Sid drew in a breath as she tried to cope with the unexpected largesse.

As she hesitated, Isabeau watched her closely. She added, “And before you think to ask for it, no, you may not have your freedom.” She softened the statement with a quick, pretty smile. “I could never bear to give up such a treasure, now that I have found you.”

“But you can give me the freedom of the town and the surrounding land, can’t you?” Sid asked. “Fresh air and new sights are good muses. After all, it’s not as though I can escape from Avalon, anyway.”

An expression of comfortable contempt slid over Isabeau’s face. “No,” the queen agreed. “It’s not as though you can. Very well, you have earned it. You may have the freedom of the castle, the town, and the surrounding land, up to two hours’ walk away. But, come—that was too easy. Lengthening your leash was nothing. You must ask a boon for something worthwhile, otherwise I might feel insulted.”

Only Isabeau could make a gift sound like a threat. Sid was suddenly so exhausted, she could barely see straight. All she wanted to do was sleep, while this psycho tyrant prattled on about her boon like it was some kind of real goddamn gift.

How long would she have to live like this? The realization that she might spend years trapped in Avalon caused her to clench her hands. How could she survive here for so long?

“I want you to get me a violin, and a guitar,” she said suddenly. “As beautiful as a lute is, it isn’t my instrument of choice.”

Isabeau’s expression went blank with surprise. “Not your instrument of choice?”

“I play the violin much better,” Sid told her. “The guitar too.”

Isabeau’s lips parted. She breathed, “Better than how you played this evening?” Turning to Kallah, she ordered, “We must get these instruments at once! Make sure they are of the finest quality!”

“Of course,” Kallah murmured. “I will see to it first thing in the morning.”

“I also want a week to myself,” Sid said roughly. “I want to sleep when I feel like it, eat whatever I want, and feel sunshine on my face.”

And during all that time, she thought mentally, I don’t want to worry if I’m going to be killed or tortured, or feel like I need to brace myself to face some fresh hell. I want a week off, and I want all of you to leave me the fuck alone.

The light in Isabeau’s expression soured again, and she tilted her mouth as if she had tasted something she didn’t like. Tapping her foot, she considered Sid.

“To go an entire week without your sublime music is too much to ask,” the Queen said finally. “But I will give you this much. For one hour each day, you will play for me at a time of my choosing. I will not command you to perform in public. The hour will be for my own private enjoyment. Other than that hour each day, you may have the rest of the week to yourself.”

Behind her, Kallah touched Sid’s back quickly.

Taking the silent prompt, Sid bowed to Isabeau. “Thank you, your majesty. I’m most grateful for the respite.”

Isabeau waved a hand at her. “Now, go before you fall over and I need to order someone to carry you out. You’ve turned such a pasty white, it really is quite alarming.”

As she spoke, the unknown Light Fae male walked over to the performance hat. Working a ring off one of his fingers, he dropped it into the hat. Then he scooped it up and carried it to Sid, who gathered it into her arms. She hadn’t expected it to be as heavy as it was.

“Here is your very well-earned reward, musician,” he said as he gave her a look that seemed filled with some kind of significance. “I look forward to enjoying more of your talents soon. Isabeau, you must invite me for some of those private sessions.”

“We’ll see, Valentin.” Isabeau gave the man a blade-sharp look underneath a pretty, catlike smile. “I can get very jealous of my pleasures, and I don’t like to share.”

Suddenly desperate to leave, Sid had to keep herself from running for the door. As she turned away, the look she gave to Kallah must have shown her desperation, for Kallah put a hand at her back and urged her out quickly.

As Kallah walked her back to the servants’ quarters, Sid struggled with absorbing her change in fortune. “So I can leave the castle now,” she said hoarsely. “I can simply walk out whenever I wish?”

“As soon as I pass the Queen’s instructions to the castle guards, yes, you may,” Kallah replied. “I will do so this evening after I say good night. Just make sure you leave word of where you are going, so the guard knows how to find you. But it will take some days for us to acquire a violin and a guitar.”

“That makes sense.” Outside her room, she turned to face Kallah. “I’ll get the dress back to you clean.”

Kallah smiled. “No need. It is yours now. You can use it for future performances. Rest well, Sid. You earned it.”

As Kallah walked away, Sid fumbled at the knob to open her door. Once inside, she shoved it shut with one foot and set the hat and its contents on the bed. As she picked up the tinderbox, her candle flared to light.

Her heart leaped with gladness, and she whirled with an eager smile.

The black cat lay curled at one end of her bed. It gave a great yawn, showing sharp, white teeth, green eyes gleaming.

Disappointment dragged at her tired limbs. She had wanted it so very much to be Morgan.

She said flatly, “You.”

Yes, Robin said telepathically. Me.

Chapter Eighteen

“I don’t know what you want, but you’re going to have to get out,” Sid told the puck. “I’m not staying.”

Speak telepathically, Robin warned. The ears in this place are very sharp.

Sid struggled with the unfamiliar fastenings of the dress and shimmied out of it. Then she grabbed her tunic and trousers.

As she changed, she said, Isabeau gave me a longer leash. I can go up to two hours’ walk away from the castle, and I don’t care how tired I am right now—I’m not going to spend one more night here. If I have to, I’ll sleep outside on the bare ground or in an alley.

That is most excellent news, but there’s no need to put yourself in such discomfort, Robin said. Go into town to one of the inns. The Seafarer’s Rose is not a ten-minute walk from here. They have good food, fresh linens, and you have plenty of money.