The following morning, as Willodean and the other servant prepared my bath, I mulled over my plan. Phoebus had said they had various duties, and aside from running into him in the manor yesterday, I'd seen none of them around. So, locating Kallistê—alone—would be the first order of business.
A casual question tossed in Willodean's direction had her revealing that she believed Kallistê would be at the stables, preparing to leave for our hunt.
I was halfway through the gardens, hurrying toward the huddle of small buildings I'd spied the day before, when Phoebus said from behind me, "No hidden tripwires today?"
I froze midstep and looked over my shoulder. He was standing a few feet away.
How had he crept up so silently on gravel? Faerie stealth, no doubt. I willed calm into my veins, my head. I said as politely as I could, "You said I was safe here. So I listened."
His eyes narrowed slightly, but he put on what I supposed was a pleasant smile. "My morning and afternoon tasks have been postponed," he said. Indeed, his usual tunic was gone, so was his baldric of knives, and the sleeves of his white shirt had been rolled up to the elbows to reveal tanned forearms corded with muscles. "If you want a ride or a walk across the grounds—if you're interested in your new ... residence, I can take you."
Again, that effort to be accommodating, even when every word seemed to pain him. Maybe he could eventually be swayed by Kallistê or Oberon. I smiled blandly and said, "I'd prefer to stay today alone, I think. Besides, the hunt with Kallistê might take a while. But thank you for the offer."
He tensed. "What about—"
"No thank you," I interrupted, marveling a bit at my own audacity. But I had to get as much time with Kallistê alone, had to feel her out. She might have given up on me.
Phoebus clenched his hands into fists, as if fighting against the golden talons itching to burst out. But he didn't reprimand me, didn't do anything other than prowl back into the house without another word.
Soon enough, if I was lucky, Phoebus wouldn't be a problem anymore. I hurried for the stables, tucking away the information. Maybe one day, if I was ever released, when there were oceans and years between us, I would think back and wonder why he'd bothered.
I tried not to look too eager, too out of breath when I finally reached the pretty, organised stables. It didn't surprise me when none of the stableboys looked at me—either because I was not worth it or because they resented me for living in such elegance and wealth when I was just a mere mortal being. I didn't blame them.
Any attempt at casualness took a stumble when I finally found Kallistê astride a white stallion, grinning down at me with her too-white teeth.
"Morning, Eleena." I tried to hide the stiffening of my shoulders, tried to smile a bit. "You're finally here." I tried again to say something, anything, tried to recall the words I'd come up with earlier, the words to win her, but she laughed—and not pleasantly. "Come now. I'm curious about the ... abilities you have. It'd been a while since I encountered a human, let alone a skilled huntress. Indulge me in a hunt."
Perfect—at least this part of the plan had gone well, even if it sounded as lovely as facing a bear in its den. So I stepped aside to let the stableboy pass. He moved with fluid smoothness, like all of them here. And didn't look at me, either—no indication at all of having a skilled huntress in his stable.
But my kind of hunting couldn't be done on horseback. Mine consisted of careful stalking and well-laid traps and snares. I didn't know how to give a chase atop a horse. Kallistê accepted a quiver of arrows from the returning stableboy with a nod of thanks. She smiled in a way that didn't meet her sapphire eyes. "I would appreciate it if you didn't put the arrows in my back, Eleena."
I clenched my jaw to keep the retort from slipping off my tongue. I knew she was forbidden from hurting me, I couldn't fathom why she would invite me, save to mock me in whatever way she could.
So I shrugged, looking as bored as I could. "Well, let's go then."
"Perfect," Kallistê said, her blonde hair gleaming in the sunlight slanting in through the open stable doors. I prayed Phoebus wouldn't come prowling through them—prayed he wouldn't decide to go for a ride on his own and catch us here.
Kallistê motioned for them to prepare a horse. I leaned against a wooden wall as I waited, keeping an eye on the doorway for signs of Phoebus, and offered my own bland replies to Kallistê's remarks about the weather.
Mercifully, I was soon astride a black mare, riding with Kallistê through the spring-shrouded woods beyond the gardens. I secretly hoped that I could find black milkweed in the woods as I kept a healthy distance from the court advisor faerie on the broad path.
The thought didn't sit well, and I shoved it away—along with the part of me that marveled at the way the sun illuminated the leaves and the clusters of daisies that grew like flashes of vibrant white against the brown and green. Those were things unnecessary to my plan, useless details that blocked out everything else: the shape and slope of the path, the trees that were good for climbing, sounds of nearby water sources. Those things could help me survive if I ever needed to. But like the rest of the grounds, the forest was utterly empty. No sign of Unseelie Faeries, nor any Seelie Faeries mingling around.
"Well you certainly have the quiet part of hunting down," Kallistê said, falling back to ride beside me. Good—let her come to me, rather than me seeming too eager, too friendly.
I adjusted the weight of the quiver strap across my chest, then ran a finger along the smooth curve of the yew bow in my lap. The bow was larger than the one I used at home, the arrows heavier and thicker. I would probably miss whatever target I found until I adjusted to the weight and balance of the bow.
Five years ago, I'd used the last of my father's coppers to by a bow and three arrows. Ever since, I had allotted a small sum every month for arrows and replacement strings.
"Well?" Kallistê pressed. "No game good enough for you to slaughter? We've passed plenty of squirrels and birds." The canopy from above cast shadows upon us—changing from light to dark to light again.
"You seem to have enough food on your table that I don't need to add to it, especially when there's plenty of leftovers." I doubted a squirrel would be good enough for their table.
Kallistê snorted but didn't say anything else as we passed beneath a flowering wisteria tree, its purple petals drooping low enough to brush my cheek like cool, velvety fingers. The sweet, refreshing scent lingered in my nose as we rode on. Not useful, I told myself. Although ... the thick bush beyond it would be a good hiding spot, if I needed one.
"You said you were a court advisor for Phoebus," I ventured. "Do court advisors usually have so much free time?" A casual, disinterested question.
Kallistê clicked her tongue. "I'm Phoebus's court advisor for formal uses, but there hasn't been much these days. So I have more time now. Though, some days are such a bore."
I kept quiet, not knowing what to say. I might have been jealous that Kallistê was immortal and had all the time in the time in the world had she not said it so sincerely and regretfully that made me think twice. My first thought would have been that she was lying except, faeries couldn't lie. Which made her words ... true? I couldn't sort it out.
"So," she said, "when are you going to try to persuade me to beseech Phoebus to find a way to free you from the Covenant's rules?"
I tried not to jolt. "What?"
"That's why you agreed to come out here, isn't it? Why you agreed to my offer even after I wanted you dead." She shot me a sideways glance with those sapphire eyes of hers. "Honestly, I'm impressed—and flattered you think I have that kind of sway with Phoebus."
I wouldn't reveal my hand—not yet. "What are you talking—"
Her cocked head was answer enough. She chuckled and said, "Before you waste one of your precious human breaths, let me explain two things to you. One: if I had my way, you'd be gone, so it wouldn't take much convincing on your part. Two: I can't have my way, because there is no alternative to what the Covenant of Peace demands. There's no extra loophole."
"But—but there has to be something. I can't—"
"I admire your balls, Eleena—I really do. Or maybe it's stupidity. But since Phoebus won't gut you, which was my first choice, you're stuck here. Unless you want to rough it on your own in Asteria, which"—she looked me up and down—"I'd advise against."
But that was what I wanted, yet I couldn't just ... just stay here. Forever. Until I died. Maybe ... maybe there was some other way, or someone else who could find a way out. I mastered my uneven breathing, shoving away the panicked, bleating thoughts.
"A valiant effort," Kallistê said with a smirk.
I didn't bother hiding the glare I cut in her direction.
We rode on in silence, and aside from a few birds and squirrels, I saw nothing—heard nothing—unusual. After a few minutes, I'd quieted my riotous thoughts enough to say, "Where is the rest of Phoebus's court? They all fled because of these attacks on Asteria?"
"How'd you know about the court?" she asked so quickly that I realised she thought I meant something else.
I kept my face blank. "Do normal estates have court advisors? And servants chatter as well as the absurd warrior clothing Phoebus and Oberon sometimes wear?"
Kallistê scowled, tiny creases forming on her forehead. "They chose to wear warrior's clothing during these times. Some of the servants, too. But now, with the attacks happening at any time, we are best to be prepared."
"Who are those behind the attacks that have such an impact on Asteria?"
Kallistê let out a harsh laugh. "Something that was sent from the shit-holes of Hell," she said, then glanced around and swore. "I shouldn't have said that. If word got back to them—"
"Who?"
The colour had leeched from her sun-kissed skin. She dragged a hand through her hair. "Never mind. The less you know, the better. Phoebus might not find it troublesome to tell you about the attacks, but I wouldn't put it past a human to sell the information to the highest bidder."
I bristled, but the few bits of information she'd released lay before me like glittering jewels. A them who scared Kallistê enough to make her worry—to make her afraid someone might be listening, spying, monitoring her behaviour. Even out there. I studied the shadows between the trees but found nothing.
Asteria was one of the many faerie continents in this world. Perhaps there was a rivalry between Asteria and another faerie territory—if that was even possible.
"How old are you?" I asked, hoping she'd keep divulging some more useful information. It was better than knowing nothing.
"Old," she said. She scanned the brush, but I had a feeling her darting eyes weren't looking for a game. Her shoulders were too tense.
"What sort of powers do you have? Do you have golden talons like Phoebus?"
She sighed, looking skyward before she studied me warily, those blue eyes narrowing with unnerving focus. "How do you know? And trying to figure out my weaknesses so you can—" I glowered at her. "Fine. No, I can't grow golden talons. Only Phoebus can."
"But don't all Seelie Faeries have some sort of—"
"No, no. The Seelie Faeries don't have specific powers the way Unseelie Faeries do. I don't have a natural-born ability, if that's what you're asking. I don't see the future or lead travelers astray to feed on them or grant you answers to whatever question you might have if you are brave enough to face me. We just exist—to rule."
I turned in the other direction so she couldn't see as I rolled my eyes. "I suppose if I were one of your kind, I'd be one of the faeries, not Seelie Faeries? An Unseelie Faerie like Willodean, waiting to do whatever you say?" She didn't reply, which amounted to a yes. Since she would probably loathe me forever, since she'd ended my scheming before it had even begun, I asked, "What happened to your finger?"
It was the first time I noticed she had only four fingers on her left hand. What was left of her fifth finger on that hand was a burnt stump of skin and flesh. A shudder went down my spine as Kallistê hid her hand between the folds of her white dress. She looked straight ahead.
"I didn't keep my mouth shut when I should have, and was punished for it."
"Did Phoebus do that to you?"
"Vonain, no. He wasn't there. But that was how I met him." Her eyes flitted down to her hands.
More answers-that-weren't-answers. "So there are faeries who will actually answer any question if you are brave enough to face them?" Maybe they'd know how to free me from the Covenant's terms as well as where I could find black milkweed.
"Yes," she said tightly. "The Alger. But they're old and wicked, and not worth the danger of going out to find them. And if you're stupid enough to keep looking so intrigued, I'm going to become rather suspicious and tell Phoebus to put you under house arrest. Though I suppose you would deserve it if you were indeed stupid enough to seek one out."
They had to lurk nearby, then, if she was this concerned. Kallistê whipped her head to the right, listening, her pointed fae ears perked, alert. The hair on my neck stood, and I had my bow drawn in a heartbeat, pointing in the direction Kallistê stared.
"Put your bow down," she whispered, her voice low and urgent. "Put your damned bow down, human, and look straight ahead. Close your eyes if you need to."
I did as she said, the hair on my arms rising as something rustled in the thicket.
"Don't react," Kallistê said, forcing her gaze ahead, too. "No matter what you feel or see, don't react. Don't look. If you are closing your eyes don't open them. If you're not, just stare ahead."
I started trembling, gripping the reins in my sweaty hands. I might have wondered if this was a joke, but Kallistê's face had gone so very, very pale. Our horses' ears flattened against their heads, but they continued walking, as if they'd also understood Kallistê's command.
And then I felt it.