Page 48 of Demure
For the second time in what Sierra hoped was the same day, the two men roughly dragged her through the maze of stone hallways. Sierra tried to soak in what information she could as they moved, hoping to begin to memorize the layout, but it was no use. She was in an unfamiliar land and an unfamiliar building, and nothing seemed recognizable from where they had been before.
The two men stopped in front of another wooden door, and Sierra held her breath as they pushed it open, immediately releasing it as she realized it was a storage room.
Dried plants and leaves hung from every available surface, and in the center, there was a table with a mortar and pestle, as well as supplies that she assumed were used to cut and prune plants.
Sierra was so busy observing what the room held as far as supplies went, she didn’t notice an older woman stand from a stool by the fire until she was walking toward them. She was shorter than Sierra by an inch or two, with dark hair that was pulled behind her head in some type of knot, revealing her pointed ears. Sierra couldn’t explain it, but she felt that the woman was older, even though she looked fairly young. Whether it was her wisdom Sierra was sensing or the way she carried herself, it was clear this woman knew a lot. She wore a simple black dress with some form of protective covering on top made out of what looked like leather.
The men holding her exchanged a few words with the woman in old Gaelic before they directed Sierra to sit on the stool by the fire. Once she sat, they released her arms, leaving the room and closing the door behind them.
“Hello, I am Slaine,” the woman said, her words heavily accented.
“Sierra,” she responded quietly, wondering where to start with all the questions she wanted answered. She decided to forego pleasantries and just go for it. “What is going on here? Why am I here?”
Slaine sighed. “They don’t keep me informed of all their doings in this castle, but you are in this room normally used for healing.”
“Healing?” Sierra tilted her head to the side, glancing for a second time at all the plants in various states of being dried, some of which hung only a few inches above her head.
Slaine motioned to her arm, to the spots Sierra had almost forgotten were there due to the craziness of the last few hours. “Your…rash.”
Sierra shook her head. “It’s not a rash…it’s a disease.”
“I know,” Slaine replied.
Okay, now Sierra was confused.
“My magic knew immediately when I saw you that this wasn’t something I could heal. But those two guards are waiting outside to take you back to the dungeon when we are through, so the least I can do is give you a few moments of peace.”
Well, that answered that question at least, Sierra was indeed being held prisoner.
“Why are they keeping me here?”
Slaine shrugged, turning to one of the tables to work with a few of the plants lying there. “I can’t say for sure, but if I had to guess, it’s probably because the king has been crazed in recent decades trying to break the curse that is taking their magic.”
“So, there is a curse then?”
Slaine finished what she was doing, turning to hold out a plate, which Sierra now saw contained slices of apple and orange. “No dear, there is no curse. At least I don’t feel one—and normally I can tell when a creature or being has been cursed.” Shemotioned for Sierra to take one of the slices, before taking one herself and sliding a second stool up to the fire.
“You should tell…tell…” Sierra suddenly realized she didn’t know the name of Aodhan’s father.
“Conlan,” Slaine cut in, clearly sensing Sierra’s predicament. “And I have. Many times. If you haven’t noticed, he isn’t a man who listens to anyone, really.”
“Is he the king?”
Slaine picked up another piece of fruit, watching as Sierra did the same. “There isn’t really a king here. There used to be, but a few hundred years ago, we replaced the monarchy with a panel of highly ranked advisors who make decisions for each part of Sidhe. Unfortunately, the members of the panel are still chosen based on noble birth, but at least the power is more equally balanced, and there aren’t any more of the internal wars which once plagued these lands as regularly as it rained.” Her eyes stared off into the distance as she was reminisced about past times. “But yes, Conlan is on that panel.”
Sierra took a bite of the apple slice in her hand, nearly humming at the delicious taste. Fruit in the human world never tasted this good. “Well, I guess I just have to wait until Aodhan comes then.”
Slaine’s eyes widened, and she set the plate down on the table to take Sierra’s hand. “He didn’t come with you?”
Sierra shook her head. “No, some Fae I don’t know kidnapped me.”
Slaine appeared even more surprised by that. But before Sierra could ask her more questions or ask how she spoke English so well, the door swung open, and the two guards stepped inside.
They exchanged a few words in old Gaelic, with Slaine speaking the most. Whatever she said apparently meant it was time for Sierra to leave, as she was suddenly roughly escorted from the room the same way she had entered.
Sierra wanted to protest, but she didn’t know what good thatwould do, considering they didn’t even seem to speak English. Either way, she decided to try.
“You don’t have to be so rough with me.”
