Queen Alpha (NYC Mecca #2)(72)
The gnome’s green eyes almost disappeared into his face folds as he shouted: “Ye ain’t no traders!” He said a few more things as he jabbed at my feet, but I couldn’t understand him. Finally he calmed a little and said: “Trader or not, we are low in food, so I’ll take ye up on yer offer.”
His accent was definitely an odd a mixture of Irish and something else. “Can I sample the foods to make sure ye aren’t lyin’?”
I nodded and slowly swung the backpack off my shoulder. Kade did the same, and even knelt on one knee so as not to seem so tall in front of our four-foot friend. The moment I pulled a paper sack of cashews from my bag the gnome smelled the air and stepped even closer. I held the bag out for him to peer into.
“What are they? Look like nuk nuts but more curved.”
I knew I couldn’t say cashews, in case they had nothing like that here, so I just offered him two. He popped them in his mouth and moaned. “Splendid!” His entire demeanor changed now that he saw we had so much food. Part of me worried we might need this food, but it was better to make friends and sleep in the village tonight. Maybe we could get him drunk on whatever did that here and get him to tell us stories. Help us figure out where we were and were we needed to go. Despite the fact I was desperate to get to Violet, it would be a huge advantage for us to observe some fae and learn how to blend in.
Kade held out his palm. Upon it were two dried apricots. The gnome snatched them from his palm and popped him in his mouth. After a few chews he giggled.
“What are two high born from the royal courts and a magic wielder doing all de way out in these woods?” he asked, sniffing Nikoli’s bag. Nikoli produced a dried piece of beef jerky and handed it to him.
High born, the treeling had told me, was their terminology for the tall, human-looking, pointy-eared fae.
I chuckled nervously. My trader story wasn’t going to work. We had him enthralled with the food now, but it wouldn’t last.
Kade called the gnome closer as if he was going to whisper a secret. The gnome stepped gingerly toward Kade, and I too leaned in, waiting to see what my mate would say.
“My lady here was a maid in the Summer Court palace, and I was a royal guard. We got caught … having a relationship, and were exiled.”
The gnome’s eyes popped open wide, but then he grinned. “Ah, she’s quite a looker, ain’t she?” He winked to Kade. The bear didn’t respond, but I could see tension lining his jaw. Of course, we hadn’t explained Nikoli’s presence, who the gnome was eyeing wearily.
“What’s his story?” the gnome asked, flaring his nostrils near my bag again. I dropped two cashews in his palm and he popped them into his mouth.
Nikoli pointed to Kade. “He’s my best friend. I got caught trying to help them get out of the palace.”
The gnome chuckled. “Two exiled high borns and a magic user in my woods? Frinnie won’t believe this.”
He began to walk away toward the village, then noticed we were still standing there.
“Come on, lads! Bring your food and I’ll agree to your terms. Two nights stay and some fine weapons. But no longer. I don’t need any more trouble with the Summer Court.”
Kade, Nikoli, and I shared a look. He had trouble with the Summer Court already? Interesting. I had no idea where on the map we were, but I intended to find out. I intended to find my best friend, get the hell out of here, and then get my crown back from Selene. You know the saying: All is fair in love and war? Well, Selene and the dark fae holding my best friend captive had definitely declared war, and I intended to bring it to them.