‘You speak of the Dark Army, their Law of the Fourth!’ Calder’s lip curls. ‘They were disbanded years ago! Their laws mean nothing now!’
Dane scoffs loudly. ‘Nothing? Do the edicts of Gaila, the First, also mean nothing to you? That sounds a bit…treasonous, Calder.’
The fae coughs. ‘Of course, that’s not what I meant. Our patron goddess is held in the highest esteem by me and the rest of my House!’
‘The Laws of the Dark Brothers were held within the Army and also outside of it,’ Wren pipes up, nodding. ‘Many a townand village in the Light, especially deep out here in the Ranges, subscribe to these laws still. It is a sound proposition.’
Next to her, Shore hiccups. He says nothing.
I look from Dane to Wren. What is the Law of the Fourth?
‘If she is bound by the Law, her actions will be governed, the responsibility of whomever claims her,’ Dane explains, clearly to appease the room. ‘Therefore, she will not be a danger to the village, or the Underhill.’
Next to Bryn, Locke’s eyes are almost frightened. Whatever Dane’s plan is, he didn’t share it.
Bryn herself is frowning in confusion as well.
‘Who will claim this woman?’
Claim her?
My stomach drops as I finally understand that this means.
Dane now stares directly at Locke, his face blank but his meaning clear.
Locke opens his mouth to do it, to be the one.
But Bryn doesn’t trust him. She doesn’t trust any of us at the moment, but Locke did the worst to her by far.
‘I will claim her,’ I call out quickly, pushing the rest of the way through the crowd that doesn’t move for me the way it does for Morgan.
Calder’s eyes narrow at me and I know I’ve just made a formidable enemy. His smile is vicious. ‘There cannot be only one. It’s called the Law of the Fourth for a reason! There must bethree.’
Three? I seethe, hating the fae councilor more with each passing moment.
No one speaks for a moment too long, and Calder’s smile takes on a self-satisfied edge.
‘I will claim her,’ Locke belatedly says from Bryn’s other side and I grimace, knowing how she must be feeling.
Is this really any different than a slave auction?
But, also, it means that Locke and I, at least in the eyes of the law, now have power over her once more.
‘Just two?’ Tavish asks. ‘Not enough. Where is the Harbinger? She must open the Brea?—’
‘I will claim her.’
I let out an inconspicuous sigh of relief that Morgan has come to his senses. He won’t like it either, taking her choices like this, but Dane is right. It’s the only way to keep her here, keep her safe.
I look back and see everyone moving away from the giant half-fae, letting him pass easily.
But the rest of the room is in sudden disarray, the loudest ones, Tavish’s men, are yelling, shaking their fists. The quiet ones are looking surprised. A few appear as horrified by all this as I am, and I assume Bryn is, though her expression is still confused.
‘I told you!’ Dane booms. ‘Everyone out! NOW! This session is now closed!’
The main doors open outward of their own volition with a bang. Half the people leave quickly, not enjoying another of Dane’s displays of power. The rest file out slowly, grumbling at being denied the entertainment of the rest of the meeting.
‘That’s three,’ I can’t help but say a little smugly in the Council’s direction.
