A Battle of Pride and Desire

Chapter Thirteen

Brigette teetered on the edge of restless through the remaining two meetings. Her leg bounced up and down listening to different people talking about unemployment rates, child development as faeries and how best to accommodate them, investment in infrastructure. Essentially all things Brigette couldn't understand and Taran could. She just nodded mindlessly while they spoke with different Lords and Ladies. All she could think about was how she and Taran were going to be leaving the castle later. Today. Her stomach flipped at the thought. Taran had gotten her all excited by telling her they would be going to the markets. They had a whole plan set out for how they would play it for both of their safety. Taran would be recognised instantly, obviously, but he said that would be OK because the people wouldn't be too shocked by the sight of him. He told her that he goes into town most days so the people are used to him and he gets to learn about his people firsthand. Brigette would need to be compliant while they were out there; shout at him less he meant. The faeries would sniff out that she's human so according to anyone who asked, her dad was a warrior and was brought to Magmella from Erinea. He died just before coming over so Taran went to retrieve a daughter who could live here instead and that was Brigette. They would probably get the worst karma known to man but Brigette desperately wanted to see Magmella firsthand; meet the people. According to them all, Taran would be quite taken with her and that's why she'd been living at the castle - they had fallen in love. It all seemed like a well hatched plan but if the queen found out, they were toast.

Their final meeting on infrastructure was finally finished and Brigette did the usual bow and bid them farewell. When Taran and she were left alone in the room, she turned to him with a grin.

"Do we get to go now?"

Taran nodded, dragging her out the door with him, "The guards think we're locked in the library all day, we need to be back before sundown."

The queen would be home just after sundown as Taran had mentioned about fifty times since asking if she wanted to sneak out with him. She truly felt like a bold teenager, except if things went wrong she could die, so that was a nice feeling. They walked down a flight of stairs together and Taran led her into a living area, hand still on hers. He let it go as he walked to the window and Brigette tried not to whimper at the loss of contact. He cracked the window open a crack and peered out. There were guards, lots of them, even Brigette could see them from where she was standing. Taran had said he'd done this multiple times before but Brigette doubted his ability at the sight of them all. Taran turned to face Brigette and raised an eyebrow.

"There's no way we'll make it passed them," Brigette folded her arms across her chest.

"Never question a master."

Brigette scoffed but waited for him to continue nonetheless.

"Watch this," he smirked and jumped out the window.

Brigette ran up to the window to see what he would do. A few guards had already noticed him and were watching him. He just ambled over to them, hands in pockets and said, "Do not tell anyone you saw me leave."

The guards nodded and he did the same thing to each guard he passed. He was compelling them. Oh Gods, he was compelling them not to report him leaving to the queen. Brigette's eyes widened at his abrasiveness.

"Tell them to do the same for me!" she shouted across the lawn to him.

He gave her a thumbs up and did the rounds once more. Brigette climbed out the window and jogged over to them, her heart in her mouth, "Why did we have to climb out the window if you were just going to compel them into silence?"

Taran smirked, "Because it's more fun that way."

"Ass."

"You love it."