“Sylph?” I muttered under my breath.
“I'm an air fairy; an elemental,” the man said conversationally to me.
“Like the Asrai are water fairies?”
“That's right; they are water elementals.” He smiled wider at me; as if he weren't holding me mid-air above my lover.
“It's going to be okay, Riley,” Drostan called up to me. “He won't hurt you; he obviously wants something from me.”
“That's right, Your Majesty.” The Sylph smirked down at Drostan. “I want you to stop the Goblins from attacking my village. We know that they're amassing for a strike.”
“They haven't reported any such plans to me,” Drostan growled.
“They are already positioning themselves at the base of our mountain, King Drostan,” the Sylph said. “I assure you; they are preparing for an attack. See to them, and I will release your concubine. Send up a blue flare when it's accomplished. And I suggest that you make haste; every moment you delay is one in which I'll be enjoying your concubine's charms.”
“Don't you dare fucking touch her!” Drostan shouted. “I will grind your hollow bones to dust!”
But it was too late; the Sylph was taking me higher and higher into the Tirne sky.
“My name is Andras,” the Sylph said as he angled us into a more horizontal flight. “What do they call you?”
“Riley,” I said cautiously. “Are you really going to rape me?”
Andras flinched. “What an awful word! Of course not!”
“You just implied that you would,” I pointed out.
My gaze kept going back and forth between Andras and the ground far below us. I was not fond of heights.
“I said that I would be enjoying your charms,” he reminded me. “I never said that I would force you to share them.”
I scowled at him. “That sounds like fairy reasoning. I've learned not to trust fairy reasoning; it's usually flawed.”
Andras laughed. “Then you're as smart as you are beautiful. But I'm not trying to trick you; I swear. Depending on how long King Drostan takes to quell the Goblins, I'll have a fair amount of time to seduce you,” he explained. “That's all I meant. Though, I admit that I intended for King Drostan to believe that I would have my way with you. I apologize for scaring you, Lady Riley. Do not worry; we Seelie may not play fairly in the game of love, but we don't abuse women either. Frankly; a willing woman is far more enjoyable than one who is forced.”
“So, I'll just be your guest for a few hours?” I asked skeptically.
“A few hours?” Andras laughed. “Obviously you don't know Goblins. It will take your king far longer than that to call them off when they're riled for war.”
“The Goblins want to attack your village just because you're Seelie?” I asked.
“Among other things,” he said evasively. “Ah; here we are. Welcome to Morning Mist; the Sylph village.”
Andras floated down to a grassy meadow. We were high on a mountaintop; on a level with the clouds. In fact; the clouds drifted around us and throughout the Sylph village. Beautiful homes of polished, white stone were placed randomly on the cloudy plateau, with a pebbled path linking them. Fairies who looked similar to Andras walked the misty paths and socialized with each other along the way. It was picturesque and peaceful; a place I would have imagined existing in the Alps—with exception to the magical accents and inhabitants. There was no gate or walls, but there were several guards on duty. They strode up to us as Andras pulled me forward; his grip strong despite his airy ways.
“You caught the concubine!” One of the guards declared in admiration. “Well done!”
“Did King Drostan say that he'd call off the Goblins?” Another guard asked.
“He's on his way to their village now,” Andras confirmed. “Our spies were right; he values this one greatly. Everyone, meet Lady Riley.”
The men bowed gallantly to me.
“I can see why he treasures you,” one of the guards said as he looked me over. “You're everything a sidhe woman isn't, while being beautiful to boot; a rare gem indeed.”
“Maybe we could entertain you while your king is busy with the Goblins,” another one suggested.
“I caught her,” Andras interrupted them. “I get the honor of entertaining Riley while she's with us.”
