Honestly, I don’t mind. After the scene below the church, I’m a bit disheartened. Acquiring the first fragment of the Bannrhorn was simple; I hoped the rest might be as easy. And after that pathetic first outing with Duke Áine, I am worried I will not be able to maintain the man’s attention long enough to request his clue. Nor am I thrilled at the prospect of spending more time with him.
I’ll take all the reprieve I can get.
Lachlan and I arrive at an old stone building that’s mostly intact save for two boarded-up windows on the lower level. Beneath the portico—upon which is carved a name in the fae script—a column is in the midst of being re-plastered.
Lachlan, back in Vesper’s form, hovers at my temple, then says, “Come on,” in her squeaky voice. Cute, but I’d rather hear Lachlan’s deep, sultry tone any day. I chuckle, imagining Lachlan’s real voice coming from Vesper’s tiny mouth.
The laugh dies in my throat as an enormous faerie man with acorn-brown skin and close-cropped ashen coils whips the door open and aims a sword at my chest. “State your business.”
I throw my palms up, my heart racing and my brain grappling for an answer. “I … I … I … ”
Lachlan zips up to the man’s face, then trills, “Is that any way to speak to a lady?”
“Who the fuck areyou?” The man swings the tip of his sword over to Lachlan, who merely steps up onto the blade and fluffs his lavender hair.
“You don’t recognize me, Garred?” Lachlan drops the glamour from his voice. “I’m insulted.”
I choke back a laugh; yes, just as hilarious as I thought.
The man thinks so, too, burping out a hearty bellow before surveying the street and ushering us through the door with a low, “Get your tiny purple ass in here, you idiot.”
As soon as we step into the foyer, Lachlan dissolves the glamour and crushes the man into a hug full of grunting and back-slapping. Garred’s slightly taller than Lachlan, all solid bulk compared to Lachlan’s lean musculature.
“Sorry for the warm welcome,” Garred says. “Áine’s been pitting the villagers against each other. Offering tithe reductions for anyone who reportsseditious activity. Strangers at my door have led to nothing good lately; things are extremely tense. What are you doing back here so soon? Wasn’t expecting you for another few days.”
Lachlan gestures toward me. “Miss Fitzroy and I had some business in the Vale. I convinced her to take a detour on our way back to Tír na Lune.”
Garred’s gaze bounces between us. “So … pretty boy finally got himself a woman after?—”
“She’s not my woman,” Lachlan blurts, blushing furiously. Which removes a bit of the sting from how swiftly he objected. “She’s my charge. And this Season’s candidate.” He holds up my hand to show Garred the ring. “Garred Smythe, meet Miss Charlotte Fitzroy.”
Garred’s soil-dark eyes blow wide, and he flips the tip of his sword into the floor so swiftly, I fear he may have pierced the wood. He drops down beside the blade, head bowed. “I’m a blind old fool. And we don’t get much news from the other territories anymore. Please forgive me, Your Majesty.”
I encourage him to rise as Lachlan teases, “Danu spare us, don’t go calling her that yet. It’ll go straight to her head.” He winks at me, and nowI’mthe one blushing.
Garred takes my hand and plants a kiss upon my knuckles. “A pleasure to meet you, Charlotte.”
“Likewise,” I respond before Lachlan’s swatting him away.
“None of that, either. She’s a betrothed woman.”
Garred chuckles, addressing Lachlan. “You here to teach this afternoon?”
“Do you mind?” Lachlan’s fists curl at his sides as a vein in his jaw jumps. Like he’s got excess energy to burn after the day’s frustrations. I think I’ve got some, too.
“Nah,” Garred answers. “Lads’ll be thrilled. Lasses won’t get too much practice, though. They’ll be too busy gawking, like usual.”
Sounds about right.
“I’ll go out to the barn and let them know you’re coming.”
“Did Tula arrive?” Lachlan asks.
“Beats me,” Garred sighs, digging his fingers into his upper shoulder. “Been upstairs hunched over a desk all day trying to figure out how we can possibly house one more childandanswerall our neighbors’ pleas for protection. I’ll check on my way out.” He has the weary yet determined look of a man who shouldn’t say yes to an additional task, but will despite himself.
“No need,” Lachlan is quick to answer. “Perfectly capable of checking the stable myself.”
Garred turns to me, offering a quick bow. “You are most welcome here any time, Miss Fitzroy. I hope Sir Cathal is taking good care of you.”
