Immediately, Morgan’s rich, warm voice filled her mind, and it was such a balm to her abraded nerves she had to grasp at the banister to keep her knees from buckling. I am. You did beautifully, Sidonie. Now, hang on. You’re almost there. You’ve got a bit more you need to get through, and then you can rest.
Her breathing roughened, and her eyes prickled, but she was not about to face that walking, talking piranha with tears in her eyes. Pushing the emotion aside, she squared her shoulders and followed Kallah to a room that was much smaller than the great hall, more intimate, with plush, comfortable furnishings arranged into a sitting area.
Isabeau lounged on one couch, her feet tucked under her. Two men kept her company. One was Modred, who stood leaning against one corner of a fireplace, and the other was a Light Fae male Sid had never met before, who sat in a nearby chair.
The unknown male was speaking. “Quite a stunning performance, especially given her inferior breeding.”
“Indeed,” Modred said.
Sid’s gaze skidded over Modred. She could not look at him without remembering the smile he had given her down in that ugly, pain-filled room when he took away her reason for living.
But instead of squandering her fast-waning energy obsessing over past events, she turned her attention to the only person of relevance in the room.
When Isabeau saw her, she set aside her wine goblet, rose, and walked toward Sid with both hands outstretched. Sid drew back in instinctive alarm, but then she saw Isabeau’s warm smile.
When she gets what she wants, she’s all warm, pretty smiles…
“Musician! What is your name, again? Sid? Tonight was lovely, simply lovely. I had no idea you would bring such sublime music and beauty into my life!” Isabeau grasped her hands, gaze wide with delight. “Where did you get such an amazing gift? That one song especially shot such arrows into my heart!”
I wish I could shoot arrows at you with my music, Sid thought. Now, that would be a skill worth developing.
Aloud, she murmured vaguely, “Where does anyone get their talent for things?”
Isabeau squeezed her fingers. Her touch made Sid’s skin crawl. “Exactly!” Isabeau exclaimed as she turned to face the two men. “Talents are given by the gods. Who knows where they might land, or for what reason? Heaven can be housed even in a vessel such as she.”
Suddenly Sid struggled with an entirely inappropriate desire to laugh. She thought, Just when I think I’m all out of fuck yous, somehow, I manage to find inspiration for yet another one.
I might be done playing music, but my performance isn’t over yet.
Rallying, she returned the Queen’s squeeze. “Your majesty, I can’t begin to tell you how much it means to me that you enjoyed tonight’s music.”
“Why, you’re trembling!” Isabeau exclaimed. “I hear performing can take some musicians that way. It is the artist’s temperament. Do have some wine… you have earned it, my dear.”
“No, thank you. It’s good of you to offer, but if I drink wine right now I will fall over.” The fixed stare from the unknown Light Fae male was beginning to grate on her, and Modred’s relaxed presence compounded the feeling.
What could she do to make this nightmare end? She swayed, and caught herself up.
She had forgotten Kallah, who murmured in a tactful voice from behind her, “Your majesty, perhaps it would be a good idea to keep this visit short. Sid wanted to honor you, and she has been working night and day to prepare for this evening. Not only that, but she went through several challenging days before then.”
Isabeau’s expression cooled at the oblique reference to Sid’s time in prison, but she adjusted smoothly enough.
In a brisker tone, she replied, “Kallah is quite right. It must have been exhausting today, preparing to perform in front of the entire court. Well, musician, you pleased me tonight. You pleased me very much, and I look forward to hearing more of your beautiful music. Your performer’s hat is over here, on the table. I wanted to give it to you personally.”
Sid looked where Isabeau pointed, and her eyes widened. On a side table, a velvet hat sat. It was overflowing with flowers, coins, jewelry, and bright scraps of silk. “Are you saying that’s mine?”
The queen laughed. “But of course! My court loved you, and this is how they show it. You may also ask one thing of me as well. Choose carefully. A boon from me is no small thing.”
Sid drew in a breath as she tried to cope with the unexpected largesse.
As she hesitated, Isabeau watched her closely. She added, “And before you think to ask for it, no, you may not have your freedom.” She softened the statement with a quick, pretty smile. “I could never bear to give up such a treasure, now that I have found you.”
“But you can give me the freedom of the town and the surrounding land, can’t you?” Sid asked. “Fresh air and new sights are good muses. After all, it’s not as though I can escape from Avalon, anyway.”
An expression of comfortable contempt slid over Isabeau’s face. “No,” the queen agreed. “It’s not as though you can. Very well, you have earned it. You may have the freedom of the castle, the town, and the surrounding land, up to two hours’ walk away. But, come—that was too easy. Lengthening your leash was nothing. You must ask a boon for something worthwhile, otherwise I might feel insulted.”
Only Isabeau could make a gift sound like a threat. Sid was suddenly so exhausted, she could barely see straight. All she wanted to do was sleep, while this psycho tyrant prattled on about her boon like it was some kind of real goddamn gift.
How long would she have to live like this? The realization that she might spend years trapped in Avalon caused her to clench her hands. How could she survive here for so long?
“I want you to get me a violin, and a guitar,” she said suddenly. “As beautiful as a lute is, it isn’t my instrument of choice.”
Isabeau’s expression went blank with surprise. “Not your instrument of choice?”
“I play the violin much better,” Sid told her. “The guitar too.”
Isabeau’s lips parted. She breathed, “Better than how you played this evening?” Turning to Kallah, she ordered, “We must get these instruments at once! Make sure they are of the finest quality!”
“Of course,” Kallah murmured. “I will see to it first thing in the morning.”
“I also want a week to myself,” Sid said roughly. “I want to sleep when I feel like it, eat whatever I want, and feel sunshine on my face.”
And during all that time, she thought mentally, I don’t want to worry if I’m going to be killed or tortured, or feel like I need to brace myself to face some fresh hell. I want a week off, and I want all of you to leave me the fuck alone.
The light in Isabeau’s expression soured again, and she tilted her mouth as if she had tasted something she didn’t like. Tapping her foot, she considered Sid.
“To go an entire week without your sublime music is too much to ask,” the Queen said finally. “But I will give you this much. For one hour each day, you will play for me at a time of my choosing. I will not command you to perform in public. The hour will be for my own private enjoyment. Other than that hour each day, you may have the rest of the week to yourself.”
Behind her, Kallah touched Sid’s back quickly.
Taking the silent prompt, Sid bowed to Isabeau. “Thank you, your majesty. I’m most grateful for the respite.”
Isabeau waved a hand at her. “Now, go before you fall over and I need to order someone to carry you out. You’ve turned such a pasty white, it really is quite alarming.”
As she spoke, the unknown Light Fae male walked over to the performance hat. Working a ring off one of his fingers, he dropped it into the hat. Then he scooped it up and carried it to Sid, who gathered it into her arms. She hadn’t expected it to be as heavy as it was.
“Here is your very well-earned reward, musician,” he said as he gave her a look that seemed filled with some kind of significance. “I look forward to enjoying more of your talents soon. Isabeau, you must invite me for some of those private sessions.”
“We’ll see, Valentin.” Isabeau gave the man a blade-sharp look underneath a pretty, catlike smile. “I can get very jealous of my pleasures, and I don’t like to share.”