Free Blood Politics (Blood Destiny 4) by Helen Harper Page B

right then.  “You mean with the mages.”
    She inclined her head.  “They are desisting from their torture of our more vulnerable citizens.”
    “They weren’t really trying to torture you,” I stated, feeling the need to at least give the mages some fair representation.  “They didn’t realise, I think, that what they were doing was harmful.  I’m glad they’ve stopped though.”
    “Regardless, it was your intervention that created this outcome.  We are most appreciative.”
    I felt uncomfortable.  I hadn’t really done all that much.  “Um, thanks.  It wasn’t that big a deal to be honest.”
    “It was to us,” the dryad said softly.  “That is why I am contacting you now.  We need help and we think that we can trust you to provide it.”
    I did my best not to let my surprise show and thought briefly of Alex, my old mage buddy.  Trying to help him out a few months ago hadn’t worked out all that well.  I might not be the dryads’ best choice, despite Atlanteia’s belief to the contrary.  My thoughts must have been more transparent than I realised, however.
    “You are concerned,” the dryad stated.
    “If you’re in trouble, then there are probably other people who can help you better than I can,” I said honestly, “as flattered as I am that you would think of me.”
    “We don’t trust those people.  Gold might encourage their intentions otherwise but we have no need of money and therefore have none to give.”
    I thought of Corrigan.  As much as it galled me to consider it, he would probably agree to help them out without any monetary compensation in return.  It would suit his ego to be seen to be friendly with other members of the Otherworld and at least he’d have the might of the Pack behind him to help.  
    “I can put in a good word for you with the Brethren.  If they give you their word, then they won’t break it.”
    “We don’t want the shifters.  Not the kind of shifters you mean, anyway.”  Atlanteia’s gaze turned hard.
    Fucking hell.  “You know what I am,” I said, irritated that yet another group of people were aware of my so-called secret.
    She shrugged elegantly.  “We see many things.  The trees whisper secrets to us.  They like to gossip.”
    “You’re fucking kidding me.”   I had a sudden vision of a circle of oaks tattling to each other about the foibles of the world, swaying in some bizarre version of Chinese whispers.
    “The evergreens are the worst,” Atlanteia said, as if reading my thoughts.  “Something to do with never resting thoroughly no matter what the season is.”
    Bloody hell.  I’d never feel comfortable in a forest again.
    “I still don’t think I am the best person to help you out,” I said firmly.
    “We do,” the dryad placed a pale hand on the aspen next to her.  “The trees do.”
    “Well far be it for me to argue with a piece of wood,” I said sarcastically.
    Atlanteia’s gaze turned disapproving.  “We will help you in return.”
    “It’s not that I need something in return, it’s that I might not be the best person to help you in the first place.  Things don’t always work out that well when I’m around.”
    “We have faith in your abilities.  Besides,” she flicked her hand casually across the night air, “you don’t know what it is we are asking yet.”
    I folded my arms and exhaled heavily.  “Okay, what is it?”
    “Will you aid us?”
    “If I can. “ I said, relenting. “But you have to tell me what it is you need help with first.”
    Shadows crossed her face.  “Very well.  We have a small community near Shrewsbury at a place called Haughmond Hill.  Dryads have lived there peacefully for hundreds of years.”
    “But?” I prodded.
    “But,” Atlanteia sighed, “in recent years the woods lost their protected status as the planting of some non-indigenous trees drove out the wildlife.  And despite the area’s heritage and history, even for the humans, there is a