Page 160 of Bane of the Wild Hunt

“What… will you do with the Light Wraith?” I asked, my heart sinking at the thought of what these creatures might want with the fey. I was not sure I wanted to hand over another living thing to be harmed, even if they were an enemy or a monster.

The veiled figure did not seem to shy away from my question, but they did take a moment to answer.

“We will rip out his stolen light.”

“Why do you require our help for it?” Riordan asked before I could speak up again.

We will discuss our plan of action later, but for now, we need answers from them,he insisted in my mind.

The Sylvan Elf wavered this time, a slight sway in the veil that rippled around their knees.

“Our interference is limited. There is only so much we can do without the Shadow taking notice. Beings such as us are not permitted to interfere in the affairs of mortals. That is why we are here.Nowhere. Rather than in your world where our power would be sensed and swarmed,” explained the elf coolly.

But even here, in this place ofnowhere, they seemed to fear mentioning the Mavaari Elves.

“And how will you kill Rian if you can’t come to the Vale should he arrive? You also said your power is greatly diminished, so are youableto kill him?” asked Orion.

“Diminished, but certainly not weak,” hissed the elf, obviously offended. “Our Queen will create a diversion, but it is not one that we resort to lightly. It is a sacrifice,” they added sharply. “One we are committed to making in the name of eliminating the Spawns of Shadow.”

“Why?” I asked impulsively. “Can I ask why this is so important that you would make any kind of sacrifice?”

The elf hesitated, the bottom of their robe rippling as if they had shifted on their feet again.

“Does it truly matter if we are prepared to give you what you need? What possible meaning could this eternal battle between Light and Shadow have to you?”

“Itmattersif it is spilling over into the mortal planes and will cost mortal lives. And it matters if we are going to hand over someone for you to do… whatever you are going to do to them,” I insisted, swallowing the nausea that rose when I realized that I would do it. I would hand over the fey to protect the Vale. The truth was that Rian and this Light Wraith creature terrified me. The threat to the Vale was imminent, and they had my friend.

They had Nell.

The elf wavered again noticeably, and I thought I saw a flare of light beneath the shroud.

“You have not known fear such as that which we will know should the Shadow reclaim His bride. All of you would be returned swiftly to Stardust,” said the elf, gesturing with a gloved hand to the white sand glittering in the air around us. “Unknowing and senseless to your fate once it had been sealed. You simply cease toknow. But what he will do to us shall be eternal,” they stressed, their voice trembling slightly. “I do… have a concept of how your heart might quake at the notion of harming what you perceive to be an innocent. But it is essential we have the Light Wraith for our purposes. Forallof our sake.”

There was silence for a moment as we all absorbed the harrowing words.

“We’ll need time to discuss,” insisted Riordan finally, and the veiled head dipped in agreement.

“You have time, although it grows short now. We will extend our protection to prevent the Seer from perceiving our collaboration, but we cannot risk coming here again. We will know your decision,” said the elf as they formed a crystal, fang-shaped blade seemingly from the Stardust, “when you bleed upon this blade. But do not spring this trap lightly, for we will act at a great consequence to ourselves. You must only bleed upon the blade when the Scrios and Light Wraith are together before you.”

The blade drifted from the elf and lingered in the air in front of Riordan who hesitated a moment before taking it. The moment he touched it, the glowing crystal blade was dimmed, and the hilt turned into a simple bone handle wrapped in leather.

“I urge you to think about this prudently,” said the elf. “The fate of many depends upon it.”

The portalreturned us exactly where we stepped through in the Silver Moor, and it did not seem as if any time had passed at all judging by the light.

It was some time before any of us could break the silence once the portal had closed behind us.

“That was… deeply unsettling,” noted Helena at last.

“What do you think?” I asked Riordan, who was still clenching my hand while he stared straight ahead into the shadowy forest. He breathed in deeply and turned his head down in my direction but did not look at me.

“I do not like these choices,” he began slowly, and then he raised the weapon he had been given in his other hand. He turned the blade in the fading light and watched as it glinted faintly. “But I am not sure there is a choice.”

“And what if the elf lies in order to force your hand?” demanded Orion. “You can never trust an ally who tries to present themself as your only hope.Youtold me that.”

“It’s probable they exaggerated or omitted something,” Riordan conceded. “But we cannot deny the fact that Rian means to attack the Vale, and we are not able to stop him from taking my power over this kingdom. I cannot justify risking you, Amira, our people, just to protect a stranger, much less one who actively threatens our people! I don’t like the options any more than any of you, but we arenotthe ones bringing war to Ahnnaòin,” Riordan maintained, his voice growing firmer as he sheathed the blade.

Orion was silent, his tail whipping behind him as his jaw clenched tight while he accepted Riordan’s words.

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