The Goblin's Heir

Chapter Fifty Five: Human Nature

The faces of the human survivors betrayed the feelings their murmuring already had. Fear, distrust, desperation, it all twisted their faces, shrilled their voices, brightened their eyes like a fever. They filled the courtyard, surrounding our small party, their eyes focused, not on us, but the shifting city buried beneath a heap of living vines that peaked just over the walls of their fortress. They looked at us suddenly, not as what we had been to them these several days, but what we truly were. Not saviors, not answered prayers, but monsters that had been let through the door.

If only they knew how I viewed them.

Upon returning, Bran had gathered them all here at Cat's request. She stood apart from us, between her fae family and the humans, and informed them of our plan to evacuate from the Tower to the City of Thorns. 

The humans squawked among themselves, shaking their heads fiercely. So many never turned their eyes away from the terrifying sight of Thorns, while others turned their heads to Bran, expecting him to say something. 

"You would have us leave the safety of the Tower?" One man with thinning blond hair and a fat belly spat with what sounded like actual disgust. "Are you completely insane? We barely made it here!" Many from the crowd announced their agreement. 

Cat stood her ground. "The Tower has served you well thus far, but we must evacuate. It cannot withstand the horde forever even with the Unseelie's help."

"And where would they be going?" A woman in a finely made yellow dress demanded. "Hasn't your husband promised to protect us?"

Bran shifted uncomfortably, his lips parting as if he wished to speak. Cat silenced him with a glare, but already she'd been shaken by their lack of respect. She began to falter in her resolve. "We...have a plan that may make the goblins stop attacking, but we'll need their help to do it...they...will be leaving with us shortly, to go north to the kingdom of the Seelie faeries." 

At this, the humans shouted and cried out in rage. 

The Boys tensed around me, reaching for their weapons. Dara pulled the bow from her back, ready to pull the string taut. 

"Let her," I whispered, stopping them with a held-out arm. Slowly, they slipped their weapons back into place. 

Cat took a few gulping breaths, steadying herself. "Eventually, they will be overwhelmed, as will be your armies and soon, this fortress. The City of Thorns was made to keep the horde out. You will be far better protected there." 

"They're going to abandon us!" The fat man shouted in horror, inciting others to begin to panic.

"No," Cat tried to soothe them like she was speaking with young children. "We're trying to help you." Cat insisted. "We are not abandoning you, we want to take you with us. It is risky, yes, but is safer than staying here." 

"The barbaric beasts are going to feed us to those things!" The man blustered. "Lord Bran, please, you must reconsider!" The humans' shouting rose in ferocity. 

My sons again reached for their weapons, sensing the tension rising while Cat continued to plead and beg. The girl had never truly lived among humans in many years, not since that last night with her father and mother. She had never had to learn how little her voice was valued among them. They always looked to men for leadership before women always valued what they deemed beautiful before what they deemed to be ugly. They didn't deserve her mercy. They didn't deserve any mercy at all.

I bit the inside of my cheek, old bad feelings rising with a vengeance. 

"This isn't going well," Ib whispered to me at my ear. I nearly jumped. I'd forgotten he was standing beside me. "Perhaps Bran should cut in? Reassure them? He's gained their trust."