‘I’m sorry,’ she said, getting up and placing the girl back on the floor as carefully as she could. She opened the girl’s mouth and placed a few flowers onto her tongue.
‘Swallow this. It will…ease your journey,’ she said, feeling the tears roll down her cheeks.
‘Faye…’ Rav cried out in pain, and she turned away from the girl, her heart hollow.
‘Where are you going?’ The imperious voice filled the long hall, and Faye froze.
38
‘You seem to have a human man with you,sidhe-leth.’ The voice laughed lightly, and the echo resonated in the quiet. ‘That stunt in the ballroom – it seems you have learned the faerie magic all too well.’
Levantiana stepped forward from a dark doorway and dropped her cowled hood. She was wearing a dark blue robe which covered her almost entirely.
‘Your brother kidnapped this man and brought him here as a punishment. If he wishes to punish me for supposedly being unfaithful to him, then I will stand his punishment. But Rav is blameless,’ she argued.
Levantiana arched a dark eyebrow. ‘What makes you think I will let you go? What makes you dare to ask me to ignore my brother’s wishes?’ she intoned, and Faye felt the ice in her voice fill the hallway; the temperature dropped and Faye was sure she could see icicles forming at the edge of the windows, the glass frosting with an iridescent blue-white covering. Nevertheless, she refused to drop the faerie queen’s gaze.
‘You thought that because I have taught you, that I have begun to show you the ways of the faerie realm of water, thatI am your friend,’ she answered crisply. ‘Do not make that mistake. I am not.’
‘No, but?—’
‘My brother brought this one here for his own reasons. He will stay here until my brother sees fit to let him go.’
‘Since when do you let your brother rule you?’ Faye faced Levantiana, who returned her gaze steadily.
‘I do not expect him to find fault in my actions, and so I do not criticise his,’ Levantiana replied.
‘We made a bargain. I am your weapon against Lyr, when you need it,’ Faye countered, panicking now. And she was aware that they only had moments before her spell released all the faeries, and they would be caught.
Rav watched the exchange between them with hollow eyes. Faye could see that his ability to fight Finn’s power was weakening. He was as strong as an ox, which was how he had made it this far, but Finn was the king of the realm.
‘I do not see Lyr anywhere? And I have taught you magic in return. Our bargain is intact.’ Levantiana glared at Faye.
‘Please.’ Faye could hear movement in the great hall. ‘I’ll do anything. But I have to get Rav home.’
Levantiana looked away and pursed her lips. ‘You love this man?’
‘I care for him, and I don’t want him to be tortured by Finn for something that isn’t his fault.’ Faye looked down the hall, at shadows flickering wildly in the dim light.
‘If you have a great passion for this mortal man, then I do not hear it in your voice,’ the faerie queen sneered. She nodded to Rav, who was struggling to stand up.
‘Faye. Let’s get out of here,’ Rav mumbled. ‘Please.’
‘So you see, Faye Morgan, you have nothing left to bargain with, and I will not allow you to leave. Unless…’ Levantianalooked appraisingly at Faye and held out her hand. ‘There might be something. But you will not like it.’
Faye’s could hear the distant pounding of feet. Someone was coming.
‘If this is the only way, then I’ll do what has to be done,’ Faye answered grimly. ‘Will you help us get home? If I agree to your bargain?’
‘Of course.’ Levantiana’s smile twinkled brightly.
‘What is it? What do you want in return?’ Faye took Levantiana’s hand, and the queen waved her other hand at the approaching soldiers; they slowed as if they were running in syrup.
‘Something you can make, but I cannot. A child.’
Faye frowned in disbelief. ‘A child?’ she repeated. ‘What? No! That’s…inhuman.’
Levantiana laughed. ‘I am not human,’ she agreed.
