The Witch and the Dragon - Beta

Chapter Twelve

The Fae ducked under another archway and led them onto a crescent shaped balcony. Alannah shielded her eyes from the sun's glare. The Fae called Winter was seated near the edge, on a chair strung with honeysuckle. But the sight that took her breath away was the view. A city stretched out below them, all twisted glass spires and rose-hued domes. Sunlight reflected off the towers and thew shards of light across the valley. It was as if an artist had sculpted the city from diamonds.

"Wow," she breathed. "It's beautiful."

Dameon shifted, frowning. "I suppose."

The servant murmured something in Winter's ear, and the pale-haired Fae beckoned them forward. "Ebel tells me you wanted to see me." His brow creased and he looked genuinely confused. "Are you not happy with the quarters I assigned you?"

Alannah elbowed Dameon before he could make a noise and the dragon pursed his lips. "That's not it," she said, adding, "sir," when the Fae's brow creased further. "It's just – my friends and I don't belong here. We'd like you to send us home."

The Fae held out a goblet and a figure slunk out of the shadows and took it from him. It was Rose, dressed in pink satin with her hair loose around her shoulders. She shot Alannah a pleading look.

"That isn't possible," said Winter, gently. "I cannot send you back."

"Cannot, or will not?" murmured Dameon and the Fae's eyes flashed.

"You are here on my hospitality alone, dragon. There are some who would have you skinned and your scales made into armour."

"I'd like to see you try," Dameon gritted out. "I could transform right now and burn this city to the ground."

The Fae looked smug. "By all means, go ahead."

Dameon was already muttering the words of the spell. His magic seeped into the air. But a moment later, his expression tightened and the fledgling spell fractured and died.

The dragon hissed. Alannah put a hand on his elbow, feeling a little shakier. She fingered the two rings of silk thread on her finger and wondered if her spells would be blocked, too. "Fine," she said. "Then we demand to see the High King."

Winter blinked at her. "You have no right to petition the King."

Alannah didn't let her relief show on her face. She'd heard that the Seelie Court had a King, but it had been a gamble. As was this. "We are prisoners in your realm," she said, tilting her head in a poor imitation of command, "and we demand to petition the Seelie Court for our freedom. They have to hear us." All truth, judging by the way the Fae's face darkened.

"Very well," Winter said, with a scowl. "But the girl and the knight remain with me."

"For the time being," Alannah replied, icily.

"Ebel." A moment later the servant appeared in the archway. Those ears had amazing hearing. "Take them out of the city," he said, "and lead them before the court when it convenes at twilight."

Only by a quirk of his eyebrows did the Fae betray his surprise. "As you command, my lord." He turned away without another word. Alannah threw what she hoped was a reassuring look at Rose and went after him. Dameon stayed close as they walked back through the glass and marble passageways.

"What's to say these Fae even agree to release us?" he said. He still looked annoyed and he was speaking aloud; maybe he'd given up on the idea of caution.

Alannah shrugged. "It's better off than staying here."

Ebel led them out of the house and into the streets of the city, where the breeze carried the soft sound of music. The paths were paved in white flagstones and framed by glass columns. Entwined over their heads was a mesh of honeysuckle so thick with flowers its scent hung in the air. For an absurd moment she wanted to take Dameon's hand just to feel something real.