His expression falters. “It doesn’t, honestly. I hate to say so, but saving her might be a lost cause. At least this way, you can save your own life and secure your place in Faerwyvae. You said so yourself; if you attend your mother’s trial without Amelie, they will kill you.”
“There must be another way. Please, Foxglove, you must have some idea how I can fix this.”
He lets out a heavy sigh. “There’s only one last hope.”
I sit straighter, heart pounding.
“Make the humans a bargain they can’t refuse.”
22
“How do I make a bargain with the humans?” I ask. “One so tempting they can’t say no?”
Foxglove squints, then rises to his feet and begins to pace. “Give me a moment,” he says, shaking out his hands and stretching his neck right then left. “Creating bargains to appease the humans is what I excel at, but this is a complicated matter.”
I watch him eagerly, and Lorelei leans forward with keen interest.
Finally, he stops and faces us. “There is a loophole in the treaty. You know how the council has been able to adjust the timelines required by it? And how the humans were able to offer Aspen a final set of Chosen before deeming the treaty broken?”
I nod.
“That’s because the treaty allows for changes to be made. The exact wording is lengthy and complex, but it basically states that mutually beneficial concessions that support the treaty can be created. These amendments are rare, however, and never so drastic as what I’m about to propose.”
My heart leaps into my throat. “And what is it you’re suggesting?”
“That they amend the treaty and remove the clause that forbids King Caleos’ descendants from living in Faerwyvae.”
I’m stunned into a moment of silence. “Can the humans even do that without permission from the fae council?”
“Technically,” Foxglove says with a wary grimace. “Considering the humans were the ones who requested King Caleos be punished for the human village he burned, they have the right to revoke the agreed-upon term concerning his exile.”
Hope flutters in my heart for a moment before it’s crushed by reason. “If this were possible, wouldn’t you have suggested this option to begin with?”
He adjusts his spectacles, a frown tugging his lips. “If I thought it had a chance of working, yes. Considering this proposal is highly unlikely to pan out, I’m only voicing it as a last resort.”
I deflate and lean back into the couch. “Well, that’s comforting.”
“At least highly unlikely isn’t impossible. Would you like me to go on?”
With a sigh, I nod.
“So, I know King Ustrin has the council wrapped around his finger.” He nods at the fae next to me. “Lorelei filled me in on the situation earlier. Here’s the thing; if you want to get the humans to amend the treaty in your favor, you first need to compel them to abandon their allegiance to King Ustrin and convince them to place it in you.”
I shake my head. “This is sounding more impossible by the minute.”
Foxglove ignores me. “To do this, you’ll need to promise them something better than anything he can provide. What exactly is he offering them?”
I shrug. “Threats, as far as I know. If the humans don’t exile my family, they will be blamed for breaking the treaty.”
He shakes a forefinger. “Then it will need to be something bigger than a threat, something only you can provide as a queen. It must be tempting enough to encourage them to look past their fear and see opportunity instead. This will be a challenge because their fear will be strong regarding you. The terms about King Caleos’ descendants are woven tightly into the treaty. The humans know that if you claim the throne, the act alone will break the pact.”
“I can’t break the treaty, Foxglove.”
“I know. Which is why you need to convince them to amend the treatybeforeyou claim rule as Unseelie Queen of Fire.”
I ponder for a moment, collecting my thoughts. “All right,” I say, nodding to myself. “I attend the trial, plead my case, and present some tantalizing bargain to win their allegiance. In exchange, they will remove the clause in the treaty that requires exile of King Caleos’ descendants. Then Mother and I go free.”
Foxglove nods, but his expression isn’t optimistic.
