I nod in understanding. ‘Hadn’t realized how much things had changed until yesterday,’ I remark.
He shakes his head.
‘Anyway, morning,' he greets, gesturing to the front parlor.
I go through the door into the bright, sunny room and sit in one of the comfortable fae chairs, noticing a little belatedly that Lia is there already, sitting in the corner with a cup of tea.
‘You’re up early,’ I remark.
‘Locke,' she says warmly. ‘Ath had a bad dream.’
‘Woke us all just before the sun this morning.’ She stifles a yawn. 'How is Bryn? Is she settling in all right?'
'Yes, of course,' I say. 'To be honest, she just seems happy to be in the Light Realm.'
'Yes,' Lia says with a frown. 'Of course she would be.'
'Is there some reason she…shouldn't be?' I ask simply to hear what Lia thinks about the recent goings on in the village.
‘Other than what I saw and heard yesterday?’
I nod.
'Just a bad feeling, I suppose,' she hedges. ‘I might ask Gwen to call on her, if that’s all right?’
‘Of course, but why?’
Lia’s face gives little away. ‘Just that they’re both Dark Realmers, both women who were slaves for most of their lives,’ she says vaguely.
‘I thought Gwen and her mates had left the village,’ I say.
Lia shrugs. ‘Only to the next valley, and one can hardly blame them. They were here first. It was their generosity and goodness that made Halsford what it is. They helped us build most of it. For them to be driven out by the likes of Tavish…’ She makes an angry noise deep in her throat.
I sit back in the chair, getting more comfortable. ‘I hadn’t known until Jak told me yesterday.’
Lia leans forward, her bright eyes fixed on me. ‘I wonder if we shouldn?—’
‘Lia, you aren’t talking village politics already, are you?’
‘It isn’tpolitics, Dane,’ she contests. ‘It’s basic decency!’
‘Well, we have other things to speak about at the moment,’ Dane says easily, putting a steaming mug in front of me.
‘I assumed you’d want a cup.’ He glances at Lia. ‘As my female didn’t offer.’
Lia scoffs. ‘I’mthe Harbinger, Dane. Why would I offer refreshment when you, my trusty servant, is here to do it?’
‘Careful, female,’ he rumbles low and she lets out a chuckle.
‘Thanks,’ I say to Dane, taking a sip and then putting it back on the polished wooden table. ‘I assume I’m here to discuss the information I gleaned from the pits?’
They both nod.
‘We think we might know the location the fae was speaking of, where they’re intending to take so many Light Realmers from,’ Lia says.
Dane sits down at the table with us.
'Go on,' I say.
