Page 145 of Faeling
Clearing his throat, he adjusted his weight, sending the tendrils fleeing.
“You have her?” Amaranthe breathed.
“I didn’t say that.”
“You haven’t said much at all. I haven’t the time nor patience for games, Orc King.”
“But you are so wise and long of years,” countered Vallek, flashing her a roguish grin. “I took your warning to heart and have scoured my lands for such a criminal. I didn’t find one matching your messengers’ description. The one I have is fair…like you.”
The air around them went totally, utterly still. The waves ceased to rise, the breeze ceased to blow. Seabirds hung in midair, and the sand made no crunch beneath his boot when he shifted.
“Impossible.” Her voice came from far away, terrible and deep. “You lie.”
“Lying wouldn’t be neighborly,” he said. “I swear upon my honor that I speak true.”
“Bring her to me.”
Vallek nodded easily, stepping to the side to sweep his arm to indicate behind him. “Follow me to my camp, and I will give her over to your custody.”
“No. Bring her here.”
“I’m sure you’ll understand why I cannot do that. Not until we’ve worked out some neighborly assurances.”
His easy smile was met with a vicious snarl. Lips peeling back from her pearly fangs, Amaranthe hissed, “You will surrender her to me, orc.Now.”
“Of course. She is yours—in my camp.”
“Do you think I’m stupid?” she sneered.
“No one who has sat upon their throne as long as you could be stupid.”
“Perhaps you haven’t sat upon yours long enough.” Taking one threatening step forward, the Fae Queen commanded in that terrible voice, “You play with powers your mortal mind cannot comprehend. Produce her now, or I summon the tides to drown you all.”
Vallek raised his open hands. Fuck, he hadn’t wanted to dangle Leita so close to the shark’s mouth, but—
Sand burst into the still air, a boulder springing to life. From one blink to the next, it wasn’t rock but fabric, blue fabric, flapping behind a furious, determined faeling.
Ravenna took a running leap, dirk aimed for Amaranthe’s heart.
Magic wrapped around Vallek’s ankles, pulling his feet out from under him. He crashed to the ground on his back, just in time to watch an invisible blow of magic catch Ravenna’s middle. A gurgling wheeze punched from her lungs, and she was thrown backwards the way she’d come, dirk skidding through the sand.
“Traitors!” Amaranthe screeched.
“NOW!” Vallek cried.
Mattias leapt forward to defend him, and his berserkers let loose a fierce battle cry. The sand under Vallek’s back poundedas he slid Hormhím free of his belt.
He hadn’t wanted to do this the hard way, but now there was no choice.
Kicking his legs free, he took the hand Mattias offered him, bounding up. Fae warriors rushed up the sandbar, coalescing around Amaranthe, as his berserkers came charging up behind him.
A dark blur leapt through the air again, Ravenna renewing her attack. Vallek’s heart jumped into his throat as he watched her fall upon the wall of armor and flesh guarding the Fae Queen. She dove at them in a fury, fangs flashing.
Vallek gripped Hormhím tight and charged forward.
Smaller but swifter, Ravenna darted between the warriors, faster than the flash of a blade. From her belt she pulled a pair of irons, and for a moment, Vallek’s hope soared as he watched her go for Amaranthe’s arm.
Ravenna took a blow, Amaranthe’s claws raking down her chest, but she pushed on, desperate to get the manacle around the Fae Queen’s wrist.
