Page 78 of Ballad of Sea and Sky

I sagged a bit, the strain of expending so much magic after a morning of training enough to make my nap a distant memory.

“We can’t stay here,” I rasped, Caspian guiding me to the sand as my knees buckled and holding me to his chest. “They’ll be back with more selkies. More soldiers with weapons and magic.”

“Let them try to take you from me,” Caspian growled, so fiercely that I couldn’t help but laugh.

“You have no crew and no sword,” I pointed out, cupping his face with my palm. “How will you fight them all off with an abalone shell?”

“You seem perfectly capable of protecting me,” he pointed out, nodding to the herd of kelpies who were trotting wetly over the sand back to us, Rannoch in front. “And the sea and winds will aid us.”

“It won’t be enough to fight off an army,” I said, shaking my head as Ran approached and nosed my shoulder wetly. “We can’t stay.”

You owe a debt, Little Goddess,Ran reminded me gently, his voice laced with concern. Someone who didn’t know him so well would think it was concern for our bargain, but I knew he was worried about me.I think you are ready to repay it.

“I want to change the terms of our bargain,” I said, turning to Ran and patting him on the neck with a wet splat.

That is not how this works,Ran replied sharply.We already came to your aid a second time.

“Of your own free will,” I pointed out, hoping the technicality would work against fae creature logic. “I summoned you, but you chose to answer.”

Ran snorted in annoyance, and the herd behind him grumbled and burbled in sympathy with him.You tricked us.

“It is inyourinterest that I stay long enough to save your lake,“ I pointed out, aware that the argument was weak at best. “Vitulus would have taken me, and then where would you be?”

Then we would drown your mate, Little Goddess, Ran pointed out angrily.

“And I might die of a broken heart,” I agreed, hoping that they took my bluff. I would have fought with all of my might against Vitulus taking me, and we probably could have driven them off ourselves, but I needed leverage with the kelpies to bargain for us both. “But you would still be without a lake.”

“What in the seven skies are you negotiating, Urchin?” Caspian murmured, glancing around at the agitated kelpies. He looked as if he were about to launch us both into the sky to escape, so I put a steadying hand on his knee.

“If I free your lake,” I said, trying to sound authoritative, “it will take a great deal of magic.”

This is true, Ran agreed, the instinct for truth in him too strong to ignore.

“More magic than reviving Caspian?” I asked, hoping I had gambled correctly.

Ran seemed to grind his teeth, and I knew I had won.Yes.

“Then the trade is not a fair one,” I declared, crossing my arms. The posture was not exactly commanding from where I was slumped against Caspian in the sand, but I hoped it worked a little. “And I request to alter it.”

You agreed to a favor, Little Goddess, Ran reminded me, clearly not happy with my newfound bargaining confidence.

“But I didn’t know the terms prior to agreeing,” I pointed out. “I didn’t realize the cost. So I desire additional recompense.”

And what, Ran bit out,do you wish from us to even the scales?

I glanced up at Caspian, trying to assess his wings. He might be able to get us to his home, but I had no idea how far he’d be able to get us while still healing. He looked fine, but there was no way he could carry us both such a long distance after snapping every wing bone only a few weeks before, fae healing aside.

But if he could manage the flight alone…

“I want safe passage for me and Caspian to his home,” I demanded. “Across the seas to wherever he directs.”

Ran canted his head, narrowing his gaze.We will offer you safe passage, Little Goddess. But only you. Your mate has given us nothing.

I smiled. Ran had responded exactly as I had thought he would. “It’s a bargain,” I said before he could rethink his offer. “Tomorrow.”

Ran twitched his ears, torn between annoyance and amusement.Tomorrow,he agreed.After you free Morar.

“Agreed,” I said, moving to stand. Caspian pulled me up, an arm around my waist supporting some of my weight.