Page 14 of Midwinter Wiles & Valerian Dreams
Using Valkie, or Val as I’d introduced myself, means I’ll remember to answer to it, since I’m used to Lumi calling me that name. Along with the false name, I gave Daria a story of hailing from the Sundalands, a distant seaside Court that’s part of the Fae Lands here in Havansarr. I’ve no idea if the custom is the same there—I wasn’t aware of it here—but hopefully no one here knows either.
“You ignoring us, girl?” the Point Fae says, his voice oily slick.
Sharp-cheeked and dressed for attention in their silver-embroidered, fur-lined coats, they both radiate disdain, particularly the one with the painful grip around my wrist.
Struggling to remember my role here, I let him yank me closer. My bones grind together. “No, of course not. I’m not your server, though.” I scan the room for Ludo, who is covering this section.
“That right? Because it seems to me you’re whatever we say you are, right, Brin?”
The man named Brin sneers. “Told you we shouldn’t have stopped here. It’s filled to the rafters with their filth. I don’t trust the food.”
“Nah,” the first guy says. “These worthless worms wouldn’t dare do anything to our food, would you?”
At the moment, I happen to be fantasizing about finding some wormwort powder to send the man to the nearest toilet for a few hours. The tankard in my hand trembles at their next string of insults, as they sling jabs at other staff.
Careful, Valkie. Lumi warns at my rising blood pressure.Remember where you are.
The moonstone’s warmth is the only thing stopping me from snapping at these men that they can’t treat me this way. They would never say such things to their Princess Talvie of the Hinterlands. I’ve never heard anyone in all of Havansarr speak so condescendingly to another. Do fae often say such awful things, just outside my presence?
“Where’s that mutt of a server, then?” Brin says.
I clench my teeth and force my tone into something small and meek. “Can I get him for you?”
Brin laughs as if I’ve told a joke. “What do you think, Silas? Can this little Wild One get us anything?”
“Nothing she’s got,” Silas answers with a sneering look up and down my body.
My skin crawls. It takes every shred of willpower not to snap back. My tongue itches with all the things I could say—shouldsay—but Lumi’s warning thrums in my chest.
Play the part, Valkie.
I try to pull my arm from his grip, murmuring something noncommittal, but before I can escape, a voice interrupts from behind me.
“Ready to go, love?”
The words catch me off guard, warm and familiar even though I don’t know the voice. I turn to see a Wilder Fae standing there, tall and calm with pale blond hair spilling from under his battered four-winds hat. His eyes meet mine with a soft steadiness that freezes me in place.
“I missed you today,” he says smoothly, stepping to my side as though he’s done it a hundred times. “Did you have a good day?”
I blink at him, my heart racing in confusion. “Uh…yes?”
He smiles, resting his hand lightly on my arm so that he can lean in close to whisper in my ear. “Follow my lead. Pretend I came to pick you up.”
There’s something about him I can’t quite place. His words shouldn’t work on me, but I find myself nodding along. “Yes. I was just finishing up,” I say, forcing a smile onto my lips.
“Good,” he says, louder now. “Have a lovely meal, gentlemen. If you’d be so kind…” He gently steers my arm out of Silas’s grip.
When he guides me toward the door, I allow it without resistance. Anything to get away from those men and their jeering that has me dangerously close to revealing myself.
As we step into the frosty night, the warmth of the tavern fades, and frigid air smacks me in the face with reality. My irritation over the men fades quickly beneath questions tumbling over one another in my mind, all fighting to be asked at once, beginning with,who is this man?
Chapter 6
Lark
Jeers from the men follow us out, but their insults are nothing new. Truly lacking. I’ve heard worse at playgrounds.
Outside, I drop my arm from the slender shoulders of the woman beside me, giving her space. I don’t want to add to her obvious discomfort any more than necessary.
