Page 34 of Earthbound

Yeeran could see Motogo’s eyes gleaming with greed.

‘It would be a genocide,’ she added.

‘It would,’ Motogo said carefully.

They would do it, Yeeran realised with horror. They would truly commit to the mass murder of all fae. Have I misjudged this? Are they only here to plot their invasion?

The boundary–do not forget it protects us, Pila said.

For now. What if Lettle discovers how to remove it?

That is a problem for tomorrow. Right now, the queen is coming–be the ambassador you have claimed to be.

Yeeran smoothed her brow lines and smiled as Furi came towards them.

‘Queen Furi,’ Yeeran said. ‘We were just discussing how important the fray is to the fae’s way of life.’

Furi stood so close to Yeeran that she could smell her. Her golden hair had taken on some of the smoke from the fire, adding a mellowness to her usual sweet perfume. Yeeran had to hold herself back from pressing her nose into the soft skin of Furi’s neck.

‘Way of life? The fray is our life,’ Furi said, her eyes flashing.

‘Of course. It is essential, we can see that now,’ Malak answered before Motogo could.

Yeeran shot him a grateful glance. Her hopes rested firmly with him now–if Motogo was intent on mining the fray, then Malak would be the only one who could convince them otherwise.

Furi addressed the chieftain. ‘Are you enjoying the banquet?’

Yeeran had encouraged Furi to keep her engagements with the elves to a minimum. Not because she didn’t trust her, but because she didn’t trust them. Furi was a unique personality, and her fiery temperament could often be misconstrued as a threat.

Because it often is, Pila said. The obeah had gone to join Amnan in the Tree of Souls. Their tails curled and intertwined with each other’s as they lounged among the tree’s branches.

True.

‘It is hard to enjoy anything while my people starve,’ Motogo said.

Malak’s eyes twitched as though he were going to roll them but stopped just in time. Yeeran understood the feeling.

‘Why would you bring your people to the Wasted Marshes then?’ Furi said lightly. ‘There is even less to forage here than in your Elven Lands.’

Furi caught Yeeran’s eye as if to say, Look how well I’m doing at diplomacy.

‘You killed one of our own, and we will always retaliate,’ Motogo said.

Yeeran watched Furi carefully. They were crossing a very rickety bridge, and if she swung the rope, they’d all plunge down.

But the comment seemed to trickle off her like water on feathers. She even smiled.

Oh no.

The queen turned her fingers through the fraedia necklace she wore and said to Motogo, ‘Which one are you again? The chieftain of Crescent or…?’

Motogo reached for an invisible drum, and Yeeran had to step between them before all her months of working on the peace treaty turned to dust.

‘You say you want peace but you insult me!’ Motogo shouted. Malak held onto the chieftain’s shoulders. He nodded grimly to Yeeran as he steered Motogo away.

I am a glorified shepherd, Yeeran thought as she too pulled Furi in the opposite direction.

The queen was laughing.