My heart skipped a beat. We stood on mighty steps to grand doors of the Fae Federation. There the title was carved into an arch proudly! I stood on his shoulder in sunlight, the clouds had finally parted. ‘

‘Thatch?’ I asked, noticing he hadn’t moved for them.

He was pulled from whatever thoughts had taken him and forced a smiled at her. ‘Ready?’

‘Beyond so.’

He walked up the yellow stone to the doors, where a guard asked his name.

‘Thea.’ The fae said from his shoulder.

‘Enter. But leave your arrows and bow here.’

He couldn’t hide the scorn across his lip, but obeyed, shoving them into the feldens chest. ‘I expect them back.’ He warned before journeying in. He stepped woodenly, hesitant.

Thea looked at him, ‘I’m sorry, Thatcher. I should have said this long ago, when we first met. Thank you.’ He looked at me from the corner of his eye, agitation of his own being held within him but he smiled for my words. ‘I never would have made it here without you. You have saved my people.’

‘You’re welcome, Thea Thorn, of White-bell-Rung, the Second.’

I was going to inquire why he was so open to helping, why he led me so deep into the city but the guards opened the doors before I could ask.

It revealed a spherical room a crescent table in the center filled with ten members dressed in the same robes. They were all suddenly transfixed on the fae, some muttering. Thatcher was the one to gain my attention. ‘Speak clearly and true with purpose and belief and you will have nothing to fear.’ Thatcher whispered as he walked forward, and extended his hand to the table for me to step off onto the smooth marble…

Silence. I felt the eyes trained on me as if the gaze had shrunk me, Thatcher bit his lip, thinking fear was compromising me. Truth and purpose. I thought. ‘Federation.’ I bowed. ‘I am a fae princess of the soilso realm across the river and over the thick forest.’ My words belonged to one of strength. ‘I came here for your aid. Felden-people have been snatching my citizens and those from other kingdoms. We do not know why. We have done nothing worthy of attack. While we are surviving this miracle is temporarily, I humbly ask for your service in our protection and preservation on the behalf of every endangered fae.’

After a moment one spoke ‘a princess has been brought, why?’

Her chest lurched, the back of my eyes aching. Thatcher noticed my shift in demeanor and grew worried. I swallowed ‘the king and queen has been snatched.’ My voice shook. ‘I don’t know if they’re still alive.’ I quickly took a breath to regain myself. I felt Thatcher looked at me with slight anguish. He didn’t know. Of course he didn’t i never told him but… I think he wish he did know.

‘Who is the one you brought in?’ Another asked, staring at the hunter as if a snake.

Pride filled my voice ‘he is the reason I can stand here today! He valiantly carried me here as hero’s do. But what requires our attention is the one who is taking my people!’

‘How do you know a felden is behind this?’ One blurted out.

‘Well-.’ I begun before another cut me off.

‘Fae have always had troubles with felden, trying to get us involved in every one of your troubles is ridiculous.’

‘Blaming felden- one of your many enemies could be behind this, what, a rat or a bird?’

I tried to speak but my voice was lost in the growing mumbles and separate conversations. Hunter’s eyes naturally flickered to the only one not talking. He suddenly saw it, like a hammer striking iron. It didn’t look like the eyes belonged to the body, as if an animal were masked in skin. It wasn’t a skin-snatcher but he hated it all the more because he didn’t know what was wrong with it. The eyes made his skin crawl. He looked to the nine others… they all suffered this affliction. His heart sped.

…What had he done?!

‘If we help the fae it could help with certain trades with the felden communities further south.’

‘You must inform us of the location.’ Another stated which played with a nerve in the hunters’ chest like a harp. He suddenly wished to clamp my mouth shut!

‘You-…’ it was like I had been drowned out my great speech washed away but that was hardly a concern anymore as I felt the breath knocked out of me ‘you will help us?!’

‘We shall.’

‘Thank you!’ I breathed, positively light-headed, electricity coursing through her!

The hunter swallowed, fists clenched, jaw tight but tongue slack to protest. Yet, his unnerved state was no proof to stop the meeting.

‘The locations?’ The same pressed.

‘Of course, I shall need a map!’

The hunters’ skin crawled, ‘but of course you don’t need such information. You’re not looking for fae cities but a felden settlement. I already know of a few places I saw on my travels which require search.’ He understood his malfeasance but didn’t regret it. ‘We shall journey with you.’ He finished. He looked at the faces: all but one suffered this hollowed look. Suddenly hot rage ignited from sizzling to searing deeper and deeper into his gut. His eyes fixed on the one normal-eyed and memorized his face. He clenched his fists and used everything in his power to remain still. It was too dangerous for me.

‘While truer’ another weaseled in ‘we could protect the cities, so not one more fae go missing!’

‘That is not necessary.’ He stepped forward.

‘Thatcher.’ I turned back whispering through gritted teeth. ‘It’s fine.’ I reassured with a smile, my soft face a sharp contrast against the councils flesh-eating eyes, making the hunters stomach twist.

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‘I’d be happy to share the location.’

‘Thea, remember my oath.’ His eyes bored into hers. To not leave her to the snakes and spiders again, abandon her in a time of danger. I looked at him with horror in my moment of triumph he was costing me everything. ‘Which reminds me,’ he walked forward and scooped me up ‘you’ve forgotten your morning prayers.’

‘Thatcher!’ I protested by didn’t struggle in his hands. ‘Thatcher please!’

‘Excuse us.’ He stated before hurrying to the doors.

A member stood ‘this is a vital matter.’ Guards shifted in front of the doors, blocking Thatcher. ‘You’ve travelled a so very long way. Stay here a while.’

Thea had seen worry, slight concern, on the hunters face before but never like this, never slashed with utter terror.

‘Thatcher…?’ my expression sagged with concern.

His heart began racing, he felt the hairs on his neck prickle…

‘We have many rooms prepared for visitors.’

His back was to them, but slowly he turned, smiling ‘how generous.’

A guard and council member uttered them to a living room, filled with bookcases, board games and seating. Despite his desire to run like a cord connecting him to the doors he forced himself to step in. The council member spoke up. ‘If you wish to wait here I could help us prepare.’ He extended a hand toward the fairy. The hunter glared at how his eyes were like that of a dolls’ jammed into the body of a man.

He turned his body away from him and spoke before I could try. ‘No. She’s even more tired than I am. Rest is the best thing for her.’ They couldn’t pry her away from him with a crowbar.

With a tight smile the councilmember looked at the fairy, cupped in two hands like a sphere, and after what felt like a long moment lowered his hand. ‘Very well. We’ll be waiting… just outside.’ He left the two alone and shut the door firmly.

In the strained silence Thatcher deflated slightly. He quickly looked around the room for anything peculiar, but saw nothing out-of-the-ordinary.

He placed me on a coffee table, and I jumped from his hand, arms crossed. He stood stationary, waiting to be chewed out.

‘What’s wrong, Thatch?’ I asked gently.

He met my eyes, surprised to see kindness and concern rather than pained betrayal.

‘There’s something wrong with the council, they don’t look entirely… normal.’

‘Perhaps they just fear for my people, too?’

No, he knew I couldn’t see it. Of course, they were so different…

‘Thea, you simply have to trust me. Something is… horribly wrong. I’ve made a grave mistake in bringing you here.’

‘My people need help Thatcher, please. I need their help! My people could be being snatched right now!’ Frustration made my voice squeak, eyes burn, tears threaten. He understood he was taking this victory and one I well-deserved.

‘You’ve come so far Thea. But we can’t throw it all away at the final obstacle. I need to know what is happening.’

‘Alone?’

‘You are the one I fear for, your people are the ones being snatched not mine, mine are the enemy. Don’t worry,’ he looked around the room, searching for something. ‘There are no snakes or spiders here.’

‘You’re leaving me?’

‘I can’t protect you if you come with me, I can protect you by hiding you here.’ He found it.

Extending a hand I stepped on.

He went to a bookcase and moved a few things for it to be the perfect hide away. ‘Stay here. If a council member comes looking for you, you can’t trust them, promise me that you won’t show yourself, even if they call your name, even if they speak of mine.’

He was scaring her. ‘I promise.’ my safe haven of the Federation was crumbling away.

‘If you feel the need,’ he cracked open the window beside the bookcase, ‘you run. I’ll be alright, do not stay for my sake- you run if your life feels endangered.’ He took out some flint and wedged it between the hinges so it would be a struggle to shut, least by the wind.

‘You’re beginning to worry me, Thatcher.’

He smiled in reassurance, understanding why the girl put myself in such danger, why I could never handle the silence. The horrid conversations in my mind on the fate of my parents and people.

‘You’ve been so strong in getting here. You’ve braved forests and beasts and stolen the most prized drugs under the noses of pirates- you have nothing to fear anymore.’ His words flowed like honey, eyes shining in kindness. I wished to weep.

‘When should I expect you back?’

His voice returned to its old self ‘an hour at the most. I’ll knock three times, no four times like thud. Thud, thud. Thud. So you know it’s me.’

‘Do you really think there’s danger here? And what of you?’ I referred to his lack of weapons, to his vulnerability.

‘I’d rather you safe than I wrong. Here. Breakfast.’ He offered some dried nut and fruit. ‘I’ll return soon.’ Then he moved a book to hide her.

With a nod, no bows, no arrows, he briskly exited the room.

I managed to see the clock. It was time for morning prayers. Going to my knees and threading my fingers together I angled my fingertips towards myself so it made a crisscross pattern and muttered:

‘In the halls of cut trees

I come to you on my knees

to plead for safety of my lead

in time of my peoples’ greatest need.’