Through the Fairy Ring

Chapter Ten

A rush of adrenaline flooded my body as icy shock spread across my skin. "What? What did you say?"

"The Daragward is my husband. Have you met him?"

Why, yes. Yes, I have. I happen to have a thing for him, too. He didn't ever tell me about you, though. Must have slipped his mind.

"Are you all right? You look pale." Breeju's eyes filled with concern. "Is there something wrong?"

Everything was wrong, but I couldn't tell her that.

"I'm..." I coughed. "I'm fine."

Liar.

I swallowed several times and tried not to throw up. "It must be the stress."

"I can only imagine how upset you must be."

You have no idea. "Give me a second, okay?" I croaked.

"Certainly. Whatever you need."

I picked up Dara's reins and directed her a short distance down the path. I didn't know what to think. Heck, I didn't know how to think, anymore.

Arden was married. To a fairy. A beautiful fairy.

I wanted to race back to Arden's and confront him, hit him, fry him with a fireball. Why didn't he tell me?

Tavi and Zia pounded around the bend. She glanced at Breeju and trotted Zia over to me. "Are you okay? I came back when I saw the fairies fly off. I was so worried."

"I'm fine." My voice was wispy, stretched thin by the lie it contained. "Breeju came along and the fairies flew off."

Tavi's eyebrows furrowed. We'd been friends for over seven years, and she knew I was decidedly not fine. Before she could ask me about it, I gestured toward my savior turned nemesis.

"Breeju, this is Tavi, my best friend. Tavi, this is Breeju." I swallowed again and lifted my chin, bolstering my resolve for what I was about to say. "Breeju is Arden's wife."

Tavi's eyes widened, and her mouth dropped open. "What?"

Breeju smiled sweetly, but a hint of annoyance flickered in her eyes. "I'm starting to think my husband has been unmindful of our relationship."

I winced, but Tavi regained some control. "Oh, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to be rude. It's nice to meet you. I admit, we"—she turned a worried glance to me—"didn't know Arden was married."

"She also knows someone who might be able to help the Garron and Meara."

"You're kidding." Tavi's voice was flat.

"Nope. We were talking about it when..." I trailed off, not wanting to go back into the whole marriage issue.

"You came riding up." Breeju finished the sentence. "The pixies are distant relatives of the fairies, and know their tricks and many of their secrets. They also are more kindly disposed to humans and work to thwart fairy evil in Adven Realm."

"Pixies don't live here, in Darag-Realm?"

Breeju nodded. "They warred with the fairies to remain in Adven, and won. The fairies were exiled to the Realm, and most settled in Darag-Leigh, on the island called Shee-elan. The pixies have protected humans from the fairies ever since."

Tavi turned to me. "Can we talk privately for a minute?" She smiled at Breeju. "If you don't mind."

"Do what you must. But we have to leave soon. It's getting late, and the portal we need to use is a good distance away."

"It won't take long." Tavi said, and nudged Zia to a walk. Once we were tucked into the folds of the forest far enough from Breeju to avoid being heard, she turned to me. "I don't think you should go."

"I don't have a choice. The children are safe for the time being, but if we don't get an antidote soon, they'll die."

"Can't you at least talk with Arden?"

"No! The last thing I want to do is talk to Arden."

"You don't know anything about the pixies, or Breeju, for that matter. There's something about her I don't trust."

"The children are my responsibility, and I'll do whatever it takes to save them. Even if it means spending gobs of uncomfortable time with Arden's..." The words stuck in my throat. "Well, you know."

Tavi peered around a tree branch, back at Breeju. "But she might be dangerous."

"But maybe she really can help. She did stop the Frid-Adhar. She didn't have to do that. And it makes sense that the Pixies would have some way to combat the Fairies if they are protecting humans from them."

Tavi pursed her lips and crossed her arms.

"All right, all right! After we leave, you can go back to Arden's and tell him where I went and who I'm with. That way if something isn't right, you'll know. If we aren't back at Arden's at a certain time, you can come looking for us."

Her mouth pulled into a frown. "Fine, but only because I know I can't talk you out of it."

"You're right. You can't. But it'll be fine." I tapped on Dara's sides and maneuvered back to Breeju. "Which portal are we going to?"

"The one in Darag-Menid, a couple of hours away."

"So we'll back in Darag-Leigh around six o'clock, right?"

"About then."

I looked at Tavi. "So we'll meet you at Arden's then."

Tavi eyed Breeju. "Be safe," she said and guided Zia onto the pathway. "I'll be watching for you."

"You better be." I grinned, but Tavi only frowned deeper and urged Zia into a trot, heading for Arden's house.

Feeling strangely alone, I turned to Breeju. "Shall we go?"