Free Sixty-One Nails: Courts of the Feyre by Mike Shevdon

added an outstretched hand that tipped from side to side. The sensation dissipated and I found myself able to stand again.
        "Yes, I know what you thought, but even if that were the case, that is a poor welcome, isn't it?" She pressed the knuckles of each hand together for emphasis. There was a reprimand in her voice, mixed with the sort of fondness reserved for a well-intentioned but overprotective uncle.
        The shape retreated further into the dimness.
        "Oh, stop it. Come out and meet Rabbit properly." She was both frustrated and amused.
        Clearly the creature understood her speech as it came forward, this time fully into the light. As it emerged further I became aware that it was hunched over. Shoulders loomed behind the head, sloped down to fit in the tunnel. I thought it would shamble forward, but its step was light, full of grace and poise, like a dancer.
        There was a seismic rumbling, accompanied by a complex bow and ending with an outstretched palm. "He apologises for his misunderstanding, Rabbit, and offers you welcome, if you will accept it." I gathered my wits.
        "Thank you, Gramawl." I bowed in turn, keeping my eyes on the shaggy form. As he approached I became aware of his scent. I had thought he would smell like a beast, but instead there was the freshness of new-turned earth. I could see, now I was closer, that the shaggy fur was not matted and grey but layered with grey over brown, over black. It had the quality of a finely groomed horse's mane and I wondered who had spent time combing through that mountain of fur.
        "I was about to explain that Rabbit had brought you a gift, Gramawl, but now I'm not sure whether he will want to part with it." She was comfortable speaking and signing at once, though Gramawl appeared to understand our speech well enough. Was there some etiquette to this?
        Gramawl, lifted and then dropped his arms, pantomiming disappointment. At the same time his voice, if you could use that term, dropped in tone until I could only feel it rumbling in my bones. The hackles on my neck rose. I found myself stepping back.
        "Only a little something," she teased, holding out her hand as if swinging a sweet by the wrapper or a tiny mouse by the tail and ignoring the shivering air. The great eyes flicked back to me, luminescent in the overhead lights. His flat wet nose wriggled, seeking clues.
        "Of course, that was before you offended my friend. "
    "I'm not offended," I interjected, a little too quickly. He swept away the air with his hand, rubbed one palm against the other and added an opening and closing gesture.
        Blackbird translated for me. "He says you have accepted his apology and that it was only a misunderstanding and now he would like to know what you've brought."
        Blackbird stepped up to him, smiling, and affectionately stroked his cheek above her head. "I don't know, I bring people to meet you and this is how you welcome them. Why don't you show Gramawl his gift, Rabbit?"
        Taking my cue, I reached into my jacket for the stones, but she shook her head. "Those are for a little later. Put the sack on the floor and leave it, somewhere in the open."
        I stepped forward, still a little hesitant near Gramawl, and placed the sack on the ground and stepped back. "You need to open it a little or it's not going to come out," Blackbird added. "It'll fly off." I hesitated.
        "That isn't going to be a problem, is it, Gramawl?"
        There was a rhythmic huffing sound and my stomach vibrated to the sound of his amusement.
        I stepped back to the sack and opened the neck, letting it fall open around the bird. It hopped out onto the sack in a flurry, getting its bearings. I stepped back again. The bird was initially bemused to find itself underground. It looked about, putting its head on one side and then suddenly focused, darting sideways as it caught sight of the huge figure. It