‘I’m going to do everything I can to ensure it,’ he promises. ‘The dress is part of that. Make sure your hair is combed and neat. You need to look the same as the others here. The Council is more likely to vote in your favor if they see you as the same as the Light Realmers at first glance.’
I nod jerkily. ‘I’ll make sure. Anything else?’
‘Yes. If that doesn’t seem to be working, we need another card to play. Jak said you weren’t born in the Dark Realms. You were taken from somewhere else?’
My jaw tightens. They’ve been talking about me. What else has Jak said?
‘It’s important,’ he says when I don’t answer.
I sigh.
‘I don’t remember myself, but that’s what I was told,’ I mutter, not telling him about the vague memory I have of the man in white and learning my letters, though I’m not sure why. ‘I was taken there as a child, young like you were. I remember trees, which didn’t grow in The Barrack, but that’s all.’
‘What do you mean? You were taken to where?’ he asks with a puzzled expression.
‘The Barrack.’
‘You were there for that many years?’ His brow furrows. ‘I don’t understand. Why were you in The Barrack for so long? Why were you never sold? It was merely a stopping place, I thought. Slaves were resold quickly.’
So, Locke doesn’t know everything.
‘They couldn’t get rid of me,’ I tell him. ‘You heard Warrior, didn’t you? What he said in the pits?’
Locke nods. ‘I heard.’
‘Well, anytime they tried to get rid of me, someone would get hurt or die. Until you came.’
‘Until we came,’ he murmurs. ‘And you’ve always been…Kismet?’
‘As long as I can remember,’ I grind out. ‘And are you going to tell the Council, anyone else here?’
He looks at me sharply. ‘No, Bryn, and you shouldn’t either if you can help it.’
‘Shouldn’t be too difficult. I never speak about it,’ I say, standing up. ‘Warrior just had sharp eyes and telling Jak was…a mistake. But, just so I know, if Iwasof a mind to say something, why shouldn’t I?’
‘The humans here will think it’s proof that you’re Dark Realm. The Underhill may try to use you.’
Use me. I know about that. I shiver, remembering Warrior’s threats.
‘What for?’ I ask.
He sighs. ‘They aren’t evil, Bryn. They’re just ruled by fear. Much has befallen them. The Council Five will do anything to ensure the safety of the Underhill. That makes them dangerous to you. Tell them that you were taken to The Barrack from elsewhere, that you were told you weren’t from the Dark Realms, and leave it at that.’
My lips thin. The Fae Council don’t sound much different from how Locke’s friend, Dane, described the Dark Realm slaves to my ears, but I don’t say my thoughts aloud. I doubt Locke can change the minds of the Underhill any more than I can.
‘But I’m not sure where I came from,’ I argue instead. ‘They never really saidspecifically. It was just implied. It might have been a Dark Realm. I have no way of knowing.’
‘Exactly. You don’tknow. If you’re careful with your words, you can’t be caught in a lie.’
Locke pours himself and me some water from a jug and sits down again, drinking deeply. I eat my bread. My hunger hasn’t quite returned, but I’m thinking now that I might not get the chance to eat for a while.
‘What if Idosay I was taken from the Light?’ I ask. ‘What if Iwascaught in a lie?’
Locke snorts. ‘The enforcer will be there. As I said, he’ll sense if you speak untruthsknowingly. You need to choose your answers wisely or they’ll send you to the Dark Realms as soon as they can. Right back to Merediea.’
My stomach churns and I wonder if I’m going to lose the bread I just swallowed.
‘I understand,’ I choke out.
