Red Hood's Revenge

lowered himself and slid aside, allowing the other priest to lead the church in closing prayers.
    Afterward, humans and fairies began to make their way from the church. Many of the humans appeared genuinely comforted by Uf’uyan’s words, and a number of families gathered at the front to thank him.
    Talia moved with them. She waited as Father Uf’uyan sang a blessing to a boy roughly the age of Prince Jakob.
    “Treasure him and raise him well,” said Uf’uyan, smiling. He stretched his tail back, lowering himself until he was barely higher than the child. He pressed a hand to the boy’s forehead. “May God protect you and help you find your way.”
    He spoke to several others before turning to Talia. “Welcome, daughter. How may I serve?”
    The traditional greeting of the church, reminding all that the fairies had come to serve humans. Yet Uf’uyan spoke the words as though he believed them.
    “My friend is sick and hoped for your blessings.” Talia beckoned for Roudette to join them. “She sought healing elsewhere, but not even the Sisters of the Hedge were able to help her. I hoped your prayers might give her body strength.”
    “Of course.” Uf’uyan brought his hands together, then turned to look more closely at Talia. She forced herself to relax. If he recognized her, they would be hard-pressed to escape. She could kill both priests if necessary, but the church was too crowded.
    Uf’uyan’s tongue flicked out briefly. “You have the smell of one burdened by darkness.”
    “You could say that.” Talia slipped her hands into her sleeves and lowered her voice. “Father, I believe I know where to find the Hunt’s true prey.”
    Uf’uyan rose higher. His tail twitched against the floor as he glanced about, as though making sure nobody else had heard. “Who are you, child?”
    Talia loosened her knives in their sheaths. “One who can help you to find her.”
    Beside her, Snow reached to her choker. Danielle moved to one side, hand resting on her sword. Talia watched Uf’uyan. The naga carried his weight differently than a human, making it difficult to judge any shifts in balance. Talia ignored his body, concentrating instead on his tail. Any sudden movements would begin there.
    Uf’uyan turned to the second priest. “Father Yasar, would you please tend to the others while I meet with this woman and her companions? Please see that we are not disturbed.”
    Yasar removed his helm, revealing a childlike face with a green pallor. He bowed to Uf’uyan before stepping down from the dais.
    Uf’uyan beckoned them to follow as he slid toward the back of the church. Fog and illusion concealed whatever truly lay beyond the doorway. For all Talia knew, Zestan herself might wait for them. She glanced at Snow, who shrugged.
    “I can’t see through it,” Snow said softly. “Not without using a lot more magic than I’d like.”
    So be it. Bracing herself, Talia followed Father Uf’uyan into the mist.
     
    Roudette felt the glamours closing around her the instant she stepped through the doorway. On the other side, a glassy bridge stretched before her. Far beneath the bridge she could see mountains of green crystal, the fabled home of the peri. Iridescent clouds drifted above and below. Will-o’-the-wisps danced about like flaming mosquitoes. Roudette fought the urge to swat them all.
    Instead, she dug beneath the hiqab robe, pulling up the hood of her cape. As she tugged the fur-lined hood over her head, the illusions faded, and she saw instead a wide hallway with walls of square-cut stone.
    Sweat dripped down her face. Her cape was warm enough, and with the added weight of the hiqab, she felt ready to melt. She found herself panting slightly as she walked. How easy it would be to throw off this ridiculous robe and slay the naga right here. Cut his throat and silence his damned lies.
    Uf’uyan led them into a large room. Finely woven carpet, dyed deep blue and gold, covered the floor. Images of the nine prophets adorned the back wall. Caged rats scurried about in one corner. Snacks, Roudette guessed. Uf’uyan’s face might appear human, but his appetite was fey.
    A low desk sat against the opposite wall. Nooks in the stones held scrolls and small books. There were no windows, making the room feel cramped despite its size. Coals glowed in a hammered copper brazier in the center of the room, adding to the stuffy warmth. No doubt it was comfortable for a snake.
    Uf’uyan shut a heavy wooden door