Page 11 of Tempting the Fae Lord
Callum swallows and makes his way forward. He bows awkwardly. “Your Majesty.”
“Rise.” He waits for Callum to stand and make eye contact. “From whence do you hail and what news have you brought us?”
“Lemossin, Your Majesty. There’s been an unfortunate double dormancy in the outlying town of Midview.”
“Has there?” He doesn’t sound the least bit surprised. “And no one’s stepped in to care for the babe?”
“She’s with the town’s schoolmistress, but that’s only temporary,” Callum stammers. “Ma’am is young and doesn’t wish to keep the child.”
“And the parents?”
“Both fae, both gone dormant.”
“I see.” The Gatekeeper is unnaturally still, sitting straight-backed and rigid on the throne.
Callum shifts from foot to foot. “Will you help?”
The Gatekeeper steeples his fingers on his lap. “I will, if allowed. I’ll go speak with her forthwith.”
Callum relaxes a fraction, shoulders sinking from where they’ve been hugging his ears.
“You may stay,” he says, “and rest as long as you like before making the return trip. Your horse will be well cared for in our stables. Dinner has been prepared. My staff will show you to the dining hall.” He rises. “If you’ll forgive my absence, I shall make my way to the abandoned babe at once.”
“Of course. Thank you, Gatekeeper.” He bows again. “Your Majesty.”
Your Majesty. Weird. None of us call him that, though I suppose it’s his title.
Eulayla beckons. “This way, lad. I’m sure you’re hungry. Let’s fill that belly of yours, yes?” Her voice lightens the somber mood.
Callum and the others follow toward the kitchen, but I stay put. The Gatekeeper’s long strides will soon take him from my sight if I don’t speak up. This is my chance.
“Sir?”
He pauses. Marissa shoots a knowing glance over her shoulder as they leave, but I ignore it. I rarely get the opportunity to be alone with him, if only for a brief exchange of words.
“Yes, Gale?”
Uh-oh. Now that I have him, what do I say?
It’s too early to ask him to take me along. He must fetch the fae babe and return before passing through the gate to swap her for a human. But maybe if I could put the idea in his mind…
“I wish to help with the baby.”
He studies my face. The weight of his full attention shoots a charged tingle down my spine. “Eulayla can take another for a few days. There is a couple in the village who’ve already asked for the next babe.”
Oh, he thinks… “Not to be her father! I meant—” I falter. “Helpyou. With her. That is.”
“Changeling babes are the responsibility of my bloodline, Gale. As the last of that line, the duty falls solely to me. You needn’t worry.”
“I’m not worried. Iwantto help.”
“I don’t need help.”
“That doesn’t mean you don’t want it.”
“I don’t want it.”
“But you’ve never had help with this before. Maybe it’ll be nice. Let me come. I won’t be any trouble. And I’ll be useful. I can?—”
