Everett flashes me a sharp-toothed smile. “Well done, Nia Quill.”
Now to make it down without falling.
Thorne offers to descend first and then steady the ladder for the rest of us. I watch each of them disappear over the ledge until it’s my turn. I didn’t realize how difficult it would be to willingly go over the edge. Infinitely worse than climbing up.
With my stomach flat on the dirt, I carefully lower my legs until my feet land on one of the rungs. No one says anything about how long it takes me to reach the path at the bottom, for which I’m grateful.
I keep my back pressed to the wall, but the others saunter as if the trail is as wide as the roads in Rosehill instead of barely big enough to accommodate their shoulders.
Bits of stone and dirt tumble into the gray nothingness.
The Unseelie brought torches in their rucksacks, so venturing into the caverns isn’t quite as terrifying as it was the first time. Although, I could’ve done without seeing how many gigantic spiders and bats cling to the pitted ceiling.
As darkness begins to fall, I emerge from the cavern and descend the final ladder into Riverglade. All the villagers appear to be waiting at the bottom, their expressions grim.
Then Everett climbs down, and their jaws drop. Excitement buzzes through the women with each Unseelie that joins us. The men who’ve accompanied me appear shocked as well, scanningthe many faces that have gathered at the cavern’s entrance, their smiles sharp and gazes sharper.
I search for Maddox, but for some reason, he isn’t here.
Are they keeping him locked away, or did he decide not to come?
Everett speaks in short bursts with the Chieftain, neither offering a smile, while the other men and women exchange plenty.
The Chieftain shouts something that sounds like a curse. Everett drags the collar of his shirt aside, revealing a very distinct scar that looks an awful lot like teeth marks.
Hold on.
Did Kerris actually bite him? How did that even work? Seelie teeth aren’t very sharp. My dearest cousin and I will be discussing this little revelation later.
The Chieftain throws up her hands, her face red as the silks tied in her hair.
As soon as this is over, I’m learning how to speak their language; I’ll not be in this situation ever again.
With a swipe of his hand down his jaw, Everett stalks over to where I stand.
Shifting my weight from one boot to the other, I can’t help but wring my hands, wondering if the scowl on his face is a happy scowl or an angry one. “Well? What is happening?”
“She is not pleased that you did not bring the agreed number of males. She says we may have the Seelie guards, but that Maddox will remain.”
Exactly as I had predicted. How I wish I’d been wrong. “He can’t stay here.”
“This is what I have said.”
If the Chieftain isn’t going to listen to the King of Willowhaven, what chance do I have of making any differenceto this situation? How are we going to save Maddox? “Where is he?”
“The Chieftain’s daughter is bringing the hostages now. Keep to the shadows near the ladder in case negotiations go south. If fighting breaks out, I want you to climb as quickly as you can. Kerris would never forgive me if anything happened to you.”
The last thing I want to do is hide, but maybe Everett is right. I certainly don’t want to get in the way if a battle breaks out between the two factions of Unseelie fae.
I make the promise and then duck into the shadows to wait and watch what happens next.
43
Maddox
“To hope is folly.
To love is misery.”
