I realized that I had leaned forward as he spoke, eating my trail mix like a child in a movie theatre absently munching on popcorn while being engrossed with the story on screen. I sat back up and attempted to act as if I was unmoved. I do not think I succeeded, as Ray grinned at me.
“Or that could all be a load of crap. The fey love stories, and the more exaggerated, the better. Best not to pay too much attention to what they say.”
“But even exaggerated stories often contain truth,” I pointed out. “And after what happened last night . . . perhaps it would be best to avoid her lands.”
“Yeah, only that would be kind of a trick. Nimue’s realm lies in the middle of everything, bordering Aeslinn’s kingdom, the dark fey, and the Blarestri.”
“The Blarestri are on our side, are they not?” I asked, remembering Caedmon, the odd creature who was their king. I had not known what to make of him, but I hadn’t trusted him. He had tried to make a claim on Dory, declaring that she was part fey and thus belonged to him. He had made it sound like he was doing her a favor, but there had been an acquisitive look in his eyes. And then the fey had come to kidnap us . . .
But his fey were golden haired for the most part, with bright blue eyes instead of the pewter ones of the Svarestri. And he had seemed more the type to try to seduce his way to what he wanted, rather than take it by force. But then, seduction had not worked . . .
I frowned. I did not know who to trust in this strange land, but I did not think it was him. And it appeared that Ray agreed.
“The fey are on their own side,” he said cynically. “Never forget that. If Caedmon wasn’t making out like a bandit in this war, he wouldn’t be helping us. But his old rival just got run out of his kingdom, leaving Caedmon in charge of two now. Don’t be surprised if he’s not too quick to change that.”
I nodded slowly. “It seems that you were right. Some things are not so different to our world.”
“Now you’re getting it. Anyway, the river is our best bet. We wanna avoid the la-di-da type of fey and hit up the villages, and most of them are built along the rivers.” He frowned and took one of my nuts. “I just wish we had something to trade.”
“Like what?”
“Like a lot of things. The regular fey, they’re not opposed to some smuggled Earth luxuries, now and again.”
“What kind of luxuries?”
“All kinds. Our biggest sellers, though, the stuff that really got good value . . .”
“Yes?”
He shook his head. “You won’t believe me. Nobody does, not until they come with, and see for themselves.”
“I’ll believe you.”
“Okay, but I’m not talking nobles here. They’re a different breed. But the regular Joes . . . liked Little Debbies.”
I blinked at him. “What?”
He nodded. “Hand to God.”
“Why?”
“Think about it. This ain’t the kinda climate that supports sugarcane. Honey is what they use for a sweetener here, and it’s hard to come by. So, anything sweet is a big deal.”
“But . . . Little Debbies?”
“The highly spiced ones. Spices are expensive, too. So, sugar and spice together—that’s a luxury item right there. They mostly wanted the pecan cinnamon rolls, honey buns, and those pumpkin spice things you see around Halloween. I used to get the guys to take a van around and load up.”
I tried to picture that, to wrap my head around the image of a bunch of vampires driving a van full of snack cakes, or standing in line at the supermarket with two or three shopping carts’ worth of them . . . and failed.
“Did anyone ever ask why?” I said.
He nodded. “Told ‘em the truth. Gonna trade it to some faeries for fey wine and potion supplies.”
I laughed. “You did not.”
“Well, I was drunk at the time. Hadda check the wine when it came in, you know, make sure it was a good batch.”
I copied one of his favorite gestures and rolled my eyes at him. I also gave him back the remains of the trail mix. I was still hungry, but I might need a quick energy boost later.