Bran leaned forward. "Why should we trust you? You've been using Andromeda's magic for years."
The smile and eyebrow raise in response to his words were delivered with an air of superiority that made me want to smack her. "Well, she certainly wasn't using it. And there were times I needed a boost."
What a flimsy excuse. "A boost? You violated my mind. Took my magic and left me sick and in pain." Throwing my hands up, I stood and nearly stomped off. But here she was, admitting she was a part of the alchemists guild, the ones who wanted to boot magic from the world.
That included me, now that I knew about it. "How many people are like me?" I asked. "How many have magic and are utterly clueless?"
"More than you'd think, though very few are like you. You're exceptionally strong." Eldora looked slightly contrite but then brightened up. "But that's good news for our cause. With you on our side, we're sure to win. I believe we can begin introducing magical creatures to the world again."
I stared at her in disbelief. She thought I would just fall in line and help her after she'd been using me for years? "You're out of your mind."
"Don't be so hasty, Andromeda. Think about what I'm saying. You know you want to help them." Eldora's voice ran all through me, suddenly cold and sharp, like a needle made of ice.
I looked over at Bran. "You're being awfully quiet."
He was watching me intently and I could see the hope and worry warring in his eyes. "I think we should hear her out," he said finally.
I wanted to argue, but I knew he was right. We needed to know what we were up against. "Fine," I said, sitting back down. "But I'm not making any promises."
Eldora nodded. "I understand. But think about it. With your help, we could make the world a better place for everyone."
I wasn't sure what to say to that. It sounded good in theory, but I just didn't know if I could trust her. Especially given our history, and the fact she was cooperating with Franklin. And even if I could, was she the right person to work with?
"As for the goblins, I do have to draw the line. The sick goblins cannotcome back. They have to stay in Dream if there's no cure." She placed one well-manicured hand on the table. The nails matched her dress, a little like she’d dipped her hand in blood. "That's not negotiable."
Bran shifted, looking unhappy.
"If this were a negotiation, we could agree with that. But it’s an information session, so let's keep to the topic,"I snapped.
"I've already gotan idea for how to begin trying to figure out what's wrong with them," I said. "If– and that’s a big if–we begin a partnership with the common goal of bringing Dreamians here, I'll keep you posted about what I find out. And, if there is a chance for a cure, some will have to come here for testing."
"You need to know goblins aren't all rainbows and sunshine." Eldora glanced back at Harry, her gaze lingering low. She had to be looking at his twisted foot, though he was glamoured. "Did they tell you their history? The facts on how they earned their reputation as predators and monsters?"
Now Bran and Reynard had both gone still. I glanced from side to side. Bran appeared stoic, but Reynard had tilted his head, the gleam in his eyes like how I’d picture a fox considering how to enter a henhouse. Danger whispered in the air.
And that didn’t reinforce her point at all, not a bit.
I hurried into speech to break the moment. "Somewhat. Just that they were banished." Bran had promised to be forthcoming, but things had progressed so quickly we hadn't had time for a full history lesson.
"Well, sit back and I'll give you the abridged version." She sucked in a deep breath while Bran shifted uncomfortably beside me.
“Given our history, don’t think I’m not going to verify before I believe you, Eldora.”
Her smile at my words was unkind. "They weren't all good. This bunch seems to be, and maybe a lot of them are now. They might’ve evolved." Her tone of voice and facial expression led me to think she wasn't so sure. "But back then, they tended to be a bloodthirsty lot. And not picky about their diet."
Bran huffed out a breath. "Were you there?"
Shaking her head, Eldora shrugged. "No, but you were."
I looked over at him in surprise. "You were?"
"Yeah," Eldora spoke for Bran. "Your boy toy there is over two-thousand years old. Did that come up in the pillow talk?" She tutted, her eyes cold. "How're you going to look as a couple in fifty years, Andromeda?"
I tried to hide my shock. She was right. If he was already that old, in fifty years I'd be ninety. Or dead.
Over two-thousandyears? That would explain a lot, starting with how oddly he spoke. "You never told me that." It was hard not to feel blindsided.
"I'm telling you now." Bran shot Eldora a glare before turning back to me. "My age isn't something I think about often. I didn't tell you because it didn't occur to me, not because I wanted to hide it. I was there when we were banished. I was one of the ones who fought against it."
