“Not like that,” I laughed and rolled my eyes at him with a pleased smirk as I stood and walked to my desk. “You are going to let me write back to Ornella.”
“Thank you for agreeing to this,” I said to the two men on either side of me. Although I could not tear my eyes from all the Spring fey sitting in the cells we walked past.
“You did not leave me a choice,” Riordan reminded, and I managed a bright smile despite his droll tone.
“And he will not speak to anyone else after he learned what happened to the Light Wraith,” Orion added.
“Sage,” I insisted, meeting his eyes when he glanced at me in surprise. “His name was Sage.”
Orion nodded, and I looked at the sealed letter in my hand, which I had convinced Riordan to allow me write to Ornella that morning. Well, I supposed Ihaddemanded it. But it seemed important to follow her lead and at least try to explain ourselves. We had thought she was in danger, and as far as we’d known at the time, the Wild Hunt were our enemies. I had done my best to convey my horror for what happened to the Spring Court and my shame for the part I had played in getting her mate taken. Riordan had wanted me to say that he alone was responsible, so Rian wouldn’t target me with his rage, but I knew my friend. Only the utmost humility would suffice if I wanted to get Ornella to talk to us. I had concluded by suggesting that we should still meet so she could explain more about the so-called Rot in the Four Courts. Riordan had not wanted to promise anything about going to help to get Sage back, so I’dreluctantly left that part out of my final draft.
“You could have just taken my letter. You did not have to let me talk to him,” I pointed out.
“Yes, well, he refused to carry the letter until he laid eyes on you himself. He was not supposed to have given the letter to anyone but you. He was rather annoyed with us for relieving him of it before he could speak to you,” explained Orion. He sounded exasperated as if the fey had been giving him a hard time.
“And you think he has a plan to hurt me?” I verified with a glance back at Ares and Helena who trailed us.
“I would not let you anywhere near him if we had not had him checked thoroughly for magical concealments. But just to be safe,” Orion insisted. He avoided my eyes, but I could hear the sincerity in his voice.
We reached the cell where I could smell the distinctive sweetness of overripe apples amidst the damp earth scent of the Spring fey. I saw a stout faun sitting quietly on the floor of his cell with his arms slung around furry knees that he’d drawn up to his chest.
“You got your wish,” called Orion as he unlocked the cell to allow me to step inside. “This is Lady Amira.”
The faun raised his chin off his knee and looked up at me with huge amber eyes rimmed in long dark lashes.
“They said you were a witch,” he blurted.
“I am,” I told him, kneeling in front of the faun despite the hiss of disapproval from Orion. But with Riordan right behind me and Orion right behind the faun, I had no idea what they expected him to do.
“I never got to meet a witch before,” the faun told me, running his eyes over me in utter fascination. “You sure are a lot prettier than I expected.”
Orion muttered a Greek curse that made me smile.
“What is your name?” I asked the faun.
“Sammy,” he answered quickly, and Orion gave a huff ofdisbelief that made me think Sammy may have refused to give up his name earlier.
“It’s very nice to meet you, Sammy. I have a letter for you to take to my friend, Ornella,” I told him as I held up the note in question.
Sammy eyed it a moment before he reached to take it, and then he timidly glanced up at Riordan behind me.
“Is it true what they said about Sage?” he whispered. “He was taken by your allies?”
Go ahead and tell him,Riordan assured me privately.Perhaps you will get him to talk a little more.
“It is true,” I admitted to Sammy grudgingly.
“But…Why? Sage was a good male!” Sammy swore, shooting a glare at the griffins. “Will he be alright?”
“I don’t know,” I admitted honestly. “All I can say is that we thought the Wild Hunt were our enemy. I thought they had my friend captive, and we had heard frightening things about Rian—”
“Balorlies!” snarled Sammy with a surprising fury for such a little creature. The outburst was vicious enough to make Orion snap his hand to the hilt of his sword.
“Maybe you will tell me about King Balor?” I invited Sammy who scoffed hatefully.
“He is noking. At least not an honourable one.”
“Why not, Sammy?” I pressed calmly.
