Chapter 33- Fallen and Found

The Price of Promises

Liam’s POV

The King’s voice echoed through the grand hall, reverberating off the crystal walls. “The council will reconvene in private chambers.”

As the nobility filed out, leaving only the King, Queen, council members, and the Iele representatives, I couldn’t help but feel like a prize pig at a country fair. Trussed up and on display, waiting to see who’d take me home for slaughter. The familiar opulence of the Seelie Court, once a place of comfort, now felt suffocating. Every glittering surface seemed to mock me, a reminder of how far I’d fallen from grace.

The Iele leader caught my eye, her gaze sharp enough to cut diamond. I raised an eyebrow, unable to resist prodding. Despite the gravity of my situation, or perhaps because of it, I felt that familiar urge to push boundaries. “I don’t suppose you’d care to explain why you’ve taken such an interest in my promise-keeping abilities?”

Her smile was all teeth, no warmth, and when she spoke, it was in the lilting, musical language of the Iele. “Let’s just say a certain… friend of yours can be quite persuasive when she wants to be.”

I felt an odd surge of pride at her words. Kate had stood up to the Iele for me? The thought warmed me, even as it sent a chill down my spine. If this was how the Iele “helped”, I’d hate to be on their bad side. I couldn’t help but wonder what Kate had said or done to convince these ancient, powerful beings to intervene on my behalf. The image of her, fierce and determined, facing down the Iele, brought a smile to my face despite the dire circumstances.

Before I could respond, we were escorted to a smaller, more private chamber. The air crackled with tension as the Fae nobility and Iele representatives settled in for what promised to be a diplomatic battle royale. I could feel the weight of centuries-old alliances and grudges pressing down on us all, making the air thick and heavy.

My mother stood with several other council members, engaged in heated whispers. Papers and scrolls flew between them, their faces etched with urgency. Whatever they were discussing, it was clear they were scrambling for information. I watched her, feeling a pang of guilt. How many times had she had to clean up my messes? And yet, here she was again, fighting for me despite everything.

Suddenly, a commotion erupted near my mother. One of the younger council members burst through the group, waving an ancient-looking scroll. His face was flushed with excitement and fear, a combination I knew all too well. “My Lady,” he gasped, “I’ve found it!”

The room fell silent, all eyes turning to the scroll. My mother’s face lit up with triumph as she examined it, and I felt a flicker of hope. Then, composing herself, she addressed the room in the common tongue of the Fae court. I could see the effort it took her to maintain her regal bearing, to not betray the turmoil I knew she must be feeling.

“As a member of the council, I must recuse myself from any decisions regarding my son’s fate. However,” she paused for effect, and I found myself holding my breath, “we have uncovered information that may be… crucial to this matter.”

She unrolled the scroll with a flourish, her movements graceful despite the tension in her shoulders. “This map leads to Polovragi Cave in Romania, the entrance to the Temporal Tether’s resting place.”

The room exploded into chaos. Fae nobles shouted over each other, demanding to know how such secret information had been obtained. The Iele watched the spectacle with amused detachment, speaking among themselves in their musical tongue. I caught snippets of their conversation, though the commotion drowned out most of it. They seemed more entertained than concerned, which only added to my unease.

When the furor died down, my mother continued, her voice steady despite the storm of emotions I could see in her eyes. “The reason no Fae has ever succeeded in acquiring the Tether is simple. The path to it is guarded by seven trials, each corresponding to a virtue. These trials are designed to be impossible for our kind. Our very nature goes against the virtues they test.”

A memory flashed through my mind – the Unseelie spy in the dungeons, telling me about the seven trials. I felt a twinge of surprise. The bastard had actually told the truth. I didn’t feel too bad about not fulfilling my promise to share information in return though. Unlike my binding promise to the Iele, casual deals with Unseelie carried no magical weight. They were expected to be broken. They were conniving, deceitful creatures – it was only fair to give them a taste of their own medicine. Still, I couldn’t help but wonder if he’d told me simply because he was looking forward to hearing about my inevitable failure and death.

As my mother spoke, I couldn’t help but think of all the times my own nature had gotten me into trouble. The irony of being tasked with overcoming trials of virtue wasn’t lost on me. I forced a grin, hoping to project confidence I didn’t entirely feel. “Well, good thing I’ve always enjoyed a challenge.”

The real negotiations began, conducted primarily in the common tongue. I watched, fascinated despite my predicament, as centuries of political maneuvering played out before me. The Fae King leaned forward, his eyes glinting with a hunger I recognized all too well. “If Liam succeeds in retrieving the Tether, it will be housed here, in the Seelie Court, for safekeeping.”

The temperature in the room plummeted as the Iele leader fixed him with a glacial stare. I felt a shiver run down my spine, reminded once again of the raw power these beings possessed. “And why,” she asked, her voice dripping with disdain, “would we agree to such a thing?”

“Because,” the Queen interjected smoothly, her diplomatic skills on full display, “we have the resources to protect such a powerful artifact. And we would be willing to… negotiate its use, should the need arise.”

The Iele’s laughter was chilling, a sound that seemed to echo from the depths of time itself. “Protect it? From whom? Certainly not from us.”

The implied threat hung in the air, causing several of the Fae nobles to shift uncomfortably. The Iele were reminding us, none too subtly, of the power imbalance between our races. I found myself wondering, not for the first time, about the history between our peoples. What events had led to this uneasy alliance?

The negotiations continued, each side probing for weaknesses, making demands only to retract them in favor of something else. It was like watching a complex dance where one misstep could lead to disaster. I observed, trying to learn from their tactics, storing away information that might prove useful in the future – assuming I had a future after this.

“Perhaps,” one of the council members suggested tentatively, his voice barely masking his fear, “we could allow the Iele to borrow the Tether when needed, but it would remain in our possession.”

The Iele leader’s eyes flashed dangerously, and I swore I could feel the air crackle with suppressed power. “No,” she said, her voice brooking no argument. “The Tether stays with us until our new sister’s transformation is complete. After that, you can have it for all we care.”

The Fae King, clearly trying to salvage some dignity, leaned forward. I could see the strain in his face, the effort it took to maintain his composure in the face of the Iele’s casual dismissal of Fae authority. “Very well. But we must insist on a time limit. Ten eons, no more. If the transformation isn’t complete by then, your new member will complete the process here, in the Seelie Court.”

The Iele exchanged glances, a silent conversation passing between them. I tried to decipher their expressions, but their faces were as inscrutable as ever. Finally, their leader nodded. “Agreed.”

With the matter of the Tether settled, the Iele leader turned her attention to me. I steeled myself, knowing that whatever came next wouldn’t be pleasant. Her voice, when she spoke, was soft and melodious in the Iele tongue, but her words froze the blood in my veins.

“Listen well, Liam of Eldrin, for I will say this only once. Should you attempt to flee without completing your task, we will hunt you to the ends of the earth and beyond. We will pursue you through every realm, every shadow, every crevice of existence. There will be nowhere you can hide, no sanctuary you can seek. We will find you, and when we do, death will seem a mercy compared to what we have in store for you.”

Her eyes bored into mine, and I saw eons of cruelty and power swirling in their depths. It was like looking into the heart of a star, beautiful and terrifying in equal measure. “We’re certain our new sister wouldn’t mind. In fact, she might even thank us for it.”

I swallowed hard, feeling as if I’d just signed my own death warrant. The worst part was, I had a feeling they weren’t wrong about Kate’s potential reaction. The image of her face, twisted with anger and betrayal, flashed through my mind. I’d seen firsthand what she was capable of when pushed too far.

Another Iele spoke, her voice deceptively light. The contrast between her tone and her words sent chills down my spine. “It would be… unfortunate if you were to stray from your path. We so rarely get to exercise our more… primal instincts these days.”

The others nodded, their smiles promising exquisite torment. I was forcefully reminded that the Iele were predators of the highest order, and I was looking like prime prey. I’d always known they were dangerous, but I’d never truly appreciated just how terrifying they could be until this moment.

Finally, the terms were set. “You will have until the next full moon to complete your task,” the King declared, his voice heavy with the weight of the decision. “That gives you three days.”

“Three days” I muttered. “How unexpectedly… precise. And impossibly short.”

With the terms set, we returned to the grand hall for the public announcement. As the King declared the court’s decision, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of unreality. Was this really happening?

As the court began to disperse, my parents pulled me aside to a quiet alcove. Their faces were a mix of concern and barely concealed anger.

“Liam,” my father began, his voice low, “there’s something else. The Iele… they didn’t mention that this human you bound is a saint.”

I felt my stomach drop. “Ah… about that…”

My mother’s eyes flashed. “Do you have any idea what you’ve done? The political implications alone-“

“I know,” I interrupted, running a hand through my hair. “Believe me, I know. It was an accident, I swear.”

My father sighed, looking older than I’d ever seen him. “If you complete this mission – and that’s a big if – you need to ask this saint if she’d be willing to at least attempt to heal those still suffering from your… previous mistake. Especially your sister.”

I nodded, feeling the weight of my past actions settle heavily on my shoulders. “I’ll ask her. I can’t promise anything, but… I’ll try.”

As they turned to leave, my mother paused. “Be careful, Liam,” she said, her voice softer than before. “And… come back to us.”

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. Rosebud darted forward then, throwing her arms around my waist. “Don’t go,” she pleaded, her voice muffled against my chest.

I hugged her back fiercely, fighting the lump in my throat. “I have to, Rosebud. But I promise, I’ll do everything I can to come back.”

As I prepared to leave, a servant approached with Kate’s backpack that had been taken from me upon my arrest. I turned to the Iele, offering it to them, hoping that they would grant me a small favor. “Perhaps you could take this back to Kate?”

The Iele leader shook her head, a cruel smile playing on her lips. I should have known better than to expect mercy from them. “No, Liam. You made a promise to return her belongings. We expect you to keep ALL your promises.”

I slung the backpack over my shoulder with a sigh. At least I didn’t fail in my courier duties completely up till now. Nothing says “sorry I accidentally bound you to a magical realm” like delivering your underwear on time. The weight of the bag was a physical reminder of the promises I’d made and the consequences of breaking them.

The vortex opened before me with a flick of my mother’s hand, a swirling maelstrom of light and magic. With one last look at my family and the court that had been my home for so long, I stepped through. I tried to memorize their faces, knowing that this might be the last time I ever saw them.

The world twisted and blurred around me, a nauseating swirl of colors and sensations. Then suddenly, I was standing in Kate’s room in the demon hunter safe house in Hunedoara. The smell of dust and lingering magic filled my nostrils, and for a moment, I felt a surge of relief. I was back. Despite everything, despite the impossible task ahead of me, I’d made it this far.

The world around me had barely stopped spinning when I suddenly heard the sound of running footsteps, and a familiar voice shouting, “Kate?” My heart sank as I recognized the voice. Of all the people to run into, it had to be him.

I turned, coming face to face with a very surprised, very angry-looking Cyrus. His hand was on his weapon, his stance ready for a fight. I could see the questions and accusations burning in his eyes.

Bloody hell, I thought, as we stared at each other in mutual shock. Out of the frying pan and into the fire. It seemed that my troubles were far from over. In fact, they might just be beginning.