Page 11 of Suspicions on the Stage
The red stain on the creature’s hat gets darker and for a moment, I wonder if he’s actually… bleeding on it? “Redcaps are known for our vicious thirst for recompense when angered, young siren. Royalty, hybrids, criminals, devils… It does not matter who you are if you cross our kind. We do not forget nor do we relent in our quest for vengeance, no matter how small the slight.”
That’s not good at all.
“Noble guard, perhaps we might register our visit so that my family can visit a small portion of our home?” Liam bows a tiny fraction at the grumpy thing, but its eyes widen into saucers when he does so.
“P-P-Prince L-L-Liam! Your Majesty, I am not worthy of such a gesture!” The redcap scrambles down from the podium, moving faster than his small stubby body would suggest to stand in front of the royal Fae. He drops to his knees, removing the hat to reveal a flowing wound of blood that makes me want to barf, and I have to bury my face in Morgana’s arm. “For one such as you to bow to my request will keep me indebted to your graciousness for life!”
Kaspar sighs loudly and I’m sure he’s looking to the heavens for help wrangling this circus. I don’t blame him; the Prince was being nice but he’s probably fucked up our plan to keep our presence unknown until we wish to be perceived. “Get up, gatekeeper. The Prince has given you a boon, so tell us what you must so we may continue our path.”
“Indeed, indeed,” the creature says quickly. I peek out, hoping he’s covered his bloody head so I don’t have to hide from the inspection. When I see that he has, I breathe a sigh of relief as the dude climbs back into place and clears his throat. “The Faerie law says you must write your name in the register andgrant a private confession as payment for accepting you in this slice of our realm. The book will know if you are lying, but it will also know if that is because you must write other than your true name.”
I frown as I walk towards the podium to get it over with. “Why would it let you lie? That seems like it defeats the purpose.”
The redcap cackles. “It would, if it didn’t compel you to share why you wrote an untruth in the register as your confession. The only exception is for those from our realm—all Fae creatures—because our laws state your true name is only for those in your most intimate circle. It will accept the known name for all Fae species.”
Very clever, just like Liam warned us.
Scribbling my name down with the quill, I think about my ‘confession’ briefly, then write it down and move aside. When nothing happens to punish me, I sigh in relief. I didn’t try to trick the damn thing, but hell if I know what its moral code is.
“Next! Bodyguard, you should go prior to the Prince.”
Kaspar glares at the little dwarf, growling low. “I realize you have a job, but mind yourtone, gatekeeper. And know that we donotwant our presence known until we are ready to reveal it.”
“Yes, Royal Guardsman. Delamar the Deceiver will be your new best friend even though he is from the lands of Reaping.” He smiles with gapped teeth and I almost shiver because it’s more frightening than when he’s scowling.
One by one, the rest of our group signs the book and finally, Delamar reveals the door for us to go inside.
“Once more into the breach,” Iggy mutters and I grin.
When he’s right, he’s really fucking right.
battles
MORGANA
Strolling into this makeshift mini-Faerie, I stay close to Slade. I know he needed to break with his folks for good, but that doesn’t mean the finality of it won’t hit him. That war between relief and grief is something people don’t talk about enough; it comes when you cut ties or even kill the abuser who kept you under their thumb for so long. You feel guilty for the happiness, guilty for allowing their controlling bullshit to happen, and guilty for acting in your best interest all at once. When the person dies—or if you’re me, you murder them—it’s even worse because you have to go through the stages of grief as well.
It’s a painful merry-go-round of conflicting feelings and the gentle man holding my hand isn’t ready for it, I suspect.
Liam and Kaspar guide us down the edge of the field full of gorgeous plants and occasional animals skittering about, until I see the farthest edge of the nomadic camp they’ve built. Kaspar wanted to enter near the massive tents he was certain were for the Reaping and Autumn Courts because they were less likely to sense Liam’s presence. I’m not sure it makes sense to me, butthen, very little about the Fae does. It’s hard enough to keep up with the grumpy dragon and my new mate.
“This shit is amazing, Li,” Lucas says as he looks around excitedly. “I know you said it’s dangerous, but man… I really want to see your homeland.”
Liam gives him a delighted look, reaching out to ruffle his hair, which looks ridiculous given how tall and broad our polar bear is. The fact that Liam is several inches shorter but so obviously dominant over the golden retriever-like hockey player, makes me grin to myself. They’re adorable together and as I watch Lucas flush happily, I notice Slade is watching, too.
Iggy is going to be super fucking jealous if the Prince paves the path he’s been pretending doesn’t exist for years.
“Mathan óg,I promise we will eventually travel to my home as a family. We’ll visit all the courts if you so wish.”
Lucas blinks, looking shy as he asks, “I thought your father was a jerk. Won’t he be angry about all of this?”
Kaspar snorts. “Oh, he’ll be furious, but if you think Li gives a flying hippo fart what his father thinks, you’re sorely mistaken.”
“Very true, old friend. I’m more concerned with counting blades of grass in this field than I am with making that motherfucker happy. His opinion hasn’t been needed since the time of the gladiators in this realm.”
“It issohard to forget just how ancient you two are,” Iggy says as he shakes his head. “Neither of you look a day over late twenties. Slade and Lucas are young to me, but for you? It’s mind-blowing.”
I arch a brow at the professor in amusement. “As you are to me as well? I’m centuries older than you, Ignatius Briarton. Are youtryingto make me feel like I’m robbing the cradle?”
