As the blonde witch tried to flank me, I picked up a saltshaker from the table and tossed it into her face. She clutched her burning eyes and I used her momentary distraction to sweep her legs out from under her with a low kick. That one was momentarily down for the count.
The brunette witch recovered from being smacked with a chair and flung a whip-like strand of energy towards me. I grabbed a nearby patron’s drink and flung it at her. While itdidn’t hurt her or make her melt into a puddle on the floor like the Wicked Witch of the West, the liquid disrupted her concentration and caused the magical energy to dissipate. I quickly closed the distance and knocked the wind out of her with a sharp tap of my elbow to her chest. She crumpled to the ground, gasping.
“I told you, first come, first serve,” I whispered.
As I adjusted my stance, ready for the next round, a sudden chill filled the tavern—a sign I had come to recognize. The door swung open with a flourish and Klaus strode in, his presence commanding immediate attention. His lavender eyes scanned the room until they landed on me, a sly grin spreading across his face.
“Seems like I arrived just in time for the main event,” he announced wryly.
The witches, recognizing the new player on the scene, hesitated as their resolve faltered. “It’s…” they whispered, not daring to say his name.
I smirked and crossed my arms. “Took you long enough. I thought our deal was that you showed up anytime I was in trouble; notafterI’ve handled it myself.”
Klaus’s smile widened. As he approached, the witches backed away with fearful recognition. “Ah, but where’s the fun in that?” he quipped. “Besides, it looks like you were doing just fine on your own.” Turning to the visibly shaken witches, Klaus waved a dismissive hand. “Why don’t you ladies take a break? This table’s taken, and the show is over,” he declared to the awestruck crowd that had formed around us.
With grumbles and reluctant nods, the witches retreated and the crowd dispersed, leaving Maeve and I alone at the table with Klaus. He pulled out my chair with a courtly flourish and gestured for me to sit. “After you, my lady. Seems like you’ve earned a moment to catch your breath.”
As I sat down, still processing the quick turn of events, I leaned closer to the enigmatic fae. “Seriously, what’s going on? You didn’t come around the last few times when I needed you. What happened to our deal?”
Klaus’s expression sobered a bit as he took a seat opposite me. “Let’s just say the conditions of my confinement have...shiftedsince the night of the banquet. The emperor has his eyes trained on me now, more than usual. Showing up isn’t as simple as it used to be.”
I raised an eyebrow, intrigued and concerned. “So, you’re saying you’re being watched?”
“More like scrutinized. But let’s not worry about that now.” He waved off my concern with a flick of his wrist. “Tell me about this mess you’re in with the crown prince. Sounds like the kind of trouble that could use a handsome fae’s touch.”
I chuckled and shook my head, not surprised that he’d already heard the news. “You have no idea. But right now, I need to figure out how to get a message to someone without half of Dragon Valley finding out. Got any special fae magic for that?”
Klaus leaned back and mischief twinkled in his eyes. “Perhaps I do. But let’s make it interesting, shall we? What’s in it for me?”
Rolling my eyes, I leaned forward. “You're impossible.” But I couldn't help the grin tugging at my lips. “Let's just say if you pull this off, I owe you one. Abigone.”
“My lady!” Maeve warned. She’d been so quiet, I’d almost forgotten she was there. I gave her leg a reassuring pat.
“Deal.” Klaus extended his hand across the table and I shook it, knowing full well the kind of chaos I was about to unleash. But with Klaus, at least it was never boring.
The deal struck, Klaus settled into his seat and the rowdy atmosphere of the tavern seemed to recede into the background, giving us the illusion of privacy. I leaned in and lowered myvoice to ensure our conversation remained between us. “At the banquet, right before the emperor showed up, I overheard some pretty intense discussions about alliances and power plays involving your people. What happened after you and the emperor left the hall?”
Klaus's expression darkened, a stark contrast to his usual mirth. “Ah, that was a less than pleasant conversation.” He briefly scanned the room before returning his lavender gaze to mine. “The emperor has become increasingly paranoid over the years. Not only about the usual court schemes, but about the balance of power between dragons and fae. He believes that the fae, especially those of us with... certain liberties, are plotting to regain control over Elaria.”
I nodded, absorbing his words. “And are you?” I asked half-jokingly.
The corner of his mouth twitched upwards in a devilish smirk. “Let's just say there are many among us who long for the days when the fae were not confined to Faelight Forest. But as for me, I'm more interested in maintaining balance. Chaos for chaos's sake serves no one, especially not us.”
“Right, but when you left the hall with the emperor, what did he want from you?” I pressed, eager to understand the dynamics at play.
“The emperor wanted assurances—oaths of fealty and promises that the fae would remain neutral in any conflicts that weren't directly related to our realms. He's threatened by the potential of an uprising fueled by old grudges and new ambitions,” Klaus explained, his voice filled with frustration and resignation. “He also hinted that any misstep on my part would have dire consequences, not just for me but for all fae under his rule.”
I raised a brow. “And you agreed to his terms?” How could someone as free-spirited as Klaus accept such constraints?
Klaus leaned back, his eyes narrowing thoughtfully. “I did what I must to keep the peace—for now. But agreements made under duress are as fragile as the paper on which they're written.”
“That’s not very fae of you. I thought the fae couldn’t lie.”
Klaus softly chuckled, the sound almost lost amid the raucous laughter and clinking glasses around us. “Ah, but there's a difference between lying and not telling the whole truth. The fae may be bound by their words, but we're also masters of omission and interpretation.”
I raised an eyebrow, intrigued by his wordplay. “Sounds like you're walking a fine line. So, what's therealplay here?”
His gaze flickered with something sharp and quick, like the flash of a blade in the dark. “Survival, first and foremost,” he replied, his voice dropping to a murmur that barely carried over the table. “But beyond that, it's about weaving a new era from the old threads of power. The emperor thinks he's using me, but...” Klaus paused, a sly grin curving his lips, “...he's not the only one who can pull strings.”
