The general consensus was that the Steward was ‘permitted’ to make small decisions of matters of bureaucratic import and that he acted as a conduit to keep the others in check. Apart from the destruction of the Adair Clan, Aifric had done well to avoid outright war between any of the Sidhe groups. It didn’t mean there wasn’t still murder; it just meant there was less murder than if someone else had been in charge. Well, whatever he did, he wasn’t my damned leader.
No doubt in deference to Aifric rather than me, the others also stood, gliding to their feet in smooth, practised movements.
Byron addressed them all. ‘Good day to you all.’ He paused for effect. ‘I would like to present Integrity…’ He paused again and shot me a quick look, ‘Taylor.’
I felt an unexpected flash of gratitude that he’d used my chosen surname instead of Adair. The Sidhe Clan heads and royalty were taken aback and several threw startled glances in Aifric’s direction. To the Steward’s credit, he didn’t blink.
‘Well done, Byron,’ he murmured.
There was a chorus of assent from around the table.
‘You did well to bring her in,’ someone commented.
I balled up my fists. Yeah, go, Golden Boy. You brought the stupid Clan-less orphan in out of the cold. Let’s not acknowledge her personally though. I pinned my mouth firmly closed. The tension of being around all these Sidhe wankers was getting to me. The last thing I needed was to snark out some comment that would put them on edge and make them hate me even more than they already did.
Aifric, dressed in a similar manner to Byron, approached me. Watch it, I projected silently. Get too close and I might bite.
He put his hands out, reaching for mine as if to clasp them. I stepped backwards and crossed my arms. I might be trying not to antagonise anyone but I wasn’t the prodigal daughter returning home. I wanted it made clear that I was there under sufferance.
Despite the intake of breath from several of the other Sidhe, Aifric barely reacted. He gave me a flicker of a smile and a nod of acknowledgment, and returned his hands to his sides.
‘It was good of you come. May I call you Integrity?’
‘You may,’ I replied formally. ‘I didn’t have much choice. I had to come.’
Aifric’s facial features might be a match for Byron but his eyes were a brilliant blue rather than an emerald green. They fixed on me with surprising kindness. ‘There is always a choice. We are glad that you are here.’
I wondered whether that was the royal ‘we’. Judging by the dark expressions on some of the other courtiers’ faces, they didn’t share the sentiment. One gaze in particular caught my attention. When I recognised it as belonging to the Bull, I almost staggered backwards. I hadn’t realised he’d risen to the position of Chieftain for the Scrymgeour Clan.
I felt the familiar feelings of inadequacy but I wasn’t eleven years old any more, I reminded myself. I could do this.
‘Explain to me exactly how this will work,’ I said, in a clear voice that was free of tremor.
‘A delegation will ride out tomorrow.’
I choked. Ride? As in horses? Shite.
Aifric didn’t notice my reaction but I was certain that Byron did. I could almost feel the amusement emanating from him.
‘It will take just over a day to reach the Foinse. It’s not an easy journey and the rural location requires old-fashioned transport. There will be two representatives from Kincaid, Moncrieffe, Darroch, as well as you. Kincaid’s key opens the path. Our key – the Moncrieffe key – opens the cavern. Darroch’s key opens the bridge and your key opens the final barrier to the box, within which the Foinse resides.’
I nodded, trying to look wise. ‘And the key looks like…?’
There was a snort from the table. I was pretty certain it came from the Bull but I couldn’t be sure. Aifric barely reacted but I could swear his shoulders stiffened. ‘The key is you. The humans call it DNA. We are less prosaic. We call it your soul.’
Oh. That made a kind of sense. ‘No problem.’
Aifric smiled benignly. ‘All you have to do is whisper your true name and the key will work. The difficult part will be getting to the Foinse. Once you’re at the site, it will be easy.’
I stared at him. A tiny furrow crossed his brow. ‘Is something wrong?’
‘The, um, true name part.’
He nodded. ‘I can understand why you’d be worried about that. No-one will hear you say it. Every representative will be respectful. You have my word.’
‘She’d better be respectful back,’ someone muttered. ‘If she learns one of the others’ true names then…’