Page 51 of Given to the Fae
‘Perhaps you’re right,’ I concede in a low voice, trying not to sound sheepish. ‘I’m getting...too close. I know it. But she’s...’
‘I know,’ he says quietly. ‘She’s vulnerable and quiet, and she’s been abused and hurt. She’s fearful. But she will play on these things to get what she wants. Who’s to say she hasn’t already? What have we seen or heard that she’s wanted us to so that she can wear down our resolves?’
He lets out a long sigh. ‘She knows where she’s being sold,’ he says quietly. ‘What creature wouldn’t do everything in theirpower not to meet such a fate? She’s to be pitied, not blamed. But we can change nothing for her.’
‘I know,’ I whisper as I watch her, my heart sinking.
I see Morgan return with a jug of wine and a bowl of fruit, which he puts on the table.
‘He’s back.’
I wave him outside. ‘What are you going to do with the slave while we talk?’
Locke glances inside and snaps his fingers while Morgan is close to her. The conjure puts her into a deep sleep immediately and she falls. Morgan catches her, frowning and peering out at us. His lips thin when he sees Locke, deducing that he’s the cause. He puts her gently on the upholstered daybed close to the hearth, covering her with a nearby blanket before he joins us outside.
‘Was that necessary?’
Locke shrugs. ‘She was tired anyway. At least now she won’t jerk and writhe, waking us every hour with her fitful slumber. Now, Warrior will be at the brothel until morning. I’ve made sure of it.’
‘How?’
Locke rolls his eyes. ‘Does it matter? We need to speak, and now we can without fear of being overheard.’
Morgan sits silently on one of the stone benches. ‘Have you heard anything of Tori and Soreno?’
‘No. Nothing. But I wouldn’t expect to. They aren’t meant to make contact until they are placed where we wanted them to be. They’ll have little information of real value otherwise. And, before you ask, I haven’t heard anything from the others either.’
‘So, as far as we know, the rest is going to plan?’ I ask.
He nods. ‘Leaving Bere was simply a way for us to be able to talk and plan the next part without worry of anyone finding out the truth.’
I roll my eyes. ‘Too bad we got landed with Warrior.’
Locke makes a sound of annoyance. ‘Aye. Bad luck, but at least he’s easily distracted.’
Morgan shifts on the bench. ‘So, what’s next?’
‘Other than Warrior, things are progressing well,’ Locke says. ‘We’ll meet Bere in Merediea. The city will be crawling with the kinds of slavers who cater to the very wealthy. I get Bere to introduce me to them. We find out where they’re working out of, and whether any of their stock are slaves who’ve been taken, not bred. We should be able to gather quite a bit of information over the days of the auctions.’
‘And after?’ I ask. ‘Why did you change the plan in the first place? It was meant to be the arenas and then Merediea.’
‘I changed it because I think we’ll be able to use what we learn in Merediea to ask the right questions in the pits.’ Locke sits down next to Morgan, looking a bit apologetic. ‘I’m sorry I altered the plan without speaking to you both, but there wasn’t time.’
I shrug. ‘I agree with your decision.’
Morgan nods as well. ‘Aye, it makes more sense this way. Now,’ he leans closer to Locke, ‘how do you really know this place?’
Locke’s grin is wide. ‘I spent two winters in Dead City during my training. A friend of mine owns this place. He’s a silent partner, but I know this building well. It’s built like a fortress. It’s quite safe.’
‘Good,’ I murmur.
I look back in the room. The slave is still asleep, of course. She will be for hours, probably until the morning, if Locke doesn’t specifically wake her.
‘Are you leaving the slave there?’ I ask Locke.
He shrugs. ‘Should I not?’
‘I’m sure there is some rule about not letting them on the furniture,’ I mutter pointedly.
