The Quicksilver Faire by Gillian Summers Read Free Book Online Page A

with Elia at his right and Miszrial at his left. Keelie sat across from Sean, who didn't seem thrilled to have Miszrial at his side but tried hard not to show it by making small talk. Elia was quiet now that her sole champion was gone.
    Saliel came forward and served each of them a portion of whole grain studded with nuts. It looked like vegetarian cat food.
    Elia's eyes brightened, but Keelie poked at hers. Diplomacy did not look tasty.
    "You asked about what is happening here," Terciel began.
    Yeah, about fifteen minutes ago, Keelie thought.
    "The Northwoods elves settled here long before the humans came to this land," Terciel began. "The Shining Ones came to these forests long before we did, as did other creatures of the Other Realm."
    Keelie wondered what other creatures he referred to. Talking cats? She'd never heard the term "Other Realm," either, although she was pretty sure it meant places like Under-theHill.
    Terciel nodded to Sean. "Your grandfather fought the dragon Avenir in these very hills and defeated him, to our eternal gratitude."
    "Dragons?" The little hairs on the back of Keelie's neck prickled to attention.
    Sean poked her with his elbow. She'd definitely ask him later.
    As Terciel spoke, Saliel served them a salad and giant grilled strips of what looked like steaks. Keelie's mouth watered.
    "Queen Vania keeps her people apart from us. In order to speak with her, you must ascend to the High Court."
    The High Court always sounded like something from a fairy tale. "So she doesn't come down here?" Keelie asked.
    "She has not been seen here in centuries," Lord Terciel said.
    "That's a long time not to say hi to the neighbors." Keelie took a tentative bite of the grilled thing. It tasted a little like steak ... from a slug, maybe. She swallowed fast without chewing and drank from the goblet before her, then almost spat. Wine. Holy cow. Dad would freak out. She tried to catch Sean's eye but he was wolfing down his dinner as if it was super tasty. Another reminder that she was not an elf, if slug steak appealed to elf taste buds.
    Maybe later she could go into town and grab a hot dog.
    Terciel was eyeing her expectantly. Right, the questions. "What keeps the elves and fae apart?"
    "The High Court engages in frivolous pursuits, while the elves work hard to maintain the forests. Yet the fae have much power. They influence the dwarves, and though they do not see eye-to-eye with the dark fae, they have power there as well."
    "How is it that the elves here can even see the fae?" Keelie asked. "The fae in the Dread Forest are invisible to the elves."
    "Some of us can sense them. And the High Court has always been visible to us. Their vanity would not let it be otherwise." Terciel sighed. "That does not mean that we agree with the Shining Ones. Over the years Queen Vania has ceased to listen to us, and now, despite the current predicament, she will not see us."
    "And she won't come here, so I have to go there?"
    "No, we have to," Sean interjected. "Your father charged me with caring for your safety."
    "What do we say to the queen? I've never met a queen before." Elia seemed excited at the possibility.
    "You've met Alora," Keelie reminded her.
    "She's a tree," Elia said dismissively.
    Keelie wanted to kick her. Alora was much more than just a tree-she was a gift from the Wildewood Forest, an acorn who'd ultimately saved the Dread Forest and become its Queen Tree, as Elia well knew.
    Keelie wondered where, exactly, the high fae lived. Not Under-the-Hill, where the dark fae lived in the Dread Forest. The Shining Ones loved light. Maybe at the top of one of the mountains? She didn't do well with heights. Elia would probably thrive there.
    "Lady Elia will not go to the High Court," Terciel said, glaring at his guests. "Her child must be protected, and the fae do not get along with elves, as I have mentioned."
    Elia looked stricken. She opened her mouth, but closed it again without speaking.
    Terciel stopped to turn his scary