Page 78 of The Fae Lord

Shrugging out of my grip, Garratt straightens himself up. A female elf appears from inside. She is adjusting her skirt. “Everything all right?” she asks, staring at me, taking in my wings, and the bells on their tips, then biting her lower lip.

“Fine,” Garratt says. “Just having a word with an old friend.”

“I need you to get us into the castle.” I close the gap between us. I am taller and more menacing but Garratt doesn’t flinch.

“The castle? You’re starting already?” He lowers his voice. “Finn, I thought...”

“No. Not for that.” I am struggling to speak fast enough and clear enough. Briony steps in and speaks for me.

“Alana has gone to the castle to kill Lord Eldrion. Alone. We need to stop her.”

Garratt’s eyes widen. Something flickers in them as he looks at Briony, and Elodie notices it too because she slips her hand into Garratt’s.

He shakes his head. That was not what he expected to hear, clearly. Then, without hesitating, he gestures to the stable yard. “We’ll take my horses,” he says. “Elodie –”

“I’m coming.” She squeezes his hand. He looks at it with disdain but doesn’t let go.

“Fine,” he says. “You too?” He is looking at Briony.

“She’s with me,” I tell him, following quickly as we hurry into the yard and choose two grey horses. As I jump on, I pull Briony up beside me.

Garratt does the same with his elf girlfriend, and we canter out of the yard.

We travel through the streets of Luminael without stopping. When we reach the stretch of beach that leads out to the citadel, it is low tide. The water is too high for passing on foot, but not too high for the horses. So, we carry on.

When we reach the castle, Garratt turns to me. “Why would she do that?” he asks. “Go alone?”

“Because I told her she was capable of killing Eldrion.” I swallow hard. Briony pats my shoulder.

“It wasn’t your fault,” she says. “Alana is headstrong. She’d have done it regardless of what you said.”

I know that’s not true, but I am grateful to her for saying it.

As we approach the castle gates, I pull my cloak tighter around my face, making sure my wings are hidden. Briony does the same beside me. We can’t risk being recognised, not now.

Garratt takes the lead, striding up to the guards with a confidence that borders on arrogance. “Open the gates,” he demands, his voice ringing out across the courtyard. “I have urgent business with Lord Eldrion.”

The guards exchange a glance, then the larger of the two steps forward, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. “The lord is not receiving visitors,” he says gruffly. “And he certainly isn’t expecting any elves.”

Garratt’s eyes narrow, and for a moment, I think he’s going to argue. But then he smiles, a smile that doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “Ah, but he is expecting me. I have information for him, information about the escaped prisoners.”

The guard hesitates, uncertainty flickering across his face. “Wait here,” he says finally. “I’ll send word to the lord.”

He turns to go, but Garratt’s voice stops him. “No need for that,” he says smoothly. “Just fetch Pria. She’ll vouch for me.”

The guard frowns, but nods to his companion. The other guard disappears into the castle, leaving us waiting in tense silence.

Beside me, Briony shifts uneasily. “Who’s Pria?” she whispers.

“One of Eldrion’s guards,” I murmur back. “Garratt must have some sort of arrangement with her.”

Before Briony can respond, the guard returns, a tall, dark-haired female fae at his side. Her wings are small, her features sharp and angular. She looks at Garratt, then at Elodie, and something like recognition flickers in her eyes.

“Garratt,” she says, her voice cool and measured. “What brings you here?”

Garratt steps forward, lowering his voice. “I need to speak with Lord Eldrion. It’s about the empath, Alana. She’s coming here, and she means to kill him.”

Pria’s eyes widen, and for a moment, I see a flash of fear in their depths. Then her expression hardens, and she nods curtly. “Come with me,” she says. “Quickly.”

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