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“Alright then,” I murmured still somewhat astonished, but ready to do as I must.
My story had already been planned. I was no longer a former blood slave but a commonborn faerie from the northwest part of the kingdom, a desolate area with only a few small villages. Together with my fisherfae father, we had been traveling to purchase a new cart, and got caught in a storm. We veered off course and orcs killed my father while he defended me and allowed me to run. Luckily for me, I stumbled into Warden Roar’s territory to be picked up by Frode. The lumberjack brought me to Roar, who fell so deeply in love that my station did not matter.
Of course, I could say all that, but Roar would have to be more careful, claiming to be taken with me right away. He’d be vague and allow people to draw their own conclusions whenever possible. And, most importantly, he’d suggest that people talk to me as much as possible. In that way, they’d feel as if their lord wished for them to get to know the new Lady of Guldtown, and I could tell the full tale.
A lot was riding on my shoulders to get the gossip rolling, but slaves talked as well as anyone else, and I knew all I had to do was find a few key people to tell my story to. From there, they’d spread the tale for us.
“Do you really think they’ll buy you marrying so below your station, though?” I pulled back a lock of silver-white hair from where it was blowing wildly in my face. “Those in your territory, I mean.”
“I like to think I’m a fae of the people. I’ve entertained a few ladies in my city, and perhaps most notably, I’ve never courted a noble. So they probably won’t think it too odd.”
When I thought of how well he’d treated me and how those in the palace loved him, I believed that he was well liked.
“Would you allow me to hold your hand?” Slowly, he extended his.
The question took me by surprise, but only for a moment. He was merely following our agreement and asking before touching me. I extended my hand. “Naturally.”
The moment my smaller palm slipped into his, snow began to fall, the flakes so small they looked like sugar dusting my shoulder.
“It makes things pretty.” I stuck my tongue out to catch a few flakes.
“That it does.” He squeezed my hand and smiled. “Perhaps it’s Winter’s Realm welcoming you.”
Ease settled over me. The warden was kind, influential, and handsome, and although we only held hands for show, I liked the touch of his skin to mine. I found it reassuring to find kindness in this world.
My pleasure would make for better acting, so I did not push it aside. Instead, I stepped closer to Roar. When we reached the gates, we appeared to be the picture of a sweet couple.
A contingent of knights in sleek fighting leathers escorted us into town and down a wide busy street. Almost right away, a fae female, well-dressed in a dark mustard sheath dress lined with fur at the cuffs and neck, caught my eye. I beamed at her, and when she scowled back, I frowned.
Roar chuckled. “Not everyone will be pleased to learn that I’m taken.”
Oh. Right. I was sure many females in the city would have tried to enchant him before.
“Don’t worry about it,” he added, his tone soft as we stepped onto a cobbled street. “She will help spread the gossip, and your expression was perfect. It looked genuine.”
“If you say so.”
Thus, our time in Guldtown began. Roar traveled through the city like a lord who owned every snow-dusted paved stone. He smiled at all who approached to have a word, which included fae from all walks of life. In each interaction, he introduced me as his fiancée.
“I knew she was special the moment I set eyes on her,” he told the baker and his wife.
“May the stars bless the both of you!” The baker’s wife took both of my hands in hers, beaming.
We thanked her and moved on to the next fae and the next. Mostly, Roar’s people indeed seemed delighted with the news of his engagement. And Roar showed me off so effectively that I was able to tell our story many times, keeping him somewhat in the background.
Two females, however, appeared particularly irate. So much so that when they got up the nerve to approach and asked to speak with me privately, I hesitated. But only for a moment.
“Neve, darling?” Roar eyed me as if he didn’t want to let me go, but I knew better. Though the females appeared unwelcoming, they also looked like they’d spread gossip far and wide.
“I’d love to speak with them,” I smiled as if nothing would delight me more. “Now that I’ll be living here, I’ll need to make friends!”
“Very well. I’ll leave four knights with you but will be right down this street. I have business to conduct.” He gestured to a road that veered off a main thoroughfare. The smell of heated metal wafted from it in waves. I suspected the blacksmiths’ forges and their shops were that direction.
He chose four knights, all wearing fighting leathers and minimal metal armor on their torsos. They grinned at me, as if pleased to be protecting me.
The two lady faeries led me to the side of the road while other fae who had approached us, all wanting a word with Roar about one thing or another, walked down the street with their warden. The lady fairies and I stopped beneath an awning on the side of the street, where the pair brushed the fallen snow from their dresses. Just a couple of doors down, the knights Roar had assigned to me huddled together and shared a laugh.
I tried to mimic the knights’ happiness as I smiled at the ladies. “Hello, ladies. I’m Neve.”
