Page 9 of Deliverance

Suddenly, I remember the gift from the trader. Even though I didn’t think I would need it for any reason, I still snuck it into the pocket of my dress this morning. Slipping my hand into my pocket now, I grip the fae bane tightly in my palm. I don’t pull it out in fear of provoking them, but I pray that it has some effect by simply being pressed against my skin.

“I think you are mistaken,” I tell them loudly, my voice only quaking a little. “Return to your forest and leave me be.” Noquestions, only short orders, just like we were taught in infant school. Unfortunately for me, they don’t listen, and the bracelet seems to have no effect, their mocking laughter making my skin crawl.

The beautiful male with the long hair smiles and tilts his head to one side as he scans me from head to toe. “Yes, you are definitely the one. You shall make a stunning queen.”

Queen? What nonsense are they speaking of? Clearly there is more going on here that I do not understand. Shock and confusion work through me.

“I know nothing of what you speak.” Finally, my feet start to move of my own accord, and I am able to spin, backing towards the village, not once looking away from the threat before me.

Fae this close to the village is a bad sign, especially if they are specifically trying to draw people into the forest. If they are here now, then it will not be long before they move closer to Brine. The fae should be repelled from the barrier between their land and ours, yet this one was so close I feared he could reach out and grab me.

Needing to say something, to dosomething, I ball my hands into fists, my left still tightly gripping the fae bane in my pocket. “Stay behind your barriers and leave us alone. We just want peace.”

“She has no idea.” The long-haired fae chuckles again and dips his head, a rueful expression written across his face as he backs into the trees. “Do not worry, princess. We shall return for you, there is no running from this.”

I finally manage to pull away from their intoxicating presence as they leave, their words and inhuman laughs following me as I run as fast as my feet are able to carry me.

My feet only come to a stop when I see the wooden walls of the village. My skin is clammy, and I feel sick to my stomach as I hurry towards the gate. There are more guards manning the gate than usual. Is this because of the threat of the fae, or the visit of the mysterious city folk?

One of the guards on duty by the gate is one I recognise. His name escapes me, and we have never had anything to do with each other apart from him letting me in and out of Brine. He has always been one of the kinder guards though, never joining in with the harassment my family and I often experience. I am so distracted and harried by what just happened that I almost bump straight into him.

Skidding to a stop, I only just manage to hold back a startled cry. The guard instinctively starts to reach out to steady me, only to realise who I am, then his arm swiftly drops to his side.

“I saw the fae,” I blurt out, not thinking or caring about who else might hear me. The horror of what happened and whatcouldhave happened is finally hitting me full force. “There were two of them by the road to my family’s cottage. They spoke with me and tried to lure—”

A hand grabs my shoulder, and I start to thrash as thoughts of the fae coming for me fill my mind, only for the guard to shake me. “Shh,” he demands, looking around with wide eyes. “Do not speak of the fae, and especially not today with the visit happening. If it were one of the other guards, they would lock you up right now to keep you out of trouble.” Voice hushed, he lowers his hands, aware of the other guards taking interest in our interaction. “You have to lie low today. You didnotsee the fae on your way here. Do you understand me?”

“Yes,” I stutter, slipping past him and into the village. Taking his warning to heart, I hurry straight to the mayor’s house, keeping my head down and not even stopping to look at the flowers.

I am greeted at the door of the mayor’s house by the housekeeper, a stern woman who seems to dislike everything I do. Excusing myself to the bathroom, I lock myself inside, needing to be alone. Moving to the sink, I douse my hands in cold water in an effort to stop their shaking, then I splash my face, enjoying the refreshing shock. The cold liquid clears my mind, reminding me where I am.

Looking at myself in the mirror, I stare at my dishevelled reflection, not quite recognising myself. I look different, as though my encounter on the city road has changed me. That is not possible, of course. Fear floods my bloodstream, and I have to squeeze my eyes closed to stop full-on panic from taking over. There is so much I do not know, and the uncertainty is driving me crazy.

To stave it off, I take a deep breath and list all the things Idoknow. The fae tried to lure me into the forest, but I survived. The villagers are terrified but are pretending that everything is fine for the sake of the visitors coming from the city. The mayor and his son are waiting for me. I grow flowers for the village. I live in a cottage at the edge of the woods with my parents and sister. My father is a travelling merchant and is away from home a lot.

My name is Iris, and there is more to me than people think.

My eyes open, and I stare at myself again, unsure where that last comment came from. I suppose it is true, since people underestimate me, thinking I am simple and avoiding me because of my association with the forest. There has always been a part of me that has been different, yet due to the reaction of others, it has been repressed. As such, I stay quiet, stay out of the way, and turn my love to the plants and flowers around me.

Shaking my head, I try to tame my thoughts and put them aside so I can be of use to the mayor today. I brush back some of the stray strands of my hair, tucking them back into my flower crown, and then I pull my lips into something resembling a smile. I look like I’m in pain, but there is not much I can do about that now. Brushing down my skirt, I take one last calming breath and unlock the door.

I know the way to the mayor’s office, so I do not bother to find the housekeeper to lead me there. Instead, I walk through the corridors with the confidence of someone who visits often, glancing at the paintings on the wall as I go. The office is at the end of a corridor at the top floor of the house, the door ajar. Lifting my hand, I go to knock, but something has me pausing.

“Leighton has lost four females now, Father,” Robert says, his tone concerned. “We cannot ignore this threat any longer.”

Leighton is our closest neighbour and is also similarly surrounded by forest, making them one of the poorer villages. The farther you are from the king and his city, the poorer the village. If what Robert says is true, then they cannot afford to lose females. Any loss of life is bad news for villages as small as ours. I’m pretty sure I know exactly what the threat he mentioned is, but a lump forms in the back of my throat out of fear, and I pray that it is not true.

“We do not know for sure that it was the fae, son.” The mayor’s voice gets louder and then quietens, making me realise that he is pacing the office as he speaks. “I will not cause panic in my village.”

Robert makes a small noise of disbelief. “The traders saw fae at the roadside the other day. There have been other sightings. We need to do something about it.”

The mayor sighs, sounding exhausted. “I know. I have a plan, but it is one that I am reluctant to use.”

I should not be listening to this. I never should have stopped to listen anyway. These plans are something he is sharing in confidence with his son, and he would not want me knowing them, otherwise I would be in there having this conversation. Guilt floods me, and I start to pull back.

“If we want to keep everyone safe, difficult decisions will have to be made. What is the plan?”

Frowning at the tone of Robert’s voice, I freeze. Robert has never sounded so in control before. Usually he is quiet and thoughtful, yet here you would be forgiven if you thought he was the one in charge and not his father. There is something about this that does not sit quite right, although I cannot put my finger on what it is.

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