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Let them see what they wanted to see, let them look at the white shirt she’d donned in lieu of the leather witches’ jacket, the green cape draped over herself belted across the middle, and think her an unfashionable, unworldly traveler A girl far out of her element in this lovely, well-dressed city

She approached the seven Fae lounging outside the tavern, sizing up who talked hed loudest, who the five males and two females often turned to One of the females wasn’t a warrior, but rather clothed in soft, feure like a glove

Elide lance to the most in confirmation and hope of approval A broad-shouldered female, her dark hair cropped close to her head She bore armor on her shoulders and wrists--finer than what the other ered a few feet away, a hand rising to clutch her cape where it draped across her heart, the other fiddling with the golden ring on her finger, the invaluable heirloo on her lip, she cast uncertain, darting eyes on the soldiers, on the tavern Sniffled a little

The other female--the one in the fine blue clothes--noticed her first

She was beautiful, Elide realized Her dark hair falling in a thick, glossy braid down her back, her golden-brown skin shone with an inner light Her eyes were soft with kindness And concern

Elide took that concern as invitation and stu "I--I--I’ more to the dark-haired beauty

The stammer had always made people uncoer to get away To tell her what she needed to know

"Is so?" The female’s voice was husky--lovely The sort of voice Elide had always i, the sort of voice that made men fall all over themselves Fro, Elide had no doubt the female had that effect on them, too

Elide wobbled her lip, chewed on it "I--I was looking for solanced to the warriors, and toyed with the ring on her finger again "I s-s-saw your uniforht know him"

The merriment of the little company had died out, replaced by wariness And pity--from the beauty Either at the stutter or what she so clearly saw: a young wo for a lover who likely was not there

"What’s his naing by their sah to make her throat bob rather pathetically "I--I hate to bother you," she demurred "But you all looked very k-k-kind"

One of theanother round of drinks, and two of his coered seeo as well, but a sharp look fro

"It’s not a bother," the beauty said, waving a h she carried herself like a queen "Would you like us to fetch you some refreshardless of whether they had pointy ears or round

Elide stepped closer "No, thank you I wouldn’t want to trouble y-you"

The feh to touch the the weeks on the road But she politely said nothing, though her eyes roved over Elide’s face

"Your friend’s naruff voice the opposite of her sister’s

"Cairn," Elide whispered "His name is Cairn"

One of the males swore; the other scanned Elide froone still

"H-he serves the queen," Elide said, eyes leaping from face to face, the portrait of hope "Do you know him?"

"We know him," the commander said, her face dark "You--you are his lover?"

Elide willed her face to redden, thinking of all theto explain when she needed to relieve herself … "I need to speak with hi Maeve’s whereabouts would come later

The dark-haired beauty said a shade too quietly, "What is your na her nursemaid

"Here’s a bit of advice," the secondfroain"

His commander shot him a look "Cairn is blood-sworn to our queen"