Drink Deep - Chloe Neill [64]
“We’ve been directed by the GP and Malik to visit the fairies,” I explained. “In order to ascertain how and where to do that, we need to talk to the fairies at the gate.”
She nodded in understanding. “And they require payment for information.” She stood up and walked to a file cabinet, then unlocked the top drawer. But before she opened it, she looked suspiciously at Jonah.
“He’s the captain of the Grey House guards,” I informed her. “He’s been instrumental in helping us deal with these issues. You know, inter-House cooperation and all that.”
She nodded, unlocked the door, and pulled out two blank Cadogan medals, which she handed to me. “Do everything you can,” she said, a tremor in her voice. “It’s hard to know how to react or what I should do . . . I don’t know what’s happening.”
“I don’t think anyone does,” I said, and assured her we’d do our best. But that didn’t make me any less nervous at the weight being placed on our shoulders. Not that I’d let that deter me. Cadogan, at least, was short on guards and barely had enough to keep watch outside. Who else could do it?
Medals in hand, we walked back to the front door and stood on the small stone porch for a moment, watching the fairies at the gate . . . and trying very hard to focus on the task at hand and not the chaos around us.
“I’m guessing you have more information about the fairies than I do,” I told Jonah. “Would you like to handle this one?”
He nodded. “I can take it. Although I’ve never met Claudia before.”
“Claudia?”
He smiled. “The fairy queen. The one they would die to protect.”
“Of course they would,” I muttered, then handed over the gold and followed him down the sidewalk.
Two male fairies stood point at the gate, their gaunt features exaggerated by their long, dark, straight hair, pulled back tightly at the temples. They were tall and slender and they both wore black, and when they realized we were approaching them, they shared a none too flattering glance.
Jonah cut to the chase. “We need information, and we have treasure to offer.”
The interest in their eyes was unmistakable; it might have been fair to call it “lust.” They had the same expressions of yearning you might have seen on an inveterate gambler offered a seat at a lucky table.
“What kind of treasure?” asked one of the fairies.
“Gold,” Jonah told them. He rattled the medals together in his pocket, and their heads twitched a bit at the sound.
“What information?” the fairy asked.
“We need to speak with the queen.”
Silence.
“And if the queen does not wish to speak with you?”
Jonah slowly lifted his gaze to the brilliantly red sky.
“The sky is on fire,” he said. “You are the masters of the sky; it is your realm. If you’ve done this . . .” Jonah began, but a look of menace from one of the fairies made him pause. The look in their eyes left little doubt they’d be willing to go the distance to protect their honor.
But Jonah was undeterred. “If you’ve done this,” Jonah repeated again, “your queen must have a reason. In order to assuage the humans, we need to advise them of it. And if your queen is not involved, then she will undoubtedly be concerned. We seek knowledge. That is all.”
The fairies exchanged a glance. “Let us see the gold,” said the chatty one.
Slowly, as if letting the excitement build, Jonah slipped the medals from his pocket. They dangled from their chains and spun slowly, and the fairies’ eyes went wild.
“You will find her in fortune’s tower,” said the fairy, reaching out his hand. Jonah dangled the medals above it.
“More,” Jonah said. “This is a big city.”
“It is the only remaining spire of what once stood strong.” He made a play for the medals again, but Jonah pulled them out of reach.
“There are hundreds of skyscrapers in the Loop,” he said. “A standing tower could be anywhere. That