Dane nods. ‘Open the Breach for me in an hour? I’ll be with you and the others in the Underhill tonight.’
She nods and takes his hand before coming over to us and standing in front of Bryn.
‘Welcome to the Light, Bryn,’ she says quietly, taking Bryn’s hands in hers. ‘I hope that we will be friends.’
Next to me Bryn nods, her brow furrowing for just a moment. ‘Thank you.’
We’re left in the council chamber with just Dane.
‘Fuck,’ he says again, more quietly this time.
He frowns at Bryn. ‘I’m sorry.’
To my surprise, she smiles wide. ‘What for?’
CHAPTER 6
BRYN
They're all looking at me and my grin wavers as I tuck the vial that human woman just secreted into my sleeve higher up, so that no one notices it. It's a healing potion, I'm almost sure. But how did she know I need it? And why didn't she say anything about it to anyone in the room, not even to Dane?
Not that it matters to me. I've already decided that I won't be telling the others anyway. What would be the point? What could they really do?
'Bryn,' Jak says quietly. 'You pledged yourself to the Underhill.'
'Yes.' I tilt my head at him, stowing my questions about Lia for later. 'I don't understand. Why are you all looking as if I’ve done something awful?'
Did they truly want me to be cast out? I frown at the three of them. Are they upset that I’m still here?
If so, it’s a doubly good thing I took control in here today. But then why did the trio speak up and claim me in this odd law?
'They own you now, Bryn,’ Jak says quietly.
I chuckle, and then as his words sink deeper into me, I begin to laugh a little more loudly. I gasp and the sudden expansionhurts my chest, so I try not to do it again, putting my hand up to keep him from saying anything else that might cause me to start giggling uncontrollably, because I might. It's close. A hair's breadth from starting and I don't know if I'll be able to stop.
Is this what hysteria is?
They're all looking at each other as if I've gone mad. I clutch at my chest, trying to control myself.
'You don't see,' I choke out, tears of mirth threatening to run down my cheeks. 'You just don't understand.'
Jak and the others aren't laughing.
'What don't we understand, little human?' Morgan asks quietly, taking my hand in a gentle grip.
I pull away immediately, sensing his condescension and not liking it one bit, enjoying his touch and not liking that either. I'm not distraught, or going mad. Things went according to plan, more or less. As far as I can tell, they've gone as well as they could have, especially as the Light Realm doesn't seem to be quite the utopia that I'd heard it was, at least not for my kind. But it's good enough considering where I've come from and I'm not going to look a gift horse in the mouth.
'I've been a slave all my life,' I chuckle, 'and now I'm in the Light and I can stay here.'
'That was worth the Law of the Fourth? It was worth signing yourself over to serve the Underhill without knowing how they'll make you fulfill your promise?' Jak asks, looking incredulous.
I return the look. 'Yes. Of course it was.'
I shake my head at his foolish question. 'So, I have to stay in your home with you and you'll all have to make sure I don't do anything to hurt your precious village. So, what? I wasn't going to anyway. You have nothing to worry about. And then I have to help the Underhill in the Dark Realms. Do I want to return there? No, but if it means I have a place here to come back to, I'll do it, Jak. I'll do almost anything.'
They still look confused. Jak's mouth opens and then closes, he gives Locke an angry look.
'Almost anything,' I say again. 'Don't you see?'
