Every step towards the silhouette of trees was too light, too swift, too soon carrying me towards whatever torment and misery awaited. I didn't dare glance back at our cottage.
We entered the line of trees. Darkness beckoned beyond.
But there was a white mare patiently waiting—unbound—beside a tree, its coat like fresh snow under the moonlight. She only lowered her head—as in respect, of all things—as the faerie strode up to her.
He motioned with a tan hand for me to mount. Still, the horse remained calm, even as he passed close enough to snap her neck in one neat motion. It had been years since I'd last ridden, and I'd only ridden a pony at that, but I savoured the warmth of the horse against my stiff body as I climbed into the saddle and she set into a walk. Without light to guide me, I let her trail the faerie. I wasn't surprised when we headed northward—toward faerie territory—though my stomach clenched so tightly it ached.
Assassinate the Imperial Lords. I have to assassinate them and then I'll be free. Perhaps this was merciful of the Elders—but then, Japeth hadn't promised exactly, that he would provide the safety needed for my family. Faeries couldn't lie, but—perhaps they could smell them rolling off humans' tongues. Whatever is going to happen I the immortal lands, it definitely wouldn't be easy.
We'd likely go through whatever rift in the border he'd used to get here, to steal me. And once we were through the invisible barrier, once we were in the immortal lands of Asteria, there was no way for anyone to ever find me. I'd be little more than a lamb in a court of wolves.
My mind ran through the rough plan I had formulated a while ago to assassinate the Imperial Lords. It wasn't much, bits and pieces of what I could do floating in the back of my head. Japeth had said black milkweed would slow their healing, but I couldn't deliver the poison if the Imperial Lords didn't trust me.
I would suspect that knowledge of that weakness, of their susceptibility to black milkweed, was the only reason we'd ever survived against the Seelie Faeries during the ancient uprising, a secret betrayed by one of their own.
My blood chilled further as I uselessly scanned for any sort or changing to the surroundings which I'd learned indicated we were entering the faerie realm. I'd never seen the forest so still. Whatever out there, lurking between the trees had to be tame compared to the faerie beside me, despite the horse's ease around him. Hopefully, he would keep other faeries away after we entered his realm.
Asteria. The word was a death toll that echoed through me again and again.
Live in Asteria—he said I would have to live in Asteria, but what kind of dwelling? My horse was beautiful and elegant and its saddle was crafted of rich leather and decorated in jewels, which meant he has some sort of contact with civilized life. I'd never heard the specifics of what the lives of Unseelie Faeries or Seelie Faeries were like—never heard much about anything other than their deadly abilities and appetites. I clenched the reins to keep my hands from shaking.
As far as we humans knew, the Seelie Faeries and the Imperial Lords still governed the northern parts of our world. From our small island over the narrow sea separating us from the main continent, across depthless inlets and frozen wastelands and sandy deserts, all the way to the great ocean on the other side. I knew there were more faerie territories around the globe, some were well-built empires, some were ruled by kings and queens. Then there were places like Asteria, divided and ruled by the two Imperial Lords, one good, and one wicked, beings of such unyielding power that legends claimed they could level buildings, break apart armies, and butcher you before you could blink. I didn't doubt a single one of it.
No one had ever bothered to tell me why humans chose to linger in our territory when so little space had been granted to us and we remained in such close proximity to Asteria. The land was usually bare and barren, and we would have to sail to the continent to bring in grains and livestock. Fools—whatever humans had stayed here after the War must have been suicidal fools to live so close. Even with the centuries-old Covenant of Peace between the mortal and faerie realms, there were rifts and holes in the barrier separating our lands, cracks big enough for those lethal creatures of magic to slip into our territory to amuse themselves with tormenting us.
That was perhaps the side of Asteria I'd soon witness. My stomach turned. Live in Asteria, I reminded myself over and over and over. Live, not die.
Though I suppose I could also live in a dungeon. The faeries would likely lock me up and forget that I was there, forget that humans needed things like food and water.
Striding ahead of me, the faerie's skin glowed warmly, providing me with little light. I would probably fall asleep at some point, but I wouldn't allow it. I would keep awake for the entirety of the night and never let him out of my sight. If he were to change his mind about sparing me, I'd rather be prepared.
I fingered the hunting knife I had smuggled with me in my pocket as I contemplated my doom. It was a fat chance but perhaps this male could help me gain my trust with the Imperial Lords. I would have to befriend him, maybe even play helpless doe, to try and climb my ranks to the Imperial Lord. I would also have to try and pry answers out of him. Ask him more about the black milkweed and its location. The plan was risky, full of doubts and things that could go wrong, perhaps even costing my own life. But it was the best I had, and at least I would die knowing I had tried.
I took in the way the faerie moved like gliding over water, trying to find any—any—weakness. I could detect none.
"What manner of faerie are you?" I asked, needing to learn more about him. My words nearly swallowed up by the trees and blanketed night sky.
He didn't bother to turn around. He didn't bother to say anything at all. Fair enough. He all he would think of me is a filthy human after all.
I tried again. "Do you have a name?" Or anything to curse him by or to just get some information.
A huff of air that could have been a bitter laugh. Tendrils of hot breath curled from his mouth. "Does it even matter to you, human? What is my name to you?"
I didn't answer. He grunted in response as if he knew I couldn't answer his questions and we lapsed back into silence.
But I could reply. If I had replied my disguise would be uncovered, he would change his mind about sparing me and I would be dead. But perhaps I would escape before he decided to gut me. I would grab my family and we'd stow away on a ship and sail far, far away. Away from the Elders and faeries. Perhaps I would try to kill him, regardless of the futility and go into Asteria alone to fulfill my part of the bargain, just for being the one who came to claim my life—my life, when these faeries valued ours so little. Maybe I could survive. Maybe.
I opened my mouth to ask him again for his name, but a growl of annoyance rippled out of him and through the air. I didn't have a chance to struggle, a chance to fight back when a charged, metallic tang shoved itself up my nostrils. Exhaustion slammed down on me as I slipped into infinite blackness.
.____________________.
I awoke with a sharp jolt atop the horse, secured by invisible bonds. The sun was already high.
Magic—that's what the tang what had been in the forest, what was keeping my limbs tucked in tight, preventing me from going for my knife. I recognised the power deep in my bones, from some collective mortal memory and terror. How long had it kept me unconscious for? How long had he kept me unconscious for, rather than have spoken to me?
Gritting my teeth, I might have demanded answers from him—might have shouted to where he still walked ahead, heedless of me were it not for magic sealing my lips shut. But then, chirping birds flitted past me, and a mild breeze tinged with the smell of roses kissed my face. And I spied a hedge-bordered golden gate ahead.
My prison or my redemption—I couldn't choose which.
Who knows how long it had taken from my cottage to reach the barrier and enter the southernmost gate of Asteria. Had I been in an enchanted sleep for that long? Filthy faerie bastard.
The gate swung open without a porter or a sentry, and the faerie continued through. I took a deep breath as my horse started trotting. Whether I wanted to or not, my horse followed after him.