Page 10

M cColl

We take off at a slow jog. My rear is starting to chafe when one of the lead horses neighs. It is met with a responding neigh from another beast in the distance. I think we might be at the rendezvous point soon.

“We’ll stay in the Jacartas Caves tonight,” Japhet says.

Sensing we are almost there, our horses speed up into a gentle lope. I do my best to hold on to the saddle horn, but it is difficult with tied hands. There is more neighing from both sides as we get closer.

Minutes later, we pull up at a rocky outcrop.

“Llayda and Nyx, do a sweep of the perimeter,” Japhet says, swinging in his saddle to look back at the fae in question. “Be quick about it. Night will be upon us soon, and there are hywolves in these parts. They like to hunt in the dark, so do yourselves a favor and get back soon.”

“Understood,” Nyx says. They kick their horses’ flanks, loping away, mud splashing in their wake.

“Arwin, get the witch into the cave,” Japhet instructs, looking in the direction of the gaping mouth. There are horses tethered together just outside.

Before he can act on the instruction, a tall, lean fae walks from the cave. “No sign of them?” he says in a booming voice. His whole demeanor speaks of authority. From how his shoulders are set to the tightness in his jaw. He walks like he owns the whole realm.

“I’m afraid not, my Lord, but we did capture the witch. She doesn’t know where the fae is, since they parted ways almost as soon as they escaped.”

“And you believe her?” The leader looks at me, dismissing me almost immediately.

“I do.”

“We need to find that fae,” he practically growls. “Or the queen will have our balls.”

“Understood, my Lord. I sent two guards to sweep the area. We will hunt him down as soon as dark lifts.”

“Not soon enough, but it will have to do,” the lord grumbles as he turns and walks back into the cave.

The scent of woodsmoke wafts in the air. That and the usual smell of rot and decay.

Arwin grabs me, yanking me from the saddle. My hands are still bound in front of me, making it difficult to move freely.

“Let’s go, witch,” he says as he drags me toward the mouth of the cave. Thankfully, I won’t have to be alone with him. I hear several voices from inside and breathe a little easier.

How did I get myself into this mess?

Perhaps I shouldn’t have escaped in the first place.

No, I had to try.

Perhaps I should have stuck with the fae.

I refuse to berate myself for leaving Alaric.

I had to make a decision, and at the time, I thought it was the right one.

I am not too proud to admit – even to myself – that it may have been the wrong decision.

But these things are always easier to gauge in hindsight.

Who knows what would have happened if I had left with the fae.

Perhaps I would have been worse off. Those words don’t ring true.

Inside, the air is cool and damp, the smell of earth mixed with the tang of smoke. The fire crackles in the center of the chamber, warming the space. It looks comfortable enough, except for the fae guards scattered about inside.

Several of them sit around the fire. They grunt a welcome, quickly going back to their meal of what looks like cheese and bread. My stomach growls, reminding me that it has been an age since I last ate.

“I think I’ll keep you close to me, witch. How would you like that?” Arwin wraps an arm around me. “Nice and cozy. We could keep each other warm tonight.” His meaty hand clasps my waist.

“I’m plenty warm enough.” I try to worm from his grasp, revulsion making my skin crawl.

He doesn’t let me go. “I think you’ll keep me company, little one. I think you’ll do nicely.”

“Let me go!” I pull away, panic rising in me. No one is trying to stop him. No one is saying anything. They continue to eat as if nothing is happening.

Arwin starts walking deeper into the cave, dragging me along with him.

“Leave me be!” I start pummeling him, but it’s no use. I’m like a butterfly in a snowstorm.

“Let the witch be,” one of the guards says around his food.

“I won’t hurt her,” Arwin grunts.

“She might end up turning your prick into a toad,” another one says, and they all laugh.

“You heard the brief; she doesn’t have much magical ability to speak of.” Arwin looks down at me. “If you had any magic, you’d have used it by now, witch. I have a little magic to use on you.” He winks, laughing cruelly.

As always, my power is there but just out of my reach. After using my well earlier, it will take time to refill. Time I don’t have.

“Come, girl,” Arwin says, dragging me.

I start screaming and fighting in earnest. I claw the side of his cheek, kicking at his legs.

Arwin’s eyes go wide as my nails open his flesh. He roars, pulling back a meaty fist.

“Stop!” someone says in a booming voice from the opening of the cave.

It’s the lord. His eyes are wide and blazing. His hands are fisted at his sides. He looks angry. Nostrils flaring and red-cheeked.

“Lord Ondine.” Arwin lets me go.

I move away, pressing myself against the cold stone of the cave wall, shuffling away from Arwin. My chest is rising and falling in quick succession.

“What is the meaning of this?” Ondine asks in a booming voice. “You will leave the witch be. We were instructed to bring her in…that is all.”

“And we will bring her in, my Lord. She’s headed for the brothel, anyway. I may as well break her in now…surely.” Arwin laughs, leering at me. “I will pay her for her trouble if it makes you feel better.”

“I don’t want your money,” I say through gritted teeth.

“Be quiet, witch,” Arwin growls at me.

“We are not animals,” Ondine says, narrowing his eyes. “This is not how we conduct ourselves. If she ends up working in the brothel, you can pay just like any other. Forcing ourselves on females is not the way of the fae guard.”

“Yes, my Lord.” Arwin inclines his head. “I’m sorry, witch.” He gives me a half apology that I know he doesn’t mean. “I meant no harm.” All lies. I can see it in his eyes.

Bastard!

This is why I left Alaric when I did. This is why I wanted to break from him.

This kind of cruel treatment led me to the decision.

Most are not as bad as Arwin, but not by much.

They don’t see me as a living, breathing creature with feelings.

I am a witch. An animal. Actually, I think that their animals are treated better than we are…

the humans, too. It’s wrong. I know it stems from fear because we are different, but it is no excuse.

“You can guard the horses,” the lord tells Arwin, whose face falls. “Someone will relieve you…eventually.” He gives the brute a taunting look that begs the guard to defy him. The fae nods, accepting his fate. Then he leaves the warm and safe confines of the cave to take up vigil with the horses.

“You can sit here, witch,” one of them tells me. Much to my dismay, he points at an empty patch of ground directly next to one of the other fae men.

I do as instructed, since I don’t want trouble.

“Hungry, witch?” one of them asks me.

I’m desperate to tell him to go to hell, but my stomach growls again.

“Yes…I am,” I admit.

He gives me a scrap of bread, and I mumble my thanks, eating it in two bites.

Another fae hands me a waterskin, and I drink greedily, giving him a nod as I hand it back.

Ren drops a bedroll next to me, together with a blanket. “Don’t even think of attempting escape. We’ll let Arwin hunt you down, and I can’t guarantee what he’ll do when he finds you.”

I can guess just fine.

He drops his own roll beside mine. I’m surrounded by fae, with zero chance of escape – unless I can find a way to use my magic, that is. I’m not too hopeful about that.

I don’t say anything; instead, I open my bedroll, which isn’t easy since my hands are still tied.

I get inside, pulling the blanket tightly around me.

It’s getting colder by the second. It would be worse if not for our shelter and the fire.

At least I’m warm under the blanket. The scrap of bread was enough to stop the worst of the ache in my belly. It could be worse, but not by much.

I need sleep. I need to replenish the meager access to the magic that I have. I may very well need it. In fact, I’m sure I will.

Kian

The second group of fae arrived some hours back.

They have her!

How?

Why didn’t she use her magic to hide? To fight?

To escape? What is she playing at? McColl is powerful.

Was she lying to me when she said she wasn’t?

I can still picture her falling off that horse.

I can still see her broken body in my mind’s eye.

I somehow doubt it. It doesn’t matter at this point because they have her, and she can’t seem to escape.

Dark has long since fallen. All is quiet.

A single fae sits outside the cave mouth. I’m quite certain that at least one more will be on guard inside. The rest will sleep and take turns to stand vigil.

I have two choices: I can forget the witch and stay right where I am until it’s safe to leave. Then run as fast as my legs can carry me, getting as far as possible from here.

Or I can risk life and limb and attempt to rescue McColl, possibly getting captured in the process. That would be stupid. It would put everything at risk.

The witch made her decision. It was one that didn’t include me. She made that very clear. Abundantly so.

The better option would be to leave her to her fate. I should leave her be…but I damned well can’t. I sigh softly as I ease out from my hiding place, taking a few moments to stretch, for the blood to go back into my limbs. Then I spend another minute or two coming up with a plan.

It’s terrible, but it’s all I have.

I look in the direction of the cave and then down at my outstretched hands. Funny, I don’t feel the magic like I did before. It was stronger the second time I used it. I’m sure it’s there, but I need to forget about it. I can’t use it, not without Snow tracking me.

It can’t happen.