goblin settlement of the Crimson clan and have your cousin brought here. All of our healers and magic users will work to bring her back to herself, her memories intact."
Asha blinked rapidly. That was better than she could have dreamed. "What service may I offer to the leprechaun city?"
Tuartha smiled slowly and a few of the folk in the council hall shifted nervously. "Whatever I command you to do. You will be my personal servant and companion for the entirety of your cousin's treatment. Welcome to the leprechaun city once again, Asha Warder."
Chapter Three
The council seemed embarrassed but Asha took it in stride. "Thank you for your welcome, High Lord."
She bowed formally. Whatever dignity she had, this was the time to hang onto it.
To her surprise, the whole collection of councillors filed out leaving them alone.
Tuartha got to his feet and came toward her. "I never thought to see you again, Asha. You have grown."
She nodded and swallowed as he continued to approach. Asha had forgotten how tall he was. The image of leprechauns that the humans thought of was but astral images of the real thing. Small reflections of a larger power, it was why they could never be caught.
"That happens to mortals, High Lord. We grow, we mature and we get taller."
He chuckled as he looked down at her from his considerable height. "Not that tall."
"What do you want me to do first?" She looked up at him, noting the small marks of stubble on his chin.
He took her hand in his, his thumb moving over the spirit band. "I see you kept part of our city with you after all."
It was on the ring finger of her left hand, a finger that her family reserved for marriage bands. It had been the only place the ring would sit, no matter which of her other fingers she tried it on. The moment it had touched her ring finger, the magic had been sealed.
"I didn't have a choice, it wouldn't come off."
His eyes widened slightly, the deep forest green flaring in the limited light. "I see. Well, come with me. You will have a full day's work ahead of you and once you have made a deposit on our bargain, your cousin will be brought to the city for treatment."
"A day?" The hope that surged up was met with disappointment at so short a time with him.
"A day as a deposit against our help. The remainder of your payment will be determined when we find out what she needs."
He took her by the hand and walked with her through the halls and the flickering daylight.
The urge for small talk swept through her as they passed the bakery and pastry shop. "The city has expanded since I was here."
"The wards you gave us have been very useful, Asha."
Her shock was genuine. "They are still holding?"
"We maintain them as you instructed and they are doing well to block out the most direct rays." He gave her a small smile.
"Where are we going?" They had passed the lot where his home used to be. The only thing left was the looming estate at the end of the lane.
"My home is now that of the High Lord. It is maintained by the energy of all of us."
The door swung open as the master of the house approached. Asha swallowed, her mouth unaccountably dry.
"Will your grandparents be upset by this turn of events?"
"My being indentured for the health of Elhara? No. She means more to us than I can express. My grandparents will take it in stride. It is my father that you should be worried about." She snorted.
Reycon of the Crimson clan had met Asha's mother at one of the Warders' events. He had clawed his way through his competition and won Andrea's heart and her hand. He had submitted to alteration to make his appearance more human and worked with Andrea's dwarf father at the jewellery shop. Goblins had an affinity for gems that had made the family concern very successful.
"Is Reycon expected anytime soon?"
She blinked as they entered the exquisitely shaped foyer. "How do you know my father's name?"
"I looked into your lineage after your first visit. You come from a long line of
Asha blinked rapidly. That was better than she could have dreamed. "What service may I offer to the leprechaun city?"
Tuartha smiled slowly and a few of the folk in the council hall shifted nervously. "Whatever I command you to do. You will be my personal servant and companion for the entirety of your cousin's treatment. Welcome to the leprechaun city once again, Asha Warder."
Chapter Three
The council seemed embarrassed but Asha took it in stride. "Thank you for your welcome, High Lord."
She bowed formally. Whatever dignity she had, this was the time to hang onto it.
To her surprise, the whole collection of councillors filed out leaving them alone.
Tuartha got to his feet and came toward her. "I never thought to see you again, Asha. You have grown."
She nodded and swallowed as he continued to approach. Asha had forgotten how tall he was. The image of leprechauns that the humans thought of was but astral images of the real thing. Small reflections of a larger power, it was why they could never be caught.
"That happens to mortals, High Lord. We grow, we mature and we get taller."
He chuckled as he looked down at her from his considerable height. "Not that tall."
"What do you want me to do first?" She looked up at him, noting the small marks of stubble on his chin.
He took her hand in his, his thumb moving over the spirit band. "I see you kept part of our city with you after all."
It was on the ring finger of her left hand, a finger that her family reserved for marriage bands. It had been the only place the ring would sit, no matter which of her other fingers she tried it on. The moment it had touched her ring finger, the magic had been sealed.
"I didn't have a choice, it wouldn't come off."
His eyes widened slightly, the deep forest green flaring in the limited light. "I see. Well, come with me. You will have a full day's work ahead of you and once you have made a deposit on our bargain, your cousin will be brought to the city for treatment."
"A day?" The hope that surged up was met with disappointment at so short a time with him.
"A day as a deposit against our help. The remainder of your payment will be determined when we find out what she needs."
He took her by the hand and walked with her through the halls and the flickering daylight.
The urge for small talk swept through her as they passed the bakery and pastry shop. "The city has expanded since I was here."
"The wards you gave us have been very useful, Asha."
Her shock was genuine. "They are still holding?"
"We maintain them as you instructed and they are doing well to block out the most direct rays." He gave her a small smile.
"Where are we going?" They had passed the lot where his home used to be. The only thing left was the looming estate at the end of the lane.
"My home is now that of the High Lord. It is maintained by the energy of all of us."
The door swung open as the master of the house approached. Asha swallowed, her mouth unaccountably dry.
"Will your grandparents be upset by this turn of events?"
"My being indentured for the health of Elhara? No. She means more to us than I can express. My grandparents will take it in stride. It is my father that you should be worried about." She snorted.
Reycon of the Crimson clan had met Asha's mother at one of the Warders' events. He had clawed his way through his competition and won Andrea's heart and her hand. He had submitted to alteration to make his appearance more human and worked with Andrea's dwarf father at the jewellery shop. Goblins had an affinity for gems that had made the family concern very successful.
"Is Reycon expected anytime soon?"
She blinked as they entered the exquisitely shaped foyer. "How do you know my father's name?"
"I looked into your lineage after your first visit. You come from a long line of
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