I wonder if she knew that when she took him to her lair? If he is human, she cannot, of her own volition, release him for a year and a day." "Does that mean she can't kill Gabriel?" Jesse rubbed her arms to keep warm.
"And that we can't get him for a year and a day either?" "She can't kill Gabriel either." It was Samuel who answered.
"That doesn't mean she won't hurt or enthrall them.
Fairy prisoners can be rescued by stealth, by battle, or by bargaining." "Bargaining? Like in the song `The Devil Went Down to Georgia' but with a fairy?" I asked.
It seemed to me that I'd heard a similar tale with fairies in it.
"Right," Samuel agreed.
"It can be a contest--usually musical, because fairy queens tend to be musically talented.
But there are stories of footraces or swimming contests.
My father has a wonderful old song about a young man who challenged a fairy to an eating contest and won." "How do we get in?" asked Jesse.
"The only way I know of getting into Elphame is by following the queen in," Ariana said.
"I might be able to open a way," said Zee.
"I think I can manage to keep her from knowing what I've done.
But I'll have to stay here and hold the door open--and I won't be able to keep it open forever.
An hour at most and you have to be out.
If the door closes .
.
.
As it does in Underhill, time passes differently in Elphame.
If the door closes, even if you manage to escape, there is no telling how much time will have passed when you get out." "Okay," said Jesse.
"Oh, no," I said.
"Not you, Jess.
No." "I'll be the safest person there," she told me.
"I'm strictly a mortal human--they can't kill me." "They can make you want to be dead," said Samuel.
"You need me to find Gabriel." Jesse set her chin.
"I'm coming." I looked at Ariana, who nodded.
"The Elphame is entirely under the control of its maker.
If we want to find your young man quickly and get him out, we'll need her to do it." "Then let me call Adam and get the wolves." I should have stopped at Sylvia's to pick up something that Ariana could have found Gabriel with that wasn't living.
I didn't want to cause Adam's pack any more trouble than I already had--but I wanted even more to get Gabriel and Phin out of the fairy's hold and still keep Jesse safe.
Ariana sucked in a quick breath.
"I am sorry," she said.