Strangeness and Charm: The Courts of the Feyre by Mike Shevdon Read Free Book Online Page B

up more than once – not just with you but with other people. Maybe whatever it means hasn't happened yet."
      "Will you let me touch you?"
      "No."
      "Just for a moment. I swear I won't harm you."
      "What for?"
      "I just need to see… maybe I'll be able to say what it means. It could help you."
      "It could make it worse," I said.
      "I don't think so." She gave that nervous shake of the head again.
      I watched her and realised how thin the veneer of sanity was, and how close she was to doing something stupid. I couldn't leave her like this, not when it was my fault.
      "I have a proposal," I said.
     
    We arrived at the High Court without warning, which might not have been the best idea. Amber was in the room where the Ways terminated, sword drawn as she realised I was not alone.
      "Who's this?" she asked.
      "A guest – my guest." I glanced at the sword, and she lowered the point minutely.
      "You're not supposed to bring visitors, Dogstar."
      Angela was looking around wildly, disorientated by the unexpected landing.
      "She's not a visitor. Garvin told me to bring them in, well here's one of them. Angela, this is Amber. You can trust her. She'll protect you."
      Angela glanced warily at Amber, who raised an eyebrow minutely.
      Angela looked around. "Where are we?"
      "Somewhere safe. I need you to stay with Amber for a moment while I make arrangements. Will you do that? Just don't touch her or anything."
      "I won't touch her," said Angela. "She wears death like a shroud."
      "Great," said Amber. "One of those."
      I led Angela away from the centre of the floor in case anyone else tried to use the Way. Collisions were unlikely, but it wasn't a good place to stand. I led her so she could lean against the wall and I watched her take in her surroundings.
      "How do you feel?" I asked her.
      "I'm fine – that's quite a ride."
      "It's exhilarating to start with, but you'll tire quite quickly. It takes it out of you."
      "I went hill walking once, in the Lake District. We came down a scree slope and everything started sliding. Travelling on the Way – it was like that, only more so."
      "Sit down here, against the wall. I'll only be a few moments. I just need to let people know that you're here and get you somewhere to stay.
      "I'm not staying."
      "We'll see. It'll be OK."
      She slid down the wall, crossing her legs and watched Amber warily. Amber made a point of not watching her, leaning against the wall, closing in on herself. I had seen her stand like that for hours without moving, but with the potential to strike at any moment. No wonder Angela watched her.
      I left them and went up into the house, searching for Garvin. I found him in the hall talking to Fellstamp.
      "Dogstar. I was just coming to see you."
      "You were? I only just got back."
      "Yes, and you brought someone with you. Fellstamp, go and give Amber a hand, would you? I need a brief word with Niall."
      Fellstamp grinned at me as he passed. There was no sign in his movements of where I had run his shoulder through with a sword during my initiation as a Warder. The old swagger was back and his dark curly hair fell across his eyes, which sparkled under his fringe with amusement. To me his nose was too broad, his lips too full, but I also knew that among the female Stewards he was considered very attractive. It was rumoured that he'd slept with most of them.
      "I'll go keep our guest company, then, shall I?" He executed a neat half turn that kept him facing me as he passed, and as I came between him and Garvin, he winked. He spun back neatly and walked the way I had come.
      "What's up with him?" I asked Garvin.
      "Hard to say," said Garvin, "Our visitor wouldn't be female, would she?"
      "How did you know that?"
      "You know how Fellstamp loves to flirt."
      "I don't think Angela's his type."
      "I didn't know Fellstamp had a type. So she's called Angela. What's