Page 107 of A Soul’s Awakening

“Besides a chance to say ‘fuck you’ to their masters, you mean? I am sure they wouldn’t say no to some Seels in their pockets. Most of them are indentured for life, after all,” Declan replied, finally lifting his face to Lance’s, but not quite meeting his eyes.

Helena patted her riding leggings. The Merman could hear the jingle of dwindling coins in her hidden money pocket. “I will pay, but after I’ve spoken to Beth. I don’t know who you are,” she said firmly.

Declan shrugged. “If you must. Leave the money with Simon when you’ve made up your mind.”

“Alright.” Helena nodded. “When is this happening?”

“Soon. Head back to the inn. Check with Bethy about me.” He cupped his chin. “I assume you’ll say yes, so I’ll need to put some plans in place. What’s her name?”

“Eleanor Neycur,” the couple said together.

“Good, wouldn’t want to get the wrong one out.” Declan nodded, a slight smirk playing on his lips.

The young man stepped out of Lance’s towering shadow and glanced into his eyes. The Merman glowered back. Declan side-stepped him and scurried off.

“We can’t trust him. I don’t like people who behave like that,” Lance grunted as he watched Declan’s smoke coloured cloak whip down the darkening lane.

“You were a little hard on him.” Helena sighed, meeting his face. “But you’re not wrong. He seems like he is a little shit, but Beth seems trustworthy enough, and she sent him to help. Remember, she gave us a room and told us where the manor was without even a second thought.”

“We need to check with her first,” Lance insisted. He felt as though he could at least trust the Blue Cap. “Before we go any further with Declan.”

“What choice do I—”

Lance shot Helena a withering look. “We.”

“—We have,” she corrected. “You’re right. Sorry. We. I am exhausted, frustrated, and angry. I know you’re here with me too, and I’m so grateful for that.” Helena took a deep breath. “What choice do we have, Lance? This is the only lead we have had since we got to Solas. It has already been too long. The longer it takes to get her out, the more chance there is that something awful has happened to her.”

“I know, Len. I know.” Lance folded her into his arms and pulled her into his chest. He pressed a kiss to Helena’s sweaty forehead. “We’ll check about Declan with Beth. If she says it’s alright, we can pay Simon. Then, when he comes back, we’ll see what he comes up with. Sound good?”

Helena let out a long exhale into his chest. “Alright. Good plan,” she agreed. “Thank you, Lance, for being here. It means everything.”

The Merman brushed his hands up from the small of her back. They patterned in and out of Helena’s curves, eventually landing on either side of her face. He stroked his thumbs along the bows of her cheeks. Lowering his head, Lance pressed a soft kiss to her lips, which she eagerly returned as she pushed back into him.

He broke the kiss, coming up for air, before touching his forehead to Helena’s. “There is nowhere else I would rather be, sweetheart. We’ll get El back.”

Bright Sun Inn was popular amongst humans and faeries alike. The humble tavern on the ground floor bustled with life. A spectrum of skin, hair, and eye colour, with a myriad of horns, tails, and wings, met Helena’s eyes as she and Lance sat at a small table eating their dinner. Dinner consisted of a rich, brown stew, which nearly overflowed their bowls. Each serving was chock-full of beef, tomatoes, and carrots. A large basket of bread had been placed between them, and Lance happily buttered slice after slice to dip into the liquid of the lightly-spiced stew.

“What do you think they want with her?” Helena asked, leaving half the soup untouched, anxiety turning her stomach.

Lance swallowed his bite. “We know from the Headmistress that she was chosen. The library in Nautilus, from what I can remember, only mentioned that it’s to serve a Fae Lord. That they get to pick a girl to take home with them.”

Helena swallowed, chest tightening at the thought. “Only girls, and to serve… I think we know what that means…”

The Merman placed his butter knife on the table, reached for her hand and grasped it in his, giving her a comforting squeeze. “Tides-damn… it’ll be alright, we’ll make sure of it.”

Helena and Lance managed to corner Beth after the dinner rush, when all the other customers had left. They took the opportunity to fire questions at the owner about Declan and his group.

Beth let out a bellowing guffaw into the empty tavern after she found out Declan had been spying on them. “He’s always been dramatic,” she mused, “but… he means well, and I did ask him to help you. I think about what I would do if it were one of my boys taken.”

“How do you know Declan?” Lance asked.

“My husband and I took him in. He grew up alongside my Simon,” the Blue Cap answered, nodding towards the young man who was busily wiping down empty tables.

Simon looked up with his bright blue eyes at the mention of his name and smiled shyly before continuing his work.

“You wouldn’t notice it walking down the street, but some are discontent in the capital, both humans and faeries alike. Solas is made for the Fae, for them to be comfortable and served. It’s why so many of them live here,” Beth explained. “Declan is probably more discontent than most and likes to stir others up. His human mother was… used… by the Seelie Lord of Emerald. She was a maid in his castle. He has a sister somewhere too, apparently, though I have never met her. Declan and his little group like to make acts of resistance. It’s nothing too serious – pranks more than anything. I do know he has friends at Tithe Manor, so it’s definitely possible he could get you in.”

“We can trust him then?” Helena asked. “I need to get my daughter back, and he’s the only one who has given me the chance.”