‘Why must she leave the room?’ Locke asks loudly. ‘In the past it’s been done here.’ He glances around. ‘In aclosedsession with only the Council present.’
‘This is how it’s done now,’ Calder answers coldly before Dane can, looking down his nose at the fae next to me. ‘Ah, but you’ve hardly been here, Locke. You wouldn’t know the new rules. And why shouldn’t the people of Halsford have a say in who lives beside them?’
A mumble of ascent goes through the crowd, and Calder smiles at the humans like a benevolent ruler.
‘You’re correct, Councilor Calder,’ Locke stays stiffly. ‘I and my unit have been deep in the Dark Realms for many months on asuccessful mission to protect Halsford and the Underhill. This woman was instrumental in that success. She saved my life. Because of her, we will save many others and bring the thieves who steal our families to justice.’
Another rumble goes through the spectators, and Calder’s smile dims.
‘We must all remember why we have these laws, Locke. The Dark Realmer goes with Enforcer Voss, or she returns fromwhence she came right here and now,’ Calder says with a shrug. ‘Simple.’
Locke opens his mouth to argue further. I can see the trepidation in his eyes. He doesn’t want me to have to go with this fae. But it’s either that or back to being a slave in the Dark.
He has no real voice here anyway.
‘It’s all right,’ I say, only just stopping myself from adding. ‘I have nothing to hide’, which would catch me in a lie with the enforcer.
Gods, I need to have my wits about me better than that!
I turn and, head held high, I walk briskly to where the enforcer leans on the wall indolently.
I can’t help my eyes from scanning the suspicious crowd in search of Morgan and I find him still at the back. Jak is next to him and they’re both glancing around at the humans here and looking concerned.
Lovely.
‘You’ll submit to the enforcer’s questions, or you will leave,’ Tavish, the wealthy human merchant, states as if I’m not doing as I’m told.
‘I will submit,’ I echo him loudly and nodding so that all can hear and there’s nomisunderstanding.
My eyes find Tavish and I don’t like the righteous fervor I see. He hates Dark Realmers. That’s plain to see. How far will he go to ensure the vote goes the way he wants?
‘Yes, you will, human,’ the enforcer sneers low, so no one else hears.
I swallow hard, glancing up at the tall fae in front of me with long silvery hair, slicked back from his forgettable face and wondering what I’ve gotten myself into when I notice that his eyes are completely devoid of kindness.
‘Come,’ he says more loudly andinvitingly, as if I have a real choice.
He leads me out of the loud, main hall and down a short corridor to a small room that’s little more than a cupboard. As soon as he closes the door, we might as well be the only ones in the building. No noise comes from the outside.
‘This room is warded. You cannot leave until we’re finished here. Do you understand, human?’
I nod.
‘Speak in words.’
‘Yes,’ I say clearly.
‘Sit down,’ he orders.
I sink into the lone chair in the middle of the space, folding my hands into my lap and trying not to notice how he stands over me. It’s by design, I know. Ogdan used to do the same, so I try not to let it intimidate me. It’s just a trick to scare me.
‘Your name.’
‘Bryn,’ I say with a frown.
Does he think I’m lying about that?
I look up and find him watching me closely, his dead eyes dancing around my face.
