This has got to be the worst idea I've ever had.
I go in and look around, closing the door behind me. Lin is standing at a table in the hall. So is someone else. Lin looks angry, his face flashing to nervous as I come in. The other... faerie? Is she a faerie? She first looks confused, and then grins, like something extremely good has just happened. I simply stare at them for a moment, not quite knowing what to do now. I clearly did not think this through.
"My, my," she says, grinning at Lin. "A bit hypocritical of you, isn't it, dear?" I don't like the way she talks.
"You stay away from her," Lin snarls, having turned away from me, staring at her. She raises her hands up in defense.
"Oh, I would never mess with someone else's indebted," she says, still smiling. Indebted? "Especially not yours, now that you have finally embraced the family ways and gotten yourself one. You make mama so proud." Is that Lin's mom? "I don't know the story behind this, but I certainly approve."
"The surest way to know I've done something wrong," Lin keeps his eyes tightly on his mom so I can't see his face, but his voice is practically dripping with venom. I walk to him, keeping also my eyes on her. His body language tells me she's the greatest threat in the room.
"Does she have Aidan?" I ask him quietly. This seems to puzzle her, though she keeps her expression carefully composed.
"I think so," he tells me. "So you know we tried to look at some records you had sealed. You know which records they were?"
"Of course," she says, as if he was asking something stupid. The more she talks the more I dislike her. "How does she speak faerie? She can't have been here long."
Wait, I'm speaking some faerie language?
"None of your business," Lin answers before I have time to get any further with that thought. "Where's the boy?"
"Around," she's still smiling, now eying me curiously.
"We want him," Lin says, plainly.
"We?" she asks, arching an eyebrow.
"Me and her."
She laughs. "It's cute you include your human in sentences like that. Like you make decisions with her."
"I do," Lin says. She laughs again. The sound sends a shiver down my spine, but I feel grateful to Lin. He's been treating me like a friend, even though I've mostly been a nuisance. Of his own creation, true, but still. Her words strongly imply that's not a case for all -- or any -- relationships between faeries and humans.
"Oh, that is just precious," she says, eyes glittering, "You've come a long way, but you still have a long way to go until you're truly living up to the family standards."
Lin looks like he's about to say something, but I'm pissed off now.
"Well maybe your family standards are terrible," I say, loudly. Both of the faeries turn to look at me, stunned. Lin is looking at me mouth hanging open, eyes wide. His mom's face is a lot more composed, but it shows surprise too. So apparently the people here really don't expect humans to speak up. What is wrong with this world? It all makes me even more annoyed. "I haven't known Lin for long, but in that time he's never been anything but kind to me and helpful, and supportive when I haven't had any idea what's going on or what to do, and that's frankly how it should be. Not living up to your stupid standards is what makes me respect him. He is a better person than you will ever be, so don't you talk to my friend like that!"
Her composure cracks. She looks shocked I would speak up. It's her mouth that's hanging slightly open now. She also looks... angry? Because I dared to speak when I assume she feels it's out of turn? It's subtle, like she's still somewhat in control of her face, but it's there. I give her my best furious stare. I feel like I should be terrified of what's going to happen next, but instead I simply feel relieved. Free. I look at Lin. He's actually smiling now, and if I'm not completely imagining, his eyes seem to be tearing up slightly. Not nearly enough to cry, but he looks touched.
Thank you, he mouths to me while his mom is still staring at me, and I understand. I let the barest of smiles touch my lips, and then turn my angry face back towards her.
"Like he said," I tell her sternly, "We want the boy."
Boy? He's been missing for decades. But boy is what Lin said, so that's what I'm sticking with.
She stares at me for a moment longer, then seems to make up her mind about something.
"Very well. Let's play a game," she says, her voice even more silky and dangerous than it was before. "Boy! Come here!" she calls out.
A sound comes from upstairs. Lin and I turn to look at the landing above, though I can see he's keeping one eye on his mom, and I try too. A boy appears at the top of the staircase. Or maybe not a boy, but also not quite a young man either. He's maybe sixteen, maybe seventeen. He's been missing for over thirty years, but only aged five.
"Yes, Mistress?" he says, then notices us, and stops, looking stunned. "Beth?"
He thinks I'm my mom. He doesn't know his friend and brother are all grown up, and have kids of their own. People always did tell me I look like Mom.
"Oh, so we all know each other," Lin's mom smiles. Aidan is walking down the stairs, his eyes still wide. "That would explain why you want him. So, we play a game. If you win, you get the boy's debt. If I win, I get the girl's debt. I will even let you suggest the game."
I'm about to open my mouth to respond, but Lin nudges me and pulls me to the side.
"We can't win," he says as we're on the opposite side of the hall, very quietly. "I know it seems like we can, but we can't. It's not that I don't trust us, but that I know her. It's impossible to beat her in a game."
I don't say anything, just thinking quietly for a moment, my eyes closed. Then I nod to myself.
"I think I have a plan," I say.
A couple of minutes later we return to Lin's mom in the other end of the room.
"Very well," Lin says, formally, his eyes blazing. "I will play riddles with you. Three riddles per side. Whoever gets more riddles right wins. Whoever wins, gets the debts."
"Wait," I say, before she has to say anything. "No way, I want to play too, this is our fight, not yours alone. Teams have to be allowed."
"Well, if you think you can contribute to the game," she says with a smile, "be my guest. I accept."
______________________________________________________________
Oookay.
The next topic is something that fits the next part.
~matu
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