“Why follow one at all?” I suggest.
If we’re not moving, then we’re not getting closer to thecircleor wherever Tam Lin wants me. I swallow down a sob. Doing any of this isn’t going to bring Linton back, but it will mean the one thing he was protecting me from won’t win.
I am not going to let Tam Lin win.
And I seem to have the attention of the Redcaps.
“What do you mean?”
“The Yeavering is filled with treasure. You only have to look for it.” I study my now-filthy fingernails.
“You know where there’s treasure?” the leader asks.
“Of course I do. I’m the chosen one.” I internally cringe at the phrase, but I know it has to be simple for the Redcaps to understand. “Tam Lin knows I can take him to it, but he doesn’t want you to know. He probably wants to keep it all for himself. You know the Faerie.” I raise my eyebrows.
There’s some general grumbling through the ranks.
“Shut up,” the lead Redcap snaps at them. “We’re loyal to Tam Lin. He’d always cut us in.”
I shrug. “If that’s what you say. I’ve had enough dealings with the Faerie to know they’re only ever interested in one thing. Themselves.”
While there’s no response from the rest of the Redcaps, the mood has clearly changed. We move on, climbing higher to where the trees get thinner and the wind gets stronger, until I see it.
The stone circle. One huge stone dominates a smaller collection, placed at regular intervals.
In the centre is a makeshift altar.
This is the place I’ve been brought to die.
“Ask him,” I hiss at the lead Redcap urgently. “Ask him about the treasure. He’ll deny it because he doesn’t want you to have it.”
“Will someone gag this female?” He glares at me.
A dirty rag is pushed into my mouth, just as Tam Lin steps into the ring of stones.
LINTON
My wings feel like they’ve been chewed on by the Barghest on one side and the Wyrm on the other. Again. At least my antennae are undamaged, and they’re raised high on my head.
I can sense my Kaitlyn.
Even if we are in the Night Lands. The thick forest contains a metallic scent of the place I know I’ll never forget. I get up and shake myself off, checking all my weapons are in place before I look to see if Warden is still around or if he has determined this is not his fight and gone to do terrible things to the creatures he has prisoner in the Shadow Keep.
Warden’s rage is as legendary as his immortality.
At this point, something hits me from the side, hard enough to send me tumbling over, grasping a dagger and striking out at whatever has dared to attack me.
Whatever it is, not only is it big and strong, but it has a rather familiar odour.
“Reavely?” I snarl, finally freeing myself from the Barghest’s grip.
I shake out my wings in disgust as he brushes off his fur and grins at me with bright fangs.
“Warden said you might need some help,” he says.
“I thought you were busy in the North near the Wall,” I respond. “Doing king things.”
“I’m never too busy to help an old friend.” Reavely grins.
