Page 31 of Fae Tithe

“What?” Helena asked, easing her grip slightly.

“The Portson Fae Guard, they took her, for the Tithe.” The Headmistress grasped Helena’s wrist. “Please, I can’t breathe.”

Helena released her iron grip from the woman’s throat. “What did they take her for? Where did they take her?”

“To serve a Fae Lord, to the Tithe Manor, in Solas—” she replied, rubbing her red welted neck, eyes shining with fear.

“Serve? Solas? How could you let them take her there?” Helena spat, heart pounding in her chest.

“W-we cannot refuse the Seelie Court,” she stuttered. “It is an honour to be chosen.”

“Honour? Chosen? They stole her! She is a child! How dare you?”

The Headmistress shrunk against the wallpaper, palms up in surrender. “Well, I—”

Helena flung her hand up dismissively. “Lance?” She turned to him. “I’m going to get my daughter back.”

“I’ll go with you,” he muttered, glaring past Helena at the Headmistress. “Is there anything you would like me to do about her?”

She squeezed her eyes shut, thinking. When did they take Eleanor? How would she get her daughter back? What did the Headmistress mean by serve? Spiteful rage twitched her fingers, wanting to make the Headmistress pay for what she had done, but Helena knew it would achieve nothing.

“No. I won’t waste any more time on her,” she hissed. “Let’s go.”

“Are you sure we should just take off to Solas without supplies?” Lance asked, rubbing soothing circles on her back. He jingled the coins in his pocket with his spare hand. “I’ll get some rations for the road.”

Helena nodded back. Wasting no more time, she charged down the stairs, Lance a stride behind her. She ran into the school’s garden and burst into the street. Adrenaline pricked her veins, heightening her senses. Everything was so bright and loud.

“I’m going to get horses, fast ones,” Helena shouted over the crowd.

“I’ll get everything else.” Lance gave a firm nod.

“Sounds like a plan. After that, go back to Rose. Tell her what happened. I will meet you there soon.”

Lance squeezed Rose’s shoulder gently. He had informed of her what had happened to Eleanor. Her face crumpled in devastation, tears silvering.

“We’ll get her back. I promise,” the Merman comforted. For the love of the sea, I will make sure we get her back.

“The fucking Fae,” Rose sobbed. “The things they do to people, and no one cares.”

“I care, Red. They won’t get away with this.”

His gut twisted in despair as she wept. She had pressed her face into the fluffy hair of her sons, clutching the twins to her chest. Lance reassured the trio as they openly sobbed together, making the Merman’s heart break even further than he ever thought possible.

Helena finally approached the stall. Lance felt a flutter of relief in his chest when his eyes brushed over her. She was leading two tacked up, well-muscled geldings. Lance slung their supply bag over his shoulder. It held food rations for the road – cheese, flat bread, and dried fruit, enough for the week-long ride to Solas. Lance had also made sure to include a tinder box and flint, so they could have a fire in the evenings to sleep by.

“I will need to take the coin we made so today. These two and their gear cost me all I was carrying. The bastard who sold them to me knew I was desperate,” Helena growled.

Lance watched as Rose emptied their money tin, handing over every Seel and Sel. It was probably more than the women would make for the rest of the year. He made a mental note to make sure to bring them plenty of food from the sea when they returned, so he could fill their pantries.

“Bring her home, Len, please…” Rose sobbed as she clutched her sons on either side of her.

“Sell everything you can. Head back to the island. I will see you there. With El,” she promised with a strong nod.

A single tear slid down Helena’s cheek. Lance stepped towards her, reached out, and ran his thumb over her skin to wipe it away. Helena tucked half of the small fortune into the money belt woven into her riding leggings. She then handed the other half over to Lance for safe-keeping.

“I will bring the Circle back together. We will all be together again, soon,” she affirmed.

The Merman brushed his fingertips across her wrist. “Len. Take a breath. We will get El back. Everything will be—”