Page 19 of Beyond the Faerie Gate

“You’re already babying her.”

I want to snap that I can understand him perfectly fine. Common decency says I should interrupt them, but I can almost hear Mab in my head, lecturing me on not tossing away the upper hand when I’m dealt it.

If they’re going to talk behind my back, using this language to try to hide things from me… perhaps she’s right.

Although she has some explaining to do. All three of them do. Why do they speak the same language that these two are using?

Are they… fae?

The more I think about it, the more it doesn’t seem too far-fetched. If I was never sick, then there was never a reason for me to have hallucinations. The three of them have always been otherworldly. What if they came through the portal and found me?

“Fine. We’ll go to Iondell,” Jaro grinds out in exasperated English, before reverting back to the other language. “But the second we get there, we need to put out word to the rest of her Guard, or ask the temple for help. The two of us aren’t enough to ensure her safety. If they can reach her this far south, they can reach her anywhere.”

The words send chills down my spine, and I have to work hard not to tense against Drystan.

The male in front of me groans and uses a word I’m not familiar with, but I think it might be a curse. I thought Maeve had taught me every curse in their language, but clearly I was wrong.

“I haven’t heard from the others since we swore ourselves to her,” he admits. “And how exactly do you plan on reaching him?”

“We’ll think of something. And Florian should know she’s here. He’s her brother, after all.”

I have a brother?When was he going to tell me that?

“You have a way to get a message past the entire Fomorian army?”

I bite my lip, wondering if the Fomorians they’re talking about are the same as the blue fae who just attacked us.

“And Kitarni,” Jaro continues, ignoring Drystan’s pessimism. “We need the High Priestess. She’s the best one to explain Danu to her…”

Drystan curses again. “She doesn’t even know that?”

Jaro sounds reluctant as he elaborates. “I didn’t want to dump everything on her at once. She was raised under a mortal deity. A patriarchal one with prudish, monogamist customs.”

The low, humourless laugh which echoes from Drystan is mocking. “So the great Nicnevin who’s been coming to save us, the Goddess Who Walks Among The Living, which the Temple has been promising everyone for years, doesn’t even believe in Danu. Oh, this is just perfect. You were there for a quarter of a century, Jaromir. Surely you could’ve found some way to educate her in all that time? What can she do? Darn socks?”

A large part of me wants to retort that actually, I can darn socks, and it takes a lot of skill, but I don’t dare open my mouth. As it is, my eyes are burning.

“Sweet Lady, is she crying under there?” Drystan continues, aghast.

No. I’m just leaking slightly, you insensitive oaf.I furiously think back.

How the hell can he tell, anyway? This hood is covering almost every inch of my face.

“She’s just seen combat for the first time,” Jaro retorts. “Have a little pity. I threw up after my first beheading.” Finally, he switches back to English, adopts a softer tone, and says. “Let’s get moving. A hot bath and a warm bed will do you some good, my lady.”

I nod, not trusting my voice not to give my feelings away.

Beneath me, the horse starts to move, and a low bark tells me Jaro has shifted back to his wolf form.

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