A Little Night Muse(6)

                He went with a wrenching sigh, as if she had torn the                     exhalation from him.

                Raze laughed again. “You are unkind, musetta.”

                She held out one wrist in mute evidence.

                The Ruiner shrugged. “I have nothing against cruelty. It might                     help in the task I’m giving you.”

                Adelyn stared down at her slippers. “I don’t suppose you want                     to write a poem?”

                “Hardly. I need you to find a thief.”

                “I am no Hunter.”

                “All the Hunters I have sent have...not returned. This                     particular thief is a Hunter himself. He took one of the Queen’s sylfana and is hiding in the sunlit world. I want you                     to find them.”

                Adelyn shuddered. “If he kills your Hunters—”

                “He won’t kill you. Quite the opposite. Your helplessness will                     inspire him to bring you closer. When you find him, contact me. Our Queen wants                     words with the missing Hunter and his sylfana.                     Perhaps words of a poetic nature, though I doubt it.” He smiled, inviting Adelyn                     to share his amusement.

                She never wanted to hear another poem ever. “Why would I help                     you?”

                “Because you must, to end your exile and return to the phaedrealii which justifies your existence. Your                     choice, musetta.”

                She stared down at her mangled wrists. Somehow, the damage felt                     deeper. “As you command.”

                “The Queen’s handmaid will prepare you.” Raze grasped her chin                     to tilt her face upward. “Do not fail me, musetta.”

                “Is that not one of my choices, then?” She could not turn her                     face away, but she closed her eyes.

                Raze left when the Queen’s handmaid arrived. EveStar brought                     Adelyn a satchel with salve for her wounds and spores to open the way between                     the worlds. Tiny will-o’-the-wisps orbited around them as they headed down a                     little-used corridor, and Adelyn wondered if she’d ever see that serene,                     flawless glow again. Her sob sent the closest wisp spinning on the eddy of her                     breath.