Faefalling (working title)

17- I return to civilisation and find it still sucks

"And who might you be?" I countered, despite my revulsion.

"Who am I? A good question. I've heard many names in my time. Bugbear, bogeyman, demon even. The Rat Boys have taken to calling me Runda. I am what your kind refers to as a bodach."

I nearly dropped my dagger. "A bodach?" I turned to Agaveah. "I don't recall you mentioning that your contact was a bodach."

The nymph sighed. "And? What difference does it make, Caedmon. We need his help. We've less than seven hours to get the royals out before they start losing heads."

"Yes, yes, I know, but still! A bodach? Come on!"

"It's either you muster working alongside me, or your sweet lover dies," the bodach cut in, his tone low.

Crimson fire flared up my face. "Lover?"

"Oh, come now," he chuckled. "Only one reason why a young male shows such haste to risk his life. I doubt you'd be this pressed if it weren't the case. Royals come and go. Love on the other hand..." He leaned forward in his seat. "Do not misunderstand me. I am well aware of the tensions between bodach and fae. My people stole your young to survive, but we did it not out of evil intent. The fact is you need me, fae. You won't get within five paces of your love without what I have to offer."

I hesitated, resentment hindered by curiosity. "And what would that be?"

The bodach nodded. "I'll show you. Put that pointy stick away and open the door." He rose from his chair.

Trepid, I did as he asked, despite Murphy's furious opposition, and came face-to-face with Draoi, that same seductive grin on his face.

"Step inside, would you, Draoi. We've much to discuss," Runda said. "I trust you've been listening?"

Draoi nodded, eyes plastered on me. Despite his height, he stared as a lion would at a gazelle. I itched to run, to hide, to be anywhere his gaze wouldn't find me. Yet, some twisted part of me liked being made to feel small. I shook the thought out of my mind.

Draoi walked over to the bodach, placing himself at his right hand. The two of them led us over to a table.

Evening light filtered in through windows. I glared at the city below. We had about an hour of sunlight left. The bodach directed Draoi to a drawer. He pulled out a long sheet of paper and draped it over the table. It unfurled and I was left gazing at a map. Amazingly, there was not a trace of goo on its surface.

"This," Runda said, "is a map of Deaintinn castle."

Lazuli scrunched her nose, as if disapproving. "And what would make us believe it isn't a fake?"

Draoi scoffed. "Why would you even propose to help these imbeciles, Runda? They wouldn't know fake if it looked them right in the face," he stared at me as he spoke those last words, feline eyes glinting. "Besides, one of the fellas brought me some of the posters going around town. This lad's face is the one printed." He jerked his thumb in my direction. "Quite a sum. Much more than these folk can pay up, that's for sure."

"Quiet, Draoi," the bodach tutted. "I've made the decision to help them. Would you go against my word?"

He shook his head, jaw clenched.

"No, I think he asks a good question," I piped in. "Why exactly are you helping us?"

I fought to look the bodach in the eye, warring against my instinct to whip about twenty daggers into his sternum and burn the corpse.

He stared back, unflinching. "Well, it goes without saying between the nymph and I, but I suppose the rest of you could know. Agaveah saved my life many years ago. I swore I'd repay her. I must say, I certainly wasn't expecting for her to turn up with a fugitive such as yourself. Getting you into the castle is doable of course, for someone like myself."

He paused, waiting for any more questions. When none came, we all returned our attention to the map.

"Draoi, would you care to elaborate on exactly how our dear friends here would make their entrance?" Runda prompted.

The former nodded, hunching over the map and cracking his knuckles. He stretched a finger out, tracing buildings and roads as he spoke.

"This here is the path to the main entrance. During the day, it's wide open. Anyone who's anyone can get in, but the whole place is crawling with Daemon's zingers. If you wanna be smart about this, best you get in at night. Of course, that's what any self-respecting hoodlum would do. They expect that. The defences on the main gate are extensive after dark. But that doesn't really matter, you'd never make it in that way. I won't even mention the side gates. Now, if I were you, there are two entrances I'd use."

Draoi's eyes roamed the map, sentences flowing ever quicker as inspiration struck. "Mind you, they'll also be your escape, so don't run around causing a bloody ruckus once you're inside. Considering that every single plan should be made with failure in mind, you shouldn't all go in the same way."

"Wait, wait. You want us to split up?" I butted in.

Draoi didn't even look up. "It's nice to know those stubby little ears of yours work properly, Goldilocks. Anything else you wanna add?"

I bit back a retort. "We aren't splitting up, that's out of the question."

Draoi placed his purple sights on me. "Listen, Short Tips. I'm giving you suggestions. You don't wanna listen to what I have to say? That's on you. Just don't come crying to the Rat Boys when they're dragging you to the gallows. Now, close that trap and lemme finish my job."

After a sultry smile, the fae went on. "As I was saying, you have two options. Either scamper around in the sewers, or bluff your way into the barracks. If you aren't splitting up, then it makes things a bit more complicated. Just how many people are you planning on breaking out of there?"

"Three," I said.

Draoi ran a hand down the side of his face. "It'll be almost impossible to escape as a party of six without breaking apart."

"Make that a party of seven," Runda said, deep voice unearthly.

"A group of seven?" Lazuli asked. "Who else are we bringing out with us?"

"It isn't who you're bringing out, but who you're bringing in," the bodach placed a slimy, clawed hand on Draoi's shoulder.

The fae tensed up, immediately straightening his stance. "No. No, Runda, you can't be bloody serious. This has but a slim chance of success. Why in Annwn would you shove me into Balor's anus with them!" he shouted, shrugging off the bodach.

I wasn't sure how intimidating Runda looked to the rest of them, but from my perspective he towered over Draoi, fangs and claws dripping with goop.

"This isn't a discussion, Draoi," Runda's tone remained steady and low. "Remember your place. The girl's debt is almost settled. It'd be such a shame for her to lose all that progress. And you know the saying. Once a rat, always a rat."

Draoi's eyes narrowed.

"You may be my best rat, but that's still all that you are. A rodent."

All were still as the fae stared the monster down. If looks could kill, Runda would've wound up with an axe for brains. But, in the end, Draoi merely scowled and lowered his gaze into something of a bow.

"Good. So that's settled. Draoi will be with you, with the rest of the Rat Boys at your disposal as well," the bodach said, a heinous grin spreading across his slick, grey face. "Carry on."

Draoi nodded, returning to the map. "Well then, fellas," he sighed, "there's been a change of plans."