket. The archway in the wall lit and the door swung open, a cold breeze blowing out.
I stepped in, wondering where the icebox pixie was. Unlike the three pixies who hovered over me like a mother hen, my icebox pixie didn't care for the company of others. As long as she was allowed all the sugar she could have, Nami was happy to stay in this room, keeping our food cold.
“It's freezing in here,” Deirdre said behind me, following me into the room.
A tiny snore came from a shelf. I looked over to the bed where Nami slept, her blue hair tumbling over fluffy white blankets.
I held a finger to my mouth and pointed to the sleeping pixie.
Deirdre’s eyes widened and this time they weren't from fear but pure fascination.
I took a brown box imprinted with a purple flower from the left shelf, knowing this one held the lavender shortbread cookies, a favorite of mine. I motioned with my head for the human to follow me out.
Once we left the icebox, I closed the door and the archway glowed, relocking itself.
“What was that in there?” Deirdre whispered.
“An ice pixie. I give Nami all the sweets she wants, and she keeps them fresh.”
“That's brilliant.”
“It is, isn't it? I thought so. Though getting an ice pixie to do your bidding is not easy. But pixies and I get along very well.” I opened the box and took out one of the purple-dusted cookies and handed it to the human. “These are some of my favorites.”
“Thanks,” she mumbled, as if saying that word was the hardest thing she ever had to do.
She took a bite, her eyes doing a little roll as she shoved the rest of the cookie in her mouth.
Though it was late, if she needed more substance, I could wake the cook.
We sat in silence, Deirdre eating the cookies.
She coughed, and I went to the nearby jug of water.
“Here,” I said, pouring her a drink.
She grabbed the glass and hastily guzzled every drop. Water slid down her chin, and she held out the now empty cup.
“More.”
I went to pour and noticed the jug was empty. “I need to refill this. Stay.”
Taking the clay jug, I walked outside.
Just outside the kitchen door, ivy crawled along the ground and onto the old, worn stone bench.
The iron well pump sat nearby. Runes etched into the handle of the pump that pulled water from an underground spring.
Rumors said an ancient sidhe had blessed the spring when the castle was built, ensuring the water would always run clean.
A will-o’-the-wisp floated in the air above me. Its glow lit the area.
Holding the jug under the spout, I pumped the handle up and down, refilling it with water.
“Thank you,” I said, giving the tiny creature a slight bow before heading back inside.
Deirdre slumped over the table, frowning, picking at a cookie in her hand.
She lifted her head as I entered, her posture stiffening.
Without a word, I grabbed her cup and refilled it.
And without a thank you, she took the water and guzzled it.
King of the Fae and I was out here tending to the child of prophecy like a scullery maid.
While I didn't necessarily need to sleep, being immortal and all that, I did need rest, and it had been a long, eventful couple of days. Not just for me, but for the little thorn by my side.
I grabbed the box. “Let's go.”
Deirdre followed me out and we walked in silence back to the spire. When we reached her room, her handmaiden waited outside.
“My lady! I've been searching everywhere for you.”
“I’m all right,” Deirdre said as she neared her handmaiden.
I stepped in front of Liora, stopping her from following. “Your job is to make sure this one doesn't get into trouble. And as you can see, she found some tonight.”
I shoved the box at the handmaiden. “If you are incapable of watching over a simple human, then I will find someone else who can.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. I'm sorry,” she said, head bowed.
“I don't want your apologies. I want your obedience. See that a medic tends to the cuts on her arms and neck.”
“Of course, Your Majesty.”
“Go to bed,” I ordered Deirdre.
She shoved past me, stealing another cookie from the box before going into the room. Blood splattered parts of the nightgown that trailed behind her.
Watching me from inside the room, she shoved the rest of the cookie into her mouth. I didn't know whether she wanted to thank me, hit me, or yell at me. It didn't matter.
Liora kept her head bowed, waiting for me to dismiss her.
I leaned over and spoke so quietly that only Liora’s fae hearing could hear me speak. “You are lucky my warden didn't flay her alive. Next time the human gets hurt, it'll be you who pays the price.”
“And you.” I spun around and pointed at Deirdre, whose eyes went wide, her cheeks full of cookies.
“No more roaming my halls at night. There are worse things in this castle than redcaps. If you are caught where you’re not supposed to be again, you will not be allowed to leave this room, even if I have to chain you to the wall. ”
“You can’t keep me locked in this tower forever,” Deirdre said, mouth full of my favorite cookies.
Folding my arms, I eyed my little thorn… already she dug into my skin far too deep. “You’re right. We’ll introduce you to the court. We’ll see what the fae think of their future human queen.”
Her eyes widened, and the cookie she held crumbled in her hand.
If she wants to defy me, fine. Let’s see what her defiance costs.