A Feytal Encounter

Chapter 8

     Bronwyn could see Adanma, Elton, and several other Fey grouped under the Golden Tree below the cage. They had been deliberating for hours, though the wolves couldn't hear the details. Whatever they were arguing over, they seemed pretty evenly divided down the middle. Bronwyn was amused to see that Elton seemed to be on the opposite side of Adanma. The Golden Tree cast a soft light over the Fey, and every time Adanma turned her head just so, her hair glowed and she had a shining halo. She looked like a divine leader–a warrior princess, which...she was. If she had been a wolf–oof. That was not a thing Bronwyn should start thinking about. Oh, but if Adanma was a wolf, she'd be a great asset. A great ass–right, well, anyway, she'd be a helpful fighter.

      "Ultimately, Elton," Adanma's frustrated voice drifted into hearing. "This is not a democracy!"

     "You're letting your naivety blind you!" he shouted back. All the other Fey started backing away.

     "Me? Naive? I was there when the wolves murdered my whole family! My entire village! When they destroyed the most valuable Fey heirlooms! You think I trust them?!"

     "You hid, Adanma! You hid while everyone around was murdered!"

     Bronwyn gave a sharp breath. Even Andrea was peering below, watching the fight take place. The other Fey had disappeared into the trees, knowing that this didn't involve them anymore. Bronwyn thought they could see some faces sticking out of the leaves, but on second look, they were gone. What were they talking about? Elton's voice drifted up again.

     "Just kill them! That's what they would do, that's the safest option!"

Andrea and Bronwyn linked eyes, realizing that this was a counsel on their fate.

     "No, they'd only kill some of us, they'd make everyone else labor miserably! It's about power!" Adanma's voice dropped and she moved towards Elton as she kept speaking.

     "We have to get out," Andrea's voice was hoarse. "We have to go before they kill us."

Bronwyn didn't respond.

     "If we tell them you're a royal, they can't kill us, they'd have to negotiate," Andrea hissed.

     "Or they're even more excited to kill us." Bronwyn looked at Andrea thoughtfully.

     On the ground, Adanma was still pleading with Elton.

     "We can use them! We can change them, they can't be all bad! We can learn from them, get information to use, maybe send them back with a message. Elton, I believe peace can be found! We could be on the brink of it!"

Elton stepped away from Adanma's reach with disgust. "You're a fool," he responded. Then he turned and stalked into the shadows. Adanma felt her chest constrict. This was not her first fight with Elton, but it was the first time he didn't believe in her.