CHAPTER18
The seelie lands were not what she’d expected.
Between the tangled unseelie forests and Aodhan’s peaceful woods, she’d had the impression that all the fae lands were wild and untouched. Now, however, her oss’s wooden hooves clattered along actual roads, paved with stone and wide enough for a couple of cars. Neat, hedgerow-lined fields spread across rolling hills like a patchwork blanket, broken up by occasional small groves of trees.
Cathy couldn’t get over how familiar it all looked. She wouldn’t have been surprised to turn a corner and find a fish and chip shop, or a pub.
“It looks like England,” she said to Aodhan. “Or at least, what tourists think England looks like. Apart from the lack of traffic, we could be in Shropshire.”
“I’ll have to take your word for it.” Atop his own oss, Aodhan was tense as a drawn bow. He kept turning to scan the horizon, one hand on his wand. “But I wouldn’t be surprised if there are similarities. The seelie once considered your islands to be theirs, after all. Doubtless they shaped some of your lands to their own tastes.”
Cathy looked at the green, flowering landscape again. It was beautiful, all serene skies and gently billowing wheat, and yet it made the back of her neck prickle with unease. The countryside was, quite literally, an uncanny valley; something that was almost right, and thus deeply disconcerting.
“It’s too perfect,” she said, realizing at last what was wrong. “It’s like a theme park. Fake.”
“Oh, it’s very real.” Aodhan didn’t take his attention off the road ahead, where Noodle led the way with his nose pressed to the ground. “Which doesn’t mean it’s natural. The seelie are very big on perfection. And they’ve had uncounted millennia to adjust everything here to their liking, down to the smallest blade of grass.”
“It must take a lot of work to maintain.” Cathy twisted, searching for any sign of houses. “Where are the farmers?”
Aodhan let out a snort. “In all likelihood, flat on their faces amidst the crops, hoping we won’t pause for a picnic. Lesser fae know not to spoil the view when their betters ride by. Which shows that our disguise is working, thank all the goddesses.”
“What do we do if a high sidhe comes along?”
“Get off the road and hope they’re too busy with their own business to care about ours.” Aodhan’s jaw tightened. “If a high sidhe does decide to stop for a chat, you’ll have to do the talking.”
“Me?” Her heart lurched. “Why me?”
“Because they’ll assume I’m a servant, and seelie servants hold their tongues in front of gentry. Don’t worry. Any high sidhe will assume that you’re on some kind of quest for your court, and it’s not considered polite to pry too deeply into such matters. Be polite but vague, like you couldn’t possibly disclose any details without betraying your lord. Try to avoid a direct lie, though. A lot of high sidhe can detect outright falsehood. You’ll have to walk a fine line between misdirection and truth.”
Cathy swallowed hard. “I don’t know if I can manage that.”
Up ahead, Noodle had come to a crossroads. The puppy cast around for a moment, sniffing, then stiffened. He let out a sharp, urgent bark.
“Let’s hope you won’t have to.” Aodhan nudged his oss to a faster stride. “He’s picked up Kevin’s trail.”
* * *
Their luck ran out at sunset.
Up to that point, Cathy hadn’t seen any sign of life apart from a few distant thatched cottages (she wondered if these were actually inhabited, or if the high sidhe just liked having the occasional picturesque building to break up the view). They’d just followed Noodle down another side road when Aodhan’s head jerked up.
“Company,” he said, voice tight. “Call the dog back.”
Cathy whistled for Noodle. “Should we hide?”
“No.” Aodhan drew up his oss, steering it to the side of the road. “They’ll likely be able to detect us, and it would look suspicious. But we need to pull over. They’ll expect anyone of lesser status to give way.”
Cathy wanted to ask who—or what—they were, but she could already hear hoofbeats drumming down the road. Heart racing, she nudged her oss with her knees. The wooden elk grumbled, but picked its way across the drainage ditch and into the adjacent field. Noodle was already flat on his belly amidst the cornstalks, tail tucked between his legs. A low, worried whine rose from the black dog’s throat.
“It’s all right,” Cathy whispered to the puppy, trying to believe it herself. Wood creaked underneath her as the oss shifted from hoof to hoof. She patted its gnarled neck. “Easy there. Everything’s going to be all right.”
Aodhan dismounted, dropping to his knees. She started to slide off her own oss, but he shook his head sharply at her.
“Don’t look them in the eye, but keep your head up,” he said in a low, urgent whisper. “If they glance at you, nod in acknowledgement. You’re a changeling sorceress. They may outrank you, but you’re not intimidated by them.”
He bowed his own head submissively, though she could see the knotted tension in his braced arms. Mouth dry, Cathy did her best to sit up straight. She would much rather have joined Aodhan in the dirt.
I am an important changeling sorceress,she chanted to herself, over and over, as the hoofbeats grew louder. She kept her gaze fixed on the horizon. I am an important changeling sorceress. Oh God, I think I’m going to throw up.