Page 89 of Chaos and Destiny
Always the character, this one. He reminded me of Kai with his antics. Thoughts of the boys struck a chord, and I felt a deep sense of loss, missing Fen. If he were here now, I wondered what he and his crew would lend to the situation. He had always told me to befriend the gifted. I wished I’d listened to him more.
“Why have you summoned me?”
His tone turned serious. “I’ve come to update you. King Autus has learned of the rebellion and is actively hunting them in the north. He sent some soldiers to destroy a small township, to send a message.”
“What will you do?” I asked.
“I believe we may need to send some rebels north to help secure passage for rebellion refugees to move to the southern kingdom, if you will allow it?”
“I’m glad someone asks my permission these days.”
“About that, I have additional news for you. Your kingdom is flooding with sea fae. Pun intended. My guys have been watching selkies everywhere. The fae act as if they cannot see them.”
“Yes, I’ve seen them myself. They act as if they cannot see them, because Morwena has been enchanting my people. Removing their ability to see them as if they were invisible. I’m guessing the rebels have been immune because she hasn’t gotten to you, yet. I’m working on it.”
“You should go to Gillie’s Tavern. My guys have spotted them in there a few times. So far, we’ve avoided them. I’ve told the rebels to remember their locations but steer clear. We can’t let them know how far the rebellion has stretched. We hope they think it is just a few rogue fae in the north.”
“And what is it, if not that?” I asked.
He pursed his lips and cocked an eyebrow at me. “A movement.”
Indeed.“I will allow the fae to continue to enter the southern kingdom, if you agree to two things, Murtad. First of all, you do realize that I could enchant you right now and take the rebellion for myself, do you not?”
“That’s assuming I speak and make the calls for the rebellion, King. I’ve never admitted to either.”
“Fair point. Shall we find out?” I asked, taking in a big dramatic breath as if that’s how it was done. I knew better. My own council had a rebel. She reported everything.
“No, no. Not necessary. What are your two requirements?”
“When it comes time—and surely it will before this is all said and done—the rebellion will not stand against the southern kingdom. I’m not asking you to join me, simply to refuse to kill my fae.”
“And number two?” He looked to his hands as if I bored him.
“The rebellion will owe me a favor when I call upon them.”
“Will you increase our food rations and the coins you donate?”
“I will increase the food rations when you provide me with solid numbers.”
“Fair enough,” he said. “The rebellion will not fight against the southern court unless the king begins to turn on them, and we will owe you a favor for harboring the refugees.”
If he didn’t trust me, he wouldn’t leave that opened ended favor on the table, so I knew we were on the same page. He needed me far more than I needed him. For now, anyway.
“Will you attend the Trials?” I asked.
“We’ll be around, King. Now I must be off. I’ve got a little lady to see before the world falls apart.” He sauntered out of the shop and left me standing there with my own thoughts.
Feeling particularly reckless after the events of the long day, I decided I'd follow his advice and head to Gillie's
I loathed sitting in a crowded tavern surrounded by drunken fae having loud conversations with each other about things no one in the nearby vicinity cared about. I drummed my fingers on the table and watched the door as I waited for my drink to come. I would not indulge, but it would help me blend. Being in the city undercover the night before the Trials was easy because of the careless drinking and the cloaked fighters who sat heavily in their seats discussing their techniques for the next day. Some of them I actually looked forward to watching. If I could ever take a minute to enjoy myself knowing the storm was brewing around us.
The door opened and closed so many times as fae came and went, but it wasn’t until the end of the night that I finally watched a selkie stalk in. Her long hair looked as if it flowed in unseen waters, and her shiny skin reflected the lights throughout the tavern. Not a single fae looked to her as she entered, smiling as she crossed the crowded room.
I watched her lift a finger and draw it across the back of a large male’s neck, and though he shifted, he acted as if she were not there. She moved like a wraith to an empty seat at a full table and leaned in, listening to the fae talk as she batted her eyelashes and smiled, though none could see her.
The reality of what this meant was more alarming than her eerie presence. She had no possible way to enchant the minds of the southern fae. Only one sea witch could do that, and that meant one damn thing: Morwena had been spending an exuberant amount of time in my kingdom, enchanting my fae. Her enchant had always been powerful, derived from the sea. But this was still a feat.
She was the poison. Not only was she enchanting my fae to be oblivious to her spies, but she was also planting lies and making it seem as if I were at fault. The guards from the barn? That was because of her. I’d bet anything on it.
