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The flashback of walking from the lake to the jailhouse at the edge of a similar sword played in front of me and I shook my head, banishing the thought of how scared I’d been.
A man knelt before me. “You’re safe now, miss,” he said, removing his protective headgear.
His long sandy-blonde hair swished out of the helmet, and with the smudged dirt on his face and muscular build, he looked like some rugged mountain man more so than a fae jailer. At least the ones that had graced my presence the last time I was here.
I nodded. “Thank you, and the others.”
He stared at me, probably curious as to why any Seelie would risk being caught just to rough me up. Valid question. And I was wondering too why they kept confusing me with members of the Unseelie palace.
Inhaling and pushing down the fear and harrowing experience I’d just endured, I compartmentalized enough to begin talking, another trick that my world and not Faerie had taught me.
“My name is Coraline Fray, I’m Prince Noah’s feeder at the castle. I think it’s best I get back, but I did have a stop to make for the king that I was unable to do before being assaulted. Would it be all right if I do that?”
The guard’s lips twitched into a smile and he shook his head, kneeling back onto his heels. “I was expecting to ask if you needed assistance being carried to somewhere you could rest for a moment. Apparently not.”
I shrugged. “Makes your job easier, right?”
“Indeed.” He rose to his feet, now towering a good foot over me, which was impressive. “If you wait one moment, we can secure this woman and send her ahead to the castle for questioning. Then I can accompany you myself for whatever you need.”
“I don’t think it’s—”
He leaned forward. “As tough as you seem, there’s no way the guards will buy your story unless they see for themselves you are who you say.”
Ah, there were the guards I knew. The don’t listen to a word, shove you till they check the box of their job, and leave once done kind of guys.
“Right. Well I’ll be waiting here, then.” I moved back to the wall and grew slightly irritated that the jail guard seemed to find my frustration amusing.
It was no matter. I’d be on my way soon. And the quiet afternoon without me that the queen thought the castle would be getting was about to be turned upside down.
* * *
The herb store was one door down from the jail, ironically. It only took a moment for the herbalist to grab the king’s special blend.
I fumbled around with my change purse, feeling like a fool for not knowing how the fae used currency in Faerie. To be fair, there hadn’t been a need for me to have any money.
“How much?” I asked.
The owner of the store looked at me fumbling with the purse of coins and could easily have ripped me off.
The guard I was with stepped in and picked up the amount I needed, handing it off and then stepping aside once more.
“Thanks,” I said. I wasn’t sure why embarrassment was getting the best of me, but I didn’t like asking for help. Well, needing help. I didn’t actually ask for anything, he just stepped in.
“Of course.”
We walked out of the store together, heading back up the main drag that would eventually lead us to the castle.
I winced as we walked, my muscles getting sore from the fight earlier. I wanted a bath, and to clean up my face. My cheek was puffy from where the cane had landed. I’d bet my life my jaw was bruised as well.
Gingerly pressing at it, trying to determine how large the damage ran, I struck up conversation with the jail guard. “Where will they take that woman?” I asked, hating the lull in conversation.
Since coming to Faerie there weren’t really many quiet moments. I’d spent my life perfecting being content with no one acknowledging me or talking to me, and now, a year into the wild life in Faerie, and silences made my skin crawl.
The guard glanced sideways at me as we made our way through town. “The dungeons most likely, until the queen is ready to question her. I’d imagine they’d want to see you first,” he said.
“Unless I’m lying and they don’t know me at all, of course,” I said.
“Of course.” That smile was back as I realized my sarcasm wasn’t lost on this guard. “It’s nothing personal, Ms. Fray. You wouldn’t believe the lies people use to get out of things.”
