Page 98 of Given to the Fae
What is she?
Mostly human, certainly, but what else? What manner of being draws strength from the carnal? I know of at least one, but I’d need to look in the great Library in Kitore, which I can’t do until we return to the Light Realm. I need to speak to Locke.
‘I’ll be back in a moment,’ I tell her.
She doesn’t look at me. In fact, now that I’m focusing on her, she seems subdued and quite pale.
‘Are you all right?’
‘I’m fine,’ she says quietly, not looking up from her plate.
Frowning, I exit the room, deciding to leave it for now. We’ll talk later and I’ll find out what’s wrong then. I close the door behind me and I walk the few steps to the next chamber, knocking quietly.
The door opens and Morgan answers. He blinks at me and lets me in.
‘We need to talk,’ I say to Locke.
Locke, sitting at the table, leans back slightly, regarding me impassively.
‘What about?’
He takes a sip from his mug.
‘Bryn.’
Locke’s eyes darken almost imperceptibly. ‘What of the human? Is she well?’
‘Yes, but?—’
‘Good. We reach the auctions today, and Bere. She needs to look like she’s been taken care of as promised. Have her eat and,’ he reaches into his pack that’s on the other chair, ‘put her in this.’
He throws a slave dress at me. It’s the one from before. The rough-spun one. It’s been cleaned and mended.
‘You’re really going to go through with this? You’re going to give her back to him after everything? You’re going to let Bere have her?’
Locke turns away. ‘We’ve already spoken about this. I’ve told you what I’ll do. You need have no part in it. In fact, go back to the Light Realm if you like. This part of the mission will soon be finished anyway.’
I stay silent, not sure what to say.
‘Oh, and, Jak, get that bracelet off her before we leave. It’s valuable. See you outside.’
He drinks the rest of his tea, picks up his bag, and leaves the room. I stare incredulously at the door he closes behind him.
‘What are we going to do?’ I ask Morgan.
The giant just shrugs. I grab his arm but he shakes me off with a grunt.
‘Morgan.’
He looks at me, brows raised in question.
‘Last night. You...I thought you liked her. I thought you cared. We made a deal with her. We can’t leave her.’
He simply shrugs again. ‘Human-fae deals aren’t binding without a vow.’
He grabs his bag and goes the way of Locke, leaving me reeling.
I return to the room I’ve been sharing with Bryn in a daze. When I get inside, she looks at me warily, as if she knows what’s coming. I put the dress on the table.
