Page 34 of A Court Bright and Broken

Sorcha held up a hand. “I wasn’t finished.”

I fell silent as she went on. “I will help your family. I will sow a garden behind your family’s cottage that, within days, will be mature and as bountiful as mine, producing year-round.”

I was so full of questions aboutthat, I didn’t know where to start. It was only early Spring. Not much was growing in the village yet, and no garden grew year-round. Winters here could be harsh.

But then, as I’d noted, Sorcha’s garden already bloomed with life, making it look more like Summer in her yard than the onset of growing season.

“Furthermore, I will heal your father, so that he no longer needs his medicine,” she said.

My jaw fell open. Could shedothat? She was more powerful than I’d even realized. It all sounded amazing.

Too good in fact.

“You know I have no money to pay you.”

“Money will not be required,” Sorcha said. “But there is a price.”

Chapter 10

The Favor

Raewyn

“I’ll gladly give you the invitation,” I told her, already getting to my feet, preparing to run home and fetch it.

I could hardly wait to bring back that worthless piece of paper and hand it over to her in exchange for these precious, life-saving offerings.

She laughed. “Oh no. That parchment will do me no good. It isyouwho have been invited to the royal ball. And it is you who will use the invitation and attend.”

Surprise stole my words for a few moments.

Finally I asked, “But… how can I go? I’m human. And the ball will be full of treacherous Fae.”

Her smile didn't lessen.

“Just treacherous Elves,” she said. “In the past, all manner of Fae folk were present for the Assemblage—Nymphs, and Dryads, Nyads and Selkies, Dwarves, perhaps even the stray Pixie or two, nasty little beasts. Not anymore. Not since King Pontus became ruler of Avrandar. Now the Assemblage is Elves only. The other Fae hold their own court gatherings, the species generally keeping to their own kind.”

She sniffed. “Much less interesting that way, if you ask me. But that’s King ‘Pompous’ for you.”

“The Assemblage? That’s what the ball is called?” I asked.

“No, the First Night Ball is a one-night event marking the opening of the Assemblage,” Sorcha explained. “The gathering itself lasts a fortnight. Representatives from all the great Elven houses in every region of the continent converge on the royal city of Merisola once every ten years. There’s trading and policy discussion as well as many dances and social events. The First Night Ball is the largest and most formal of them. Which is why you must attend.”

“Why do you wantmeto go?”

“At some point while you’re there, you will do me a service,” she said. “That will be your payment for me saving your family from certain starvation and doom.”

Sorcha got up and took several more bowls from the shelf and began filling them with piping hot stew.

“If you do it well, I will see that your sisters never go hungry again and that your father will be healed of his injuries. I can't return his vision—that is beyond my powers—but I will heal his other maladies so that he is able to live a long,pain-freelife and usher your young sisters into adulthood.”

Naturally, I asked the next obvious question. “What service do you want me to do?”

“Does it matter?” the Earthwife asked.

I had to think about that. I couldn't imagine what favor I would be capable of performing that would be a worthy exchange for all that she was offering my family.

When it came down to it, I supposed itdidn'treally matter. Beggars could not be choosers, and people with no options could not afford to turn down life-changing opportunities like this one.

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