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The silver-haired fairy cast her a dirty look.
Oriel slowly approached the High Table although his eyes kept snapping to the silver-haired fairy. Something was up with him, although he couldn’t figure it out. “Let the commoner go.”
“I like them,” said Asara. “They can stay, and I think they’d rather remain.”
The fairy kept their eyes on Oriel like they were trying to say something else as they kept their arms folded. Their pinky twitched near their sleeve, and Oriel caught the barest hint of something under the loose fabric. A knife? A dagger? Did they have some kind of ability with weapons?
“Elira despises selfish ones like you,” said Oriel.
“Perhaps one day you’ll see something you want, and you’ll see how it will better your people in the long run.”
Oriel snorted. “I’m not selfish like that. My Father didn’t raise me to be a warmonger.”
“Neither did mine. If you’re expecting me to grovel and give you a true apology. You’re mistaken. I’ve got this far, and I know you’ll kill me.”
Oriel heard the rest of the soldiers coming closer. The fairy standing on the dais involuntarily took a step back. Asara could throw fire like Oriel, so were they simply a hostage? Why hadn’t she at least tied them up? Perhaps they were one of the fairies who could heal but had no way to fight with magic.
“So what now?” asked Oriel. “Are you going to come quietly?”
“I prefer living.” Asara looked over. “Wren, no tricks or your husband dies.”
Wren cast a desperate look between Oriel and Asara as they slipped something long and thin from their sleeve.
Oriel understood perfectly. It was a custom here for parents to take their babies to a cove and thank the Goddess for their blessing. Elira granted some babies a musical instrument with simple, harmless abilities.
Oriel shouted for everyone to retreat. Wren’s hands shook as they brought the flute to their lips and started to play. It was already too late. The clear notes had an instant effect on everyone.
Not that Oriel noticed them for long. The room blurred, and everyone grew indistinguishable as his cares slid away. He should remain where he was at. It was fine. No harm would come from not doing anything.
“Oriel?” came a familiar voice. “What the fuck are you all doing?!”
Chapter Thirty
Aspen backed up a step from the group. Everyone had paused, and some started dropping their weapons. Oriel seemed to be looking at nothing. It was like everyone in the room had forgotten what they were supposed to be doing.
“Oriel? What the fuck are you doing?!”
The fairy with the flute. It was their fault. One of them damn fairies that were gifted with a musical instrument had been granted one that could cause real harm. Aspen had no idea why he wasn’t affected, but at least he could fight back.
The notes changed ever so slightly as they cast their eyes about the room and looked toward Asara. Aspen channeled his fire into his crossbow, hefted it, tried to aim, fired, and missed like an idiot since Wren jumped aside at the last second while they kept playing.
Aspen shouted as he ran forward, ready to swing his burning hot weapon into the bastard’s face. Wren’s eyes widened as they jogged backward and skipped a note. Vaguely, Aspen noticed that Asara jerked in her chair.
“Get her!” Wren nearly fell off of the dais as they started playing again.
The Queen stood with no expression and started walking toward Aspen. Wren suddenly bolted past Aspen who froze with indecision for a second. Them or her?
He swung.
The burning metal stock slammed into the Queen’s face, and she dropped like a rag doll. Aspen swung it down, smashed it into her skull once more, and took off after Wren.
Everyone had parted for Wren like water, although no one was reaching for their weapons. A few mumbled something as Aspen took off after the flute player.
“Get back here, you little freak! What the fuck did you do to them?”
Wren was already racing up the stairs with their flute, and Aspen followed. He could span his crossbow with the hook on his belt, but it would take too long. Still, whatever that bastard was doing, Aspen wasn’t about to let them get away.
Wren started playing their flute down a hall, and they skidded to a stop outside of a door. They gave Aspen a desperate look just before the door opened.
