On the fifth day, I decided to risk it. I’d hoped to warm them up to me so they at least wouldn’t immediately dismiss my request. Now I had to find a way to bring it up.

“Is this necessary?” 

Linden dropped their demonstrative stance with a frown, “Well, no. But knowing when to give a good shout might save your organs. A well-timed grunt tenses your stomach muscles.” 

“I’m tense all over when I’m in a life-or-death situation,” I replied, not feeling up for a long discussion about the validity of this particular move.

“The duel won’t be a life-or-death situation, and you will need to be light on your feet and flexible. Tensing uselessly won’t do you any good.” 

Linden held my gaze and did their best to look stern to discourage opposition. Unfortunately for them, I’d already made up my mind. Which, as it were, had been focused on something else entirely ever since this morning. I’d done my best to be present during training, but it was obvious I was distracted.

“All right. Clearly you’ve made the decision for both of us,” they said before walking over to the tree branch where they’d draped their silk vest and shrugging it on. “I’m a little disappointed. I figured you’d be more invested in learning how to fight, since your sister’s freedom is on the line.” 

I bit back a growled reply. They didn’t know it yet, but I was preparing to ask them for a favor, and I needed them in a relatively good mood. Being snappy would do the opposite. 

“I just can’t shake the feeling that Valerien’s plan won’t be quite as easy as he makes it out to be,” I admitted slowly. “I don’t think defeating Severin in a duel will be enough to truly win.” 

Linden gave me a long, blank stare. They and Valerien must’ve been friends for long enough to influence each other’s mannerisms, because it felt rather like something he’d do. 

“It probably won’t be,” they said with unusual grimness. “But that’s more reason to try harder. Even if Severin is weak physically, he’s still a high fae. He’s faster, stronger, more resilient than you. You won’t be allowed to bring iron to the duel to even the odds. And if you intend to fight him outside of a duel for some strange and unlikely and surely ill-advised reason, then all bets will be off, and he will use all sorts of tricks to get the upper hand. So you should take my instruction more seriously, for your sake. And for your sister’s.” 

With that, they began stalking back to Sorrow’s Nest, leaving me to stand there and stew in my own shame and guilt. 

They were right, of course. I shouldn’t have let my own doubts cloud my judgment in this. Combat training would be useful in this world regardless of my intentions toward Severin. And even if I suspected Valerien’s plan would fail, it’s not like I had any other ideas. 

I had to do my best. For Sinéad.

I caught up with Linden and we made our way back to the mansion in silence. It felt strangely empty, even if I knew it was full of servants hidden out of sight. Valerien’s presence had a way of filling out the emptiness. Or his subordinates had been instructed to avoid me whenever he wasn’t around.

“I’ll see you tomorrow then,” Linden said after barely stepping over the threshold. 

“You’re leaving already?” 

They gave me a strange look, “Yes?” 

Of course, they hadn’t stayed before and had no reason to do so now. After escorting me back to the Nest they’d always leave as abruptly as they arrived.

“Would you … like some … tea?” I offered, highly aware of how stupid I sounded. 

Linden’s eyes narrowed, “This is probably the worst flirting I’ve ever suffered.”

“It’s not that!” I hurried to say. Sighing, I capitulated, wondering what hubris had made me think I could fool a spy. “I wanted to ask you for a favor.” 

They immediately relaxed as an all too familiar look of smug superiority replaced the suspicion. Their eyebrows quirked in clear interest, and they waited for me to make my offer. 

I wasn’t sure whether I should be wary of their enthusiasm; I’d expected to have to convince them to do this. They weren’t eager to exploit me or go behind Valerien’s back, were they? Not that I should have any loyalty to either of them.

“Let’s go upstairs. I don’t think that’ll stop anyone from eavesdropping, but it’ll make me feel better,” I muttered. 

As I led them to my room, I turned the phrasing of my request over in my head, trying to find the best way to present it without making it sound like it’d be too much work for them. And, of course, wondering what exactly I’d give them when they inevitably asked for something in return. 

“This had better be good,” Linden said as they closed the door behind us.

I took a deep breath. 

“I want you to find Sinéad.” 

Linden pursed their lips without taking their eyes off my face. The fact that they hadn’t immediately said no gave me too much hope, so I kept talking. 

“You’re a spy for the court she’s being held in, so it should be easy for someone like you. I’m not asking you to bring her to me, I know you’ll refuse. I just want to know she’s alive and well.” 

“And if she isn’t well? What if I find out things you don’t want to know?”

“I don’t care what you find. I need to know the state she’s in.” 

They regarded me for a few tense moments. Instead of giving me a reply, they started playing with the golden bracelets around their wrists, feigning nonchalance, “And what will you give me in return?” 

Ah, there it was. I’d been mulling over that question since I first came up with the idea days ago, and I still had no answer. I didn’t know Linden well enough to know what they could want from me, and I had so little of value to offer as it was. Could I keep giving away promises of future help like I’d done with Valerien? Except he’d been the one to seek me out and already had payment in mind when he came to me. Linden appeared to be inconveniently self-sufficient. 

“I want your dagger.” 

“What?” 

They inspected their nails instead of looking at me.

“The one you keep under your pillow,” they said breezily. “You mostly use your axes, from what I hear. And it fits my preferred aesthetic sensibilities better, too.” 

“How did you—” 

“Know it was there?”

The lopsided, almost pitying grin they gave me was all the answer I needed.

Shamefully, I hesitated. 

Grandmother had given me that knife. Did I have any right to give it away, especially when I had no way of knowing if the information I’d get in return would be worth anything?

Then another, darker thought crossed my mind: why would a fae need iron? The obvious answer hung in the air between us and I couldn’t help but wonder who it was they were going to lift the dagger against and why. They wouldn’t come for Valerien, would they? The two of them seemed like good friends, if that even meant anything among the high fae.

I hadn’t expected this. I was ready to sacrifice myself, but the possibility of staining my hands with blood of the undeserving was a different tale.

Swallowing, I walked over to the bed. I stuck my hand under the pillows, where the knife had lived ever since my first night here. Linden was right there next to me before I could even unsheathe it and snatched it out of my hands. 

“Hello, pretty thing,” they whispered to the dagger. Their dark eyes darted up to meet mine in what felt like an arrow to the forehead. “Is this really iron?” 

“Steel. But it should do the trick.” 

“Indeed.” They continued caressing the blade with an almost sort of reverence.

“So do we have a deal?” I pressed.

Linden sighed, closing their eyes. Reluctantly, they sheathed and placed the dagger gently on the edge of my bed as if it were a swaddled babe. 

“Here’s the thing, sweetheart. Only three elves know where Sinéad is: Adora, Adora’s right hand, and probably Severin. If I were to ask any of them for information, especially Adora or Severin, it would be — and I think you’ll agree with me on this — very bad.” 

“But can’t you find her on your own?” I insisted. “You seem quite capable and … uh, wily? Shrewd?” 

They smiled pleasantly. “I appreciate the blatant attempt at manipulation, dear, but no. It is likely the very room she’s held in is enchanted to only let in Adora and her guards.” 

Right. So even if Severin knew where Sinéad was, he wouldn’t be able to touch her, just like Adora mentioned. That, I hoped, would at least remain true. 

Sighing, I sat down on the bed and took Grandmother’s blade in my hand. After finding out I wouldn’t be able to use it to find Sinéad, I wanted it gone. The fact that I’d hesitated at all filled me with resentment. 

Linden’s palm landed flat on the top of my head. I think they were trying to imitate a gesture of comfort, but who could know? 

“Oh, the sight of you makes my heart weep,” they said. “Tell you what … I would be able to, potentially, deliver Sinéad a message.” 

I jumped to my feet so fast it made Linden start, “Would you?” 

“No promises! But potentially, yes. Oriana, the aforementioned right hand, is a … collaborator of mine.” They coyly avoided my gaze, clearly demonstrating they were hiding something while also telling me not to pry. “If she doesn’t ask any questions, and I don’t give any answers, it would be possible for her to deliver Sinéad a letter, and maybe even let Sinéad respond to it.” 

I knew bitterly that I wouldn’t be able to send her anything. She could get hurt if someone found the letter — she was sentimental enough to risk keeping it for her own comfort. And it could reveal my plans to Adora. 

“No, I won’t send a letter,” I decided, reaching for the knot at the back of my neck that secured the wolf fang around it. Normally, I would’ve been hesitant to part with it, but their confidence gave me hope. “Make sure she gets this, and when she does, ask that she writes me a note in reply. Do this for me, and you may have the knife.” 

“Excellent! Then we have a deal!” 

I dropped the necklace in their open palm and they shoved it into a pocket on their loose trousers.

“Don’t lose it,” I warned. 

“Yes-yes, I know.” 

Linden sauntered over to one of the windows in the room and opened it wide. A chilly gust of wind whipped my hair across my face, making me shiver.

“I’ll be off, then. Oh, actually, it goes without saying that Valerien shouldn’t know about this. And do make something up for me if he returns while I’m still gone — I won’t be here to babysit you while I’m out there looking for your sister, remember?” 

“Please go already.”

“Tut tut. You shouldn’t be so eager to make me leave; I’m about the prettiest thing you’ll have in your bedroom for a while.” 

“You’re about to be the prettiest thing I’ve ever thrown out of a window if you don’t get a move on.” 

This made them smile. It wasn’t mocking or smug for once, but almost … friendly. 

“All right, you’ve worn me down,” they sighed dramatically. “You may call me Lin.” 

“Oh. Great?” 

They stood there for a moment with one foot on the windowsill, clearly waiting for me to fall on my knees and thank them for this monumental honor, before finally shrugging and leaping out into the air, where their form shattered and reforged into a little white-and-brown bird that took to the skies.

That went better than I’d expected.

This is one of those chapters that actually works better in a serialized weekly format than the original. Let me know what you think of Lin so far! <3