“You’re being so kind,” James said. “Thank you.”
“It’s nothing, really,” Tap said from the other side of them, drawing everyone’s attention. “Please also allow me to apologize for the impression I must have made when you got here.”
“Your reaction was warranted. We understand and appreciate all you’ve done, very much,” Harmon agreed.
“We’ll bring everything, if you’d like to show them to the table, Feather.”
“Of course. Come with me?”
They rose and, as a cluster, walked with me through the first door into the familiars library. They chose seats all in a row down one side of the table, Brinda still at the center between James and Harmon. They all looked around with awe, the tall shelves packed with scrolls and envelopes stunning no matter how many times I’d seen them.
Tap set down the huge pot while Seir dished out bowls and passed them around. Ramsey got hers delivered on the floor and sniffed at it.
“Not to your liking, hound?” Seir teased.
Just too hot to eat, demon.She sat back, doing the dog equivalent of an eye roll.
I laughed, startling Brinda. “Sorry, Ramsey and Seir are teasing one another.”
“Oh.” Her mouth twitched into a smile. “How fun. She’s truly something else, isn’t she?” Her awe of the hellhound made me hope there was a special creature in her future.
As directed, the three of them ate as though storing up what they could before they entered unknown territories again.
“Where did you plan to go after this?” Tap asked.
James shook his head, reaching for another slice of bread. He smeared butter over it before taking a bite. “There are a few places we know we can stay for a few days or longer before having to move on. Probably start with one of them.”
“What if there was another option?” Seir asked, his grin playful.
“Like what?” Harmon asked. Brinda paused, spoon halfway to her mouth.
“Have you been to the fae realm at all in your travels?”
“No. We’ve only mastered the portals in this realm. It was hard enough finding places to go that were habitable and wouldn’t immediately be deadly, we didn’t dare risk going further, to somewhere inherently more dangerous.”
“Fair enough. Would you go there, if it meant you no longer had to keep running?”
They all three stopped, looking from him to me. “They would not betray you like that, I promise. This is a serious offer.”
“How would you convince the fae to take in three Nephilim who are being hunted by a dangerous member of the angelic council?” James chuffed, though he was not amused. “That’s an awfully tall order.”
“King Ris of the Everwood welcomes you,” Seir said plainly before eating a bite of soup.
“And the catch?” Harmon asked. “What are we trading for such generosity?”
“Likely some light labor around the palace, depending on your skills, of course. Some gratitude to those who’ve provided aid. Information about those who wronged you and potentially some in-person testimony so they can be brought to the justice they deserve.” Seir shrugged and the three had a conversation between themselves without ever speaking a word.
“That’s it?” Brinda asked.
“Should there be more?” Tap asked.
I understood her confusion to my bones. I’d reacted much the same way when Tap brought me here. After leading such a life, the notion that someone would do a kindness for no reason other than it was right was definitely perplexing.
“You can go today,” Seir said calmly. “I’ll escort you myself, after you’re finished eating. If that’s what you want.” He sat back in his chair. “Though if you want to continue on as you have,I respect that as well. Sometimes it’s harder to let go of the familiar than to take a chance on the unknown.”
“You’re serious.” James repeated.
“Quite.” Tap nodded.
