Page 115 of A Dance with the Fae Prince (Married to Magic 2)
As we walk around the circular city, Shaye tells her tale. She engaged with Allor for as long as she could, taking blows so that Davien and I could escape. Once Shaye had reached her limit, she activated a magic that she calls “the dreamless sleep.”
“And what does that do?” I ask.
“It’s a ritual of my own inventing—it’s how I escaped Boltov the first time. Think of it like wrapping myself up in the shroud of death. I can cocoon in it for a short period of time. Doing so stills my breathing and slows my heart to the point that it’s nearly impossible to tell that it’s still beating; it’s a sort of stasis. But if I stay there too long, I actually will perish.”
“So you made Allor believe she killed you and revived yourself after she left.”
“Yes. Butchers are always too eager to believe that they bested their kill. That no one can compare to their skill or ruthlessness. They don’t stay around to give burials or double check their finishing blows.” Shaye shrugs. “It worked once before, it worked again. Then I tried to find you and Davien. When I saw the remnants of a struggle at the keep, I went for Dreamsong.” All that time, Shaye was on her way just several steps behind us. “And, on seeing the ruins, I came straight here. I came to make good on my promise. I had no idea who else survived.”
“You came to kill Boltov,” I finish for her.
“I always said that I would…or, I will at least help the man who does.” Shaye’s gaze falls to my neck. “I take it he didn’t get the powers and that’s why we’re in this mess?”
“No, he didn’t get them. And it was my fault. If I had moved faster—”
“It was the fault of the Butchers that attacked you and Boltov for sending them,” Giles interrupts. “Don’t take blame when it’s not deserved.”
“Bloody Butchers.” Shaye curses under her breath. “Never miss a chance to ruin something, do they?”
We come to stop at a low-lying point in the hillside. A small stream rushes past iron bars set in the wall.
“It’s one of the water sources for the city,” Shaye explains.
“This will work nicely.” Raph scampers over, inspecting the bars.
“Move aside, kid.” Giles approaches. “Leave this to the man with the history of building.”
As I watch Giles begin to set up a small ritual on either side of the narrow riverbank, I feel hopeful for the first time. Giles and his knowledge of construction will help us get into doors, and out of tight situations. Raph is small and nimble. He’s also proved himself to be creative and resourceful—things we’re definitely going to need on the inside. And Shaye, she has the most valuable information out of all of us. She’s lived in the High Court before. If anyone is going to know where they’re holding Davien and how to get to him, it will be her.
I glance over at her, prepared to tell her how grateful I am that she’s here with us. But her solemn expression takes the wind from my sails.
“What is it?” I ask softly, so as not to draw Giles or Raph’s attention. Shaye stares silently up at the city, her chest rising and falling slowly as she breathes deeply—in through her nose and out through her mouth. “Shaye?”
“I can’t believe I’m finally back here,” she admits, bringing her eyes to mine. There’s a searching quality to her gaze, tinged with a frantic worry that I know I can’t calm. “I can’t believe I’m going back in. Willingly.”
“It’s all right if you don’t want to.” Boldly, I rest my hand on her shoulder, trying to offer some amount of comfort. In a small way, I think I can relate to the fringe of what she’s feeling. I imagine what emotions might smother me if I ever stand before my family’s home again. I would be terrified to say the least.
Shaye laughs softly and shakes her head. “I’m not upset. I’m proud of myself for coming back—for being strong enough to make good on my promise.”
“I admire you,” I say softly.
Shaye brings her eyes to mine. “And I admire you. Throughout all this you’ve remained resilient, more than I expected. You’re not so bad…for a human.”
A small pop interrupts our conversation. We both look back to see Giles lifting a section of the grate away. He rests it off to the side. Raph scrambles to try and help, but I can imagine the boy is not doing much in the way of heavy lifting.
“You both ready?” Giles asks, though his eyes are mostly on Shaye.
“Yes.” She strides forward with confidence, grace, and murderous intent. I watch as the woman willingly marches back into the den of her tormentor without the slightest trace of fear. No… That’s not quite true. I saw her eyes. She is afraid. But she’s not letting that fear win—she’s not giving him power over her anymore by allowing him to frighten or intimidate her.
I hope that someday I can be half as strong as Shaye. That I live long enough to try. As I cross beneath the wall of the High Court, I make a silent vow to myself:
I will go back to my family’s home, confront them for what they did. I will tell Laura to leave and to be her own woman—with me or on her own—and then I will leave them behind me forever. I will never be afraid of them again. I will never let them intimidate me again. I will not let the fears they have entrenched in the dark corners of my mind rule me.
Halfway through the tunnel, Shaye pauses, motioning for us to do the same. When she speaks, her voice is nothing more than a whisper. “This is going to drop us right in a busy area. Even at this time of night, there’s going to be people out on the streets—heading to or from taverns, or conducting business.”
“And with the water, there’s no way we can glamour.” Raph stares at his feet.
“Which means there’s no hiding.” Shaye nods.
