Bound to the Fae (Fae Mates Book 2) by Zoe Chant

Author:Zoe Chant [Chant, Zoe]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-08-07T18:30:00+00:00

CHAPTER 20

Cathy had regained some of her composure by the time they reached the village, which was just as well. They arrived at the small hamlet to discover the entire population lined up to greet them, hastily scrubbed and dressed in what passed for finery among peasants.

“Ferghal must have sent word ahead,” Aodhan muttered to Cathy as a strained, ragged cheer went up from the gathered crowd. “Look bored and aloof. I’ll sort things out.”

The village headman—an elderly faun with long, curving horns—was already coming forward, bowing so low that his beard dragged in the dirt. He was so apologetic about the poor hospitality that was all the village could offer, it took Aodhan a good ten minutes to convince the man that no, the great lady really did not require jasmine to be strewn under her feet, nor to be serenaded by the village children.

“My lady is weary from her journey,” he said firmly, interrupting the headman’s stammering offer of a six-course feast and a diverting display of maypole dancing. “She requires nothing more than a simple meal, a bath, and a bed.”

These, at least, were easily obtained. In short order, Cathy was installed in the headman’s own cottage, in an ornate chair next to a roaring fire. Goat-legged villagers scurried back and forth with steaming jugs of water and plates of food. They were all so eager to offer every comfort, Aodhan eventually had to resort to physically herding the entire lot of them out the door.

The moment the last faun departed—backwards, bowing the whole time—Cathy sagged. “Those poor people. They’re terrified of us.”

“They think we’re seelie nobles.” Aodhan grimaced as he filled a plate with fresh bread and thick slices of rich meat pie. “They’re desperate to ensure we don’t have any reason to complain to Ferghal. It’s in their interests to keep their lord happy, which means keeping us happy.”

Cathy looked unhappily at the enormous spread laid out on the table. “But this must be half their food supply. Aodhan, there has to be some way we can repay them.”

“I’ll take care of that.” He passed her the plate. “Eat, woman. You’re still as pale as if you’ve seen the Morrigan herself. I’ll go see what I can do.”

Taking a hunk of bread and a couple of apples, he slipped out to check on the osses. The two constructs had found a scraggly vegetable patch and were now standing head-to-tail amidst the yellowing cabbages, peacefully putting down roots. Aodhan conjured some water for them, and then spent a lot longer laying spells over the soil. By the time he’d finished, the powdery earth had turned rich and dark, and the vegetables were already looking perkier.

“There.” Finishing off the apples, he fed the cores to the constructs. The osses munched with every sign of enjoyment, even though the mashed pieces dropped straight through their wickerwork necks. “That should be better for both you and the villagers.”

A short walk around the faun village revealed a lot of potential for improvement.

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