Page 2 of Ties of Bargains

He skidded to a halt and stumbled into his brother’s room.

On the bed, fifteen-year-old Gijs lay pale and thin beneath the sheet, his blond hair dark with sweat against the white pillow. Vlek, his orange-and-white fluffy kooikerhondje curled next to his legs, the puppy resting his snout on his paws as he kept watch over his master.

Father sat on the chair next to the bed, lines grooving into his face while gray threaded his blond hair.

The seconds ticked with agonizing speed as Harm waited…waited…for his brother’s chest to rise.

The sheet moved with a shudder as Gijs sucked in another breath.

Harm released his own breath, sagging against the doorframe. His brother still lived.

Father slowly lifted his head, something in his gaze as lifeless and hopeless as it had been before he left. “Harm.”

Harm’s stomach sank even as he forced himself to move farther into the room. “You didn’t find thefeeënvolk.”

It wasn’t a question. Surely only that would create the look of agony currently twisting his father’s features.

“No, I found them.” Weariness and something like despair weighted his father’s tone.

Harm fumbled for the second chair and slumped onto it. “Then what happened? Are they going to cure Gijs?”

Father made a noise almost like a sob in the back of his throat before he dropped his head into his hands. His shoulders shook for a moment before pained words—his voice deep and rough—groaned out of him. “I’m an awful father. At least Doetje isn’t here to see this.”

On the bed, Vlek whined and crawled a few inches forward, as if the dog sensed the added distress in the room and wanted to comfort Father too.

Harm’s throat closed at the mention of his mother’s name. Fifteen years ago, Mother had died birthing Gijs.

“You’re just trying to save him.” Harm gaped at hisfather, shifting uncomfortably at the sight of so much emotion. Emotions were things experienced in private. Not so much in a stiff upper lip kind of way. More in the sense that life was crazy enough as it was; there was no reason to get ruffled by it.

When Father lifted his head, his blue eyes were nearly as gray as his hair. “A life for a life. That was the bargain they offered. I thought they were asking formylife. So I agreed. Of course I agreed! What father wouldn’t sacrifice his life for his son! But it wasn’t me they wanted.”

Harm opened his mouth to ask, but he snapped his jaw shut to swallow as a weight settled into his toes. “They wanted me.”

“I sacrificed one son’s life for the other. I didn’t mean to do it—but it’s done, and it can’t be undone.” Father dropped his head back into his hands, digging his fingers into his hair. “I’ve traded you to thefeeënvolk.”

Harm swallowed again, breathing deeply through his nose as he let the words settle.

He’d been bargained to thefeeënvolk. They’d take him away to their realm where he would become a plaything, tortured for entertainment until he died. If he was especially lucky. His fate could be even worse than that if he wasn’t.

Harm released a breath slowly, forcing himself to think only of the practical. His father was currently gripped with enough emotion for the two of them. “It’s all right, Father. I would gladly trade my life to save Gijs.”

After all, this was the unspoken pact he and Father had shared from the day Gijs had been born. Mother had given her life to bring Gijs into the world. Harm and Father were willing to sacrifice the same to save him now.

Father’s shaking stilled, though he didn’t raise his head.

Harm clenched his fists at his sides. “I’m thankful it’s me. I’m young. I’m strong. And I will escape.”

When Father raised his head this time, the utter despair twisting his face had lessened, a glimmer of hope in the wetness of his eyes. “You don’t know what you’ll face. Thefeeënvolk…”

“Are cruel and malicious. I know.” Harm didn’t let his face show anything but a hard determination. “But I will survive, and I will come home. I give you my word.”

His word might not be as magically binding as a bargain with thefeeënvolk, but a man’s word wasn’t given lightly. Harm would keep that promise or die trying.

Father gave a shuddering sigh, swiped a hand over his face, and leaned against the back of the chair once again, more collected and himself than he had been a moment ago.

Good. Now they could talk this through without pesky emotions messing up the logic.

“When will thefeecome to heal Gijs and take me away?” Harm gestured to Gijs.

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