Page 7 of Knowing Trust

Several people chuckled or snorted, so I felt better.

“A few of my mates met him because they didn’t trust him. I didn’t trust him. He gave good intel, but I had a tail on him. I had the commanders tracking him for his protection but also to get more information. Unfortunately, he was a slippery, adept spy and even ducked fae dogs.” I nodded when people couldn’t hide their shock.

“Forgive me for interjecting, but he lost a few of us even,” Shael accepted, gesturing to the commanders. Again the shock was strong in the room. “He was a talented agent. He survived that long in the belly of the beast to climb the ranks, and his goal was always to take them down. The moment he identified the leader, he was going to take them down.”

I nodded. “And he was damn sure it would mean his death. He was fine with that being the outcome after all the wrong he’d done. So he’s not the hero of this story, but he deserves more than a ‘criminal’ label and to be forgotten. I’m not defending what he did. I think it’s a line none of us should cross and say we’re good, but neither did he.

“He admitted he became a bad guy to get the bad guys… But how many lives did he save to do that? He killed someone to get into the Underground. That’s part of their test to get in.” I let everyone have a moment to settle that. “But he also helped get supe kids to safety instead of being sold by their leaders and then took out those leaders to protect more kids.

“So as much as taking that one life was wrong—how many were saved because he did? Because he did other bad things? I’m not justifying it, but that’s why I say in another life, we could have been friends.” I gestured to all the people around me. “If he’d had the right support and resources, a man so talented to duck Faerie Guardian commanders could have been something.”

“And it saddens many of us that joining them to take them down was his only viable option,” Neldor cut in. “He had the strength of a wolf through and through and hunted his enemy well.”

“Forgive me, but you knew him as well, Your Grace?” someone asked him.

Damn him. This was why he’d wanted me to have the press conference and I didn’t even catch it. He wanted to take the heat off of me again and some onto himself.

He nodded. “Yes, I met him several times and worked with him a few times when Tamsin was otherwise occupied with her duties. He knew how to contact me as well. He worked with a few of the commanders—none of us were ignorant as to the arrangement.” He glanced around. “If there are no more questions on this topic, there are some updates we wish to discuss.”

Smooth stupid fairy prince. He really did know how to have people eat out of the palm of his hand.

And I was too impressed to be angry with him.

He had already detailed the pillar of hope that I had invented and was now in the temple of the neutral zone of Faerie. It had all gone over well, and people were impressed with my magic. He updated them that four more were put into place, and after some discussion, we decided who the rest were going to be dedicated to.

“Are you fine with us knowing this before the pillars are finished, Your Highness?” that first woman checked with me.

I nodded. “It’s to the fallen families of the fairy trusts. First being the Townsend family.” I swallowed loudly. “I never knew them, but they clearly worked with my mother to make sure I was secure on Earth so I could return to Faerie and was protected. Their estates are the only reason I had such a large shield to be safe while I searched for answers.

“I would have been completely vulnerable in that society without money and power and we all know it. And the access they gave me—the alliances their families had in that world helped all of Faerie be revived. Neldor as well after I found him. He could access the dark fairy trust, and we were able to have a lot in place financially so we could help our people.”

Neldor came over and moved his hand to my shoulder. “And while we will always mourn the loss of those families, their contributions to revive Faerie should never be forgotten. They left huge legacies from their knowledge and journals that helped both of us, to weapons that protected Tamsin from outing herself. We are only here because of them.”

I reached up and patted his hand. “I pray they are watched by the gods and their sacrifice respected like our temples.”

I was glad when people seemed to accept that, most of Faerie knowing how those high-class or noble families had given all their wealth to help their people.

We talked about the cleansing process for witches and warlocks and the progress made. We were working with the council and the Calloway stores to possibly start having healers to scan those who wanted to make sure they were fine or ask for help.

It was important to keep with the idea before others could ruin it or try and take it over, and we were going to make sure that didn’t happen.

There were a few little things after that, but then it was done.

Except, apparently, it wasn’t.

“One last important thing that we left to the end because of the gravity and we hope people are understanding about,” Neldor said throwing me off. “There was an attempt on the princess’s life recently that we did not get to address because of this other pressing matter and taking down the Underground. Some have noticed a change in her security though.

“And we did mean to address it as it occurred but—these things happen. Yes, we changed the protocols surrounding the princess’s food.” He nodded when there were whispers. “Even if it is food from hobgoblins. People noticed that and were offended we would ever doubt the hobgoblins’ pure hearts and insult them in this way.”

“Your Grace, are you implying a hobgoblin tried to poison the princess?” someone asked, their shock clearly overruling their decorum.

“Yes, that is what happened,” he answered, ignoring the gasps and noises of surprise and continuing. “Zaos had repeatedly started issues along with several others at the Theripolis rest stop. Princess Tamsin intervened several months ago and mediated the situation. While others have rectified their behavior and dissent—somewhat—Zaos simply hid it better.

“The tipping point for him was when Princess Tamsin and Dr. Craftsman mated. He saw her unfit to be the ruler and acted to assassinate our beloved ruler. Thankfully, other hobgoblins let their conscious and hearts guide them as they should have and they warned off duty Guardians who stopped in for a meal. He was taken into custody and confessed under runes.”

People were stunned for several moments before one recovered. “I apologize for asking what I believe is an obvious question, but my mind is reeling, Your Grace.”

Neldor nodded, not making the man say it. “Yes, a hobgoblin was executed. I believe it is the first time in Faerie’s history. I cannot be sure, but I’ve never heard of it either.” He nodded when people started whispering. “It hurt my heart to do—”

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