“So send me back the way you brought me here, in a dream.”
I shook my head. “Even if I could do that, which I’m not sure I could, there’s still that little matter of Daigh killing you as soon as he finds you.”
“I never should have left with you.” Her violet eyes flashed. “I never should have abandoned my Seelie, not while there’s a chance any of them are still alive.”
“‘Where’s all this come from? Remorse? That’s un-faelike of you. You can probably do more for the Seelie from here, if you help us fight?—”
“I went down to the village during the night,” Liah declared.
“I told you not to do that.”
“Of course you did. Because you knew what I would see – the destruction that has been done to this land. How can you stand to remain here?”
I shrugged. “Remember the iron shards under your toenails? Being here is better than being tortured by Daigh’s princes at court.”
“It’s not! I could barely breathe because of all the poison in the air. And iron, iron everywhere. Even though the fae haven’t been a threat for centuries the humans go about in iron shells that spew still more poison. Buildings made from death and broken things, piled atop each other like bones in an ossuary, while the true world lies in ashes beneath. People are locked inside houses, staring at boxes of moving paintings, instead of partaking in revels with song and dance and actual interaction. And everywhere that horrid, wretched iron.” Liah shuddered, the flowers in her garland drooping.
“You speak truth, but I think some of this world is wonderful. Those moving paintings are more entertaining than dancing. They have a machine at the castle that washes clothes for you.”
“What’s the point? Why destroy the mountains and burn the earth and smelt the iron and poison the water and air, when the stream and a rock and a servant would do the same job?” Liah gestured to the north. “Over there, I spoke to the ghosts of trees felled long ago to make way for farms where animals are forced into servitude before being slaughtered in their thousands for food. Forfood, while here in the wood are edible roots and berries in abundance. If this is the side you’re fighting for, then I’m not with you.”
“So you want to go back and join Daigh, and fight against me?”
“I didn’t say that. But I cannot help you save the earth so the humans can torture it further. The fae are the last line of defence for the trees and the water and the air and land. Somehow, I will make them see that.”
My fingers tightened around her arm. “I’m not sending you back to be killed on sight.”
“Show me the gateway. I want to see for myself.”
“We were there yesterday.”
“I want to see ittoday.”
“We can look after you’ve eaten.” I pulled out two packages of curry, some rice, and foil-wrapped naan bread.
Liah pursed her lips as she sniffed the butter chicken I offered her. “I’m done.”
“How can you be done?” I stuffed a mouthful of lamb rogan josh into my mouth. “You haven’t even taken a bite.”
“I’m Seelie, Blake. We don’t eat meat.”
“Oh, right.” I’d forgotten, truthfully. The Unseelie court relished the tearing and rending of flesh (although they loved to cover it in nectar sauces I couldn’t eat), and the humans I’d encountered so far seemed to be much the same. “Here, have one of these naan breads, then. They’re?—”
“We don’t eat bread, either. The harvesting and grinding of grain is yet another human stain upon the earth.”
“A delicious human stain.”
“Blake.” She rolled her eyes. “That bread is wrapped inmetal.“
“Fair.” I tossed the naan into the grass. “You don’t have a lot of fun.”
“I’m not here to have fun.” Liah stood up. “Take me to this gateway.”
Reluctantly I shut my curry container and led her through the wood to the edge of the field where the three sidhe stood. I scanned the horizon, unable to see any of the other witches nearby. It wouldn’t do to have them find us here.
“Come on,” I pulled her out of the forest.
“This is a fucking tragedy,” Liah whispered. “Can you not see death everywhere?”
