We walk down the thoroughfare quickly. People get out of our way, some glance toward us and pull their children closer. At first I think it’s me they’re afraid of. That’s how other slaves were with me once they knew I wasn’tright, but then I realize it isn’t me at all. It’s Morgan.
‘Why do they flee from you?’ I ask him, craning my neck to glance into his face.
He watches a woman pull her two children out of the road, staring at him fearfully and whispering something to them.
‘Because I’m half orc,’ he rumbles low, his expression impassable.
‘But you’re one of them. You live here, help build their homes,’ I mutter.
He says nothing.
‘It’s as I said, Bryn,’ Locke replies instead. ‘Things are different here than they were. Morgan is markedly Dark Realm. Many of the humans here don’t like it. They’ll tolerate the fae because the Underhill’s laws keep them safe, but Morgan isn’t the same.’
‘That and my reputation as Mountain in the black fights precedes me,’ Morgan says quietly. ‘There are stories about me, of my fights, of my mercilessness even still.’
‘But, that isn’t fair,’ I mutter, scowling at the people who are practically fleeing from him. ‘You’re not like that now. You help them.’
He side-eyes me. ‘I’m glad you think so, Bryn.’
Mine narrow back. I shouldn’t be saying kind things to him, nor thinking them!
He snorts a little at my expression and gives me a smile.
Then he sobers. ‘I’ve found that it doesn’t matter if you’re in the Light or the Dark. Nowhere is fair, Bryn. Not really.’
‘They treat you this way because of a fire?’ I ask.
Morgan glances at me. ‘It was no small thing. The entire village was burned to ash and it was almost winter. Those who survived were forced into tents until spring, and had to rely heavily on the Underhill for food.’
He looks at Locke. ‘The price of their help was steep. Gwen, a Dark Realmer, and her mates were allowed to stay here?—’
‘Very generous, especially as they practically built this place the first time,’ Locke interjects sarcastically.
‘But none of them were permitted to be on Halsford’s Council any longer,’ Morgan continues as if Locke hasn’t interrupted. ‘Now, a member of the Council Five sits on the village’s council along with one of his supporters. Those loyal to the Underhill first now have a voting stake on what happens here. The humans left in Halsford were almost all Light Realm, and many of them had lost loved ones because of the Dark Realmers. A fair few wereand still areglad that Calder and Tavish took Gwen and Drakar’s places.’
I walk the rest of the way in silence, even more afraid now than I was before. How can I make them see that I belong after what happened here because of Dark Realmers?
The Council Hall looms in front of us now. I feel as if I’m walking to my death as we approach the stone building, clearly rebuilt with fire in mind…like the tavern.
Despite my anger at him, I search for Morgan’s hand and squeeze it for any comfort he can give me. The relief I feel when he squeezes back is enough for my legs to keep me moving forward, but I remind myself that, despite his words and his actions, he may not really bewith me.
I have to remember that.
‘There it is,’ Morgan says softly to no one in particular. ‘Our fae edifice to bureaucracy.’
Locke gives him a warning look.
‘None of that in there,’ he mutters.
We climb the steps and I swallow hard. It seems like half the village is here.
‘I thought it would be a closed session,’ Morgan whispers to Locke.
‘So did I.’
I don’t know what I envisioned, but the many residents of this place lining the walls three-person deep and staring at mewith ill-concealed avarice wasn’t it. Word of my arrival has spread quickly.
I shuffle closer to Morgan, not liking the looks he’s getting either, but he squeezes my hand again meaningfully and then looks apologetic as he moves away, leaving me in the middle of the room with Locke. I watch him as he goes to stand at the back, the residents moving out of his way and giving him a wide berth.
