Easy for you to say, it wasn’t your soldiers’ lives on the line. “And the girl?” I added. “She still doesn’t believe she is Fae. She thinks we’re all mad.”
Jelric frowned. “She doesn’t even think she’s Fae?” He murmured.
“No.” I said.
“She must have only just crossed over.” Jelric said as his eyes lit up. “The chances of finding Fae when they’ve only just crossed.” He shook his head looking at me with a new spark of something in his eyes. “Do you realise how lucky we are? To have found her before anyone else has?”
“Not before anyone else, King Rette knows, as did Lord Ghosh who made a play for her.”
“How so?”
I shrugged. “Nothing you wouldn’t expect. He was tempted enough by her to steal her back after we left his Hall. I executed him myself.”
Jelric shook his head. “He won’t be the first.” He muttered.
“No he won’t. I doubt the Lesser Kings will simply leave her alone once they realise she is here.”
Jelric ran his hand over his face before sighing. “That is an issue for another day. In the meantime we’ll see her in the morning and by the time I’m done she’ll know this isn’t all some make believe.”
I grunted in reply before getting up. I hoped Jelric was right because I was sick of protecting the girl, let alone having to fight her the whole time as well.
Iwoke up in another strange room, only this time I could tell I was no longer wearing my jeans and jumper.
I squirmed uncomfortably at the thought that someone had stripped me, someone had changed my clothes.
A log was crackling in the fireplace providing the only light source for the dark room. I tried to sit up but my arms felt too weak to hold me. Instead I slumped back into the pillows.
“You’re awake.” A girl said smiling as she sat up from where she’d been curled up in the chair with a book. “Are you hungry? I can send down for something.”
Here we go again. It was like rinse and repeat. Groundhog day but worse. So much worse.
I sighed realising that I was actually starving.
“Food would be good.” I half whispered.
The girl immediately got up and went to door. On the other side I could make out a guard. The girl muttered instructions before coming back in and quietly shutting the door.
“Who changed my clothes?” I asked as soon as she had.
“I did. Your old ones were covered in dirt so I thought it was best.”
It felt like I didn’t have the energy to argue anymore. I just nodded. As though I was giving my ascent.
“I’m Mira by the way.” The girl said in what felt like far to cheery a tone. “What’s your name?”
“I’m Alice.” I replied realising this was the first time I’d said my own name. That anyone had even asked it.
“Allisss.” Mira said weirdly overpronouncing each syllable. “That’s a nice name.”
I smiled a small smile because I wasn’t sure how else to respond. “So are you a servant or…?” I trailed off not wanting to offend her.
“I’m a lady’s maid.” Mira replied. “Technically now I’m your lady’s maid, if you want me that is?”
“Sure, I mean, I’ve never had a maid before.” I shrugged. “I don’t even know what you’d do.”
“I help dress you, and do your hair, and run errands. At least that’s what I do for a normal lady. Not to say you’re not normal, it’s just you’re Fae and maybe you have other needs.”
My eyebrows raised. She sounded nervous. She looked nervous too. As if I might take offense at something she’d said.