The temperature in the room shifted. Not colder—tenser.
"The Unseelie seal," Arion said slowly, "is in Drak territory?"
"Was." Karse's claws extended slightly. "Until the corruption from your sealed monsters poisoned the land. Drove out the game. Made the water run black. We had to abandon territories we'd held for millennia because the fae courts couldn't be bothered to actually destroy their enemies."
"We couldn't destroy them," Sian said defensively. "They were too powerful—"
"So you made them our problem instead." Karse stood, his movements fluid and predatory. "Sealed them away and left us to deal with the consequences.”
"You know where it is," Eliam said. Not a question.
"Every Drak knows where it is." Karse's amber eyes burned. "We mark it on our maps as forbidden ground. Pass the warnings down through generations. Stay away from the heart where the fae buried their shame."
"Could you take us there?" Arion asked.
Karse was quiet for a long moment, his gaze moving over each of them before settling on Briar. "The question isn't whether I could. It's whether I should. Why would I help the courts that destroyed Drak lands?"
"Because if Malus breaks that seal," Thaine said quietly, "the corruption you've lived with will seem like nothing compared to what gets released."
"And because," Eliam added, his shadows stirring, "we could add other protections. Layer magic from multiple courts. Make it so no single power could ever break it."
"Pretty promises," Karse said. "The fae are good at those."
"What do you want?" Briar asked suddenly. Everyone looked at her, but she kept her eyes on Karse. "For your help. What would make it worth it?"
Karse tilted his head, studying her. "When this is over, if we survive, the courts acknowledge what they did. Publicly. And work to heal the corruption they caused."
"That could take decades," Halian said.
"Then you'd better get started." Karse's smile showed teeth. "Those are my terms. Take them or find the seal yourselves. Good luck getting there in time."
Eliam and Arion exchanged a look, Arion offered a short nod.
"We agree to your terms, Drak," Eliam said, his shadows stirring ominously. "But if you betray us, I'll flay you alive. Very slowly."
Karse smirked, showing far too many teeth. "Promises, promises. Though if I wanted to watch you all die horribly, I'd just let you wander into the corruption without a guide. Much less effort on my part, and probably more entertaining."
"Comforting," Thaine muttered.
"I'm pragmatic," Karse said with a shrug. "Betraying you gains me nothing. Helping you might actually fix the wasteland your courts created. Simple mathematics."
"Just remember the flaying," Eliam said flatly.
"How could I forget? You've made it sound so appealing." Karse's amber eyes glinted with amusement. "Though I should mention, Drak skin is remarkably difficult to flay. Something about the scales. You'd need special tools."
"I'll manage."
"I'm sure you would." Karse stretched lazily.
"If we’re done with the threats, we should discuss preparations. We'll need at least three days to gather what we need," Arion said, already shifting into planning mode. "Supplies for the journey, cold weathergear—"
"Two days," Eliam countered, his eyes moving to the marks peeking out from beneath Briar’s dress collar. "We don't have the luxury of time."
"Two days then." Arion's light flickered with frustration but he didn't argue further. "We should keep the group small. The old paths won't accommodate a large party."
"Agreed," Eliam said. "The four of us and Thaine for tracking."
"I'm going too," Sian stepped forward, her usually gentle demeanor replaced with steel.
