And I will get to my sister. And I will get us the hell out of the Yeavering if it’s the last thing I do, which it most probably will be. Why would I stay if there is no Linton?
Tam Lin hasn’t returned to the carriage, so I risk a look out. The landscape is different to anything I’ve seen in the Yeavering before. It has a look like all the colour has been drained out of it, leaving only the muddy tones of a late winter’s day after a heavy rain. Not helped by the fact dusk is falling, draining what little colour there might have been out of the landscape.
We’re under a cliff face, stopped in a copse of sparse, spindly trees which poke their way into the sky as if attempting to threaten it. The earlier sunlight is long gone, and instead there is the scent of decay and a cold arctic wind which promises snow.
Snow would be an improvement in this place. Not much, but removing what colour there is would not go amiss.
The Redcaps are gathered around Tam Lin, who appears to be inspectingsomethingat the cliff face. With their attention elsewhere, I could execute my plan. Such as it is.
Turning myself to liquid, I slide over the side, away from the gaggle of Faerie and his minions, and drop to the floor.
My legs are not working as well as I had hoped, bending like they’re made of cooked spaghetti, which isn’t an auspicious start.
Especially when I fall flat on my face, rolling over to check to see if anyone has seen me.
And come face to face with Tam Lin.
“You don’t get to escape, little soul. I need you.”
He reaches down and grabs my arm, hauling me to my treacherous feet.
“I needed Linton, and you killed him. Whatever you want me for, I won’t do it.”
“It’s a good thing it doesn’t need your permission,” Tam Lin growls.
Fear radiates through me, making my legs feel weaker than they already do.
“What doesn’t?”
“The tithe I have to pay in order to open the gates of hell and take the Yeavering for myself.”
I was wrong about the Bond villain. Tam Lin doesn’t even qualify as a cartoon villain.
But he is going to tell me his entire plan. Chances are, I’m not going to like it much.
“Take her to the circle,” he says to the gathered Redcaps. “I’ll be along shortly to make her ready.”
The foul creatures lift me up, their clawed fingers pricking into my skin and the scent of them making me choke. I attempt to fight them as they bind my wrists behind my back but get a couple of thumps in my kidneys when they think Tam Lin isn’t looking.
He wants me intact, but presumably the Redcaps are less concerned about me being able to function fully.
They drag me off down the side of the cliff face, up a narrow, winding path through the brown and auburn bracken.
“I don’t like this place,” the one behind their erstwhile leader grumbles.
“Shut up,” he responds. “The boss thinks it’ll bring him all the power, but I’m here for all the treasure it’s supposed to hold.”
I’m dragged into the adjacent forest, through the trees and over boulders, the Redcaps continuing to complain about their lot. They aren’t happy to be so far from their barracks. Tam Lin isn’t allowing them enough opportunities to spill blood and dip their caps. There’s also talk of creatures which they clearly feel are a risk, something called a Reiver.
I yawn.
“Are we keeping you up, princess?” the leader growls at me.
“I was just thinking you could do much better,” I say, “than Tam Lin as your Faerie Lord.”
The leader stops, turning to face me.
“There are no Faerie Lords left, not ones we’d follow.” He looks at his fellow Redcaps, and they either sneer or laugh.
