Again he said nothing. He'd told her what he had to say; he knew she understood the ramifications of it. He knew also it would be difficult for her to accept that one of her Elders had betrayed her.
"I have forbidden any Seelie to bring forth the Unseelie for any reason, under threat of a soulless death."
"Gee," he couldn't resist saying dryly, "you think maybe Darroc forgot?"
"Don't think I've forgotten the bad blood between the two of you!" she hissed.
"I'm not the one walking with Hunters!" he hissed back.
Another silence. Her fury at him was easing, turning toward another as she digested his news. The air was slowly beginning to warm again.
"And for this you had the Keltar fail to perform the ritual of Lughnassadh that keeps the walls between realms intact? You took it upon yourself to risk our worlds colliding?"
"It was the only way I knew to gain your ear. To warn you. No matter that my queen had chosen to punish me. I could not permit an enemy to attack her without doing all in my power to protect her. I will always protect my queen. Even," he added pointedly, "when she has stripped away my power to do so. Besides, it's not as if I didn't try to find Circenn first. It occurs to me now that perhaps you were the reason I couldn't find him"
"Perhaps I was," she agreed. "Perhaps he and his family have been enjoying an extended holiday on Morar."
Adam shook his head, lips curving in a faint sardonic smile. "I should have known."
She stated at him a long moment. "I must have proof of this. I must see this with my own eyes. I must carry firsthand vision back to the council."
Adam shrugged. "Use me as bait."
"And you seek what in return?"
"The honor of serving you," he said smoothly. "Though, there is also the small matter of the return of my immortality and full powers."
"There is something you owe me. I'm waiting."
A muscle leapt in Adam's jaw. "I said it in the catacombs, mere moments after you cursed me."
"I would hear it again. Here. Now."
Adam's nostrils flared. With an imperious incline of his head, he said. "I see now that countering you before the court might have been ill-advised, my Queen. I acknowledge that a show of my fealty might have better served you. It is possible I might have endeavored to find a more appropriate venue to air my concerns."
"And counted yourself fortunate I bothered to hear you at all."
Adam said nothing.
"Don't think I missed all the 'might haves' in that 'apology.' You still have not admitted you were wrong."
"I believed at the time that there were those among your council who had personal motives for advocating trial-by-blood. I was concerned then that they plotted against you. It would seem I was right"
Aoibheal smiled faintly. "Ah, Amadan, you never change, do you?" She eyed him measuringly. "You will leave protected land. You will make your way back to where he first found you."
"Yes, my Queen."
"The two of you will leave in the morning, then."
"You mean, I will," he corrected.
"Don't tell me what I mean. I said what I meant. You and the Sidhe-seer."
"I said I would draw him out. Gabrielle isn't— "
"Gabrielle? Lovely name. You sound fond of your human. You wouldn't be about to argue with me, would you? You wouldn't be about to try my patience further, when I've yet to tidy up after your most recent mess?"
Adam stopped mid-word; when he spoke again his voice was carefully dispassionate.
"When the Sidhe-seer," he rephrased, "agreed to act as my intermediary and help me find a way to contact you, I promised her safety in exchange. She has risked herself to aid us, we who hunted her people for so long. Her assistance has helped preserve your reign and the safety of all the realms. It has long been our custom to bestow gifts upon mortals who aid us. I promised her we would leave her in her own world when all was done, alive and well, free of any Tuatha Dé persecution, assuring her safety and that of those she loves."
"Grand promises from such a powerless Fae."
"Would you make of me a liar?"
"You do that often enough yourself."
Adam bristled. There'd been no need to say that in front of Gabrielle.
Silence stretched. Then the queen exhaled softly, a silvery sound. "Reveal this traitor for me and I will uphold your promise to the human, but I warn you, make no more. Amadan."
"Then you agree she should remain here. On Keltar land."
"I said that I will uphold your promise. But she goes with you. Darroc might wonder at her absence and not show his hand. If he has betrayed me, I want proof and I want it now. Before he acts against me and makes those in my court think it possible." The queen moved in a swirl of radiant light. "I will be watching. Lure him out for me and I will come. Show me Hunters at my Elder's side and I will restore you to your full power. And let you decide his fate. You'd like that, wouldn't you?"