Page 20 of A Court Bright and Broken

“You humans hate us that much, do you?”

“It’syouwho hateus,” she countered. “Or no… what was it you said? You rarely eventhinkof us. I won’t force you to keep thinking of me for another moment. Now may I leave, or am I to be your prisoner?”

She directed a pointed glance down at my hand, which still clutched her cloak.

“Of course I wouldn’t hold you against your will. I simply want to show you my appreciation.” I gave her a placating smile. “You’re not making it easy.”

My fingers were still curled in the fabric, refusing to obey my mind’s order to release the human girl. I had no idea which village she was from.

Once she walked away and rounded the bend, it was very likely I’d never see her again. That felt oddly wrong.

“You’ve thanked me repeatedly,” she said, clearly annoyed now. “That is enough. As I said, I just did what anyone would do. Now if you’ll please—”

“I know just the thing,” I practically shouted, interrupting her.

Yes, this would be an excellent reward. If she wouldn’t allow an escort, she could at least accept a token of gratitude.

The fact it would ensure that I saw her again was of no consequence.

I motioned to one of the guards. “Bring me a quill and some parchment.”

There was a supply of paper and ink in the guardhouse in case of unexpected visitors. They would write down their names and purpose for visiting the royal city, and a runner would carry the message up to the palace then return with either permission or refusal of entry.

Today I’d be putting the writing materials to a different use.

When the guard returned, I asked him to turn his back and pressed the parchment to it, dipping the quill into the inkpot he held up for me.

At the bottom, instead of signing my name, I scrawled a large S.

Raewyn would no doubt be thrilled to be invited to a royal ball where there’d be unending amounts of food and drink as well as many entertainments. I’d have someone watching out for her arrival that night to make sure she was admitted.

After a few moments, I handed the still-drying document to her.

She read it silently, her eyes moving back and forth and then going wide before she looked up at me.

“You’re inviting me to a ball?”

“Yes. As my guest. You’ll love it. It’s only two weeks away. I promise, it’ll be the best night of your life.”

“But…” She looked down at the paper again then back up at me. “It will be all Fae, won’t it? I wouldn’t feel comfortable attending as a human.”

“You’ll be fine under my protection. And you won’t be the only human. There are plenty of humans in the palace daily,” I argued.

“Asservants,” she said. “No thank you. I wouldn’t have anything to wear to a party like that anyway.”

“I’ll buy you a dress,” I offered, chastising myself for not thinking of this part earlier.

“And new dancing slippers. Whatever you require,” I said. “Tell me where you live, and I’ll have them delivered to your door. Or send a seamstress and cobbler to your home so you can choose the materials and fit yourself.”

Instead of looking grateful, she frowned at me. “You Highborn Fae think you can buy everything and everyone don’t you?”

I opened my mouth to deny it, but now that I thought about it, my family’s wealth did open any door I desired to enter. Usually.

Not this time apparently.

Raewyn folded the paper in half then folded it again.

“As I told you this morning, I don’t need your help.”

---